{"id":36408,"date":"2021-10-13T07:41:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T14:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/?p=36408"},"modified":"2021-10-30T07:49:07","modified_gmt":"2021-10-30T14:49:07","slug":"credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/","title":{"rendered":"Credit Lock vs. Credit Freeze"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\ntable td\n{\n\tborder: 1px solid;\n\tpadding: 10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_difference_between_a_credit_lock_and_a_credit_freeze\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6629dc96bd1a6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6629dc96bd1a6\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#What_is_the_difference_between_a_credit_lock_and_a_credit_freeze\" title=\"What is the difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze?\">What is the difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#How_Is_a_Credit_Freeze_Defined\" title=\"How Is a Credit Freeze Defined?\">How Is a Credit Freeze Defined?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#A_credit_freeze_does_not_affect_your_credit_score\" title=\"A credit freeze does not affect your credit score.\u00a0\">A credit freeze does not affect your credit score.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#A_credit_freeze_does_not_exclude_you_from_obtaining_your_free_yearly_credit_report\" title=\"A credit freeze does not exclude you from obtaining your free yearly credit report.\">A credit freeze does not exclude you from obtaining your free yearly credit report.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#What_is_the_definition_of_a_credit_lock\" title=\"What is the definition of a credit lock?\">What is the definition of a credit lock?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Credit_freeze_versus_credit_lock\" title=\"Credit freeze versus credit lock.\">Credit freeze versus credit lock.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Comparison_between_a_credit_lock_and_credit_freeze\" title=\"Comparison between a credit lock and credit freeze.\">Comparison between a credit lock and credit freeze.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#How_a_Credit_Freeze_Is_Performed\" title=\"How a Credit Freeze Is Performed\">How a Credit Freeze Is Performed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Why_freeze_credit_instead_of_locking_credit\" title=\"Why freeze credit instead of locking credit?\">Why freeze credit instead of locking credit?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#What_are_the_benefits_of_a_credit_freeze\" title=\"What are the benefits of a credit freeze?\">What are the benefits of a credit freeze?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Privacy\" title=\"Privacy.\u00a0\">Privacy.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Protection\" title=\"Protection.\u00a0\">Protection.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Peace_of_mind\" title=\"Peace of mind.\u00a0\">Peace of mind.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Security\" title=\"Security.\u00a0\">Security.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Convenience\" title=\"Convenience.\u00a0\">Convenience.\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/credit-lock-vs-credit-freeze\/#Talk_to_a_reliable_bankruptcy_attorney_in_Oregon_today\" title=\"Talk to a reliable bankruptcy attorney in Oregon today!\">Talk to a reliable bankruptcy attorney in Oregon today!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36410 size-full\" title=\"credit freeze in Oregon works\" src=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/credit-freeze.jpg\" alt=\"credit freeze in Oregon works\" width=\"626\" height=\"416\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/credit-freeze.jpg 626w, https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/credit-freeze-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might have heard about these terms, credit freeze and credit lock. You&#8217;ve probably read them online or have seen them on television. They are gaining popularity, especially after recent news about data breaches, identity theft, and fraudulent activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit lock is a new credit protection service by three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, that is being marketed as a new way to protect your credit. Is it better than a credit freeze &#8211; the older, more established method of locking access to your credit?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another thing is, are you confused about what the difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze is? No need to worry anymore because the unbiased explanation is right here.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_a_Credit_Freeze_Defined\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Is a Credit Freeze Defined?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes a credit freeze on its website as a tool that &#8220;severely limits access to your credit file, making it much harder for identity thieves to establish new accounts in your name.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lenders require credit reports to evaluate your eligibility for a new line of credit. On the other hand, criminals may impersonate you, and lenders having access to your credit records might result in identity theft. No one can access your credit reports when you put a credit freeze, which means that a lender cannot approve a loan or credit card in your name.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_credit_freeze_does_not_affect_your_credit_score\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit freeze does not affect your credit score.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It does not exclude you from establishing a new account or engaging in other activities such as seeking a job or renting a house indefinitely. However, if you want to open a new line of credit, you&#8217;ll need to remove the freeze for a specified amount of time temporarily.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_credit_freeze_does_not_exclude_you_from_obtaining_your_free_yearly_credit_report\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit freeze does not exclude you from obtaining your free yearly credit report.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This does not prevent a fraud from gaining access to your current bank accounts, which means you must continue to watch them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_definition_of_a_credit_lock\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the definition of a credit lock?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit locks are another method to safeguard your credit. As with a freeze, it prevents anybody from opening a new account in your name.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit locks have no impact on your credit score.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may require monthly charges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It does not exclude you from obtaining your free yearly credit report.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It does not prevent anyone from gaining access to your current bank accounts, which means you must continue to watch them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must file credit reports with all credit reporting agencies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Credit_freeze_versus_credit_lock\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freeze versus credit lock.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freezes and credit locks are tools that let you restrict access to your credit reports. They both block potential lenders from accessing your report.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people choose to freeze their credit reports to prevent new accounts from appearing on their reports. For example, if you apply for a new credit card, the lender can see that account in your credit report, but it will not affect your credit score until you make the first payment<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freezes and credit locks are mutually inclusive, however, in different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit freeze locks your credit reports so that no new accounts can appear. This prevents lenders from seeing your credit score, so they can&#8217;t approve you for new credit without contacting you first.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0However, credit freezes don&#8217;t prevent lenders from seeing your existing accounts so that those accounts will remain visible on your credit reports.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit lock freezes your credit reports but also blocks lenders from opening new accounts. This protects your existing accounts but prevents your credit score from being affected.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit freeze and a credit lock both work this way: You contact one of the three credit bureaus and demand that they place a freeze on your credit file \u2014 a process you&#8217;ll only do once because you&#8217;ll put the same freeze on all of your credit reports.