How to Freeze Your Credit: Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Identity

What Is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) restricts access to your credit report, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. When your credit is frozen, potential creditors cannot access your credit report, which means they cannot approve new credit applications.

Credit freezes are free under federal law. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 made credit freezes and unfreezes free at all three major credit bureaus. There is no time limit on how long a freeze can remain in place.

A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. Your score is calculated based on the information in your credit report, and a freeze does not change that information. A freeze also does not prevent you from applying for new credit; it just adds an extra step of temporarily lifting the freeze when you need to.

How to Freeze Your Credit

To freeze your credit, you need to contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can freeze online, by phone, or by mail with each bureau. Online freezing is the fastest and most convenient method.

When you freeze your credit, each bureau will provide you with a PIN or password that you will need to temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze. Store these PINs securely, as you will need them every time you want to apply for new credit.

The freeze takes effect immediately when placed online or by phone. If you freeze by mail, it takes effect within 3 business days of the bureau receiving your request. Once in place, the freeze remains until you choose to lift it.

When to Temporarily Lift Your Freeze

You need to temporarily lift your credit freeze (also called a thaw) when applying for new credit, such as a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan. Contact the bureau whose report the lender will check and request a temporary lift for a specific time period or for a specific creditor.

You can also provide a one-time access code to a specific creditor instead of lifting the freeze entirely. This allows that specific creditor to access your report while keeping the freeze in place for everyone else.

Plan ahead when you know you will need to apply for credit. Contact the credit bureaus at least a few days before your application to ensure the freeze is lifted in time. Online and phone requests are processed within 1 hour, while mail requests take 3 business days.

Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert

A fraud alert is different from a credit freeze. A fraud alert does not block access to your credit report. Instead, it requires creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. Fraud alerts last for 1 year (or 7 years for identity theft victims) and can be placed by contacting any one bureau.

A credit freeze provides stronger protection because it blocks access to your credit report entirely. However, it requires more management because you must lift it each time you apply for new credit. A fraud alert is more convenient but provides less protection.

For most people, a credit freeze is the better option. It provides maximum protection against identity theft, is free to place and remove, and the inconvenience of lifting it for legitimate credit applications is minimal. Consider placing a freeze even if you are not currently a victim of identity theft.