How and Why to Freeze Your Credit

Why You Should Consider a Credit Freeze

A credit freeze can go a long way toward preventing someone from using your identity. There’s no sure-fire way to prevent someone from stealing your identity and damaging your credit in the process. But freezing your credit can offer protection and give you peace of mind. And you can freeze your credit for free. You may want to consider it as doing so will mean that even if a criminal gets your information, it will be difficult or impossible for that person to open a fraudulent account in your name.

Can I freeze my credit for free?

In 2018, a new law made it free to freeze your credit. Prior to the new law, each of the three credit bureaus could charge you if you wanted to put a freeze in place (usually around $10 at each bureau). Then, you often had to pay again to unfreeze or thaw your credit if you wanted to do something that required a credit check, like applying for a new loan. However, after the massive Equifax data breach in 2017, consumer advocates called on Congress to provide free access to credit freezes.

What does freezing my credit do?

What is a credit freeze? When you freeze your credit, the credit reporting bureaus can’t give any information to anyone who makes an inquiry about you. Typically, businesses inquire about your credit when you (or someone posing as you) are trying to, for instance, open a new credit card, buy a car or rent an apartment. The credit check helps the business determine if they want to lend or rent to you, and it can help set your rates and lending terms for loans and credit cards.

When you freeze your credit and the business can’t get any information about you, it typically stops the process — which means a fraudster will be unable to open an account while using your identity.

Why doesn’t everyone freeze their credit?

While freezing your credit won’t guarantee safety, it’s a pretty strong defense against identity theft. But remember — you still need to unfreeze your credit if you legitimately want to apply for a loan or line of credit. While it’s not a heavy burden, it does add extra steps anytime you do something that requires a credit check.

Credit monitoring vs. credit freeze

You could opt for credit monitoring instead of a full freeze. When you pay for a credit-monitoring service, you’ll get alerts about any activity involving your credit report. This can quickly bring a potential problem to your attention — but it’s not preventative, so you won’t know if someone has used your identity until after it happens.

You can also request a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the major credit bureaus and check it for any activity you don’t recognize. If you find anything suspicious, report it immediately and take steps to lock down your credit through a fraud alert or credit freeze.

How to freeze your credit

If you want to freeze your credit, you need to do it at each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax (1-800-349-9960), TransUnion (1-888-909-8872) and Experian (1-888-397-3742). If you request a freeze, be sure to store the passwords you’ll need to thaw your credit in a safe place.

Whether or not you choose to freeze your credit, fraudsters could still take advantage of you by getting things like your credit card number(s) or passwords to online accounts. Make sure you’re taking the proper steps to secure your information so that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.