Identity Guard

Identity Guard(a NextAdvisor advertiser) offers an excellent three-bureau credit report monitoring solution along with best-in-class identity theft protection. It is a particularly strong value for families. At just $14.17/month (with an annual prepay) for individuals and $25/month for families (with an annual prepay), it’s priced at a discount to services with similar features and protection. If you’d prefer a plan that doesn’t require an annual commitment, Identity Guard also offers month-to-month options, which cost $16.99/month for individuals and $29.99/month for families.

Since Identity Guard started out as an identity theft protection service, it really shines when it comes to protecting your identity in multiple ways. Identity Guard monitors your credit file daily and alerts you immediately of any changes. Though it only provides you with your three-bureau credit report and scores when you first sign up and annually after that, it does provide your updated Equifax credit report and score every month. We withheld half a star because the other top credit report monitoring services provide you with your updated three-bureau credit report and scores every month or every three months, which can help you detect potential fraud more efficiently. Another slight drawback is that Identity Guard does not include free Internet security software with the subscription like some of the other services do. Even with these caveats, Identity Guard is the top choice for those looking for a solid credit monitoring and identity theft protection solution for their entire household.

When signing up for Identity Guard , you will need to enter your personal information so that TrustedID can both monitor your credit reports and protect you from identity theft..You do this in a secure webpage, which you can check by looking at the left side of your browser’s address bar. Though you do not need to worry about the security of your signup, if you are using a public computer you must make sure there is no one looking over your shoulder, as with any time you enter personal information. It is recommended that you enter your bank account and credit card information during the signup process so that Identity Guard can immediately begin actively protecting them.

Identity Guard , which is now using Equifax credit data services, begins monitoring all three of your credit reports – Equifax, Experian and Transunion as soon as you sign up. You’ll also get immediate access to your credit scores and reports from all three bureaus. Your three credit scores are provided by Equifax Risk Score. This system uses a credit score range of 280 to 850, which is similar to the FICO’s range of 300 to 850. New information on your credit report can affect your credit score, in turn affecting interest rates that lenders offer to you and your ability to get credit in general. Thus, monitoring your credit reports for changes or inaccuracies is not only crucial for your financial freedom, but also an important tool for preventing identity theft. In addition to alerting you by email any time there is a change on your credit report, you can also choose to receive text alerts to your smartphone. The combination of three-bureau credit monitoring and three-bureau scores and reports makes Identity Guard a very complete credit report monitoring solution in addition to its history as a great identity theft protection service.

Identity Guard’s Internet black market monitoring service monitors your personal information such as Social Security number, credit cards and bank accounts for any suspicious activity. It begins working as soon as you sign up by taking the Social Security number you entered during the sign-up process and monitoring its use immediately. Adding all your credit card and bank account numbers is quick and easy and should be done right away. TrustedID will then monitor the Internet black market for the use of any of these account numbers and immediately alert you if it finds any of your numbers are being bought or sold. Identity Guard also monitors the Internet and public records for any changes to or misuse of your name, address, or Social Security number. TrustedID is the only service we’ve found that also gives you medical record protection. The service will help you request your medical benefit history from all your providers so you can make sure no one else has been receiving benefits in your name. It then monitors your account for any suspicious usage on an ongoing basis.

In addition to all of this proactive identity theft protection, you’ll receive an Identity Threat Score, which provides a gauge of your individual risk level based on an analysis of the various records and databases that Identity Guard monitors. Your score will help Identity Guard’s protection specialists determine the necessary steps to proactively protect your identity. Identity Guard also helps you send letters to opt out of junk mail in general and credit card and other lending offers in particular. Not only do these clog your mailbox and kill trees, but they are also a prime target for identity thieves to steal, gain your personal information and open a credit card account in your name.

As part of your account, you are offered a service called Identity Guard , which makes your credit report at all three bureaus unavailable to everyone without permission. While this is a good option for those who rarely use their credit, or those who are stationed overseas, it does cost $44.95 to lock your credit reports with all three bureaus and $39.95 to unlock them – every time! We typically only recommend using this feature if you know you have been the victim of an identity theft. In that situation, it is extremely valuable.

We’ve found Identity Guard customer service representatives to be very helpful and easy to reach at any time of the day or week through phone, email and especially there ever-accessible live chat. Phone hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET seven days a week, while live chat hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Identity Guard has done a nice job of improving its online account dashboard so you can now see all the different ways you’re being protected and whether your account is missing any information. Overall, Identity Guardis a solid credit report monitoring service that really shines when it comes to identity theft protection and providing a great value for families.