Ethan Giertz - Legalshield / IDShield Independent Associate

Ethan Giertz - Legalshield / IDShield Independent Associate With LegalShield’s technology and provider law firm network, legal access is now easy and affordable.

Founded in 1972 to bridge the legal gap, LegalShield has grown to empower over 4.6 million lives across North America.

Looking for love online this Valentine’s Day? It’s easier than ever for the person on the other end of that dating app t...
02/07/2022

Looking for love online this Valentine’s Day? It’s easier than ever for the person on the other end of that dating app to search you and jump to conclusions based on what they find. IDShield can help scan your social media profiles and clean up old posts.

Social Media

When not handled correctly, social media use opens you and your family up to significant privacy risks. Failure to take proactive precautions can lead to cyberattacks, cyberbullying, job loss, and more.

Follow best practices for sharing personal information
Educate yourself on common social media scams
Set privacy controls correctly
Protect your reputation, think before you share

By taking simple steps to protect yourself and your family, you can enjoy social media safely. From helping you set up proper controls to monitoring your family's profiles for problematic posts, IDShield can help you navigate potential privacy pitfalls and protect your identity.

Find out how it works at https://egiertz.wearelegalshield.com/ids

Learn more at egiertz.wearelegalshield.com
02/03/2022

Learn more at egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

Your credit score sometimes seems almighty, doesn't it? This three-digit number can determine approvals for credit cards...
02/03/2022

Your credit score sometimes seems almighty, doesn't it? This three-digit number can determine approvals for credit cards, mortgages or rental housing. Job applications weigh these digits, also. Most of us expect our score will accurately reflect our habits and practices. Still, one study on credit bureau errors indicates that one in four consumer files contained errors—some of which were extremely serious.

Lending rates are lower for those with the highest scores. That score can impact telephone applications, deposits and more. Even auto insurance costs go up or down depending on credit scores. An accurate score is vital unless you enjoy giving away money. Know your score and monitor it proactively. Any significant dip—20 points or more—could indicate new, adverse data has landed in your file.

High Error Rates

The Federal Trade Commission studied credit bureau errors over 10 years at the request of Congress. The commission's first-of-its-kind report released in 2013 contained some alarming facts. The rate of mistakes found in credit files topped 26%. One in four Americans had a problem.

That study involved 1,001 participants, with 262 discovering potentially significant errors in their reports. Of that subset, 206 were able to get their credit report altered after filing a dispute. However, only 129 saw a change in credit score. While most changes equated to less than a 20-point adjustment, for some consumers, that was very valuable.

"Out of the entire population of participants, we found that 52 consumers (5% of the total participants) experienced an increase in score such that their credit risk tier decreased, and the consumer may have been more likely to be offered a lower auto loan interest rate," the authors wrote.

A subsequent report in 2015 indicated that some individuals in the original study who initiated the dispute process gave up short of a fix. Those consumers stated the process was too time-consuming, too much effort or they didn't see the value of perusing the issue.

Who's The Victim?

Mix-ups occur most frequently if you have a common name. The courts have heard numerous cases of blended files that triggered employment or credit woes for at least one of the individuals who experienced another person's data linked to their name.

The data sender can create errors, also. Typos are common and potentially costly. While the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) expects bureaus to work hard to ensure maximum accuracy, some companies have been a bit lax in rooting out false data.

In that quest for facts, not fiction, the FTC settled charges last December against a California-based tenant background provider. The allegations charged that the firm failed to "implement reasonable procedures to ensure that criminal and eviction records it received from a third-party vendor were accurate before including such information in its tenant screening reports."

Beyond the Big Three

All sorts of agencies collect your data in addition to the Big 3 credit bureaus. Tenant background checkers make up one group. (link to rent ID theft here). The list also includes companies that collect info on your work history and past salaries.

Many of these firms operate in relative anonymity, and consumers are often totally unaware they exist. However, errors in these files are harmful, and these groups still need to comply with FCRA taking steps to maintain accuracy. If you can locate the company report that resulted in an unfavorable decision, you can challenge its contents.

Scam Time

You will likely come across ventures that offer to repair your credit. Some demand an up-front fee. That's illegal. Yet, the federal government receives thousands of complaints about this scam category yearly.

Red flags wave if the company worker offers to remove lots of information from your credit report. They'll urge you to dispute everything hoping that doing so will shake loose some positive change. Others simply give you a To-Do list.

Your best bet is to dispute issues you feel are inaccurate yourself and accept those that are accurate but negative. Experts recommend filing your own written disputes rather than using a company's online form, which could attempt to pigeonhole your challenge to make it easier to fit their system.

