Credit freeze
A free tool that locks your credit reports so lenders cannot open new credit in your name until you lift it. It lasts until you remove it and does not affect your score.
Also called: security freeze, credit report freeze
A free tool that locks your credit reports so lenders cannot open new credit in your name until you lift it. It lasts until you remove it and does not affect your score.
What it means
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, restricts access to your credit report. While it is in place, lenders generally cannot open a new account in your name. That makes it a strong tool against identity theft. A freeze is free to place and lift, and it lasts until you lift it. The FTC says it does not affect your credit score.
You have to ask each of the three credit bureaus separately: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Under federal law, a bureau must place a freeze one business day after a phone or online request. It must lift one within one hour of a phone or online request. Requests by mail take up to three business days.
A freeze is aimed at new accounts. It does not stop someone from using an account you already have, so keep reviewing your statements. A parent or guardian can also freeze the credit file of a child under 16.
What it means for you
After a breach that exposed your Social Security number, a freeze is a strong way to block new credit in your name, and it costs nothing. If you need credit, a job check, an apartment or insurance, you can lift it for a while and put it back. Save each bureau's PIN or login somewhere safe. Some settlements pay for time spent dealing with a breach, which can include placing freezes, so jot down the hours. A fraud alert is a lighter step: it asks lenders to verify your identity instead of blocking access.
Example
Say a hypothetical hospital breach exposes your Social Security number. You go to each bureau's website, freeze your file, and save the PIN. Months later you apply for a car loan. You lift the freeze at the one bureau the lender checks, get the loan, and freeze it again. Meanwhile, a thief who tries to open a credit card in your name is turned down, because the card issuer cannot see your report.
FAQ
No. The FTC says a credit freeze does not affect your credit score. It controls who can see your report when someone applies for new credit.
Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately, online, by phone or by mail. It is free, and you can lift it whenever you need to apply for credit.
Related terms
- FTC: Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
- 15 U.S.C. 1681c-1: fraud alerts and security freezes (Cornell LII)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.