14 Nov Should my college kid freeze his credit report?

Q. My son is in college and got his first credit card, which I’m making sure he uses responsibly. But should he freeze his credit to make sure no one messes with his score?
— Dad

A. A credit freeze is a very important tool.

It helps to block crooks from opening new credit cards and other accounts in your name.

Someone of college age would probably benefit just like everyone else would.

It’s also important to remember to lift the freeze if you ever apply for new credit.

The big three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — all allow you to set a start date and an end date to lift your freeze. You will have to lift the freeze separately with each of the bureaus.

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This story was originally published in November 2025.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.