How to unfreeze your credit report at all three bureaus

Placing a credit freeze can help protect your credit report from unauthorized access, which can help keep your credit secure and your identity safe. A credit freeze restricts the credit bureaus from sharing your credit report with creditors and, therefore, prevents you from taking out new credit—or someone doing so in your name.

However, if you have a credit freeze on your report, you’ll need to lift it, either permanently or temporarily, to apply for a new credit card, car loan, or mortgage, since these all involve a credit check to get approval. Read on to learn more about how to unfreeze your credit.

How to unfreeze your credit

To lift a credit freeze, you’ll need to contact each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Alternatively, if you know which credit bureau a specific creditor uses for credit checks, you can lift the credit freeze on that bureau alone.

You can unfreeze your credit report online, by phone, or by mail. Here’s an overview of different ways to lift a credit freeze at each credit bureau:

Before unfreezing your credit, you need to decide whether you want the lift to be permanent or temporary.

Unfreeze your credit permanently or temporarily

There are two ways to lift a credit freeze: a permanent lift and a temporary lift. The difference between the two is that permanently unfreezing your credit removes the freeze for good, while a temporary lift unfreezes your credit only for a period of time, after which the freeze is restored.

• Permanently unfreezing your credit removes the freeze indefinitely unless you request another freeze. Remember that if you permanently unfreeze your credit, you lose the protection that a credit freeze can give you against identity theft.
• Temporarily unfreezing your credit grants access to your credit file for a certain amount of time, after which your credit will become frozen again. You can temporarily unfreeze your credit to allow a lender to run a credit check for a set period of time.

How to unfreeze an Experian credit report

To unfreeze your Experian credit report online, you first need to have an Experian account, which you can create for free. Then, you can navigate to the Experian Freeze Center and log in to manage your credit freeze.

Alternatively, you can submit your request by phone or by mail. You’ll need to include any personal information requested, like your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, and a copy of a bank statement or utility bill.

How to unfreeze an Equifax credit report

To unfreeze your Equifax credit report online, create a myEquifax account and sign in to lift an Equifax security freeze. You can also mail in their Security Freeze Request form.

When filling out the form, you must include identification information, proof of identity, and proof of address. Similarly, if you unfreeze your credit by phone, you’ll be asked to verify your identity by answering questions or receiving a PIN via text message.

How to unfreeze a TransUnion credit report

The easiest way to remove a TransUnion credit freeze is through the TransUnion Service Center. You can also remove a freeze by contacting TransUnion by phone or by mail and providing all the information requested.

When to unfreeze your credit

You’ll need to unfreeze your credit when applying for a new loan, a credit card, or a mortgage. Lifting the freeze allows access to your credit report when assessing your application. If your credit is frozen, the lender won’t be able to run a credit check and will likely deny your application.

There are other instances where you may need to unfreeze your credit, too—landlords may want to check your credit if you apply for a rental property, as will your bank if you apply for an overdraft.

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FAQs about unfreezing credit

Have lingering questions about how to unfreeze your credit? Below, we’ve answered a few commonly asked questions about lifting a credit freeze.

Can a credit check be done when credit is frozen?

No, creditors cannot perform a credit check if your credit is frozen. You must lift the credit freeze to allow for a credit check.

How do I know if my credit is frozen?

Check with the credit bureaus online or by phone to confirm whether or not your credit is frozen.

How long does it take to unfreeze credit?

If you unfreeze your credit online or by phone, the credit bureaus must lift the freeze within one hour. Alternatively, if you unfreeze your credit via mail, the credit bureaus will lift the freeze within three days of receipt.

How much does it cost to unfreeze credit?

Unfreezing your credit is free under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). There is no cost associated with placing or lifting a credit freeze.