Community Chat

[Lynnj]

Here is some information (from the above link I provided) about your rights and the processes around credit report freezes. it says under the credit report freeze section, with a copy of a filed fraud report with the police, you should be able to process the freeze and lift of freeze free of charge (in most states).

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0279-extended-fraud-alerts-and-credit-freezes

[Qwackertoo]

Hi Lynn, yep read about the free reports and freezing IF you are an identity theft victim on the credit reporting sites themselves.

One other reason I would want the protection . . . IF they did all the work IF I got hacked . . . IF I still had to do all the work, which I think you do, they might do some of the alerts with cards you have registered . . . but the greatest amount of paperwork and notifying falls upon the person.

It would be tempting to put a freeze on them, although that would be 30.00 for non-identity crime victims . . . but IF I wanted or needed to have my credit checked . . . only unfreezing one of them . .. and then refreezing it for 20.00 bucks. I'll have to check with my sister, who does the freezing and see how she manages it when they need a quick check by some entity/creditor.

Sure has spawned a variety of companies doing this . . . and while they don't prevent it, and make you do all the leg work when & if it does happen . . . makes them seem over hyped in the sense of security and ease of or lack thereof in cleaning up the mess.

[Lynnj]

On 2/9/2015 Qwackertoo said:

Hi Lynn, yep read about the free reports and freezing IF you are an identity theft victim on the credit reporting sites themselves.

One other reason I would want the protection . . . IF they did all the work IF I got hacked . . . IF I still had to do all the work, which I think you do, they might do some of the alerts with cards you have registered . . . but the greatest amount of paperwork and notifying falls upon the person.

It would be tempting to put a freeze on them, although that would be 30.00 for non-identity crime victims . . . but IF I wanted or needed to have my credit checked . . . only unfreezing one of them . .. and then refreezing it for 20.00 bucks. I'll have to check with my sister, who does the freezing and see how she manages it when they need a quick check by some entity/creditor.

Sure has spawned a variety of companies doing this . . . and while they don't prevent it, and make you do all the leg work when & if it does happen . . . makes them seem over hyped in the sense of security and ease of or lack thereof in cleaning up the mess.

That's why I see these credit monitoring companies as a scam. A lot like the hackers stealing money from you. It's what these credit alert companies don't say about what they actually don't do for you. It's very misleading. People think they are getting some sort of service protection, and if something were to happen they don't need to do anything. That's not true. Fact is you will be very busy filing reports and contacting creditors and financial institutions. Okay, so the credit alert company monitors your affairs, so what, you can do that yourself by going online to your accounts and looking at recent transactions. A few minutes once a week is all you need. It's really not worth sending a credit alert company a dime for the lack of service they actually provide. I think they just take advantage of people who are in fear of a scary scenario and something happening in the future. Remember...it's what they don't say that they really don't do for you that's the key in this.