What Is a Credit Freeze? How It Works
A credit freeze stops anyone from opening a credit account in your name. This helps protect you against many (but not all) forms of identity theft. You can freeze your credit by phone, mail or online form.
TransUnion found that about one in six consumers lost money in 2025 due to digital fraud, with a median loss of $2,307. Learn what a credit freeze is and how it works to avoid becoming a victim yourself.
- A credit freeze stops new accounts from being opened in your name and limits who can see your credit file.
- Freezing your credit is free and you can do it online, by phone or through the mail.
- A credit freeze gives you some protection, but it won’t prevent all forms of identity theft.
- You’ll have to unfreeze your credit if you want to apply for a new credit account.
What is a credit freeze?
A credit freeze restricts anyone (including you) from opening new credit in your name. It also limits access to your personal information, stopping lenders and others from viewing your credit report. Freezing your credit can be a powerful tool to help prevent identity theft.
You’ll still be able to view your own credit report while your credit is frozen. So will your current creditors, government agencies, credit monitoring services and a few others. A credit freeze doesn’t usually affect soft credit inquiries.
Once you’ve frozen your credit, it’ll remain that way until you unfreeze it. If you plan to apply for new credit, you’ll need to manually unfreeze your credit so potential lenders can evaluate your creditworthiness.
How to freeze your credit with the 3 credit bureaus
To freeze your credit, you’ll have to contact each of the three credit reporting bureaus separately. You can request a credit freeze online, by phone or by mail.
| Experian | TransUnion | Equifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Create a free account | Create a free account | Create a free account |
| Phone | 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) | 800-916-8800 | 888-298-0045 |
| Send a written request with required materials to: Experian Security Freeze P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 | Send a written request with required materials to: TransUnion P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 | Print the security freeze request form and mail to: Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 |
Compare your debt relief options
Get personalized debt relief solutions that may reduce what you owe and help you regain financial stability.
Should you freeze your credit?
Unless you plan on applying for credit in the near future, it’s generally a good idea to freeze your credit. It’s free to do and can protect you from certain types of identity theft.
A credit freeze can be an especially wise move if you know that your sensitive information has already been compromised. Even if a fraudster has your Social Security number, a credit freeze can stop them from borrowing under your name.
Just remember to lift the freeze when a lender needs to access your credit report. If you forget, your application could be delayed or denied.
Although most minors don’t have a credit file, a criminal can still take out credit in their name with the right information.
To freeze a minor’s credit, the credit bureaus require a few extra steps and a separate form. You’ll need proof of identity for both you and your child, as well as documentation proving that you are their parent or legal guardian. You can only freeze a minor’s credit via mail (not online or over the phone).
How to unfreeze your credit with the 3 credit bureaus
If you need to apply for a new loan, credit card or personal line of credit, you’ll have to unfreeze your credit with each of the three credit bureaus.
If you froze your credit online, you’ll already have an online account and can unfreeze your credit with the click of a button. If you requested your freeze by phone or mail, you can still unfreeze online, but you’ll have to make an online account first.
You can also temporarily lift a credit freeze instead of unfreezing it completely. This could be the best option if you want to apply for new credit but then want your account to remain frozen afterward.
Credit freeze vs. credit lock vs. fraud alert
The terms credit freeze, credit lock and fraud alert are all actions that help you secure your credit report against fraudulent activity. The three terms sound similar but work in slightly different ways, and it’s important to understand the difference.
Credit freeze vs. credit lock
A credit lock is almost the same as a credit freeze, except that credit locks are usually offered by credit monitoring services, while credit freezes are done by the credit bureaus themselves.
Unlike credit freezes, credit locks aren’t guaranteed under federal law, and they aren’t always free.
Further, credit locks also aren’t necessarily held to the same timelines as credit bureaus when freezing your credit, though locks may come with other identity protection services that could be useful.
Credit freeze vs. fraud alert
A fraud alert doesn’t restrict your credit report like a credit freeze does, but it does make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.
When you have a fraud alert in place, businesses must contact you before opening any new accounts using your personal information.
There are three different types of fraud alerts:
- Initial fraud alert: Requires businesses to check with you before opening new credit accounts for one year.
- Extended fraud alert: Requires businesses to check with you before opening new credit accounts in your name for seven years.
- Active duty alert: Requires businesses to check with you before opening new credit accounts during one year of active military duty and can be renewed for the full length of your deployment.
All three types of fraud alerts are free to set up, and all three can be renewed as many times as you need.
To set up a fraud alert, you simply contact one of the three credit bureaus. Once you’ve informed one bureau, it will notify the other two bureaus.
After a security breach that involved my HR file at a former employer, I froze my credit with all three bureaus using my cellphone. When I was ready to shop for a car loan, I unfroze my credit in just a few minutes. Freezing and unfreezing my credit was simple — the hardest part was remembering my login information.
Pros and cons of a credit freeze
Pros
- It’s free. Under federal law, all credit bureaus must offer credit freezing services free of charge.
- Provides some protection from identity theft. Freezing your credit prevents anyone from fraudulently opening new credit accounts in your name.
- Can be done online. While you can request a freeze by phone or snail mail, all three credit bureaus also allow you to place your request online in just a few minutes.
Cons
- Doesn’t entirely protect you from identity theft. A credit freeze by itself won’t stop thieves from getting into your existing accounts or stealing money in other ways. For example, it won’t prevent someone from charging items to an existing credit card.
- Can interfere with new credit. If your credit is frozen, you won’t be able to take out loans, get new credit cards or open other credit accounts.
- Must keep track of credit bureau passwords and PINs. To unfreeze your credit, you’ll need the password or PIN you used when first setting it up. If you lose track of this, you’ll have to request a password reset.
Common credit freeze myths
Here are some common credit freeze myths and the truth of the matter:
| Myth | Truth |
|---|---|
| A credit freeze hurts your credit score. | Credit bureaus do not look at freezes when scoring. Your score stays the same. |
| I can’t use my credit cards if my credit is frozen. | A credit freeze does not prevent you from using your existing credit. |
| A freeze prevents all identity theft. | Criminals may still get your personal information, steal your tax refund or hijack other accounts, even with a credit freeze. |
| Nobody can check your credit if you have a credit freeze. | Current lenders, debt collectors and some employers can still check your credit report. |
| A credit freeze is difficult and costs money. | By federal law, setting up a credit freeze is free and can be done online in minutes. |
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can still use your credit cards when you freeze your credit. A credit freeze stops new accounts from being opened in your name, but you can still use any accounts that are already open. Of course, this means that a thief can still use a currently open account if they’ve already gained access to it.
No, a police report is not required to freeze your credit. Anyone can freeze their credit at any time by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus. However, a police report may be required if you want to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.
If your credit report is frozen, but you’re not the one who froze it, you may be the victim of identity theft, or there may have been a system or administrative error. If your credit is frozen and you didn’t do it, contact the credit bureaus right away to resolve the issue.
If you are concerned about identity theft or malicious actors accessing your credit report, a credit freeze is generally better than credit monitoring. Credit monitoring lets you know if anyone tries to open credit with your information, but a credit freeze can stop unauthorized access to your credit report before it happens.
Get debt consolidation loan offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes