Lost Your Security Freeze PIN? Here’s How to Manage a Credit Freeze

Do I Need to Replace a Lost Security Freeze PIN Number?

You don't need to replace your security freeze PIN if you've lost or forgotten it. Previously, credit bureaus issued PINs when you placed a security freeze on your credit report—which you have the right to do—to verify your identity when you wanted to make changes. Today, the bureaus have other ways to verify your identity, so you no longer need a PIN.

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How to Manage Your Security Freeze Without a PIN

You can easily manage security freezes online, by phone or via mail without your PIN. However, you must manage each freeze separately. Lifting a security freeze at one credit bureau won't lift it at the others. Here's a quick overview of how the process works.

Experian

The simplest way to manage a security freeze with Experian is with your free Experian account. You can freeze, unfreeze or schedule a thaw for a specific date through the Experian Freeze Center. All changes made online go into effect immediately.

Experian notifies you every time you freeze, unfreeze, schedule a thaw or cancel a scheduled freeze, making it easy to keep track of the status of your credit file. Notifications can also alert you to potential identity theft if you receive an alert for an action you didn't schedule.

If you prefer, you can also manage a security freeze by phone at 888-397-3742 or by mail at:

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

When you manage a freeze by mail, you must provide:

• Your name, Social Security number and birth date
• A copy of a government-issued ID, such as your driver's license
• All of your addresses for the last two years
• A copy of a bank statement or utility bill to show proof of address

TransUnion

You can manage a TransUnion credit freeze through the TransUnion Service Center. After logging in to your account, select credit freeze from the options on your screen. You'll be given two choices: remove the freeze or temporarily lift it. Removing the freeze leaves your credit report unfrozen indefinitely. Temporarily lifting it leaves it unfrozen for the dates you select. You can schedule a temporary lift up to 15 days in advance.

If you don't want to manage your credit freeze online, you can make changes by phone at 800-916-8800 or by mail at:

TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094

TransUnion doesn't require you to provide supporting documentation when you submit a request by mail, but including proof of identity and your current address can help speed up the process.

Equifax

You can manage security freezes placed with Equifax through the Equifax Consumer Services Center. If your credit is currently frozen, you'll be prompted to manage your freeze when you log in to your account. Select whether you want to lift the freeze temporarily or permanently remove it. With a temporary lift, you'll need to enter the date you want to lift the freeze and the date you want it put back.

You can also make changes to a credit freeze by phone at 888-378-4329 or by completing a form and mailing it to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

If you manage your freeze by mail, you'll need to send proof of identification and your mailing address.

Tip: When you manage an Equifax credit freeze by phone, they might send a one-time passcode to your cellphone to confirm your identity. This is different from the PIN you might have been assigned when you initially placed the freeze.

Monitoring Your Credit

A security freeze is a valuable tool that can help protect your credit and financial health from identity thieves and other bad actors by limiting access to your credit reports. But they're not foolproof. While security freezes can minimize the likelihood that someone will open an account in your name, it's important to continue monitoring your credit reports for irregularities and take action if you spot inaccuracies.

Experian's free credit monitoring service provides another layer of protection. With it, you'll receive alerts every time there's a change in your Experian credit report so you can stay on top of potential problems.