How to Monitor Your Credit Reports for Free If you use the internet, your data is under constant threat of being stolen. According to a recent analysis from the Identity Theft Resource Center, roughly 820 incidents of large and small data breaches have been reported so far this year. Even so, the constant threat doesn’t mean you need to pay for a credit-monitoring service. In early April, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued credit bureau TransUnion for violating a 2017 order to stop deceiving customers into signing up for a subscription to various services that include credit reports, credit scores and credit monitoring. TransUnion implied the services were free, but after a trial period, the credit bureau started charging for them. The CFPB is seeking financial restitution for the affected customers. Overall, the lawsuit is a good reminder that no one should be paying for credit-monitoring services, says Brian Krebs, founder of Krebsonsecurity.com , a cybersecurity news website. You don’t have to look far to find a free service.