PrivacyGuard

• Credit Services
• Multiple Plan Options
• $1 Service Trial
• Educational Resources

Credit Services

Those who have a PrivacyGuard membership can access their credit reports and credit scores from all three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) when they sign up for the company's identity theft protection service.

Customers can then track their credit score and set specified alerts for certain changes or milestones. In addition, PrivacyGuard's credit monitoring services scan both public and private databases and alert customers of any detected suspicious activity or privacy risks immediately. 

Multiple Plan Options 

The company offers three different service plans that customers can choose from - the Credit Protection Plan, the Identity Protection Plan, and the Total Protection Plan.

Privacy Guard's Credit Protection Plan includes credit reports and scores, 24/7 daily credit monitoring, monthly credit score tracking regarding three credit bureaus, credit score simulator, financial calculator suite, and access to a credit information hotline.

The Credit Protection Plan also comes with dedicated identity fraud resolution support from one of the company's identity fraud resolution agents, monthly status reports via email and text, a secure keyboard app, and a secure browser app.

The Identity Protection Plan offers several monitoring services including public and dark web scanning, social security number monitoring, driver's license and passport monitoring, bank account monitoring, debit and credit card monitoring, public records monitoring, and more.

Those who have the Identity Protection Plan will also receive email and text alerts, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, secure browser and keyboard apps, etc.

PrivacyGuard's Total Protection Plan offers everything from the Credit Protection plan and the Identity Protection Plan along with online fraud assistance, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, lost wallet and stolen wallet protection, an annual public records report, emergency travel assistance, medical records reimbursement, neighborhood reports, registered offender locator, reduced pre-approved credit card offers, and much more. 

$1 Service Trial

Unlike many other companies in the identity theft protection industry, PrivacyGuard offers all customers a 14-day trial for the price of $1. Those who do this trial period can cancel the company's services at any time during the first 14 days.

It is important to note that, once the 14-day trial period ends, PrivacyGuard's plans will renew on a monthly basis unless the customer directly cancels the service.  

Educational Resources

PrivacyGuard provides its customers with educational resources and tools to help them better understand credit and theft protection.

Additionally, customers may contact a PrivacyGuard customer service representative for answers to any questions they may have.

• Government Action
• Service Limitations

Government Action

In 2013, government action was taken against PrivacyGuard's parent company, Affinion Group, regarding allegations that the company misled customers into signing up for discount clubs and membership offers. 

The investigation uncovered several misleading marketing practices and Affinion Group paid out $19 million to affected customers.

Service Limitations

PrivacyGuard is heavily reliant on credit monitoring regarding the major credit reporting agencies and does not appear to offer a variety of other important identity protection features, including identity restoration services and antivirus software.

It is also unclear whether or not PrivacyGuard helps customers with their pre-existing identity theft conditions.