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freezes are free. You&#8217;ll need to request that a credit freeze be placed on all three of your credit reports, but you can do so by calling 877-567-8688 or visiting equifax.com.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit locks cost $10 to $15 per year or $50 to $70 for a lifetime membership. You pay the fee to each of the three credit bureaus, but you can save money by placing the same lock on all of your files at once.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparison_between_a_credit_lock_and_credit_freeze\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparison between a credit lock and credit freeze.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Credit Lock<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Credit Freeze<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your credit information is protected<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures prevention from unauthorized access to your credit information and the establishment of new credit in your name<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, it is a fee-based service involving anti-fraud businesses and two of the three main credit agencies.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all three bureaus, it is free.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bureaus Credit and paid anti-fraud firms operate these systems.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bureaus Credit alone is responsible for administration.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governed solely by the policies of the individual businesses<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal legislation applies<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is unclear who is liable for any damages.<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal protection for losses<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_a_Credit_Freeze_Is_Performed\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How a Credit Freeze Is Performed<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact each of the three leading credit reporting agencies\u2014Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion\u2014to freeze your credit history. Each will need specific information, such as identification, before freezing your credit report. The procedure is straightforward and should take no more than an hour to complete for all three major credit bureaus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may either permanently or temporarily lift a freeze. And permanently deleting one does not imply that you may reinstall it afterward. According to industry terminology, the action is called a &#8220;thaw&#8221;,\u2014and it is entirely free. You may lift a freeze online or via written communication with each of the three credit reporting agencies separately.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_freeze_credit_instead_of_locking_credit\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why freeze credit instead of locking credit?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind that credit freezes are different from credit locks. A credit freeze prevents anyone from accessing your credit report and scoring information, including lenders. A credit lock does the opposite and allows users to open new accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A credit freeze is a more permanent option, and it&#8217;s better. When you take for a loan, the lender must check with a credit bureau. When you apply for a credit lock, the lender must confirm your identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freezing your credit is a more fixed solution, and it&#8217;s better. When you take for a loan, the lender must check with a credit bureau. When you apply for a credit lock, the lender must confirm your identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re concerned about identity theft, a credit freeze is the better choice. A credit lock gives you some protection against identity theft, but it&#8217;s only as good as your PIN. Your PIN is easier to misplace, and it&#8217;s easy to break. A credit freeze, for instance, is nearly impossible to break.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another advantage credit freezes have over credit locks is that you can usually freeze your credit once. Credit locks must be renewed regularly, which can be difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re unsure which best solution is for you, seek advice from a bankruptcy attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_benefits_of_a_credit_freeze\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the benefits of a credit freeze?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freezes are free, and people in every state can use one. If you&#8217;ve never had one and are considering freezing your credit, here are five major benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Privacy\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Privacy.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit freezes are the closest thing to &#8220;digital locks&#8221; that exist today. When you freeze your credit, nobody can open new accounts in your name without your express permission. That means if someone tries to open an account in your name, you&#8217;ll be notified by email or text message.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protection\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protection.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you freeze your credit, nobody can open new accounts in your name without your consent. (They can, however, unfreeze your credit temporarily if they think you&#8217;re a victim of identity theft.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means that if someone applies for a credit card in your name, and the lender doesn&#8217;t find a record of you, they can&#8217;t approve the application.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peace_of_mind\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peace of mind.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you freeze your credit, no one can open new accounts in your name without your consent. (They can, however, unfreeze your credit temporarily if they want to check your credit report.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no potentially damaging accounts can materialize out of nowhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Security\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freezing your credit makes it even more difficult for identity thieves to open a new account in your name.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Convenience\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Convenience.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve frozen your credit, you don&#8217;t have to do anything to keep it from freezing again. Just thaw your credit when you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren&#8217;t sure which option is right for you, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seek advice from a Portland bankruptcy attorney.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Talk_to_a_reliable_bankruptcy_attorney_in_Oregon_today\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk to a reliable bankruptcy attorney in Oregon today!<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit lock vs. credit freeze &#8211; which one is right for you? It&#8217;s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each option. A lock will prevent new lines of credit from being opened in your name without a password. On the other hand, a freeze protects your bank account against fraudsters opening fraudulent accounts using your personal information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren&#8217;t sure which plan or option is best for you or want more guidance on protecting yourself from identity theft when filing bankruptcy protection, don&#8217;t hesitate to contact our\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon bankruptcy law firm!<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> We&#8217;ll help answer any questions that come up along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is the difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze? \u00a0 You might have heard about these terms, credit freeze and credit lock. You&#8217;ve probably read them online or have seen them on television. They are gaining popularity, especially after recent news about data breaches, identity theft, and fraudulent activities. A credit lock [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":36409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36408"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36408"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36413,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36408\/revisions\/36413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdxlegal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}