A credit report freeze, also called a credit freeze, is a method that consumers can use to 'freeze' their credit reports, or to keep information about their credit history from being released to merchants and financial institutions.
For a fee (usually around $10 per credit reporting agency), a consumer can put a credit report freeze in place by contacting one of the three major credit reporting agencies and requesting that the freeze be put in place. Usually, the request must be made in writing, and it remain in effect until the consumer sends another request, in writing, asking that the freeze be released.
While a credit report freeze is in place, the consumer's credit information cannot be released or sold to merchants or financial agencies. Even the owner of the credit report is usually unable to receive credit while a credit freeze is in place, thus the consumer must request the freeze be removed before applying for credit.