A credit freeze—also called a security freeze—is an effective way to protect yourself against credit fraud. It’s free, simple to do, and has no impact on your credit score!
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, so others can’t view your credit history. For example, if someone applies for a loan or credit card in your name, the lender or credit card issuer won’t be able to access your credit report and will not approve the application.
Who can access your credit report during a freeze?
While your credit report is frozen, you can still access it—and also see your credit score. Your current creditors, debt collectors, certain government entities (e.g., those handling child support), and any credit-monitoring services you’ve subscribed to can also access your report. Additionally, marketers who want to send you offers may be able to view parts of your report.
Can you unfreeze your credit?
You can temporarily lift your credit freeze for a set period, and your report will automatically be frozen again afterward. You can also lift the freeze for a specific lender or credit card company, while keeping your credit report frozen for everyone else.
In addition to loan and credit applications, you may also need to lift the freeze for other situations. For example, if a landlord, potential employer, or insurance company needs to perform a credit check, you can lift the freeze for that organization for a short period of time.
You can lift your freeze as many times as you need, and you can also remove the credit freeze entirely whenever you want—all for no cost!
How do you freeze/unfreeze your credit?
You need to place a credit freeze with each of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can make the request online, by phone, or by mail.
- Freeze Your Credit: By law, each bureau must process phone and online requests within one business day. However, online requests are typically applied immediately. If you submit a request by mail, the bureau has three business days from the time of receipt to complete the freeze.
- Unfreeze Your Credit (Lift or Removal): Phone and online requests must be processed within an hour, but most online requests are completed within a few seconds to a few minutes. If you send a request by mail, the bureau has three business days from the time of receipt to process it.
Click below to freeze your credit report with each bureau:
- Equifax: Security Freeze
- Experian: Freeze Your Credit File for Free
- TransUnion: Credit Freeze
Can you place a credit freeze for others?
You can place a credit freeze on someone else’s behalf if you are their guardian, conservator, or hold a valid power of attorney. While children usually don’t have credit reports, you can freeze your child’s credit if they are under the age of 16. Note that freezing a child’s credit involves a different process than freezing an adult’s.
For more details on freezing credit for others, visit the credit bureaus’ websites.
Will a credit freeze prevent identity theft?
While a credit freeze makes it more difficult for scammers to open new accounts in your name, it doesn’t protect you from fraud that involves existing accounts, such as unauthorized charges on your credit cards. Additionally, it won’t stop identity thieves from using your information for other types of fraud. To fully protect yourself, it’s important to regularly monitor your credit report and your accounts. Also, be sure to use strong passwords, and be very careful when sharing personal information.
Do you want to learn more about credit freezes?
Visit the credit bureaus’ websites for more information:
- Equifax: equifax.com
- Experian: experian.com
- TransUnion: transunion.com
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