How a credit freeze differs from credit monitoring.
A security freeze restricts access to a credit file for many new-account decisions until the consumer lifts it.
Credit Repair Choices
credit repair
What credit monitoring can and cannot do.
Credit monitoring can alert consumers to file changes, but it does not prevent every form of identity theft or reporting error.
How to Spot an Advance-Fee Credit Repair or Debt Relief Scam
Promises to erase debt or fix credit for an upfront fee should slow you down. Here are common warning signs and what official guidance says consumers can do for themselves first.
Why identity theft can become a credit-report problem.
Identity theft can create fraudulent accounts and inquiries that require both fraud reporting and credit-file cleanup.
Where to request the credit reports authorized by federal law.
AnnualCreditReport.com is the federally authorized website for requesting reports from the nationwide credit bureaus.
Why one credit report can look different from another.
Credit bureaus assemble consumer credit information, and reports can differ because creditors may not report to every bureau.