How do I temporarily lift a credit freeze?

Log in to your TransUnion Service Center account and select 'Temporarily Lift Freeze' to schedule a lift up to 15 days in advance. It is free to lift a freeze, and you can also do it by phone at 800-916-8800.

How do I add or remove a credit freeze for a minor or incapacitated adult?

You can add or remove a Protected Consumer Freeze for a minor or incapacitated adult by submitting a written request by mail. You must include documentation proving your authority, such as a birth certificate or power of attorney.

How do I remove a credit freeze?

The quickest way to remove a freeze is online through the TransUnion Service Center. You can also remove it by phone at 800-916-8800 or by mail. Freeze removals are free.

Can I add or remove a credit freeze for my spouse?

Yes, spouses can manage freezes for each other by calling TransUnion at 888-909-8872 and passing the required identity authentication.

How do I update credit information for a deceased relative?

While you cannot freeze a deceased family member’s credit report, you can update their file to show as deceased. This notifies creditors who attempt to pull the report.

How do I know if my child is a victim of identity theft?

Check for signs such as suspicious mail in the child's name or denied financial accounts. You can use TransUnion’s Child Identity Theft Inquiry Form to see if a credit file exists in their name.

Is there a fee for a TransUnion credit freeze?

No. TransUnion offers credit freezes, removals, and temporary lifts for free. You can manage your freeze status as often as needed at no cost.

If I freeze with TransUnion, do I need to freeze with other bureaus?

Yes. A TransUnion freeze only covers your TransUnion report. You must also contact Equifax and Experian individually to place freezes on your credit files with them.

How long does it take for a credit freeze to go into effect?

Freezes placed online or by phone typically take effect almost immediately. Mailed requests may take up to three business days from the date TransUnion receives the request.

What is the difference between a credit freeze and a credit lock?

A credit freeze is a free service mandated by law. A credit lock is often a feature of paid monitoring services. Both prevent lenders from opening new accounts in your name.

Credit Freeze

A credit freeze (also called a security freeze or a credit lock) prevents access to your credit information for specific credit-related purposes set out in legislation. It’s free to place, suspend or remove — available to consumers in Ontario and Quebec.

Add Freeze

Lift Freeze

What a Freeze Does

(Only available to consumers in Ontario and Quebec.)

A consumer can place a credit freeze (also called a security freeze or a credit lock) on their credit file to prevent access to their credit information for specific credit-related purposes set out in legislation.

When a credit freeze is in effect, a consumer reporting agency must not disclose any credit or personal information about the consumer, including any consumer scores, for the following credit‑related purposes:

Entering into a new credit agreement (including for a mortgage for real property)

Increasing credit under an existing agreement

Entering into a long-term contract for a lease of goods (for example, a car lease)

Entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone)

Please note companies will still be able to access credit information for other purposes even when there is a credit freeze on a credit file.

Start the freeze process

Step 1 — Online Access

The easiest and quickest way to place a freeze is through our online site at ocs.transunion.ca.

Step 2 — Add your freeze

Place your freeze online or by phone and it takes effect in real time. Mail requests can take up to 30 days.

Step 3 — Lift or remove when you need to

Applying for credit? Remove your freeze online or by phone in real time, then re-add it whenever you choose. Mail requests can take up to 30 days.

Step 4 — Remember Equifax

Unfortunately, TransUnion does not share information with Equifax. Contact the company separately to freeze your Equifax credit file.

Learn More About Credit Freeze

Is it free?

No fee. TransUnion Canada does not charge consumers to place, suspend or remove a credit freeze on their credit file.

Will it affect my credit score?

No, a credit freeze does not affect your credit score.

Can I still apply for credit?

Yes — but you will need to temporarily suspend the freeze or remove it before applying.

Freeze or lock — what’s the difference?

In Canada, there is no distinction between a credit freeze and credit lock; both implement the security freeze rights set out in legislation.

Who is eligible?

Consumers in Ontario and Quebec.

How fast does it take effect?

Online or by phone, in real time. By mail, up to 30 days from the date TransUnion receives the request.

Temporary Suspension and Blocked Inquiries

Beginning July 1, 2027, you will be able to set the date for a temporary suspension of your credit file. If you need to apply for credit, you can lift the credit freeze for the duration you specify and it will be reinstated at expiration of the time frame you specify. During suspension, the freeze is not in effect. Until July 1, 2027, you can remove the credit freeze from your file and re-add the credit freeze at your discretion.

