How to Lock My Credit for Free
A security freeze, often called a credit freeze, is free by federal law. A credit lock is usually a commercial product and may have a fee. Consumers can restrict access to their credit reports for free by placing a security freeze separately with each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies.
A credit lock and a security freeze are distinct tools. A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, is a right granted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. This federal law requires each nationwide credit reporting company to place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze at no charge. A credit lock, by contrast, is typically a commercial feature offered by a credit reporting company or a third-party service. Some locks are free, while others are tied to a paid subscription or premium product. Because the federal free-freeze right applies to security freezes, a consumer seeking a no-cost method to restrict access to credit reports generally uses a security freeze rather than a commercial lock.
To place a security freeze without a fee, a consumer contacts each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. The three companies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each company maintains its own freeze process and must accept requests online, by phone, or by mail. Under federal law, a company must place a freeze within one business day if the request is made online or by telephone, and within three business days if the request is made by mail. The company may ask for identifying information such as name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. There is no charge for placing, lifting, or removing a freeze, regardless of the method used.
A credit lock differs from a security freeze in legal status and cost. A lock is not created by federal statute; it is a service governed by the terms of a contract between the consumer and the provider. Some credit reporting companies include a free lock feature within their consumer portals, but others market locks as part of a paid subscription. A lock often allows a consumer to toggle access on and off through a mobile app or website, which may be more convenient than a freeze. However, a lock does not carry the same statutory guarantees as a freeze, such as the one-business-day placement deadline or the one-hour lift requirement for online or telephone requests. For a no-cost, legally enforceable restriction, a security freeze is the tool defined in federal law.
Lifting or removing a security freeze is also free. A consumer can request a temporary lift for a specific period or a permanent removal. If the request is made online or by phone, the nationwide credit reporting company must lift the freeze within one hour. If the request is made by mail, the company must lift the freeze within three business days. A temporary lift allows a creditor or other permissible user to access the credit report during a defined window. A permanent removal ends the freeze entirely. A fraud alert is a separate, also free, tool that requires a company to take reasonable steps to verify identity before extending credit; placing a fraud alert with one nationwide credit reporting company triggers a notification to the other two.