When Jim gets home he sits down to pay his bills. He pays for
his house and car insurance, his
life insurance and his credit
cards. Jim goes back out on a trip. While he is gone, the crook
takes the
notices that his checks
have bounced. This happens for a month or two.
Jim's insurance is cancelled and the replacement coverage is much more
expensive since he has been
uninsured. The credit
card companies stop taking his charges which is very inconvenient when
you are
away from home at night.
The mortgage company charges him late fees and all of the credit
grantors in
his life are reporting his
bad checks (which he actually wrote...remember, the crook's checks cleared).
Jim's credit is a total loss in 30 days. Whats worse, the thief later
wrote bad checks too.
The insurance policy describes
identity theft as "the act of knowingly using without authority, a means
of identification of a covered person with intent to commit an unlawful
act.
There are federal limits
on how much the credit companies can hold you responsible for, when your
credit id is stolen. I believe that the limit is $50.00 per account.
Your bank should not pay for checks which
don't have a valid signature. So what could it really cost
you to have an identity fraud claim?
1. Lots of time and effort
to convince the banks and credit card companies that in fact, a theft has
occurred. Many people claim theft but in fact used the cards
themselves.
2. Loss of credit credibility.
The credit reporting companies and credit card companies won't voluntarily
take the adverse credit off of your reports unless you can prove your
fraud claims.
What does Identity Fraud coverage pay for?
1. Expenses that you have as a result of your claim.
2. Lost wages as a result of the need to correct the credit company records.
3. Legal fees which
become necessary as a result of
a. Suits for collection from credit grantors or collection agencies
b. Removal of judgements or liens against you
c. Legal action necessary to have credit reports and other public records
corrected.
Call our office at 303 364-7447 if you live in Colorado and want a quote for coverage.