With all the buzz around massive data breaches and identity theft, many consumers have made the smart choice to take various degrees of security measures as it relates to their credit reports. One such tool is a credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, which gives notice to any creditor attempting to view one’s credit information for the purpose of getting a new loan, credit card, home mortgage, or line-of-credit account.
With a security credit freeze in place, new creditors are required to stop an application in its tracks since verification of past payment history, other credit accounts, and other relevant details necessary for approving a new account cannot be done. While a security freeze is a long-term tactic in safeguarding your credit from bad actors, there are times when it needs to be accessed. Here’s how to unfreeze your credit report by removing a security credit freeze.
When to Remove a Credit Freeze
Before going into the specifics of how to remove a credit freeze, it may be helpful to know when you should take this step. An evaluation of your past and present financial life is needed for so many things these days, including getting a new job, applying for a car or personal loan, and even putting utilities in your name.
If you are about to apply for new credit, start a new gig, or move, removing a security freeze from your credit report with all three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion is a must.
How to Unfreeze Your Credit Reports
In most states, a credit report freeze is in place until you request it be removed. You have two options for removing a credit freeze: either a temporary lift or removing it altogether. If you have a specific reason for removing a credit freeze, like those mentioned above, a temporary lift may be the smarter option.
The credit bureaus have three days to remove a freeze after you’ve submitted your request, and it may cost money to have a freeze temporarily thawed (lifted, unfrozen, removed). With each credit reporting agency, the process differs slightly.
Remove Equifax Credit Freeze
Through Equifax, you have the option to request a temporary security freeze removal that is either specific to a certain creditor or a general removal that applies for a set period, ranging from one day to one year.
Through a simple online process, you can submit your request through this link. You can also call Equifax at (888) 298-0045, or if you prefer, request your security freeze removal in writing and sending it to the following address:
Equifax Security Freeze
PO Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
If the request is submitted in writing, you will need to provide your full name, current address, social security number, date of birth, and applicable proof of identification, like a copy of your driver’s license, is also required.
Through the online or other methods, you will need to provide your security freeze PIN. Check the process for retrieving your PIN if you’ve misplaced that information.
Remove Experian Credit Freeze
Through Experian, lifting a credit freeze is available either temporarily for a set period or a specific creditor. The easiest way to remove a credit freeze is to visit Experian’s Freeze Center and request it there, with your PIN.
You may also call Experian to request a security freeze removal at 1-888-397-3742 or by mail at the following address:
Experian Security Freeze
PO Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
Like Equifax, Experian requires you to provide your personal information if you make a removal request in writing, including your PIN, date of birth, social security number, address, full name, and proof of ID.
Remove TransUnion Credit Freeze
TransUnion also offers temporary or permanent credit freeze removal, and the simplest way to request it is through its online platform found here.
Individuals may also call TransUnion at 1-888-909-8872 to request a security freeze removal by phone, or send the request in writing to the following address:
TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
Requests made in writing and over the phone require you to know your PIN, but not when updating your credit freeze information online. If you’re submitting your request in writing, make sure to also include your personal details such as your SSN, your PIN, and proof of identity.
Hey Robert, I’m sorry that you are having trouble and that I didn’t get back to you sooner.
Have you rechecked Experian recently to see if it has finally been updated as unfrozen? When you say it wasn’t actually frozen, how are you verifying and how much time are you giving the system to update? Did you log out, give it a day, and then log back in? Might help.
Unfortunately, a lot of people have issues getting stuff done with Experian. I’ve had multiple issues myself trying to upload documents and such and was forced to mail them a letter to remove a fraud alert. I believe I was able to freeze and unfreeze my report online with Experian okay though a year or so ago.
1. Unfortunately, you may end up having to mail them a letter with your request along with identification information (SSN, ID, PIN if have, Proof of Address)
2. A freeze and a lock are very similar, however, a security freeze is free as required by law and a lock is a service that is typically paid for so they make it easier for you to use. Here’s an article we wrote covering the differences between a security freeze, credit lock, and fraud alert.
