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Are you aware of the new 'credit freeze' laws that, as of November 2007, have been enacted in all 50 states? These laws allow consumers to place a 'freeze' on their credit information. No new credit may be obtained and individual credit information cannot be released in any manner unless the freeze is removed by the consumer.

A recent competitor in the credit monitoring/consumer protection products and services arena is Trusted ID. This company offers credit monitoring, identity theft, and ID theft insurance as well as other resources to consumers independently and not through one of the three major credit reporting agencies of TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax. This business is located in Redwood City, CA and more information about the company may be obtained by calling 1.888.548.7878.

ID Freeze is the title of the service provided and its features include; credit card monitoring, stoppage of pre approved credit card offers; access to ID theft and restoration specialist, 'Lender Double-Check; ID theft insurance and 'CreditLock.'

What are these features and why are they important? By providing credit card monitoring; consumers are able to be informed of activity that may indicate that their credit card information may have been compromised, for example additional details regarding the security breach experienced by TJMaxx and Marshall's and how it may have affected you. The stoppage of pre approved credit card offers is important for two reasons. First, credit reporting agencies are selling your information to the marketing database ' your information that you must PAY to receive. Pre-approved credit card offers are also considered the leading cause of identity theft, so your removal from this service is more important that just saving you a few minutes of time going through your mail. It may save your credit.

Subscribers to TrustedID's ID Freeze are also provided access to id theft and to a restoration specialist 24-7. Members may access their specialist via email or telephone, have answers regarding their credit or restoration concerns answered, and obtain sample letters, emails and other resources necessary to correct credit errors.

The three more unique aspects of this product are: 'Lender Double-check,' a one million dollar ID theft insurance benefit and 'CreditLock. With Lender DoubleCheck, credit lenders must obtain your approval by telephone before taking any action that can affect your credit. The companies of Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian are provided with a 'note' to your account with instructions. The $1,000,000 identity theft insurance benefit through AIG and Lloyd's of London; is offered because of Trusted ID's confidence that you won't need it once you use their service. The feature, 'CreditLock,' is a service by which consumers prohibit the release of their credit information to third parties without their express permission. However, in the event the consumer is applying for new credit, they are required to release their credit information-basically turning the 'lock' on and off.

This service also automatically provides you with your yearly credit report from all three credit reporting agencies; however, this benefit hardly deserves mention. All consumers have access to one credit report annually, however the benefit of this service is that the consumer is not required to make the request for the report. It is simply provided.

With the utilization of 'credit freezing' your credit information is protected before anything happens. With other services you receive information after the fact and, in some cases, too late. Scott Mitic, founder of Trusted ID, stated to consumeraffairs.com that; 'The credit bureaus are in the business of selling your data,' he said, {and} 'Consumer information is the new gold standard, and we want to put the power back in the consumer's hands.' This product gives consumers the ability to be proactive instead of responding retroactively,

Trusted ID features and benefits such as StolenID Search have been featured in such publications as Time, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek; online at CNNMoney.com and CNBC and are recognized by the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Other products also available include assistance to corporations and small businesses with data security breaches. This company also lobbies Congress for stricter rules regarding who can access in individual's personal and credit information. Their first feature is offered free, and is a 'StolenID Search,' an online tool where consumers may search by social security number or credit card number to see if their information has been compromised. The website and service also provides an identity theft resource center with facts and information; videos of victims of ID theft and frequently asked questions.

As of Jan. 2008, the price for this service is 104.95 for a yearly subscription, providing the subscriber with a $50.00 a year savings over many other service providers. Subscribers may also purchase the services of Trusted ID on a short term basis for $12.95 a month, with the subscription ending upon non payment or cancellation.

Take a minute, or five and visit Trusted ID online to determine if this is the right credit monitoring service for you. If it is, you are there and ready to sign up; if not you will have the information you need to determine what kind of service you do want and be able to knowledgeably compare plans and benefits.