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Is Life Lock the remedy for the identity theft protection epidemic? Is Life Lock the answer to delivering you with peace of mind when it comes to preventing identity theft?
We are going to appear at the positive aspects, characteristics, pros and cons of Life Lock. We are going to evaluation Life Lock and see if it is the remedy to identity theft prevention or if you can do the same factor on your own as Life Lock does.
What can Life Lock do for you that you cannot do for yourself? Properly, fairly significantly nothing.
The real question is, do you want to hassle with going by means of all the steps and processes yourself. Some folks thrive on investigation, seeking out each and every detail and are just plain DIYers. Other people just have so considerably going on in their lives that they don't want the extra burden, they just want the security of understanding items are taken care of for them and they are protected, and that is where providers such as Life Lock come into play.
So let's appear at what Life Lock does and how you can do the same thing oneself.
Life Lock - Fraud Alert
Very first is the fraud alert. Life Lock will location a fraud alert on your credit profile at all 3 credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. A fraud alert will put your credit profile in lock down mode. No one will be able to open new accounts in your name without having your becoming notified. Any prospective credit grantors will be notified that they need to verify your identification before extending credit in your name in case somebody is utilizing your identity without your knowledge.
DIY - Fraud Alert
Can you put a fraud alert on your credit profile your self? Certain you can, you must notify all three credit bureaus every three months to put a fraud alert on your credit profile. Fraud alerts come in 3 flavors:
1. You can put a 3 month fraud alert if you suspect identity theft
2. A one year fraud alert can be obtained if you are an active military consumer
three. A seven year fraud alert will need you to show proof that your identity has been stolen by submitting a copy of a valid identity theft report to the credit bureaus that you have filed with a Federal, State or neighborhood law enforcement agency.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian:
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
P.O. Box 9532,
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion:
1-800-680-7289
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Life Lock - Opt Out
The next factor Life Lock will do is request that your name be removed from junk mail lists and pre-approved credit presents. This is one of the key techniques identity thieves will use to get a hold of your identity.
DIY - Opt Out
Can you request your name be removed from junk lists and pre-approved credit presents? When once more, yes you can, but you may have to make the request multiple times prior to you are fully removed. As I am confident you know, advertising is a particularly lucrative company and organizations do not give up simply on possible prospects.
Listed below is specifics on the organizations you can contact to have your name removed from several mailing lists.
Credit Bureaus
Keep in mind that the credit bureaus could possibly have unique specifications for opting out. You can write a letter to request your personal details not be shared or made use of for promotional purposes.
The national credit bureaus deliver a toll-no cost number that enables shoppers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit provides with just 1 telephone call. You can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or you can go to the OptOutScreen website.
Department of Motor Vehicles
State departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) keep a lot of individual info about you. (Take a appear at your driver's license, for example.) The Drivers Protection Act presents you privacy rights concerning your information maintained by DMVs. The law sets limits on how your info can be utilised. A DMV agency can give out your individual information for factors such as law enforcement, driver safety, insurance underwriting, and so on.
Lately, an amendment was made to the law which now prohibits DMV from giving out your personal details for other sorts of uses, including for direct advertising, unless you give them permission.
You need to contact the DMV in your state for alot more precise data.
Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing and advertising Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from a variety of national corporations for 5 years. When you sign up for this service (a $1 fee), your name will be put in a 'delete' file and created out there to direct-mail marketers. This will only help you for mailings from organizations who use the DMA's Mail Preference Service. Your registration won't stop mailings from organizations that do not use this service. To register with DMA's Mail Preference Service, go to the DMAChoice org site.
The FTC also publishes a free of charge brochure on Shopping by Phone or Mail. For a complete list of publications, write for Very best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580 or call toll-totally free, 1-877-FTC-Support (382-4357), TDD (202) 326-2502.
Life Lock - Cost-free Credit Reports
Life Lock will also order your credit report from all three credit bureaus which are sent directly to you.
