Legal · Identity theft

Freezing your credit

A credit freeze blocks new lenders from seeing your credit report, so no one, including you, can open new credit in your name. It's free, doesn't touch your score, and lasts until you lift it. Freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion); online or by phone it must happen within one business day. Before you apply for an apartment, loan or card, ask which bureau they use and lift just that one. Online or phone lifts must happen within an hour.

Easy20 min to doFreeChecked October 2, 2026

You'll need

Your Social Security number, date of birth and address history
About 20 minutes and a phone or computer
A password manager or other safe place for the logins or PINs you create

Do it like this

Know what it does. While a freeze is on, nobody can open a new credit account in your name, including you. It's free to place and lift, it doesn't affect your credit score, and it lasts until you lift it. Source: FTC¹
You don't need a reason. Anyone can freeze their credit, any time, even if nothing has been stolen. Source: FTC¹
Freeze at all three bureaus. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each need their own request, online, by phone or by mail. Source: USA.gov² A freeze at one doesn't carry over to the others. Source: CFPB³
Know the deadlines. Online or by phone, a bureau must freeze your report within one business day. By mail, within three business days. Source: USA.gov²
Save each login or PIN in a password manager. You'll need them to lift the freeze later.
Lift it only when you need to. Before you apply for credit or a job, rent an apartment or buy insurance, ask which bureau the company will use, lift the freeze there, and put it back when they're done. Source: FTC¹ Online or by phone, a lift must happen within one hour. By mail, within three business days. Source: USA.gov²

Watch out Bureaus also sell "credit locks," often bundled with paid services. The CFPB says locks are no more effective than freezes, which are free and your right by law. Source: CFPB³

Freeze vs. fraud alert

You can have both at once. Source: FTC¹

	Credit freeze	Initial fraud alert	Extended fraud alert
What it does	Blocks new lenders from seeing your report	Businesses must check with you before opening new credit; they can still see your report	Same as initial, and takes you off marketing lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for 5 years
Who can get it	Anyone	Anyone who is or thinks they may be a victim of identity theft	Identity theft victims with an FTC identity theft report or a police report
How long	Until you lift it	1 year, renewable	7 years
Where	Each of the three bureaus	Any one bureau, which tells the other two	Any one bureau, which tells the other two
Cost	Free	Free	Free

Who can still see a frozen report

Companies you already have accounts with. Source: CFPB³
Certain government agencies, like child support agencies. Source: CFPB³
Credit monitoring companies you've hired. Source: CFPB³
You. You can still get and review your own reports. Source: CFPB³

Before a big application

Ask the landlord, lender or employer which bureau they'll check.
Log in to that bureau and lift the freeze.
Apply.
Freeze again once the check is done.

See it done

Video by FTCvideos Government

Protect your identity by freezing your credit

Watch on YouTube: Protect your identity by freezing your credit

2026 · Checked October 3, 2026

Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.

If it doesn't work

Can't get into your bureau account? Use the bureau's phone line and have your SSN and past addresses ready.
Lender says it can't see your report? Ask which bureau it uses and lift the freeze there. Source: FTC¹
Think someone already used your identity? Place a fraud alert too. An initial alert gets you a free report from each bureau. Then go to IdentityTheft.gov. Source: FTC¹
Bureau won't place or lift a freeze? You can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Good to know

The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.

A note on screening reports

The CFPB notes that the federal law requiring free freezes doesn't apply to reports requested for employment, tenant screening or insurance. Source: CFPB³

Younger siblings

Parents can request a free freeze for a child under 16. The process is different from an adult freeze, and each bureau posts its own instructions. Source: FTC¹

Servicemembers

Active duty servicemembers can place a free one-year active duty alert, and active duty and National Guard members can get free credit monitoring. Source: FTC¹

Take it with you

Printable card Download card (PDF)

Sources

Federal Trade Commission Credit freezes and fraud alerts
USA.gov How to place or lift a security freeze
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau What is a credit freeze?

Lesson L6.1 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed.

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