Credit Freeze Request Letter

A security freeze restricts access to your credit file, which means most new creditors and lenders can't view your report to open an account in your name — which is exactly what someone attempting identity theft needs to be able to do. It's free, doesn't affect your credit score, and can be lifted temporarily or permanently whenever you need to apply for credit yourself.

This isn't a dispute or a request that requires investigation — it's a direct instruction to the bureau, and each of the three bureaus maintains its own freeze, so protecting your file means contacting all three.

A freeze is worth requesting any time your personal information may be exposed, or simply as an ongoing precaution.

• You've been notified of a data breach involving your personal information
• You suspect or have confirmed identity theft
• You want a standing protection in place even without a specific incident
• You're not planning to apply for new credit in the near future, so the inconvenience of lifting it is low

Address the request to the specific bureau (dispute and freeze requests go to different addresses at each bureau, since they're processed by different units) and include your date of birth so the bureau can match the freeze to your file. You can also note any details relevant to the request, such as a breach notification you received.

• Send separate letters to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — a freeze with one bureau doesn't cover the others
• Use each bureau's dedicated security-freeze address, not its general dispute address
• Keep the confirmation or PIN each bureau sends back — you'll need it to lift the freeze later
• A freeze doesn't stop existing creditors from viewing your file for account reviews or collections on accounts you already have
• If you'll need credit soon (a mortgage, a new card), plan for the lifting process, which can take a few days by mail versus minutes online

The bureau may write back requesting additional identification before placing the freeze, since a mailed request has to be matched carefully against your file. Once placed, you'll typically receive a confirmation letter and instructions — often a PIN or password — for lifting it later, temporarily or permanently.