Freezing your credit in Wisconsin is a straightforward process, and thanks to a 2018 change in federal law, it is completely free for everyone. Prior to this law, Wisconsinites were charged a $10 fee per bureau, but that is no longer the case. To fully protect your credit, **you must request a freeze at all three major credit bureaus separately**. Freezing your credit at one bureau does not automatically freeze it at the other two. Here is exactly how to go about it: ### Step 1: Gather Your Information Before contacting the bureaus, make sure you have the following information on hand to verify your identity: - Your full legal name - Your Social Security Number - Your date of birth - Your current address, as well as any other addresses you've lived at over the past two years - If doing this by mail, you may also need copies of a government-issued ID and a utility bill. ### Step 2: Contact the Three Major Bureaus The fastest and easiest way to freeze your credit is online or by phone. By law, if you request a freeze online or over the phone, the bureaus must place the freeze within one business day (though it is often immediate). **1. Experian** - **Online:** [experian.com/freeze](https://www.experian.com/freeze) - **Phone:** 1-888-397-3742 **2. Equifax** - **Online:** [equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/](https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/) - **Phone:** 1-800-685-1111 **3. TransUnion** - **Online:** [transunion.com/credit-freeze](https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze) - **Phone:** 1-888-909-8872 ### Step 3: Save Your PINs/Passwords When you set up your accounts and freeze your credit, each bureau will provide you with a PIN, password, or direct you to create an online account. **Keep this information in a very safe place.** You will need it whenever you want to lift the freeze. ### Optional: Freeze Checking & Savings Account Reports While the big three bureaus handle credit cards and loans, you can also place a freeze with **ChexSystems**, which monitors checking and savings accounts. This stops thieves from opening bank accounts in your name. - **Online:** [chexsystems.com](https://www.chexsystems.com/) - **Phone:** 1-800-887-7652 ### How to Unfreeze (Thaw) Your Credit Later If you need to apply for a new loan, mortgage, or credit card, you can easily "thaw" your credit. - **Cost:** Free. - **Timeframe:** If requested online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour. - **Options:** You can choose a *permanent thaw* (leaving it open indefinitely) or a *temporary thaw* (setting it to open for a specific window of time, like 48 hours, before it automatically freezes again).