Freezing Your Credit

A security freeze locks your credit file so new creditors cannot pull it, which blocks most new-account identity theft. It is free by federal law, does not affect your score, and can be lifted whenever you want.

Why it matters

A freeze is the strongest free protection against someone opening accounts in your name. It does not stop fraud on existing accounts, but it shuts the most damaging door.

Key facts

• Freezes are free to place, lift, and remove at all three bureaus since a 2018 federal law.
• A freeze does not affect your score or your existing accounts.
• You must freeze at each bureau separately; same for fraud alerts' longer versions.
• Lifting a freeze for a specific application can be done online or by phone, often within minutes.
• Parents and guardians can freeze files for children under 16.

In practice

1. Place freezes at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; save each PIN or account login in your records.
2. Keep files frozen by default; lift temporarily only when you have a real application planned.
3. If you suspect identity theft, freeze first, then work IdentityTheft.gov's recovery plan.