topic O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company? in Beauty

O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Nadine — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:30:13 GMT

We've been using Equifax but I don't think it's that great. The only notice I get from them is if my credit card balance goes down and of course it does when I make a payment.

The bank has been on top of any issues pretty quickly.

Wondered if anyone uses a service and if you think it's worth the cost.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

HappyDaze — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:42:52 GMT

due to everything going on with all the security breaches with Target, Home Depot, Chase, Bank of America, etc, we decided to finally try Lifelock. We did a year membership and used a 10% off coupon. We did the premium one as what is most important to me is making sure no one is trying to open lines of credit with our info. The banks have all been on top of any odd purchases, etc so I am not worried about those types of things but since some of the security breaches have been for personal info, that type of info can be used for getting loans, buying a car, etc, all things that credit card companies and equifax may not necessarily catch (I too was using equifax). I just want more peace of mind so decided to go for it. So far we are happy (it has only been a few months) and I feel a bit better.

But do know that the credit scores they show for each credit bureau are not the same ones that will show if you apply for a loan, etc (same thing with the "free" credit scores from CreditKarma)- they are different ones and probably lower than your TRUE credit scores. Equifax, of course, shows you your true score. Other than that, we like it.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Snowpuppy — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:59:35 GMT

If you're worried about hacking, skip Lifelock and just apply a freeze to your each report. Usually $10 per bureau. You have to lift the freeze if you're applying for credit. A LOT cheaper than Lifelock.

BTW, if you subscribe to credit monitoring services the credit bureaus sell that list to collection agencies. If you're THAT concerned about your credit, you'll pay up, right?!

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

VaBelle35 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:07:04 GMT

I use Equifax. Which version of their protection are you using? They have multiple plans. You may just have a basic plan. Or, you may just not have any activity like you haven't opened a new card or you haven't had any of your creditors run a report on you.

I have the Equifax Gold. I just opened a TJ Maxx credit card and I got an email from Equifax about it and I had to go into the site and confirm it was me who opened the card.

I would also recommend everyone locking down their Social Security Number with USCIS through their MyEverify program that they just rolled out. This way your number can't be used to verify employment unless you unlock your social security number.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

suzyQ3 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:52:23 GMT

On 10/30/2014 Snowpuppy said:
If you're worried about hacking, skip Lifelock and just apply a freeze to your each report. Usually $10 per bureau. You have to lift the freeze if you're applying for credit. A LOT cheaper than Lifelock.

BTW, if you subscribe to credit monitoring services the credit bureaus sell that list to collection agencies. If you're THAT concerned about your credit, you'll pay up, right?!

We keep ours frozen as well. It's only very rarely that we have to lift them.

If you're looking for a way to discipline yourself from applying for new credit cards all the time from different stores, etc., this might help.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

HULAGIRL — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:57:40 GMT

Lifelock!

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Nadine — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:54:23 GMT

We had the most expensive plan that they offered. I've had to get a new cc twice this yea and then someone hacked my debit card. All three times the bank notified me, not a word from Equifax.

Actually we haven't opened any new accounts but seems like they would have contacted me over the other three issues.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Wackers3 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:25:29 GMT

On 10/30/2014 Snowpuppy said:
If you're worried about hacking, skip Lifelock and just apply a freeze to your each report. Usually $10 per bureau. You have to lift the freeze if you're applying for credit. A LOT cheaper than Lifelock.

BTW, if you subscribe to credit monitoring services the credit bureaus sell that list to collection agencies. If you're THAT concerned about your credit, you'll pay up, right?!

I was recently listening to a radio program that airs here on the weekends (I catch in the car when running errands) Am sure some of you might be familiar with it. It is called Handle on the Law and basically gives free legal advise to those who call in.

There was a man who called in on the last show I heard and he was discussing debt. He had about 15,000 in credit card debt that he was feeling overwhelmed by and was asking if he should consider bankruptcy as an alternative. Think there were some other minor debts too but not significant. Anyway, the lawyer asked him how old the debt was and when did he last use the card and make his last payment on the account. It had been 7 years since he had made any payments or used that card (or cards). The attorney informed him that the credit card company (or companies, don't recall which) could legally no longer demand any payments from him for any outstanding cc debt that old due to the statute of limitations. He didn't mention the exact time frame required for the statute of limitations but for this caller, 7 years obviously exceeded it.

