How-to
How to freeze your credit, and the signs of identity theft
Place a free credit freeze at each of the three bureaus, and learn the signs that someone is using your information.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published October 13, 2026 · 2 min read · 45 min to do
This is general education, not individual financial, investment or tax advice.
At a glance
- Credit freeze
- Free, at each of the three bureaus
- What it does
- Nobody can open a new credit account in your name
- Applying for credit
- Lift it for a while, then put it back
- Fraud alert
- Businesses check with you first, for a year at a time
While a credit freeze is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name. The freeze is free. You place it with each of the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and each sign-up takes a few minutes.
What you need
- Most of an hour, and a computer or phone
- Your Social Security number, birth date and current and past addresses
- A safe place to keep the login or PIN each bureau gives you
Steps
- 1
Freeze at Equifax
Start with one bureau and follow its steps.
10 min
- 2
Freeze at Experian
Repeat the same steps at the second bureau.
10 min
- 3
Freeze at TransUnion
A freeze at one bureau doesn't carry over to the others, so finish the set.
10 min
- 4
Store each login or PIN
You'll need it to lift the freeze later. Keep the three together, somewhere safe and away from your wallet.
5 min
- 5
Shred old papers with your information
Shred sensitive papers you no longer need, and pick up your mail promptly.
5 min
- 6
Check each bureau shows the freeze
Sign in to each account and confirm it reads as frozen.
5 min
Freeze your credit
- Place a credit freeze at each of the three bureaus
- Check your statements for charges you didn't make
When you apply for credit
You can lift the freeze for a while and put it back when you're done. Ask the lender or card company which bureau it uses, and lift that one for the days you need.
A fraud alert instead
A fraud alert tells businesses to check with you before opening a new credit account in your name. An initial fraud alert is free, lasts one year and can be renewed. You place it with one bureau, and that bureau tells the other two. An extended alert, for people whose identity has been stolen, lasts seven years.
The signs of identity theft
- Charges for things you didn't buy. They show up on a card or bank statement.
- Accounts you don't recognize. They show up on your credit report.
- A bill that stops coming. Someone may have changed your billing address.
- Withdrawals you didn't make. Check the account's history online, between statements.
If you see one, IdentityTheft.gov builds a free personal recovery plan with the next steps.
Keeping your information close
Before you give your Social Security number, ask why it's needed and how it will be protected. The IRS won't call, email or text you to ask for it. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on your online accounts.
FAQ
Does a credit freeze cost anything?
No. Freezing your credit is free.
Can I still apply for a loan with my credit frozen?
Yes. You can lift the freeze for a while and put it back when you're done.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Trade Commission. Credit freezes and fraud alerts (2025)
- Federal Trade Commission. What to know about identity theft (2024)
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