Costco Connection - June 2013

Protect yourself from identity thieves

IDENTITY THEFT IS a major concern for an increasing number of Americans every year. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 8. 6 million households had at least one person age 12 or older who experienced identity theft in 2010, up by 2. 2 million from 2005. Unfortunately, checking your free credit report once a year may not be enough.

“Looking at your free credit report yearly
is a great practice, and we definitely encour-
age consumers to do that. But our service pro-
vides daily monitoring at all three bureaus,”
says Elizabeth Salnoske, marketing manager
at Intersections Inc., which offers Identity
Guard services to Costco members. “Every
time … a line of credit [is opened in your
name], those bureaus are contacting us and
then we’re telling our customers, ‘Go look at
this and make sure it’s you.’ ”
In addition to daily report and score
monitoring, Identity Guard offers a diverse
set of tools to help protect against identity

Think Costco for Vehicle
Repair Protection

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of members think of Costco every year when they’re purchasing a new or used car. But Costco also can help members reduce the costs of repairing their existing vehicles. Available in all states except Alaska, Costco’s Vehicle Repair Protection Plan, provided by Century Warranty Services (CWS) and sold through the Costco Auto Program, covers most mechanical and computer components. It’s available for most vehicles up to 10 years old with 10,000 to 75,000 miles.

“About 35 percent of people buying a car
are buying a vehicle repair contract at the
dealership. We want to help those who later
decide to purchase protection,” says John
Conlon, Costco Services director.

After signing up for the plan, members can take their vehicle to any dealership or licensed mechanic for repairs.

CWS and its affiliates are leaders in the vehicle protection coverage. Their employees have issued more than 29. 5 million vehicle-related contracts since 1978, with 2. 9 million sold in 2012.

“Customer experience is our highest priority. Receiving a top rating from the most trusted consumer resource agency demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering excellent customer service,” says CWS managing director Rick Bale of CWS’ A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Vehicle Repair Protection offers a variety of financing options, which include interest-free monthly payments. Bale says that Costco members can save up to $500* on Costco’s Vehicle Repair Protection.

To learn more or get a free quote, call 1-877-900-9077, or visit Costco.com and search “VRP23”—HM

*Based on October 2012 comparison of Costco members’ actual savings compared to rates offered by a national direct seller of vehicle repair plans. Rates vary by model, age and plan terms.