Learn more about freezing your credit with the three credit bureaus

Quick answer

To protect yourself from identity theft, you can place a credit freeze with each of the three nationwide credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Contacting each bureau individually restricts access to your credit report, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.

Resolution steps

A credit freeze allows you to restrict access to your credit report, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. A credit review cannot happen without a credit report, and creditors will not extend credit or open new accounts.

A credit freeze remains in place with the specific credit bureau until you choose to temporarily lift or permanently remove it. You may be asked to temporarily lift the freeze when opening a new credit account, applying for a job, renting an apartment, purchasing insurance, or completing other activities that require access to your credit report.

All the national bureaus are required, by law, to offer you credit freezes for free. Remember, freezing your credit will not impact your credit score or prevent you from getting your free annual credit report. Your existing creditors and certain governmental agencies will still have access to your credit report.

Place a credit freeze with the three bureaus

• TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze 

• Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/

• Experian: experian.com/help/credit-freeze/

Disclaimer

^§For Norton offerings provided to you by a Service Provider or through channels outside the United States, the LifeLock identity theft protection services and coverage, plan feature names, and functionality might differ from the services offered directly by Norton. Please contact your Service Provider for details on their Norton plan offerings.

Further Recommendation

• Learn more about ChexSystems security freeze (for banks) and how to place it

• Learn more about NCTUE security freeze (for utilities) and how to place it

• Set up security freezes with the credit bureaus for your child

Symptoms / issue

Customers utilize a credit freeze to proactively restrict access to their credit report, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in their name. This action is taken to prevent potential identity theft where new credit accounts might be fraudulently opened without a required credit review.