[Old Man Havasu]

Just had a card compromised that I've had for 12 years.

Are there any legit free credit reports?

Want to make sure I'm not supporting someone else with my SS or CC number!

Thanks


Gary

 

[PaPaG]

Just had a card compromised that I've had for 12 years.

Are there any legit free credit reports?

Want to make sure I'm not supporting someone else with my SS or CC number!

Thanks


Gary

You can get a freebee from all 3 agencies once a year...Good luck.

 

[Patyacht]

My ML guy had a notebook stolen out of his office so ML gave me 1 year of free credit monitoring via Triple Advantage(SM) Credit Monitoring. I get a monthly report and a immediate if there is a problem.

 

[Boatfloating]

Cal one of the Credit Reprting Agency and put a fraud alert on your credit. You only need to do at one like Trans Union and it goes to the other 2. If anyone tries to open a CC or other credit in your name they call you for approval. You can do for 90 days or 7 years I think. Try the 90 days 1st the 7 years becomes a pain from what I've been told.

 

[BoatCop]

www.annualcreditreport.com

Free. No sign up for anything. You can check all 3 reports once a year.

You can do it on line, and see/print your reports immediately.

And get LIFELOCK.

$10 bucks a month. They file all your fraud alerts, and offer 1 Mil in corrective action costs, if you get your ID stolen.

 

[Patyacht]

www.annualcreditreport.com

Free. No sign up for anything. You can check all 3 reports once a year.

You can do it on line, and see/print your reports immediately.

And get LIFELOCK.

$10 bucks a month. They file all your fraud alerts, and offer 1 Mil in corrective action costs, if you get your ID stolen.

I was told this was the only site to get all 3 checked free 1 time per year.

 

[shueman]

It's a good site. By law, you get a free one annually, from all 3...hand

 

[hkunz]

Be careful

I got a "free" credit report from freecreditreport.com While I never really got an actual credit report similar to the ones we pull for clients, I did manage to get signed up for a $12.95 monthly charge on my CC bill. Since I don't see the CC bills, I got charged for several months before it was caught. I was able to get my money back by calling the company, but I never did get a real credit report.

 

[CALJAMR]

I got a "free" credit report from freecreditreport.com While I never really got an actual credit report similar to the ones we pull for clients, I did manage to get signed up for a $12.95 monthly charge on my CC bill. Since I don't see the CC bills, I got charged for several months before it was caught. I was able to get my money back by calling the company, but I never did get a real credit report.

You got me worried. Did you give them any CC for billing or did they just pick one and bill you? I did the free credit report but didn't have to give them billing info.

 

[angiebaby]

You can get a freebee from all 3 agencies once a year...Good luck.

and anytime you have been a victim of fraud.

 

[carrera]

credit

The only site you need is annualcreditreport.com you can place fraud alerts and get your report free of charge once a year this site is operated by the bureaus. YOu dont need monthly monitoring or life lock they are a joke you can do it yourself for free...

 

[Old Man Havasu]

Got all three reports. No problems.

Thanks for the info.

Gary

 

[C-2]

Just an FWIW
There's a big difference between a compromised/stolen CC or debit card and identity theft.

You can't stop or prevent somebody from cloning your CC or debit card. Anyplace you swipe the card, the info can be jacked. Gas stations, restaurants, liquor stores, ATM's and even bank ATM's, there's no way to stop it.

In that case, an fraud alert would be of little use since they do a quick "smash and grab" against the card, yanking out daily limits or charging until charges are denied. By the time fraud alerts isue, the fraudster has already done the damage and stops all activity. they know about fraud alerts and expect them too.

The best defense is to use only one card for all purchases; and to keep minimum amounts of money in that account. just enough to cover expenses, or reduce the credit limit to a $1000 or less.

That way, WHEN THEY HIT YOU, AND THEY WILL, only a minimum amount of cash is gone and the bank will readily re-pay it.

I had my debit card info jacked for the second time in 5 years; but this time, it wasn't really a big deal since I use the above-strategy.

 

[hkunz]

I don't remember exactly how I got all signed up.

I went online and googled "credit reporting". I picked "freecreditreport.com", and went through their process. I do remember being uncomfortable with the process, but figured I had to give them some info to check my credit, just like we do when we pull a mortgage credit. I don't remember authorizing $12.95 a month for their "free" services.

I think the most important things you can do to protect yourself are watch you CC bills faithfully - look them over well each month, know what day they come and check on them if they are a day late; also, make sure your mailbox locks, and control the number of CCs you carry. We used to have the regular "rural mailbox", and we weren't doing these things. We got a dunning notice from a CC company for missed payment, triggered by the fact that we hadn't gotten the bill because it was stolen from the mailbox. The perps had charged a few things on the card, which was made whole by the company, but we still had the late charges and increased interest rate for being late. We have so many cards (well, not really, but more than we wish to keep track of) that we usually leave them locked up at home, only carrying one or two. If you always carry only the one CC, you will know much more quickly if something happens, and if you lose your wallet/purse, then only one card goes missing.

 

[NiceGuyEddie]

I tried freecreditreport.com. They gave me TU for free but had to pay $20 for the other two.

Most banks offer a credit protection system.

 

[BoatCop]

I check all my credit card and bank accounts DAILY! Even my retirement and investment accounts.

That's one of the advantages of the internet.

At first, my wife thought I was "checking up" on her, when I asked if she took some cash out of the bank or bought something from such and such store. Now she know's I'm just watching out for us.

So far, nothing funny. But if there is, you can bet I'll be on the phone in a heartbeat.

 

[ChumpChange]

I check all my credit card and bank accounts DAILY! Even my retirement and investment accounts.

That's one of the advantages of the internet.

Same here. Every day.

 

[Gravyboat]

Lifelock will also virtually eliminate all those annoying CC offers. Took about six months at first but in last 2-1/2 years, haven't received a single one. In turn I get almost no junk mail either.
Advertisers hand out your name and mailing address info with their other companies like you wouldn't believe.

You can also stipulate to lifelock to have the creditor personally call you to verify you're one applying for credit or making the purchase--just like in their commercials.