What are the downsides to placing a freeze on my credit report?

A credit freeze may delay, interfere with, or prohibit approval of new loans, credit, mortgages, government services or payments, insurance, rental housing, employment, investments, licenses, cellular phone service, utility service, digital signature, Internet credit card transactions, and extension of in-store credit.

There may also be a delay between the receipt of your request and the actual lift or removal; therefore, it's important to plan ahead to ensure that your credit report is accessible for purchases and other significant transactions.

In addition, a freeze will not prevent a thief from fraudulently using your existing credit card or bank accounts.  Therefore, you should continue to regularly check your monthly bank account and credit card statements for signs of any suspicious activity.