TDS® Teams with Debix™ and Becomes First Telecom to Launch Identity Protection Service in U.S.
Experts estimate one child in every classroom unknowingly is a victim of identity theft, making personal data protection for adults and children a new priority for TDS.
Madison, Wis. (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 24, 2009 -- TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) announced today it’s launching a new product to protect both adults and children from identity theft. The national Internet service provider and communications company is teaming up with Debix™, a leading corporate identity theft company in Austin, Texas, to offer TDS Identity Protection powered by Debix, a real-time credit monitoring service.
 “Our customers are highly connected and use the Internet in increasing amounts each year. Identity theft is a growing trend many have not associated with children until now,” states Andrew Petersen, director of legislative affairs and communications for TDS. “The statistics are staggering and prove quite scary for parents today.”
According to Javelin Strategy and Research, nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identify theft in 2008 (a 22 percent increase from 2007). The 2009 trend is continuing at a double-digit rate.
In fact the most recent Javelin study found 5 percent of the children in their study had one or more credit reports using their Social Security number. And 12 percent of the victims in the study were under age five.
“We now have a product that can stop the damage of identity theft. We are proud to align with Debix to bring this solution to our customers both big and small,” says Petersen.
There is no current way for a bank or other institution to know if a stolen Social Security number is that of a child. Thieves target children’s Social Security numbers because they can go undetected for many years, until that child files for a job, college application, credit card or bank account.
“As we researched and learned more about the security issues facing our customers, we sought out an identity protection product they could trust,” adds Petersen. “We selected the Debix solution knowing our customer’s need for a safe, online experience would be completed.”
The Debix system offered by TDS will provide a “virtual bubble” around your family. An adult can subscribe for less than $6 a month; for a child, the cost is less than $5 a month. For more information, TDS call 1-888-CALL-TDS or visit http://www.tdstelecom.com/IDprotect.
TDS Telecommunications Corp. markets communication services to business and residential customers in 30 states through its brands TDS Telecom® and TDS Metrocom®. With 1.1 million access line equivalents in service, TDS Telecommunications Corp. connects customers to phone, broadband, and digital television service in hundreds of rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. TDS Telecommunications Corp. is the eighth-largest wire line company in the nation; employing approximately 2,730 people. The company is headquartered in Madison, Wis. Visit www.tdstelecom.com and www.tdsbusiness.com for more information. Connect on Twitter and Facebook.
TDS Telecommunications Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Telephone and Data Systems™ is a Fortune 500® company that provides wireless, local and long-distance telephone, and broadband services to 7.3 million customers in 36 states, through TDS Telecommunications Corp. and U.S. Cellular®, its 81-percent owned wireless subsidiary. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems employed 12,440 people as of June 30, 2009. For more information, visit www.teldta.com.
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