We received a question from our reader, Brian, last week about signing up for credit monitoring services:

My wife and I are interested in signing up for a credit monitoring service. I noticed only one Social Security number and name is available for entry on the order form. Can I sign us up jointly, or do I have to create separate accounts?

Due to security concerns and the "one person, one report" nature of credit report, Brian and his wife will each need to complete their own order online for a credit monitoring program. With identity theft so rampant, the credit bureaus want to be very careful that the person who is ordering is actually the person whose name is on the report. Luckily, ordering online can be fairly easy and you can often choose to use the same email address to receive alerts for both accounts.

While sometimes controversial, credit monitoring programs offer an easy and relatively inexpensive way to stay on top of your credit data. Most monitoring services these days check your data daily and many include access to data from all three credit bureaus. Monitoring is especially helpful for people who are working on improving their credit or preparing for a major purchase.

I think one of the best services available is TransUnion's Unlimited Monitoring. This service includes unlimited access to all three of your credit reports and credit scores along with daily monitoring for just $24.95 the first month and $14.95 a month thereafter.

Another good option is Equifax 3-in-1 Monitoring for $12.95 a month, although it doesn&39;t include any credit scores. Plus, Equifax allows you to buy this service as a gift for someone else. Perfect as a last minute stocking stuffer!