Warning
Not all credit card companies will allow you to put your credit card account on hold.
Tip
Keep your credit card in a secure location and away from unknown third parties. Place higher interest credit cards on hold first and pay down the balances for the greatest reduction in interest fees. Place a hold on your credit reports by contacting the three major credit bureaus at:
Equifax P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 800-685-1111 Equifax.com
Experian P.O. Box 9595 Allen, TX 75013-9595 888-397-3742 Experian.com
TransUnion P.O. Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022 800-888-4213 TransUnion.com
You can temporarily suspend a credit card account for a specific period of time by placing a courtesy hold on the account. You must contact your credit card company to make the request and identify yourself as the cardholder or an authorized user on the account. Once your request for a hold is approved, you no longer have access to your revolving line of credit until the hold is either removed or canceled.
Step 1
Call your credit card company's toll-free number, which you can find on the back of your credit card or on a billing statement. Enter your PIN number or password. Verify your full name (as it appears on your credit card), Social Security number, date of birth and current mailing address (as it appears on your billing statement).
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Step 2
Ask to place a hold or freeze on your credit card account. Explain why you require the hold. For example, explain that you are placing a hold on the account as part of a debt management plan. Other common explanations include the suspected loss of a card.
Step 3
Give an effective start and end date for the hold. Your credit card company may or may not permit you to modify these dates, so inquire about restrictions before selecting a start and end date.
Step 4
Pay your minimum balance on time. Placing a credit card account on hold does not waive your minimum balance. Failure to pay your minimum balance on time can result in late fees.
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