Monitoring Services

If using a monitoring service like Privista for Equifax credit reports, can one go to the Equifax web site and with that report provided by Privista, enter on line disputes or would one have had to purchase a report directly from Equifax in order to do that?

Is the Privista provided report only good for mail type inquiry disputes? What would be better or faster?

 

Good info and read the new FAQ's, which is a great source of additional info. My main concern at the moment is with Equifax only.

Being able to dispute on line in real time can save some time I would imagine and then one can follow up with registered snail-mail for additional backup and documentation if further action is needed.

Does anyone know if when you sign up for "Credit Watch" for Equifax, I guess they give you 30 days to try out their service and a free report. Do they bill you the $69.95 fee upfront and if you cancel within 30 days, they credit your account or do they bill you after the 30 days, unless you cancel the service prior to the 30 days. Hate to have my card tied up for 30 to 45 days with a fee, if I decide to cancel their service.

Thanks!

 

Dave,

That is great info. I was concerned that they do what the rental car companies do, lock up "X" number of dollers on your card larger than your anticipated rental fee and sort of put it on hold, but don't put the debit in till you actually return the car to insure that they will get their rental fee. Just in case you use your credit and get maxed out.

You know, I don't think too many people know this, but on many if not all gasoline pumps, when you indicate that you are going to pay by credit, since they don't know actually how much gas you are going to purchase, they lock up in some cases $50 of your credit available SUV's today can take a lot of gas at one shot). Since it is not put through as a "real" debit, it won't show up as a transaction at that moment, but your credit available limit has just been reduced by that amount for possibly several days, till the real transaction comes through.

I know this because two years ago, I used my Visa debit card to fill my motocyle tank. I as filling it 3 times a week and a glitch in the system was locking up $150 each time, even though I was only putting in about $5.00 each tank. Next thing I knew my credit was denied. My ATM was locked and when I contacted the bank they told me of all the money on hold and would not release till they received authoization from the merchant. After 5 hours on the phone that day, I was able to get them to release $50 so I could function till things got resolved. I had no hard cash on me - stopped me dead! The bank told me that was what happened.

If you notice today when you buy from certain merchants, especially on line, they will not want to accept a Visa debit card. They claim that they are not able to lock in on the money in the account as easily as they can with a regular credit card (I guess because it's your "real owned money", not a credit line. I know this from first hand experience with Hertz. Rules have probably changed and that is why they don't like debit cards, but credit cards can be locked for an amount larger than your anticipated purchase reducing your available credit for a few days.

Also they give you many reports (updated once daily) if you wish...but keep in mind that those pulling a report every day have had problems with excessive #'s of soft inquiries on their Equifax report.[b/]

I am not too worried about the soft hits at the moment because my main concern is to address two line items that are preventing me from getting employment - worse than being denied credit. If you have no money coming in, you eventually won't even have enough to even begin to address the problem that is causing it.

I'll check the Equifax (Credit Watch) website and if I have more questions, I will post them. I was inclined to go with Privista, since they claim to provide an instant Credit Report for the first 30 days, but since they don't have on line "dispute" available, that might not serve my purpose. I am sure Equifax themselves will give you a report for $8.50 I believe and allow on line disputing, but only for 30 days. I am only concerned with Equifax since that is the report that my employer pulled and expects the two trade line items to be addressed in some way. Once corrected I will be hired and then I can worry about more aggressive clean-up.

I never worred about credit reports before, since until now, have had no impact on me - live and learn!!

 

Dave,

Glad you enjoyed the info. Thanks for the update, I will try the Credit Watch for Equifax as it seems to address my needs best at the moment.