3. Similar to #2. It may be that some people are able to do it easily online and just not you for various reasons. Oftentimes, identification issues. Otherwise, it could be profit-driven. The harder it is for consumers to take advantage of the free services the more likely they will pay for things like a credit lock.
I tried to buy a car Dec 2020. They wanted me to unfreeze my Experian report. I have my PIN, and went to the unfreeze web site, and correctly entered my PIN. The website stated that the report was unfrozen, but it actually was not unfrozen. I tried this three times – same result. i never got an explanation as to why the Experian web-site said the report was unfrozen when it actually was still frozen.
I was able to get a credit approval by unlocking my TransUnion report – though at a higher interest rate. This didn’t matter too much since I paid the loan of in 90 days.
Now, I want to buy another car. I will want to unfreeze my Experian report, and don’t want to go thru the same hassle again.
The Experian unfreeze phone number is of no help at all. It simply does the same thing as the web-site. That is, it does nothing.
Questions:
1. How do I unfreeze my Experian report? Remeber, neither the web-site not the phone number work for me.
2. What is the difference between ‘freeze’ and ‘lock’?
3. With TransUnion, I can easily lock/unlock my report on-line. Why can’t I do this with Experian?
The 3 credit reporting outfits will un-freeze your account now, if you PAY. This seems a far stretch to correct the problem they created (breach).
Hi Carol, I’m sorry but you’ll need to contact each credit bureau directly.
I need to speak to a person about unfreezing my credit.
Hi James, I’m sorry to hear about your trouble. If she only froze it with TransUnion then she should only need to unfreeze it with TransUnion.
My wife froze her account at Transunion 1917, now we are trying to unfreeze the freeze on TransUnion and we have been on the line for 2 hours, cant do it online cause they wont take my password and wont give me a new one cause the cant verify my identity? Spent 5 hours between the 3 credit bureaus. WHY DO THEY NEED 3 CREDIT BUREAUs ANYWAY WHEN 1 WILL SUFFICE ?????
Hi AJ, unfortunately you will need to contact the credit bureau you wish to thaw it with directly.
I wish to unfreeze my credit report beginning December 1st 2019 and freeze the report again December 15th, 2109. Please confirm to my email: removed for your security. Thank you, A.J. Culbertson
Hi Rosekencia, I’m sorry, but there is nothing we can do. You will need to contact the credit reporting agencies directly.
Unfreeze my account
Hi Janice, have you tried doing it through Experian’s credit freeze center link to above?
I need to unfreeze my Experian . The other 2 no Problem but when I froze acct Experian told me they wourd send me a pin Never did send it. so now they want a pin and nobody to talk to to find out how to get the pin so I can unfreeze Experian. I am refinancing home and need to get this taken care of. Please help me ..My husband also the same…Thanks Janice K Atkinson and Philip D Atkinson
Hi William, which company are you trying to get in touch with: Experian, Equifax or TransUnion?
I am trying to remove the freeze on my account. Your phone system will not let me remove my current freeze. I cannot speak with an agent either. This is the worst system I have ever dealt with. I can not remove the freeze via internet either.
Hi Ray, you can call 1-888-909-8872 and answer a few security questions which may allow you to remove the freeze that way, or request a new PIN via the mail. Have you tried removing it online at all? That might be a possibility too.
From TransUnion’s website:
How do I change my freeze PIN?
Trying to remove credit freeze through Transunion. Do not know your PIN number. How do we get it?
I’m sorry Johnnie, but we cannot remove the freeze for you. You will need to contact Experian directly.
I am having the hardest time removing this freeze from my CREDIT REPORT with EXPERIAN, PLEASE REMOVE THIS FREEZE OFF MY ACCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Bethany, ask the car company which credit report (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian) they are trying to pull? Then work with that company directly to see what’s going on.
