How do you freeze your credit, and should you?
A credit freeze blocks new lenders from seeing your report, so thieves can't open accounts in your name, and it is free.
New to this?
A credit freeze is a free block on your credit report, the record of your cards and loans kept by three companies called credit bureaus. While it is on, new lenders can't see your report, so a thief using your name can't open accounts. Any adult can place one, and you can lift it whenever you apply for credit.
Read first
Myth
Freezing my credit will hurt my score or cost me money.
Truth
In the US, a freeze is free at all 3 bureaus and has no effect on your score. Your current cards keep working, and you can lift it online whenever you apply for new credit.
Worth memorizing
- 1
A freeze is free at all three bureaus.
Federal law has required Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to place and lift a freeze at no cost.
- 2
A freeze does not hurt your score.
It only controls who can see your report. Your score, current cards and loans carry on as before.
- 3
Lifting a freeze takes 1 hour or less.
Online or by phone, the bureau must lift it within 1 hour. You can set it to come back after 7 days.
Here's what I'd do: freeze all three bureaus tonight, even with no breach letter in hand. It's free, it takes one evening, and lifting it later is easy. Save the logins and PINs somewhere safe so future you isn't hunting for them.
Do this today
Set aside 30 minutes. Place a freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion through their official sites, and save each login or PIN in one safe place with the bureau's name next to it.
Practice
1 of 3
What does a credit freeze do to your credit score?
A freeze only limits who can see your report. It has no effect on your score.
2 of 3
You place a freeze at all three bureaus, then lift one for a loan and later freeze it again. Each step is free. How much did you pay in total?
Federal law makes placing and lifting a freeze free: $0 + $0 + $0 + $0 + $0 = $0.
3 of 3
Which option needs a call to only one bureau to cover all three?
A fraud alert asks lenders to verify it's you, and the bureau you contact must pass it on to the other two. A freeze has to be placed at each bureau.
Tips
Freeze all three bureaus
A freeze at one bureau does not carry over. Place one at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, since a lender can check any of them.
Save each PIN in one place
Write down which login or PIN belongs to which bureau and store them in a password manager. You need them every time you lift a freeze.
Lift only the bureau you need
Ask the lender or landlord which bureau they pull, lift just that one, and pick a window like 7 days so it returns on its own.
Keep checking your accounts
A freeze does not stop misuse of a card number already stolen. Review your statements and pull your own credit reports.
A worked example: freezing all three bureaus in one evening
Sam, 27, got a letter saying a store he shopped at had a data breach. He freezes his credit at all three bureaus that night.
- Sam places a freeze on each bureau's site: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 bureaus. He saves each login or PIN in his password manager.
- Six months later he applies for a car loan. The lender pulls one bureau, so he lifts that freeze for 7 days.
- Every step is free by law: $0 + $0 + $0 = $0. After 7 days the freeze comes back on by itself.
- Freeze at Equifax+1
- Freeze at Experian+1
- Freeze at TransUnion+1
- Bureaus frozen=3
- Fee to freeze, all three$0
- Fee to lift for a car loan+$0
- Fee to freeze again after+$0
- Total cost=$0
- Time limit to lift online1 hour
Common mistakes
Freezing only one bureau
A lender might check a bureau you didn't freeze. A freeze at one bureau protects only that one file, so do all three.
Losing the PIN or login
Without it, lifting the freeze means extra identity checks and delays, often at the moment you need a loan. Save each one where you can find it.
Paying for a lock you don't need
Some people sign up for a paid lock or monitoring plan when a free freeze would have done the same basic job. Try the free freeze first.
Going deeper
A credit freeze blocks new lenders from seeing your credit report, which makes it much harder for someone to open an account in your name. In the US it is free at all three credit bureaus, it does not hurt your score, and you can lift it whenever you need credit.
It is free by federal law
Since 2018, federal law has required Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to place and lift a security freeze for free. The same goes for a freeze on a child under 16.