Blocked inquiries are placed on a credit file when an attempt was made to access the credit file, but no information was returned due to the credit freeze on your file. Blocked inquiries are listed on your consumer disclosure to let you know when TransUnion received a request for your information, but TransUnion was not able to provide any information to that company because a credit freeze was on your credit file.

If you see a company listed as a blocked inquiry and do not recall authorizing that company to attempt to access your information, please contact it directly to identify what authorization it obtained to access your information. Contact numbers are provided for each organization listed that was blocked from accessing the information in your file.

Get started with a free credit freeze through our online consumer service, where you can:

Add, suspend or remove a credit freeze on your TransUnion credit file in real time
View and download your free consumer disclosure
Add a fraud alert to help protect your identity
Submit a dispute if you find any inaccuracies on your credit report

Create your account

The easiest and quickest way to place a credit freeze on your file is through our online site at ocs.transunion.ca.

Alternatively, you may contact TransUnion to request a credit freeze by mail or by phone, but please note the mail method can take up to 30 days to implement.

By Phone: 1-800-663-9980

By Mail:

TransUnion Canada

P.O Box 338, LCD1

Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2

Please note you must provide identification documents so we can verify your identity before placing the freeze on your file.

By placing a credit freeze on your credit file by phone or online at ocs.transunion.ca, it will be added in real time.

If you request a credit freeze by mail, it could take up to 30 days from the date TransUnion receives the request to add the credit freeze. In this case, you would receive correspondence once it has been added.

Please note you will need to contact the other main credit reporting agency, Equifax, to place a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.

Beginning July 1, 2027, you will be able to set the date for a temporary suspension of your credit file. If you need to apply for credit, you can lift the credit freeze for the duration you specify and the freeze will be reinstated at expiration of the time frame you specify. During suspension, the freeze is not in effect.

Until July 1, 2027, you can remove the credit freeze from your file and re-add the credit freeze at your discretion.

The easiest and quickest way to remove a credit freeze from your file is through our online site at ocs.transunion.ca. Alternatively, you may contact TransUnion to request removal of a credit freeze by mail or by phone, but please note the mail method can take up to 30 days to implement. By Phone: 1-800-663-9980

By Mail:

TransUnion Canada

P.O Box 338, LCD1

Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2

Please note you must provide identification documents so we can verify your identity before terminating the freeze.

By removing a credit freeze on your credit file by phone or online at ocs.transunion.ca, it will be removed in real time.

If you request a credit freeze removal by mail, it could take up to 30 days from the date TransUnion receives the request to remove the credit freeze. In this case, you would receive correspondence once it has been removed.

Please note you will need to contact the other main credit reporting agency, Equifax, to remove a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.

Your credit freeze remains on your file until you ask to suspend or terminate it.

No. Once you remove a credit freeze from your credit file, it will remain unfrozen until you submit a request to add a new credit freeze to your credit file. The feature for automatic reinstatement (also called a temporal suspension) will be in place July 1, 2027.

No. TransUnion Canada does not charge consumers to place, suspend or remove a credit freeze on their credit file.

Unfortunately, TransUnion does not share information with Equifax. You will need to contact the company directly to request a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.

No, a credit freeze does not affect your credit score. It simply prevents creditors from accessing your credit information for the following purposes:

Entering into a new credit agreement (including for a mortgage for real property)

Increasing credit under an existing agreement

Entering into a long-term contract for a lease of goods (for example, a car lease)

Entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone)

If you have a credit freeze on your TransUnion credit file, your credit file and personal information will not be provided to a company that is trying to access your credit information for the following purposes:

Assessing you for new or additional credit (including for a mortgage for real property)

Entering into a long-term contract for a least of goods (for example, a car lease)

Entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone)

Companies accessing your credit file for other reasons will still be able to access your credit information if there is a credit freeze on your file. These exemptions include non-credit related reasons, such as tenancy, insurance underwriting, and account reviews/monitoring.

ID is only required if the request is sent via mail. We require copies of two pieces of ID: one must be primary and one can be secondary (Consumer Disclosure | TransUnion Canada). To place, suspend or remove a security freeze by phone or online, your identity will need to be verified through our standard authentication processes.

Credit Freeze

What a Freeze Does