What is a credit freeze or security freeze on my credit report?

Tip

Credit reporting companies also offer “credit locks” for a fee, often bundled with other services you must pay for. Credit locks are no more effective than security freezes, which are free and which you have a right to by law.

Security freezes can be useful in preventing an identity thief from opening a new credit account in your name. Keep in mind, however, that creditors typically won't offer you credit if they can't access your credit reporting file, so a security freeze – also called a credit freeze – prevents you or others from opening accounts in your name.

While a freeze is in place, only a limited number of entities can see your file, including:

• Creditors of accounts you currently hold
• Certain government entities, such as child support agencies
• Companies you've hired to monitor your credit file

You can also request, see and review your files when a freeze is in place.

How to place a security freeze on your credit reports

You can freeze and unfreeze your credit records for free at the three nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion . You can place a "freeze" on your credit file at any time, but you must contact each nationwide credit reporting company separately by visiting their websites.

The federal law requiring free security freezes does not apply to someone who requests your credit report for employment, tenant-screening, or insurance purposes.

Security freeze notice and timing

If you request a security freeze, the credit reporting companies are required to follow certain rules around when they place the freeze and when they provide a confirmation.

• A nationwide credit reporting company must place a security freeze on your file within one business day of your request, if the request is made by telephone or secure electronic means. If the request is made by mail, the security freeze must be placed no later than three business days after receiving the request.
• A nationwide credit reporting company must send you a written confirmation of the security freeze no later than five business days after the security freeze is placed. They must also tell you how to remove the security freeze.
• The nationwide consumer reporting company’s webpage must also allow you to request a security freeze, an initial fraud alert, an extended fraud alert, and an active-duty fraud alert.

Temporary lift of security freeze

• Upon your request, the security freeze can be removed free of charge no later than:One hour after receiving the request by toll-free telephone or secure electronic means
• Three business days after receiving the request by mail
• You also have the option to lift the freeze temporarily for a period of time specified by you, free of charge. The same time periods above apply to a temporary removal of your security freeze.

Security freezes do not impact your credit scores in any way whatsoever.

Security freeze for “protected consumers”

• Federal law provides protections related to credit records and identity theft for “protected consumers” under the age of 16 and incapacitated persons or persons for whom a guardian has been appointed. Persons with authority to act for these protected consumers can request a security freeze.
• Additionally, if the nationwide credit reporting company does not have a file on the protected consumer at the time the security freeze is requested by the parents or guardians, the company will create a record in order to freeze it for the “protected consumer.” This “protected consumer” record may not be used for credit purposes but is frozen to protect against identity theft.

Tip

If you think you may have been the victim of identity theft, you can also file a fraud alert. A fraud alert requires creditors who check your credit report to take steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional credit card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account based on a consumer's request. An initial fraud alert lasts up to one year unless you decided to remove it sooner.

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