How to Remove Fraud Alert from TransUnion

A TransUnion fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before approving new credit, and it places a visible notice on your credit file for either 90 days (standard) or 7 years (extended). The alert also grants you a free annual credit report and triggers a notification if anyone requests your file.

Typical use: you suspect a data breach, so you add a standard 90‑day alert; any creditor must call you to confirm you opened the account. If you file a police report for identity theft, you can request an extended 7‑year alert, which adds the same verification step and keeps a permanent flag on the file. Both alerts appear in the 'Fraud Alerts' section and do not lower your credit score. For more details, see the TransUnion fraud alert overview.

Gather these documents before you contact TransUnion to lift a fraud alert. Having everything ready speeds verification and avoids delays.

• Valid government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) showing your name and current address.
• Recent utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage statement that matches the address on your ID.
• Social Security card or a document that displays your full Social Security number.
• Copy of a police report or the FTC Identity Theft Report (required only for an extended 7‑year fraud alert).
• Signed written request authorizing TransUnion to remove the alert, including your full name, date of birth, and contact information.

You can delete a fraud alert directly through the TransUnion online portal without calling or mailing anything.

1. Sign in to your TransUnion account, or create one using your Social Security number, date of birth, and a government‑issued ID (the documents listed in the 'Gather documents' section).
2. From the dashboard, select 'Security & Alerts' then click 'Fraud Alerts.'
3. Choose the alert you want to remove (standard 90‑day or extended 7‑year).
4. Click 'Remove Alert,' upload any required proof (e.g., ID‑theft report for an extended alert), and confirm the request.
5. TransUnion processes the removal within 24 - 48 hours; you'll receive an email confirmation confirming the alert is gone.

Proceed to the next section, 'Remove a standard 90‑day fraud alert by phone,' if you prefer a phone alternative.

Call TransUnion's consumer line at 1‑800‑916‑8800, state you want to remove your standard 90‑day fraud alert, and verify your identity with your Social Security number, date of birth and current address.

• Gather the ID, SSN and any PIN you set when you placed the alert (see 'gather documents you'll need to remove a fraud alert').
• Call between 8 am and 8 pm Eastern Time on a weekday.
• Tell the representative you're removing a standard 90‑day fraud alert and answer the security questions they ask.
• Ask for written confirmation of the removal; TransUnion will typically email or mail it within five business days.
• Keep the confirmation for your records and monitor your credit reports for any unexpected activity.

You lift an extended 7‑year fraud alert by sending TransUnion a certified ID‑theft report together with proof you are the account holder.

What to send and how:

• A copy of the official FTC Identity Theft Report (or police report) showing the theft was reported.
• A government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID).
• A recent utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement to confirm your current address.
• A signed letter requesting removal of the extended 7‑year fraud alert, including your TransUnion credit file number if known.
• If mailing, use certified mail with return receipt; if calling, ask for a reference number and follow up with the same documents by fax or secure email.

TransUnion usually processes the request within 30 days and will notify you by mail or email; see the next section for exact timelines and how to confirm removal.

TransUnion usually processes a removal request within 3‑5 business days when you submit it online or by phone; mailed requests can take up to 10 days. After the alert is cleared, you'll receive a confirmation email (or a mailed letter if you chose paper correspondence) that includes the date of removal and a reference number. You can also log back into the online portal to see the alert disappear from your profile.

Once you have the confirmation, verify that the alert is gone by checking your next free credit report. If the alert still appears, note the reference number from the confirmation and move on to the 5‑step checklist to remove a TransUnion fraud alert today for troubleshooting tips.

Remove your TransUnion fraud alert in five quick actions.

Use the documents you gathered earlier and the online portal or phone line described in the previous sections.

• Confirm whether you have a standard 90‑day fraud alert or an extended 7‑year fraud alert (the latter requires an ID‑theft report).
• Collect your government‑issued photo ID, Social Security number, and, for extended alerts, a police‑filed ID‑theft report.
• Decide on the removal channel: log in to the TransUnion online portal or call 1‑800‑916‑8800 (phone option works for both alert types).
• Submit the removal request: in the portal, navigate to 'Security Freeze & Alerts,' select the active alert, and follow prompts to upload documents; over the phone, verify identity and request immediate removal.
• Verify completion: check your next free TransUnion credit report or await the confirmation email, typically within five business days.

If you need to block all new credit inquiries while keeping the fraud alert active, a credit freeze serves you better; if you want the alert cleared so lenders can view your normal credit file, removal is the right path.

A credit freeze stops any lender from pulling your TransUnion report without a PIN, so identity thieves cannot open accounts in your name. It does not delete either a standard 90‑day fraud alert or an extended 7‑year fraud alert, so you'll still see the alert on your file and may need to remove it later to resume normal borrowing. Freeze fees are rare, but you must remember the PIN for future access, and you'll have to lift or temporarily thaw the freeze each time you apply for credit.

Removing the fraud alert eliminates the warning flag from your TransUnion report, allowing lenders to evaluate your credit as usual. This restores the smooth flow of credit applications but leaves your file vulnerable to new fraudulent attempts until you take another protective step, such as a freeze. Removal follows the procedures outlined in the previous sections and provides immediate clarity for credit checks, though it does not prevent future identity theft on its own.

If a fraud alert sits on your TransUnion report by mistake, you can challenge it and have it removed.

Start by logging into the TransUnion online dispute portal or calling the consumer help line; submit a dispute that states the alert is erroneous and attach the documents you gathered earlier (photo ID, proof of residence, and a short letter explaining the mistake). Include:

• a copy of a government‑issued ID,
• a recent utility or bank statement showing your current address,
• a clear, one‑sentence statement that the alert was placed incorrectly.

TransUnion must investigate within 30 days and will email you the result; if they refuse to delete the alert, see the next section on what to do when TransUnion won't remove your fraud alert.

If TransUnion refuses to lift your fraud alert, immediately dispute the decision in writing. State that the alert is no longer needed, cite the original removal request, and demand a detailed explanation for the denial.

Gather any supporting documents you missed the first time - government ID, proof of identity theft resolution, or a signed statement from the creditor - and resend them by certified mail or through the online portal, referencing the earlier 'gather documents you'll need' section. Include a clear request for a copy of the file that led to the refusal.

If the second attempt fails, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and consider consulting an attorney who specializes in credit‑reporting disputes. The next section shows how to handle fraud alerts for minors or deceased individuals.

To delete a fraud alert that was placed on a minor's or a deceased person's TransUnion file, you must send a signed, written request to TransUnion along with proof of authority - either a certified death certificate for the deceased or a notarized guardianship or power‑of‑attorney document for the minor, plus a copy of your government ID and a utility bill to confirm your address; include the subject's full name, Social Security number, and a brief statement explaining why the alert should be removed, then mail the packet to TransUnion's Consumer Services address (see TransUnion fraud‑alert removal instructions for the exact mailing address);

TransUnion typically processes the request within 30 days and will confirm removal by mail, after which you can consider the credit‑freeze option discussed in the next section if you need ongoing protection.