TransUnion TrueIdentity Logo

TransUnion TrueIdentity

Is This Your Business?
star star star_half star_border star_border

4.2

Overall Score

LAST UPDATED: May 24th, 2022

Founded in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, TransUnion is a global credit reporting agency that offers credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

TransUnion's identity protection is completely free and allows customers to lock their credit report with one touch of a button.

TransUnion strives to help protect customer data via monitoring services, fraud alert messages, a credit freeze, and interactive technology.

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • Credit Lock Service
  • Instant Alerts 
  • Identity Theft Resolution
  • Free TrueIdentity Protection 

Credit Lock Service

With TransUnion's credit lock protection services, customers can control access to their TransUnion credit reports with one swipe or click. For example, customers have the power to lock and unlock their credit reports if they wish to block or allow creditors access.

The service can be accessed from any mobile device or computer and protects personal information from identity thieves.

Instant Alerts

Whenever someone tries to apply for credit, TransUnion TrueIdentity will send out an Instant Alert to notify the customer who is having their credit checked. Whether it be the customer themselves applying for credit or someone else, a fraud alert will go out.

This Instant Alert system is designed to catch suspicious activity and fraud before any major damage occurs to the person’s credit score.

If the customer is the one responsible for applying for credit, the alert may not be as necessary, but it can still provide the customer with a peace of mind as it will let them know that TrueIdentity is constantly monitoring their credit activity.

These alerts can be useful in regard to future data breach occurrences and credit card fraud.

Identity Theft Resolution

TransUnion provides dispute resolution services and a number of educational resources and tools to help identity theft victims restore sensitive personal information to pre-theft status.

TrueIdentity offers customers an online identity theft help page to help them learn how to respond to various theft situations and prevent future cases of identity theft and identity fraud from taking place.  

Free TrueIdentity Protection

TransUnion TrueIdentity offers free identity theft protection services. It allows consumers to obtain an unlimited amount of credit report refreshes, fast alerts/notifications, and the power to lock and unlock their TransUnion credit report.

TrueIdentity offers customers around-the-clock access to their TransUnion report, sends email notifications if there are any major credit report changes, and customers can access everything online or through the TransUnion TrueIdentity free app.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • Government Action
  • Service Limitations

Government Action

In 2015, government action was taken against TransUnion by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. As a result of this action, TransUnion agreed to provide better transparency and credit report accuracy.

Service Limitations

Unlike many of its competitors, TransUnion does not appear to provide various services like antivirus software, financial bank account monitoring, driver's license protection services, or social security number monitoring.

Customers should consider what they are looking for when it comes to identity theft protection and monitoring before creating an account with TransUnion TrueIdentity.

Although it is a free service, customers may not be pleased with the lack of services offered in comparison to other identity theft protection services. TransUnion also does not monitor credit reports from the other credit bureaus. 

gavel

The Bottom Line

TransUnion is one of the three major credit bureaus that offer identity protection and credit monitoring services to individuals.

The company offers free identity theft protection which is a great deal considering the fact that most companies in the identity theft industry do not provide free services.

TransUnion also provides customers with credit lock services, fraud alerts designed to catch suspicious activity, and identity theft resolution services.

However, TransUnion does not seem to offer a variety of services like financial account monitoring or antivirus software.   

View Best Identity Theft Companies

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

2.3

star star star_half star_border star_border

38 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

21%

4 grade

11%

3 grade

5%

2 grade

5%

1 grade

58%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star_half star_border star_border

Quality

star star star_half star_border star_border

Service

star star star_half star_border star_border

Trustworthiness

star star star_half star_border star_border
cancel

Filter by:

arrow_drop_down

Sort by:

arrow_drop_down
info
star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Liz G Gainesville, VA

This company is charging for basically nothing. They will send an alert but you can’t see shat the alert is about. For example, someone looked at your credit report but there are no details. I am not happy with the service so starting yesterday I have beeen calling to cancel. No answer at the calll center and they are closed. I message them and it is a long delay for high call volume. I called now and long hold then they disconnect me. Do not use this company for monitoring. It is owned by TU who is the only monitoring company that has false information on my credit report! I will call my bank tomorrow and block them from accessing my account for their monthly fee.

