Freezing/Locking Credit Reports

[BmoreBull]

So I've been gardening for the last month or so and wanted to lock my reports. Just to make it an extra step that I would have to take if I was tempted to apply for something. So I would have to take the time to unlock my reports, which in turn make me think harder about what I was doing. I have been using Experian ever since I started my rebuild and to be able to lock your report on there, you have to have one of the paid subscriptions. I joined up on the Transunion web site and became a member and used their tool to lock both TU and EQ. This morning I see they charged me $26. It's hard to see what you are even signing up for on their site. So my question is, is there no free way to be able to lock your reports? If that's the way it is that's fine and I'll just leave them locked and pay again when I want them unlocked. But, I don't want to pay for ongoing subscriptions. Especially not to TU just to see a Vantage score that I get from Credit Karma for free. Thanks in advance.

[AllZero]

---

@CreditInspired wrote:

Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Credit Bureau	Online	By phone	By mail
	Visit: Equifax Credit Freeze page	1-800-685-1111 (NY residents call 1-800-349-9960)	Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348
	Visit: Experian Credit Freeze page	1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742)	Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013
	Visit: TransUnion Credit Freeze page	1-888-909-8872	TransUnion LLC, P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016

I found this on https://clark.com/credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

---

[AllZero]

Freeze is free.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

Put em on ice

[BmoreBull]

Thanks everyone for the answers. I'll unlock them and freeze them. Thanks again. As always, still learning. 

[AllZero]

---

@BmoreBull wrote:

Thanks everyone for the answers. I'll unlock them and freeze them. Thanks again. As always, still learning. 

---

You are welcome.

[blindambition]

Always better to freeze. You have legal protection with a freeze. I only use lock when freeze has been temporarily unfrozen.

[newmomnewme]

@AllZero Thank you!! I just got an HP for a CLI request that was supposed to be SP.....won't happen again.  

[AllZero]

---

@newmomnewme wrote:

@AllZero Thank you!! I just got an HP for a CLI request that was supposed to be SP.....won't happen again.  

---

@newmomnewme. Glad you found the link to freeze your reports.