topic Re: What Do You Think About This Email in Community Chat

What Do You Think About This Email

Jordan2 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:32:31 GMT

I have Allstate for my home and auto insurance. I got an email from them today about the breach from Equifax. Allstate wants to sell me identity theft protection at a cost of $40 for the year. You get up to $25,000 coverage for reimbursement. I think they are using a scare tactic, and $25,000 isn't even that much coverage. Also I thought that you don't have to pay any expenses on your credit card that were charged fraudulently?

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

tansy — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:46:36 GMT

With the Equifax breach, your main worry is that someone is opening up credit or loans using your info. I decided to freeze our credit with four bureaus but then I don't plan to open new credit cards or buy a new car, etc.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

AuntG — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:42:56 GMT

Lots of these offers are being made because of the big security breach. I wouldn't take the bait.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Danky — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:58:01 GMT

I would take it. It is just an added protection and it is less than $1

a week. Why not ?

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

suzyQ3 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:03:35 GMT

@tansy wrote:
With the Equifax breach, your main worry is that someone is opening up credit or loans using your info. I decided to freeze our credit with four bureaus but then I don't plan to open new credit cards or buy a new car, etc.

Absolutely correct, @tansy. Our credit card companies always alert us to suspicious use of our card. Allstate is trying to make a buck from the breach.

We've had our credit on freeze for several years now. Yes, it can be a pain to open it when needed, but not really so bad. It's basically a phone call (or online), and it was free for us a couple weeks ago when we decided to open up an Amazon credit card. In the past, I think it was $10 for each credit bureau.

BTW, when there was a thread here about the Equifax situation, I learned about a couple more bureaus, so we are on freeze with them as well.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Noel7 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:04:56 GMT

Costco has an identity guard that I've heard good things about. It's ten dollars a month and covers one million dollars. I believe they also handle all the problems that come with identity theft.

I don't know the details, but you might want to look into it to compare and contrast,

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Nuttmeg — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:14:55 GMT

I would not pay for a service most people do not need. Please go to the credit bureaus, and freeze your accounts.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

bonnielu — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:23:48 GMT

I pay online and I check my accounts every two days. And I have LIfeLock. I might add, my Chase and Citi cards are always out front and I have been saved in the past by their vigiliance.

1. Someone in the Virgin Islands buying a diamond ring

2. Someone trying to buy a mans suit in NYC

3. Someone getting a fast food meal in El Salvador

4. Someone trying to get a flight out of LaGuardia to New Orleans.

None of them ME and was caught immediately....

My card was protected and account changed. And do I rest no way. I still look and am personally on guard and I know my day is coming for someone to make a major breach but atleast I am being watchful.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Jasmine19 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:50:41 GMT

@tansy

I've frozen my credit with the three big credit reporting agencies. I've googled but cannot find the names of the smaller one(s). Can you help? Thanks.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Jordan2 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 23:56:57 GMT

@Danky wrote:
I would take it. It is just an added protection and it is less than $1
a week. Why not ?

@Danky, it’s not the $40, I can afford that. I just don’t want to pay for something that’s unnecessary, I feel they’re trying to take advantage of me.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Laura14 — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:09:14 GMT

Identity theft and credit card fraud are two separate things.

If it's just to protect your credit cards, as long as you actually review your statements every month, you should be able to spot any wrongdoing within the 60 days I think it is that you have to dispute a charge. Never pay for that unless you are just above opening your statement or setting up flags to alert you to all transactions.

Identity theft is someone posing as you and opening up credit cards, loans, collecting your tax refund, or using your medical insurance as you. More difficult to catch but freezing your credit with the bureaus eliminates a good part of that risk. There is a state mandated fee for freezing each one if you are under 65. My state is $3 each.

There are also some free options for credit monitoring which may or may not include identity theft protection also. If you are a member of AAA, they offer free basic protection with your membership or a small fee for an upgraded version.

$40 a year is really good for annual protection although if you really get your identity stolen, from what I hear $25,000 is nothing. Make sure it's true identity protection and not just monitoring which you can do for free yourself. And I hate to say it but actually call your agent and make sure it's them offering and not a phishing scam or a third party with your agent's client list.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

GCR18 — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:47:48 GMT

I would pass. I don't like to give more business to a company that is selling versus having my best interest in mind. If that makes sense. If your insurance company thought this was as a good idea for a client like you to have, why does something in the news get them to tell you about it. If I thought it was a good idea, I'd shop elsewhere.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

tansy — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:56:47 GMT

@Jasmine19 wrote:
@tansy
I've frozen my credit with the three big credit reporting agencies. I've googled but cannot find the names of the smaller one(s). Can you help? Thanks.

Innovis is the fourth one, @Jasmine19. There's a small one called CHEX, which is more to do with bank accounts.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

kitcat51 — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:53:32 GMT

Allstate is not trying to take advantage of you, it's simply making you aware of a service the company offers that you can purchase.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Katcat1 — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:32:23 GMT

@Jordan2, Allstate rates in general are TOO high. I have State Farm and decided to get quotes from other insurance companies. State Farm was still the lowest. If you have a good driving record give State Farm a call. You will be pleasantly surprised. I remember when my mother was alive and had Allstate and I referred her to State Farm -- she saved a lot of money. In answer to your question -- don't buy it and then take my advice about State Farm. It only takes a phone call. I do not and have never worked for State farm.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

september — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:33:25 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
Alstate is not trying to take advantage of you, it's simply making you aware of a service the company offers that you can purchase.

That’s how I feel. I have a similar plan under Allied. I can take it or leave it. I think it’s a good deal, so I pay for it every year.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

chrystaltree — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:16:28 GMT

They are just trying to sell a service and using the Equifax breach to scare people. The thing to worry about is that someone will use the information to open credit card accounts and the danger will go on for years. Freezing your credit is about all anyone can do to protect themselves from that. Consider the numbers of people who are potential victims, the odds are extremely low.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

tansy — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:18:48 GMT

Does everyone know that the IRS for some inexplicable reason gave a 7.5 no bid contract to Equifax to give that agency info about us? 😡

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

Jordan2 — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:26:33 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
@Jordan2, Allstate rates in general are TOO high. I have State Farm and decided to get quotes from other insurance companies. State Farm was still the lowest. If you have a good driving record give State Farm a call. You will be pleasantly surprised. I remember when my mother was alive and had Allstate and I referred her to State Farm -- she saved a lot of money. In answer to your question -- don't buy it and then take my advice about State Farm. It only takes a phone call. I do not and have never worked for State farm.

@Katcat1, I actually was with State Farm. I live in NYC and after Super Storm Sandy, I was advised by State Farm they were no longer writing homeowner's policies in my area. Rather than stay with State Farm for my auto insurance and signing with someone else for my homeowners insurance I decided to go with Allstate to bundle both policies and save money.

Re: What Do You Think About This Email

esmerelda — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:31:07 GMT

@tansy wrote:
Does everyone know that the IRS for some inexplicable reason gave a 7.5 no bid contract to Equifax to give that agency info about us? 😡

@tansy Not sure I understand. The IRS is paying Equifax to give the IRS info about us? Like what? Why? And why does the IRS have to pay for it?