A credit freeze is a free freeze you set yourself, and it prevents anyone from credit-checking you. Without a credit check, a fraudster cannot take out loans or credit cards in your name. The freeze must be set with all five credit information bureaus, and you can lift it anytime.
What is a credit freeze?
A voluntary credit freeze is a freeze against the credit check itself. As long as it is in place, no credit information bureaus (companies that assess your finances for banks and shops) can release information about you. This means applications for personal loans, credit cards and subscriptions that require a credit check are rejected – even when a fraudster applies in your name.
The freeze should be free, and you can turn it on and off as often as you like. Both the Norwegian Data Protection Authority and Finance Norway confirm this. Existing cards and loans work as before – the freeze only stops new credit checks.
Credit freeze is therefore the most important single measure against identity theft, that is, when someone misuses your name and personal identification number. Around 150,000 people in Norway experience identity theft over a two-year period, according to surveys from the Norwegian Tax Administration and NorSIS – but in 2023, only around 30 percent had set a freeze. Most problems can be sorted out, and it is even easier to prevent. Also learn how to recognize fraud attempts, because the freeze does not stop phishing.
How to freeze yourself with all five bureaus
As of July 2026, five bureaus assess creditworthiness for individuals in Norway, according to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority's overview (last updated October 2025). There is no central register or "freeze everywhere" service – you must log in and set the freeze with each bureau individually:
| Bureau | How to set the freeze |
|---|---|
| Bislab | Log in with Vipps on kredittsperre.bislab.no |
| Dun & Bradstreet (formerly Bisnode) | Log in with BankID on soliditet.no |
| Creditsafe | Log in on Creditsafe account |
| Experian | Log in with BankID on minexperian.no |
| Tietoevry (Infotorg) | Log in with BankID on infotorg.no |
Important: the freeze only works once it is in place with all bureaus. If you freeze yourself with four out of five, a fraud loan can still go through the fifth. Also note that Bislab uses Vipps login, not BankID.
The list can change: since 2022, new bureaus can start without prior approval. If you are in doubt, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority's overview of organizations that assess creditworthiness is the authoritative source.
How to lift the freeze when you need to borrow
Lifting is free and happens immediately, in the same portal where you set the freeze. The downside of a credit freeze is that you cannot be credit-checked either: loan applications, invoice purchases and new mobile or power subscriptions can be rejected while it is in place.
A simple routine: lift the freeze with all five bureaus on the same day you apply for a loan or renew your credit certificate – you rarely know which bureau the bank uses. Turn the freeze back on once the application is processed.
Carbon copy letter: the free warning many miss
Every time someone orders a credit check on you, the bureau must also send you a carbon copy letter – a free copy that tells you that you have been credit-checked, and by whom. If you receive a carbon copy letter without having applied for anything, it is an early warning sign of identity theft. Do not ignore it.
You also have free access to information: each bureau must show you everything that is registered about you, and which releases have been made over the past six months. After suspecting misuse, you can therefore see exactly who has credit-checked you. A credit check requires a legitimate reason – mere curiosity is illegal.
Check the debt register if you suspect
A fraud loan in your name appears in the debt registers. Two approved companies show the same: Gjeldsregisteret AS (gjeldsregisteret.com) and Norsk Gjeldsinformasjon (norskgjeld.no). You log in for free with BankID and see all unsecured debt – personal loans, credit cards and invoice purchases. Mortgages and car loans are not shown; they are in separate mortgage and personal property registers. Unpaid fraud loans can in the worst case end up as collection claims and payment remarks – another reason to discover them early.
What do you do in case of identity theft? The first 24 hours
Act quickly and systematically. The checklist is based on guidance from NorSIS (Norwegian Center for Information Security):
- Document everything. Write down what has happened, with dates, amounts and screenshots.
- Report to the police – call 02800 or use anmeldelse.politiet.no. Ask for written confirmation of the report; this is the document the bank and insurance company require. See how to report to the police.
- Alert your banks immediately. Block compromised accounts and cards. If money is already gone, you can demand the money back from the bank.
- Set a credit freeze with all five bureaus – use the table above.
- Check the debt register for loans you do not recognize.
- Consider a security block with the Norwegian Postal Service. Then your address can only be changed by appearing in person with valid identification – criminals hijack mail to hide the theft.
- Check your insurance. Many home insurance policies cover assistance and legal advice in case of identity theft.
- Block and renew your e-IDs – BankID through your bank, and MinID. Also report stolen documents such as passport and driver's license.
Only around 25 percent of victims report, according to figures from the Norwegian Tax Administration in 2023. That is unfortunate, because the report confirmation is the key to getting losses refunded and triggering insurance.
How to protect yourself in everyday life
The credit freeze stops new credit, but not everything: it does not prevent misuse of cards you already have, or someone taking over your accounts. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority's warning signals are worth knowing: invoices or collection demands for purchases you do not recognize, carbon copy letters without application, notification of address change you did not request, or mail that suddenly stops.
In addition, the usual advice applies: never share your BankID codes – not even with family – and be careful with your personal identification number. On SamfunnPrep you will find more guides on fraud and consumer rights in Norway.
Where to get help
You do not need to sort things out alone, and help is free. NorSIS operates a helpline for identity theft at +47 40 00 58 99. Slettmeg.no, which is also run by NorSIS, provides free advice on removing fake profiles and hijacked accounts. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority receives complaints about credit information bureaus, and your bank and insurance company have their own fraud teams.
Secure finances and consumer rights are part of the curriculum for the civic knowledge exam. If you want to learn more about how Norway works in practice, you can practice for free with the tools on SamfunnPrep.
