Day 4: Freeze Your Credit (or Check Your Freeze Status)
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Managing Editor Welcome to the 7-Day Financial Reset, a weeklong challenge designed to help you start the new year off strong. We’ll guide you through one practical money task each day, so you can build habits that make your finances work better for you.
If you want to lock down your credit in the new year and prevent identity theft and fraud, a credit freeze is one of the easiest and most effective tools — and it’s free, too.
A credit freeze — also called a security freeze — blocks lenders from accessing your credit reports. That means if someone tries to open a new account in your name, the lender won’t be able to see your file, and the application will be denied.
Here’s how to freeze your credit:
- Gather your information: You’ll need your full name, date of birth, current address and Social Security number. Some credit bureaus may also ask for a copy of your ID (like a driver’s license or passport) or a recent utility bill or bank statement.
- Contact each credit bureau: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each manage their own credit freeze process, so you’ll need to make the request with all three. The quickest way to request a freeze is online by creating an account with each bureau, but you can also call or mail in your freeze request.
- Thaw only when needed: Your credit will stay frozen until you decide to lift the freeze — for example, if you’re applying for a mortgage, car loan or new credit card. You can temporarily unfreeze your credit for a set period (say, two weeks), and it will automatically refreeze afterward.
Not sure if your credit is already frozen? Log in to your accounts at each bureau and look for the security freeze section. You’ll see your status and can freeze or thaw as needed. You can also call to find out your freeze status.
Enjoy the peace of mind — and come back tomorrow for the next part of our 7-Day Financial Reset challenge.
» Need to back up a bit? Day 3: Check your credit reports
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