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Security freeze: what it means

A security freeze, also called a credit freeze, keeps new creditors from seeing your credit file, which helps stop an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name. By law it is free to place and to lift, and you must ask each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies separately.

In Spanish it is

Congelamiento de crédito

Also written as: credit freeze · freeze

A hand takes a leaflet out of a mailbox at an apartment building.

Verified on October 17, 2026

2 official sources

See the whole dictionary

The full explanation

While it is on, only a few can see your file, such as creditors on accounts you already have, and you can still review your reports. It does not affect your score. Because creditors rarely lend without checking your file, it stops you too; you can lift it for free for a period of time when you need to.

An example

After losing her wallet, Teresa freezes her credit at all three companies. Months later, when she applies for a preapproval, she lifts it for a few days so the lender can check her report.

You will see it in…

The websites of the three nationwide credit reporting companies
The written confirmation each company sends you, with instructions to remove it
The recovery plan from IdentityTheft.gov

Words that go with it

You will rarely see this word alone. These are the ones that show up with it on the same papers.

More guides that use “security freeze”

Still confused by a paper?

A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through it. Agencies usually charge little or nothing, many work in Spanish, and they do not sell you anything.

What a housing counselor does See free help

Official sources

We sum up what these official sources say, in plain words. We add no rules they do not state; when a rule changes, the definition and its date change.

1. CFPB · What is a credit freeze or security freeze on my credit report? (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026
2. CFPB · Credit reports and scores key terms: security freeze (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026