 TITLE: What Is a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: Does a Credit Freeze Affect My Credit Score?\n--------------------------------------------\nA credit freeze has no impact on your credit score or on your ability to qualify for loans or credit cards.\nBecause credit freezes prevent lenders from evaluating credit to process applications, they can hinder your ability to access new credit. You must thaw your credit before you apply for a loan or credit cards, or lenders will be unable to determine your creditworthiness and decide what kind of credit offer to make you. Failure to lift your credit freeze beforehand could mean delays in your credit applications.\nAside from preventing lenders from checking your credit, a credit freeze does not interfere in any way with:\n*   Your ability to use existing credit (credit cards, home equity lines of credit, other revolving lines of credit and so on)\n*   Your ability (and obligation) to make loan and credit card payments; our creditors will continue to report your activity to the credit bureaus\n*   Regular updates to your credit report, reflecting your credit usage and payments\n*   Access to your own credit scores or free annual credit reports\n*   Credit checks related to job applications, apartment rentals or insurance underwriting END