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The credit bureaus, however, are required to remove the freeze within three business days of receiving notice.
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The request can be done by mail, but note that this is a longer process. 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. 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. Requests by mail: Three business days after receiving the request for removal.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.Requests by toll-free telephone or secure electronic means: One hour after receiving the request for removal.The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act set an official timeline for when credit freezes need to be removed, after a consumer's request: We've tested this for all three credit bureaus and were able to apply for a credit card within the hour. When you unfreeze your credit, you typically have access to your credit report within an hour, but it may vary. If you remove a freeze, reinstate it once the application process is complete. You also have the option to completely remove the freeze, which we don't recommend doing unless you don't have a finite timeline on when your credit will be pulled.
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There will be the option to temporarily lift a freeze for a set amount of time, which can be used if you need to apply for a credit card, mortgage, loan or other financial product. You can unfreeze your credit by going to the same credit bureau websites that you accessed to freeze your credit, or by calling the numbers listed above. Investing +More All Investing Best IRA Accounts Best Roth IRA Accounts Best Investing Apps Best Free Stock Trading Platforms Best Robo-Advisors Index Funds Mutual Funds ETFs Bonds Help for Low Credit Scores +More All Help for Low Credit Scores Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit Best Credit Cards for Building Credit Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Best Mortgages for Bad Credit Best Hardship Loans How to Boost Your Credit Score Taxes +More All Taxes Filing For Free Best Tax Software Best Tax Software for Small Businesses Tax Refunds Tax Brackets Tax Tips Taxes By State Tax Payment Plans Personal Finance +More All Personal Finance Best Budgeting Apps Best Expense Tracker Apps Best Money Transfer Apps Best Resale Apps and Sites Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps Best Debt ReliefĬredit Monitoring +More All Credit Monitoring Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection How to Boost Your Credit Score Best Credit Repair Companies