You don't need a one size fits all approach; you want consideration that weighs all the details of your specific situation. All disputes should be in writing with a certified letter; start a file of actions taken and individuals who take your calls. IDShield can provide detailed help with these issues, and we do most of the work for our members.

IDShield is a product of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. d/b/a LegalShield (“LegalShield”). LegalShield provides access to identity theft protection and restoration services. For complete terms, coverage, and conditions, please see an identity theft plan. All Licensed Private Investigators are licensed in the state of Oklahoma. This is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide legal advice, render an opinion, or provide any specific recommendations.

Learn more about IDShield at egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

FAQ #1: Someone used my Social Security number, can I get a new one?It’s unlikely the Social Security Administration wi...
01/29/2022

FAQ #1: Someone used my Social Security number, can I get a new one?

It’s unlikely the Social Security Administration will issue a new number for limited identity theft. In fact, getting a new Social Security number would probably create a new set of problems for you. Remember that your Social Security number is connected to your employment, tax, education and medical records.
Seeking a new Social Security number is only considered in extreme situations. If someone has used your Social Security number, the best first step is to sign up for IDShield and let our systems and licensed investigators protect your identity from further abuse and develop a plan to secure your accounts.

We are excited to announce that IDShield has been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report 360 Reviews team for having...
01/29/2022

We are excited to announce that IDShield has been recognized by the U.S. News & World Report 360 Reviews team for having one of the Best ID Theft Protection Services of 2022!

U.S. News & World Report Names IDShield Among Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2022.

ADA, Okla. (January 10, 2022) – IDShield, a PPLSI cybersecurity brand empowering a better tomorrow with identity theft solutions, privacy, and reputation management services for individuals and families, has been recognized as one of the Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2022 by U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews team.

U.S. News’ online guide features in-depth information on choosing an identity theft protection service and covers a range of topics including price and privacy protection policies. Of the leading identity theft companies analyzed, IDShield earned high ratings and accolades for its dark web, credit, social security, and social media monitoring, access to private investigators to help restore members’ identity, and family plans that allow for up to 10 dependents.

“We’re really proud of the advancements we’ve made over the past year, growing and developing our brand in the cybersecurity and protection space,” said Jeff Bell, CEO of IDShield. “The recognition by U.S. News and World Report is a badge of honor and a testament to the hard work and focus of our teams. We have big strategic initiatives planned this year that will excite and benefit our members and customers.”

2021 was a transformative year for IDShield, and its parent company PPLSI. The company invested in technology and talent to bring the latest advancements to members and customers.

Investing in technology and innovation:

IDShield continues to bring the latest security features to its more than a million members. In October 2021, in partnership with Trend Micro, IDShield launched the most advanced security protection plan on the market. The new features use cloud-based AI technology to ensure maximum security for all devices to protect against ransomware, viruses, dangerous websites, identity theft and more.

To expand its social media, privacy and online reputation management capabilities, IDShield acquired yourself.online, an industry-leading technology company headquartered in Austin. Yourself.online’s AI technology scans social media platforms and helps people automatically find and delete old social media posts, photos and videos that can damage their online reputation and provides recommendations to improve profiles and online perceptions.

Investing in top talent:

PPLSI has experienced over 50 percent growth in the last three years. To continue building products and services needed to support the digital age, the company expanded its leadership in 2021 to include hires with deep specialties and experiences in software, data and product engineering, data security and operations, product development and IT infrastructures.
Evaluation process:

U.S. News evaluated identity theft protection services based on cost, level of credit reporting and monitoring, and variety of security alerts. U.S. News’ 360 Reviews team applied an unbiased methodology that includes professional ratings and reviews, consumer ratings and reviews and research comparing various features of identity theft protection.

About IDShield

IDShield, a PPLSI cybersecurity brand, exists to empower a better tomorrow with identity theft solutions, privacy, and reputation management services for individuals and families. Named Best for Families and Best Overall by Forbes (2021), Best for Restoration by Money.com (2021), and recipient of the Cyber Security Excellence Gold Award (2021), we’re making protection personal by offering plans customized to meet your online security needs with one-on-one consultation by professionals at your fingertips. Today, we’re helping over a million members navigate the conveniences and challenges of modern life without giving up their privacy. To learn more about our platform, plans and benefits, visit egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

01/29/2022

Learn more at: egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

01/29/2022

Rather than leaving security up to chance, you can proactively arm yourself against cybercrimes and reputation hijacking with IDShield’s impressive online privacy and reputation management services to help ensure that your private information remains private.

egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

01/29/2022

PPLSI is innovating and disrupting the traditional legal system; a system that is expensive, complicated and time consuming. Through technology and our provider law firm network, legal access is now simple, easy and affordable.

egiertz.wearelegalshield.com

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