So I went to finance a car and they had told me my credit is freezed! I have contacted all 3 credit bureaus, Experian and Equifax told me I have no credit report and transUnion said I have one but is not frozen!! So I wondering who could help me to figure this out I am 21 but I have no credit at all so I’m confused and no one is helping me
What ways have you tried to remove the freeze thus far? By phone, online, both? If you know which auto lender you are going to use you could ask them which credit bureau report they are pulling and focus on that company alone for now.
We have been trying to get a temporary credit lift from our freeze but they keep asking for our number! Every time we contacted them each they issued different numbers! It’s been over 10 yrs for our freezes and as of now cannot locate any numbers!! We are trying to buy a car and if we do it by mail the deadline for our credit incentive will be gone! So now what?
Hi Carl,
I’m sorry to hear that. What all have you tried so far?
It is extremely frustrating to deal with Experian. I am sorry I agreed to place a security with this company. Even after forwarding all the required information concerning lifting a temporarily freeze on Amazon, I am still not able to successfully accomplish the clearance.
Hi Joyce,
I’m sorry, but we’re unable to do that for you. You will need to contact Experian directly.
Please take me off Experian freeze.
Hi Faith, what are you trying to apply for?
When I apply online to Trans Union, after filling in information on first page, the submission is locked to continue.
I AM TRYING TO PURCHASE A CAR, AND I HAVE A FREEZE ON MY REPORTS, I HAVE UN FROZE ALL EXCEPT EXPERIAN, THEY DONT HAVE A PHYSICAL PERSON TO TALK TO LIKE THE OTHERS DO, SO THAT THEY CAN ASK ME PERSONAL QUESTIONS OVER THE PHONE AND UN FREEZE IT THAT WAY, WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING THIS FREEZE ON OUR ACCOUNTS FOR PROTECTION, IF WE CANT GET INTO OUR OWN ACCOUNTS WHEN WE NEED TO, THIS IS REALLY A PAIN IN THE BUTT, BECAUSE NOW I HAVE TO MAIL THIS TO TEXAS, AND WAIT FOR AN ANSWER, I NEVER RECIEVED MY PIN, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT ANSWERED IS FOR ME TO ADD MY PIN, WELL IF I HAD MY PIN I WOULDNT BE SENDING IN A REQUEST TO HAVE MY ACCOUNT UNFROZE, I WILL NEVER DO THIS CRAP AGAIN, THIS IS RIDICULOUS
I’m sorry to hear that George. Have you mailed your identification information to Experian yet?
I agree with all the comments above. Experian makes it very difficult to temporarily lift a freeze. First they said to fill out a request for your pin #.afterwards they said I have to mail my request with a bunch of identification. My son’s house was foreclosed and he has to be out in 3 to 5 days date is 04/12/2019. I am trying to help him but I have to wait for a pin # and how long is this going to take.I have made up my mind to never do business with Experian
Hi Gary, I’m sorry to hear you had so much trouble. It can definitely be a pain. Even more so when the credit bureaus have trouble verifying your identity and require you to mail them your request. Was there a particular company that gave you the most trouble and what method were you the most successful with?
I will never ever do this again. Trying to get the freeze removed sucks, a total nightmare. I would never recommend this to my worst enemy.
Hi Martina, what happened when you tried to remove the credit freeze?
Hi Andrea, did you also try removing it online? If so, what response did you receive. Did you use your PIN? You may have to mail in your request along with identifiable information so they can better identify your specific credit file.
I have tried for 2 days to remove the freeze from the credit report and i haven’t been able to do this.
Can please help me with this?
They gave me 2 websites transunion.com/credit/freeeze and service.transunion.com either worked.
Was able to remove freeze with Equifax and trans-union but experion does not have a real person to speak to and could not get freeze removed VERY FRUSTRATING!!!
Hi Batsile, unfortunately we can’t help you with that. You’ll need to contact the credit bureaus directly using the contact information in the article.
please remove my credit freeze permanently, I paid all the amount but still freeze.
Hi Nicole, did the car loan company tell you Experian was the company they used to request your credit report? It may be the freeze is with TransUnion or Equifax.
