PrivacyGuard Review of March 2024

ElitePersonalFinance
Last Update: March 12, 2023 Identity Theft Companies Reviews

PrivacyGuard is one of many credit reporting and identity theft protection services out there. It promises to help you keep track of your score and protect yourself from fraud if it were to happen.

So, we’re going to do a PrivacyGuard review here at ElitePersonalFinance to help you understand what it is, whether you should use it, and how it stacks up against others.

What is PrivacyGuard?

So you’re probably wondering, “What is PrivacyGuard, anyway?” and are looking for a way to determine whether it is legit or not.

This company was started to help prevent fraud, help people understand their credit, and give them a chance to bounce back if they ever become a victim of identity theft.

They offer a variety of services, including:

  • All 3 Bureau Credit Report.
  • All 3 Bureau Credit Scores.
  • Credit Monitoring Daily.
  • Monthly Credit Score Tracking.
  • Toll-Free Support Hotline.
  • Support for Victims of Identity Fraud.

It is not to be confused with LEO PrivacyGuard, which is an Android app. It is also not to be confused with GNU PrivacyGuard, which is a cryptographic software suite.

PrivacyGuard Complaints (BBB and others)

PrivacyGuard gets a fair few complaints. ElitePersonalFinance found that the way they try to get you to signup for the service is a little sneaky. When you try to signup, they offer the first days for $1, which is usually not a problem.

However, they won’t tell you the price until you get to the signup page, and it requires your credit card information. It will automatically bill you for $19.99 per month.

After going back to the signup page, they show an exit pop that allows you to claim the same service for $14.99 per month and then change what you will be billed. You are still given the offer for $1 for the first 14 days.

Will PrivacyGuard Give Me a Refund?

Some more PrivacyGuard complaints come from the BBB (Better Business Bureau). They have a rating of A- with the BBB, but there have been complaints of users having to experience poor customer service on the phone, especially when trying to get a refund.

Even though PrivacyGuard offers a refund if you are not satisfied, it can be difficult to cancel your order after signup. People have complaints about this, and it’s generally good practice to give a refund to an unsatisfied customer.

Some people have complaints about having their service canceled for no reason and then be required to get on the phone to reactivate it. Others have complained about being sent to another website after signup.

PrivacyGuard Review of Their Available Offerings

PrivacyGuard only offers one package. It costs $15/month and offers a few different services.

They don’t have any upgraded packages or any more comprehensive offerings than the ones they currently advertise.

Currently, this is what they offer:

  • Credit Report and Score. They will give you your credit report and credit score from all 3 bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Not only that, they will give you your CreditXpert credit score, which reflects the strength of your overall credit. Lenders do not use CreditXpert scores for considering you for a loan.
  • Score Tracking and Alerts. They will allow you to track your credit score’s movements and alert you if something hurts your credit in a big way. They will also allow you to set alerts for milestones or certain activities. They do this by tracking your Experian ScoreX Plus score monthly.
  • 3 Bureau Credit Monitoring. They will allow you to monitor your credit score across all 3 bureaus and check for any inconsistencies.
  • Assistance in Credit Disputes. They will help you dispute any fraudulent claims on your credit report and make the entire process a little bit easier.
  • Toll-Free 24/7 Support. PrivacyGuard has a support line that doesn’t cost you anything, and you can call anytime with your concerns. This can be used for credit information or identity theft help.
  • Identity Fraud Scanning. They will alert you if an inquiry is placed on your credit. This is to protect you from fraud.

PrivacyGuard vs. Lifelock

Lifelock is an identity theft protection suite that starts at only $10/month. They include many different services and will allow you to upgrade for an extra fee.

So, pitting PrivacyGuard vs. Lifelock, how well do they stack up against each other? We’ll compare LifeLock’s $10/month plan with PG’s basic offering for simplicity’s sake.

Let’s see what they have in common:

  • 24/7 Support. Both companies will allow you to access their support hotline at any time.
  • Identity Fraud Alerts. Both companies will alert you in case of fraud happening in your name.
  • Identity Restoring Support. Both companies will help you restore your good name in the event of a crisis.

What does PrivacyGuard do that LifeLock $10/month plan doesn’t?

