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The short answer
A credit freeze stops lenders seeing your credit report, which makes it much harder for anyone to open new credit in your name. The FTC says it is free to place and lift, lasts until you lift it, and must be requested at each of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You lift it, at the bureau a lender will use, when you apply for credit yourself.
New arrivals hand over their Social Security number more often than they expect: to employers, landlords, phone companies, banks and sometimes agents who help with paperwork. Each copy is a chance for misuse. A credit freeze is the strongest free protection against someone using that number to open credit, and it costs nothing to keep in place.
Freeze or fraud alert
| Credit freeze | Initial fraud alert | Extended fraud alert | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Lenders cannot see your report, so most new credit cannot be opened | Businesses must take steps to verify you before opening credit; they can still see your report | As initial alert, for longer |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
| How long | Until you lift it | One year, renewable | Seven years |
| Where to ask | Each of the three bureaus | One bureau, which tells the other two | One bureau, with an FTC identity theft report or police report |
The extended alert also removes you from prescreened credit and insurance offer lists for five years unless you ask otherwise, according to the FTC. Active-duty service members have a separate one-year alert.
Why a newcomer might freeze early
- You are not planning new credit soon. If your secured card is open and you are not applying for anything for months, a freeze costs you nothing.
- Your SSN has been widely shared during settling in, or a document with it was lost.
- A data breach notice arrives from an employer, school or provider.
- Your file is thin. A fraudster's account can make up a large share of a short file and be harder to spot.
If you are still applying for your first cards, a car loan or a lease, a freeze may get in the way. You can still freeze and lift for each application, which is quick online at most bureaus.
How to place a freeze
- Go to each bureau's own site: Equifax (equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services), Experian (experian.com/help) and TransUnion (transunion.com/credit-help).
- Create an account or use the phone or post route; you will confirm your identity with your SSN, date of birth and address.
- Place the freeze and store any PIN or login safely. You will need it to lift the freeze.
- Repeat at the other two. A freeze at one bureau does not cover the others.
Lifting for an application
The FTC suggests asking the lender which bureau it uses, lifting the freeze only there, and reinstating it afterwards. A landlord, phone company or car dealer may check one bureau; a mortgage lender often checks all three. Lift a day or two before the check if you can, in case of delays.
What a freeze does not do
- It does not stop misuse of existing accounts, such as a stolen card number. Watch your statements.
- It does not stop tax or benefits fraud using your SSN.
- It does not affect your score, and you can still check your own report free at AnnualCreditReport.com; see checking your report.
Children under 16 can also have a free freeze, which a parent requests from each bureau under its own process, and it stays until removed. For a family that has just arrived, this protects a child's SSN before they ever need credit. If someone has already used your details, start with identity theft first steps.
An example first-year timeline
Example only. Your timing will depend on when your SSN arrives and what you apply for.
| When | What happens | Freeze status |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1-2 | SSN arrives; you open a bank account and apply for a secured card | No freeze yet, or freeze and lift for the card application |
| Month 3 | Card approved; no further applications planned | Freeze at all three bureaus |
| Month 6 | Signing a new lease; landlord uses one bureau | Lift at that bureau for a few days, then refreeze |
| Month 9 | Phone contract upgrade with a credit check | Ask which bureau, lift there only |
| Month 12 | Pull all three reports to check for anything unexpected | Freeze stays on |
Some newcomers wait to freeze until they have a full credit file. There is no need: a freeze can be placed as soon as a bureau holds a file in your name, and the earlier it is in place the fewer chances there are for misuse.
Keep your freeze details safe
Each bureau gives you a login or PIN for the freeze. Store them somewhere you can reach from a new phone, such as a password manager, and update the email and phone number on each bureau account when they change. If you lose access, each bureau has a recovery route, but it can take longer than the application you are trying to make.
Where Pryme fits
Fraud risk does not stop at the US border; Nigerians abroad are often targeted through their accounts at home. Pryme accounts use an authenticator app rather than SMS codes and a transaction PIN, so a stolen phone number alone does not move money (security). Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners; see how it works.
Questions people ask
Is a credit freeze free in the US?
Yes. The FTC says there is no cost to place or lift a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score?
No. It controls who can see your report; it does not change your score or your existing accounts.
Do I need to freeze at all three bureaus?
Yes. Each bureau's freeze is separate. A fraud alert is different: you contact one bureau and it tells the other two.
Can I still get a job or rent with a freeze?
A freeze can block a credit check. Ask which bureau the landlord or lender uses and lift the freeze there for the check.
Sources
- FTC: What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts (August 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- FTC: Free credit reports (June 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.