Things To Consider When Looking For The Best Credit Score Monitoring Service

In recent years, there have been many different solutions presented to protect people from identity theft; some of them have been very good and others not so much. Just by nature of the fact that so many of these services are popping up gives strong evidence that many are deeply concerned about the growing problem of identity theft. While they may offer many different types of services, there is one powerful reason why they are so popular. They give the consumer the ability to be warned if there is any activity that may be due to identity theft. The question then becomes where to find the best credit score monitoring service? Here are some suggestions.

 
Find Out Who They Monitor

The first thing you want to check when you're looking for the best credit score monitoring service is who they monitor. There are three different credit reporting agencies that are authorized to keep track of your financial activity. Each of those that you do business with will report on one or two of these agencies but few will report on all three. So, when you need to find a service to monitor your credit you should look for a company that will monitor all three. Some services say they will only monitor one agency but that may not be sufficient. Since the three reporting agencies are not the same, there is a chance that you might miss some vital warning signs. The best credit score monitoring service will have its eyes on all three so that you have complete coverage.

Consider Your Budget

Remember that monitoring credit reports is a basic service that all reputable services should provide but they also offer even more services if you'd like them. Just remember not to sign on to anything that you can't afford. Most services will require you to pay a monthly or an annual fee for their services. While the fee may be nominal, you can reduce it even further by making sure that you're not getting any additional services that you don't need. You should have an itemized list of everything you are willing to pay for; that way you can see where you can cut corners so that you can stay within your budget.

Know Their Customer Service Policies

The best credit score monitoring service will also have customer service policies that you can live with. Look for services that have 24-hour support where you can speak with a representative at any hour of the day or night. When you've been targeted for identity theft you don't want to have to wait until business hours to get the help you need.

No matter what you do you want to know exactly what the company is offering. You should not only expect to see reports when something seems strange but you also want to know about changes in your credit score. Find out how often they will check your credit report and you should expect to receive regular reports, at least once a month about any non-suspicious activity that may appear on your account as well. Choosing the right credit monitoring service may not seem like an urgent matter today but once you've become a victim it may be too late. Take the time to start your protection early and you'll have a better chance of preventing major damage in the future.