{"id":"free-credit-security-freeze","name":"Free Credit Security Freeze","provider":"Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion under federal consumer law","entitlement_type":"government-benefit","entitlement_type_label":"Government benefit","entitlement_type_context":{"definition":"A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.","domain":"public-benefits","archetype":"direct-program","agent_instruction":"Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."},"summary":"Consumers have a federal right to place, temporarily lift, and remove a security freeze on their files at each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies for free.","benefit":{"description":"Free restriction of prospective-creditor access to a credit file, making it harder for an identity thief to open a new credit account in the consumer's name.","estimated_value_usd":null},"discovery":{"focus":"public-service","has_estimated_dollar_value":false},"access":{"relationships":["Consumer freezing their own nationwide credit files","Authorized representative requesting a protected-consumer freeze"],"requirements":"The consumer must contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately and complete each company's identity-verification process. A parent, guardian, conservator, or authorized representative can request a protected-consumer freeze under current rules.","activation":"Use the official freeze page or phone channel for each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies, verify identity, retain the account credentials or confirmation, and lift or remove each freeze when access is needed.","cost_basis":"no-cost","cost_basis_label":"No-cost access","cost_basis_context":{"classification":"free","definition":"The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.","agent_instruction":"Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.","variation_patterns":null,"does_not_mean":null},"fees":"Placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a statutory security freeze are free. Paid credit locks, monitoring, scores, and identity-protection products are separate and are not required.","personalized":false,"regions":["US"],"expires":null},"status":"verified","last_checked":"2026-08-04","claim_url":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-freeze-or-security-freeze-on-my-credit-report-en-1341/","source_url":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-freeze-or-security-freeze-on-my-credit-report-en-1341/","source":{"primary_url":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-freeze-or-security-freeze-on-my-credit-report-en-1341/","evidence":[{"source":"Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion under federal consumer law","url":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-credit-freeze-or-security-freeze-on-my-credit-report-en-1341/","kind":"provider","checked_at":"2026-08-04"}]},"parent":null,"coverage":{"level":"national","family":"legal-and-consumer-help","jurisdiction":"United States","maturity":"direct"},"web_url":"/benefits/free-credit-security-freeze","taxonomy":{"version":"1.0","url":"/api/v1/taxonomy"}}