26 Sep How do you freeze and unfreeze a credit report?

Q. How do you freeze and unfreeze a credit report?
— Looking for help

A. A credit freeze is an important tool to protect your finances and your identity.

First, what’s a credit freeze?

It limits who has access to your credit information. If you freeze your report, the credit bureaus won’t release your information to lenders. So if someone applies for credit in your name, the lender won’t see the credit report and then will not extend credit.

To start a credit freeze, contact each of the three major credit report providers:
Experian: (888) 397-3742
Equifax: (800) 349-9960
TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

When you want to lift the freeze, say, because you plan to apply for a new credit card or something similar, you can go on the websites and set a calendar, basically telling the bureau to unlock by freeze on this date, and then reinstate it on this date.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published in September 2024.

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.