The Benefits of Citi Credit Monitoring
Credit monitoring is becoming increasingly important as more of our transactions are done via credit both offline and online. Citi credit monitoring provides much more then just a read out for you. It also provides peace of mind. With fraud on the rise, you need to keep a close eye on your credit. Citi credit monitoring will alert you to any unusual activities on your accounts and will send you an alert with in 24 to 72 hours.
Citi Credit Monitoring
Citi credit monitoring provides protection against Identity theft
According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft effects more then 10 million Americans each year. It also costs consumers over 5 billion dollars annually. Those perpetrating this type of fraud are becoming more sophisticated at it and we need to be vigilant in keeping track of credit. Citi credit monitoring helps us to maintain that vigilance and better protect our selves from fraud that has become more and more rampant as the thieves become more creative in ways to steal from us.
The criminal that seeks to steal your identity has a variety of ways to gain access to your information. It is amazing just how creative and resourceful they can be. The thief will put in a change of address form to have your mail sent to him or he may just boldly walk up to your mail box and steal your mail. Stealing your purse or wallet is another means to get your personal information. They might even call your phone number pretending to be your current credit card company trying to verify your card number. They can come up with a number of logical reasons for needing to do this. It is good to know that with Citi credit monitoring will alert you to any fraudulent activities going on with your accounts.
Fraud isn’t the only reason to monitor your credit. Knowing what your credit score is can be of great importance if you are planning to make a large purchase and are depending on your credit to do it. If you know in advance what your score is and what type of activity is showing up on your credit report you are in a better position to understand what obstacles you may come across in making a costly purchase with credit.
Most credit monitoring companies offer similar services (Care Credit, My Credit Keeper). These services help detect errors and omissions that may negatively affect your credit rating. They also keep you apprised of who is looking at your credit reports. Any unusual activity on your accounts will be reported quickly to you, so that you can initiate whatever action is necessary to prevent fraud on your accounts. Is one company better then another? You will have to be the one that determines the answer to that question as each service has special features to appeal to different consumers.
Some people prefer to do their own credit monitoring by simply obtaining copies of their credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies periodically. This is better then not monitoring at all, however, your information is not checked as frequently as it is with a monitoring service. There can be a lot of damage done before you are even aware that it is occurring.
Citi credit monitoring will assure you that you will be alerted to any changes in activity in a very timely and precise manner. This gives you a chance to review the activity and determine whether it is legitimate or not. Another benefit is that by monitoring your credit activity, Citi credit monitoring can provide you with pertinent information that will help you raise your credit score to an optimal level. Credit monitoring is a strategic means of controlling and managing your most important financial asset, your good credit.
Citi Credit monitoring is included in Citi identity theft monitoring program. This service offers 24/7 credit monitoring and analysis along with online access to your credit reports and telephone support representatives to help you with questions or concerns. you will also receive access to all three major credit reporting bureaus reports and ” fraud and credit education.” Now are these services all that different from the standard service offered by credit monitoring companies? The best way to find out is to do the research. Contact 3 or 4 different companies and ask them what they include in their credit monitoring service.