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Rebecca Safier, CCC, is a personal finance writer. Her work has been published in U.S. News & World Report, MarketWatch, NextAdvisor, Yahoo Finance, and other publications, and she has contributed expert commentary to Entrepreneur, Money.com, NBC, and more. When she's not covering all things personal finance, Rebecca teaches blogging strategies on her website, Remote Bliss.
A credit freeze, or security freeze, is a free tool that restricts access to your credit report to help prevent identity theft.
To fully protect your credit, you need to place a freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®.
Freezing your credit doesn't impact your credit score, and you can temporarily or permanently lift the freeze anytime you need to apply for new credit.
While a freeze blocks new creditors from accessing your credit report, your existing creditors, debt collectors, and some government agencies will still have access.
If you're worried about identity theft, a credit freeze can give you peace of mind. Think of it as a padlock on your credit report — it stops thieves from applying for a credit card, taking out a loan, or opening any other new accounts in your name.
A credit freeze is a powerful tool to protect your financial information, and the best part is it's completely free. Let's walk through what a credit freeze is, how to set one up, and when it makes sense for you.
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, is a way to restrict access to your credit report. When you freeze your credit, most lenders and credit card companies can't view your credit history. This offers identity theft protection, as it's a roadblock for thieves who may be trying to open a new account in your name.1
A credit freeze also stops businesses from checking your credit. If you're applying for a job, renting an apartment, or shopping for insurance, you may need to lift the credit freeze temporarily to allow access to your report.2
At the same time, a credit freeze won't stop everyone from seeing your credit information. Your current creditors or debt collectors can still check your file, and government agencies can also get access with a court order, subpoena, or search warrant. You may also still get prescreened for new credit offers.3
While a credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, rest assured that it won't affect your credit score.
Ready to freeze your credit? It's a straightforward process, but you have to do it individually with each of the three main credit bureaus.
To verify your identity, you'll need to provide personal information like your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.
You can contact each bureau online, by phone, or by mail. Here are the details for the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax: Visit the Equifax Credit Report Services page or call 800-685-1111
Experian: Visit the Experian Security Freeze Center or call 888-397-3742
TransUnion: Visit the TransUnion Credit Freeze page or call 888-909-8872
Some people also choose to freeze their reports at two smaller bureaus, Innovis and the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), for extra protection. Here's their contact information:
Innovis: Visit the Innovis Security Freeze page online or call 800-540-2505
National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange: Visit the NCTUE Exchange Service Center page online or call 866-349-5355
You may need to set up an account online with a username and password to place a credit bureau freeze.
When you need to apply for a new loan, credit card, or anything else that requires a credit check, you'll need to "thaw" or unfreeze your credit. Just like freezing, unfreezing credit is free and you have to contact each bureau where you have a freeze.
You have a couple of options: you can lift the credit freeze for a specific period (like a week while you are car shopping), or you can remove it permanently. If you make the request online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour. If you do it by mail, it can take up to three business days.1
Freezing your credit is a smart move if you've noticed warning signs of identity theft, such as:
You were notified that your information was part of a data breach
You see strange inquiries on your credit report that you don't recognize
You receive bills or collection notices for accounts you never opened
On the flip side, it may not be a good time to freeze your credit if you're in the middle of applying for a mortgage, car loan, or new credit card. In that case, wait until your application is approved. After that, you can place the freeze without interfering with your application.
While they sound similar, a credit freeze and a fraud alert are not the same. A credit freeze locks down your credit report, preventing new lenders from accessing it.
A fraud alert, on the other hand, is like a red flag on your credit report. It tells creditors and businesses to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, but it doesn't block them from seeing your report.4
Fraud alerts are also free and last for one year, though you can get an extended alert if you're a victim of identity theft.
Along with credit freezes and fraud alerts, there are some other ways to protect your credit from fraudsters. Here are some steps you can take:
Monitor your credit and bank account activity regularly
Create strong passwords for your online accounts
Use different usernames and passwords across your accounts
Be wary of when and how much personal information you provide
Don't check financial accounts on public WiFi
Credit monitoring services are often free and allow you to keep tabs on month-to-month changes to your credit reports. This can help keep your credit score going strong.
Understanding how to protect your credit can feel like a big task, but credit freezes make it easy. A credit freeze is a simple, free, and effective way to take control and guard against fraud. Now that you know how it works, you can use this tool to prevent identity theft and give yourself financial peace of mind.
To understand how credit freezes compare to other security measures, see our guide on credit freeze vs. credit lock.
A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. It's purely a security measure.
Freezing your credit is completely free. Thanks to a federal law, you can freeze, temporarily lift, and permanently remove a credit freeze at no cost.
A credit freeze and a credit lock are very similar, but a credit freeze is a right guaranteed by federal law. A credit lock is a service offered by the credit bureaus, often as part of a paid credit monitoring subscription. It usually offers more convenience through an app, but may not be free.
Yes, you can still use your credit cards when your credit is frozen. A credit freeze only stops new accounts from being opened. It doesn't affect any of your existing credit cards, loans, or bank accounts.
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