Learn how to freeze your credit report at Equifax for free and stay protected from identity theft.
Benefits
- Once you freeze your credit report, credit bureaus won’t offer information to companies who try to access your information to approve credit or loan applications.
- Freezing your credit report is free at all three major credit bureaus.
- Once you freeze your Equifax credit report, you’ll be given a PIN that you can use when you want to unfreeze or refreeze your credit report in the future.
- Freezing your credit report at Equifax does not affect your credit score.
- You still have access to use your credit accounts and monitor your credit even with a freeze.
How to freeze your credit report at Equifax for free
Equifax offers three options for freezing your credit report.
Online
Freezing your credit report online through Equifax’s website is the fastest way. To do this, create a myEquifax account. All you need to create this account is your name, address, social security number, date of birth, and identity verification information.
Via Phone
To freeze your account via phone on Equifax call the number 800-349-9960. When you request a freeze by phone, you will have your PIN mailed to you.
By Mail
You can also freeze your credit report by downloading and mailing in the appropriate forms. This you can do by sending the completed paperwork to Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788. Send through certified mail to enable you to have proof that your forms were mailed and you can check to see when they’re received.
You’ll be required to provide any of these documents to validate your identity when you’re freezing your credit ;
- 1099 form
- Birth certificate
- Military ID
- Valid driver’s license
- Social Security card
- Paystub
- W2 form
- Court documents for a legal name change
- Passport
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree
- State ID.
One of this item will also be needed to validate your address:
- Paystub
- Mortgage statement
- Valid driver’s license
- Utility bill with the accurate address (gas, water, cable, residential phone bill)
- Cell phone bill
- W2 form
- 1099 form
- Rental lease agreement/house deed
- State ID
- Bank statement
The federal law states that it can take no more than one business day for your freeze to take effect when you request for it online or by phone. For a request done via mail, it takes no more than three business days.
Immediately Equifax gets your forms and identifying documentation by mail, it may take up to three business days for the freeze to become effective.
Freezing a Minor’s Equifax Credit Report
Parents can freeze credit reports for children under age 16 to keep their identities safe from being used fraudulently. To do this, you are to complete the Minor Freeze Request Form and offer information for the person whose credit you want to freeze. You must show, that you have the authority to request the freeze. Minors who are 16 or 17, may request their own security freeze via phone or mail.
How To Lift and Unfreeze Your Credit Report
Once you’re ready to apply for a loan or credit card, you will have to temporarily lift the freeze, to enable the lender to pull your credit report.
Final Thought
Note that, freezing your credit report, does not offer protection from all types of fraud. Accounts with businesses that do not use a major credit bureau may still be susceptible to thieves. Other types of fraud like taking over a credit card account, or filing taxes in your name may also still be committed.
Businesses that you already have a relationship with, will still have access to your credit information.
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