Freeze your credit file for free

A security freeze limits access to your Experian credit report without your permission. Freezing your credit can help protect against identity theft and fraud. Having a freeze on your credit report will not affect your credit scores, but it may prevent your credit report from being accessed until you unfreeze your credit report or credit file. Freezing your credit will also prohibit lenders from extending you prequalified offers, such as a mortgage prequalification.

Freezing or unfreezing your credit report online with Experian is done in real time. You can add or remove a freeze and schedule an unfreeze. When unfreezing your credit report, you have two options. You can permanently remove a freeze until you decide to freeze it again. Alternatively, you can schedule a thaw while your credit report is already frozen, where you can specify the start and end date. This makes it convenient when you know you will need to apply for credit, such as when you are in the market to get a new car loan.

Every time you place a freeze, remove a freeze, schedule a thaw or cancel a scheduled unfreeze, you will be alerted of updates so you have the confidence that your Experian credit report is secured. Alerts can be sent via email, as long as you have opted in for this service.

Yes, a security freeze can limit access to your credit, even if it was authorized by you. If you know you are going to apply for new credit, you can plan ahead and unfreeze or schedule an unfreeze, before you apply.

A security freeze will prevent most credit inquiries but there are still a few exceptions where someone can still access your Experian credit report:

• You can still access and view your own report
• Your current lenders and card issuers that use credit checks in their account management processes
• Landlords and rental agencies that are screening you as a potential new tenant
• Debt collectors attempting to obtain a payment
• Credit card issuers that have prescreened you for credit offers
• Potential employers that you have authorized to conduct background checks
• Child support agencies
• Government agents executing court orders or warrants

You should request a credit freeze immediately after you've been a victim of identity theft or if you think your personal information has been accessed, perhaps in a data breach. Requesting a credit freeze will be important if your Social Security number may have been accessed.

While a credit freeze might be necessary in some instances, there are times when a fraud alert may be appropriate. A fraud alert lets potential lenders know that your personal information has been compromised and that someone may be trying to apply for credit in your name fraudulently. A fraud alert will not prevent a lender from accessing your credit, but requests the lender to verify your identity before granting you credit. When a fraud alert is requested, the other two credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) are notified and fraud alerts are added to your credit reports with the 3 major credit reporting bureaus. This fraud alert remains on your credit report for one year. An extended fraud alert, which lasts for 7 years, can also be added, where an identity theft report from law enforcement is required.

If you place a security freeze on your Experian credit report, it is not automatically shared with other credit reporting agencies. To freeze your other credit reports, you will need to contact Equifax^® and TransUnion^® separately.

Experian's online service is the easiest and quickest way to manage your credit freeze. If you cannot access our online service, you can contact us by:

A security freeze and Experian CreditLock will both limit access to your Experian credit report, while a fraud alert requests creditors to verify your identity before granting credit.

The first step in protecting yourself from identity theft is learning how it occurs. From there, you can start taking steps to limit your exposure. There's no way to prevent identity theft entirely, but you can make it harder for criminals to gain access to your information and accounts.