LIFELOCK
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive December 2007:
LIFELOCK
This isn't an advertisement, but I wondered if anyone else has signed up for this. We have, after seeing it advertised on TV. I signed all four of us up for it. It is a service where you register with them and it protects you against identity theft. They give each member a million dollar guarantee against damages IF someone gets your identity. It costs $10.00 per month, which I think is a bargain. The CEO of the company is on TV ads with his real SS# plastered accross the side of a truck. He says that that is how sure he is of their services.
My DH recently had to have a crown put on his tooth that is not covered by our insurance. Our dentist gives interest free loans through a national lender. They help you apply for it right in the office. Usually, with good credit, it only takes a couple minutes to be approved. In his case, he had to fax a copy of his drivers license to insure that it was him, even with the loan initiation coming from the dentist's fax. I think that is very reassurring, and I wanted to pass it on to all of you.
It also stops all of the pre-approved offers for credit cards, and you get a free copy of your credit report from all three credit agencies once a year.
hmmm Hol, I don't know how good of a deal this is. First you can get a free copy of your credit report yearly, for no fees, or sign ups.
Second, I guess I am not sure how Identity theft works as far as money and liability. We had our our Id stolen about 2 years ago. The good news is they didn't use our bank account, just our info. It was a huge hassle of writing letters, getting thing notoraized, mailing stuff etc. But end al be all, it was a year until resolution, and we weren't out any money. So I still think if you are out money it takes time to get it all straight.
If it doesn't PREVENT ID theft, I guess I don't see the value in it. ID theft if a huge hassle, but you're not supposed to be financially responsible for it so I'm not seeing what the service is doing.
It IS supposed to prevent ID theft. That's why my DH had to go the extra step to get his dental loan. That's why they give you the guarantee. Plus, as part of your membership, if you lose your wallet, THEY cancel all of your cards for you and help you to get new ones.
I once had a credit card NUMBER stolen...not even the card. Then someone apparently had a card made and took two cash advances in two days, totalling $1600.00 in New York City. I haven't been to New York City since I was eight years old (51 years ago). I had to file a theft report with my local police dept., sign afadavits for the credit card company, etc. It took several months before the charges were reversed. Then, someone had enough information about me to try to open a cell phone account in Pennsylvania. Because I had, by then, flagged my name with all of the credit bureaus, the people were unsuccessful, and arrested on the spot. It is scary because it happens to you without you knowing it.
I also like the fact that the credit card offers have stopped. I always worry about them falling into the wrong hands. We get our mail at a rural post office and we frequently get other people's mail. I'm sure that other people have gotten mine as well.
In many states you can put a lock on your credit reports with the big 3 credit reporting agencies, and no one can open credit in your name unless you either unlock it or allow it by a PIN. Because I'm a "senior citizen", and Pennsylvania has a law for this, I can do it at no cost. In other states it can run between $10 and $25 for each locking and unlocking with each agency.
You have to do whatever makes you comfortable, Hol, but from everything I've read, these ID theft prevention companies aren't doing anything you can't do yourself.
Yes I agree with Ginny, it's your call you do what makes you feel comfortable, But I have not heard you mention anything that you can't do yourself in a less amount of time that you can't do yourslef.
I mean as far as losing your credit cards and them reporting them for you, whats wrong with picking up the phone and just contacting the credit card agencies yourself. Wouldn't it be faster since your doing it yourself since you can prove your indentity quicker then this company( what if they need to verify stuff with you that this company has told them).
As far as the company reporting your cards stolen , they would have to know all of your account numbers, therevfore you would have had to told them what they are, why cant' you just make a record of them and store then in a safe in your house.
as far as not getting the pre approved offers, you can stop them any time you want, just like the do not call regrestry , you have a number you can call to opt out for them also. but if you have ever noticed when you appley for a credit card(the one(s) you have if you have any, all you have to do is to check the box saying that you do not wish to receive pre approved from other companies.
And yes by law, everyone is enntitled to a free credit report form each of the bureaus once a year at no charge, and in some cases you can get more then one free a year.
What is the number to call to stop the pre approved credit card offers?
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