Q: What is a Credit Freeze?
A: Prevents creditors from accessing your credit file.This is the highest form of security possible.
Q: Doesn’t cost a dime?
A: Yes, it's free! A credit freeze (also known as a security freeze) blocks anyone from accessing your credit report. Let’s say a cybercriminal uses your stolen identity (e.g. your social security number or other personal information) to try to apply for a loan in your name. With a credit freeze, the lender/creditor would reject the application because they would be unable to access your credit report.
Q: How to freeze your credit file?
A: For complete protection, you have to request a freeze with each of the 3 major credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can request a freeze on each of the bureaus’ websites, by mail, or by phone. A credit freeze won’t prevent your existing creditors from accessing your credit report, but it will block new creditors from seeing it (and they’re the ones you need to worry about when it comes to identity theft).
Q: How to thaw your credit file?
A: At some stage, you may want to apply for a mortgage, loan, or other credit product. When this happens, you will need to lift the credit freeze (temporarily or permanently – it’s your choice). When you first initiate a credit freeze, you will be given a PIN or password that you can use at any time to lift the freeze. By law, the bureaus must lift the freeze within one hour of receiving an electronic or phone request or three business days of a mailed request.