Credit Freeze Equifax

A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, is a restriction placed on a consumer report at a nationwide consumer reporting company. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers have the right to place, temporarily lift, or remove a security freeze at each nationwide company. Equifax is one of the nationwide consumer reporting companies. A freeze with Equifax applies only to the Equifax consumer report; it does not automatically apply to the reports held by the other nationwide companies. Each company maintains its own freeze process, and a consumer must request a freeze separately from each company where they want the restriction. When a freeze is active at Equifax, the company generally may not release the consumer report to a third party for purposes such as a credit application, unless the consumer has lifted the freeze or an exception applies. Federal law includes exceptions for certain users. For example, a freeze does not prevent a company from accessing the report for a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as when a court order or a child support enforcement agency requires it. It also does not prevent the consumer from obtaining their own report. A freeze does not affect the accuracy or content of the report, and it is not a credit score factor. To place a freeze with Equifax, a consumer submits a request through the company's designated channels, which include a website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address. The company must place the freeze within a certain timeframe after receiving the request. Federal law requires that placing, lifting, or removing a freeze is free. Equifax may provide a confirmation and may issue a personal identification number (PIN) or password to manage the freeze. A consumer who loses that identifier can request a replacement. The company may also require the consumer to provide identifying information, such as name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth, to verify identity. A freeze remains in place until the consumer lifts it or removes it. A temporary lift allows access for a specified period, while a removal ends the freeze entirely. Consumers can also use a fraud alert, which is different from a freeze: a fraud alert asks companies to take extra steps to verify identity before extending credit, but it does not block access to the report in the same way. A freeze is not the same as a credit lock, which is a product offered by some companies and may not carry the same legal protections as a freeze. Under federal law, a freeze is free, while a credit lock may involve fees or terms set by the company.

A consumer who wants to restrict access to their Equifax credit report can request a security freeze from Equifax. The freeze stays on the Equifax report until the consumer lifts it temporarily or removes it. The consumer can still obtain their own Equifax report, and the freeze does not change the information in the report.