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Unfreezing credit through Experian™, Equifax ® or TransUnion ® If you are making the request on behalf of a minor, note that submitting a request to lift a credit freeze can only be done by mail. The credit bureaus, however, are required to remove the freeze within three business days of receiving notice. The request can be done by mail, but note that this is a longer process.
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If you make the request online or by phone, the three major credit bureaus are required to lift the freeze within an hour. How long does it take to lift a credit freeze? Permanently remove credit freeze: Leaves your report open unless you request another credit freeze.Temporarily lift credit freeze: Allows a creditor to check your file for a set period of time then refreezes your credit.There are two options for unfreezing your credit report: Make sure you know the differences between freezing credit and locking credit.
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Keep in mind, a credit freeze and credit lock are different. You may also need the PIN or password you received when you initially froze your credit. If you froze your credit report with each of the major credit bureaus - Experian™, Equifax ® and TransUnion ® - you'll need to contact all three individually. But you also have the option to contact them by mail. This article has been viewed 1,354 times.The quickest and easiest way to unfreeze your credit report is to contact the credit bureau (or bureaus) you used to freeze your credit either online or by phone. Jonathan has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Money Tips, Mindful Magazine, and Business Insider among others. He also earned his Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) credential from Fi360. He studied Financial Analysis at the CFA Institute and earned his Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) designation from The Investments & Wealth Institute. With over 25 years of financial advising experience, Jonathan is a speaker and the best-selling author of "Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend." Jonathan holds a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Montana State University-Bozeman.
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Jonathan DeYoe is a Financial Advisor and the CEO of Mindful Money, a comprehensive financial planning and retirement income planning service based in Berkeley, California. This article was co-authored by Jonathan DeYoe, CPWA®, AIF® and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. This article has been viewed 1,354 times. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.