How to Freeze Your Credit

A credit freeze is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself from identity theft. It stops most lenders from pulling your credit report, which makes it much harder for someone to open a new credit card or loan in your name.

It’s free, it takes about half an hour to set up at all three credit bureaus, and it doesn’t hurt your credit score. You can lift it whenever you need to apply for something.

Here’s how it works, how to set it up, and what to do when you need to unfreeze it.

What a credit freeze does

When you apply for a credit card, loan, or some other kinds of accounts, the company checks your credit report first. A freeze blocks that check. If a lender can’t see your report, it usually won’t approve a new account.

That’s the protection. If someone steals your Social Security number and tries to open a card in your name, the application should hit a wall.

A few things a freeze does not do:

• It doesn’t affect your credit score. Your score keeps updating normally.
• It doesn’t touch your existing accounts. Your current cards and loans keep working, and those companies can still see your report.
• It doesn’t stop you from checking your own credit. You can still pull your free reports.
• It doesn’t protect cards you already have. If someone gets your current card number, a freeze won’t stop those charges. That’s what account alerts and your bank’s fraud team are for.

Who should freeze her credit

For most people, freezing your credit is worth doing even if nothing has gone wrong. It’s free, and you only have to remember it when you’re about to apply for something new.

It makes the most sense if:

• You aren’t planning to apply for a credit card, car loan, or mortgage in the next few months.
• Your information was part of a data breach. If you’ve ever gotten a “your data may have been exposed” email, this applies to you.
• You lost your wallet, or documents with your Social Security number went missing in a move.

Skip it for now if you’re in the middle of applying for credit this week. Freeze once that’s done.

How to freeze your credit at all three bureaus

There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each one keeps its own report on you, so you need to freeze each one separately. Freezing only one leaves the other two open.

Under federal law, placing and lifting a freeze is free at all three. If you request it online or by phone, the bureau has to put the freeze in place within one business day, and online freezes usually take effect right away.

1. Gather your information. You’ll need your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and your addresses from the past two years.
2. Freeze at Equifax. Create a free myEquifax account on equifax.com and choose the option to place a security freeze.
3. Freeze at Experian. Create a free account on experian.com and go to the Freeze Center.
4. Freeze at TransUnion. Create a free account in the TransUnion Service Center on transunion.com and add a freeze.
5. Save your logins. Store each username and password in a password manager or somewhere safe. You’ll need them every time you lift the freeze.

You can also freeze by phone or mail if you prefer. USA.gov’s credit freeze page links to each bureau.

While you’re on the sites, you may see offers for paid credit monitoring or a “credit lock.” You don’t need them for this. A lock works a lot like a freeze, but locks can come with monthly fees, while a freeze is free and guaranteed by federal law. If a page is pushing a subscription, look for the free freeze option instead.

How to lift your freeze when you need credit

When you’re ready to apply for a new card, a car loan, or an apartment where the landlord runs a credit check, you’ll need to lift the freeze first. Some employers also check credit as part of hiring, so it’s worth asking if you’re starting a new job.

1. Ask which bureau the company uses. Many lenders will tell you. If they don’t know, lift all three.
2. Log in and choose a temporary lift. Pick the dates you need, such as the next week or two. The freeze turns back on by itself after that.
3. Give it a little time. Online and phone lifts must happen within one hour by law, and they’re often immediate. Don’t lift it at the register and expect it to work that second.

A temporary lift is usually the better choice. If you remove the freeze completely, you have to remember to put it back.

Freezing credit for a child

If you’re a parent, you can also freeze credit for a child under 16 for free. Kids don’t usually have credit reports, so this works a little differently. Each bureau has its own process, and it typically involves mailing proof that you’re the parent along with the child’s birth certificate and Social Security card. Check each bureau’s site for the current steps.

The simple plan

If you only do one thing this week, freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and save the three logins somewhere you’ll find them. It costs nothing, it doesn’t change your score, and it closes one of the easiest doors for identity theft.

Then, the next time you apply for credit, do a temporary lift for a week or two and let it freeze itself again afterward.