Wednesday, September 28th
2022 Identity Theft Protection Service Reviews
LifeLock
- Standard - $9.99/month for the first year, $11.99/month in subsequent years
- Select - $9.99/month for the first year, $14.99/month in subsequent years
- Advantage - $17.99/month for the first year, $24.99/month in subsequent years
- Ultimate Plus - $25.99/month for the first year, $34.99/month in subsequent years
- LifeLock Junior - $5.99/month for children under 18 (parent membership also required)
LifeLock is one of the most well-known identity theft protection services on the market, and their relatively recent partnership with Norton has expanded their coverage to include more dimensions of your life online, as well as the basics like financial account monitoring and restoring your identity if theft occurs.
Confusing Plans And Pricing
LifeLock can feel somewhat overwhelming when trying to sift through their plans and pricing. For example, on the main Plans tab, it shows Standard, Advantage and Plus - while the pricing page showed Select, Advantage and Plus. We quickly felt bogged down trying to determine which package offered the coverage we needed.
Features:
- Numerous identity protection coverage levels to choose from
- One of the original services to offer identity theft coverage
- LifeLock Junior and Senior available for minors and elderly customers
Essential Basic Coverages
All plans include some of the same essential coverage, such as US-based identity restoration specialists, round-the-clock member support, lost wallet protection, reduction of pre-approved credit card offers, and LifeLock's identity alert system (including notifications when your personal info is detected on service/credit applications, on the Dark Web, on USPS address change notifications, and so forth).
4 Protection Plans
Beyond those basic services, here's what you can expect among their tiers of coverage:
- Standard (intro price of $9.99/month, regularly priced at $11.99/month): Up to $25,000 in stolen funds reimbursement and personal expense compensation, up to $1 million for lawyers and experts to restore your identity. One credit bureau is monitored.
- Select (intro price of $9.99/month, regularly priced at $14.99/month): although we could only find information about this plan on one somewhat hidden part of the LifeLock site, this plan seems to take the Standard plan up a notch by offering security on up to five separate devices, including use of a VPN.
- Advantage (intro price of $19.99/month, regularly priced at $22.99/month): up to $100,000 in stolen funds reimbursement and personal expense compensation, and up to $1 million for identity theft restoration lawyers and experts. This plan adds on alerts when your information is found on criminal arrest and court booking records, large-scale data breaches, and cash withdrawals/transfers/large purchases from your credit, checking and savings accounts. One credit bureau is monitored.
- Ultimate Plus (intro price of $29.99/month, regularly priced at $34.99/month): this top tier of service includes all of the features in the Advantage plan, but all categories are covered up to $1 million. You also get notifications when bank account applications or file-sharing networks contain your personal info, when there's activity in your investment accounts, or your name is discovered on a sex offender registry. All three credit bureaus are monitored.
Identity Theft For Children
Although you won't see them featured on LifeLock's main pricing page, identity theft packages for children are also available. A Junior membership costs $5.99/month or $65.99 annually, and it can only be used in conjunction with an adult membership. It includes the standard Identity Alert System, Dark Web Monitoring, Lost Wallet Protection, Credit File Detection, and Identity Restoration Support you get with most LifeLock coverage.
Hundreds Of Customer Complaints
Unfortunately, LifeLock has dropped precipitously in our rankings. One big reason for this is the fact that the Better Business Bureau now gives them an "F" rating. In an industry as sensitive as identity protection, that's just not acceptable. There were hundreds of complaints filed by customers who said that LifeLock made it nearly impossible to cancel subscriptions, that they were charged for services they never wanted, and that even when refunds were authorized it was like pulling teeth to actually get the money back. When your identity theft protection service makes you feel like you've been scammed, it's not a good experience.
Better Choices Elsewhere
While there are thousands of positive customer reviews on the LifeLock site, we're far too discouraged by their negative reputation with so many subscribers. This company is no longer the only name in the industry, and we strongly recommend you choose an identity theft protection program that offers world-class customer service in addition to their coverage. You'll find plenty to consider among the higher-ranked identity theft prevention specialists in our review.
More Identity Theft Protection Service Reviews
The 7 Best Identity Theft Protection Services
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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