Credit monitoring

[clb123]

I just checked pacer and I am discharged today. I want to sign up for credit monitoring. I was going to sign up for the one thru Walmart. Is it available online immediately? So if I sign up right now I would have access to it? thanks you guys have been a great source of info and support. I don't post a lot but read OFTEN

[BrokeStudent8]

CONGRATS on the discharge

About the credit monitoring, I just realized (from reading other posts on this board) that the scores True Credit gives you are different from your FICO scores (i.e. the scores are NOT FICO scores.) You might want to keep that in mind when choosing a credit monitoring service... I wish I had paid more attention and figured that out before I signed up for it.

[bkfiler]

paying for fico scores is very expensive. its not something you want to do monthly. besides, you can get a decent idea as to the direction and level of scores along with the content using a 3 in 1 report.

[clb123]

Really? So I could just have a lender friend of mine run my credit and that would be a true score? I am worried about the points that you get when your credit is run.....Thanks!

[bkfiler]

as for using walmart, check around first but here is what i find:

http://www.truecredit.com/services/cmu/orderChoice.jsp?cb=walmart&loc=1486

i see that they added $5 a month to it from my cost that i pay. that sucks.

staci found a way to not pay the initial fee but you would have to pay the first monthly fee instead (i.e. $18 - $11 = $7 savings or something like that) ask her about it.

[BrokeStudent8]

you could do that, but then it would show up as a new inquiry on your report, and inquiries can drop your score

[bkfiler]

when you friend runs it it will add points.

when you pay for a service to run it it doesnt add points.

[clb123]

And is it an instant report on true credit?

[BrokeStudent8]

yes it is

[bkfiler]

hmmm, i think so. pretty sure unless they cant verify you. if not then by tomorrow then. also you can get a new report each 24 hours all month long.

[clb123]

Ok thank you!

[bkfiler]

boy that link i found you saves you some good money. but thank god it was cheaper before. amazing how much they charge for data.

[clb123]

Yes thanks, I appreciate it. I think I will wait until tomorrow to sign up.

[bkfiler]

talk to staci and ask if she can get the startup cost cheaper. if you are patient then you can save some money. there really is no need for it right away. i use it but realise it doesnt matter to me because im not working on my credit report for anotehr month or two later anyways.

tell her i sent you

[StaciMM]

For monitoring your credit report (not score) for changes, dispute progress, etc. there are 2 options. TrueCredit & PrivacyMatters. Both allow you to pull all 3 each day, though 24 hours must pass in between pulls. They give you the same product, though TC gives you a FAKO score for all 3 and PM only for TU.

The difference? Cost. TC can be purchased thru Walmart.com at a discounted price of $11.21/mo. I'm not sure if you can skip the $18ish 1st month charge since TC raised its prices last month. This is per person-so for 2 adults in the household, $22.42/mo. PM is $14.95/mo after a 7 days for $1 trial. But, this is per household. Each member of the household can create their own Credit Center ID and access their reports, all for the $14.95/mo.

For FICO, you really don't need to worry about it unless you're preparing for a mortgage or some other major purchase/credit application. Checking it 1-2 times per year otherwise is more than enough. If you pay more attention to what is IN your report-such as getting rid of wrong, bad info and adding good info, FICO will improve with time.