I am trying to apply for car loan and told there is a freeze on my credit report. I never placed a freeze. How do I have this removed? I went on experian website and tried to request PIN but it could not find an account for me (which I didn’t think it would). Please advise.
Hi Vera, Are you having trouble with a particular credit bureau? Did you follow the steps in the article?
how do I remove a freeze from my credit report
Hi Donnie, I’m sorry but we cannot do that for you. You will need to contact each of the credit bureaus directly, using the phone numbers, website link or mailing addresses in the article. Let us know if you have any trouble.
please remove my credit freeze permanently
Hi Joe, unfortunately it’s probably going to be difficult to get in touch with a real person then as all three credit bureaus use auto-attendants initially. Have you tried unlocking your Experian credit report through the Experian website? They make locking and unlocking really easy through there. Just keep in mind a credit lock is different than a credit freeze.
I am deaf and the phone is way to fast to get info in and doesn’t understand me. I need a real person to call me to get my Experian lock off or a number to a real person.
Hi Albert, we can’t do that for you. You’ll have to contact TransUnion directly. If you have any trouble doing that with them let us know and we may be able to offer some tips.
un Freeze my accounts at TransUnion
That’s all it is saying – ” cannot process your request?”. They might not be able to verify you identity so you will likely have to mail in your request.
Ive entered all my info requested on the experian website to unfreeze my credit including the pin number and it keeps saying it can not process my request what am i doing wrong. I can’t get anyone on the phone or start a chat with. how can i communicate with someone.
Hi Rosemarie,
Please see this article: https://www.aprfinder.com/unfreeze-credit-without-pin
Hi Tracy, this article explains how to do that.
Hi Leonard,
You will need to contact TransUnion directly.
Hi Tanya,
That’s weird. Have you told a human at the Social Security Administration that? They should be able to tell you which credit bureau(s) they are using.
Hi Sheila, you will need to contact TransUnion directly. Unfortunately we cannot assist with that.
I need to unfreeze my credit report, it was freeze for a reason & I don’t know why!
I contacted all three CB. There is not a credit freeze. However, a credit freeze is prohibiting me from creating an account on ssa.gov.
I don’t know my pin how do i get this
I need to unfreeze my account but I can’t find my id, pin or confirmation number how to unfreeze my account
TransUnion need to permanently remove freezen placed on 9/9/18
Experian has the absolute WORST customer service I’ve ever experienced in my 61 years of life!!!! What good is a credit freeze when you can’t get it lifted when needed? I can’t even continue with my mortgage loan because they have my credit tied up!!! Unbelievable! I sent a request via mail today – overnighted for $27.70 and I bet they don’t answer that either!
Hi Victor, what number did you call? We can’t provide you with a copy of your credit record, but can get you the right numbers.
Hi my name is victor tlou keetse,I phoned several times asking for my copy of credit record and nothing is been done yet,can u please resend the copy to this email,
Hi Resa, I’m sorry but we can’t unfreeze your credit. You will have to contact the credit bureaus directly.
Please unfreeze my credit
I am eventually going to lift off my freeze, but I can’t find the id # I was issued, I thought I achieved it to no avail. Can someone help me to remove this freeze w/o the id #.
I got the info that I needed to fill out this form, then give them a whole lot of information! Three pieces of info with my physical address on it, a list of things that aren’t accepted, good God I can’t even remember the gigantic list of things they want, to prove who I am, evidently. If I can ever get my credit unfrozen, guess what I’m gonna do…ex-communicate them from MY internet! AND this was including my PIN number!
Same as above–I have tried calling 3 times and can not get to someone to have a freeze remove and can not get any one or any procedure to do this at this phone number. WHAT Do YOU Do ????????
Ditto, Donna. Impossible to get to a live person for help!!!! Experian should ex-communicated from the internet.
I can’t get a hold of Experian to Remove the freeze to my account permanently. Online request says it’s temporarily down. I need it like yesterday. ugh. This sucks, its easy to put on but hard to take off. No human on the other line when you call!