10-second breakdown:
With multiple plans, great extras, and a solid range of protection that can cater to any budget level; Identity Guard takes our top choice for identity theft protection services.
The good:
The extras offered by Identity Guard really speak to the forward-thinking nature of the company. There is an encrypted keyboard feature to help protect your passwords and online shopping data that much safer from the hostel internet, a sweet mobile app, and antivirus software for their premium users.
The “Lost Wallet Protection” will give you up to $2,000 if your wallet is stolen. It’s consider emergency cash to get you through until your affairs are back in order.
There is a family plan to protect your entire household that is a bargain for the comprehensive coverage and benefits that come with it.
The bad:
If something does happen to your identity, the service doesn’t report it to the credit bureau.
The site’s pricing and services aren’t listed as clearly as they could be which could cause you some confusion.
How it works:
Identity theft is something we hear a lot about these days, with the proliferation of the internet into every part of our lives, it becomes easier and easier to have your identity stolen. Don’t let yourself become numb to the threat though, a stolen identity is a traumatic event that affects everything in your life from loan rates to getting approved for apartments. One false step and you might spend years fixing up your life and building back up your credit score.
That’s where Identity Guard comes in, they help to monitor your identity for any signs of fraud. If push comes to shove, the best companies also step in to help pick up the pieces and keep your life on the right track.
This is where Identity Guard really stands out from the crowd and ears best company recommendation. They monitor your credit score with all three credit bureaus, and also keep an eye on public databases. If they see any of your personal details leaked publicly or on black market sites, they shoot you a text message.
If the unthinkable happens, Identity Guard has one of the best theft recovery assistance programs in the industry. They hire dedicated recovery experts that can take you through the whole process, and offer up to $1 million which can be used for legal fees, travel expenses, wage reimbursement, child care and more.
Identity Guard also goes above and beyond with their wallet replacement program. Most companies will offer to help you cancel then replace your cards and ID, but Identity Guard will also front you up to $2,000 in emergency cash. This is especially helpful for frequent travelers who might have their wallet stolen far from their home and need to get back, or just find a place to lay down that night.
They also offer a few handy features you can use to track your credit score. A few of the pricing plans include their mobile app that lets you access any notifications on your smartphone and stores your credit scores and reports. If something does happen, the mobile app is loaded with useful articles like what to do after your identity has been stolen, or best security practices to help prevent it in the first place.
In addition, there’s a handy tool online called the credit bureau analyzer. It simulates how the credit bureaus will react to any financial decision you make. Want to close a credit card or take out a car loan? The analyzer can help you make an informed decision, telling you how the bureaus are likely to react.
The one place Identity Guard falls a little short is in alerts. Yes, they’ll text you to say they detected something funny, but if it really is fraud, the balls in your court to reach out to the credit bureaus and set fraud alerts on your name. It’s more of an annoyance than a deal killer but it would be a nice luxury that some competitors do offer.
Identity Guard offers three main plans to help keep you safe. If you do decide to go with their services, be sure to ask if they’re running a special – usually the first month is only $5 for any plan.
The first plan is Identity Guard’s ‘Essentials’ package. It includes everything you would expect from an identity protection package including 24/7 monitoring of your social security number, text message alerts if they detect anything shady, wallet protection and more. Essentials will set you back $9.99 a month.
Next up is the ‘Total Protection’ plan. It’s a little more expensive at $19.99 a month and includes everything Essentials offers. It’s a little more comprehensive of a package that also includes monitoring your credit score with all three bureaus, gives you quarterly credit scores, access to their mobile app and more.
Last but not least is the ‘Platinum’ plan. It’s $24.99 a month and is literally identical to Total Protection, but Identity Guard will send you an update on your credit score monthly instead of quarterly. If you’ve been trying to boost up your credit score this is a great plan to help chart your progress.
In addition to the main plans, there are a few specialty options you can go with. For example, Identity Guard has a plan tailored specifically for kids since they are far more likely to be targeted, or a gold plan that’s priced in-between Total Protection and Essentials that doesn’t track all three credit bureaus but still includes Experian.
The magic of Identity Guard is that it has a plan for you no matter what your budget is. Rich or poor, identity theft is a scary ordeal and Identity Guard can help you sleep better at night with one of their many customizable plans. For that reason, they take the number one recommended identity theft protection service.
For complete rankings of all identity theft protection services, go here.
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