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 TransUnion. You’ll also want to be sure to put freezes in place with Experian and Equifax, which you can learn how to do here and here.
3 Ways to Place a Freeze on Your Credit With TransUnion
All three major credit bureaus, TransUnion included, allow you to freeze your credit online, by phone or by regular mail.
How to Reach TransUnion to Freeze Your Credit |
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| Online | By Phone | By Mail |
| TransUnion Credit Freeze page | (888) 909-8872 | TransUnion LLC P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 |
Freezing online is by far the easiest method, so we’ll start with that one.
How to Freeze Your Credit With TransUnion Online
In order to freeze your credit with TransUnion online, you’ll need to head here:
You will need to give TransUnion 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
- Last four digits of Social Security number
- Email address
- Mobile 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 be signed up for a TransUnion account. You can log in to the account 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 TransUnion via the Phone
The process of freezing your credit by phone is very similar to the process online. You will need to call:
- (888) 909-8872
The information you’ll be asked to provide will mirror the information listed above for the online process and you will be issued a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you can use in the future if you need to unfreeze your credit.
How to Freeze Your Credit With TransUnion by Mail
You can also freeze your credit by mail, but it’s going to involve a little more work. You’ll need to send a written request that includes your name, address and Social Security number to:
- TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Along with the written request, you should provide the following documents:
- One copy of a government issued identification card, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, etc.
- One copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc.
How to Unfreeze Your Credit With TransUnion
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 just need to sign in to your account.
- If you choose to call TransUnion to have your freeze lifted, you will be asked for your PIN, but if you don’t have one or remember it you can still unfreeze your credit by answering some challenge questions.
- 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 Equifax, too, or you won’t be fully protected!
