When it comes to protecting your identity from potential fraud, you’ll likely want to turn to a dependable company that you know you can count on. Because MetLife has been helping families for 150 years, many people choose their plan to protect them from identity theft.
MetLife is a name people know and trust, which is why they are a popular identity theft protection choice. They monitor over 25 pieces of data 24/7 and provide time-sensitive updates to make sure that your information is protected. They even offer a hefty $5 million dollar service guarantee.
Quick overview
- Scans the internet for use of your personal, financial, and medical data, including black markets
- Junk mail removal services
- Lost wallet protection
- User-friendly dashboard allows you to manage your personal information, alerts, and account preferences
- Cyber bullying, cyber predators, and identity theft protection available for children
- 24/7 information scanning, reports, and customer support
- 30-day risk-free trial available
- $5 million service guarantee
Personal, financial, and medical information monitoring
MetLife takes a comprehensive approach to keeping your identity secure. They monitor a variety of sources on the internet to determine if potential personal, financial, or medical fraud is taking place.
Personal information, like your email address, Social Security number, passport, driver’s license, and even social media accounts are monitored 24/7 with MetLife’s Defender plan. They also keep an eye on black markets where your information can be bought and sold, in addition to removing your name from junk mail lists to keep your personal information out of the trash.
Multiple financial accounts are tracked that include credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts. Medical information is also monitored to make sure that no one is using your insurance fraudulently, or making unauthorized changes to your medical information.
MetLife also offers lost wallet protection. If you lose your credit cards and personal information, they will walk you through the steps you need to take to cancel and replace credit and bank cards, IDs, and health insurance cards.
Comprehensive family plan available
Although MetLife really only offers one plan, you can choose to cover your entire family with their services for an additional fee. Although many identity theft protection companies offer family plans, most do not offer such comprehensive services.
Their family plan includes protection for two adults in the household, as well as any child under the age of 26, whether they live at home or not. There is no limit to the number of children you can add to your plan.
Most family plans protect children from identity theft, but MetLife goes above and beyond by protecting your children from cyber bullying and cyber predators.
$5 million service guarantee
Every good identity theft protection company offers a service guarantee or an insurance policy, but none compare to the $5 million service guarantee offered by MetLife. No matter how serious or complicated your fraud situation, you can rest assured that MetLife will spend whatever it takes to restore your identity back to pre-theft levels.
Unique features
Their $5 million service guarantee makes them unique among their competitors, just as long as you understand that their service guarantee will only help you get your identity back. It won’t necessarily pay out like an insurance policy would.
Their family plan makes them stand out from the crowd too, but it’s really about the comprehensive protection services that they have to offer. While other identity theft protection agencies offer a wide variety of services, there are usually holes in their offerings. MetLife’s Defender plan really does offer comprehensive protection.
Not sure if MetLife Defender is right for you and your family? They offer a 30-day risk-free trial.
How MetLife Defender compares to other providers
The biggest problem with MetLife’s Defender plan is the fact that their plan doesn’t allow you to monitor your credit scores. Many other plans will provide you with a three-in-one credit report a few times a year, but MetLife does not provide you with this information. They will only alert you if potential fraud is taking place.
Although MetLife focuses on keeping your electronic information safe, they do not offer any software to keep your information secure.
Pricing
MetLife Defender plans are definitely some of the most expensive on the market. An individual plan will set you back $22.95 a month, while their family plan will cost you $49.95 a month. However, they do offer a discount if you pay for service for the entire year. If you pay just once a year, you can save 10%.
The bottom line
If you’re looking for comprehensive family identity theft protection, MetLife may be the right choice for you, especially since they offer cyber bullying and cyber predator protection. However, they do not offer credit reports and their plans are a bit more expensive than others.