Identity Protection - Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Freeze

It's amazing what identity thieves can do with very little information these days. If they know your full name, last digit of your social security number, address and credit card number, they can have the freedom to use your credit card and make purchases under your name.

People are becoming more concerned about keeping their information to themselves and protecting their accounts from identity thieves, whose antics might just lead to a somekeyword if not taken care of right away.


Sign up for some kind of security protection program for your account such as a credit report freeze. The best way to keep yourself protected is to always monitor your finances. This means that you need to be able to see what goes in and out of your account. If you see something wrong, then you can automatically do something about it. This is a more proactive way for watching over your finances.

Below are common questions asked about credit freezes.

Fraud alert vs. credit freeze - What is the difference?

Fraud alert is just a notice placed on file requesting creditors and companies to fully verify the account holder's identity before proving the credit. This usually means that you have to call in before they actually charge a purchase on your credit card. Credit freeze would mean that the account is completely locked up, preventing anyone to access it.

Will I be charged for credit freezes?

Yes, the charge is usually around $3 to $10, depending on the bureau. However, if you have been a recent identity theft victim, you may get the account frozen for free. The cost actually varies by state; check the state's guidelines to know the exact amount.

How will this affect my credit score?

Freezing your credit report will not affect your credit score. But it can give you a hard time accessing your own report. For example, a frozen account cannot be accessed through website, even if it is secured. If you are also using a debit card, you can't open retail credit cards or even rent a car with it.

How do I undo the freeze?

It depends, as some bureaus will let you thaw the credit freeze, which means you temporary un-freeze it or you permanently unfreeze the account.

Temporary lift - this typically will last from 7, 15 to 30 days. This happens if you want to get a third party to have access to your account. This can be done if you need to access your account for a debt collection lawsuit.

Permanent lift - this basically means that your account can be accessed by anyone at any time. This places it back to how it originally was set up in terms of security.

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