Who to Call to Unfreeze Your Credit at All 3 Bureaus

To unfreeze your credit at all three bureaus, call Equifax at 1-888-378-4329, Experian at 888-397-3742, and TransUnion at 800-916-8800. You have to contact each one separately, because the bureaus don’t share freeze statuses with each other, and federal law requires them to lift a freeze within one hour of a phone or online request.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes If you skip one, a lender pulling that bureau’s report will see a frozen file and can deny your application.

The Three Phone Numbers and Online Portals

Every method below is free under federal law, whether you call, go online, or mail a request.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act

If you don’t know which bureau your lender uses, lift the freeze at all three. Most mortgage lenders pull from all three; credit card issuers often pull from just one, and you rarely find out which one until after the fact.

What to Have Ready Before You Call

Each bureau verifies your identity before it will lift anything. Have this in front of you when you dial:

The old PIN system has largely gone away. Experian no longer requires a PIN at all, and you use a free Experian account instead.4Experian. Freeze or Unfreeze Your Credit File for Free Equifax now manages freezes through a myEquifax account for online requests.6Equifax. Credit Report Services TransUnion uses its Service Center account for the same purpose.7TransUnion. Credit Freeze If you placed your freeze years ago and were given a PIN back then, keep it handy. You may still need it when calling in or writing, even though online logins have replaced it in most cases.

What Happens on the Call

The automated system will walk you through entering your Social Security number and confirming your identity. It will then ask whether you want to lift the freeze temporarily or remove it altogether. Each call takes a few minutes, so budget about 15 minutes total for all three bureaus.

Temporary Lift or Permanent Removal

The phone menu will make you choose, so decide before you call.

A temporary lift opens your file for a date range you specify, and the freeze snaps back on automatically when the window closes.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes This is the right choice for a single application or a rate-shopping window of a week or two, because you keep the protection without having to remember to refreeze later.

A permanent removal lifts the freeze entirely until you place a new one. Your file stays open indefinitely. That can make sense if you’re shopping for multiple products over an unpredictable timeline, but it leaves your credit file exposed the whole time. Placing a new freeze later is free, so there’s no penalty for switching approaches as your situation changes.

How Fast the Freeze Actually Lifts

Federal law sets the deadlines. A phone or online request has to be processed within one hour. A mailed request has to be processed within three business days of receipt.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes

In practice, the one-hour rule means you can call from a car dealer’s lot or minutes before a lender pulls your report and still get it done in time. Mail is fine for routine planning but too slow for anything time-sensitive.

If You’re Opening a Bank Account or Setting Up Utilities

The three major bureaus cover most credit applications, but a few other agencies keep their own files, and a freeze at one of them can block things the big three cannot.

  • Innovis: A fourth nationwide consumer reporting agency that some lenders use. 1-866-712-4546, or innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze.8Innovis. Add or Manage a Security Freeze
  • ChexSystems: Banks check this when you apply for a checking or savings account. 800-428-9623, or chexsystems.com/security-freeze. The automated line runs 24 hours a day, with live representatives Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT.9ChexSystems. Security Freeze Information
  • NCTUE: The National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange is what phone, cable, and utility companies check when you set up new service. 866-349-5355, or by mail to Exchange Service Center—NCTUE, P.O. Box 105561, Atlanta, GA 30348.

Add ChexSystems if you’re opening a bank account. Add NCTUE if you’re moving and turning on utilities. Otherwise the big three are usually enough.

Calling on Behalf of a Child or Protected Adult

If the freeze is on a minor’s file or on the file of someone under your guardianship, phone alone usually won’t get it done. You’ll need to show proof of your authority (a birth certificate for a child, or court-appointed guardianship documents for a protected adult) along with identity verification for both of you. Each bureau’s exact requirements differ. Expect to work with a live representative and submit documents by mail, and expect the process to take longer than a standard self-service unfreeze, so start early if there’s a deadline.