How to Unfreeze Your Credit Report

Unfreezing your credit report is required to be able to take out loans, lease a car, purchase or rent a property, or open a new credit card. To unfreeze your report, you will first need a pin from each of the bureaus, which was given to you for your own protection.  You will have received your pin when you initially froze your report.  If you have forgotten or misplaced your pin, no problem, you can recover it by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly.  Each agency has its own process to unfreeze reports. Agency-specific instructions are below. 

Equifax

• Online – You’ll need to create a MyEquifax account if you haven’t already. You can unfreeze your credit, check the status of your request, or initiate a new credit freeze if necessary.
• By phone – Call 1-800-349-9960.
• By mail – You’ll need to download this form from Equifax. Equifax will lift the freeze once your identity is verified. Mail to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.

Trans Union

• By phone – You can call TransUnion to unfreeze at 888-909-8872.  Follow the prompts, and the voice operator will guide you through the process. In this case, be sure to have your social security number, address, date of birth, freeze PIN, and start and end dates if calling regarding a temporary unfreeze. If you forgot your pin, you can recover it by creating a login online.
• Online – Go to this link to create an account if you didn’t already, and follow the guidelines to unfreeze your account. Note, you only need your pin if you initially froze your account via phone. You won’t need it if unfreezing online.

Experian

• By phone –Call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) and provide the PIN to lift the freeze from your credit report.
• Online – Go to this link to create an account if you didn’t already, and follow the guidelines to unfreeze your account.

For more information and help on other subjects please go to www.thecreditbureau.com and click on our blog.