Credit monitoring: May i recommend it....

[Amy26]

Maybe we should change the name of this forum from "rebuilding credit" to "justifying credit" :P

[msm859]

It's meant to be funny, sort of battle of analogies. take it easy.

Also, you are over analyzing the analogy, I am merely expressing the idea that worrying about credit score is largely pointless in the grand scheme of things, but we disagree on that point, so no point in belaboring the issue.

Let's try another one, along the medical lines as the earlier post

"It's like taking your body temperature every 30 minutes for no reason"

I guess I will add my minority vote -- I agree with HHM. There really are few events in life that will cause your credit score to matter and you should be able to increase it without ANY monitoring service. Every year get your free reports and fix any errors. Your score will be EXACTLY the same as if you had monitored it monthly. But my real objection to this "fascination" with constant monitoring is it is promoting the concept that your fico score is the new god. We now have commercials teaching people that you need to be beholden to and worship your fico score. Sadly too maybe people are buying into it such that before ultimately realizing the bankruptcy is the answer they have drained all of their savings, 401k etc. How many people on this forum have commented their only mistake was "not filing sooner"? The banks want to perpetuate this belief that you are less of a person and you must do EVERYTHING possible to protect your fico score. Fico is not my new god and I will not lose any sleep over it. I will get a new credit line and pay everything on time but my fico will be whatever it will be -- with or without monitoring.

[HHM]

Amen, brother

[Amy26]

Wow... where on earth did you people get "I want to monitor my credit" to "OMG I'm worshiping my FICO score"? What is wrong with you guys? lol. I also don't think I'm losing any sleep over monitoring my credit. If you guys are not into getting credit monitoring, then just say that... why do you have to be so meladramatic and condescending?

Do you guys think you're better people than the rest of us because you believe differently? And while your answer to that question may be no, it certainly comes off that way sometimes.

Really disappointed in some people's attitudes on this board, especially from moderators.

[msm859]

Wow... where on earth did you people get "I want to monitor my credit" to "OMG I'm worshiping my FICO score"? What is wrong with you guys? lol. I also don't think I'm losing any sleep over monitoring my credit. If you guys are not into getting credit monitoring, then just say that... why do you have to be so meladramatic and condescending?

Do you guys think you're better people than the rest of us because you believe differently? And while your answer to that question may be no, it certainly comes off that way sometimes.

Really disappointed in some people's attitudes on this board, especially from moderators.

Amy26 you should not take any of this too seriously. However, if you read my blog a main point was too many people are buying into the fico score and loosing their entire savings and retirement in a hopeless attempt to save their all too precious fico score. I suspect we would all be shocked if their was a thread on how many people drained everything , borrowed from family etc. before they filed bk. Had they not been so brainwashed maybe they would have filed earlier and saved all of that. I don't care if you want to spend $15/month or whatever monitoring your credit reports. I would like to educate someone that fico is not all that and maybe your should be saving your thousands and tens of thousands and make the correct business decision and file bk now - not after you have exhausted everything.

[HHM]

Wow... where on earth did you people get "I want to monitor my credit" to "OMG I'm worshiping my FICO score"? What is wrong with you guys? lol. I also don't think I'm losing any sleep over monitoring my credit. If you guys are not into getting credit monitoring, then just say that... why do you have to be so meladramatic and condescending?

Do you guys think you're better people than the rest of us because you believe differently? And while your answer to that question may be no, it certainly comes off that way sometimes.

Really disappointed in some people's attitudes on this board, especially from moderators.

You are entitled to your opinion, as are we. But you are not entitled to your own facts. msm859 is correct. The actions of most people who try to avoid bankruptcy largely center around fears about future credit. Credit Score Hysteria is a real condition in my opinion and it does TREMENDOUS financial damage to those afflicted with it. We are not saying a credit score is not important, but some perspective is required. The life events that require the use of a credit score are few and very spread out and as msm859 points out, if at the time you approach one of these events, if something is wrong with your credit, you CAN FIX it and your score would be the same had you monitored your credit and caught it early. Credit monitoring is a light symptom of credit score hysteria.

[backtoschool]

Wow, I can't believe this thread won't die.

