Analyze credit monitoring service terms for score model differences, free trial traps, alert delays, and cancellation hurdles that affect your financial protection.
Built by Sergei Tokmakov, California-licensed attorney.
Credit monitoring services promise peace of mind but often hide limitations in their terms. These gotchas can leave you less protected than you think.
Many services show VantageScore while lenders use FICO. Your "free score" can differ by 50+ points from what lenders actually see when making decisions.
Free trials automatically convert to paid subscriptions at $20-40/month. Cancellation requires calling during limited hours or navigating complex processes.
Some services only monitor 1 of 3 credit bureaus, meaning fraud at unmonitored bureaus goes undetected. "Credit monitoring" doesn't mean all-bureau monitoring.
Alerts can be delayed days or weeks. By the time you're notified of suspicious activity, damage may already be done and accounts opened in your name.
The "$1 million insurance" often covers only specific expenses (legal fees, lost wages) with strict caps, and excludes direct financial losses from fraud.
Cancellation may require phone calls, long hold times, or retention offers. Online cancellation often unavailable, and refunds rarely granted for partial months.
Common terms in credit monitoring agreements affecting your rights and coverage.
Disputes resolved through arbitration.
Cannot join group lawsuits.
Personal and financial data usage terms.
Automatic subscription renewal terms.
Recurring charge authorization.
Caps on service provider liability.
Right to change features or pricing.
Your responsibility for credentials.
Paste service terms below to identify potentially problematic clauses.
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