The Attorney also told him that it might not prevent the cc company or collection agencies from attempting to collect but to just ignore them as he was under no obligation legally to comply. I found the whole conversation interesting. Guess I never gave any thought about cc debt and statute of limitations. Also have no idea if individual state laws might vary as the attorney didn't elaborate.

Have to admit, I learn all kinds of interesting info from listening to this show. It's a really nice service for the public plus they have a website where they list attorneys in every state who can further help callers when they need it. Think they also offer kits for wills and such for minimal fees.

I realize this has little to do with the original topic but thought of it when Snowpuppy mentioned credit agencies selling reports to collection agencies.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Wackers3 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:26:58 GMT

On 10/30/2014 Nadine said:
We had the most expensive plan that they offered. I've had to get a new cc twice this yea and then someone hacked my debit card. All three times the bank notified me, not a word from Equifax.

Actually we haven't opened any new accounts but seems like they would have contacted me over the other three issues.

I would agree that it seems odd that you heard nothing from them. You would think that would be part of the service.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

Wackers3 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:42:22 GMT

From all I am familiar with on these type of companies, Lifelock does seem to stand out as offering the most comprehensive coverage and protection. It still amazes me that people can actually obtain car, personal or home loans in someone else's name but that is what makes it so frightening. And often they are not so simple to clear up which makes it all the more frightening.

A hospital network was breached this year and what they accessed was all personal information from dates of birth to social security numbers, etc. The info you really don't want stolen. One of our local hospitals is connected to this network so it was front page news here.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

twins mom — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:10:30 GMT

I use free credit report.com... I have had issues with people obtaining my information and doing things with it (believe it or not probably my ex-hubbie)... the score they give me is a little high but it is helpful when occasionally something occurs on my report is not correct and I file it with Equifax (I think that is the one they use) and hopefully they fix it... I filed one this weekend with an account which was stated as a charge off and it was not and it was fixed within 24 hours... doesn't help the other 3 major report people but it does help me get a grip on my finances... it is expensive but considering my information has been compromised it is probably well worth the money.

Credit karma has a free part of their service but free credit report is much better... I have never used the paid part of credit karma.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

twins mom — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:16:13 GMT

On 10/30/2014 wackers said:
On 10/30/2014 Snowpuppy said:
If you're worried about hacking, skip Lifelock and just apply a freeze to your each report. Usually $10 per bureau. You have to lift the freeze if you're applying for credit. A LOT cheaper than Lifelock.

BTW, if you subscribe to credit monitoring services the credit bureaus sell that list to collection agencies. If you're THAT concerned about your credit, you'll pay up, right?!

I was recently listening to a radio program that airs here on the weekends (I catch in the car when running errands) Am sure some of you might be familiar with it. It is called Handle on the Law and basically gives free legal advise to those who call in.

There was a man who called in on the last show I heard and he was discussing debt. He had about 15,000 in credit card debt that he was feeling overwhelmed by and was asking if he should consider bankruptcy as an alternative. Think there were some other minor debts too but not significant. Anyway, the lawyer asked him how old the debt was and when did he last use the card and make his last payment on the account. It had been 7 years since he had made any payments or used that card (or cards). The attorney informed him that the credit card company (or companies, don't recall which) could legally no longer demand any payments from him for any outstanding cc debt that old due to the statute of limitations. He didn't mention the exact time frame required for the statute of limitations but for this caller, 7 years obviously exceeded it.

The Attorney also told him that it might not prevent the cc company or collection agencies from attempting to collect but to just ignore them as he was under no obligation legally to comply. I found the whole conversation interesting. Guess I never gave any thought about cc debt and statute of limitations. Also have no idea if individual state laws might vary as the attorney didn't elaborate.

Have to admit, I learn all kinds of interesting info from listening to this show. It's a really nice service for the public plus they have a website where they list attorneys in every state who can further help callers when they need it. Think they also offer kits for wills and such for minimal fees.

I realize this has little to do with the original topic but thought of it when Snowpuppy mentioned credit agencies selling reports to collection agencies.

Sometimes these are called zombie debts and the collection agencies they sell them too can be very very nasty... I understand what the lawyer is saying but truthfully just ignoring the debt because it is over 7 years old really isn't the way to go either... btw you can never dismiss a student loan debt because it never goes away... also the collection agency they sell it to can reintroduce it to your credit report for ever more and they might be able to find a way to garnish your wages... $15,000 is quite a debt that probably will not be forgotten...

