ID Watchdog offers monitoring and smartphone alerts for fraud and identity theft, as well as 24/7 customer support to resolve occurrences of identity theft.
While not as comprehensive as other identity theft protection companies, ID Watchdog provides a variety of credit and ‘dark web’ monitoring services relatively inexpensively compared to its competitors. ID Watchdog also boasts a smartphone app, unlike some providers, and around-the-clock customer support so that any threats can be dealt with immediately. For seniors looking for a basic identity monitoring service with credit monitoring and customer support to help resolve occurrences of identity theft, ID Watchdog is a great choice.
Price Monthly fee | $12-$20 per month |
Contract Obligation Commitment length | Monthly or annually |
Risk-free Trial Period Trial period for refund | No free trial is currently offered |
Cancellation Process Cancelation ease | Users must cancel by phone and will receive confirmation by email |
Fraud Detection Detection availability | Yes |
Internet Monitoring Monitoring availability | ‘Dark web’ monitoring is offered, but not internet activity monitoring |
Insurance Coverage availability | Reimbursement insurance for up to $1 million in identity theft-related expenses |
Credit Card Monitoring Monitoring availability | Yes, credit-related activity monitoring is included in both plans |
Credit Score Periodic review | Yes, but only in the Platinum Plan |
ID Watchdog is ideal for subscribers of any age because the online information monitoring service does not require much action from the user after he or she subscribes. The monitoring tools themselves are automatic. However, this identity-monitoring subscription service, like others in this category, is primarily internet-based and does require seniors to read occasional notifications and alerts regarding their accounts. Seniors who are not familiar with computers or the internet may encounter difficulty getting the most out of this service. Also, with increasing age, a senior may be less likely to respond to important alerts and may be at greater risk as a result of a false sense of security.
A senior’s health condition does not really affect the value of the ID Watchdog service unless it prohibits them from reading the identity-monitoring reports or taking action on instances of apparent identity theft. ID Watchdog automatically reviews and checks a range of sensitive personal information so that, in general, no involvement from the subscriber is required. The service is primarily web-based, so seniors who have difficulty navigating the web due to health issues, e.g., cognitive or vision problems, will be challenged using the services. However, this service is vital for older seniors of any health, because seniors are so frequently targeted by scam artists and any health concern could be aggravated by the added stress.
Pros:
Cons:
Bottom Line:
LifeLock, and particularly LifeLock Senior, is an ideal plan for a senior because it provides services that would be useful to an older person who is frequently the target of identity theft and scammer activity. LifeLock also offers several other plans, including a plan for children, and has received many awards. LifeLock received the International Stevie Award in 2014 from the Eighth Annual International Business Awards and was named to the Online Trust Honor Roll in 2016 for its excellent privacy and security practices. For seniors looking for a comprehensive plan with many relevant features, LifeLock can provide the much sought-after peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does this company have a mobile app? LifeLock offers a mobile app on both the App Store for Apple iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.
What should I do if my personal information has been compromised or stolen? Customer service agents are available 24/7 to assist subscribers with identity theft.
Does this company offer a free trial? LifeLock offers a 30-day free trial.
More Information:
Overview: ID Watchdog offers two packages, the PLUS and PLATINUM subscriptions, for a monthly fee. Both subscriptions provide basic and advanced identity monitoring, internet ‘dark web’ surveillance, email and SMS notifications, full-service identity restoration, credit report monitoring and even National Provider Identifier alerts to prevent physicians’ identity theft.
The ID Watchdog PLUS package costs $14.95/month, or $149.95/year, and offers many tools to help customers keep their identities and personal information protected, online and offline. The package features identity monitoring, ‘dark web’ surveillance and credit report monitoring.
The ID Watchdog PLATINUM subscription costs $19.95/month or $219/year. In addition to the services in the PLUS package, it offers credit report checks and credit score reporting.
Contract Details: You may be charged an Identity Verification Fee for certain product offerings. To cancel ID Watchdog, call the company. You will receive a written confirmation by U.S. mail. Monthly fees are nonrefundable, but fees for unused months in an annual or tri-annual contract will be refunded on a prorated basis.
Warranty: ID Watchdog does not warrant any results because some third parties make it impossible, but states “ID Watchdog will diligently work with and assist you correcting your personal records.”
Accreditations: ID Watchdog is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it has earned an A+ rating.
Company Details: ID Watchdog was founded in 2005 and was acquired by Equifax in 2017. The company’s mission is to promote peace of mind for people by helping them control, manage, and protect their personal information affordable and securely.”
ID Watchdog
621 17th Street
Denver, CO 80293
Phone: 303-820-3333
Website: http://www.idwatchdog.com
Email: info@idwatchdog.com
5 min read
Sept. 20, 2019
