A credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports. When your credit reports are frozen creditors cannot access your reports, this prevents new lines of credit from being opened in your name.
Identity theft is a growing problem, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), fraudulent new account activity was responsible for 80% of all identity fraud reports in the second quarter of 2024. Freezing your credit is one of the best ways to protect yourself against identity theft.
The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 made it free to freeze your credit in every state. Freezing your credit will not impact your credit score and will not prevent you from requesting free copies of your credit reports.
You can request a freeze or lift a freeze online, by phone or through the mail. Whether you ask for a freeze online or by phone, the credit bureaus must put the freeze in place within one business day. Mail requests must be processed within 3 business days. When you make a request to lift the freeze the credit bureaus must lift it within one hour when done online or by phone. If you make the request by mail, the agencies must lift the freeze within 3 business days.
To place a freeze on your credit reports, visit the three major credit bureaus. You will be required to provide personal information to confirm your identity.
You may also request a credit freeze for your children. How to Freeze Your Childs Credit Reports
Recovering from identity theft can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Take a few minutes to freeze your credit and protect yourself.
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