A security freeze (also known as a credit freeze) and a credit lock both achieve the same primary goal: preventing access to your credit report for processing loan or credit applications. These security measures are very useful when criminals impersonate you and try to borrow money in your name.

The three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) all offer credit freezes and credit locks, but there are slight differences in how they are implemented.

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze is a free service guaranteed by federal law that protects you from credit fraud by restricting access to your credit report for most individuals until you lift or "thaw" the freeze. When your credit report is frozen, any lender attempting to evaluate your report for the purpose of extending a loan or other credit will be denied access. A security freeze does not affect your credit score, but it will prevent lenders evaluating credit applications from obtaining your credit score.

A security freeze prevents criminals from opening new credit accounts in your name, but it also blocks your legitimate credit applications. Therefore, if your credit is frozen, you will need to thaw your credit report before applying for a new loan, credit card, or other consumer credit.

Once your application has been processed, you can reinstate the freeze. Alternatively, you can choose a temporary thaw, lifting the freeze for a specified period (e.g., one day or one week), after which the freeze will be reinstated.

Credit freezes must be initiated and lifted with each national credit bureau individually. The processes vary slightly by bureau, but all three support applying for and lifting a security freeze online, by phone, and by mail. It is free to apply for or lift a credit freeze.

The law also allows you to establish and freeze credit reports for minor children to prevent misuse of their personal information.

How to freeze your credit

To freeze your credit, you must provide details and proof of your identity and address as instructed by the relevant credit bureau. These typically include:

Name

Date of birth

All addresses you have used in the past two years

Social Security number

A copy of a government-issued identification, such as a driver's license or state ID

A copy of a recent utility bill, bank or insurance statement, or similar document as proof of address

How to thaw your credit

You can lift a credit freeze using the same channels you used to set it up.

When lifting a credit freeze, you can choose to permanently thaw your credit or temporarily lift the freeze by specifying how long you want the freeze to be lifted (e.g., one day or one week). Policies vary by bureau, so be sure to understand your options before you begin.

When you request a credit freeze lift by phone, your freeze will be lifted within one hour. If you use a credit bureau's website or mobile app to lift the freeze, the process is nearly instantaneous. If you apply by mail, the freeze will be lifted within three days of the credit bureau receiving your request.