Think you don’t need identity theft protection? Think again.
Identity theft is consistently the number one complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Rampant data breaches, affecting millions of records, are putting consumers at great risk of identity theft. It can happen to anyone—regardless of your age and income, where you live, or how careful you are.
Restoring your identity on your own can be time-consuming and stressful. After a while, some people give up, leaving them contend with the aftermath of identity theft for years to come, including fraudulent bills, collections activity, damaged credit and even criminal records.
ESSA Bank is delighted to provide identity theft detection and recovery services as part of our Checking Plus accounts at no additional cost.
We have partnered with one of the nation’s most trusted names in identity theft protection to provide you with access to a comprehensive suite of services to address fraud caused by identity theft if it happens to you or your family member. For only $8.00 per month these services include:
Fully Managed Identity Theft Recovery
A professional, certified and licensed Recovery Advocate will work on your behalf to restore your identity to pre-event status, for any type of identity fraud you might experience, or even suspect. This service extends to cover you and up to three generations of family!
If you become a victim or suspect you might be a victim of identity fraud for any reason, simply let us know. You do not have to confirm identity fraud before seeking assistance. We will put you in touch with a professional Recovery Advocate who, depending on your identity fraud incident, will:
- Perform research to determine the extent of the problem, including a review of all three credit reports (if appropriate)
- Assist with the placement of fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus
- Write letters/ make calls on your behalf to dispute fraudulent information
- Coordinate with government agencies, financial institutions, creditors, etc. to resolve incidents
- Work with law enforcement to help to arrest and prosecute the criminals
- Follow up for 12 months after recovery
This service covers all types of identity fraud, even if it is not related to your account(s) with ESSA Bank! Types of identity fraud covered include: credit/debit card fraud, tax fraud, employment fraud, government documents and benefits fraud, medical fraud, and any other identity fraud recognized by the Federal Trade Commission. Plus, the identity fraud recovery service extends to cover up to 3 generations of your family members. (Please refer to Terms and Conditions for details.)
Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement Insurance – up to $25,000*
You may receive reimbursement for out of pocket expenses incurred during the identity recovery process up to the program limit, including reimbursement for lost wages, attorney’s fees, and other expenses.
Expense Reimbursement Insurance is available to cover out of pocket expenses incurred during the identity recovery process up to a maximum of $25,000. Examples of covered expenses include attorneys’ fees, costs of additional credit reports, long distance telephone calls, postage and handling fees, fees for notarizing affidavits, and document and filing fees for grants or credit applications rejected as a result of a stolen identity event. Lost wages due to time off from work are also covered up to $500 per week for up to four weeks. Review the Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement Insurance Evidence of Coverage.
Entitlement to Credit Monitoring and Credit Score**
If you decide to activate this service you will receive alerts of changes to your credit file that could signal identity theft. We can even send the alerts to you in a text message for ease of use and rapid communication. The entitlement extends to the primary account holder only, and is applicable to individuals age 18 and older who have a valid credit file. Note: You must follow an easy activation process in order to receive the benefits of credit monitoring. If you are a type account holder, and you want to activate your no-cost credit monitoring click here and enter your unique Enrollment ID. Next, complete your profile and answer the identity authentication questions to activate this service.
Owning a Checking Plus account provides you with an entitlement to credit monitoring. Upon activation, your credit file is monitored continuously and alerts are sent to you via email as often as daily for new activity, allowing you to confirm whether or not the activity is yours. This service monitors for new activity on your credit report, including but not limited to credit inquiries, new credit lines, derogatory credit, name change and address changes. Frequently monitoring your credit may identify identity theft early, limiting the extent of the damage. You may choose whether or not you use this entitlement to obtain the credit monitoring service. There is no cost to you for taking advantage of this offer either now or in the future. When you become eligible for this service, you will receive an invitation to activate the services, including your unique Enrollment ID. Or, when you become eligible for this service click here and enter your unique Enrollment ID. Next, complete your profile and answer the identity authentication questions to activate this service.
Cell Phone Protection***
Provides reimbursement up to $200 after a $50 deductible for repairs or replacement due to accidental damage or mechanical failure. Pre-registration is not required and this coverage can apply to both your new and used cell phones and smartphones. Certain terms, conditions and limitations apply. You are eligible to file a claim 30 days after you open your Checking Plus account with ESSA Bank – just contact us, and we will verify your eligibility and begin the claims process.
Mobile Device Protection is a one-of-a-kind mobile phone benefit that reimburses you for damage or malfunction, with no pre-registration required. This protection provides reimbursement for the cost of labor and parts necessary to repair an eligible device, which may be a new or used cell phone or smartphone if the phone is active on your wireless phone bill. If the device is NOT repairable this protection will provide a reimbursement for the cost of replacement. The program covers Accidental Damage from Handling, such as a cracked screen, or a Mechanical or Electrical Breakdown. Mobile Device Protection extends to all named account holders on your Checking Plus account. You are eligible to file a claim 30 days after you open your Checking Plus account with ESSA Bank – just contact us, and we will verify your eligibility and begin the claims process. Additional terms, conditions, and limitations apply, so it is important that you carefully review the Mobile Device Coverage Member Services Agreement.
*Identity theft insurance is underwritten by Lyndon Southern Insurance Company, a member of the Fortegra family of companies. The information provided is a program summary. Please refer to the Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement Evidence of Coverage forms for additional information including details of benefits, specific exclusions, terms, conditions and limitations of coverage. Coverage is currently not available to residents of the state of New York and may not be available in other U.S. territories or jurisdictions in the future.
**MONITORING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE PRIMARY ACCOUNT HOLDER ON AN ENTITLED BASIS AND REQUIRE CONSUMER ACTIVATION. Monitoring Services are provided by TransUnion®, subject to change, and are applicable to individuals age 18 and older who have a valid credit file.The credit score provided may not be consistent with the credit score model used by a lender, and therefore can not be relied upon to determine creditworthiness for any particular loan opportunity.
***Certain terms, conditions and limitations apply to these benefits, so it is important that you carefully review the “Mobile Device Coverage Member Services Agreement” on our website.
