This week is the final part of our three part series on things to check when shopping for Identity Theft Services.
Again, this checklist was developed by the CFA’s ID Theft Service Best Practice Working Group (which includes identity theft service providers and consumer advocates) to help Americans look for identity theft services that follow good practices. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of non-profit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.
Here are the final 3 tips about what to check when shopping for Identity Theft Services:
(1) Is the cost of the service provided before you are asked for your payment information? If the answer is no, steer clear! Identity theft service providers that follow good practices will make clear and complete information about the cost of their programs available before you are asked for your name, address, and payment information.
(2) Does the service have a clear, transparent privacy policy? If the answer is no, steer clear! Identity theft services collect personal information from or about individuals for many purposes, including verifying their identities, processing payments, providing lost wallet and monitoring services, helping to resolve fraud problems, and marketing. Identity theft service providers that follow good practices post clear, transparent privacy policies on their Web sites and make that information available from their customer service representatives so that you can easily learn what types of personal information they collect, how they use that information, what types of information, if any, they share with others, and what control you have over the collection and use of your personal information.
(3) If the identity theft service offers insurance or a guarantee, is it clear what is covered and who is eligible? If the answer is no, steer clear! Identity theft service providers that follow good practices should make it easy to find information on their Web sites and through their customer service representatives about exactly what the insurance or guarantee does for you and in what situations. For instance, if it reimburses you for expenses related to resolving identity theft problems, the identity theft service provider should explain what types of expenses are included, whether there are limits to how much you can get or other restrictions, and what’s required to make a claim. Identity theft service providers should also tell you if things aren’t included that you might expect the insurance or guarantee to cover. For example, if you won’t be reimbursed for money stolen by identity thieves, or you’re not covered for identity theft that is committed by a family member, that information should be easy to find and clearly explained.
Being proactive is the best way to deter, detect, and defend against Identity Theft. HV Shred can help with on-site shredding service for your obsolete paperwork. Visit www.hvshred.com for more information.