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Is Life Lock the cure 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 search at the benefits, characteristics, pros and cons of Life Lock. We are going to overview Life Lock and see if it is the resolution to identity theft prevention or if you can do the identical point on your very own as Life Lock does.
What can Life Lock do for you that you cannot do for yourself? Nicely, fairly significantly nothing at all.
The actual question is, do you want to hassle with going through all the techniques and processes on your own. Some persons thrive on study, searching for out each and every detail and are just plain DIYers. Other folks just have so substantially going on in their lives that they don't want the added burden, they just want the safety of understanding factors are taken care of for them and they are protected, and that is where vendors this kind of as Life Lock come into play.
So let's search at what Life Lock does and how you can do the exact same point by yourself.
Life Lock - Fraud Alert
Initial is the fraud alert. Life Lock will location a fraud alert on your credit profile at all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. A fraud alert will put your credit profile in lock down mode. No one particular will be ready to open new accounts in your name not having your getting notified. Any prospective credit grantors will be notified that they need to verify your identification just before extending credit in your name in case someone is implementing your identity with out your expertise.
DIY - Fraud Alert
Can you place a fraud alert on your credit profile on your own? Sure you can, you will have to notify all 3 credit bureaus each and every three months to place a fraud alert on your credit profile. Fraud alerts come in three flavors:
1. You can place a three month fraud alert if you suspect identity theft
2. A 1 year fraud alert can be obtained if you are an active military customer
three. A seven year fraud alert will need you to display 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 Support Division, P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Life Lock - Opt Out
The subsequent point Life Lock will do is request that your name be removed from junk mail lists and pre-approved credit offers. This is a single of the principal methods 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 offers? Once once again, yes you can, but you can have to make the request many instances before you are completely removed. As I am confident you know, advertising is a very profitable corporation and firms don't give up effortlessly on likely prospects.
Listed beneath is material on the organizations you can contact to have your name removed from different mailing lists.
Credit Bureaus
Hold in mind that the credit bureaus may perhaps have several requirements for opting out. You can write a letter to request your private material not be shared or applied for promotional purposes.
The national credit bureaus provide you with a toll-totally free quantity that allows customers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit presents with just 1 mobile phone call. You can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or you can go to the OptOutScreen website.
Department of Motor Autos
State departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) retain a great deal of individual material about you. (Take a search at your driver's license, for example.) The Drivers Protection Act presents you privacy rights concerning your details maintained by DMVs. The law sets limits on how your facts can be applied. A DMV agency can give out your private material for items this kind of 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 individual important information for other types of makes use of, which include for immediate advertising, unless of course you give them permission.
You should certainly contact the DMV in your state for more distinct knowledge.
Immediate Marketers
The Immediate Advertising Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service allows you to opt out of getting unsolicited commercial mail from numerous national suppliers for five years. When you sign up for this service (a $1 fee), your name will be place in a 'delete' file and produced on the market to immediate-mail marketers. This will only aid you for mailings from organizations who use the DMA's Mail Preference Service. Your registration will not cease mailings from organizations that don't use this service. To register with DMA's Mail Preference Service, go to the DMAChoice org site.
The FTC also publishes a free brochure on Purchasing by Phone or Mail. For a comprehensive checklist of publications, write for Preferred Sellers, Buyer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580 or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-Assist (382-4357), TDD (202) 326-2502.
Life Lock - 100 % free Credit Reports
Life Lock will also order your credit report from all three credit bureaus which are sent directly to you.
DIY - Free Credit Reports
You can also do this your self. Every single credit bureau permits you to receive one particular absolutely free credit report each year. That will give you your credit report every single four months, every time from a different credit bureau. Maintain in mind that every credit bureau does not consistently retain the exact same account specifics on file.
Having your credit report every single 4 months is all well and fine to get an overview of your credit score and exactly where you stand. But it is not going to be extremely helpful in the event your identity is stolen, unless you transpire to get your credit report just as an identity thief is going on a purchasing spree in your name.
Do it yourselfer's can go to annualcreditreport.com to get your free of cost credit report.
Life Lock - Replacing Lost Info
Life Lock has a feature they call WalletLock(TM). In the occasion your wallet is stolen you call Life Lock anytime and they will match you up with a WalletLock specialist who will aid you get hold of your credit card, bank or document issuing enterprise, cancel your affected accounts and complete any paperwork and actions critical to replace your lost documents, this kind of as your credit/debit cards, driver's license, social safety card, insurance cards, checkbook, even travelers checks.
DIY - Replacing Lost Info
Can you do all this oneself? You will need to know by now that the answer is yes. As extended as you try to remember all the cards you have to replace. And you will also have to hunt down all the contact material for each organization you hold cards with.
I don't know about you, but this characteristic alone is worth the cost to me. Just considering of going by way of all that hassle tends to make my head spin and provides me a migraine. Yes I admit it, I am lazy and I don't want to go by all that hassle by myself! I want another person holding my hand, walking me by means of it and creating confident I don't forget something cause I can guarantee you I will not be thinking with a clear head.
But that is just me, possibly you have a lot of time on your hands, are not bothered by the hassle, are awesome at research and acquiring a hold of the suitable people today (and not an answering program), and possessing all your important information stolen just wouldn't bother you sufficient 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 companies that helps you locate any threats to your identity.
eRecon(TM) spiders internet sites known for criminal activity associated with illegal selling or trading of your individual information and facts (this includes your Social Safety amount, credit card number, driver's license and e mail address, if you supplied it) and alerts you if, or when they unearth one thing.
TrueAddress(TM) keeps tabs on nationwide address databases and Life Lock will notify you if any new address important information connected with your name is detected in this database. This alert will support you if a criminal has altered your address to send your new mail to a totally different location where they can steal your mail simpler and get your financial details.
DIY - Identity Theft Monitoring Service
Can you keep track of your identity your self? Perhaps, probably, if you are tremendously net savvy, have the appropriate application and tools...but very unlikely.
Life Lock - $1,000,000 Guarantee
And the final function supplied by Life Lock is the popular Life Lock million dollar guarantee. Life Lock claims if your Identity is ever stolen despite the fact that you are a member of the Life Lock identity theft protection service they will do whatever it takes to reclaim your wonderful name. Life Lock states they will hire the very best lawyers on your behalf. They will get you investigators, accountants, situation managers, whatever else you may will need to recover your identity. Life Lock also states they will give you back any cash you have lost due to the theft of your identity.
Life Lock claims they do whatever it requires and will shell out up to $1,000,000 to help you recover your great name.
DIY - $1,000,000 Guarantee
Can you present yourself a million dollar guarantee? Ah, nicely, only you know the answer to that 1.
DIY vs Life Lock Evaluate Conclusion
Most of the features provided by Life Lock can be had by any energetic DIYer (except probably the $1,000,000 Guarantee). It just depends on irrespective of whether you want to deal with all the hassle oneself or not. If your a standard DIYer and don't thoughts the hassle, then by all indicates, have at it.
If you are like many persons, do not have the further time to deal with the hassle and would choose some guidance along the way, then you may perhaps want to consider about working with the Life Lock Identity Theft Protection Service, or even a further similar service.
We hope this Life Lock Critique has been valuable to you. If you are nonetheless attempting to determine on irrespective of whether to use an identity theft protection service or if your just not sure which monitoring service to choose, you could want to take a search at our comparison page to get the pros and cons to some of the top identity theft protection service companies that are out there.