Credit freeze vs. fraud alert: which one you need
One blocks access entirely and is free. The other just adds a verification step.
A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. It's free, lasts a year (seven with an identity theft report), and you only have to place it with one bureau — that bureau notifies the others. It doesn't stop anyone from pulling your report.
A freeze does. With a freeze in place, no new lender can access your file at all, which makes opening an account in your name effectively impossible. It's free by federal law, must be placed with each bureau separately, and you can lift it temporarily whenever you're applying for something.
The rest of this is inside the portal
The step-by-step tactics, exact wording, and escalation sequence live in your Fix My Reports workspace, where they're applied to your own report items. Start with a $1 trial, then $50/month — cancel anytime.