There are 3 main credit rating agencies that matter when it comes to monitoring credit scores (Experian, Equifax and Transunion).
When we apply for new cards, the credit card issuers usually check with at least one, and sometimes all 3 of these agencies. It is imperative that we know exactly what our current scores are, and what they mean, before we move forward to Step 2 of our strategy.

In order to secure 0% lines of credit, and implement our strategy immediately, we will need to have a credit score above 750. We can get a quick, AND FREE, check of our credit score at CreditReport.com. 3-Bureau Credit Monitoring alerts you to changes on all 3 of your credit reports! Get a free 7-day trial plus credit report & score! Sign up and get your free credit score now so that you can figure out whether or not you can move directly on to Step 2. (Make note that this is a 7-Day Free Trial. If you only want the free look at your score and do not wish to remain subscribed, be sure to read the instructions carefully and cancel within the appropriate time frame). If our score is under 750, it is probably a waste of time to apply for any 0% offers at this time as we will likely be rejected. This is not to say all is lost if our scores are under 750. Not at all. In our free 4-Day E-Course, we explain why a score under 750 should not be viewed as a dead end but as a bright and new beginning.

For ongoing credit score review and help, there are a number of products available that monitor credit scores for a relatively low monthly fee. In addition to monitoring credit scores, they also give insight into how our scores are calculated, what they mean, and what we can do to improve them.

As mentioned, there is a low monthly fee charged for their service. It is a fair and good deal. We make a LOT of money with this strategy and paying for this kind of information is only fair. So we should hand over the money each month without reservation right? Ah, but alas, we are frugal (some might even say cheap). And that means we are ALWAYS looking for a way to NOT pay for something. And this is no exception.

We have discovered a few interesting things when it comes to credit monitoring.

One thing we've discovered is that, because corporate America collects and stores so much personal information on so many people, there is invariably some company that "misplaces" a data tape or loses a data file in the mail. This company then apologizes profusely to all of its customers and promises that the data is probably not at all compromised but offers restitution just the same.

More and more, part of this apology includes a 9 month or 12 month all-expenses-paid subscription to a credit monitoring service so that customers can check their credit regularly and make sure that their profiles have not been compromised. Usually, the subscription includes the monitoring of only 1 of the 3 bureaus but it is still handy information to have. And it is free. Our favorite. If you are ever offered a free subscription to one of these services, snap it up. They are invaluable for every day life but even more so for anyone who has plans to implement our strategy.

If you are lucky enough that no corporation has compromised any of your personal data recently, it is well worth the money to pay for a service like Equifax Score Watch. They give us all of the info we need at a very low monthly price. More importantly, we get access to a ton of helpful information and guidance on how to improve future credit scores.

Get Equifax Score Watch Now!

This service is wonderful and truly worth the monthly cost (and if you've been paying attention, you know how much we hate paying for ANYTHING ;}).

As mentioned above, for a quick (AND FREE) check of your credit score, go to CreditReport.com. As always, if your true goal is to take advantage only of their free trial offer, be sure you read the fine print and cancel within the appropriate time frame.Their ongoing service is very similar to what is offered by Equifax above and you can test it for a week before deciding whether or not you find it useful enough to keep.

3-Bureau Credit Monitoring alerts you to changes on all 3 of your credit reports! Get a free 7-day trial plus credit report & score!