Should I use a credit monitoring service?

A variety of commercial services are available, for a fee, that will monitor your credit reports for activity and alert you to changes; prices and services vary widely.

Many of the services only monitor one of the three major credit bureaus.

As with any product or service, make sure you understand what you're getting before you buy. Also, check out any company you're not familiar with before doing business with them.

Contact your local consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau to find out if they have any complaints on file.