DIY - No cost Credit Reports
You can also do this yourself. Each and every credit bureau enables you to obtain 1 cost-free credit report every year. That will give you your credit report every single 4 months, each time from a different credit bureau. Keep in mind that each credit bureau does not constantly maintain the very same account specifics on file.
Obtaining your credit report every single four months is all properly and superior to get an overview of your credit score and exactly where you stand. But it is not going to be incredibly helpful in the event your identity is stolen, unless you happen to get your credit report just as an identity thief is going on a shopping spree in your name.
Do it yourselfer's can go to annualcreditreport.com to get your no cost credit report.
Life Lock - Replacing Lost Information
Life Lock has a feature they call WalletLock(TM). In the event your wallet is stolen you call Life Lock anytime and they will match you up with a WalletLock specialist who will help you contact your credit card, bank or document issuing business, cancel your affected accounts and total any paperwork and actions needed to replace your lost documents, such as your credit/debit cards, driver's license, social security card, insurance cards, checkbook, even travelers checks.
DIY - Replacing Lost Details
Can you do all this oneself? You ought to know by now that the answer is yes. As lengthy as you don't forget all the cards you have to replace. And you will also have to hunt down all the contact details for every organization you hold cards with.
I don't know about you, but this feature alone is worth the price to me. Just thinking of going via all that hassle makes my head spin and provides me a migraine. Yes I admit it, I am lazy and I don't want to go via all that hassle by myself! I want somebody holding my hand, walking me by means of it and producing confident I don't forget anything trigger I can guarantee you I won't be thinking with a clear head.
But that is just me, maybe you have plenty of time on your hands, are not bothered by the hassle, are amazing at study and acquiring a hold of the appropriate persons (and not an answering technique), and having all your facts stolen just wouldn't bother you enough to get your head spinning. So if you are a 'do it yourselfer' then have at it.
Life Lock - Identity Theft Monitoring Service
Life Lock offers two new identity theft monitoring services that assists you find any threats to your identity.
eRecon(TM) spiders web pages recognized for criminal activity related with illegal selling or trading of your individual details (this consists of your Social Security number, credit card number, driver's license and e-mail address, if you supplied it) and alerts you if, or when they acquire some thing.
TrueAddress(TM) keeps tabs on nationwide address databases and Life Lock will notify you if any new address information and facts related with your name is detected in this database. This alert will support you if a criminal has changed your address to send your new mail to a several location exactly where they can steal your mail less difficult and get your economic information and facts.
DIY - Identity Theft Monitoring Service
Can you monitor your identity your self? Maybe, possibly, if you are highly internet savvy, have the proper software and tools...but extremely unlikely.
Life Lock - $1,000,000 Guarantee
And the last function offered by Life Lock is the well-known Life Lock million dollar guarantee. Life Lock claims if your Identity is ever stolen though you are a member of the Life Lock identity theft protection service they will do whatever it takes to reclaim your very good name. Life Lock states they will hire the top lawyers on your behalf. They will get you investigators, accountants, case managers, whatever else you could need to have to recover your identity. Life Lock also states they will give you back any dollars you have lost due to the theft of your identity.
Life Lock claims they do whatever it takes and will spend up to $1,000,000 to support you recover your good name.
DIY - $1,000,000 Guarantee
Can you give oneself a million dollar guarantee? Ah, nicely, only you know the answer to that one.
DIY vs Life Lock Review Conclusion
Most of the capabilities offered by Life Lock can be had by any energetic DIYer (except possibly the $1,000,000 Guarantee). It just depends on no matter if you want to deal with all the hassle your self or not. If your a typical DIYer and do not mind the hassle, then by all indicates, have at it.
If you are like a lot of many people, don't have the additional time to deal with the hassle and would prefer some guidance along the way, then you may want to think about using the Life Lock Identity Theft Protection Service, or even another comparable service.
We hope this Life Lock Review has been beneficial to you. If you are nonetheless trying to determine on regardless of whether to use an identity theft protection service or if your just not confident which monitoring service to opt for, you might want to take a look at our comparison page to get the pros and cons to some of the top identity theft protection service providers that are out there.