1 year ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Lynn Paxton

When I called after a glich in my registrations- due to not supplying my SIN I was given a number to call -ends up being a call center in INDIA. So I explain it the law that I have a right to ask to speak to a Canadian representative. She gives me a number to call and its in the PHILIPPINES. I ask to speak to a Canadian representative again and she gives me the number to INDIA... like wtf....I want to speak to a Canadian if its a Canadian company....am I wrong?????? So I decide to go look into this a little further and I find they are not the best because companies pay them for the service so we can have it free (due to being hacked I am sure). Makes us feel more secure. Well it seems it is not the best company and everyone should see what they actually do supply for our protection- WHICH ISN'T MUCH!!! So BEAWARE!!!

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Sheryl Smith Richmond, VA

True Identity by TransUnion review Tried to sign up. The system crashed. And crashed again. I called and Person #1: I can't find your account. I found your account. I need to ask you some questions. Put on hold. I can't find your account. You entered your activation code incorrectly. Try again and it will work. (It didn't.) Person #2: Your account didn't go through correctly. Here is another activation code to use. When I tried that, it said I already had an account so I couldn't make another one. Person #3: Seemed like he knew what he was talking about. The was the only one who did NOT ask me for my full SSN. Said I needed to email in copies of identification stuff: photo ID, utility bill, etc. Said it would take 5-8 business days. So far, I have zero confidence that the company will be able to monitor my credit.

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

CAS Springfield, IL

I would NOT, repeat, NOT recommend being sucked into TrueIdentity. It seems, from my experience, that all they really want is your very personal information and your money. When I went online today to try and cancel my "account", the site made that IMPOSSIBLE! Therefore, I had to contact TrueIdentity via phone (which is always a royal pain with holds and transfers). I spoke with "Mary Jo," who ended up transferring me to her supervisor, "Larry", neither of whom spoke fluent English. Larry did, however, verbally confirm to me that my account was canceled and that I would see a refund in about 10 days to my bank account. When I asked to receive an email to confirm his verbal statement about my account being canceled, he stated that he could NOT send any email to me to confirm this cancellation because there is "an issue with the system". As one reviewer stated below, I wish I could give TrueIdentify ZERO stars. PLEASE........DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS COMPANY IF YOU WANT TRUSTWORTHY, SKILLED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

4 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Frustrated Levant, ME

Everything was fine until I had to change my e-mail address. I made this change online. Afterwards I could use the new e-mail address as a sign-on name to get to my account BUT the TrueIdentity Report still comes to the old email address. I have double checked that my profile still shows the new e-mail address. The TrueIdentity site shows no phone number or email to contact, so I called TransUnion. I talked with 2 different people there who could not help me, but gave me a number to call ( I repeated it back to make sure I had it right.) The number's automated routine doesn't work right and finally hangs up on me. I double checked the number -- it was dialed right. So here I am with an old email address that has become compromised and a Credit Check report still going to it.

4 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

G. A. Peck

Immediately after signing up, tried to lock my credit report, and I got a message "Temporarily could not process my request. Try again later." So I tried later that day, the many times the next day. I call the customer service number and got such a garbled connection that I had to hang up. On subsequent calls. I was disconnected after entering all the robotic prompts. This happened every day for a week. Then I finally got a connection with a real person, who said he had to refer me to another department and then nothing. I still have not been able to lock my credit report, but I did see that they charged me for two copies of my credit report. Customer service is the worst.

5 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Rebecca Stansell Palo Alto, CA

It is not made clear on their site that you are purchasing a credit report and THEN they start to automatically charge you monthly ($16.95) for the continued use of their site. When you call them, they say its in the fine print, and don't give any grace period or warning if you were like me and missed that portion of the fine print. When I checked my credit card statement, I found the charge within 24hrs of the charge and called them to find out why they were charging me. Even though it was within 24hrs, and their records showed I had only used their services one to check my credit score,they refused to cancel my account or give me a refund.It really surprised me when I learned that I was being charged again. I did not receive a receipt, but when I went onto their site (thinking oh, I thought that I was being charged for a one-time service, maybe I have it for a year at $16.95) I realized that I was being charged monthly.Customer service informed me that I was alone in my situation (implying that it was solely my mistake). Then, after requesting again that they cancel my account, they said they would AFTER the month was up. And then, the customer service representative (read salesman) began to go on without any pause or room for me to stop him for about minutes on why I should continue my service with them. I had to listen to him do his sales pitch while all I wanted to do was cancel the service. I do not trust this company now and I NEVER want to use their services and I would NEVER recommend it to another person. All they want to do it to take your money, and they don't care if they provide a fair service in the process. Please do not use this service. They do not care about you, only what money you can give them.

