How to Remove a Fraud Alert From Your Credit Report

When to Remove a Fraud Alert

Fraud alerts are designed to protect you against unauthorized attempts to open credit in your name, requiring lenders to take extra steps before approving applications.

But in some instances, you may want to remove an alert from your credit reports:

• You've resolved the issue that prompted you to add the alert.
• You're rate shopping or applying for multiple credit accounts and want to avoid verification delays.
• You decide to use stronger fraud protection. You have the right to add a security freeze to your credit file in this case.

It's important to keep in mind that fraud alerts don't hurt your credit scores. However, they can slow down the credit application process since lenders must take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new accounts.

How to Remove a Fraud Alert

Fraud alerts are automatically removed from your credit reports after they expire—that's one year for initial fraud alerts and active-duty alerts, or seven years for extended fraud alerts. You don't need to take any action if you're comfortable waiting for the alert to expire naturally.

If you want to remove your fraud alert on your Experian credit report sooner, you can do so through Experian's online process, by phone or by mail. For online requests, simply visit Experian's Fraud Alert Center to get started.

If you prefer to call, you can reach a representative at 888-397-3742. For a mail request, you'll need to provide the following information and documents:

• Your full name
• Social Security number
• Complete addresses for the past two years
• Date of birth
• A government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license
• Copy of a utility bill or bank statement

Ensure that each copy is legible and displays your name, current mailing address and issue date. You can mail them to:

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Tip: Remember that when you placed your original fraud alert, one credit bureau automatically notified the other two. However, when removing fraud alerts, you'll need to contact TransUnion and Equifax separately to remove alerts from their credit reports as well.

Consider a Security Freeze

Before removing your fraud alert, consider whether a security freeze might better meet your needs. A security freeze limits access potential creditors have to your credit report, providing stronger protection against identity theft than fraud alerts.

Unlike fraud alerts, security freezes don't expire automatically and give you complete control over when creditors can view your credit. You can easily add or remove a security freeze online whenever needed, making it convenient when you want to apply for credit or other services that require a credit check.

Note that you will need to freeze and unfreeze your credit separately at each credit bureau.

Learn more: Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What's the Difference?

The Bottom Line

Removing a fraud alert is straightforward, but make sure you're making the right choice for your situation. If you still have concerns about identity theft, a security freeze might offer the stronger protection you need.

You can also check your Experian credit report for free anytime to monitor for suspicious activity. Staying on top of your credit helps you spot potential fraud quickly so you can take action to protect yourself.