How to freeze your credit

A security freeze locks your file so lenders cannot pull it for new applications. It is the strongest free protection against new-account identity theft.

Quick takeaways

Freeze all three bureaus; each is separate.
Free to place and lift, and it never affects your score.
Lift before you apply for anything.

Placing a freeze

Contact each of the three nationwide bureaus separately — a freeze at one does not cover the others. It is free to place, free to lift, and free to place again.

What it does and does not do

It blocks most new credit checks. It does not affect your score, your existing accounts, or your ability to use current cards. It also does not stop fraud on accounts you already have, so keep watching statements.

Lifting it when you apply

Temporarily lift or thaw the freeze before applying for credit, renting, or anything else that requires a pull. Online lifts are usually near-instant.

Want someone to look at your actual reports?

Start the free intake and a Knox specialist will walk your file with you — what can be challenged, what should stay, and what to do next. No cost, no obligation.