What a credit freeze does and when you need one
A credit freeze stops credit bureaus from showing your credit report to lenders, which prevents someone from opening accounts in your name. It does not affect your existing accounts, your credit score, or your ability to check your own report. You can still get loans, credit cards, or rent an apartment — you just have to temporarily unfreeze your credit first, which takes a few minutes online or by phone.
A freeze is most useful if you have been a victim of identity theft, if you have lost important documents like a Social Security card or birth certificate, or if you work in a field where your personal information is at high risk. For lower-income households, the stakes of identity theft are often higher: a fraudulent account can damage your credit right when you are trying to may have access to for a mortgage, car loan, or rental housing.
You can place a freeze for free at any time. There is no cost to set one up, lift it temporarily, or remove it permanently — this changed in 2018 when the law stopped allowing credit bureaus to charge fees.
Key Takeaways
- A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name but does not affect your existing credit or your ability to borrow once you unfreeze.
- Freezes are free to place, lift, and remove, and you can do all three online or by phone in minutes.
- You must freeze your credit at all three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — because lenders check all three.
- Lower-income households benefit most from a freeze if they have experienced identity theft, lost important documents, or work in jobs where personal data is exposed.
- A freeze is different from a fraud alert, which is faster to set up but only lasts one year and requires lenders to verify your identity before opening accounts.
The three credit bureaus you must contact
Credit freezes only work if you freeze your credit at all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A lender might check only one or two of them, so if you freeze at just Equifax, a fraudster could still open an account using your information at Experian. You have to contact each bureau separately — there is no single place to freeze all three at once.
Each bureau has its own website where you can freeze online. Equifax is equifax.com/personal/credit-lock-credit-freeze, Experian is experian.com/freeze, and TransUnion is transunion.com/credit-freeze. You can also call them by phone if you do not have internet access or prefer to speak to someone. All three accept freezes by mail as well, though that takes longer.
When you freeze, you will receive a PIN or password for each bureau. Write these down and store them somewhere safe — you will need them to unfreeze later. If you lose a PIN, you can still unfreeze by mailing a request with your ID, but that takes weeks.
Freezing versus a fraud alert: which one to choose
A fraud alert is faster and easier than a freeze, but it is weaker protection. A fraud alert tells lenders to contact you before opening new accounts in your name. It lasts one year, costs nothing, and you only have to contact one bureau — the other two are notified automatically. You can set one up in minutes online or by phone.
The catch is that a fraud alert is not a barrier. A lender can still open an account without calling you if they decide to. A freeze is a hard stop — no account opens without you unfreezing first. For someone who has already been a victim of identity theft, a freeze is stronger protection. For someone who is worried but has not been targeted yet, a fraud alert is a reasonable first step that you can upgrade to a freeze later.
If you are over 62, you can place an extended fraud alert that lasts seven years instead of one. This still requires only one phone call to one bureau.
How to unfreeze when you need to borrow
When you want to open a new credit account, apply for a loan, or rent an apartment, you will need to unfreeze your credit temporarily. The process is called a thaw. You contact the bureau, provide your PIN or answer security questions, and the freeze lifts — usually within an hour, sometimes instantly online.
You can thaw for a specific lender and a specific time period. For example, you might unfreeze Equifax for 30 days while a mortgage lender pulls your report. When the 30 days end, the freeze automatically goes back into place. You can also unfreeze all three bureaus at once if you are shopping for a car loan and multiple lenders will be checking your credit.
The inconvenience of thawing is real, but it is manageable. If you know you are going to apply for credit, unfreeze a few days before so the lender has access when they need it. If a lender tells you they cannot pull your report, ask them which bureau they use — you may only need to unfreeze one.
When to freeze if you are lower-income
If you have experienced identity theft or fraud, freeze immediately. Do not wait. The sooner you freeze, the sooner you stop new accounts from being opened in your name.
If you have not been a victim but you have lost your Social Security card, birth certificate, or driver's license, a freeze is worth considering. These documents are the keys to identity theft. If they are in someone else's hands, a freeze makes it much harder for that person to act on them.
If you work in retail, food service, healthcare, or any job where you handle customer payment information or personal data, your information is at higher risk of exposure in a data breach. A freeze does not prevent a breach, but it limits what a criminal can do with your information if a breach happens.
If you do not fall into any of these categories, a fraud alert may be enough. You can always upgrade to a freeze later if circumstances change.
The cost and timing of a freeze
Freezes are free. There are no setup fees, no monthly charges, and no fees to unfreeze or remove a freeze. This was not always true — before 2018, credit bureaus charged $5 to $10 per freeze — but federal law changed and eliminated those fees.
Setting up a freeze takes 15 to 30 minutes if you do it online at all three bureaus. If you call, it may take longer depending on wait times. Once you freeze, the protection is immediate — you do not have to wait for anything to take effect.
Removing a freeze takes the same amount of time as setting one up. If you decide later that you do not want a freeze, you contact each bureau and request removal. You will need your PIN or to answer security questions.
What a freeze does not protect
A freeze stops new credit accounts from being opened, but it does not protect your existing accounts. If someone has your debit card number, they can still use it. If they have your bank account information, they can still try to drain it. A freeze is specifically about credit — it does not prevent fraud on accounts you already have.
A freeze also does not protect you from scams where you voluntarily give money or information to someone pretending to be legitimate. It does not stop someone from using your name to commit crimes. It does not prevent a data breach. What it does is make it harder for a criminal to turn stolen personal information into new credit accounts in your name.
For broader identity theft protection, you may also want to monitor your credit reports regularly. You can get a free copy of your report from each bureau once a year at annualcreditreport.com. Many lower-income households also benefit from setting up account alerts with their banks so they are notified of unusual activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. A freeze does not affect your credit score at all. Your score is based on your payment history, how much credit you use, and other factors — none of which change when you freeze. You can check your own credit report and score while a freeze is in place.
Can I still get a job if my credit is frozen?
Yes. Most employers who check credit do so through a different system than consumer credit reports. A freeze on your credit bureau file does not affect employment background checks. If an employer does need to check your credit, they will tell you and you can unfreeze temporarily.
What if I want to rent an apartment but have a freeze?
Unfreeze your credit before you apply. Contact all three bureaus and lift the freeze for 30 to 60 days. Most landlords check credit during the application process, so you want your report accessible. Once you sign the lease, you can freeze again.
How long does it take to unfreeze?
Online unfreezing usually takes minutes to an hour. By phone it depends on wait times. By mail it takes one to two weeks. If you know you are going to need credit soon, unfreeze a few days in advance so there is no delay.
Can someone else remove my freeze?
No. You need your PIN or the answers to security questions to unfreeze. If someone steals your PIN, you can still unfreeze by mailing a request with a copy of your ID, though that takes longer. Contact the bureau immediately if you think someone has your PIN.