It's not as easy to just "fix" things on a credit report as one would hope. I keep having negatives pop back up that I have disputed, and the only reason I know that they are popping back up is because I monitor my credit.

I would hate to be at the last stage of buying a house and have barclays reage the charge off status of my discharged card yet again and have my fico score plummet 20 points yet again and then have to go scramble to fix it. Sometimes a negative simply doesn't go away easily or conveniently and who wants to find that out the hard way?

As I said in a previous post to this thread, it's not the opposing point of view that I object to, it's the patronizing tone and attitude on behalf of those who believe that they see the "early symptoms" of my escalating credit "disease".

I don't like having an intervention done on me simply for monitoring my credit.

[Amy26]

Yes backtoschool, the intention of my post is about their derrogatory manner and how they say things but yet they start reiterating stuff about credit hysteria and brainwashing... and totally ignore the fact that we don't like how they are speaking to people. Perhaps others don't really care or are oblivious to it... I dunno.

And I also don't appreciate him saying "I'm not entitled to my own facts"? When exactly did I make up facts?

I am astounded at the ability to twist and mince words here. And I for once would just like to hear HHM say "gee, I'm sorry" or just focus on what I'm actually talking about which is attitude, judgements and derrogatory text and not the pychology of credit monitoring and hyterias...

Sometimes a rock is just a rock. Credit monitoring is just credit monitoring... it is not (usually) centered around mass hysteria and "worshipping". I think you guys are seriously overthinking and reading into some of these posts.

[HHM]

Here is the thing, I can't control how you take something. I can state an opinion, if you think it is judgmental, condescending or derogatory; that is beyond my control.

I was making general statements about credit monitoring and how people (note the plural, not you, but people) get hung up on the FICO score. Nothing was directed at anyone in particular. Again, how you take it is not something I can control. In reality, your attacks are far more personal because they really are directed at me and the others that are disagreeing with you, if anyone should apologize, it is you.

If I say "credit monitoring is a waste of money", that is a statement, its an opinion, its an idea. When you say, HHM is being judgmental and condescending, that is a personal attack.

[backtoschool]

Here is the thing, I can't control how you take something. I can state an opinion, if you think it is judgmental, condescending or derogatory; that is beyond my control.

I was making general statements about credit monitoring and how people (note the plural, not you, but people) get hung up on the FICO score. Nothing was directed at anyone in particular. Again, how you take it is not something I can control. In reality, your attacks are far more personal because they really are directed at me and the others that are disagreeing with you, if anyone should apologize, it is you.

If I say "credit monitoring is a waste of money", that is a statement, its an opinion, its an idea. When you say, HHM is being judgmental and condescending, that is a personal attack.

But HHM, you have used the statements like "priorities out of whack" (a direct quote from your earlier post), "credit score hysteria" (again a direct quote from you), "symptoms" (again quoting you directly).

You are very careful in how you choose words in all of your posts. It is one of the things that I like most about your posts. So, when you choose to use words that connote emotional and psychological issues, I have to believe that you chose those words purposefully. It's one thing to say that credit monitoring is "pointless" (another direct quote), it is quite another to say that people who monitor their credit have their "priorities out of whack". One statement is discussing credit monitoring and the other, more judgmental statement, is discussing the people who monitor their credit.

Also, I believe that the fact that you are a moderator, makes your comments that much more jarring when they verge on being judgmental. When you post a comment you are posting from the "voice of bkforum" as your role as moderator. This by definition, gives more weight to your comments. We are not on a level playing field here so, your comments are not merely opinions on equal par with our opinions.

[Amy26]

Here is the thing, I can't control how you take something. I can state an opinion, if you think it is judgmental, condescending or derogatory; that is beyond my control.

I'm sorry, but you can control it. And I've always loved this forum for being open and people sharing their stories and offering advice when asked for but if we're going to treat people like they are evil because they ask a question or want to do something that goes against your personal feelings, then its not something I want to be a part of.

Asking about which credit monitoring service is the best one should not turn into a philosophical debate about people being wasteful and having their priorities out of whack. What benefit do these people get by you telling them that you think what their doing is stupid (and yes you didn't say that specifically but it is what you are implying).

