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If you’re worried about identity theft, data breaches, or just want to prevent anyone from opening new credit in your name, freezing your credit is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself.
It’s free, easy to do, and gives you more control over who can access your credit report.
❄️ What Is a Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) restricts access to your credit report.
That means no one—not even you—can open a new credit card, loan, or financing account while the freeze is in place. If someone tries, the application will be denied because the lender can’t check your credit.
A freeze does not:
- Lower your credit score
- Prevent you from using existing credit cards or loans
- Cancel your current accounts
You can lift the freeze temporarily anytime you want if you're applying for credit.
✅ When Should You Freeze Your Credit?
You might consider freezing your credit if:
- You’ve experienced identity theft or fraud
- Your personal information was exposed in a data breach
- You want to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened
- You’re not planning to open new credit anytime soon and want extra protection
🛠 How to Freeze Your Credit
You’ll need to place a freeze with all three credit bureaus individually. Each one will walk you through identity verification steps.
1. Experian
https://www.experian.com/freeze
2. Equifax
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/
3. TransUnion
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
It’s completely free to freeze (and unfreeze) your credit.
You’ll create a PIN or password to unfreeze your report when you need to apply for credit again.
🔓 How to Unfreeze Your Credit
If you need to apply for a new loan or card in the future, just go back to the same bureau’s site and request a lift of the freeze. You can unfreeze it temporarily for a few days or permanently.
🧠 Final Tip:
Freezing your credit is one of the best low-effort protections against identity theft. Even if your info ends up in the wrong hands, a freeze makes it much harder for anyone to misuse it.
It’s not a fix for your current debt—but it can protect your future credit while you work on getting back on track.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Relief does not provide financial advice. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional financial guidance. Please consult a certified financial planner or advisor for personalized support.
Links to external websites are provided for convenience and informational purposes only. Relief is not affiliated with these third-party sites and does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of their content.
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