Do I need identity protection or credit monitoring?

The answer

Enter a free voluntary credit ban first. It makes taking out credit in your name harder. Then compare the extra services and annual price of paid monitoring.

Identity-protection services vary. Monitoring can alert you to changes, while Finland’s free voluntary credit ban directly affects credit decisions.

A voluntary credit ban is an entry that stops a lender assuming you are the one applying for credit. You enter it yourself and you lift it yourself when you need credit.

If your Finnish personal identity code leaked, Suomi.fi advises blocking address notifications at both DVV and Posti. Restrict the release of contact details too. In MyTax, you can limit changes to your tax-refund account number to the authenticated online service.

If you are considering a paid service, check which registers it monitors, alert speed, practical support, insurance terms and annual price.