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A credit freeze is one of the strongest free tools available for preventing someone from opening a new credit account in your name. It is useful after a data breach or identity-theft scare, but you do not need to wait for a problem. Any adult can freeze their credit at any time.
The process is less intimidating than it sounds. Set aside about 20 minutes, gather a few pieces of information, and work through the three major credit bureaus one at a time.
What a credit freeze actually does
A credit freeze, sometimes called a security freeze, limits access to your credit file. Most lenders will not approve a new credit card or loan without reviewing that file, so the freeze makes it much harder for an identity thief to open a new account in your name.
A freeze does not close your existing credit cards, stop you from using them, or lower your credit score. It also does not prevent you from checking your own credit report.
There is an important limitation: a freeze mainly protects against new-account fraud. It cannot stop a thief from making unauthorized charges on an existing card or withdrawing money from a compromised bank account. Continue reviewing statements and account alerts even after your credit is frozen.
Before you begin
You must place a freeze separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. For a smoother session, have the following nearby:
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
- Your current address and, if applicable, a recent previous address
- Access to your email and mobile phone
- A secure place to save confirmation details
Start from the official bureau websites listed at the end of this article. Avoid links in unexpected emails or text messages. Scammers sometimes imitate financial websites, so type the address yourself or use a trusted government link.
Step 1: Freeze your Equifax report
Open the official Equifax security-freeze page and follow the identity-verification steps. You may be asked questions based on your credit history. Complete the freeze request and save the confirmation.
Step 2: Freeze your Experian report
Next, visit the official Experian freeze center. Create or access your account, verify your identity, and place the freeze. Save the confirmation separately from the first one so you can identify which bureau issued it.
Step 3: Freeze your TransUnion report
Finish at the official TransUnion freeze page. After completing the request, confirm that the report shows as frozen and save the relevant account or confirmation information.
A freeze at only one bureau is incomplete. A lender might check one of the other two reports, so protection requires completing all three.
Create a simple “credit freeze record”
Keep a short record with the date, the three bureau names, and where you securely stored the login or confirmation information. Do not leave passwords or Social Security numbers on a note beside your computer.
A password manager is useful. A paper record can also work if it is kept in a locked home file. The goal is to make the information available to you without making it easy for someone else to find.
What happens when you need new credit?
You do not have to permanently remove a freeze. When applying for a mortgage, auto loan, credit card, or another product that requires a credit check, you can temporarily lift it.
Ask the lender which bureau it will use. If the lender can tell you, you may need to lift only that bureau’s freeze. Otherwise, temporarily lift all three for a specific period and refreeze them afterward. Online or telephone requests must generally be completed quickly; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says a temporary lift requested through secure electronic means or by phone must occur within one hour.
Credit freeze, fraud alert, or credit lock?
These terms sound similar, but they are not identical.
- Credit freeze: Blocks prospective creditors from accessing your credit file. It is free, does not affect your credit score, and remains until you lift it.
- Fraud alert: Tells businesses to take steps to verify your identity before opening new credit. An initial alert lasts one year. Contacting one bureau is enough; that bureau must notify the other two.
- Credit lock: A bureau product that may be bundled with a paid service. The CFPB notes that a paid lock is no more effective than the free security freeze you have a right to request.
If you suspect identity theft, a fraud alert can be used in addition to a freeze. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan rather than relying on a company that contacted you unexpectedly.
Common questions
Will freezing my credit hurt my score?
No. Both the FTC and CFPB state that a security freeze does not affect your credit score.
Does it cost anything?
No. Placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a freeze are free under federal law.
Can I still use my credit cards?
Yes. A freeze focuses on access to your credit report for new applications. Existing accounts continue to work unless the issuer takes a separate action.
Should I pay a company to do this?
You can complete the process yourself for free. Be cautious with services that make a free security freeze sound like a paid requirement.
A useful once-a-year habit
Once your reports are frozen, add a yearly calendar reminder to check that all three freezes remain active, review your credit reports, and update your secure record if a bureau changes its sign-in process.
A credit freeze cannot prevent every kind of fraud, but it closes one major door. Twenty careful minutes now can make it substantially harder for someone else to borrow money in your name.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission: Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What Is a Credit Freeze?
- Federal Trade Commission: Understanding Your Credit
This article is for general educational purposes and is not individualized financial or legal advice.
