- When you want to prevent access to your Equifax credit report for the purposes of opening credit in your name.
What you need to know
If I don’t create an account or if I’m under 18, are there other ways I can place a security freeze?
You must be 18 to create a myEquifax™ account.
Visit Customer Care to learn how to submit requests by phone or mail.
Parents, legal guardians, or others with Power of Attorney can place a security freeze on the Equifax credit reports of minors under the age of 16.
A security freeze is one step you can take to help prevent access to your Equifax credit report to open credit accounts, with certain exceptions. Freezes are federally regulated. To freeze your other credit reports, you will need to contact Experian and TransUnion directly.
Before applying for credit, you will need to lift your security freeze so that potential creditors can access your Equifax credit report. At Equifax, you can manage your freeze online with your username and password after creating a myEquifax account.
You can also manage your freeze by phone: call us at (888) 298-0045. You'll be required to give certain information to verify your identity. You'll also have the option to receive a one-time PIN by text message or answer questions based on information in your Equifax credit report for identity verification. Placing, lifting and removing a security freeze is free.
To place a security freeze on the Equifax credit report of an active duty military service member, you will need to submit proof of their identity, along with yours, and proof that you are their authorized representative. Download and follow the instructions on the Military Families Freeze Request form.
To place a security freeze on the Equifax credit report of a minor (under the age of 16), you will need to submit proof of their identity, along with yours, and proof that you are their authorized representative. Download and follow the instructions on the Minor Freeze Request form.
To place a security freeze on the Equifax credit report of an incapacitated adult, you will need to submit proof of their identity, along with yours, and proof that you are their authorized representative. Download and follow the instructions on the Incapacitated Adult Freeze Request form.
In order to add a security freeze to the TransUnion or Experian credit reports of an incapacitated adult or a minor, you will need to contact those bureaus directly.
Identity theft is committed when someone steals your personal information, typically to hijack your credit and use it to open up new credit accounts.
Each can help you better protect your personal information, but they aren’t the same. Here’s a closer look at how they function.
Sometimes consumers cannot completely protect themselves from the sophisticated tactics identity thieves use to get their hands on sensitive personal and financial information.
Placing a security freeze on your Equifax credit report will prevent access to it by certain third parties. Freezing your Equifax credit report will not prevent access to your credit report at any other credit reporting agency. Entities that may still have access to your Equifax credit report include: companies like Equifax Global Consumer Solutions, which provide you with access to your credit report or credit score, or monitor your credit report as part of a subscription or similar service; companies that provide you with a copy of your credit report or credit score, upon your request; federal, state and local government agencies and courts in certain circumstances; companies using the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance, or for employment, tenant or background screening purposes; companies that have a current account or relationship with you, and collection agencies acting on behalf of those whom you owe; companies that authenticate a consumer's identity for purposes other than granting credit, or for investigating or preventing actual or potential fraud; and companies that wish to make pre-approved offers of credit or insurance to you. To opt out of such pre-approved offers, visit www.optoutprescreen.com.
In connection with various settlements, Equifax is making at least six additional free Equifax credit reports each year available online to U.S. consumers on annualcreditreport.com until December 31, 2026. These reports are included in the free weekly Equifax credit reports currently offered on annualcreditreport.com through April 2021.