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What a credit freeze does—and what it does not do
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, limits prospective creditors’ access to your credit file. That can make it harder for someone to open new credit in your name. The Federal Trade Commission says, “A credit freeze is something you can do anytime, for any reason.” You do not have to prove identity theft to request one.
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The freeze is free to place and lift, does not affect your credit score, and remains in effect until you ask for it to be lifted. A frozen report is not completely inaccessible: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says certain entities, including current creditors and some government entities, may still access a frozen file. A freeze is a barrier to some new-credit applications, not a guarantee against all identity theft.
Most importantly, a freeze does not secure an existing bank, card, or other account that has already been compromised. Someone who has access to an existing account may still misuse it. Treat the freeze as one part of your response, alongside contacting the institution and following the recovery steps below.
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A freeze is not the same as deleting your credit history or closing your credit accounts. It limits access for prospective creditors, while your report and existing accounts remain in place. It also does not make the file invisible to every entity. The CFPB’s explanation, last reviewed September 5, 2025, notes exceptions for certain access, including by current creditors, certain government entities, and companies you hired to monitor your file. So, do not treat a freeze as a complete block on all inquiries or all forms of identity theft.
Step 1: Freeze all three credit reports
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion individually through each company’s official website or contact details. A request to one company does not freeze the other two companies’ files. To cover all three nationwide credit reports, complete all three requests.
- Go to the official site or contact channel for Equifax. Follow its instructions to place a security freeze and keep the confirmation or reference details it provides.
- Repeat the request with Experian. This is a separate freeze; do not assume the first company notified the others.
- Repeat with TransUnion. Check that you have completed the request with all three companies and retain each company’s confirmation details.
Use the companies’ own current contact routes rather than a third-party service. Procedures and website labels can change, so follow the instructions shown by the bureau when you submit the request. The CFPB and FTC describe the freeze as a free bureau service; you do not need to buy a credit lock to place one.
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Complete the requests directly with the bureaus and save the confirmations, reference numbers, or other details they provide. Those records can help you remember which files you froze and where to return if you later need to lift a freeze. The key practical check is simple: you have a separate confirmation or record for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Do not pay a third-party service to do what the bureaus offer as a free freeze.
There is no need to wait until you have proof that a thief opened an account. The FTC says a freeze is something you can request anytime, for any reason. If the concern is suspected misuse of your identity, freezing the three reports is a protective step you can take while you investigate what happened. It does not replace reporting the incident or securing accounts that may already be affected.
Step 2: Report the suspected identity theft
Report the incident at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC provides an individualized recovery plan based on the information you provide. Use that plan to identify which accounts or information need attention and to track the next steps that apply to your situation.
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A freeze helps limit access to credit reports for new credit, but it is not an identity-theft report and does not itself start the recovery process. Reporting the incident is a separate step.
The FTC’s “Get a credit freeze to stop identity thieves,” published in September 2025, points consumers to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. The CFPB’s victim guidance, last reviewed July 30, 2026, also directs people affected by identity theft to report it to the FTC. These steps address different needs: the freeze restricts certain access to your credit file, while the report helps you identify a recovery path based on the incident you describe.
As you follow the plan, keep track of what you have already done and what remains. Write down the date you reported the issue and any follow-up details the service provides. Keep this record distinct from the bureau freeze confirmations and the records you keep for a bank or card issuer. That way, a report about identity theft, a credit-report dispute, and an existing-account problem do not blur into one task.
Step 3: Protect accounts that may already be affected
If you see unauthorized activity or believe an existing account has been compromised, contact the financial institution’s security or fraud department. Follow its instructions about securing or closing the affected account. Review recent statements and bills for transactions you do not recognize, and continue checking them for unfamiliar activity.
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Do not rely on a credit freeze to stop charges, transfers, or other misuse of an existing account. The freeze addresses prospective creditors’ access to a credit file; the account-holding institution must address activity on its own account.
This distinction matters whether the affected account is a bank account, payment card, or another existing financial relationship. A freeze may make it harder to use your credit file to seek new credit, but it does not control the account’s transactions. Contact the institution through its security or fraud channel and tell it what activity you believe is unauthorized. Follow the institution’s directions about whether to close or secure the account.
Check statements and bills for activity you do not recognize rather than assuming that a credit report will show every problem. The FTC’s “What To Know About Identity Theft” advises checking statements and reports; these are complementary checks. If an unfamiliar transaction appears on an existing account, take that concern to the financial institution. If unfamiliar credit information appears on a report, address it with the bureau that maintains that report.
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Continue reviewing statements after the first call. The purpose is not to assume that every unexplained item is identity theft, but to notice anything unfamiliar and raise it with the institution that can investigate the account. A credit freeze and account security are separate lines of defense, and each requires attention to the type of misuse involved.
Step 4: Check your credit reports and dispute unfamiliar information
Review your credit reports for accounts, inquiries, or other information you do not recognize. If you find an error, dispute it with the credit reporting company that maintains the report containing that information. The FTC recommends checking reports and disputing errors with the relevant bureau.
Keep a record of what you found, which company you contacted, and any response or case details you receive. That gives you a practical way to follow the bureau’s handling of a dispute and to distinguish a report issue from misuse of an existing financial account.
Match each unfamiliar item to the report where it appears. Because the three companies maintain separate files, the information you need to dispute may be on one report, more than one report, or not on all three. A freeze request is not itself a dispute: it limits certain access to a file, while a dispute asks the bureau to address information you believe is inaccurate or unfamiliar.
Keep your notes specific: identify the item, the bureau maintaining the report, the date you contacted it, and any response or case reference the bureau gives you. If there is also an unauthorized charge or transaction, report that separately to the financial institution that holds the account. The FTC recommends reviewing reports and disputing errors with the relevant bureau, while its identity-theft guidance also recommends checking statements. One process does not substitute for the other.
