Last updated: June 2025
With identity theft affecting millions of Americans each year and data breaches becoming increasingly common, protecting your credit has never been more critical. A credit freeze is your strongest defense against new account fraud—and it’s completely free.
What Is a Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) locks your credit reports at all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When your credit is frozen, lenders cannot access your credit report to approve new accounts, effectively stopping identity thieves from opening credit cards, loans, or other accounts in your name.
Important: A credit freeze only prevents new accounts from being opened. It doesn’t affect your existing accounts or stop thieves from using cards you already have.
Why You Should Freeze Your Credit Today
Protection Against New Account Fraud
Credit freezes block approximately 95% of new account fraud attempts. Without access to your credit report, lenders cannot verify your creditworthiness and will deny applications.
It’s Completely Free
Since September 2018, federal law requires all credit freezes to be free for consumers. You can freeze and unfreeze your credit as many times as needed without any cost.
Peace of Mind
Once frozen, you control who can access your credit report. This puts you in the driver’s seat of your financial security.
Step-by-Step: How to Freeze Your Credit
You must freeze your credit separately at each of the three major credit bureaus. Here’s exactly how to do it:
1. Freeze Your Credit at Equifax
- Online: Visit freeze.equifax.com
- Phone: 1-800-349-9960
- What you’ll need: Full name, address, Social Security number, date of birth
2. Freeze Your Credit at Experian
- Online: Visit experian.com/freeze
- Phone: 1-888-397-3742
- What you’ll need: Same personal information as above
3. Freeze Your Credit at TransUnion
- Online: Visit transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Phone: 1-888-909-8872
- What you’ll need: Same personal information as above
What Happens After You Request a Freeze
- The bureau processes your request (usually within one business day for online requests)
- You receive a confirmation with a PIN or password
- Your credit report is frozen
- Save your PIN safely—you’ll need it to lift the freeze
How to Temporarily Lift (Thaw) Your Credit Freeze
When you need to apply for new credit, you can temporarily or permanently lift your freeze:
Temporary Lift Options
- Lift for a specific creditor: Give access to only one lender
- Lift for a set time period: 24 hours, one week, or longer
- Lift permanently: Remove the freeze entirely
How to Lift Your Freeze
- Online: Fastest option—takes effect within minutes
- Phone: Same-day processing during business hours
- Mail: Takes up to 3 business days
Pro tip: If you’re shopping for a loan or credit card, lift your freeze for 24-48 hours to give yourself flexibility while limiting exposure time.
What a Credit Freeze Does NOT Affect
Many people worry that freezing their credit will disrupt their daily life. Here’s what continues to work normally:
Still Works With a Frozen Credit Report:
- Credit score monitoring and updates
- Existing credit card and loan payments
- Employment background checks (in most cases)
- Insurance quotes (auto, home, life)
- Apartment rental applications (usually)
- Utility service setup
- Bank account opening
- Government benefit applications
May Be Affected:
- Some employment background checks requiring credit reports
- Cell phone service activation (policies vary by carrier)
- Some rental applications (landlord policies vary)
Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Credit Freeze | Credit Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Always free | Often requires paid subscription |
| Legal Protection | Regulated by federal law | Fewer legal protections |
| Control Method | Website or phone with PIN | Mobile app |
| Speed | Minutes to hours to lift | Instant on/off |
| Best For | Long-term protection | Frequent credit applications |
Recommendation: Choose credit freezes for maximum protection and legal rights. Consider credit locks only if you frequently apply for new credit and want instant control.
Common Credit Freeze Questions
Will freezing my credit hurt my credit score?
No. Credit freezes have zero impact on your credit score. Your credit reports continue to update with payment history and account activity.
How long does a credit freeze last?
Indefinitely, until you lift it. There’s no expiration date on credit freezes.
Can I still check my own credit report?
Yes. You can always access your own credit reports for free at annualcreditreport.com.
What if I lose my PIN?
Contact the credit bureau directly. You’ll need to verify your identity to receive a new PIN.
Do I need to freeze my credit at all three bureaus?
Yes. Lenders may check with any of the three bureaus, so freezing just one or two leaves you partially exposed.
When You Should Definitely Freeze Your Credit
Immediate Action Required:
- Your personal information was compromised in a data breach
- You’ve received alerts about suspicious credit activity
- Someone has already attempted to open accounts in your name
- You’re not planning to apply for credit in the near future
Good Preventive Measure:
- You want maximum identity theft protection
- You rarely apply for new credit
- You have children (freeze their credit too)
Additional Identity Protection Tips
While credit freezes are powerful, they’re part of a comprehensive identity protection strategy:
Strengthen Your Existing Accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication on all financial accounts
- Use strong, unique passwords for each account
- Set up account alerts for all transactions
Monitor Your Credit Regularly
- Check your credit reports monthly
- Use free credit monitoring services
- Review bank and credit card statements weekly
Protect Your Personal Information
- Shred documents containing personal information
- Be cautious about sharing personal details online
- Use secure networks for financial transactions
Take Action Today
Credit freezes are one of the most effective tools for protecting against identity theft, and they’re completely free. Don’t wait for a data breach or suspicious activity to take action.
Your Next Steps:
- Set aside 30 minutes to freeze your credit at all three bureaus
- Record your PINs in a secure location (password manager recommended)
- Consider freezing your family members’ credit too, including children
- Set a calendar reminder to check your credit reports in 3 months
Freezing your credit is easier than ever, and all three major credit bureaus now allow you to do so by mail, over the phone, or online at each of their respective websites – with online yielding the fastest response times. Still, the process can vary slightly depending on which nationwide credit bureau you are contacting. You will need to contact all three in order to ensure your information is secure with each bureau. Below are links to our step-by-step guide for how to freeze your credit at each bureau as well as the contact information for all three.
Equifax
Website: Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
Phone Number: 800-685-1111
How to Freeze Your Credit at Equifax
Experian
Website: Experian.com/help
Phone Number: 888-397-3742
How to Freeze Your Credit at Experian
Transunion
Website: TransUnion.com/credit-help
Phone Number: 888-909-8872
How to Freeze Your Credit at TransUnion
Remember: The few minutes of inconvenience when you need to lift a freeze is far better than the months or years of hassle involved in recovering from identity theft.
Protecting your credit is protecting your financial future. Take control today with a credit freeze.
