So, you’ve heard a bit about ways to protect yourself from identity theft. The research left you with the question, Does freezing your credit hurt your credit score? The simple answer is no.
In today’s article, we’re going to explain what a credit freeze does and does not do, and why it shouldn’t affect your credit at all.
What Exactly is a Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze protects you against identity fraud and gives a simple way to control your assets and debt. Basically, it’s a security freeze that keeps identity thieves away from your account and has no impact on your credit score. However, a credit freeze may keep you from being approved for a new card or loan. It can also keep you from checking your FICO scores, as well as any credit file you may have. In other words, you don’t get access to them anymore.
When Should You Freeze Your Credit?
It’s a security measure that should only be executed when you suspect some wrongdoing. A couple of examples include:
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- If you think that someone might have stolen your identity.
- If you received a number of unauthorized alerts on your card.
It’s a good idea to freeze your credit so that you can maintain your score and not have it reflect while you’re clarifying the misunderstanding with the banks.
You want to keep your credit profile as clean as possible. It proves you’re a trustworthy borrower and enables you to access lines of credit when you need them most. So, better safe than sorry; if you’re concerned about thieves, freeze your credit.
The Limitations and Reach of Credit Freezing
A credit freeze won’t affect any activity from a credit monitoring company or demote pre-screened offers of credit. That’s why it doesn’t have much of an impact on your everyday credit-focused activities.
You can still use your existing credit cards and continue using them normally.
Unfortunately, everything comes with a price. When you freeze your credit, you’ll face a few limitations. Most importantly, you won’t be able to open any new lines of credit. Also, you can’t use your name to inquire about your credit, and you can’t submit any new credit applications. This also means lenders won’t be able to check your credit because your credit is frozen.
Can I Still Use My Cards?
Some people hear the freeze and get afraid that they won’t be able to use their accounts. While that’s a valid concern, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re simply freezing any credit checks, and any new credit being opened in your name.
If you suspect that your credit card has been stolen, then freezing your credit won’t prevent the thieves from using your card.
In this case, you need to take action with your banks directly. You can still carry out your loan and credit card payments as usual and report your activity to credit bureaus. There are no problems that arise there.
We hope this blog helped you resolve the question “does freezing your credit hurt your credit score?” If you have any questions, the experts at Go Clean Credit have an answer for you. Our experts can be reached at 1-866-991-4885.