7 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Marcelle Somerset, NJ

I want to give ZERO starts!!!! They are the ABSOLUTE WORST!!!! After several comprised accounts I tried to sign up for True Identity's free account. It has not been OVER A WEEK and aside from the fact that I can never get anyone on the phone whose accent I can even understand, they keep sending me "reset" passwords" that don't work and then I have to wait forever for a "two step authentication"code" that comes when it is too late to use. And their excuse that they are STILL having issues is BULL! I HAVE HAD IT!!! THIS SERVICE IS THE WORST!!!!

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

kn

Customer service is rude and ineffective...I could never log back into the site after joining...I received ineffective help and after following their "instructions" I had problems with my computer since what they told me to do, changed/wiped out passwords, etc. on my computer...they are a nightmare and it's scary that these people, who refuse to disclose their location, are trusted with our SSNs and personal info.

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

TrueIdentityScam Saint Paul, MN

They will not cancel my subscription. I don't want any of their marketing emails. I do not want to use them for credit monitoring. I called, talked to a guy. He said it was cancelled. I got an email saying it was cancelled. I am still getting their marketing emails and can still log into the site. Next step is cancelling the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. It was free but it sucks. I want out.

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

douglas jorg Kahului, HI

Received letter from TransUnion stating my personal information was compromised. Free offer to join TrueIdentity. TransUnion recommended to a initial freeze that last 90 days. I tried, it took me to another page that required login. Didn't recognize my login or password or SSN#. Call customer service. Untrained employee said i need to call back tomorrow and speak with supervisor! Crazy unprofessional service

4 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

EW

I'd been a TransUnion account holder for over 15 years and while they are pretty good at issuing monthly email alerts, that was about it. They are so disconnected however for the past 5 years they have had an incorrect home address listed while at the same time always having my correct billing address updates. How inefficient is that. Worst of all, their call center is in India and they expect you to give all your critical data over the phone to someone you can't even understand. Surely the Pritzker Family is no longer running this show. They have more sense than that/

6 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

LMH Westland, MI

AWFUL COMPANY! waste of time! not a free trial, had to call customer service within the first 15 minutes of opening the account for help, bounced me to 4 different agents all wanting my ssn# and personal info, then wanted me to write a letter, seriously?! unacceptable. after an hour on the phone, i say cancel my account and asked for a refund, he said no! I asked to talk to a supervisor, he said no! I was a customer for only 1 hr and had to threaten to contact an attorney to get my refund! UNACCEPTABLE! POOR SERVICE! NEVER USING THIS COMPANY AGAIN!

7 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Madison Brice Spokane, WA

I used this company to lock my credit after a compromise. It didn't save my info on my google account so I didn't remember my login information. When I went to log in, it kept having me type my social security number and last name over and over without moving on to the next step. If I can't access my account I can't Unfreeze my credit.

1 year ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Peggy Mitchell Oroville, CA

I had a horrible experience with these people. It took me two hours of my time to get to the bottom of why I was receiving multiple alerts, and it turned out to be their fault------erroneous information AND technological issues ALL on their end.

3 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Je Warren, ME

Attempting to freeze account they push you toward true identity. But web site won't complete authentication ("too busy") despite many multiple attempts over several days. Then they have audacity to email me saying I haven't completed enrolling. Very poor service.

5 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Phil Bernard

I tried to register my cell phone for the text alerts on my account but was unable. After I entered my phone number it was supposed to send a security code to my phone - It Did Nothing. Absolutely no way to contact anyone from customer support on their website. I will not be doing any business with this company.

6 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

seacoast Exeter, NH

Wish I could give no stars. A total scam. The one report i received was worthless - many inaccuracies. Having a tough time cancelling. Will dispute the charge with paypal.

4 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Sharon Carter Puyallup, WA

It is impossible to cancel Transunion TrueIdentity . I was told you must go online to cancel, but you got me fooled. I found NO place to go online and cancel....Atty Gen needs to go after them in WA State

5 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Leslie McLean, VA

Wanted to freeze my credit. When you go to the freeze site, they automatically put you in the $20/month program. and your credit is not frozen!

5 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

Beverly J Zawacki Maple Shade Township, NJ

True identity makes it impossible to cancel. Dont sign up

4 years ago

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

KJM Allston, MA

DID NOT JOIN. The TrueIdentity website pages say "free" all over them. The 14 page (small print) Privacy /Services Agreement documents say you have to agree to receive targeted mailings. Good reminder that credit bureaus are in the business of selling information to others, and will find ways to do this even in a program that is supposed to give control over their info back to consumers. You also have to waive the right to participate in class action suits. Given what Equifax has just admitted to, why would anybody give up the right to a class action suit against any of the credit bureaus?

5 years ago