Anyone know anything about LifeLock.com?

[graywarrior]

[Thor_MN]

1. I think they don't offer much that's not free

And the bozo on TV has had his ID used multiple times. I'd considered the ID security equivalent of the Sham Wow. But wait, there's more. It you are not completely happy with our service we will give you two months free.

[graywarrior]

2. It's like getting a mortgage with no money down!

[guyton]

3. don't use 'em

It's a waste of money. you can do the same thing yourself for the cost of a couple stamps once a year.

Google for credit freeze or credit lock and read up on it. Each state is a bit different, but unless you're
really lazy, there's no reason to send money to LifeLock.

Here's the link for Colorado ...

http://www.ago.state.co.us/idtheft/securityfreeze.cfm.html

[graywarrior]

4. You rule, baby!

[Orrex]

5. Give me your social security number, and I'll tell you all about it.

[graywarrior]

8. Ok

Get-fu-cked

:rofl:

[Orrex]

13. The strange thing is that...

You seem to have the same social security number as a lot of people I ask. What are the chances?!?

[graywarrior]

14. It's a cult

[ThatsMyBarack]

6. As a general rule....

I don't buy or trust anything I see on overly repeated commercials or infomercials.

[Mike 03]

7. What Clark Howard said about services like this...

I'm no expert in this area, but he made the point that we are already protected from identity theft and not liable (especially if we make most of our purchases by credit card--and hopefully pay them off monthly) for criminal misuse of our identities.

Maybe services like this make it easier to undo the damage, but legally speaking, if we follow the rules established by our banks, we can avoid getting screwed if our identities are stolen.

[rcrush]

9. The guy on that commercial that plastered his SS number all over the place?

He got his identity stolen. No joke.

[lotus]

10. You can do it yourself

As someone else already said, search for "credit freeze" or lock. I believe the fee is $5. And there's no fee if you are having it frozen because of an incident -- I did the latter once. If you do that, just remember you did it before you go apply for credit, or you'll suddenly find yourself denied. (Happened to me.)

[ProgrezivIndie]

12. things are changing, and it is not all that hard to UNFREEZE...

either for a specific entity (like a car dealership where you intend to have them finance you)... or to just completely UNFREEZE your whole record.

However; if one has put a FREEZE/lock on their credit records... and then finds a need to have same unlocked... then one needs to PLAN AHEAD (say, by submitting an UNLOCK request a week or ten days before actually applying for a "new" credit line).

I suspect this is going to get even easier... as the State & Federal governments move to PROTECT CONSUMERS (in the face of an already TOO TIGHT "credit" market)... but perhaps I am just being too overly optimistic?

[ProgrezivIndie]

11. 1. goto this consumers union website:

http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html -- there you'll find what your state requires for a FREE "credit freeze" (meaning NO ONE can obtain any credit information, via the big three credit agencies, and try to rip you off). different states SET the amount that the credit agencies can charge you (typically $10), and you might even be able to do it via a SECURE online form

if you are just getting started in life... it may be a PITA to unfreeze/unlock every time you want to open a new account (buy a car, rent something, etc.)

but if like me, EVERYTHING is paid-off (including cars, house, already established lines of credit)... then putting a FREEZE on your credit information is a wise step (IMO)

2. doing the above pretty much PREVENTS anyone from opening a new line of credit... using your credit information... but it does not stop someone from using your existing accounts. however; every single credit card I have, stipulates that I have ZERO liability for unauthorized use of my credit card number(s)... so long as I am diligent and report theft of my card (or observe unauthorized use of same, through my own diligence... i.e., frequent observation of my online CC account via their web site)

3. CC companies offer additional "protection, insurance, and assistance" should anyone steal my identity... but they typically charge about $12/month for such protection (IMO, that's a rip-off, as are services such as "lifelock").

if anything goes wrong (you lose your CC, you observe unauthorized use of same, your identity gets stolen, etc.)... be sure to file a POLICE REPORT (that's the first step toward recovering).

4. EDUCATING oneself is the best way to avoid serious problems... I've collected a few resources along that line, and linked to them from my web site, on this page: http://services-a2z.biz/karlsgoodies/goodies-002.htm#advocacy once it loads, follow these links:

Identity Theft: | aarp.org | ftc.gov | privacy.org | privacyrights.org | SafeKids | USPS


Lastly, I am NOT a professional/expert... but I've been around for a long time (nearing 60)... and I've been online since the early 1990s. I've never had the first problem. But just like with HEALTH or LIFE insurance... CCs and others (such as "life lock")... try to PREY ON YOUR FEARS (i.e., planting the seed that something is gonna happen... then selling you a product in case it does). You've got to believe that THEY are not fools... statistics indicate that the ODDs are in their favor... and they're making TONS of $$$$$ preying on your fears (or they wouldn't be offering such services).

Bottom line? It's up to you to decide whether or not you want to educate yourself, take the necessary steps to prepare, and then *IF* it does happen to you, YOU will deal with it... OR ... pay someone else to "watch out for your interest" (and then PRAY that they will actually BE THERE, if something happens).

...just my 2cents