When it comes time to choose an identity theft protection company, there are a number of factors that you will want to consider. First and foremost, it is important to know that there is no company in the current marketplace that can promise you ironclad, 100 percent foolproof protection from identity theft.
Even if you obtain the services of a top notch identity theft protection company, you still need to take the proper precautions. Your information should be treated in the same manner as your money and your most precious possessions.
However, one of the first questions that you should ask an identity theft protection company before making a final decision has to do with their level of responsiveness. Identity theft happens on a consistent basis and companies that have your best interests at heart can provide immediate responsiveness and offer helpful assistance when it comes to fixing the problem.
You must also have a strong awareness of each protection type. Identity theft protection is not a one size fits all proposition, so you’ll need to know if you need credit monitoring, protection from data breaches or criminals that find methods for using existing cards.
Casting a wide net is also in your best interests, so choose an identity theft protection company with the ability to keep tabs on all of your credit reports. All three credit reports should be monitored and you’ll want to select a company that remains on top of each report. In some instances, a crook can start an account by using your information and cause untold financial damage before you even have a chance to cancel your cards.
The best identity theft protection companies also offer their clients credit freezes and fraud alerts that place additional barriers between would be crooks and your personal information. These freezes and alerts also entitle you to additional free credit reports and keep anyone from you and your creditors from being able to see your score.
Another question to ask is whether the company has the ability to patrol the dark Web. This is an area of the Internet that can be difficult to police and it is essentially a black market for stolen goods. If your information is being sold on the dark Web, having a company that maintains a vigilant patrol over this area is incredibly important.
Finally, you’ll want to look for a company that has a definite plan in place for what will happen if your identity is compromised. Knowing how fast the company will contact you, what they will do to straighten out the issue and whether they handle these situations in house is crucial. Be sure to ask about all of the aforementioned questions before making your decision.