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

twins mom — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:17:37 GMT

Credit karma has a free part of their service but free credit report is much better... I have never used the paid part of credit karma.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

corita — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:56:43 GMT

On 10/30/2014 VaBelle35 said:
I use Equifax. Which version of their protection are you using? They have multiple plans. You may just have a basic plan. Or, you may just not have any activity like you haven't opened a new card or you haven't had any of your creditors run a report on you.

I have the Equifax Gold. I just opened a TJ Maxx credit card and I got an email from Equifax about it and I had to go into the site and confirm it was me who opened the card.

I would also recommend everyone locking down their Social Security Number with USCIS through their MyEverify program that they just rolled out. This way your number can't be used to verify employment unless you unlock your social security number.

VaBelle - I have never heard of that program. Where can I get more info???

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

anika — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:13:47 GMT

Thanks for the helpful thread!

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

DoneTryin — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:28:05 GMT

On 10/30/2014 VaBelle35 said:
I would also recommend everyone locking down their Social Security Number with USCIS through their MyEverify program that they just rolled out. This way your number can't be used to verify employment unless you unlock your social security number.

That program's been used for several years now by employers as a means of matching employee names with the SSNs they provide. Locking your SSN just means you can prevent someone else from using your SSN for employment purposes, which may or may not be the start of identity theft, & everything that goes along with that.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

millieshops — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:42:25 GMT

Used one for a year some years back when my bank offered a year free. Didn't seem to show me much, so I cancelled when it came time to pay.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

ellaphant — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:52:25 GMT

LIFELOCK! Worth every penny. AND, if you are a victim of identity theft they will spend up to

$1 MILL to get everything settled.

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

terrier3 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:58:01 GMT

You can now get a notice via e-mail every time your card is used. That's all I need.

My Mastercard was part of the Home Depot breach over the summer (although no one used my card). The bank issued a new one to me. It is a debit card that you can put through as credit. I went in to the bank today and found out that if someone breaches the debit card - I don't owe one dollar. It is 100% covered (like credit cards).

Re: O/T does anyone use a credit monitoring company?

shoekitty — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:25:48 GMT

Equifax is so great when something happens, I can't even begin to tell you. I had received free equifax when Countrywide mortgage was breeched, it was for 2 years. Then I just kept it. I always debated about keeping it. Then, it happened, we had identity theft.

I found out through Equifax report. The criminals had taken out high lines of credit at HSN . Best Buy and bill me later. We were actually able to prevent them from receiving the items they ordered from HSN it was so quick.

This is what they did. Equifax provided me with a case worker who stayed us until the end. She got on conference calls spoke with credit companies, with us providing personal info. She explained to us in detail our rights, what was going to happen. She called everyday, and often a couple times to return our calls. She provided us with papers to fill out for police dept, and other credit bureaus. She followed up with them. I had trouble with Citibank, they ere so disorganized. She straightened them out, recorded their calls.

We could not have gone through it so easily without the case worker from Equifax. Never cost us a dime. We have an entire binder of paperwork from this identity theft. We were even able to put a block on our credit to anyone wanting to send us "free" or promotional items, credit cards, etc!

I never thought I would need them. But when we did, they did the job better than I dreamed.

I have never had an account with HSN, but I have to say they have a great fraud dept! When we notified HSN of the theft, they said they had actually stopped the products from being delivered. There is a policy they have about certain items being delivered to someone other than the credit card owner. The thief (s) ordered 7.000 dollars of stuff on a "new" card. Then they changed the delivery from my address to theirs. HSN said a red alert went into effect, and the items were diverted back to HSN. The bad part is because the thief's never took possession of items they weren't prosecuted for theft.

BTW, I would advise anyone to check with UPS if you are signed up for the delivery "my way". If you have never signed up for this service, and you are...there is a good chance someone is intercepting items.

I was told that they identity thief will sign up for this service in your name. That way when they order something, they check it was sent, then divert the merchandise they bought with your credit to their location. They also, will put a change of address on your credit cards after a month, before you get the bill.

Bill Me Later?? That is where the criminal booked a hotel, to do all this stuff. It is all planned out.

Anyway, Equifax is so worth it in this day and age. To me anyway. They are larger than the other 2 credit agencies.