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Fees are typically about $15 per month ($180 each year), but these services might not be necessary. Unless you were the victim of identity theft, paying a company to monitor your credit on a daily basis isn't necessary. You can monitor your own credit for free. Here are four ways:
Stagger your credit reports. All consumers are entitled to one free credit report each year from all three of the major credit reporting agencies. But you don't have to request all three at the same time. Instead, you can request one free report from each bureau every four months. That way, you'll be able to monitor your credit throughout the year. You can obtain your free credit reports by logging onto annualcreditreport.com.
Keep an eye on bank and credit card statements. Don't toss those statements in the trash. Read each one closely and watch for any unusual charges. If you see a charge for an item that you don't recognize, immediately call the credit card issuer and question the charge.
Source: BlackEnterprise.com
Sheiresa Ngo is the consumer affairs editor at Black Enterprise.
