Lock Credit

The first step is to visit the websites for Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian and create a secure online account with each one. You cannot lock your credit reports until you have established and verified your identity with each bureau independently, as they do not share a central locking system.

To create these accounts, you will need to provide personal identifying information, including:

• Your full legal name
• Current and past addresses
• Date of birth
• Social Security number

You lock your credit by logging into your account at each bureau and using their specific lock function, which is usually a simple on/off toggle or button. Because each bureau operates independently, you must perform this action three separate times to fully secure your credit profile.

Here is the step-by-step process for each bureau:

1. 1Equifax: Log into your "myEquifax" account. Equifax provides a free service called "Lock & Alert." On your dashboard, you will see a toggle for your Equifax credit report. Slide it to the "Locked" position. When locked, it will be displayed in red.
2. 2TransUnion: Log into your TransUnion account. TransUnion offers its lock feature through its free "TrueIdentity" service. Once logged in, you will find a prominent "Credit Lock" button. Click it to lock your report; a confirmation will appear showing it is locked.
3. 3Experian: Log into your Experian account. Experian offers a "CreditLock" feature, which is part of its paid credit monitoring subscription, Experian CreditWorks℠. For a free option that provides the same protection, you can place a "Security Freeze" on your report through your Experian account dashboard.

A credit lock is a user-friendly feature offered directly by the bureaus for quickly restricting access to your report, while a credit freeze is a legally guaranteed right that provides the same protection but historically involved a slightly more formal process.

• Credit Lock: This is a product, not a legal right.
• Credit Freeze (or Security Freeze): This is your legal right under federal law.

For most people, a free security freeze provides identical protection to a paid credit lock. The primary benefit of a lock service is the marketing and user interface, which may feel more convenient if you frequently lock and unlock your reports.

You should unlock your credit report immediately before you apply for a loan or new line of credit and then lock it again as soon as the lender has completed their credit check. Leaving your credit unlocked unnecessarily exposes you to potential fraud.

Follow this order of operations:

1. 1Start Your Application: Begin the application for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or rental apartment.
2. 2Ask the Lender: Ask the loan officer or agent which credit bureau(s) they will use to pull your report. They may use one, two, or all three.
3. 3Temporarily Unlock: Log into the account(s) for the specific bureau(s) the lender named. Use the app or website to temporarily unlock or lift the freeze on your report. The change is almost always instantaneous.
4. 4Confirm the Pull: Wait for the lender to confirm they have successfully accessed your credit report.
5. 5Re-Lock Immediately: As soon as the lender is done, log back into the bureau accounts and re-lock your credit. Do not wait for the loan to be approved or finalized.

• The Incomplete Lock: Locking your credit with Equifax and TransUnion but not Experian leaves you vulnerable.
• Paying Needlessly: Many consumers pay for a monthly subscription service just to get an app-based "credit lock" when a federally mandated "credit freeze" is available for free from all three bureaus and offers the same level of security.
• Forgetting to Unlock: Applying for a new credit card or loan while your credit is locked will result in an automatic denial or a delay, as the lender cannot access your file to make a decision.

Does locking my credit affect my credit score?

No, locking or freezing your credit report does not impact your credit score in any way. The action only controls access to your report for new credit applications; it does not alter the information within the report.

Is it free to lock my credit?

Equifax and TransUnion offer free credit lock services. Experian's instant "CreditLock" feature is typically included in its paid subscription services.

How do I know if my credit is locked?

Can I still use my existing credit cards if my credit is locked?

Yes. A credit lock or freeze only prevents lenders from accessing your report to open new accounts.