Similarly, you may ask, can I still check my credit score with a credit freeze?
By law, individuals are allowed to check their own credit report even if they have a credit freeze in place. All you have to do is request a free credit report, just as you would if your credit were not frozen.
Furthermore, can you use your credit card when your credit is frozen? A Credit Freeze Doesn't Affect Your Current Accounts, Like Your Credit Card Accounts. Freezing your credit also won't prevent misuse of your current accounts. If the thief stole your credit card information, that person can use your existing credit card during a credit freeze.
Accordingly, is credit lock the same as credit freeze?
A credit freeze and a credit lock are two ways to protect your credit reports from being used by scammers to open new accounts. A key difference is that it's simpler to unlock a credit lock than it is to “thaw” a credit freeze. But a freeze may afford legal protections that a lock doesn't.
Is there a downside to freezing your credit?
Since credit freezes are free and don't affect your credit score, there isn't much downside to taking the extra security measure. You can also get free fraud alert protection that lasts for one year, and victims of identity theft are protected for seven years.
