There are companies, like Lifelock, that will charge top dollars to monitor your credit for you in a manner that alerts you if someone is checking your credit scores and some offer credit theft assistance if it still happens. But if you can't afford their fees and want to shut down the possibility of having your credit hacked altogether, there is an alternative. You can for free or very inexpensively freeze your own credit and lift it if and when you need it to be checked.
I learned about it today from someone who took advantage of it and I will be doing the same. In my state the total cost to set it up the first time is thirty dollars.
Below I have listed two articles explaining it, one from Clark Howard and one from WEAU in Charlotte NC. I have also attached the three agencies you need to set it up with if you decide to do it. They are, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Worth noting: If you frequently need your credit checked or are about to need it checked, this may not be for you. The costs to freeze are from free to $10.00 per each, depending on your location and which of the three agencies you need to engage with are involved. The cost to unfreeze is from $2.00 to $12.00 for each occurrence at all of the same agencies. The need for frequent credit checks could make the fees more exorbitant than equaling a money saving to those who want a way to protect their credit and identity.
Also worth noting, you might want to thaw it a few days in advance if you know you will be needing a credit check. It is reported that the thaw may occur in as little as in fifteen minutes or up to three days after you apply for it.
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