Free Checklist

The 5-Question Identity Theft Protection Checklist

Plus the 5 red flags that mean walk away. Print it, save it, use it before you pay anyone.

Ask Every Provider These 5 Questions

1What score type and how many bureaus does it actually monitor?

FICO and VantageScore move similarly but not identically. One bureau isn't the same protection as three.

2Who underwrites the insurance, and what's the real payout cap?

"$1 million in coverage" doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. Get the underwriter's name, not just the dollar figure.

3Can you reach an actual human, and how?

Some providers route everything through email with no phone line. Know which one you're signing up for.

4What does it cost in month 13, not month 1?

Trial pricing is common. The number that matters is the renewal price, not the sign-up price.

5Who actually owns this company?

Some "competing" brands share a parent company. Not automatically bad, but it changes what you're really comparing.

Quick test before you pay anyone: search "[company name] BBB" and "[company name] cancel" separately. The first shows their track record. The second shows what you're actually signing up for.

Walk Away If You See Any of These

No clear way to find pricing without creating an account first.
No named insurance underwriter anywhere in the terms — just a dollar figure.
Cancellation requires anything other than a documented email or phone request, like a mailed letter.
The company isn't listed on BBB at all — a total absence of any public track record.
Marketing that implies the insurance pays out automatically with no claims process. Every real policy has one.