Data breaches are now a constant, regular occurrence.
I’ve received at least three notices of major data breaches from various vendors in the past two years that are not part of the larger hacks that are reported in the news. The two that really concerned me were 1) a social services agency and 2) a mutual fund management firm. We can’t assume that companies with our data will keep it safe, so we must take precautions.
With data breaches becoming stupidly common, it’s critical that you safeguard your credit by putting a security freeze on your credit reports.
Why freeze your credit?
Freezing your credit is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself from identity theft and financial fraud. With data breaches happening more frequently than ever, taking control of your credit security is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Anyone with your social security number and other personal data can apply for credit – UNDER YOUR NAME.
And unless they are caught & brought to justice with proof, YOU WILL BE ON THE HOOK TO PAY EVERYTHING BACK (or have your credit score ruined; you get to choose the lesser of two evils). Plus their thievery will affect YOUR credit rating, which will affect these important things:
- Your ability to buy things with credit, like cars & houses
- Your ability to rent, or other situations that require credit checks
- The interest rates and amounts of loans
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report.
If you suspect your personal information or identity was stolen, placing a credit freeze can help protect you from fraud.
When you place a security freeze, creditors cannot access your credit report. Whether it is fraudulent or legitimate, no new credit accounts in your name can be approved.
A credit freeze is NOT permanent.
You can choose to let companies access your credit files again to create new accounts, but you will need to lift your credit freeze temporarily (permanently unfreezing your credit is a bad, bad, bad idea in the new world we live in).
IMPORTANT: 2 things you need to know when freezing your credit
Before unfreezing, talk to the company who needs to review your credit. There are 2 critically important things you need to know:
- Which credit service they check, so you don’t unfreeze services unnecessarily
- When they will check your credit, so you unfreeze your credit for as little time as necessary
Confirming these 2 things will greatly reduce your exposure to risk.
How to freeze your credit reports
Contact credit reporting agencies to freeze or unfreeze your credit report
Freeze or lift the freeze on your credit report for free by contacting each of the three major credit reporting agencies:
| Equifax | Experian | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|
| 1-888-298-0045 | 1-888-397-3742 | 1-800-916-8800 |
| https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze | https://www.experian.com/help/credit-freeze/ | https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze |
You can submit your request online or by phone but the fastest way to freeze your accounts is to call them. They can help you create an account as well.
IMPORTANT: When calling, write down confirmation codes!
Requests can be submitted by mail as well but why would you want a weeklong delay for something so important?
When the credit reporting agencies receive request by mail, they have to freeze or unfreeze your credit within three business days. Add the time it takes for mail to arrive and it’ll delay something by a week takes less than an hour.
About Credit Freeze requests1
- When requesting online or by phone: agencies must freeze your credit report within one business day
- When requesting by mail: agencies must freeze your credit report within three business days
About Credit Unfreeze requests2
- When requesting online or by phone: agencies must lift the freeze within one hour
- When requesting by mail: agencies must lift the freeze within three business days
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, you can safeguard your financial future and prevent criminals from taking out loans or credit in your name. Just remember to keep track of your confirmation codes and be strategic about when and where you lift your freeze.
Don’t wait until it’s too late—take action today and freeze your credit to keep your personal information safe – and to keep your credit from ruining your life.
Please share this with people you care about 🫶🏼
FAQ
How to freeze your credit reports?
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by phone or online to request a credit freeze. It’s free and takes one business day to process.
How to put a credit freeze on your credit report?
Call or visit the websites of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to submit your freeze request.
How to put security freeze on credit report?
A security freeze restricts access to your credit report. Request it online, by phone, or by mail through each credit bureau.
How to remove a freeze on your credit report?
Contact the credit bureau where you placed the freeze and request a temporary or permanent lift. Online and phone requests are processed within an hour.
How to freeze my credit report?
Reach out to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and follow their process to place a security freeze on your credit file.
How do you freeze credit reports?
Call or visit the websites of the three credit reporting agencies and request a freeze. Keep your confirmation codes for future changes.
How do you unfreeze credit reports?
Contact the credit bureau where you placed the freeze and request a temporary or permanent lift. Online and phone requests are processed within an hour, while mail requests take up to three business days.