You need all three bureaus
Each bureau keeps its own file on you, and a freeze at one does not carry over to the others. A lender may check any of the three, so freeze all three.
It does not touch your score
A freeze only controls who can see your report. Your score, your current cards and your loans keep working as they did before.
Lifting it is quick
If you ask online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within 1 hour. You can lift it for a set number of days so it comes back on by itself.
What a credit freeze does
When you apply for a credit card, a car loan or a new phone plan, the lender usually pulls your credit report first. A freeze, also called a security freeze, tells the bureau to say no to that request. Most lenders won't open an account they can't check, so a thief using your name and Social Security number gets turned away.
A freeze does not stop everyone. Lenders you already have accounts with, debt collectors working for them, and some government agencies can still see your report. You can still check your own report for free, and you still need to watch your existing accounts for charges you didn't make.
Freeze, fraud alert and credit lock compared
A fraud alert does not block access to your report. It asks lenders to take extra steps to confirm it's really you before they open an account, such as calling you. An initial fraud alert lasts 1 year and is free. You only need to contact one bureau, and that bureau must tell the other two. Identity theft victims with a report from IdentityTheft.gov or the police can get an extended alert that lasts 7 years.
A credit lock works a lot like a freeze, but it is a product the bureaus sell or bundle, not a right set by federal law. The terms are set by each company's contract, and some locks come with monthly fees. A freeze gives you the same basic protection with legal rules about cost and timing.
For most people a freeze is the strongest free option. A fraud alert is a good extra step if you think your information was just stolen, because it takes one call and covers all three bureaus.
How to freeze your credit
Go to each bureau's website or call them. You will set up an account or get a PIN, answer questions to prove who you are, and confirm the freeze. When you ask online or by phone, the bureau must place it within 1 business day. Requests by mail must be done within 3 business days of the bureau getting them.
Write down which login or PIN goes with which bureau and store them somewhere safe, like a password manager. You will need them every time you want to lift the freeze. A freeze stays on until you remove it. It does not expire.
Lifting it when you need credit
Before you apply for a loan, a credit card, an apartment or sometimes a new job, ask the lender or landlord which bureau they use. You can lift the freeze at just that one, which keeps the other two closed.
You can lift it for a set window, like 7 days, or remove it for good. By law, a lift requested online or by phone must happen within 1 hour. If you ask by mail, it can take up to 3 business days, so plan ahead.
What a freeze does not cover
A freeze won't stop someone from using a card number they already stole, and it won't stop a tax return or medical claim filed in your name. Keep checking your bank and card statements, and pull your own reports. Reports are free weekly from each of the three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
A freeze also does not stop prescreened credit card offers in the mail. Those come from a separate system, and you can opt out of them through the official opt-out site run by the bureaus.
Questions people ask
Does freezing your credit hurt your credit score?
No. Your score is figured from what is in your report, like payment history and balances. A freeze doesn't change any of that. It only blocks new lenders from looking.
Can I still use my credit cards with a frozen credit report?
Yes. Your current cards and loans work as normal. Your existing lenders can still see your report to manage your account.
Should I freeze my credit if there's no breach?
Many people do, because it costs nothing and most of us don't apply for new credit often. You can lift it in about an hour when you need to, so the main cost is keeping track of three logins.
Do I need to unfreeze my credit to rent an apartment or get a job?
Often, yes. Landlords and some employers check your credit report. Ask which bureau they use and lift the freeze at that one for a few days.
Can I freeze my child's credit?
Yes. Parents and guardians can request a free freeze for a child under 16. Each bureau will ask for proof that you are the parent or guardian.
Printable worksheet with answer key, free for classrooms. Lesson plan for this unit.
Sources
- FTC: What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts
- CFPB: What is a credit freeze or security freeze on my credit report?
- FTC: IdentityTheft.gov
- FTC: Free credit reports (2026)
Updated October 1, 2026. General education, not personalized financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check current rates and limits before you act.
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