New Identity Theft Employee Benefit

New Workplace Options and RelyData Partnership Helps Identity Theft Victims Restore their Identities

First-of-it's-Kind Employee Benefit Acts on Behalf of Employee To Fix Problems and Undo Damage

Raleigh, NC - Workplace Options, a provider of work/life programs to corporate America, through partnerships with employee assistance (EAP) companies, has launched a new service, called ID Theft Resolution, provided through RelyData, a provider of identity theft resolution services, that helps victims of identity theft clear their credit and undo the damage caused by the unlawful use of their identities.

Nearly ten million people were victims of identity theft in 2002 and for five straight years, identity theft has been the #1 consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Increasing numbers of employers are offering support for employees victimized by identity theft because of the excessive work loss victims' amass when trying to resolve the problem on their own.

However, most identity restoration services, from those offered by credit card issuers to more formal employee benefit programs, simply give victims advice and "to-do" lists, but ultimately leave victims to do the work on their own, something Garnet Steen, President of RelyData, the company WPO has partnered with to deliver the new program, likens to do-it-yourself dentistry. According to Mr. Steen, employees do not have the knowledge, experience or tools to fix their problem.

"Employees who are victims of identity theft do not know what to do and do not have access to the underlying data systems that is required to identify and remove fraud in credit files or manage disputes," says Mr. Steen.

The Workplace Options service acts on behalf of victims to fix the problems and restore their identities. RelyData provides WPO with identity theft experts who have direct access to credit bureaus and lenders allowing them to assist the victim in removing fraudulent information and make real-time adjustments to credit reports, restoring the employee's good name.

"Employees victimized by identity theft need rapid resolution, and employers need their workers focused on their job," says Alan King, chief operating office of Workplace Options. "Our clients asked us to implement an identity theft service that does not require employees to fix the problem themselves and that is exactly what our new ID Theft Resolution service does."

Workplace Options will offer two versions of the ID Theft Resolution services to its EAP and insurance plan customers. The basic level offers victims a free 30 minute consultation with an ID theft expert and a 25% discount off actual resolution services. The enhanced program offers complete resolution services at no fee to employees, including cleaning up the victim's credit report.

Employee Assistance Plans who have access to the Workplace Options legal services will have access to the new ID Theft Resolution services at no charge. Other EAPs may access the new service for a small fee. Please contact Workplace Options for more information.

SOURCE: Workplace Options