💳How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus

Straight from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and the FTC's own steps, current as of Sep 2026. Freezing is free everywhere now and it does not touch your score. (not financial advice)

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Equifax - equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 800-685-1111

start here or wherever the breach hit, doesn't matter, you have to do all three anyway. do the math: the online form takes about 10 minutes.

Experian - experian.com/help or 888-397-3742

same form, different bureau. keep the password they give you in a password manager, not a sticky note.

TransUnion - transunion.com/credit-help or 888-909-8872

Freezing one bureau does not freeze the other two

learned this the annoying way. Experian's freeze isn't shared with Equifax or TransUnion, you open all three tabs.

It's free everywhere and it doesn't touch your credit score

Freeze vs lock: a lock is the bureau's own quick toggle, a freeze is the one actually protected by federal law

worth knowing before you pay for a 'premium lock' product that's just doing what the free freeze already does.

Write down the PIN or password each bureau gives you

this is the part everyone skips and then can't unfreeze in time for a mortgage application.

Ask about a temporary lift instead of a full unfreeze if you only need credit checked for one purchase

most of the online portals let you pick a date range or a single company, no need to open the whole thing back up.

Add a one-year fraud alert too if you're actually worried, not just tidying up

weaker than a freeze but free, fast, and one bureau has to tell the other two for you.

Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com once it's all frozen

weekly checks are free now, no reason not to.

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

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