Identity Guard Total Protection offers instant access to all 3 bureau credit scores and reports.  This is by far the most extensive credit reporting and monitoring available.  They offer a 100% free 30 day trial with no commitments.  Here are some of the features included in the 30 day free trial:

• Instant access to all 3 credit reports and scores.  Compare scores and reports side-by-side from all 3 credit bureaus.
• Daily Internet monitoring of chat rooms and financial black markets (known to be frequented by identity thieves) for your credit cards, bank accounts and Social Security number.
• Daily monitoring for credit applications in your name as well as your credit profile at all 3 credit bureaus, plus your 3-in-1 credit report with 3 credit scores.
• Emails to alert you of changes you need to verify and instructions about how to proceed.
• NEW: Secure access to your personal data and financial accounts from your web-enabled cell phone or PDA with MOBILE LOCKBOXSM.
• Free: Award-winning antivirus from ZoneAlarm, anti-spyware and firewall software, free for the life of your IDENTITY GUARD enrollment. ($49.95 value)
• PRIVACYPROTECTSM software to prevent keyloggers from stealing your information by encrypting every keystroke while you browse the Internet.
• Unlimited toll free 800# customer service with access to identity theft and credit education specialists.
• Lost wallet protection - with one call we'll help cancel your credit card accounts.
• Dedicated identity theft recovery unit that guides you through the process of recovery should you become a victim.
• Up to $20,000 identity theft insurance (after a $250 deductible) at no additional cost to you - financial reimbursement for certain expenses related to recovering from an identity theft event.

Identity Guard makes it easy to understand and determine what you need to do to improve your overall credit rating.  After you’ve signed up for the 30 day trial, you will be able to go through each credit bureaus reports, and determine what is helping your credit score, and what’s hurting it.  Overall, they offer an easy to use, fully loaded product, with a 30 day free trial.

Equifax is a name most people know when it comes to credit reporting and scoring.  They now offer a 30 day free trial that includes 1 free FICO credit score and all 3 credit reports.  The service is easy to use and very detailed.  If you purchase this same product through the Equifax website, they’ll charge you $39.95.  Here, you can test it for 30 days free, and then keep it for only $14.95/month if you like it.  Equifax also offers comprehensive identity theft protection with this service.  Here are some of their other features -   

• Immediate online access to your user-friendly 3-in-1 Credit Report
• Line-by-line comparison of your credit history with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian
• With Score Power® you'll also get your FICO® credit score, what your most current score means, comparison with national averages, and a graph of how lenders view you
• Includes a confirmation number needed to use Equifax's free online dispute feature and help fix errors quickly and simply
• Access to our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Care service seven days a week

Overall, this is a great product, great price, and full line of features.  Our only complaint is, they only offer 1 credit score instead of all 3 like Identity Guard!

Credit Check Total is another option for in-depth credit reporting, scoring, and monitoring. As soon as we signed up for the 7 day free trial, we were provided with all 3 consumer credit scores and reports.  Credit Check Total also updates their customers of any changes to their credit via email.  They offer unlimited access to each of your reports and scores during the 7 day free trial period, and $25,000 identity theft protection insurance.  We have found Identity Guard and Equifax to offer more extensive coverage.  We would like to see Credit Check Total offer a longer free trial and lower monthly price.  At $19.95/month they are the most expensive credit reporting service on our list. 

You would have to be living in a cave if you’ve never heard of FreeCreditReport.com! They have spent millions of dollars on TV, online, radio, and print advertising these past few years.  The advertising is working.  They are now the largest credit reporting company in America, and by far the most popular way people get their free credit report and score.  The good news is, Free Credit Report is owned by Experian, one of the 3 credit bureaus, so they know a little something about credit reporting/scoring.  The bad news is, Free Credit Report is owned by Experian, so they only provide an Experian credit report and score.  If you want the other 2 credit bureaus scores and reports, you’ll have to get them elsewhere.  FreeCreditReport does monitor the other 2 bureaus, so you will be protected from identity theft.  But, keep in mind; you won’t be able to see what’s in those other reports.  We don’t like that the free trial is only 7 days, but love that the price at only $12/month, if you decide to keep the service past the free trial.  If you’re looking for all 3 reports and scores, then one of the other credit reporting services might make a better choice.  If having just one score and report is good enough, then FreeCreditReport is cheap, easy to use, and a great overall product.    

There are different methods of calculating consumer credit scores.  FICO, the most widely known and used type of credit score, was developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation.  Most likely, every time you apply for a loan, credit card, etc., the company will pull your FICO score.  The higher your FICO score, the better off you’ll be.  Unfortunately, MyFICO only uses your credit report from Equifax to determine your current FICO score.  Your score might be significantly different from the other two credit bureaus – TransUnion, and Equifax.  MyFICO provides two free credit scores per year, which include your latest Equifax credit report.  MyFICO doesn’t make the best option for monitoring your credit or protecting you from identity theft, as they only track Equifax.  While cheap at only $7.95/month (after you pay for the full year), overall MyFICO is lacking the extensive features offered by some of the other credit monitoring services. Keep in mind, you must pay $89.95 upfront once the free trial is up. We hate that MyFICO doesn't offer a monthly plan. 

Full review of TrueCredit coming soon.