Freezing your credit with all three major credit bureaus is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself against identity theft and stop criminals from opening lines of credit in your name, according to money expert Clark Howard.
In this article, we’ll show you how to place a security freeze on your credit with Equifax. You’ll also want to be sure to put freezes in place with Experian and TransUnion, which you can learn how to do here and here.
3 Ways to Place a Freeze on Your Credit With Equifax
All three major credit bureaus, Equifax included, allow you to freeze your credit online, by phone or by regular mail.
| Online | By Phone | By Mail |
| Equifax Credit Freeze page | (888) 298-0045 | Equifax Information Services, LLC P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348 |
Freezing online is by far the easiest method, so we’ll start with that one.
How to Freeze Your Credit With Equifax Online
In order to freeze your credit with Equifax online, you’ll need to head here:
You will need to give Equifax some information in order to prove your identity. This includes your:
- Name
- Previous name, if applicable
- Address for the last two years
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Mobile/Phone number
You will also likely be asked some questions about prior places of residence and credit accounts you may have or have had in the past. This is all to ensure that you are actually the one requesting the freeze.
Once you have proven your identity, you will have created a myEquifax account, which you can log in to if you ever need to lift the freeze either temporarily or permanently. Note that you may need to lift the freeze if you are applying for credit in the future.
How to Freeze Your Credit With Equifax via the Phone
The process of freezing your credit by phone is very similar to the process online. You will need to call:
- (888) 298-0045
The information you’ll be asked to provide will mirror the information listed above for the online process. You’ll 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.
How to Freeze Your Credit With Equifax by Mail
You can also freeze your credit by mail, but it’s going to involve a little more work. You’ll need to download this form and send it to:
- Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Along with the form, you’ll need to provide the following documents:
- A copy of your Social Security card OR a copy of a pay stub with Social Security number OR a copy of a W2 or 1099 form
- A copy of your driver’s license or state identification card OR a copy of your rental lease agreement/house deed OR a copy of your pay stub with address OR a copy of a utility bill (gas, electric, water, cable, residential telephone bill)
How to Unfreeze Your Credit With Equifax
As mentioned earlier, if you need to apply for credit after you place a freeze on your file, you’ll need to lift the freeze. This can also be done online, by phone or via the mail. However, what’s required to unfreeze your credit varies depending on which method you use:
- If you unfreeze your credit online, you’ll need to sign in to your myEquifax account
- If you choose to call Equifax to have your freeze lifted, you’ll have to answer some questions to prove your identity and have the option to receive a one-time PIN by text message or answer questions based on information in your Equifax credit report.
- If you request to lift your credit freeze by mail, you will be required to supply the same types of documentation you provided if you placed the freeze by mail, along with a written request to lift the freeze.
Final Thought
Freezing your credit is not a difficult process — especially if you do it online — and it’s mostly the same with all three bureaus. Just don’t forget to do it with Experian and TransUnion, too, or you won’t be fully protected!