This forum should be an impartial place with the absense of judgement and malice. And yes you can say that you aren't speaking to "me" specifically.. you're speaking in "general". I'm well aware of that and I'm not fighting for my opinion or personal justification of my actions. I'm speaking for the greater good of everyone and the site as a whole. Just because you do not direct a comment at a particular user does not mean it isn't judgemental or inappropriate. How do you think someone would feel coming to this thread to see the answer to which credit monitoring service they should chose only to be met with "whoever monitors their credit has their priorities out of whack".

And actually saying "credit monitoring is a waste of money" is not really stating it as an opinion you are stating it as if it was a fact. Which it is not. If you said I personally feel (or think) that it is a waste of "my" money or something like that then it is a statement of opinion.

Me saying you are being judgemental and condescending is also not a personal attack but an observation and a plee to make it decist.

Again, if none of this is getting through and popular opinion would disagree with what backtoschool and I are trying to say then I will just simply delete my bookmark and take my objective self somewhere else on this world wide web of wonder.

[WhoDat]

I waste my money on the credit monitoring service through USAA. I travel quite a bit (job related), and I use my credit card always when traveling, hotels, car rentals, etc. That requires giving out my personal information. Following every precaution to safeguard my personal information does not guarantee that my information will not fall in the wrong hands. I feel that I am being proactive in monitoring for any unusual activities on all my accounts. Could I wait once a year to get my reports? Probably, but a lot can happen in a year.

My priorities are not out of whack, nor do I fit this "credit score vanity" profile for choosing the service.

[dumpinmydebt]

I don't care to watch my credit score. I just want to monitor my credit report to ensure everything reports accurately and to make sure my identity isn't stolen. The score will take care of itself as long as those things are accurate.

[dspii]

Great thread....love the debates....good for thought processes....keeps us younger! I must say I use a credit monitoring service...but it was free because Transunion screwed up sometime in the past. Was I sucked into the drama of credit scores....hell yes. In the big scheme of "life, family and loved ones" does it matter....hell no. My kids better not put my FICO score on my headstone

Now on to the reality of it........since I filed BK, I truly find the need to keep tabs on whats going on with how "big brother/big business" perceives me. We can't change the marketing strategy that etched the need for perfect credit into the soul of society....Since my BK, I am judged as a person based on that BS score. Doesn't matter if you filed because your kid needed a kidney transplant or you ran all your cards through the roof on a round-the-world vacation. Your still judged on that score and since a BK drops your score to the basement, it's good to at least know! Sucks but what can we do, live in a tent...sure...if that is your choosing.

In a time where I am going through some big changes in my life, I do have the need to keep close tabs. I got a new job 2000 miles away and I have a house I can't sell. Needless to say, I watch my credit, dispute the BS and I actually hooted and hollared when I broke the 700 barrier.....but I don't subscribe to any pay services....by my choice. Although, I have reviewed all of my reports several times since my discharge for a couple reasons. One, to be sure they are accurate and two, to benchmark my lows so I can celebrate my victories.

I...being democratic, so to speak....can clearly see both sides on the coin....I have to watch my scores right now, because I am at a time where I will be judged on those three digits and not the person I truly am......a man of honor and integrity. I respect those who monitor their credit...it is those frequent successes (that 2 point increase in your score) that encourages us to reach higher.....just like the new scoring system in this forum.

Low debt ratio's, smart credit usage, and time is what will keep us in the good graces of those who judge us based on those three numbers. Use the services now, but remember to cancel them in the future.....you likely won't need to watch them so cloely as time passes....just the occasional pull your annual reports to keep tabs on the CRA's.

[Logan]

Maybe we should change the name of this forum from "rebuilding credit" to "justifying credit" :P

Let me justify credit. I earned just over $400 in cash rewards using my credit card last year and I only started using it in April.
Thanks to that credit I will be upgrading my room at the Lowes Hotel in Miami Beach to an ocean front view with a balcony.

The credit card I used is my wife's but I do have a cash rewards Capital One that has a similar program. We just use my wifes because it's with USAA and they're a very good company to work with.

Logan