Wednesday, May 18th
2022 Identity Theft Protection Service Reviews
Identity Defense
- Essential - $6.99/month for individuals, $9.99/month for families
- Plus - $9.99/month for individuals, $12.99/month for families
- Complete - $14.99 /month for individuals, $17.99/month for families
- Advertised rates are for the initial term only
- Discounts when paying annually instead of monthly
To be a trustworthy identity theft protection service, a company should make it amply clear who they are, how to contact them, and how they operate. Identity Defense does almost none of that.
First Impressions Are Important
Starting with some odd typos and grammatical quirks (like spelling "herein" incorrectly at the bottom of the page, or spaces missing between key words in a header), this service gets off on the wrong foot. We couldn't find anywhere on the site that would allow us to reach out and ask questions - so we had to laugh when it said at the bottom that memberships can be canceled at any time by contacting them. Keep that in mind when deciding between a monthly or an annual plan, especially considering that their refund policy says that you are not entitled to any kind of credit or refund if you cancel early.
Features:
- Plans available for individuals and families
- Introductory rates from $6.99 to $14.99 per month for individuals and $9.99 to $17.99 per month for families
- All plans include $1 million in identity theft insurance
- Essential plan: includes risk management reporting and dark web monitoring
- Plus plan: all the features of Essential; adds monthly retrieval of your credit score, address monitoring, 3-bureau credit monitoring
- Complete plan: all the features of Plus; adds bank account takeovers and social insight report
Another Red Flag
Additinoally, there is absolutely no information about Identity Defense as a company on their website: no "About Us", no history, zero. It shouldn't take digging around in a site's Terms of Use to discover that it is owned by Intersections - which happens to be a reputable name in the identity theft protection industry, with an "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB. Why wouldn't they want to make that front-page information?
Questions Abound
We can only assume that Identity Defense is not Intersection's main priority. There's a lot of wording on the site about using this service as part of an employer plan, which means that perhaps the majority of their users aren't using the site to subscribe. Intersections also owns one of the highest-rated identity theft prevention services in our evaluation, and it could be that they're not really maintaining this site.
Earns A Low Rating
For all of these reasons, Identity Defense is our lowest-ranked provider of identity protection. Their site doesn't pay much attention to detail, and that leaves us wondering how well they actually provide the services they want you to pay for. Go with an identity theft prevention company that takes the time to earn your business; you'll be more satisfied with the process of signing up and the coverage they offer.
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Where Can You Get the Best Protection from Identity Theft?
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.
Identity Theft Protection Service FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Scope of Protection. How many credit bureaus does the provider monitor? Some only cover one of the three main reporting agencies, while others include all of them. Will all of your financial accounts be monitored? What about online presence, social media accounts, email addresses, and so forth?
- Plan Options. Can you choose among multiple plans, or does the service only offer a few? Can you get a plan that meets your needs (e.g. a family plan for your dependent children, coverage for yourself and a partner)?
- Cost. How much will you pay, monthly or annually? Will those costs increase after an introductory period? How do the fees compare with rival identity theft protection plans?
- Reputation. What do other customers have to say about their experience with the company? Did they have any issues that weren't adequately resolved by the service's support team? Has the service been rated by the BBB?
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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