Personal Finance & Estate › Fraud, scams & protecting family › Identity theft & the IRS IP PIN
Credit freeze (free at all three bureaus)
Free since 2018· Concept or strategy
Standard practiceWhat most planners, CPAs and attorneys recommend.
A free lock on your credit files at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion that stops new lenders from opening accounts in your name.
See it on the Personal Finance & Estate map →How it works
Since September 2018, federal law makes freezes free at all three bureaus, online or by phone, and a bureau must lift one within an hour when you need to apply for credit. A freeze doesn't change your score or existing accounts, and you can still pull your own reports. Parents can freeze a child under 16's file, and a guardian or conservator an incapacitated adult's. A fraud alert is weaker: it only asks lenders to verify identity. Main trap: freezing just one bureau.
Why it matters for you
It is the most effective zero-cost step against new-account fraud, and especially useful for aging parents who rarely need new credit.
Think of it like
Like a building rule of 'no new leases without the owner's signature': existing tenants stay, nobody new moves in unverified.
Rules, limits and sources (2026)
The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act to make freezes free; FTC and CFPB guidance explain the steps.
Watch out for
Whether the paid credit 'locks' bureaus sell with monitoring subscriptions protect better than the free legal freeze is debated; most consumer advocates say no.
Connections (2)
▸Credit freeze (free at all three bureaus) is a strong defense against Identity theft & the IRS IP PINStandard practice
How they connect
Most new-account fraud needs a lender to pull a credit report. A freeze blocks that pull, so applications in your name are declined. It does nothing for existing cards, tax returns or Medicare numbers, so it pairs with an IRS IP PIN and regular statement reviews.
When it applies
At Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, online or by phone; free nationwide since September 21, 2018, after the 2017 Equifax breach pushed Congress to act.
How sure?
The FTC and CFPB recommend freezes as the strongest tool against new-account fraud; the 2018 law requires bureaus to place a freeze within one business day.
Watch out for
No public data show exactly how much fraud freezes prevent, or how much thieves simply shift to account takeovers and tax fraud that a freeze cannot stop.
▸Credit freeze (free at all three bureaus) blocks new lenders from pulling Credit scores & reports (FICO; FCRA dispute rights)Standard practice
How they connect
A freeze limits who can open the credit report, not what it says. New lenders can't pull it, so the score is unchanged but unusable for new accounts until lifted. Existing creditors still see it, and you can still check your own reports free each week.
When it applies
At Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com became permanent in 2023.
How sure?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended in 2018, governs freezes; FICO and the bureaus state that a freeze does not affect scores.
Watch out for
Some lenders, landlords and banks check other databases, such as Innovis or ChexSystems, which need separate freezes.