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Learn moreVPN deals often come with some of the most competitive Black Friday sales each year, and the 2024 ExpressVPN Black Friday deals are no exception. Subscribers can get a one-year plan for $99.95 or a two-year plan for $149.70. This ExpressVPN deal will be available until December 6, but ExpressVPN isn't the only service offering impressive Black Friday savings opportunities. ExpressVPN Black Friday dealsExpressVPN One Year Plan (w/ 4 Extra Months Free) $99.95 $207.20 Save 52% ExpressVPN's one-year plan offers major discounts plus an extra four months free. View at ExpressVPNExpressVPN Two Year Plan (w/ 6 Extra Months Free) $149.70 $388.50 Save 61% ExpressVPN's two-year plan offers even more savings than its one-year counterpart, including six months free.

Persons: ExpressVPN, There's, VPNs, You'll Organizations: Business, Theft Insurance

☆ Why parents may want to start locking a child's credit at a very young age
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

While locking their credit won't solve all cybersecurity issues related to stolen Social Security numbers, it's one extra layer of protection parents can implement. Parents can take these steps proactively even if there's nothing to suggest a minor's credit has been compromised such as unexpected credit card solicitations or bills received in the minor's name. It can take some time and effort to lock a child's credit, but the outlay is minimal compared with what can be a lengthy and emotional credit restoration process. Locking a child's credit won't protect against all of these, but it's a solid step in the right direction, financial professionals said. To check to see if their child has a credit report, parents can mail a letter with their request to each of the credit bureaus.

Persons: —, Kim Cole, Loretta Roney, It's, Cole, Bruce McClary, McClary Organizations: Social, Social Security, Navicore Solutions, InCharge, Federal Trade Commission, Administration, Foundation, Credit Counseling

Identity protection and cybersecurity service Norton 360 with LifeLock Select is 61% off. Discounts are also available for Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Norton Antivirus Plus. Norton 360 with LifeLock select Black Friday dealsNorton's LifeLock is one of the leading brands in identity theft protection. Its identity theft protection features include credit monitoring from Equifax, identity theft insurance, and US-based identity restoration specialists. See Personal Finance Insider's picks for the best identity theft protection services >>

Persons: Norton, Norton's, It's, Finance Insider's Organizations: Norton, LifeLock, Finance

☆ How to get free credit reports every week—not just once a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

You can now get free credit reports pretty much whenever you need one, not just once a year. Americans were already legally entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three credit reporting agencies, the FTC says. However, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the three agencies announced in 2020 that free reports would be made available every week. To request your free weekly credit reports, go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Note that many major banks, credit card companies and credit monitoring services offer free credit scores, but those aren't the same thing as detailed credit report.

Persons: —, TransUnion — Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com

Protect your identity by regularly checking credit reports or buying identity theft protection. Of the victims of identity theft, 97.2% took action to reduce the risk of identity theft. The best identity theft protection services will provide recovery assistance and identity theft insurance. Aura – All-In-One ID Theft Protection Aura ID Theft Protection offers comprehensive identity protection at some of the best prices on the market. You should also report the identity theft to the FTC through IdentityTheft.gov, which will give you an identity theft report.

Persons: —, you've, –, Read Organizations: Service, Justice Department, Justice, Federal Trade Commission Locations: IdentityTheft.gov

While you can repair your credit on your own, many people find the process of repairing credit overwhelming and want to enlist help from a credit repair company. Beguin explains that "a credit sweep is an attempt to remove all negative accounts from your credit report, thereby 'sweeping' your credit report clean." How to choose a credit repair companyWhile you don't need to hire a credit repair company to fix your credit for you, it's important to know how to choose correctly if you decide against a DIY approach. Credit repair cost frequently asked questionsIs it worth paying for credit repair? Paying for credit repair is only worth it if there are significant errors on your credit report that need rectifying.

Persons: Steer, Mark Stewart, Erik Beguin, Stewart, Joe Camberato, Camberato, Beguin, we've, You'll Organizations: Austin Capital Bank, Dovly, Business, Visa, Credit, Lexington Law Locations: Lexington

Certain forms of identity theft, like synthetic identity theft or child identity theft, are harder to detect. You can also enroll in an identity theft protection service that can monitor the dark web for your information and provide identity theft insurance, usually up to $1 million. The best identity theft protection services will also provide you with personalized expert assistance if you experience more identity theft. While credit-related identity theft is more common, "identity theft can occur in other areas, including medical records, tax filings, social media accounts, employment history, and even criminal records," says Josh Amishav, founder and CEO of Breachsense, a data breach monitoring platform. Identity theft recovery frequently asked questionsCan you fully recover from identity theft?

