Step 6. Monitor and Maintain Your Protect Your Credit

Rebuilding a credit score is hard work and you don't want all that effort to go to waist. Active monitoring and maintenance of your credit score will insure that your information is accurate, and it will give you a heads up if something is having a negative impact on your score. These tools are not free but nine dollars or so per month is a small price to pay for protection of one of your most valuable records.

There is an endless selection of tools and companies that provide score monitoring services. In our opinion, going to the source is the best bet. You will save money, you will get the best product, and you will not be providing your private information to a fly by night company that may later sell your data to a SPAM company.

Below is an overview of some very good products that we are comfortable endorsing. Feel free to explore and find something that you feel is the best fit for your needs.

Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1

• Comprehensive credit file monitoring and automated alerts of key changes to your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports
• Wireless alerts and customizable alerts available
• Free 3-in-1 Credit Report and unlimited access to your Equifax Credit Report™
• Up to $20,000 Identity Theft Insurance with no deductible (certain limitations and exclusions apply) at no additional charge to you
• Knowledgeable Customer Care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Equifax Score Watch

• Continuous score monitoring and notification when a change in your FICO® score impacts the interest rate you are likely to receive
• Detailed explanations for key score changes and specific tips for understanding your score
• Daily monitoring of your Equifax Credit Report with email notification of key changes (email / wireless alerts)
• Two Free Score Power® reports, plus discounts on additional Score Power® reports
• Detailed "Bottom Line" of what your most current score means, comparison with national averages, and a graph of how lenders view you
• Access to friendly and knowledgeable Customer Care available 7 days a week

FICO Score Watch - 30 Day Free Trial from MyFico

• Monitors important changes to your FICO® score and Equifax Credit Report™
• Provides timely alerts when important changes are detected
• Easy-to-read view of how lenders see you and items affecting your score
• Alerts you when you might qualify for better interest rates on loans