What is a credit freeze?

A credit freeze is a way to protect yourself from identity theft and fraudulent activity. It essentially puts a “lock” on your credit report by making it unavailable to most parties. When you place a credit freeze, you must provide identifying information to the credit reporting agency, such as your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Once the credit freeze is in place, no one can access your credit report until you lift the freeze. This restricts potential lenders from making decisions about your credit such as whether or not you can get a loan, and makes it very difficult for identity thieves to open accounts in your name. In South Carolina, you can place a credit freeze by filing a request with each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You may also be able to place a credit freeze for free if you have been the victim of identity theft and have a valid police report. You will be given a unique PIN that you can use to lift and remove the credit freeze if and when you choose to do so. The South Carolina credit dispute resolution law provides consumers with various protections, including the right to place a credit freeze. By electing to place a credit freeze, consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraudulent activity.

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What is a credit freeze?

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