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A lender generally needs access to a credit report before granting credit, so a freeze can affect your own application. Before applying, ask the lender which credit reporting company it plans to check. Request a temporary lift from that company, then reinstate the freeze when the credit check is complete.
If the lender cannot tell you which bureau it will use, you may need to arrange a lift with more than one. A lift is not the same as permanently removing the freeze. Follow the bureau’s current instructions for the timing and scope of a temporary lift, and check that the freeze is back in place after the lender has completed its review.
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Plan the lift around the specific application rather than removing all your protections by default. First ask the lender which bureau it expects to use. Then contact that bureau and follow its current process to lift the freeze temporarily. Once the lender’s credit check is done, make sure the freeze is reinstated. The freeze remains until you ask for it to be lifted; it does not expire automatically just because you have applied for credit.
If the lender’s bureau is unknown, you may need to contact multiple bureaus to make the report it checks available. Ask the lender for clarification before lifting freezes more broadly than necessary. The FTC’s “Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts” guidance advises consumers to find out which bureau a lender will check and lift the freeze with that bureau. That approach can help you manage a legitimate application without leaving the freeze off longer or more widely than needed.
A freeze can create an extra step when you apply for credit, but it does not affect your credit score. The practical issue is access to the report: a prospective creditor generally needs it to make a decision. Keep your confirmation information so you can return to the correct bureau when you need a temporary lift, and remember to restore the freeze after the review is complete.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Credit freeze and fraud alert: how they differ
A fraud alert can complement a freeze, but it works differently. It asks businesses to take steps to verify your identity before opening new credit; it does not restrict access to your credit file in the same way as a freeze. For an initial fraud alert, contact one of the three nationwide bureaus; that bureau must notify the other two. The FTC says an initial alert lasts one year and can be renewed.
| Feature | Credit freeze | Initial fraud alert |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Restricts prospective creditors’ access to your credit file, subject to limited exceptions. | Asks businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit; it does not restrict report access in the same way. |
| Who you contact | Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately to freeze all three files. | Contact one of the three bureaus; it must notify the other two. |
| How long it lasts | Until you ask the bureau to lift it. | One year for an initial alert, according to the FTC; it can be renewed. |
| Effect on a legitimate credit application | You may need to arrange a temporary lift with the bureau the lender checks. | Businesses are asked to verify your identity, rather than being blocked from accessing the report by the alert. |
You can use an alert alongside a freeze if you want both tools. A paid credit lock is not required: the CFPB says locks may involve fees and are no more effective than the free security freeze.
The choice is not necessarily one tool or the other. A freeze places a restriction on access to your file for prospective creditors, while a fraud alert tells businesses to take steps to verify identity before opening new credit. An initial fraud alert is simpler to place across the three bureaus because you contact one bureau and it must notify the other two. A freeze requires three separate requests, but it remains until you ask for it to be lifted; the FTC says an initial alert lasts one year and can be renewed.
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For a legitimate application, the difference matters. With a freeze, you may need to arrange a temporary lift so a lender can access the report. With a fraud alert, the business is asked to verify your identity rather than being blocked from report access in the same way. If you suspect identity theft, the FTC says a fraud alert can be used alongside a freeze. A paid credit lock is not necessary to get a freeze: the CFPB says locks may carry fees and are no more effective than the free security freeze.
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Keep the response focused on the type of misuse
- Concern about new credit being opened in your name: freeze each of the three credit reports.
- Unauthorized activity on an existing bank or card account: contact the institution’s security or fraud department and follow its account-protection instructions.
- Unfamiliar accounts or information on a credit report: review the report and dispute the information with the bureau that maintains it.
- Uncertainty about what to do next: report the suspected theft at IdentityTheft.gov and use the FTC’s individualized recovery plan.
These steps can happen in parallel. You do not need to finish investigating every account before requesting freezes, and freezing your reports does not finish the other work. If you suspect new-account fraud, request the three freezes. If you find activity on an existing account, contact that institution. If a report contains unfamiliar information, dispute it with the relevant bureau. If you are unsure what applies, IdentityTheft.gov can provide an individualized recovery plan.
This guidance concerns the U.S. nationwide credit reporting system. It does not establish procedures for state-specific systems or for other countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to contact all three credit bureaus to freeze my credit?
Yes. Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately. A freeze with one does not automatically freeze the other two files.
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Does a credit freeze cost money or affect my score?
No. The FTC says freezes are free to place and lift, and a freeze does not affect your credit score.
How long does a credit freeze last?
It remains in place until you ask the bureau to lift it. It does not expire automatically.
Will a freeze stop someone from using my existing bank or card account?
No. A freeze limits prospective creditors’ access to a credit file; it does not secure or stop transactions on an already compromised account. Contact that institution’s security or fraud department.
What should I do if I need to apply for credit?
Ask the lender which bureau it will check, request a temporary lift from that bureau, and reinstate the freeze when the credit check is complete. If you do not know which bureau the lender will use, you may need to contact more than one.
Should I place a fraud alert as well as a freeze?
You can. A fraud alert asks businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit. Contact one bureau to place an initial alert; it must notify the other two. The FTC says an initial alert lasts one year and can be renewed.
Where do I report suspected identity theft?
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC provides an individualized recovery plan. Also contact any financial institution whose existing account may have been affected.
The Bottom Line
Freeze your reports separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; the service is free and stays in place until lifted. Then report suspected identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, contact financial institutions about compromised accounts, and review reports and statements. A freeze helps limit some new-credit fraud, but it does not secure existing accounts or prevent every kind of misuse.
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