Credit Freeze (Security Freeze)
A free, reversible lock on your credit report that blocks new lenders from accessing it — stops most new-account identity theft.
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, blocks lenders and other companies from pulling your credit report to approve a new account — which means someone with your stolen Social Security number generally can’t open a new credit card or loan in your name while it’s active. Federal law made freezing and unfreezing free at all three bureaus in 2018, and it doesn’t affect your credit score in either direction.
You have to freeze your report at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately, since a lender could pull from any one of the three. Each bureau gives you a PIN or password to lift the freeze temporarily — for a specific lender, a specific window of time, or entirely — whenever you actually need new credit approved.
A freeze is different from a fraud alert, which is a lighter-touch option that just requires lenders to take extra verification steps rather than blocking access outright, and which some people choose because it’s easier to navigate when applying for credit periodically. A freeze doesn’t stop existing creditors from checking your file for account reviews, doesn’t affect employment or tenant screening in most states, and doesn’t stop debt collectors from contacting you about debt you already owe — it only prevents new accounts from being opened using your credit file.
Frequently asked
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. Freezing and unfreezing your credit has no effect on your score — it only controls who can access your report, not what's on it.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
Do I have to freeze all three bureaus separately?
Yes. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each require their own freeze request, since a lender might pull from any one of them.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
Sources
- FTC — Credit freeze FAQs— consumer.ftc.gov
- CFPB — Credit freezes and fraud alerts— consumerfinance.gov