Each year, the Internal Revenue Service comes out with a list of common tax schemes that are deemed the “Dirty Dozen.” For the second year in a row, identity theft has topped the list, showing that criminals aren’t letting up on your identity. It’s clear that you need to purchase some sort of protection plan as soon as possible.
IdentityForce has been in business for over 35 years and has insured millions of customers all over the United States. Additionally, it’s maintained a solid A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau since 2007. Due to exceptional work, IdentityForce was awarded a contract with the Federal Government for credit monitoring, data breach response, and protection services. While other plans are available with this company, today we’ll be looking at UltraSecure+Credit to determine if it’s worth your money.
The Good
- Inexpensive: The first thing people look at is what they get for the price. IdentityForce provides more than its competitors for less per month at only $23.95. To get fewer services, LifeLock charges $29.99 and Identity Guard charges $24.99. Why pay more for less protection?
- Quarterly Credit Reports: The best way to spot if a criminal has obtained an account in your name is a sudden drop in your credit score or a credit inquiry from an unknown company. Quarterly credit reports are a great way to stop a thief before they can do much damage to your credit.
- Lost Wage Assistance: While many companies have a $1 million insurance guarantee, IdentityForce is the only company that has lost wage assistance. On top of a $1 million guarantee, UltraSecure+Credit allows a stipend of $1,000 for up to five weeks if someone steals your identity.
- 24/7 Support: If you have an issue, you want a company that is going to be responsive immediately. IdentityForce offers 24/7 customer support by phone or email so you can get in contact with someone that can help you no matter the time of day.
- Credit Score Simulator: If you’ve ever wondered how your credit score would be affected by different credit balances, payments, or balance transfers, you can find out with IdentityForce's credit score simulator. Experiment and discover what works best for you.
UltraSecure+Credit offers a myriad of services like complete social security protection, public record monitoring, issue alerts, and so much more. Despite this, IdentityForce only charges $23.95 per month for its services. The quarterly credit reports are great for stopping a thief before they can severely damage your credit. If a criminal manages to steal your identity, IdentityForce guarantees a professional 24/7, lost wage assistance, and $1 million victim assistance to cover any losses.
The Bad
- Difficult to Cancel: There have been some complaints about the service being difficult to cancel, especially through the website. Some customers go on to complain that IdentityForce also charges customers once they’ve managed to cancel the service.
- Unfriendly Customer Service: Some customers have reported that the customer service is unfriendly when you call IdentityForce. Quality customer service is important, especially considering you’re likely calling the company to inquire about service or report a theft.
- Excessive Alerts: To protect customers, IdentityForce sends alerts when there is a suspected issue or change on the account. Some people report that the company sends out far too many alerts, which can become bothersome quickly.
- Possible Third-Party Charging: One of the biggest flaws with IdentityForce is the report that they charge customers for third-party services without informing them. This issue can result in your bill being higher than the usual monthly amount.
No company is 100% amazing, so it’s no surprise that IdentityForce has some issues with its service. The biggest complaint from customers is the service is hard to cancel through the website, forcing them to call. Even after cancellation some customers report that they are continuously charged for the service. This issue could link back to the bad customer service that is reported by others. Excessive alerts can be annoying, but it’s a necessary evil in some circumstances, but what isn’t acceptable is being charged extra from third-party companies.
The Verdict
Being charged extra for third-party services comes from the trials that are offered by IdentityForce, and it’s difficult to overcome. No one wants to be charged extra for services hidden in their monthly subscription. With that being said, the other bad aspects of IdentityForce don't seem to occur very frequently. Most complaints are promptly responded to by a representative with IdentityForce. It’s possible to get assistance even if your customer service rep was rude.
Overall, it is difficult to say that IdentityForce isn’t a great service to purchase. Compared to competitors, IdentityForce charges $23.95 for many more services, including credit monitoring. The $1 million assistance guarantee and lost wage stipend ensure that if anything happens to your credit, you’ll have ample time to get it back while working with professionals that are available 24/7. UltraSecure+Credit is an inexpensive and effective service that shines among competitors. If you're serious about protecting your personal information, UltraSecure+Credit is definitely a contender.
