How to Unfreeze My Credit Report

A credit freeze locks up your credit, preventing criminals from opening new credit accounts in your name. Once you place the credit freeze, only existing lenders can access your credit. This means you cant get new credit without unfreezing your credit. There are two options for unfreezing your credit, a permanent unfreeze and a temporary unfreeze. A permanent unfreeze will lift your freeze for good. However, a temporary unfreeze will lift the freeze for the amount of time you specify. For example, you may lift the credit freeze for 24 hours. After this time, your credit report will freeze again.

Instructions

1

Request a temporary credit unfreeze. When a consumer freezes his credit, the reporting agency assigns a personal identification number. Unfreeze your credit report by contacting each reporting agency (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian) and providing the PIN. Each credit bureau will have assigned you a different PIN.

2

Request a permanent unfreeze. If you decide to unfreeze your credit permanently, youll need the same PIN as a temporary unfreeze. Contact all three credit bureaus and request an unfreeze. Each bureau will also send you confirmation in writing.

3

Review your credit report. Unfreezing your credit, even for a day, leaves your information unprotected. Safeguard yourself against additional crimes by reviewing your credit report after unfreezing your credit. Order a free credit report though Annual Credit Report (see Resources). You can also purchase monitoring services, which notify you of new credit opened in your name. Credit monitoring typically costs less than $20 a month, as of 2010. Credit bureaus typically offer this service.