When you freeze credit reports, you are locking your credit report from the eyese of lenders, as well as from identity theives who might try to run up bills in your name.
Although it's an effective measure in the battle against ID theft, it can be inconvenient and it's not free. You'll have to mail separate certified letters to each of the major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax, and pay $30 in fees.
Should you later desire to apply for credit, you'll have to unfreeze your account a few days before you apply for any loans or credit cards which require access to your credit reports. Unfreezing will cost you an additional $30 in most states.
An alternative to credit report freezing; although also costly, is credit monitoring. Credit monitoring can alert you when there are inquiries into your account or any new accounts that are opened in your name.
Another action is to remove yourself from junk mail lists and shred credit card offers before tossing them in the garbage.
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