So, you are concerned with identity theft, but how do you choose the right company? Afterall, there are many choose from these days, right? LifeLock is no longer the only game in town…with new identity theft service companies emerging such as Identity Guard, Trusted ID and ProtectMyID. Lifelock continues to be a leader in the identity theft service industry and is still a great choice. However, there are other choices that are good too. Have a look at the identity theft comparison chart to compare the more popular identity theft services available.
Currently, Identity Guard is currently our number one choice with the following deal it is a no brainer.
- Free 30-day trial; $14.99/mo (after our limited time discount)
- Monitors 3-bureau credit report, credit cards, public records, Social Security number, applications, Internet security
- $1,000,000 insurance
- All 3 bureau credit scores and a public record report each quarter ZoneAlarm Internet security suite; anti-keylogging software
Overall, Identity Guard offers the most complete ID theft protection service; full credit report monitoring; free Internet security suite; 18% discount & free 30-day trial.
Recently, Todd Davis, the CEO of LifeLock announced an upcoming release of new technology to fight fraud in real time, thus offering even better identity theft protection. According to Mr. Davis, this new technology will provide better and broader protection to their clients. It will include doing deep forensic analysis of the entire credit network, by monitoring millions of data sources, including retailers, banks, mortgage lenders, utilities and auto lenders. Additionally, this is considerably more than the credit bureaus monitor. This new system will replace fraud alerts, while they will continue to offer their suite of identity theft protection services including WalletLock, eRecon TrueAddress and the $1 million total service guarantee.
As criminals become increasing sly by devising more complex schemes to defraud people, this improved technology is important in continuing to protect consumers. This clearly shows LifeLocks commitment to providing the best service to their clients. Since 2005, LifeLock has been the industry leader in identity theft protection and it appears they will continue to be the leader. They protect over 1.5 million people now and continue to grow everyday.
Go ahead and compare LifeLock with the other identity theft protection services, because as a smart consumer you should. But, at the end of the day you will come to realize that LifeLock is the industry leader for a reason.
One Million Dollars
So what is the million dollar guarantee about? If someone does steal your identity while you are a customer of LifeLock, the company will pay professionals to assist in restoring any losses or recover expenses. In addition, if an attorney is required to represent you, LifeLock will be right by your side in the litigation efforts.
The one million dollar guarantee is another sign that LifeLock is extremely confident in their ability to stop identity theft before it can occur.
It seems that credit unions are turning to LifeLock in droves to help stop identity theft services at their establishments. Credit unions and other businesses recognize that it is much easier to prevent identity theft than to deal with the after affects of a stolen identity.
Why enroll in LifeLock Protection?
LifeLock openly states that every step they take to protect your identity is something each one of us could do for free. The difficult part for individuals is working through the process required by the credit bureaus, keeping up to date with news laws, and keeping our information up to date. What this company offers is the management and administrative work in dealing with the credit bureaus.
In addition, when someone does apply for credit in your name, the Fraud Alert program at LifeLock will contact you at the number you wish to be contacted at and ensure that the credit request is valid.
If you’ve listened to the radio, watched TV, or picked up a magazine recently, you’ve probably seen an advertisement for LifeLock, the identity theft protection LifeLock, a company based in Tempe, Arizona, claims they have created a system that effectively stops an identity thief from using someone’s name and information to get what they want. For $10 a month, or $110 a year, LifeLock will register and monitor a fraud alert on your name with the three top credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. When a fraud alert is in place, potential lenders are forced to call you at the number listed on the alert before they can issue you a loan or line of credit.
Anyone can call one of the credit bureaus and ask for a fraud alert free of charge, but it expires after three months. LifeLock automatically renews fraud alerts for their customers. The company will also make calls to request that your name be removed from mailing lists to help you cut down on unsolicited offers. And if your wallet is stolen? LifeLock’s WalletLock program will help you cancel and replace your cards. The company stands behind their services with a $1 million guarantee. If their system fails, and your identity is stolen, they will spend up to $1 million recovering your losses and investigating your case.
While LifeLock customers have been generally happy with the company, it has received some bad press lately. First, co-founder Robert J. Maynard, Jr. was accused of lying about an identity theft incident that he claimed was the reason he started the company. After he was called on a few other inconsistencies in his personal finances, he chose to resign from the company in 2007. Then, in an ironic twist of fate, CEO Todd Davis became a victim of identity theft himself. Someone used his widely publicized social security number to open a check-cashing loan for $500.
Despite these marks against their reputation, LifeLock is still accredited by the Better Business Bureau and recently received a five-star rating by TopConsumerReviews.com. It appears that, overall, LifeLock membership really is an effective way to keep identity thieves at bay.
