How to temporarily suspend your credit card activity

Setting up a credit freeze is a simple and effective way to safeguard against identity theft. By freezing your credit, you restrict access to your credit report, which helps prevent fraudsters from opening new accounts under your name, even if they have your personal information.

CNBC Select provides instructions on how to freeze your credit with each credit bureau and answers to frequently asked questions about credit freezes.

How to freeze your credit

• What is a credit freeze?
• How do I freeze my credit?
• Should I freeze my credit?
• Who can access my credit once it’s frozen?
• How do I unfreeze my credit?

What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, limits access to your credit reports, protecting you from fraudsters opening new accounts under your name. It does not affect your credit score or active credit accounts.

How do I freeze my credit?

To freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), you can complete the process in under 10 minutes per bureau.

To freeze your credit, you will need to provide personal information such as your name, address, social security number, and birth date. You will also be asked a few questions to verify your identity and then prompted to create a PIN, which should be kept in a secure location.

Below, we list how to freeze your credit with each bureau.

How to do an Equifax credit freeze

You can freeze your credit with Equifax through their consumer services center or by calling 800-349-9960.

How to do an Experian credit freeze

You can freeze your credit at Experian's security center or by calling 888-397-3742.

How to do a TransUnion credit freeze

Freeze your credit at TransUnion’s website or by calling 888-909-8872.

Should I freeze my credit?

Experts suggest proactively monitoring your accounts by freezing your credit report. While regularly checking credit card bills, bank statements, and credit reports is beneficial, it is a reactive approach that cannot prevent fraud.

A credit freeze is a free tool that restricts access to your credit reports and can help safeguard against identity theft. However, credit reports are not a foolproof way to prevent fraud as they only reduce access to your credit and prevent new account openings, but they don't prevent someone stealing your credit card number.

Who can access my credit once it’s frozen?

By freezing your credit, you restrict access to your credit report, preventing fraudsters from opening new accounts under your name, even if they possess your social security number and other personal information.

Your credit report will continue to be accessible to any banks with which you already have established relationships, such as when requesting a credit limit increase with the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees).

Opting out of prescreened credit offers can be done online or by calling 888-567-8688, which will also limit access to debt collectors and marketers.

You can check your credit report for free while still retaining access to your credit.

How do I unfreeze my credit?

You can temporarily lift a credit freeze by visiting the same credit bureau websites or calling the numbers provided. This option allows you to apply for a credit card, mortgage, loan, or other financial product.

If you don't have a finite timeline on when your credit will be pulled, you can remove the freeze. However, it's recommended to reinstate it once the application process is complete.

Typically, when you unfreeze your credit, you can access your credit report within an hour, although this may vary. We have tested this with all three credit bureaus and were able to apply for a credit card within the hour.

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act established an official timeframe for removing credit freezes upon a consumer's request.

• After receiving a request for removal, one hour later, the request can be made through toll-free telephone or secure electronic means.
• Requests by mail: Three business days after receiving the request for removal.

Bottom line

Implementing a credit freeze is a crucial step in safeguarding yourself from identity theft, even though it doesn't guarantee complete protection against fraud. The process is straightforward and free, so there's no financial excuse to delay setting it up.

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