Credit Monitoring Vs. Identity Theft Protection: What’s The Difference,

Consider yourself fortunate if you've never been the victim of a data breach or identity theft. But given the increasing number of breaches—and victims—in recent years, don't be surprised if your luck runs out at some point. If you’re considering taking action to help protect yourself, among the options are identity theft protection services and credit monitoring. So, what’s the difference, Well, it depends. When it comes to credit monitoring, you can take one of two approaches: doing it yourself or paying a company to do it for you. Identity theft protection can involve subscribing to a service.

If you choose the DIY (do-it-yourself) approach to credit monitoring, you have access to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs). If you stagger your requests—say, one every four months—you’re able to monitor your credit reports at no cost at different points over a 12-month period.

Credit reports don’t include credit scores, but you may be able to obtain a free credit score through an existing credit card account. Identity theft protection services are typically offered through a monthly or annual subscription, and they may include credit file monitoring at one or more of the three CRAs and, possibly, a credit score from one or more CRA. In addition, such services can alert you when your personally identifiable information (PII), such as your Social Security number or email address, is used in ways that may not show up on your credit report.

Identity theft protection services may also offer restoration services, to help victims resolve various identity theft issues. Here’s a quick overview of what can be monitored by each service. Now that you have an overview of the differences, let’s take a deeper dive. With major data breaches making headlines, many consumers are recognizing that credit card fraud or identity theft can happen to anyone. It can also be scary and confusing, making it of little surprise that more and more people are searching for help.

Consumers enlist the help of credit monitoring or identity theft protection services but they may not know the difference. What is identity theft, Identity theft occurs when thieves steal your personal information, such as your name, birthdate, Social Security number or credit card information, to commit crimes. Identity thieves may use the information to open new accounts, buy cars, file fraudulent tax returns or commit other crimes in your name.

If you are considering paying for credit monitoring or identity theft protection and are unsure whether to sign up, here's what you need to know to help determine if either service could be beneficial for you. Some consumers concerned about monitoring their credit score use a credit monitoring service—which could be free or paid. Credit monitoring can be particularly helpful for people who have lower credit scores and are working on improving them.

Credit monitoring can also be useful for those interested in a service that monitors changes to one or more of their credit reports, especially when there are credit inquiries related to applications for a new credit card account or loan. People also can use credit monitoring to signal when someone else applies for an account in their name, though credit monitoring may not scan for fraudulent credit card charges. When shopping around for a credit monitoring service, it's helpful to ask if the service tracks just one or all of your credit reports.

Your credit reports, which collect all your credit data, are compiled by the three major CRAs, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. These credit reports track your applications for new credit, your payment history and the amount of debt you have, among other things. Your three credit reports may be a little different, because not all of the financial institutions you do business with necessarily report back to all three of the major CRAs.

Breached companies often provide credit monitoring as a complimentary service to help the individual victims monitor their credit report. Free service plans range in what they cover. These credit monitoring plans can be offered for a year or two, and may provide credit scores and/or reports from one or all three major credit bureaus. Depending on who’s affected by the breach, the free service can cover you or you and your dependent minor children. So, it’s important to read the details before signing up for any service to know exactly what you are getting.

An identity theft protection service generally provides its customers with more than credit monitoring services. You may find that these services are available to you through your bank or insurance company, often for an additional fee, or you can seek out an independent service. If your identity is stolen, it could take months or even years to unravel the mess it creates.

You can take steps on your own to fix it, or you can sign up for an identity theft protection service that offers restoration help. If you become a victim of identity theft, there are many important steps to take, including filing a police report and placing an initial fraud alert on your credit by contacting one of the three main credit reporting agencies.

A fraud alert tells potential lenders to reach out to you directly to verify the applicant’s identity before opening new accounts in your name, according to the FTC. After you place an initial fraud alert, the credit reporting company will explain your rights and how you can get a copy of your credit report.

Placing an initial fraud alert entitles you to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies. The FTC also suggests you consider contacting the credit reporting agencies to place a credit freeze on your credit file. A credit freeze means potential creditors cannot access your credit report, making it less likely an identity thief can open new accounts in your name.