I recommend that everyone review their credit report at least annually. When you review your reports, you get a current snapshot of what the credit bureaus (Transunion, Equifax, and Experian) know about you. Plus, you’ll be able to tell if you have any incorrect or fraudulent information in your file. You can see all three of your credit reports for free (once annually) at AnnualCreditReport.com, no strings attached.

But what do you do if you’ve exhausted your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com but still need to see a more current report? And where do you turn if you also want to see your 3 credit scores from each of the bureaus?

One of the best offers on the market today is from IDENTITY GUARD®. They have a 30 day free trial of their EXTRA CAUTION® service which will give you your 3 credit bureau scores and a 3-in-1 report. After the 30 day trial you will be charged $14.95 per month. However, you can cancel the service at anytime.

Signing Up with IDENTITY GUARD®

I signed up with IDENTITY GUARD® and found the sign up process to be really quick and smooth. After an initial screen in which you fill out your personal information (SSN, Address, DOB, and credit card information) you will be taken to a verification page. Here you will answer some questions related to your file that only you would know. Once you’re done with that you complete a short account set up page. Finally, you are taken to the home screen and shown your scores.

Identity Guard Welcome Screen

Once you’re at the welcome page in your account, you immediately get to see your 3 credit scores. From here you’ll also have access to their quick start guide and any messages. You’ll notice that the navigation tabs on this page allow you to quickly access each of the features of your EXTRA CAUTION® service. The main one I’m concerned about is the Credit tab, which houses my credit score information, my actual 3-in-1 report, and any credit monitoring information.

Identity Guard Credit Report Screen

Under the “Report” section of the Credit tab you have access to your 3-in-1 report which includes your personal information, account information, inquiries, public filings, collections items, and more. After a quick review, I noted that all of my information was correct and there were no glaring errors on my report.

Identity Guard Credit Analyzer Screen

One other interesting area under this section was the Credit Analyzer. Using a drop down box, you could select from different simulations to see how each would affect your score under each of the three bureaus. This was pretty fun and I played around with it a bit to test different scenarios. If you want to improve your credit score, this can be a great way to tell which moves are going to have the biggest impact for you.

Identity Guard Protection Services Screen

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the primary protection features of the EXTRA CAUTION® service that you are signed up for and get free for the first 30 days. In addition to normal Credit Protection, you also get Internet Protection and On The Go Protection. The Internet Protection looks the most interesting. They scan the depths of the internet for your credit card information to see if someone has leaked your credit card number.

If this kind of service appeals to you, then I say go for it. You get a lot for the $14.95 monthly fee. On the other hand, if all you’re looking for is the scores and report, then just remember to cancel your account prior to the 30 days. All it takes is a quick call. Your card will never be charged.

Remember, there is no place to get all of your credit scores completely free. You have to sign up with a service like this. I like IDENTITY GUARD® because of how long of a free trial you get (30 days) and for how extensive the offer is: all 3 scores, a 3-in-1 report, and all the protection services. Also, the process to sign up was quick and painless. To sign up with the 30 day free trial simply visit www.IdentityGuard.com.

This blog post was hand-crafted for you by Philip Taylor

Philip has written 847 awesome article(s) for PT Money: Personal Finance.

Philip Taylor, otherwise known as “PT”, is a husband and father of two. He created PT Money back in 2007 to share his thoughts on money and to meet others passionate about managing their finances. Read more about Philip Taylor, and be sure to connect with him on Twitter or Facebook.

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