How Long Does a Credit Freeze Last? A Detailed Guide on Credit Freezes

A credit freeze can be an effective way to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. But how long does a credit freeze last once you place it? Here’s a detailed guide on everything you need to know about the duration of credit freezes.

What is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report and prevents lenders and creditors from accessing your credit history to open new accounts This helps stop identity thieves from taking out loans or credit cards in your name

To place a freeze, you need to contact the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – and request a freeze This can be done online, by phone, or by mail. The credit bureaus are required by law to place the freeze within 1-3 business days.

Once frozen, your credit reports cannot be shared with third parties without your consent. If you need to apply for credit, you can lift the freeze temporarily by contacting the credit bureaus again.

How Long Does a Credit Freeze Last?

Once you place a credit freeze, it will remain in effect until you choose to lift or remove it. There is no time limit on a freeze. It does not expire after a set period of time. The freeze will stay on your credit reports indefinitely unless you request to lift it.

Here are some key facts on the duration of a credit freeze:

• No expiration date: A credit freeze remains in effect permanently until you unfreeze it. It does not expire after a certain period of time.

• Stays in place when you check your own credit: Checking your own credit reports or credit scores does not lift the freeze. You can keep monitoring your credit even with a freeze in place.

• Remains on all three credit reports: When you place a freeze, it is put on all three of your credit reports at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It remains in place at all three bureaus until lifted.

• Covers all types of creditors and lenders: The freeze restricts all potential new creditors and lenders from accessing your credit reports. It’s not limited to just some types of companies.

• Stays frozen if you move: Your freeze remains in effect if you change your address or move to another state. You do not need to place a new freeze when you move.

• No annual renewals needed: You do not need to renew or reconfirm a freeze every year. Once it’s in place, it will continue to work unless you proactively lift it.

How to Lift a Credit Freeze

If you need to apply for new credit, you can lift the freeze temporarily by contacting the credit bureaus. Here are a few options for lifting a freeze:

• Temporary lift: You can lift the freeze for a specific period of time, such as 3 days or 1 week, to allow a single creditor or lender to review your report. The freeze automatically goes back into effect after the specified period.

• Permanent lift: You can completely remove the freeze if you no longer want your credit reports protected. This lifts the freeze for all creditors and lenders on an ongoing basis.

• Lift for a specific party: Some credit bureaus allow you to lift the freeze only for a specific creditor. The freeze remains in place for all other third parties.

You need to contact each credit bureau separately to lift a freeze, just like when placing it. The bureaus must lift the freeze within an hour for online/phone requests or within 3 days for mail requests.

When to Place and Lift a Credit Freeze

Here are some common scenarios of when consumers may choose to place, temporarily lift, or permanently lift a credit freeze:

• Placing a new freeze: If you suspect identity theft or want to protect yourself from fraud, placing a new credit freeze is recommended. It restricts access to your credit reports as a preventative measure.

• Applying for credit: If you need to apply for a new credit card or loan, you can lift the freeze just long enough for that single application to go through, usually 1-7 days.

• Moving: Most people keep their credit freeze in place when moving to a new address. But you may want to lift it temporarily when turning on utilities, internet services, etc.

• Child is now an adult: Parents sometimes freeze a minor child’s credit reports but lift the freeze when the child turns 18 and starts becoming financially independent.

• Purchasing a home: It’s common to lift a credit freeze when applying for a mortgage, allowing the lender to review your credit history. Some keep it lifted through the home closing process.

• Credit monitoring after a breach: If your data was compromised in a breach, people often freeze credit first but lift it later to sign up for credit monitoring services.

• Idenitity theft victim: Someone who has experienced identity theft will want to place a freeze to prevent further fraud. This freeze can remain in place for years to protect credit long-term.

How Much Does It Cost to Lift a Credit Freeze?

Due to federal law, lifting or removing a credit freeze must be free for all consumers across the country, at all three major credit bureaus.

The cost to place a new credit freeze varies by state, but lifting it is always free. You will not be charged any fees by Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion for temporarily or permanently lifting an existing freeze.

Can a Credit Freeze Be Bypassed?

While a freeze blocks new credit applications, it cannot prevent all types of identity theft and fraud. Here are some ways thieves can potentially get around the protections of a credit freeze:

• Using your existing credit cards or bank accounts

• Filing fraudulent tax returns for refunds

• Opening utility or cell phone accounts in your name

• Renting an apartment with your stolen identity

• Providing your protected information to lenders directly

To limit these risks, you should still monitor financial statements closely for any suspicious activity even when a credit freeze is in place. A freeze is not an end-all solution but does make identity theft more difficult.

How Long Do Credit Freeze Lifts Last?

If you temporarily lift your credit freeze, the length of time it stays lifted depends on the terms you request:

• Specific time period: Such as 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, etc. The freeze lifts for exactly that time frame before automatically reinstating itself.

• Single creditor: The freeze may lift only for a single lender to make one credit decision. Once they check your report, the freeze goes back into effect.

• Indefinite: You can request to lift the freeze indefinitely until you place it again. It will remain lifted and your credit reports open until you freeze them again.

• One bureau only: You can lift the freeze for one credit bureau only, leaving freezes in place at other bureaus.

When your defined lift period expires, the credit bureaus are required to freeze your reports again within 1 hour for online/phone requests or 1-3 days for mail requests.

The Bottom Line

A credit freeze remains in effect indefinitely until you take action to remove it. There is no expiration date and no need to renew it annually. You are in full control over when the freeze is placed, lifted, and removed based on your specific needs. Pay attention to lift time limits to avoid the freeze going back into effect before you need it lifted.