![]() How Long Does It Take to Unfreeze Your Credit?įortunately, you can unfreeze your credit quickly, although the timeframe to unfreeze your credit depends on the method you use to request it.įor instance, if you request the lift online or over the phone, the three credit reporting agencies must lift a credit freeze in one hour. In many states, insurance companies can use information from your credit report to determine your premium rates. You may also need to unfreeze your credit if your insurance companies need information from your credit report to determine your premium rates. You can then unfreeze your credit whenever you want to apply for a new car loan, credit card, mortgage loan and the like. Thanks to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, credit freezes are free to consumers and they do not impact your credit score.įreezing your credit report can be a good idea if you don’t apply for credit often. It also does not defend against tax fraud, employment fraud or account takeovers. The freeze does not protect against someone stealing your personal information. It’s important to note, when you set a freeze on your credit the freeze only protects you from someone else opening credit in your name. The credit freeze helps you safeguard against unauthorized access to your credit report without your knowledge. Many people freeze their credit reports because as a cautionary measure against data breaches and identity theft. In this way, a credit freeze protects your identity by “freezing” access to your credit reports by with the three largest credit bureaus–Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The reason it makes life harder for identity thieves is that they can’t open a new account until a creditor reviews an applicant’s credit report, and a freeze prevents the creditor from that process. The FTC describes a credit freeze as a free tool to restrict access to your credit report so that it is harder for thieves to open credit accounts in your name. ![]() ![]() Here’s some information to help you understand how the unfreezing process works, and how long it takes for your credit to “thaw.” How Do Credit Freezes Work? Bureaus have three business days to lift freezes when they receive the requests by mail. To learn more about the difference between a security freeze and a credit report lock, click here.If you’re wondering how long it takes to unfreeze your credit, here’s some good news: Due to government regulation, the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) must lift a credit freeze within one hour for all requests made online or by phone. To place, temporarily lift or permanently remove a security freeze on your Experian or TransUnion credit reports, please contact them directly. After we receive the request and verify your identity, you will receive confirmation. Read more about acceptable documents here. If you are requesting to temporarily lift or permanently remove a security freeze via mail, you'll need to provide documents to validate your identity and address. Please download this form for instructions and mailing address. You'll also have the option to receive a one-time PIN by text message or answer questions based on information in your Equifax credit report for identity verification. You'll be required to give certain information to verify your identity. You can check the status of your security freeze through your myEquifax account as well. Online, by creating a myEquifax account.You can place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze on your Equifax credit report in several ways. Placing, lifting and removing a security freeze is free. ![]()
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