How to Remove Fraud Alert From Credit Report
A fraud alert can be removed by contacting each nationwide credit reporting company and providing proof of identity. The initial fraud alert expires after one year, and an extended fraud alert after seven years, but a consumer may request earlier removal. A security freeze is separate and must be lifted separately.
A fraud alert is a notice placed in a consumer report that directs businesses to take reasonable steps to verify a person's identity before extending credit. The Fair Credit Reporting Act establishes three main types: an initial fraud alert, an extended fraud alert, and an active duty alert. An initial fraud alert lasts one year. An extended fraud alert, available to identity theft victims who submit an identity theft report, lasts seven years. An active duty alert for military members lasts one year.
To remove a fraud alert, a consumer contacts each of the nationwide credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and requests removal. The companies may require proof of identity, such as a government-issued identification, a utility bill, or a Social Security number, before processing the request. A fraud alert placed with one company is generally shared with the other two, but removal requests may need to be made with each company to clear the alert from all files.
Fraud alerts expire on their own: initial and active duty alerts after one year, extended alerts after seven years. A consumer does not have to wait for expiration. A request for early removal can be made at any time. For an extended fraud alert, the credit reporting company may ask for proof of identity, but it generally does not require a new identity theft report. If an alert was placed without the consumer's knowledge, the consumer can dispute it and request removal after verifying identity.
A fraud alert is not the same as a security freeze. A freeze restricts access to a credit report until the consumer lifts it, while a fraud alert only prompts identity verification. Removing a fraud alert does not automatically remove a freeze, and lifting a freeze does not remove a fraud alert. Each is managed separately through the nationwide credit reporting companies. Consumers can contact the Federal Trade Commission or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for general information about fraud alerts and identity theft.
Requests to remove a fraud alert are free. The credit reporting companies accept removal requests by mail, online, or telephone, though they may require documentation. A consumer who submitted an identity theft report to obtain an extended fraud alert may keep a copy of that report for their records. If a company refuses to remove an alert, the consumer can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.