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Wednesday, August 17th
ID Shield is operated by Legal Shield, a legal services company that has been in business for nearly five decades. They have accreditation and a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is good reassurance that you'll get what you pay for from this trustworthy provider of identity theft protection services.
2 Questions To Answer
To determine which ID Shield plan is right for you, there are only two questions to answer: are you protecting an individual or a family, and do you want monitoring/reporting from one credit bureau or all three? We appreciated their detailed explanation of the difference between 1-bureau and 3-bureau monitoring: all three credit reports eventually reflect changes and problems, so 1-bureau monitoring is the most economical, while 3-bureau monitoring will catch fraud more quickly.
Dark Web Surveillance
Literally everything else about ID Shield's coverage is the same between the two plans. Some of the features included are Dark Web surveillance, monitoring of bank accounts and payday loans, Social Security number tracking, unlimited identity restoration services, 12-month credit score tracking history, and 24/7 access to customer support.
Features:
Your Family Is Included
If you need a family plan, ID Shield doesn't skimp on your coverage like some of their rivals do. You, your spouse or domestic partner, and up to 10 dependent children are all included in your identity protection plan.
30 Day Free Trial
Individual plans are priced at $13.95 and $17.95 per month (1- vs. 3-bureau coverage), while family plans cost $26.95 and $32.95 per month. That's their everyday pricing - unlike many identity theft services that draw you in with a low introductory cost and then immediately raise your rates to their regular fees after the first month. Straightforward pricing can be hard to come by in this industry, and we're glad to see ID Shield deliver. Additionally, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial with any ID Shield package.
Many Positive Customer Reviews
While this identity theft prevention and protection service doesn't have thousands of reviews, we were happy to see that 92% of customers gave ID Shield a perfect 5-star rating. Members describe getting alerts extremely quickly after attempted fraud was detected - and even when it was a legitimate transaction that might have been unauthorized. The company gets plenty of compliments for friendly, helpful representatives who are always on hand to answer questions, resolve alerts, and jump into action to mitigate the impact of identity thieves' activities.
Make It Simple
It shouldn't be complicated to protect yourself (and your family) from identity fraud. ID Shield makes it simple - and affordable - with thorough coverage, easy-to-understand differences between their levels of service, and reliable representatives at the ready. This is a great option for identity theft prevention and restoration.
You're wise to ask that question, given that an average year sees as many as 14 million consumers reporting that they've been victimized by identity thieves - with losses reaching nearly $17 billion.
Those numbers may obscure the devastation experienced by an individual when their credit history is ravaged by fraudulent transactions. Scammers can use Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal information to open bank accounts and credit cards, access medical care, and even claim tax refunds that don't belong to them.
All of this can take what was once an excellent credit score, and drag it down the drain. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting victim may not realize their identity has been stolen until they try to apply for a loan or start getting calls from collection agencies, and by then the damage has already been done.
Even children can be prime targets for identity thieves. Because most people don't open credit cards or borrow money until adulthood, their information can be used for many years: imagine starting out as an 18-year-old with a horrible credit history that you did nothing to deserve! By that time, criminals may have already taken lavish vacations, gotten expensive cosmetic surgery, or bought luxury furniture - all using the identity of a child.
Experts recommend that consumers be constantly vigilant to protect their personal information. Basic steps like shredding documents with sensitive data and not disclosing too many details on social media can help prevent identity theft. However, scammers abound and are determined to find ways to access what they need.
That's why identity theft protection services are a smart idea: while no service can offer a 100% guarantee that you'll never be a victim, their plans can often nip unauthorized access in the bud before things get out of hand. And, most of them not only help you clear your name and restore your credit history if identity theft occurs, but they also insure any financial losses up to a million dollars or more.
With many identity theft protection services to choose from, how can you tell which one is right for you? Here are several criteria to keep in mind:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best providers of identity theft protection available today. We hope this information helps you choose the service that offers the most peace of mind at the best price.
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