How do I freeze my credit?

A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) prevents new creditors from accessing your credit report, making it nearly impossible for someone to open new credit accounts in your name. It is the strongest protection available against new-account identity theft. Since the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, placing and lifting a credit freeze is completely free at all three major bureaus.

What a freeze does and doesn’t do

Understanding the boundaries of a freeze matters — it’s powerful, but not unlimited.

A freeze does:

• Block most lenders from pulling your credit file to approve a new account
• Protect against new fraudulent accounts being opened in your name
• Stay in place indefinitely until you lift it
• Cost nothing to place, lift temporarily, or remove permanently

A freeze does not:

• Affect your credit score in any way
• Block your existing creditors from reviewing your account (they can still run soft pulls)
• Prevent you from using your existing credit cards, loans, or lines of credit
• Stop all forms of identity theft — it specifically blocks new account fraud, not takeovers of existing accounts
• Stop pre-screened credit offers (you need to opt out at optoutprescreen.com for that)

How to freeze your credit: step by step

You must contact each bureau separately. A freeze at one does not carry over to the others.

For each bureau, you’ll create an account or receive a PIN. Save these credentials carefully — you will need them to lift the freeze when you want to apply for credit.

How quickly does a freeze take effect?

Federal law sets the timing requirements. Bureaus that miss these deadlines violate the law.

The 1-hour lifting window for online/phone requests is one of the most useful features of the current system — you can thaw your file right before applying for credit and re-freeze it the same day if you want.

How to temporarily lift a freeze

When you want to apply for a new loan or credit card, you “thaw” or temporarily lift the freeze:

1. Log into your account at each bureau’s freeze portal (or call)
2. Select “Temporarily lift” and specify a date range — typically 3 to 7 days is sufficient for most credit applications
3. The lift takes effect within 1 hour online or by phone
4. Apply for credit during the window
5. The freeze re-engages automatically after the date you specified

Plan ahead for mortgages. Mortgage lenders pull all three bureaus, sometimes at different stages of the application process. Lift all three freezes for a week or two before your scheduled application date to avoid delays.

Freeze vs. fraud alert vs. credit lock

These three tools are often confused. They work differently and serve different purposes.

The CFPB recommends a credit freeze as the most effective tool if you’ve been a victim of identity theft or if your Social Security number has been exposed in a data breach.

Who can still access your frozen file

A freeze is not absolute. These parties can still pull your report even with a freeze in place:

• Your existing creditors (for account review, not new credit)
• Employers, with your permission, for background checks
• Landlords, with your permission
• Insurance companies in some states
• Government agencies with legal authority
• Debt collectors attempting to collect on existing debts
• You — checking your own report is always a soft pull and never blocked

Also freeze these additional files

The three major bureaus are not the only companies that maintain consumer data files used for financial screening:

• ChexSystems — used by banks and credit unions to screen new checking and savings account applications. Freeze at chexsystems.com.
• Innovis — a fourth credit bureau used by some lenders and insurers. Freeze at innovis.com.
• NCTUE (National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange) — used by phone carriers and utility companies. Freeze at nctue.com.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, freezing all of these is worthwhile.

Should you freeze your children’s credit?

Yes — if you want to protect them proactively. Children typically have no credit file until they turn 18 and apply for credit themselves, but identity thieves sometimes use children’s Social Security numbers to open accounts that go undetected for years. All three bureaus allow parents and legal guardians to place a security freeze on a minor’s credit file. Equifax and TransUnion allow this online; Experian requires a mailed request with documentation.

Common mistakes

• Freezing at only one bureau. Many people freeze at Equifax (because of high-profile breaches) and forget Experian and TransUnion. All three must be frozen for full protection.
• Losing the PIN. If you lose your freeze PIN, recovering it requires additional identity verification steps that can take days. Store it somewhere safe.
• Forgetting to lift all three before applying. If a lender uses a bureau where your freeze is still active, they’ll get an error instead of your report. This can delay or cancel your application.
• Thinking a freeze protects existing accounts. Freezes only block new credit applications. If someone has your existing credit card number, a freeze won’t stop them from using it.

Your next action

Go to each of the three bureau freeze portals and place a freeze today. The whole process takes about 15 minutes total — roughly 5 minutes per bureau. Write down or save your PIN or account credentials for each one somewhere secure. If you have children, consider doing the same for their files.