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Equifax w/Score Power Review: Credit Report Monitoring |
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| Free FICO score & 3-in-1 credit report plus 3-bureau monitoring; free 30-day trial | |
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Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1 Monitoring Plus Score Power is one of our favorite credit monitoring services. As a special promotion for NextAdvisor.com visitors, you now get a free 30-day trial when you sign up from our site. When you sign up for the free 30 day trial, you also get a free Equifax FICO score and a free 3-Bureau credit report (reports from 3 bureaus laid out side-by-side for easy comparison). Since the FICO score is the score most lenders use to make decisions, this is the best score you can get. Equifax actually gives you an entire Score Power report which not only includes your FICO score but also a FICO Score Simulator that estimates what your score would be if you took certain actions, as well as a full explanation of factors affecting your credit score. And of course you want to see your reports from all 3 bureaus to make sure there are no errors on any of them (they all contain slightly different data) so this is also the best credit report you can get.
Equifax gives you both the report and score free just for trying their monitoring service for 30 days, so if you don't like it you can cancel and have paid nothing for your FICO score and 3-Bureau report, which you would have to pay $40.00 for if you bought it separately. We see no reason to cancel, though, as the monitoring service is excellent. We think monitoring all three bureaus is very important for both monitoring your credit and protecting against identity theft because sometimes lenders will only report a credit event to one bureau. Equifax constantly monitors all 3 bureaus and sends you an email alert within 24 hours of a change to any one of your 3 credit reports. You can also get an updated Equifax credit report any time you want. Equifax Credit Watch Gold also gives you $1,000,000 of identity theft insurance as part of the service. At only $14.95 per month after the free 30-day trial, this service is an excellent value. The only thing this service doesn't provide is FICO scores from your TransUnion and Experian reports as well as ongoing access to updated TransUnion and Experian credit reports. While it certainly would be nice to have the additional scores, we don't view this as a major drawback. And since you get your initial 3-bureau report and are alerted when any of the reports change, this essentially eliminates the need to get the updated reports (and you do get an updated Equifax report any time you want). Also, you only get an updated Score Power report (which includes your updated FICO score) once a year. Overall, with its free 30 day trial, free FICO score, free 3-bureau credit report and 3-bureau credit monitoring, Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1 Monitoring Plus Score Power gives you everything you need at the right price. |
Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about Credit Report Monitoring Services
| Free Reports & Scores: | Free FICO score and Free 3-bureau credit report |
| Free Trial & Monthly Fee: | Free 30-day trial; $14.95/mo |
| Reports & Scores Delivered: | Unlimited Equifax reports; FICO score each year |
| Bureaus Monitored: | All three bureaus |
NextAdvisor Credit Report Blog Headlines
Credit Report Statue of Limitations
The following is an actual reader submitted question:
Q: How long does debt stay on your credit report?
A: According to the FTC's Fair Credit Reporting act, most negative credit information will stay on your credit report for 7.5 years (7 years + 180 days) from the date of delinquency. It can be a bit confusing, but [...]
myFICO turns 9, offers exclusive 30% myFICO discount
Credit report monitoring company myFICO is turning nine years old, and they're giving you a present. Until March 31st you can get 30% off of any of their services including Score Watch, Suze Orman's FICO Kit Platinum, FICO Quarterly Monitoring, and ID Freeze. When our reviewers looked at Score Watch, they found it to be [...]
Does Credit Report Monitoring include more than one credit card?
The following is an actual reader submitted question:
Q: Does Credit Report Monitoring include more than one credit card?
A. Yes, it does. Credit Report Monitoring keeps tabs on any changes to your personal credit report. Your credit report covers your entire credit history, which includes all credit cards, loans and any type of credit account you [...]
How a landlord can run a tenant credit report
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question:
Q: What is the best way to do a credit check on a prospective tenant?
A: Every experienced landlord or property manager knows that it makes good financial sense to run a credit report on prospective tenants. This simple step can save you [...]
Can I get a Free Credit Report without a credit card?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question:
Q: I don't have a credit or debit card. How can I still get a free credit report?
A: Contrary to popular opinion, you don't need a credit or debit card to get a free credit report. In fact, [...]
The New York Times ponders the plight of the Internet user
In this day and age, even the Fashion & Style section of The New York Times is worried about Internet security issues. This weekend, the Times recounted the experiences of Allan Goldstein, a 60 year old college professor who uses the Internet, but does so a bit nervously. He worries that NYU's online system will [...]
New FTC rules will require explanations for higher interest rates
The Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Commission have issued new rules designed to help inform consumers about the impact of their credit histories on the interest rates they are offered when seeking loans. The rules will require lenders to notify consumers who are offered higher interest rates due to their poor credit histories. Consumers who [...]
Data breaches are like mice, or cockroaches
Why are data breaches like mice or cockroaches? Because for every one that you see, there are hundreds or even thousands that you don't see.
According to the FBI's top Internet crimes investigator, the public only knows about a handful of the thousands of data breaches investigated by the FBI. Because companies that suffer from data [...]
Popular retailers decline personal checks
The Dallas Morning News points out that many popular retailers, including Diesel, True Religion, Ed Hardy, and Lululemon Athletica are no longer accepting personal checks. Gap and Whole Foods are toying with the idea, as well. Since few customers use personal checks these days, some retailers no longer consider the convenience worth the risk of [...]
Data Breach Alert: Social Security numbers printed on postcards
Last week, the Universal American Action Network, a subsidiary of Universal American Insurance, sent 80,000 postcards to Medicare participants throughout the country. On these postcards, printed above the recipients' names, were their Social Security numbers.
The mistake occurred because Social Security numbers are often used as Medicare account numbers. The Universal American Action Network responded by [...]
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