Credit protection insurance is a good example of a consumer rip-off that affects millions of people, yet receives little attention in the financial media. Simply stated, you should NEVER buy “credit protection insurance,” or a “payment protection plan” or any other similar type of credit-related insurance. Let’s take a look at how these programs work and why they are a bad deal for the average consumer.
First, let’s dispense with the scam version of this insurance. With identity theft in the news so much lately, con artists have set up telemarketing boiler rooms to call people and try to scare them into buying worthless credit insurance products. Representatives will try to convince you that you’re at risk if someone gets hold of your card and starts making fraudulent purchases in your name. When they call, they may even pretend to be from the “security department” of your bank. In fact, they may actually be part of an identify theft ring, with the goal of getting you to disclose personal information over the phone. Or they may simply be trying to make a fast buck by selling you an insurance policy that you absolutely...