What To Look For In Credit Monitoring Services

Your credit report changes daily, especially if you make numerous financial transactions. But a busy lifestyle makes it almost impossible to keep a constant watch over unauthorized changes to your credit report. That’s where credit monitoring services come in. A credit monitoring service keeps an eye on your credit report activity for you and immediately reports any significant changes to you so you can get a head start on stopping identity theft. There are numerous credit monitoring services from which to choose, so knowing what to look for in terms of your needs helps to narrow down the best solution for you.

Three Essentials To A Credit Monitoring Service

When you consider that millions of people have had a breach in their credit file, it is vital that the credit monitoring service you select is effective in alerting you to fraudulent activities that could be signs of identity theft. A credit monitoring service should provide these three essential components:

  • Real-time monitoring of your credit report.
  • Instant notification of any unauthorized attempts to view your credit report or major changes that could indicate fraudulent activity.
  • Monitoring of all three consumer credit reporting companies so you have sufficient protection.

    • Things To Consider When Choosing A Credit Monitoring Service

    Credit monitoring services differ in the types of benefits they provide beyond monitoring. Here are some questions to consider when differentiating one credit monitoring service from another:

  • Does it monitor inactive accounts? Often times thieves steal personal information from inactive accounts because they are less likely to be monitored.
  • Is unlimited access to credit reports provided?
  • Do you have unlimited access to your credit score?
  • Does the credit monitoring service also monitor online sources that list consumer information, such as directories, search engines, blogs, Internet newsgroups, chat rooms and public records?
  • Is free computer security software included?
  • Does the credit monitoring service offer identity theft recovery assistance that pays towards financial loss, attorney fees, if required, and the costs associated with documenting your loss?
  • Some credit monitoring services offer a free 30-day trial period. Take advantage of these offers to try different services and help you determine the best one that meets your needs.

    • Related Topics: Identity Theft Resource