Identity Guard Review
Identity Guard Company Information
Identity Guard functions as the identity theft unit of a public traded company known as Intersections, Inc. (INTX). Its main purpose is to address security and identity fraud protection concerns. The parent company provides major financial institutions and banks with their fraud protection services while serving over seven million customers throughout the globe. Other services provided by Intersections, Inc. include: pre-employment screens, membership products and insurance for consumers. These services are provided by Screening International LLC (in the U.S.) and through a partnership agreement with Control Risks Group Ltd. in the U.K. (Internationally). The services that are reviewed in this article will pertain only to the Identity Guard fraud protection aspect of the parent company.
Product Features
Featured Identity Guard Services
Identity Guard offers a comprehensive package of products and services that work in concert to protect the identity of the individual. In actuality, there are four levels of protection services that are designed to offer increasing protection. Higher levels are assessed additional costs. This is intended to meet the budget and needs of the individual. The services that are offered are, as follows:
“Good Start” Identity Guard
This is the initial and least expensive offering from Identity Guard. This service features email alerts in conjunction with credit bureau monitoring on a daily basis. The monitoring is designed to check for fraud activity on the subscriber’s consumer credit reports. This can assist with the verification of credit file accuracy and the email alerts can point out any new changes to those reports. Changes that can be spotted will include unauthorized inquiries and potentially fraudulent transactions. This can help the subscriber limit any negative effects or losses that may come about from such fraudulent activity. A toll-free customer support line is included in order to help the subscriber validate suspicious activities.
“Watchful Eye” Identity Guard
The next level of Identity Guard service will add monitoring, on a daily basis, of illicit activity Internet chat rooms and “ID theft black market” sites. This level of service provides these tools in addition to the services included in the “Good Start” package. This level of protection can be very useful for those who utilize the Internet (or any wireless devices), on a frequent basis, for financial transactions. This type of Internet activity is particularly prone to the theft of personal financial information. Upon signing up for this level of service, one can visit the Identity Guard secured website and register up to ten credit card numbers. Identity Guard will then monitor these numbers in order to determine if they are being sold by credit card fraudsters. This will also allow the subscriber to easily cancel a lost or stolen card.
“Extra Caution” Identity Guard
The third level of Identity Guard will, in addition, add the reports, quarterly updates and scores of the 3 credit bureaus to the “Watchful Eye” Identity Guard services. This will allow the subscriber to look over and check for any credit report inaccuracies. This can catch those fraudulent transactions that may have been missed by credit bureau monitoring. This will also give the subscriber access to credit scores which may be helpful in the negotiation of new credit terms.
“Total Protection” Identity Guard
In addition to all of the other features mentioned in the services above, this level of service adds application and Social Security fraud scanning as well as improper public record reporting. Identity Guard utilizes a unique combination of advanced technologies in order to determine if the subscriber’s public record information has been posted improperly to any websites. This information can include; drivers license information, property that is owned, addresses, assets listings and any civil judgements. There will also be Social Security number and sensitive data surveillance, as well.
Also included with the “Total Protection” service is the ZoneAlarm® Internet Security Suite. This software feature will offer updates for as long as the person is subscribed and will remove spyware and viruses from the subscriber’s PC. Spam is also reduced along with phishing scams while protection is afforded a wireless PC connected to the Internet. This constitutes comprehensive Internet and PC protection for average users. However, some users have reported that there was a need to uninstall their current virus protection prior to being able to install ZoneAlarm®.
Customer Service
Identity Guard Dispute Center
Should a subscriber encounter a credit score or credit report item that is deemed inaccurate, it should be disputed before it can negatively affect a credit application or other area of one’s finances. The Identity Guard Dispute Center provides resources and tools that will guide the user through the standard dispute process. Information is provided in order to assist in the correction of any credit file inaccuracies.
Pricing and Cancellation Policy
• “TOTAL PROTECTION”: $17.99/month or $179.95/year (save 15%)
• “EXTRA CAUTION”: $14.99/month or $149.95/year (save 15%)
• “WATCHFUL EYE”: $9.99/month or $99.95/year (save 15%)
• “BASIC PROTECTION”: $4.99/month or $49.95/year (save 17%)
Those who subscribe on the monthly plan will pay for their months in advance and will be given a pro-rated refund of the amount in full, if not satisfied.
Those who subscribe annually will be covered by a 30-day full refund guarantee. In addition, the subscriber will be entitled to a pro-rated amount of the subscription, as a refund, no matter what time the cancelation is initiated, after the 30-day full refund period.