A credit freeze is one of the most effective ways to prevent someone from opening new accounts with your stolen personal information. It’s free and won’t affect your credit score. And when it’s time to lift it, “unfreezing” isn’t your only option. You can also unfreeze your credit if you legitimately need to apply for new credit. Here’s what you need to know about freezing, unfreezing, and unfreezing your credit.
How to Freeze Your Credit Report in 3 Minutes
Freezing your credit is relatively easy and free for everyone through the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Here are the steps:
Visit each credit bureau's website and request a freeze. You will need to provide some personal information to verify your identity.
Each agency assigns a personal identification number (PIN) that you can use when you want to lift the block temporarily or permanently.
