Target is following through on their promise to provide free credit monitoring to guests affected by the data breach. Target has partnered with a company called Experian (Protect My ID) to provide this service to guests.
If you were affected by the breach, head over to the Target Credit Monitoring site to get your free year of credit monitoring. All you have to do is type in your full name and email address.
You’ll then receive an email within 1 – 5 days containing an activation code, along with instructions. My code came within about 10 minutes of submitting the form.
Open the email and click on the link to be taken to the Protect My ID website. Enter the code that was given in the email. Fill out your personal information, including your social security number, answer a couple of questions, and you’re all set up!
If you’d like to receive text message alerts, it’s easy to set that up. Click on the ‘My Profile’ tab, then ‘Alert Settings’. Check the box labeled ‘Yes, send my alerts as text messages.’, enter your phone number, and select the time of day you want to receive alerts. Save your changes, and you’re done!
This free one year of credit monitoring service includes the following:
- Credit Report: You will get a free copy of their Experian credit report. If you enroll online, your report will be available online. Online credit reports are available for 30 days.
- Daily Credit Monitoring: You will receive alerts for one year that reflect changes to your Experian credit report during your membership term. This includes new inquiries, newly opened accounts, new derogatory information (such as delinquencies or medical collections) and more.
- Identity Theft Resolution: If confirmed that you have been the victim of identity theft, you will be assigned a dedicated, U.S.-based Experian Fraud Resolution Agent who will walk you through the fraud resolution process—and remain available to answer questions—from start to finish.
- Identity Theft Insurance: If you have been a victim of identity theft relating to this incident, you will immediately be covered by a $1 million insurance policy that can help you cover certain costs, including lost wages, private investigator fees, and unauthorized electronic fund transfers for one year.
- ProtectMyID ExtendCARE: Access to personalized assistance from a highly-trained Fraud Resolution Agent will continue even after the initial one year ProtectMyID membership expires.
Please note that you’ll need to complete the sign up process before April 30, 2014 to get your free credit monitoring. This is only for guests that were affected by the data breach in December of 2013.
It was my understanding that this benefit was for those whose credit/debit cards were affected by the breach in security @ Target .. not for anyone and everyone wanting a free year of credit monitoring.
It is only for guests that were affected by the breach. I wrote that in the first sentence, but have since updated the post to make that clearer.
The intent of this post was to explain how affected guests can get their free credit monitoring – not offering it to everyone.
Thanks for the reply! I’ve seen a lot of these posts .. so I wanted to make sure they also put that in there. I’m afraid what’s going to happen is that TARGET will end up being sorry they offered this to those affected.
When I went in last night to do mine (after being sent an email from my bank and Target), the site took my information to “verify” my access. Maybe Target has a list of names that qualify, to keep everyone from receiving this small gesture. Hope so!
I check my credit card and bank accounts every few days (it’s so easy to do online), and I think not enough people do that! Even with credit monitoring, it’s still your responsibility to keep up to date on your own accounts. I know so many people who don’t even know who spends what each month–crazy!
I completely agree! I check my accounts almost daily and have email alerts set up so I’m notified when any transactions go through on my accounts. I’ve even convinced my mom to check her accounts online every few days too! 🙂