In a Nutshell
pros
- Utilizes AI for optimal performance (IBM® Watson™)
- Several protection plans available including family plans
- Cyberbullying alerts
cons
- Credit reports only offered with higher-tier plan
- No option of getting your credit score for free
A brilliant solution for:
People who want state-of-the-art technology backing their ID theft protection
Families looking to help protect themselves and their children’s identities
Anyone who wants to have monthly updates on their credit score*
How does it work?
Identity Guard’s protection software is a complex algorithm that uses the best and latest technology to keep your identity constantly monitored. And with IBM® Watson™ powering your service, it’s hard to go wrong. In fact, Identity Guard monitors billions (you read that correctly) of data points to help keep your identity safe.
What does this service watch out for?
Identity Guard monitors most of the usual personal identifiers including:
- Credit report monitoring based on data from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Dark Web surveillance
- Public records monitoring
- Payday loans
- Known address monitoring
- Credit and debit card account monitoring
- Social Security number monitoring
- Financial account takeover monitoring
- 401K & investment account monitoring
- Criminal and sex offense monitoring
- Home title monitoring
- USPS address change monitoring
In addition, Identity Guard protects some lesser-watched areas such as medical insurance cards. Another huge benefit to Identity Guard protection is the extensive device protection it offers.
Let’s not forget the family plan that allows you to help keep your kids’ identities safe and protected as well (did you know that children are 30%-50% more likely to have their identities stolen than adults?).
Recovery services - what can Identity Guard do if my identity is stolen?
Identity Guard is an incredibly useful tool in the event that your identity is stolen. They offer tons of recovery assistance including:
- ID theft insurance of up to $1 million**
- A special hotline to use in the event of an incident
- A dedicated case officer to help you navigate the waters of regaining control of your life & restoring your credit
- Coverage for lost wages, travel expenses, legal fees, & more
How easy is it to use
Because it is such advanced technology, Identity Guard is effortless to use. Once you set it in motion, you’re free to go about your life regularly. The software will scan your accounts constantly and notify you at once if anything unusual is detected. With 24/7 monitoring, you can rest assured that you will be notified the moment something is detected.
Pricing
Identity Guard offers 3 plans for individuals and another three for families, certainly making it the most comprehensive identity theft protection option available. New customers enjoy up to 33% off. Here’s a breakdown of what you can get for your subscription:
All plans include the basic services like Social Security number monitoring, black market monitoring, and ID verification alerts. Plus, all plans provide you with account takeover alerts, lost wallet protection, password protection, and up to $1 million in identity theft reimbursements.
Identity Guard offers a 30-day free trial if you sign up through a link on this page. After that, you’ll have to pay for the service according to the plan you’ve chosen. As you go up in the pricing tiers, you will be given more security benefits.
Help & Support
While there is no 24/7 customer service, Identity Guard actually has longer hours than most other providers with limited support. You can reach a support staff member via telephone from 8am to 11pm ET Monday thru Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays.
You can also send an email to customercare@identityguard.com and get a response in 24-48 hours. One thing that is missing from the support team is a live chat, though this is standard for this industry. You’ll have to deal directly on the phone with a service rep if you want assistance. However, Identity Guard does have a tremendous amount of online resources you can take advantage of. From online credit education to fraud protection articles, online tools, and credit specialists, there’s almost nothing you can’t find out by combing through these articles and tools.
Bottom Line
Identity Guard offers a lot of protection for a nominal fee. Aside from the standard services, Identity Guard Premium provides an annual credit report and monthly credit scores. This is a unique feature that most other identity theft protection providers don’t offer.
Identity Guard doesn’t send fraud alerts to the credit reporting bureaus, but this is something that you can do easily and for free, so it is definitely worth the tradeoff to get frequent credit score information instead.
With several plans to choose from, there is definite value for money, especially with the Total plan. For just $19.99 per month, you can get credit report monitoring, quarterly updates, and dark web monitoring. Protect yourself today.
*The score you receive with Identity Guard is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. It is calculated using the information contained in your TransUnion credit file. Lenders use many different credit scoring systems, and the score you receive with Identity Guard is not the same score used by lenders to evaluate your credit.
** Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms‚ conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms‚ conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
***Your card will be charged either a monthly or annual fee, depending on the membership plan you choose. You may cancel your membership anytime simply by contacting us.