CreditRecondition.com

150 million Americans awarded with free credit-monitoring…

One of the largest legal settlements ever made has been resolved with TransUnion, the Chicago-based credit bureau, agreeing to offer 150 million Americans up to nine months of free credit-report monitoring services. Filed in Federal Court in Chicago, the lawsuit claimed that TransUnion violated the ‘Fair Credit Reporting Act’ when it sold consumer information to businesses who used the data to market their products to consumers. “There’s been no finding that TransUnion violated any law,” said Colleen Ryan, a company spokeswoman. But the settlement still rewards millions of consumers with free credit-monitoring services.

Make sure you take advantage of these cardholder benefits…

As many frusterated shoppers have noticed, merchandise returns are becoming more and more difficult as merchants look for ways to maintain profits during a sagging economy. One option many consumers aren’t aware of (or have forgotten) that will help resolve defective or unwanted merchandise disputes is the protections offered by most credit card issuers. Offering extended warranties, price adjustments and refunds, the details are tucked away in the ‘terms and conditions’ of your credit card agreement. Here are the four most common services offered free to cardholders by credit card issuers.