How to freeze and unfreeze your credit with TransUnion
Freezing your credit is one way you can be proactive about protecting yourself from credit fraud. Credit freezes, also called security freezes, limit access to credit reports. When you freeze your TransUnion® credit report, TransUnion won’t send your report, or a credit score based on your report, to creditors.
But when you want to freeze or unfreeze your reports, you’ll need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus separately. Here’s how the process works with TransUnion.
What you’ll learn:
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You can freeze and unfreeze your TransUnion credit report online, by phone or by mail.
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Freezing, unfreezing or temporarily lifting a freeze on your TransUnion credit report is free.
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When unfreezing your TransUnion credit report, you can choose either a permanent unfreeze or a temporary thaw.
How to freeze credit with TransUnion
You can freeze your TransUnion credit report for free online, by phone or by mail. Whichever method you choose, you’ll need to provide some basic identifying information, such as:
- Your name
- Your mailing address
- Your previous address if you moved in the last six months
- Your email address
- Your phone number
- Your birth date
- The last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN)
Here’s some more information about each method for freezing your credit report:
How to request a TransUnion credit freeze online
The online TransUnion service center might be the most convenient option for placing a credit freeze. You can create an account to request a free copy of your report, freeze or unfreeze your report, dispute errors in your report and add a fraud alert to your reports.
How to request a TransUnion credit freeze by phone
You can call TransUnion at 800-916-8800 to request your credit freeze by phone. Be prepared to share your name, date of birth, address and SSN and to answer questions to verify your identity.
How to request a TransUnion credit freeze via mail or written request
You can mail your written request to freeze your credit to:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
You should include a copy—not the original—of your Social Security card, a letter from the Social Security Administration, a military ID, a Medicaid card or a Medicare card to verify your identity. Plus, include a copy of a document to verify your address, such as your driver’s license or a utility bill, pay stub or bank statement.
How to unfreeze credit with TransUnion
You can unfreeze your credit reports the same way you freeze them: online, by phone or by mail.
You’ll need to remember to unfreeze or thaw your credit report before applying for a new credit account. Otherwise, the creditor won’t be able to review it when considering your application. However, you don’t need to unfreeze your reports to check your own credit reports or scores. You can still access your own frozen credit reports.
You can also choose between permanently unfreezing your reports or setting up a temporary thaw. For example, if you plan on applying for a credit card today, you can request to unfreeze your reports today and have them automatically refreeze tomorrow.
TransUnion credit freeze FAQ
How much does a TransUnion credit freeze cost?
A 2018 federal law guarantees that you can freeze and unfreeze your credit reports with TransUnion, Equifax® and Experian® for free. The fastest and easiest way to do this may be by using their online portals.
Do I need to remove a credit freeze from all three credit reporting agencies?
Yes, you may need to thaw your freezes before applying for new accounts, such as loans or credit cards. If you know which credit report the creditor will request, you could choose to only thaw that one. If not, thawing all three, applying for the account and then refreezing your reports might help you avoid complications.
Can I still use my credit cards if I freeze my credit?
Freezing your credit doesn’t affect your existing accounts or credit cards, so you can still use them. The credit freeze will limit access to your credit reports and may affect your ability to get a new credit card. But your credit card issuer can still access your credit file and scores for account management purposes, such as deciding whether to change your credit limit.
Does my credit score drop when I freeze it?
Freezing your credit won’t cause your credit scores to drop. But creditors that can’t access your score might deny your application, so try to remember to unfreeze your report before applying for a new account.
Key takeaways: TransUnion credit freeze
Freezing your TransUnion credit report can be a simple and free way to help prevent someone from taking out a loan or credit card in your name. However, you’ll need to separately request credit freezes at Experian and Equifax.
Monitoring your credit can also be helpful for catching fraud. You can get free credit reports from all three bureaus on AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also use CreditWise from Capital One to monitor your credit report and credit score for free. And using CreditWise won’t hurt your credit scores.
