The 9 Best Credit Monitoring Companies
Who Provides the Best Credit Monitoring Service?
Where is the best place to monitor your credit? In order to purchase a home, buy a car, or obtain almost any kind of loan, you need good credit and history. Falling behind on credit card payments, making too many expensive purchases, opening multiple credit card accounts, filing for bankruptcy, not paying monthly bills, and other factors may cause your credit score to drop significantly. On the flip side, staying on top of credit card payments, paying bills right away, and paying off loans are a few of the ways you can build a fantastic credit score.
Staying aware of your current credit score and proactively working to keep it up will help you, in almost all, financial aspects of your life. During the interview process, companies looking to hire may even request access to a modified credit report to check for signs of financial distress. This helps companies know if candidates may be at risk for committing theft or fraud. With new online services, you can easily access your credit score and stay on the road to financial success.
Tuesday, January 31st
2023 Credit Monitoring Company Reviews
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is free - no strings attached. A credit reporting company that lets us view our VantageScore (may vary a bit from the FICO score) while helping us find products to help us manage it at no cost is just what we, the people, have been asking for. Credit Karma has a professional, easy-to-use website that provides all the resources you need to keep your credit score on track. We have ranked Credit Karma number one among their competitors for credit monitoring services.
My FICO
My FICO is one of the few places you can actually get a true FICO score, rather than a VantageScore. FICO scores are typically used by lenders and prove to be more accurate than other credit calculations. Four plans are available for customers from $19.95 - $49.95/month from My FICO. Their services seem to be thorough and we are happy to see a place where individuals can check their actual FICO score.
Credit Sesame
Credit Sesame is a free credit monitoring service that provides a VantageScore (may vary a bit from a FICO score) to consumers to help them gauge their financial trajectory. Unless you choose to upgrade to their Platinum Protection membership, you will never be asked for credit card information. Their handy app allows you to easily check your credit report, get alerts, and browse products whenever you want. Credit Sesame is a great option for individuals looking for basic credit monitoring services at no cost.
LifeLock
Founded in 2005, LifeLock primarily aims to protect customers from identity theft by offering four different package options. Other primary services offered by LifeLock include device security, online privacy settings, and parental controls. Overall, LifeLock receives average feedback from customers, causing them to fall in the middle of the pack when it comes to credit monitoring services.
Equifax
Equifax has lots of credit monitoring options at affordable pricing for consumers. Their major downfall is their poor reputation that has lingered since a major data breach in 2017. For those willing to overlook this major event and put trust in the future of Equifax, the features offered through the company many prove valuable.
Experian
Experian is one of the three main credit bureaus used to generate credit reports. Experian reports are provided through most competitors. One of their most unique features is Experian Boost that allows people to build credit off of cell phone and utility payments. However, Experian has mostly negative reviews from customers who report that they overcharge, have poor customer service, and do not offer the help with building credit that they claim they do.
Credit Reporting
Credit Reporting claims they offer a 3 Bureau Credit Report by combining credit information from TransUnion Equifax, and Experian. Instead, the offer outdated information and links back to the Experian website. If you are looking for a credit report or other helpful resources straight from Credit Reporting, you will not find them. Credit Reporting has earned the lowest spot in our rankings for credit monitoring services.
Free Score 360
Free Score 360 offers a 7-day free trial of their services powered by ScoreSense. After the trial period, customers are automatically billed $29.95 monthly for a membership unless they can reach customer service to cancel. Aside from many customer complaints about their services, Free Score 360 offers limited features and does not stand out above their competition.
Free Credit Score
Free Credit Score offers both free services and a paid membership. With the free services, consumers gain access to their Experian credit report (updated every 30 days) and FICO score. Free Credit Score does not stand out among competitors by offering anything out of the ordinary. Their premium membership costs more than some of the other credit monitoring services and we found it is nearly impossible to contact customer service with issues. We have ranked Free Credit Score the lowest among the credit reporting services we have considered.
Continued from above...
Aside from working to qualify for a loan or your next big career move, a big issue in the world today is identity theft. It is estimated that nine million Americans are victims of identity theft each year. Sometimes this can be caught by watching to see if your credit score takes a major hit. If this is the case, you can dispute the credit report and work to fix the problem. Working with a credit monitoring company that has good customer service to help you through potential issues is important.
Before choosing a credit monitoring service, we suggest you keep the following criteria in mind:
- Cost. Will you be charged a monthly fee? How do rates compare to their competitors? Find a company that works to keep things budget-friendly.
- Customer Service. It is important to have easy access to a knowledgeable customer service team that can clearly answer your questions. It can be frustrating to be left confused or jump through hoops to speak to an agent.
- Resources. Is the website easy to navigate with plenty of straightforward options to manage your credit report? The company should be your advocate for helping you improve your credit score and find the lowest rates on purchases.
To help you identify the best credit monitoring service, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked a variety of options. We hope this information helps you find a credit monitoring company that will provide a good experience for you!
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