TAKE THESE STEPS TO THAW A CREDIT FREEZE

As you shop for a loan or credit card, you must open up access to your credit reports.

- BASICS BY ELLA VINCENT

A CREDIT freeze can be a pivotal step to protect yourself from identity theft. When you have a freeze on your credit reports, lenders can’t view them in response to an application for new credit—and that helps prevent criminals from opening credit card or loan accounts in your name.

But as long as a freeze is in place, you can’t access new lines of credit, either. (Note that you can still pull up your own credit reports when they’re frozen, and lenders can check your reports to manage accounts you already have with them. Additionally, certain other entities, such as employers who want to analyze a job candidate's credit history or landlords who need to screen a potential tenant’s credit, may be able to access credit reports while a freeze is in place.)

If you’re preparing to shop for a loan or credit card, you can temporarily lift your credit freeze. Just as with placing a freeze, lifting it is free.

How to begin.