My iPhone 5c keeps freezing?

I just switched over to a different carrier and got the iphone for free. I got the phone a week ago. When i open texts and begin to write it freezes for a short length of time. Its annoying since its brand new. My question is… Has this happened to anyone else? What did they do to fix it. Or should i just take it back to the store and ask for a new one.

It may be faulty phone. Try talking at shop, and thenask question again, if it fails.

Put it in restore and use as 'new iPhone'.

probably software issue otherwise-> to the shop, apple doesn't fix software issues they just replace the phone.