Top Credit Report Monitoring
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Will Credit Monitoring Services Let Me Know When My Social Security Number Is Used?
Posted by Tasha Lockyer
Q: My soon-to-be-ex keeps getting credit cards in my name. I don't know anything about them until they go into collection. Will Identity Guard let me know every time my Social Security number or my info is used to get credit?
A: Yes, Identity Guard will let you know every time your Social Security number or other personal information is used to apply for a new line of credit. Credit monitoring services, like Identity Guard, literally monitor your credit report(s) for changes or updates. This means they will alert you – usually via email and/or text – as soon as an important change occurs to your credit report(s). These changes typically include new credit applications‚ cell phone accounts‚ mortgages‚ or loans in your name as well as any credit inquiries, changes to existing lines of credit, address updates, bankruptcies, foreclosures, judgments, wage attachments and liens.
Identity Guard provides 3-bureau credit report monitoring so you can be assured that you aren't missing out on any updates to any of your 3 credit reports at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. In addition, they scan the Internet black market and chat rooms for the use of your credit/debit cards and personal information (including your SSN) and will alert you if they find fraudulent or suspicious use of this information. Identity Guard also monitors public records for any changes in your name and scans databases for application or Social Security fraud. And to protect you while you use your computer, Identity Guard members receive Zone Alarm Internet Security software, a total Internet security suite that includes anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall and anti-phishing. Right now Identity Guard is offering NextAdvisor readers a 25% discount and free 30-day trial so it's a good time to try it out and see if it fits your needs.
2 Responses to “Will Credit Monitoring Services Let Me Know When My Social Security Number Is Used?”
Leave a Reply
Popular Services Reviewed:
Credit Monitoring Services |
Find Us On:
Copyright© 2006 - 2013 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.
Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.
February 15th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
If your ex is using your Social security number to open accounts & run up credit tabs he's committing a FELONY. It's a FEDERAL crime to use anyone else's SS#. If your local cops won't tackle your ex try the Sheriff's dept. or next highest law enforcement on the list. Some will try to put you off because it's a divorce case but do a little research into the laws before you call to tell them which one's he's broken & that you demand they investigate. (I think if you do your own research it will help you more than my telling you everything so you'll understand just what's up)
You can also call Social Security Frauds Div to notify them of his use of your SS#.
If your lawyer hasn't already told you this you definitely need a new legal beagle. I know – I went through 3 of them before I found one that didn't belong in a cage. (Do you know what you call 100 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start! LOL) The sad fact is many ex's & roommates try this stunt figuring not to get caught, but it's a no-brainer for cops to see where everything was delivered & to check out all the merchandise etc. Since it's YOUR SS# you can easily authorize a search. Once they catch him not only will he become an ex without the court to help him he'll most likely be standing in front of a judge waiting to hear how many years he'll get in Club Fed.
You MUST contact ALL 4 major credit reporting agencies (yes, FOUR : TransUnion, Experian, Equifax & TRW) and block ALL new credit card apps & challenge the cards he opened. Contact your State Atty General if they don't fix the bad credit scores in 30 days. You can also contact the state AG re your ex using your SS# – it's what the guy gets paid for. (Ohio's Mike DeWine is a forerunner in trying to nail the credit card reporting agencies for not following thru on these claims – he says you need to keep going up the food chain to the next supervisor in line until you get one with any authority.) This can even mean contacting the agency's main offices & demanding to talk to their legal depts. Or your lawyer can do it for you if he won't nail you with too much extra fees.
Good luck…I will keep you in my prayers,.
February 15th, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Should also mention that under the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act since your SS# card was recently accessed to start new accounts your checking into those sites should cost you NOTHING.
I highly recommend you pull up a copy of the FFCR and read it thru because it tells you who's responsible for what. The actual credit repairs are on the actual AGENCIES that issued the bad credit card alerts to the reporting companies – but the credit reporting agencies are (supposed) to help. [Confused? You're supposed to be. It's another example of Congress screwing up what should've been real consumer protections]
As far as the paid credit monitoring companies you need to check out their TOS to see if they actually guarantee to call/notify you every time something gets posted to your account. You need to be able to see the words 'guarantee to notify you of ALL account activity' are there without any caveats or exclusions. THEN Google the company to see if they really stand by their promises.[Sites like RipOff Report & ConsumerReports are good starts] Ex: Lifelock was sued big-time by multiple state AGs for failure to carry out everything they promised – it's why you don't see their commercials advertising the CEO's SS# & 'we guarantee you won't be a victim' anymore.
I'm sure you're feeling a bit overwhelmed & really angry right now, but keep a cool head and be prepared to fight this out step by step. If you do you'll be rewarded by getting back your credit & getting rid of 180# of dead weight. Meanwhile your ex will be worrying about picking up the soap in the shower. Keep that thought in the back of your head (don't mention it to him, for heaven's sake so he doesn't cover his tracks!) & let it help keep you smiling even though you'd probably like to tear him apart limb from limb. The more he can't get you to blow up or come back at him the more he'll try this crap to get you angry – all of which works in your favor. My good atty told me "I want you to always smile at him (& his family) and be sweet & nice…that way they never know what you're thinking or doing. It throws them off their game completely." I did, and they never saw us coming until court – and he not only got zip he ended up paying me over 300G,all my legal fees, + he got caught in perjury (for lying about his retirement funds etc. I cloned his computer & had it checked for hidden stuff) + using my SS# w/o my permission. He's got 5 more yrs to serve.
Also, get a good tape recorder/nanny cam & record EVERY conversation & visit with him. Save every text & call record. One picture's worth 1,000 words, etc. Me? I show up at every parole hearing & boo hoo hoo at the officers how utterly devastated I still am. He hasn't gotten early release yet.
His brother served 4 yrs for conspiracy to commit SS fraud, assault (assault is ANY threat- verbal or physical – & battery is if they actually touch you) + receiving stolen property (hubby gave him some of the stuff bought online using cards he got w/my SS#)