AOL to offer insurance to subscribers
Free insurance coverage for identity theft and computer damage is among the premium security offerings AOL is making available to its dwindling base of paying subscribers. The move, which AOL said it would announce to its members Tuesday, follows last month’s decision to give away AOL.com e-mail accounts, software and other features once reserved for paying subscribers and remove key reasons for millions of customers to keep paid accounts.
The insurance, offered through American International Group Inc., pledges up to $10,000 to help restore users’ identity and credit regardless of how their Social Security number, bank account or other personal information got compromised. The policy covers costs for refiling rejected loan applications, legal fees, credit reports and up to $2,000 in lost wages. A separate AIG policy covers up to $1,000 to repair or replace computers that suffer physical damage. But don’t spill coffee quite yet: The replacement cost is limited to the computer’s current value, not its purchase price. And yesterday’s models are always worth less today.
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