Identity Theft Protection Services
Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft Protection Services.
What type of identity theft protection is right for me?
"Preventive" identity theft protection services, like TrustedID and LifeLock, are a very strong form of protection. Both place a fraud alert on all of your credit files (TrustedID also allows you the additional and more extreme option of placing a credit freeze on your credit files) which means that anyone opening a credit account for you must make an extra effort to confirm your identity, usually by calling you to verify that you opened the account. We recommend this type of service for most people who are concerned about identity theft, but it does come with some drawbacks. Mainly, it makes it a bit harder for you to open credit accounts, as you must first wait to be contacted by the new account grantor, which can sometimes take as long as a few days or longer if the grantor can't connect with you. For those who want to take a less extreme approach or who also want to have the benefit of keeping close tabs on their credit reports and scores, a "detection" type service is a great approach. These are credit monitoring services that monitor your credit file as well as the Internet black market for any unusual activity occurring in your name. They also give you regular updates of your credit reports and credit scores. While detection of something means that your information has already fallen into the wrong hands, it almost always occurs before the situation has become a more serious problem and it is not as difficult to deal with. A "detection" service is good for someone who opens credit accounts often but is not overly concerned with identity theft.
Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about Identity Theft Protection Services
Recently answered questions about Identity Theft Protection Services:
What if a teenager loses his wallet?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question.
Q: If someone who has just turned 18 and has no prior credit history loses his wallet, what can he do to prevent someone using his driver's license to open up new accounts in his name? Would it do him any good [...]
Will someone act on my behalf if my identity is stolen?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Do any of the identity theft protection companies you feature offer an advocates service if my identity is compromised or stolen? [...]
Does TrustedID cover legal costs to restore your identity?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Does TrustedID also cover legal costs which may occur during the restoration of your identity after ID theft?
A: Yes. TrustedID's identity theft [...]
If someone has stolen your identity, do you get the money back?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: If someone has stolen your identity, and taken money out of your checking account or charged something using your bank account, do [...]
Will LifeLock protect my bank accounts?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I know that LifeLock protects your credit card, Social Security, driver's license, and address changes. But what about my bank accounts? I [...]
If our identity is stolen or compromised, would LifeLock do the paperwork con...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: If our identity is stolen or compromised, would LifeLock do the paperwork connected to clearing my name/credit?
A: If your identity [...]
Should I sign up for identity theft protection right away?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: My car was broken into tonight and my purse stolen. I have my driver license, passport, employee ID card and a [...]
How do I login to my Identity Guard account?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I am a member [of Identity Guard], how do I sign on to the member services when I am not on [...]
Do my husband and I need the Trusted ID family plan?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I have 2 credit cards. my husband has 3 credit cards and we both have ATM cards. We need the family [...]
What family members can be included in the Trusted ID family plan?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: What family members can be included in the same services [with Trusted ID]?
A: Trusted ID's family plan covers any family members that [...]