Persons: you'll, David Burroughs, IdentityTheft.gov, You'll, Burroughs, you've, Equifax, Allen, Michael Bruemmer, haven't, Josh Amishav Organizations: FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Social, FBI, Social Security, Services, Social Security Administration Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com, Atlanta, Allen , TX, Chester ,

You can enroll in an identity theft protection service so you don't fall victim to theft. There are many companies out there that solely focus on identity protection — you can read our guide to the best identity theft protection services — but you may be able to enroll in an identity theft protection service through your credit card provider. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Covers up to 10 children under 18 at no extra cost Check mark icon A check mark. With services comparable to some of the best identity theft protection services at a competitive price, this is an appealing option to Discover cardholders.

Persons: Capital One's CreditWise, David McMillin David McMillin, Guy, David, he's Organizations: Social, Federal Trade Commission, Research, Express, American Express, Chase, Credit, Business, Capital, Mastercard, Theft Locations: cardholders, Experian, AnnualCreditReport.com, Chicago, Alaska , Utah , Oklahoma, Vermont

☆ 8 things you shouldn't cut back on during a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Financial experts say there are eight things worth every penny that you shouldn't stop spending on. If you're starting to plan what items you should cut back on, take a look at what these financial experts say are worth every penny — even during a recession. If you're struggling to afford your internet or phone service during a recession, Lalonde recommends calling your current provider and asking for discounts or looking for lower-cost options with other providers out there. To prepare for a looming recession, Lalonde recommends making sure your coverage is up-to-date and researching if there are any government or community programs that can assist you with the cost of healthcare costs. If you're prioritizing what to cut back on, Nelson recommends cutting spending elsewhere to ensure debts are being paid off first.

☆ Tiktok-inspired 'Kia Boys' car thefts could be a $600 million problem, according to a new court document
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In cities across the country, thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have skyrocketed. Now some drivers are trying to get Kia and Hyundai to pay the tab, saying the security features were illegally lax. And recently, auto insurers made a preliminary estimate of the total cost: $500 million to $600 million. But actually installing the updates in a reported 3.8 million Kias and 4.5 million Hyundais is another story, and state regulators have urged the carmakers to recall the impacted vehicles. She said Hyundai and Kia should move quickly to get a handle on the case and win back public trust.

Review: Is the US Bank Altitude Connect the Best Credit Card for You? How to Earn Rewards From the US Bank Altitude Connect CardThe U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has a straightforward earning structure that awards bonus points in popular spending categories. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightFees and CostsThe U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. Is the US Bank Altitude Connect card worth it? If you're looking for a metal card from US Bank, consider the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card or U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card instead.

Identity theft protection services can protect you against various forms of fraud, such as credit-related fraud or criminal identity theft. With three individual identity theft plans and additional options for families, Identity Guard can offer you the peace of mind that your identity is secured. Identity Guard ReviewIdentity Guard is an identity theft protection service owned by Aura, another credit monitoring and theft protection company that made it to our guide for the best identity theft protection services for the best family plan. Identity Guard Identity Theft PlansIdentity Guard has three plans: Value, Total, and Ultra. Identity Guard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Does Identity Guard offer a trial period?

What credit scores don't captureLenders have always needed a way to determine a borrower's creditworthiness, and credit scores were a faster, easier way to do so. "If you look at credit scores from the perspective of other social actors, like policymakers or consumer advocates, why someone does or does not repay might start to have more bearing on how you make sense of credit scores," says Kiviat. The credit scoring system can also reflect and even worsen existing racial and wealth inequality. However, the credit scoring and reporting systems can function imperfectly, leaving many of the most marginalized without credit scores or with poor credit scores. Furthermore, policymakers have been considering how to make it easier for people to access their credit scores and resolve mistakes on their credit reports.

