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Freezing your credit card temporarily blocks new transactions, which can be useful if you've misplaced your card but expect it to turn up. Typically, you can freeze your card through your credit card company's website or app. This feature may be called a card lock by your card issuer.
How to Freeze Your Credit Card
Freezing your credit card puts a temporary hold on your card to prevent purchases and certain other transactions. Only the primary cardholder can freeze or lock a credit card, but the freeze prevents all users, including the primary and authorized users, from using the card.
Here are the steps to take to freeze your credit card.
- Sign in to your online credit card account or log in to the app.
- Look for the option to freeze or lock your credit card. You may find it under a menu such as Account Settings or Security.
- If prompted, authenticate your choice with your face or password.
- Toggle the button to lock your card.
- If you have multiple credit cards with one issuer, you may have to select the specific card you want to freeze.
Once placed, the freeze will stay active until you unfreeze your card. You'll follow the same steps to unfreeze your credit card so you can use it again.
What Happens When You Freeze a Credit Card?
Freezing or locking a credit card generally blocks it from processing new transactions, including purchases and cash advances; however, recurring payments and certain other actions will still be processed. Your account number remains the same and your credit won't be impacted as long as you continue to make at least the minimum payment on time each month. While your card is locked, some card issuers may notify you if a transaction attempt is declined.
Transactions Blocked During a Credit Card Freeze
When your credit card is frozen, certain transactions can't be processed. These include:
- New purchases
- Cash advances
- Balance transfers
- New recurring transactions
Transactions Allowed During a Credit Card Freeze
Your credit card account remains active even when it's frozen, allowing you to successfully make many types of transactions, including:
- Recurring transactions you've already set up
- Refunds from returns
- Credits to your account
- Dispute adjustments
- Payments
- Travel notifications (depending on the card)
- Interest charges
- Card replacement
- Fees
- Reward redemptions
Check with your card issuer to understand how freezing your credit card will affect pending transactions or purchases made using a digital wallet. If you've used your credit card to hold a reservation, you may need to unfreeze your card or switch your payment method before the final charge is processed.
When Should You Freeze a Credit Card?
You can freeze your credit card as often as you need to protect your account. Consider freezing your credit card if:
- You've misplaced your credit card
- You want to reduce your spending
- You suspect your account has been compromised
- You want to limit purchases from other account users, like an authorized user
If your card has been lost or stolen, or you notice unauthorized charges, you should report your card to your card issuer. They can issue you a new credit card with a new credit card number.
When to Also Freeze Your Credit Report
You also have the right to freeze your credit report, sometimes called a security freeze, which is different from freezing your credit card. Freezing your credit report prevents new credit accounts from being opened in your name. When your credit report is frozen, creditors can't access your credit report to approve new applications.
Consider freezing your credit when:
- You suspect your personal information has been stolen
- A company that has your personal information experiences a data breach
- Your Social Security card was stolen
- Your credit report contains accounts you didn't open or inquiries you didn't initiate
- You've been a victim of identity theft in the past
You can freeze your credit reports for free at all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). You'll need to freeze and unfreeze each report separately. You can freeze your Experian report when you log in to your account or through Experian's freeze center.
Freezing your credit report won't prevent your existing credit accounts from being used fraudulently. If you suspect your credit card has been used without your permission, you should immediately contact your card issuer to have the charges reversed and get a replacement card.
The Bottom Line
Freezing your credit card is a convenient and cost-free way to secure your account when you don't have access to your card or want to control your spending. However, if your card is lost or stolen, reporting it to the card issuer is the best way to protect your account from unauthorized use.
To monitor your credit report and detect potential identity theft early, consider signing up for free credit monitoring with Experian. You'll get alerts to suspicious activity, allowing you to take quick action to protect your credit.