Freezing Equifax, Experian and TransUnion only blocks lenders that pull those three files. The secondary consumer reporting agencies — Innovis, NCTUE, LexisNexis/SageStream, ChexSystems, TeleCheck and CoreLogic Teletrack — feed utilities, phone carriers, banks, insurers and check acceptance. Freezing each one is free, takes about 45 minutes total, and closes the gaps fraudsters actually use.
Why the Big Three Are Not Enough
A credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion stops most new loans and credit cards. It does not stop someone opening a cell phone account, turning on electricity, opening a checking account or writing checks in your name, because those decisions run through different databases.
Those databases are consumer reporting agencies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which means you have the same rights against them — including a free security freeze. Most people never place one because the agencies are not household names.
Before you start: gather what each portal asks for
Every freeze request wants your full legal name, current and recent addresses, date of birth and Social Security number. Some ask identity-verification questions drawn from your credit history. Do these on a desktop browser, and save every confirmation number and PIN to your password manager — you will need them to lift a freeze later.
Step 1: Freeze Innovis
What it covers: Innovis is effectively the fourth national credit bureau. Some lenders and account-review processes pull it instead of, or alongside, the big three.
- Online: innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze
- Phone: 800-540-2505
- Cost: free
Innovis processes online freezes quickly and confirms by mail or email. Keep the confirmation — it contains the details needed to lift the freeze.
Step 2: Freeze NCTUE
What it covers: the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange holds account and payment history for phone, cable, satellite, internet and utility accounts. This is the file a fraudster hits when they open service in your name — one of the most common forms of identity theft precisely because nobody freezes it.
- Online: nctue.com/Consumers
- Phone: 866-349-5355
- Cost: free
NCTUE data is administered by Equifax, but an Equifax freeze does not cover it. It is a separate request.
Step 3: Freeze LexisNexis (This Also Covers SageStream)
What it covers: LexisNexis Risk Solutions compiles one of the deepest personal dossiers in the country — addresses, relatives, property, vehicles, liens and more — and sells it to insurers, banks and investigators. SageStream, LLC is an alternative credit bureau now part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
- Online: consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/freeze
- Cost: free to place, lift or remove
- Bonus: one request covers both your LexisNexis consumer disclosure report and your SageStream consumer report — you do not need a separate SageStream submission.
Note the boundary: a freeze here applies to LexisNexis and SageStream only, not to Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. While you are on the LexisNexis site, consider filing its separate opt-out request as well — the freeze limits report release, the opt-out limits marketing and non-FCRA uses.
Step 4: Freeze ChexSystems
What it covers: ChexSystems is what banks and credit unions check before opening a checking or savings account. A freeze here stops someone opening a deposit account in your name to move stolen funds.
- Online: the security freeze section of chexsystems.com
- Phone: 800-887-7652
- Cost: free
If you plan to open a bank account soon, place the freeze afterward — or expect to lift it temporarily.
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Step 5: Freeze TeleCheck
What it covers: TeleCheck (part of Fiserv) is the check-acceptance network retailers use to decide whether to take your check. Fraudulent check writing in your name shows up here.
- Online: the consumer assistance portal at getassistance.telecheck.com, where you can open a request for a freeze or file a fraud report
- Fraud, identity theft or forgery line: 800-710-9898
- Declined check inquiries: 800-366-2425
- Cost: free
Step 6: Freeze CoreLogic Teletrack
What it covers: Teletrack, operated by CoreLogic, is the reporting network for alternative and subprime lending — payday loans, rent-to-own, installment lenders. Fraud rings favor these channels precisely because the big-three freeze does not reach them.
- Online: teletrackfreeze.corelogic.com (also reachable via consumers.teletrack.com/freeze)
- Cost: free
CoreLogic also maintains rental screening data, which landlords pull — worth knowing if you are about to apply for housing.
One More: The Work Number
Equifax's The Work Number holds detailed salary and employment records for a large share of US workers and is used in employment identity fraud and benefits fraud. It is frozen separately from your Equifax credit file — see our guide on freezing The Work Number.
A freeze is not removal
Freezing stops these agencies from releasing your report to a new creditor. It does not delete the underlying profile, and it does nothing about the people-search sites publishing your address, phone number and relatives — the raw material used to answer identity-verification questions and lift a freeze fraudulently. Run a free PrivacyOn scan to see which brokers are publishing your details, then remove them from 100+ sites with 24/7 monitoring, from $8.33/month.
Keep a Record
Store every confirmation number, PIN and portal login in your password manager under a single note. When you apply for a mortgage, a car loan or a new utility account, you will need to lift the right freeze quickly — and the agency that blocked the application usually tells the lender its name, so you will know which one to thaw.
Re-check annually. Agencies merge and rebrand (SageStream folding into LexisNexis is the recent example), and a freeze placed at an acquired company can need re-confirmation under the new parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to freeze the secondary credit bureaus?
Yes. Under federal law, security freezes with consumer reporting agencies are free to place, temporarily lift and remove. Innovis, NCTUE, LexisNexis/SageStream, ChexSystems, TeleCheck and CoreLogic Teletrack all process freezes at no cost. Anyone charging you a fee to place one is reselling a free process.
Does freezing Equifax also freeze NCTUE or The Work Number?
No. Equifax administers NCTUE data and operates The Work Number, but each is a separate file with a separate freeze request. Freezing your Equifax credit report leaves both open unless you file individually.
Do I need to freeze SageStream separately from LexisNexis?
No. SageStream, LLC is part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and a freeze filed through the LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center applies to both your LexisNexis consumer disclosure report and your SageStream consumer report. One request at consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/freeze covers both.
Will these freezes hurt my credit score or block my own accounts?
No. A freeze has no effect on your credit score and does not interfere with existing accounts, existing lenders reviewing your file, or your own access to your reports. It only blocks new report releases to companies you have not authorized.
How do I lift a freeze when I need credit?
Use the same portal or phone number with your confirmation number or PIN and request a temporary lift, specifying a date range or the requesting company. Online lifts are usually effective within an hour. If an application is declined, the notice names the agency involved, so you know exactly which freeze to thaw.
What else should I do after freezing everything?
Remove the public data that makes identity fraud possible in the first place. Data brokers and people-search sites publish your address history, phone numbers, relatives and approximate age — the exact answers to identity-verification questions. PrivacyOn removes your information from 100+ of those sites, monitors 24/7 for re-listings and includes dark web alerts, from $8.33/month. Start with a free scan to see what is exposed right now.