Security freezes - lift vs remove?

[Anonymous]

http://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-freezes.page?tab=freezefees

What is the difference between lift and remove? Does the former refer to temporarily lifing the freeze? If so, how long will the credit report remain unfrozen?

If it is free to remove the freeze and it costs about the same to place the freeze as it it takes to lift the freeze, why would anyone bother with the "lift" at all? Why not just remove the freeze and add the freeze again whenever needed?

[Anonymous]

The former does refer to a temporary lift. It will likely give you a 7, 15 or 30 day temporary lift option.

For some, maybe a temporary lift is needed if they want to go on a small app spree but don't want to call each individual lender to give them the PIN # for verification purposes. Maybe they only want their reports to be accessible for a limited amount of time to avoid temptation. Who knows Different people have different reasons.

[Ghoshida]

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@Anonymous wrote:

http://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-freezes.page?tab=freezefees

What is the difference between lift and remove? Does the former refer to temporarily lifing the freeze? If so, how long will the credit report remain unfrozen?

If it is free to remove the freeze and it costs about the same to place the freeze as it it takes to lift the freeze, why would anyone bother with the "lift" at all? Why not just remove the freeze and add the freeze again whenever needed?

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(a) A lift allows for a temp removal and free reinstatement of a credit freeze. A removal will be just that, no reinstatement. If you ask for a lift, generally the CRA will ask you for the duration. In most cases it's one week to 4 weeks (or 30 days). You can also get a lender-specific lift with a 4 digit PIN. 

I'm both app-hungry and ID-theft-paranoid, so for me, an all-time freeze is the best option. I lift the freeze if I really need it, do the apps, then the freeze goes back on itself.

(b) It's NOT free to remove the lift if you're not an ID theft victim or live in certain states. In my state, it's better to lift. Placing a freeze, lifting, and removing each costs me $10. So if I remove and then freeze again it's $20 vs. a lift only that's $10. 

See for yourself:

https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/75/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDMwMTU3NzMzL3NpZC9NWmtHV1drbQ%3D%3D

ETA: For TU, lift and remove (and add back) will cost me the same. I prefer lift because of auto-freeze-back convenience.

[Anonymous]

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@Ghoshida wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

http://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-freezes.page?tab=freezefees

What is the difference between lift and remove? Does the former refer to temporarily lifing the freeze? If so, how long will the credit report remain unfrozen?

If it is free to remove the freeze and it costs about the same to place the freeze as it it takes to lift the freeze, why would anyone bother with the "lift" at all? Why not just remove the freeze and add the freeze again whenever needed?

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(a) A lift allows for a temp removal and free reinstatement of a credit freeze. A removal will be just that, no reinstatement. If you ask for a lift, generally the CRA will ask you for the duration. In most cases it's one week to 4 weeks (or 30 days). You can also get a lender-specific lift with a 4 digit PIN. 

I'm both app-hungry and ID-theft-paranoid, so for me, an all-time freeze is the best option. I lift the freeze if I really need it, do the apps, then the freeze goes back on itself.

(b) It's NOT free to remove the lift if you're not an ID theft victim or live in certain states. In my state, it's better to lift. Placing a freeze, lifting, and removing each costs me $10. So if I remove and then freeze again it's $20 vs. a lift only that's $10. 

See for yourself:

https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/75/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDMwMTU3NzMzL3NpZC9NWmtHV1drbQ%3D%3D

ETA: For TU, lift and remove (and add back) will cost me the same. I prefer lift because of auto-freeze-back convenience.

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Oh okay, so it's only with TU that the "remove" is free - not the case with EQ or EX.