Freeze & Unfreeze Your Credit at all three major Bureaus - Experian (2024)

FAQs

How do I unfreeze all three credit bureaus? ›

You can't unfreeze at all three with a single action. You'll have to unfreeze your credit with each credit bureau individually. How do I unfreeze my credit? You can unfreeze and freeze your credit reports online or by mail, or by calling each credit bureau.

If you have an Experian account, unfreeze your credit by logging in, clicking on "Help Center" and toggling the freeze status to "Unfrozen" or scheduling a future thaw. Experian will lift your freeze in real time.

Additional Ways to Protect Your Credit From Fraud and Identity Theft. Freezing your credit can help avoid processing of unauthorized credit applications, but it requires you to lift the freezes at all three bureaus before you can apply for new credit yourself.

A freeze can give you a false sense of security — you may still be susceptible to credit fraud or other fraud involving your Social Security number. A credit freeze won't affect your current accounts, but if a thief steals the information on an existing account, your credit may be used without your permission.

Online: Sign up and complete this form to remove a security freeze. You'll need the 5-10 digit PIN that was given to you when you first put a freeze on your credit. By phone: Call 888-397-3742 and request to unfreeze your credit.

It's free to freeze and unfreeze your credit report as often as you like. Ultimately, freezing your credit adds an extra layer of security to your identity and accounts.

How Long Does a Credit Freeze Last? There's no time limit on credit freezes. Once you freeze your credit reports, they can remain frozen until you unfreeze them. However, when you request a thaw, you can either request a permanent or temporary thaw.

By Phone: Contact Experian's National Consumer Assistance Center at 1 888 EXPERIAN (1 888 397 3742). If you already have an Experian credit report you can dispute your information online. Or, contact us at the phone number on your report.

Note that you must limit access to your credit files at all three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). Locking your credit file at one bureau does not automatically lock it at the others.

A common misconception is that a credit freeze means you can't use your current forms of credit, like a credit card. But your credit report isn't accessed when you purchase something with a credit card. So, freezing your credit file doesn't affect your ability to use your existing accounts.

How much does it cost to freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus? ›

Freezing your credit is free, and you'll need to do it with all three credit bureaus to lock down each of your credit reports. And again, the freeze will stay in place until you lift it.

While credit lock vs. freeze might sound different, they function similarly: A credit freeze is a free service that stops new accounts from being opened, while a credit lock is a service from the credit bureaus that lets you lock and unlock your credit faster than a freeze.

It doesn't affect your credit score: Freezing your credit does not impact your credit score. It's free: By federal law, freezing and unfreezing your credit report is free with all three bureaus.

A freeze doesn't affect your credit score or prevent you from accessing your own credit report. Your accounts remain open, so it's a good idea to keep monitoring your bank and credit accounts for signs of fraud.

If you're applying for credit – buying a new vehicle, for instance – and you have a security freeze on your credit report, you can temporarily lift the security freeze to allow for a credit check. At Equifax, you can use your myEquifax account to lift a security freeze for a date range you specify.

At Equifax, you can use your myEquifax account to lift a security freeze for a date range you specify. You can also lift a security freeze by phone by calling our automated line at (800) 349-9960 or calling Customer Care at (888) 298-0045.

How to unfreeze your credit. Your credit freeze will remain in place until you remove or temporarily lift it. You can remove or temporarily lift your freeze easily online. If you'd like to remove or temporarily lift your freeze by phone, call TransUnion at 800-916-8800.

Credit Plus is not responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. To unfreeze your credit file either permanently or temporarily, you must contact each credit bureau directly.