Dovly Uplift provides credit monitoring and monthly TransUnion credit reports and credit scores. Visa offers free credit repair for cardholders through Dovly UpliftOn Tuesday, smart credit repair company Dovly announced an agreement with Visa. The agreement will provide Visa cardholders with Uplift, a smart credit repair service created by Dovly for Visa cardholders, free of charge. In broad strokes, credit monitoring describes the process of checking your credit reports consistently to see if there are any errors or inaccuracies on your credit reports. While consumers can currently see their credit reports every week through the end of 2023, when that period ends, the Fair Credit Reporting Act only affords consumers three credit reports each year.

Aura provides comprehensive credit monitoring and additional identity protection services for individuals, couples, and families. Editor's Rating 4.6 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Pros & Cons Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. In addition to credit monitoring and other financial account monitoring, Aura also offers several safety tools including a VPN service and ad blockers. Credit monitoring is the process of keeping tabs on changes to your credit report, which influence fluctuations in your credit score. The basic function of credit monitoring services, like Aura, is to notify you when there are any changes in your credit report, such as a new line of credit.

You can also get a free credit report if you suspect your identity has been stolen or if your credit application has been denied. How to get your free credit reportWhile your credit score is readily available from several sources including financial institutions, lenders, and third-party credit monitoring services, you will have to do a little more work for your credit report. Additional free credit reportsThere are additional situations in which you can get a free credit report. If you place an initial fraud alert on your credit, you can receive a free credit report from each bureau in addition to the annual free reports you usually get. The services that go through credit bureaus will give you access to additional credit reports, such as myEquifax, which offers six free credit reports annually, or Experian Boost, which offers a free credit report every 30 days.

Plus, a $15 credit for annual streaming purchases like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify®, Apple Music, Disney+, HBO Max and more! While other cards have redemption options of varying value, you'll always know what you're getting with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card. The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card isn't the most rewarding card in any specific category, but offers well-rounded rewards among several bonus categories. Yes, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is a metal card. The other US Bank-issued metal credit card is the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card.

Credit monitoring services can provide you with early notice of potential fraud on your credit report, so you can take steps to protect your personal information. Below, Select reviews the top six credit monitoring services that can help you keep track of your credit and get alerts on potential fraud. Best free credit monitoring servicesBest paid credit monitoring servicesBest free credit monitoring servicesIf you're not willing to pay money for a credit monitoring service, you can consider one of these free options. Best paid credit monitoring servicesIf you want a more comprehensive credit monitoring plan, consider one of the paid plans below. If you want daily triple-bureau credit monitoring and monthly credit score and credit report tracking, you should opt for the mid-tier PrivacyGuard® Credit Protection, which costs $19.99 per month.

If you want daily triple-bureau credit monitoring and monthly credit score and credit report tracking, you should opt for the mid-tier PrivacyGuard® Credit Protection, which costs $19.99 per month. Things to consider before signing up for a credit monitoring serviceHere's what you should consider before signing up for a credit monitoring service: Cost: Typically, these services bill monthly. When ranking the best free credit monitoring services, we focused on the following features: Number of credit bureaus monitored: Services that monitor credit reports from more than one credit bureau were ranked higher since it's rare for free services to monitor several reports. When ranking the best paid credit monitoring services, we focused on the following features: Cost: Lower-cost services that offered more benefits ranked higher in our reviews. Keep in mind that credit monitoring services can only alert you of changes to your credit file, not fix or prevent any errors.

Knowing where to find your credit score and understanding what it means are key to effectively managing your finances. There are also a number of websites, like Credit Karma, that offer free credit scores when you sign up for their services. Length of credit history (15%): A longer credit history is a positive, but not a requirement for a good score. Credit score vs. credit reportIf you look at a credit score as the grade lenders use to determine your creditworthiness, think of the credit report as all the "work" that goes into that grade. Keeping a close eye on your credit score and credit reports, whether you get them for free or pay for them, are key to staying on sound financial footing.

It also offers perks like cell phone protection, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and a $30 annual streaming credit. Bonus points on streaming services plus $30 yearly streaming credit can save you money Check mark icon A check mark. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE.

If you've ever had a credit card or taken out a loan, you have a credit report. If something looks wrong on your credit report, you can typically file a dispute directly through the online report or by calling the credit bureau. For all intents and purposes, your credit report is your financial report card. When you apply for a new loan or credit card, or request a credit limit increase, the lender will take a look at your credit report. Pick an appropriate sourceWhile websites such as Credit Karma or Credit Sesame will allow you to check your credit score at any time, you can only access your credit report three times a year — once from each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

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