How to Freeze Your Credit (US): Free, and It Doesn't Hurt Your Score

This guide covers the United States credit system.

When there's a data breach, a credit freeze is one of the most useful free protections. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, while a freeze is in place nobody can open a new credit account in your name, including you. It costs nothing to place or lift, and it doesn't affect your credit score.

How to freeze your credit

1. Contact all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The FTC says a freeze must be placed with each of them.
2. Follow each bureau's verification steps and keep any PIN or login it gives you safe. You'll need it to lift the freeze.
3. That's it. The FTC says a freeze lasts until you lift it.

You don't need to wait for a breach. The FTC says anyone can freeze their credit at any time, for any reason.

When you need credit

To apply for a loan, a job, an apartment or insurance, lift the freeze temporarily. The FTC suggests finding out which bureau the lender will check, lifting the freeze only at that bureau, and putting it back afterwards.

Freeze vs. fraud alert

• Initial fraud alert: businesses must check with you before opening credit. It lasts one year and can be renewed. Contact just one bureau, which must tell the other two.
• Extended fraud alert: for identity-theft victims with an FTC report (IdentityTheft.gov) or police report. It lasts seven years.
• Unlike a freeze, a fraud alert doesn't stop businesses from seeing your credit report. You can have both.

Children

The FTC says parents can request a free freeze for a child under 16. Each bureau has its own process for minors.

More: How-To · Cybersecurity.