You can block your credit, commonly called a credit freeze or security freeze, by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It’s free, it’s your legal right under federal law, and it prevents new creditors from pulling your credit report, which effectively stops anyone from opening accounts in your name.
What a Credit Freeze Actually Does
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. When a lender, credit card company, or other business tries to check your credit as part of a new application, the bureau will block that request. Since most creditors won’t approve an account without reviewing your credit first, this makes it very difficult for identity thieves to use your personal information to open fraudulent accounts.
A freeze does not affect your credit score, and it doesn’t prevent you from using credit cards or loans you already have. You can still check your own credit report whenever you want. Certain parties can still access your file while a freeze is in place: creditors on your existing accounts, certain government entities like child support agencies, and any credit monitoring service you’ve signed up for.
How to Place a Freeze
You need to contact all three credit bureaus separately. A freeze at one bureau does not carry over to the others, and different lenders pull from different bureaus, so freezing just one or two leaves gaps. You can submit your request online, by phone, or by mail at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The online option is the fastest and most straightforward for most people.
Each bureau will ask you to verify your identity. Expect to provide your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. You may also need to answer a few security questions based on your credit history. Once verified, the bureau will place the freeze and give you a PIN or password that you’ll need later if you want to temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze. Store those PINs somewhere safe.
Federal law requires the bureaus to process your freeze within one business day if you request it online or by phone, and within three business days if you request it by mail. There is no fee. The Fair Credit Reporting Act makes it illegal for the bureaus to charge you for placing or removing a freeze.
Lifting or Removing a Freeze
When you need to apply for a new credit card, mortgage, car loan, or even a new apartment, the lender will need to pull your credit report. You’ll need to temporarily lift your freeze first. You can do this at one specific bureau if you know which one the lender uses, or at all three to be safe.
Most bureaus let you lift a freeze for a specific lender, for a set date range, or permanently. If you submit your request online or by phone, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour. By mail, it takes up to three business days. Once the purpose is served, you can refreeze at no cost. The entire lift-and-refreeze cycle is free and can be repeated as many times as you need.
Freezing a Child’s Credit
Children are frequent targets for identity theft because their Social Security numbers are clean and the fraud often goes undetected for years. Federal law allows parents and legal guardians to place a credit freeze on behalf of anyone under 16.
The process works similarly to freezing your own credit, but the bureaus may not have an existing file for your child. In that case, they’ll create a record solely for the purpose of freezing it. That record cannot be used for credit purposes.
You’ll need to prove your authority over the child. For parents, this typically means providing a birth certificate. Foster care representatives or probation agency workers acting on behalf of a young person need documentation certifying that the child is in their agency’s care, such as an official letter from the child welfare or probation agency. Contact each bureau directly for their specific submission instructions, as the process for minors often requires mailing documents rather than using the online portal.
Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert
A fraud alert is a lighter alternative. Instead of blocking access to your report entirely, it places a note on your file telling lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit. You only need to contact one bureau to place a fraud alert, and that bureau is required to notify the other two. A standard fraud alert lasts one year.
A fraud alert is easier to set up but offers weaker protection. Lenders are supposed to verify your identity, but there’s no hard block preventing them from proceeding. If you’re dealing with a known data breach or active identity theft, a freeze gives you stronger control. You can also use both at the same time.
What a Freeze Won’t Protect Against
A credit freeze stops new account fraud, but it won’t prevent every type of identity theft. Someone who already has your debit card number or bank login can still make unauthorized transactions. Tax-related identity theft, where someone files a fraudulent return using your Social Security number, isn’t stopped by a credit freeze either. Medical identity theft and misuse of existing accounts also fall outside what a freeze covers. Think of a credit freeze as one strong layer of protection rather than a complete shield.
If you suspect your information has already been compromised, consider reporting the issue at IdentityTheft.gov, which walks you through a personalized recovery plan and generates pre-filled letters you can send to creditors and bureaus.