  • Credit Report and Score. They will give you your credit report and your credit score upon request.
  • Credit Report Tracking. PrivacyGuard allows you to track your credit score and set milestones or alerts.
  • 3 Bureau Monitoring. They will monitor your credit score from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.

Lifelock vs. IdentityGuard?

  • Lost Wallet Protection.
  • $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance.
  • Cuts Down Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers.
  • Address Change Notification.

In other words, their $10/month plan offers more to protect your identity than PG does. However, PG’s $15/month plan offers more monitoring of your credit and making sure you know what is on your report.

PrivacyGuard vs. IdentityGuard

IdentityGuard is a well-trusted theft prevention service that also starts at $10/month. It is available through Costco as well as through their own website.

So how does IdentityGuard Essentials offering compare with PG?

Let’s see what they both offer.

  • Identity Theft Alerts. Both companies will alert you in case of possible fraud.
  • Support and Victim Assistance. Both companies offer a support hotline that can be called at any time.

What does PrivacyGuard offer?

  • Credit Report and Score.
  • Credit Report Tracking.
  • 3 Bureau Monitoring.

With LifeLock, IdentityGuard offers all of these services and more in its $20/month plan.

What does IG offer in its $10/month plan that PG does not? Let’s find out.

  • SSN Monitoring. IdentityGuard will monitor activity on your Social Security number, which could mean that you are a victim of severe identity fraud.
  • Black Market Site Surveillance.
  • $1 Million Insurance for Out of Pocket Recovery Costs.
  • Password Protection.
  • Bank Account Alerts. If someone tries to use your bank information, you will be alerted to the activity to take steps to rectify the situation.

As far as PrivacyGuard vs. IdentityGuard goes, the situation is the same as with LifeLock. IG offers much more about identity fraud protection, and PG offers more about credit monitoring.

Again, IG will give you all the services that PG does for an extra $5/month.

PrivacyGuard vs. MyFICO

MyFICO is a product offered by FICO, formerly known as the Fair Isaac Corporation. This company invented the credit score formula and has been using them for decades to determine creditworthiness.

They offer 3 plans, their cheapest being $20/month.

So what do both PG and MyFICO offer? Let’s look at the plans.

  • Credit Score Tracking.
  • 24/7 Support.
  • Credit Score Monitoring.

What does PrivacyGuard offer over MyFICO?

  • Access to reports from all 3 Bureaus: MyFICO only gives you your Equifax score, whereas PG will give you all 3 scores.
  • Credit and Identity Fraud Alerts.

What does MyFICO offer that PG does not?

  • Lost Wallet Protection. If your wallet is stolen, MyFICO can help you cancel your cards and prevent any medical fraud.
  • $1 Million Insurance for Out of Pocket Costs.

Overall, MyFICO is pretty expensive for what it offers. However, it does more for fraud than PrivacyGuard.

Is PrivacyGuard Worth The Cost?

PrivacyGuard offers a pretty solid offering when it comes to credit monitoring. The price is pretty good, and you get access to 24/7 support.

However, the reviews speak for themselves. Poor customer service, hard to get a refund, and sneaky tricks on the signup page really make most people want to run for the hills.

Not only that, but PG lacks the $1 million in coverage that all 3 of them compared companies offer.

Choose your identity theft services wisely, as fraud could affect you for the rest of your life. ElitePersonalFinance PrivacyGuard review does not recommend this product.

Some ElitePersonalFinance Tips for Protecting Your Identity

  • Safeguard all personal information. Be careful where you use your name on the Internet. Please don’t share your exact date of birth with any website that will host it publicly. Do not use the same passwords for every login on the Internet.
  • Shred any unwanted mail and keep any pre-approved credit cards (without activating them). Some of your mail might have personal information on it, and for that reason, you need to shred it, so your name is unintelligible.
  • Scan your computer for viruses or key loggers. When you log in, a keylogger can record your keystrokes and send them to thieves across the world.

Seniors and students need to take particular notice because you are more likely to have your identity stolen by a family member or someone close to you than by a stranger. Keep your information as secure as possible, and if you can, go in person for any registration or purchases.

Please read this article on the 10 best ways to protect yourself from identity theft for more information on keeping your identity secure.

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