In light of the recent identity theft protection scams, it’s more important than ever to have protection regarding your personal information. It can be difficult for individuals to know what steps to take after experiencing a data breach. People are often confused about which identity theft protection company is trustworthy. Here we shall discuss the Best Identity Theft Protection Services and what you can expect from the best in identity theft protection.
1. Lock Your Social Security Number
This is a step often left out of the identity theft protection process. People often think that they’ve completed their identity theft protection routine when they lock their social security number and close out the website or application. However, likely, you will still get phished by somebody seeking your personal information. The best identity theft protection companies will tell you how to lock your social security number so that nobody can use it for malicious purposes.
2. Protection From The Credit Bureaus
The two credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, are responsible for reporting your financial activity to banks and lenders. These reports are what cause your credit score to go up or down. If you have sensitive data from your credit report being used against you to open new lines of credit or charge fraudulent purchases on your account, then it’s best to use a company that can stop these attempts right at the source. Additionally, companies that protect your credit report will not make changes to your credit report, as this can cause you to suffer substantial damage.
3. Reward And Recognition
Companies that offer identity theft protection get the help of third-party experts to determine the best options for improving your credit score. Still, many of these companies fail to give you additional perks for using their services. Identity Theft Protection Services offer rewards and recognition programs to great customers who have been using their services for quite some time. You should check out the points and bonuses each identity theft protection company offers before choosing a service because this could make or break how much you value their services.
4. Third-Party Identity Protection
Even if your personal information is stolen, there’s no guarantee that this won’t be used to take out a second line of credit in your name. Companies that offer identity theft protection services try to find the real reason for the credit leak and stop it before it worsens. Third-party identity protection will work to prevent this from happening. However, it’s important to note that third-party identity protection caused the recent security breach on Anthem in the first place.
5. Credit Monitoring And Fraud Alerts
The best identity theft protection services want to ensure that you’re getting the most out of their services, so they will send you notifications when something doesn’t seem right. The credit monitoring service will notify you if there are significant changes to your credit report or if sensitive information has been leaked onto the internet. Additionally, the benefits of having identity theft protection are amplified considerably when you have a fraud alert on your credit report. The best identity theft protection providers will notify you if someone tries to open a new line of credit in your name. They will also put a fraud alert on your credit report so that any other companies that check it can also place an extra security measure on it.
6. Automated Access
Having a reliable company for identity theft protection is essential, but if you can’t access your personal information whenever you need it, then what’s the point? Some of the best identity theft protection companies will set up an automated login system that provides quick access to your credit report and credit score. Accordingly, this will help you make the most of your identity theft protection services and make you feel incredibly secure.
7. Credibility
The best companies in the identity theft protection industry have an impeccable reputation that you can check online, so always research before selecting a service. It’s better to use a company that has been around for a long time and whose customers are happy with their services than to choose a new company with good intentions but lacks credibility. Additionally, companies with good reputations are more likely to use third-party experts to discover the real reason behind credit leaks and protect your personal information from identity theft.
8. Fast Repairs
There’s no excuse for waiting months or even years to have your identity stolen and knowing that you have any real recourse, as long as you use one of the best identity theft protection services. The best companies will be able to get your personal information back to you within one business day, either by sending you a copy of your credit report or by requesting that the credit bureaus send them a fraud alert. Therefore, it’s vital that any company you choose for identity theft protection be able to respond quickly and effectively to help you out.
9. Phone Support
One of the best things about identity theft protection services is that they make it so simple to take care of your problems. The worst thing that you can do is wait until you need help because it’s likely that you will have a lot more than just this one issue on your mind. Additionally, identity theft protection companies should give you access to a phone number to speak with experienced representatives to get the information you may need in a hurry.
10. Unlimited Reports
The best identity theft protection services will ensure unlimited access to your credit report, which should be one of the most critical parts of an identity theft protection package. Identity theft protection companies should be able to send you a copy of your credit report whenever you need it and give you free access to your credit score and score breakdowns. Additionally, these companies will offer unlimited live, personal customer service reps who can help you with any questions and concerns you have, as well as answer any questions you may have regarding third-party services.
Knowing what to look for in a company that will offer you the ultimate protection from identity theft is essential. While the company you choose should be mainly based on your personal preferences and needs, it’s also important to remember that various factors protect your personal information from identity theft.Thus, no matter which identity theft protection services you choose, always consider all the different points I’ve discussed here when picking a provider for yourself.