If you have reason to believe that your personal information has been compromised, you should initiate a credit freeze. Additionally, government agencies may have access in response to a court or administrative order, a subpoena or a search warrant. ![]() However, your credit will continue to be available to some entities, such as existing creditors or debt collectors acting on their behalf. Who can access frozen credit reports?Ī credit freeze prevents new creditors from accessing your credit report. ![]() Note that even after you've frozen your credit, you won’t stop receiving prescreened credit card offers unless you opt out by calling 88. It’s vital that you keep the PIN or password in a safe space, as it’ll be needed when you want to unfreeze your report. Once you’ve requested a freeze, each agency will give you a unique PIN or password. The bureaus are required to freeze your credit reports within one business day. See privacy policy.īefore you call, be ready to provide personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. Related: How to check your credit score for free How do I freeze my credit? Fortunately, that's also free to do, but it is an inconvenience if you open new lines of credit regularly. The catch is that before you can apply for a new credit card or loan, you have to lift your credit freeze first. It works by preventing creditors from accessing your credit file so creditors and lenders are unable to offer you (or anyone pretending to be you) any sort of credit.Ī freeze is free, simple to request and has no impact on your credit score. What is a credit freeze?Ī credit freeze prevents you or others from opening an account in your name. Today, we're breaking down how and why you may want to freeze your credit. ![]() While it's nearly impossible to fully shield yourself from credit card fraud or identity theft, there are some steps you can take, such as freezing your credit.īut, of course, like all security measures, credit freezes come with some level of inconvenience. If you're taking inventory of the security measures in all areas of your life, don't leave out your credit. Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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