A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is the best way to help prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. It’s absolutely free to freeze, unfreeze and temporarily lift a freeze on your credit, and it won’t affect your credit score.
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Here’s how to manage a freeze online with TransUnion. It’s free to create an account and free to add, remove or temporarily lift a freeze.
How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit
When you use a credit freeze, you're in control of who can access your credit information and when. It's always free, easy and a great way to protect yourself from identity theft.
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Protected Consumer Freeze: How to Protect a Minor or Incapacitated Adult
A protected consumer freeze is a freeze that a parent, guardian, conservator or person with a valid power of attorney can place for a minor or incapacitated adult. When a protected consumer freeze is placed, it will remain on a credit file until you request its removal. A minor can also request its removal themselves once they are 16 years old or older.
To place a protected consumer freeze for a minor or incapacitated adult, mail TransUnion a request with documents proving you have the authority to act on their behalf. A parent or guardian can place a protected consumer freeze for children aged 15 and younger. Learn more about what to provide and where to send everything below.
Spouses can add or remove freezes for each other by phone at 888-909-8872. You can learn more about the process here.
While you can’t freeze a deceased family member’s credit report, you can update their credit report to show as deceased. Learn more about the steps to make that update here.
Typically, minors won’t have a credit file. They might if you’ve added your child as an authorized user on one of your credit accounts. However, if they have a credit report but you never added them as an authorized user, it may be a sign of fraud.
Learn more about child identity theft. If you suspect your child’s identity has been compromised, use our secure Child Identity Theft Inquiry Form to find out if a credit file exists in their name.
Get started with freeze for free through our TransUnion Service Center, where you can:
- Add, temporarily lift or remove a credit freeze from your credit report. A freeze can help protect you from identity theft by preventing fraudsters from opening a new account in your name.
- Submit a dispute if you find any inaccuracies on your credit report.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit report to notify creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit.
- Get a free copy of your credit report; add an optional consumer statement if you want to provide context about your financial situation to anyone who views your credit report.
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Technical Help and Login Support
You have questions, we have answers.
Browse our top Freeze FAQs below or visit the Freeze Support Center for more.
Log in to your TransUnion Service Center account and select "Temporarily Lift Freeze." Then enter the dates you want the lift to happen. It's free to temporarily lift a freeze.
To make things easy, you can plan and schedule your freeze removal up to 15 days in advance of when you want it to happen. If you want to unfreeze more than 15 days from today, please log in closer to the date you want your credit report unfrozen.
You can also call us to temporarily lift a freeze over the phone.
If you placed a freeze online, the quickest and easiest way to remove the freeze from your credit file is online through the TransUnion Service Center. You can also remove a freeze by phone or mail. It’s free to remove a freeze from your credit file.
Call TransUnion at 800-916-8800 or send a written request that includes your name, address and Social Security number to the dedicated mailing address for freezes at TransUnion, which you can find on the Freeze by Mail or Phone page.
The quickest and easiest way to freeze your credit file is online through the TransUnion Service Center.
You can also add a freeze to your credit report by phone or mail. Call TransUnion at 800-916-8800. To manage a freeze by mail, send a written request that includes your name, address and Social Security number to the dedicated mailing address for freezes at TransUnion, which you can find on the Freeze by Mail or Phone page.
Although not required, including one proof of identity and two proofs of your current address with your request can help us locate your record more efficiently. If you include documents with your request, all documents should reflect your current name and be unexpired. Please only submit photocopies of your documents. These can include:
Identity (Provide 1):
- Social Security card
- Letter from Social Security Administration
- Military ID
- Medicaid or Medicare card
Address (Provide 2):
- Driver's license with current address
- Utility bill
- Bank or credit union statement
- Canceled check
- Pay stub
- Signed homeless shelter letter
- Prison ID letter
- Stamped post office box receipt
- Government-issued ID
- State ID card
You’re in control of how long a freeze stays on your credit report. Your report will be frozen until you request its removal.
TransUnion is pleased to offer freezes for free. Freeze removals are also free. So freeze or remove your freeze as often as you want.
Adding a freeze online or by phone typically takes effect almost immediately. Temporarily lifting a credit freeze can also be immediate; however, it’s advisable to wait a few minutes before a lender requests your TransUnion credit report.
If you request to add, lift or remove a freeze by mail, it may take up to three business days from the date TransUnion receives the request to go into effect.
Not while your credit report is frozen. You will need to remove your freeze to apply for new credit, which you can do online through the TransUnion Service Center.
The choice is yours. If you are concerned about data breaches or just want to be proactive in protecting yourself, a credit freeze could be the right option.
Yes. You can freeze your TransUnion credit report with us, but to freeze your other credit reports you must contact the other bureaus, Equifax and Experian. We included their contact info below to make it easy for you.
Equifax:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA, 30348-5788
888-298-0045
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze
Experian:
Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742
If you are a parent, guardian, conservator or legal representative of a minor or an incapacitated adult and would like to freeze their credit report, you can do this by adding a protected consumer freeze to their credit file. Here's what you'll need to provide:
1. A written request to place a “Protected Consumer Freeze” on the named individual’s file
2. AND a copy of one piece of documentation that provides “sufficient proof of authority” that you have authority to act on behalf of the person such as:
- An order issued by a court of law
- A lawfully executed and valid power of attorney
- A guardianship or conservator document that is current and not expired, includes the protected consumer’s name, and that the name of the person on the court document matches the name of the person submitting the request
- A document issued by a federal, state, or local government agency in the United States showing proof of parentage, including a birth certificate
- With respect to a protected consumer who has been placed in a foster care setting, a written communication from a county welfare department or its agent or designee, or a county probation department or its agent or designee, certifying that the protected consumer is in a foster care setting under its jurisdiction.
3. AND information or copies of documentation confirming your identity AND the identity of the minor/dependent or incapacitated adult. This information or documentation needs to provide “sufficient proof of identification” that you and the minor/dependent or incapacitated adult are who you really are, such as a:
- Social Security number or a copy of a Social Security card
- Certified or official copy of a birth certificate issued by the entity authorized to issue the birth certificate
- Copy of a driver’s license, an identification card issued by a state motor vehicle administration, or any other government issued identification
Please only send copies of documents, not original documents.
Send everything to the dedicated mailing address for protected consumer freezes at TransUnion:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 380
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Please note: Consumers are not able to place a protected consumer freeze via phone or online at this time due to the documentation requirements. We accept either standard or certified mail.
Information for Good®.
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