topic Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock? in General Credit Topics

Which is better security freeze or security lock?

tpdtopcop — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 12:02:41 GMT

I have notice that with TU that you can place a freeze but also using true identity you can place a lock. Which is better or are they both the same?

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Remedios — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 12:22:43 GMT

Both pretty much function the same, except freezes are legally mandated, so if something goes wrong, there are more protections for consumer.
CRAs probably prefer you lock, because if your file is accessed somehow, there is less liability for them.
Also, freezing used to be cumbersome and time consuming ordeal, so locking gained traction due to ease of process, however that's been simplified now, and you can freeze and unfreeze as often as you need.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 12:34:32 GMT

a credit lock can be switched on/off very easily, but a freeze is a more permanant long term thing.

sometimes these freezes and locks don't work... if your credit got ruined when it was locked you wouldn't have as much protection under the law. so if you're afraid of identity thefts, do a freeze. if you're only afraid that some clerk at a store will do a hard-pull on your credit without permission, do a lock.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Remedios — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 12:41:41 GMT

No, freeze can be removed almost instantly now, simply by using a pin. No worse than a lock

Not really sure what you're talking about with "long term"

That's changed quite a while ago.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

calyx — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 12:59:58 GMT

I've never used locks, and only recently started using freezes. I've found freezes very easy to use, particularly when they let you set temporary times for access (I'm just gonna call that a 'thaw').

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

tpdtopcop — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:30:02 GMT

Thanks for all the reply’s. I just didn’t know if one was better that the other. Just didn’t want any hard pulls from my credit.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

FireMedic1 — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 15:34:06 GMT

Freeze=Free

Lock=Gotta Pay basically

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:23:17 GMT

@calyx wrote:
I've never used locks, and only recently started using freezes. I've found freezes very easy to use, particularly when they let you set temporary times for access (I'm just gonna call that a 'thaw').

Used the temporary un freeze for two days and it auto froze back on! Slick!!!

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

calyx — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:29:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@calyx wrote:
I've never used locks, and only recently started using freezes. I've found freezes very easy to use, particularly when they let you set temporary times for access (I'm just gonna call that a 'thaw').
Used the temporary un freeze for two days and it auto froze back on! Slick!!!

I gotta say, I really do like the temporary thaws - it's nice to know I don't have to remember to log back in for a freeze. Best of both (frozen/not frozen) worlds, imo.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Remedios — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:45:42 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
Freeze=Free
Lock=Gotta Pay basically

EX only. TU and EQ have a free lock

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Remedios — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:47:04 GMT

@tpdtopcop wrote:
Thanks for all the reply’s. I just didn’t know if one was better that the other. Just didn’t want any hard pulls from my credit.

I personally would opt for freeze. My EQ is neither locked or frozen because last time it took them 5 months to fix it.

Now it just dangles free 🤷‍♀️

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 18:49:57 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
@tpdtopcop wrote:
Thanks for all the reply’s. I just didn’t know if one was better that the other. Just didn’t want any hard pulls from my credit.
I personally would opt for freeze. My EQ is neither locked or frozen because last time it took them 5 months to fix it.
Now it just dangles free 🤷‍♀️

oh you have eq issues a well? join the other 90% of the credit community that does as well lol . Use to always have too big of reports and they would have to purge stuff off usually being hp's so was worth it back them. Has slightly gotten better, but worst CRA there still is by miles.

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

Remedios — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 18:53:51 GMT

I had a freeze they claimed for months was removed. It wasn't. Took some serious effort to get that resolved
Then they started putting fraud alert on my file.
When I called them about it, CSR literally said:" You dont have a fraud alert. It will be removed in 48 hrs" lolwut!
That went on for a year at least, and it seems it' has stopped for now.
Cant wait to see what they think of next

On a positive side, not many around here care about EQ, I have a single unscorable HP on it as of this month.
I'm too traumatized to try freeze or lock again.
I'm never getting those hours back

Re: Which is better security freeze or security lock?

DaveInAZ — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:44:14 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
@FireMedic1 wrote:
Freeze=Free
Lock=Gotta Pay basically
EX only. TU and EQ have a free lock

Good old EX. I've used Lock for my reports since the EQ data breach and it's worked fine, but I do get freezing has more legal protection I used to pay only EX, $9.99/mo. for IdentityWorks Basic with Lock & scores, but then EQ gave me a free EX IDnotify account that has lock for EX, so I cancelled IdentityWorks. So then 6 months in a row EX would auto unlock my report every 30 days with a note "change in membership" and I had to go IDnotify to lock it again. It finally stopped a couple months ago, fingers crossed.

I lucked out with Equifax, I was in the middle of a 30 day free trial of their $29.99/mo. Complete Premier service when they went public with the data breach and they've continued the service for free for me ever since, unlimited scores amd lock & unlock, never any issues with EQ.