FAQ' s - Identity Guard

FAQs

We know there’s a lot to think about when you’re choosing IDENTITY GUARD® as your personal protection service, and that you may have some questions. Here are the ones we hear most often:

Enrollment

What is IDENTITY GUARD®?
What are the differences between IDENTITY GUARD® and its competitors?
How much does it cost to enroll in IDENTITY GUARD®?
How much coverage will I get with my enrollment?
What are the benefits of enrolling in IDENTITY GUARD® Total Protection?
Will my enrollment cover my family, or just me?

Identity Theft

What is identity theft?
Can someone really steal my identity?
I monitor my credit bureau account regularly. Doesn’t that eliminate my risk of identity fraud?
I shred my documents, handle my credit cards with care, and only shop on the most secure websites. Doesn’t that reduce my chances of becoming a victim of identity theft?
I’m not enrolled in any IDENTITY GUARD® service. What can I do if I become a victim of identity fraud?

Credit Reports & Scores

What is a credit report and why should it be important to me?
What is a credit bureau and how does it obtain information about me?
Do all three credit reporting bureaus have the same information about me on file?
How does IDENTITY GUARD® monitor my credit reports?
How soon after I enroll will I get to see my credit report and score?
Will I be updated daily on my credit report and score?
Is my credit report and score the same as my FICO score?
Who can look at my credit report?
At what age do credit bureaus start recording a person’s credit history?
Should I regularly check my credit report?
How long does information stay in my credit report?
How do I dispute inaccurate information?
How long does it take for a closed account to be removed from my credit file?

Enrollment

Q. What is IDENTITY GUARD?
IDENTITY GUARD is the premier provider of identity theft protection services. Learn more.

Q. What are the differences between IDENTITY GUARD and its competitors?
Unlike our competitors, IDENTITY GUARD monitors your credit and alerts you of activity on your accounts. We also monitor the Internet and public records, looking for activity connected to you. If we notice suspicious activity, we contact you by phone, email or text message to help you respond quickly to any issues. Find out more about how we exceed the competition.

Q. How much does it cost to enroll in IDENTITY GUARD?
We offer three levels of our comprehensive services that provide various coverage options at varying fees. Find out more about our services.

Q. How much coverage will I get with my enrollment?
IDENTITY GUARD Total Protection helps protect you at the credit bureau, on the Internet, on your personal computers and when you travel.

Q. What are the benefits of enrolling in IDENTITY GUARD Total Protection?
IDENTITY GUARD Total Protection helps you protect yourself at the credit bureau, on the Internet, on your computers, and as you travel. Learn more.

Q. Will my enrollment cover my family, or just me?
Your enrollment will cover your own personal security. If your family members also want to protect their own identity, each of them must enroll individually.

Identity Theft

Q. What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal identifying information — such your name, Social Security number or credit card number — without your permission, and uses it to commit fraud or other crimes.

Q. Can someone really steal my identity?
Everyday life activities contribute to making your personal information available to criminals. Booking travel, shopping at stores or online, interacting with friends on social networking sites, and tossing junk mail and other business information into the trash can create a trail for identity thieves to follow. Learn more about what puts you at risk.

Q. I monitor my credit bureau account regularly. Doesn’t that eliminate my risk of identity fraud?
Although monitoring your credit bureau report is important, it’s actually the last warning you might receive before financial fraud is committed against you. And, even if you notify your creditors of the fraudulent use of your name, your original data stays in the possession of the identity thief — and could be used again. That’s why it’s so important to monitor both the Internet and your credit report.

Q. I shred my documents, handle my credit cards with care, and only shop on the most secure websites. Doesn’t that reduce my chances of becoming a victim of identity theft?
Being cautious does reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity fraud; however, it’s not nearly as effective as having IDENTITY GUARD services monitor both the Internet and your credit bureau report. Find out why.

Q. I’m not enrolled in any IDENTITY GUARD service. What can I do if I become a victim of identity fraud?*
According to the U.S. Attorney General’s office, the Secret Service oversees identity theft issues. Their recommendation is for you to immediately:

1) Report the crime to your local police. Be sure to get a copy of your police report or case number for reference.

2) Call your credit card issuers. Get replacement cards with new account numbers and ask that your old accounts be processed as “account closed at consumer’s request”. Follow up by summarizing your request in writing.

3) Call the fraud units of the credit reporting agencies. Ask that your accounts be flagged. Add a victim’s statement to your report requesting that they contact you to verify future credit applications. These agencies are:

• Equifax
Consumer Fraud Unit
(800) 997-2493

• Experian Information Systems
(888) EXPERIAN / (888-397-3742)

• TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
(800) 680-7289

4) Keep notes on all conversations with authorities and financial entities. Follow up to make sure that all creditors or credit bureaus have received all of the information they need from you.

5) File an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Although the FTC doesn’t have the authority to bring criminal cases to trial, it does assist victims of identity fraud by providing information that can help them resolve financial and other problems.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, contact:

Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Toll-free: 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357)
TDD: 202-326-2502
www.ftc.gov

6) Review your credit reports regularly to make sure all changes you’ve requested have taken effect.

*IDENTITY GUARD services are supported by full-time specialists staffed in a division called the Identity Theft Recovery Unit (ITRU). Enrollment in any of the IDENTITY GUARD services means you can count on us for professional assistance in following the FTC’s recommendations if you ever become a victim of identity fraud.

Credit Reports & Scores

Q. What is a credit report and why should it be important to me?
Credit reports help put your personal and financial life and health in perspective. Lenders and creditors review your history to assess your creditworthiness. Knowing what your credit report says before you apply can help you correct any inaccurate information before you start shopping for a mortgage, car, or any other large purchase. Learn more about your credit.

Q. What is a credit bureau and how does it obtain information about me?
Credit bureaus, also called credit reporting agencies, are clearinghouses for your credit information. The three main credit bureaus are Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion®. Whenever you apply for a new account, they provide your information to qualified requestors based on information they collect and store from the banks, savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies, retailers and others with whom you do business. Learn more about your credit.

Q. Do all three credit reporting bureaus have the same information about me on file?
No, Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® do not have the same information about you on file. That’s because lenders may send certain information to only one bureau and not the others — and they are not required to share information with each other.

Q. How does the IDENTITY GUARD monitor my credit reports?
IDENTITY GUARD notifies you of changes to your account information so you can act quickly if you suspect fraud. We gather this insight by monitoring your credit report and the Internet. Our alerts guide you to specific activities that’s reported about you and can potentially disrupt identity thieves before they get started — making it almost impossible for them to turn you into a victim.

Q. How soon after I enroll will I get to see my credit report and score?
Upon your enrollment, you will be able to log in to your member account and access to your credit report and score.

Q. Will I receive a daily update on my credit report and score?
Once you enroll, you will begin receiving a quarterly update of your credit report and score.

Q.Is the credit report and score I get from IDENTITY GUARD the same as my FICO score?
No, the score we provide to you is based on data from the three credit bureaus, via CreditXpert. Although certain economic conditions affect the flexibility of your credit score, CreditXpert provides a much more accurate assessment of your credit score than FICO because it’s based on data from the past two years.

Q. Who can look at my credit report?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) permits any business or person to gain access to your credit file if they have a permissible purpose to receive it.

Q. At what age do credit bureaus start recording a person’s credit history?
At 18 years of age, your credit is compiled and reported to the credit reporting agencies.

Q. Should I regularly check my credit report?
Yes. Just as you have periodic medical and dental check-ups, you should also make a point of checking your credit report. Monitoring it daily will help keep you aware of your credit standing when you’re trying to secure favorable rates for a mortgage or other loan. It can also protect you against credit fraud and identity theft. Learn more about your credit.

Q. How long does information stay in my credit report?
General information stays on your credit report for seven years, with the exception of bankruptcies, which remain for 10 years, and unpaid tax liens which remain for 15 years. Positive information remains indefinitely, although credit reporting agencies can remove it after seven years. Inquiries remain for two years.

Q. How do I dispute inaccurate information?
When you notice a discrepancy in your credit report, you should immediately contact the credit bureau that reported it and be sure to keep records of any related correspondence, phone calls or emails. The credit bureau will then check with the original source. If this inaccuracy persists, you should add a statement to the credit report specifying why the item is wrong. This dispute process can take up to 30 days.

Q. How long does it take for a closed account to be removed from my credit file?
The file will be updated in 30 to 60 days, but reportable information can remain last up to 15 years from the date of the last activity.