Find savings opportunities on your phone

Now, those who use an Android mobile phone can find thousands of AAA discounts using a free “app” that matches the convenience and usefulness of its Apple iPhone counterpart.

AAA’s suite of mobile applications designed to make its widely used products and services available whenever and wherever consumers need them took another leap forward with the Android-compatible AAA Discounts app. The free app uses GPS technology to display AAA Show Your Card & Save® retail partners near the user’s location, just like the AAA Discounts Apple iPhone app, which has been downloaded nearly 900,000 times.

There are more than 110,000 AAA Show Your Card & Save® locations in North America that offer exclusive discounts to AAA members, ranging from restaurants and hotels to clothing retailers and auto repair shops.

Use the dynamic map screen to view your current location and nearby discounts in the categories you select. Just touch the screen for each retail partner’s name, address and phone number, as well as a summary of the discount. You’ll get driving directions and continuous tracking as you move.

All app users can view the locations offering discounts, but only members can take advantage of the savings. The app is available for free download from the Android Market and is compatible with devices using Android platform versions 1.6 or newer.

AAA Discounts for Android is the fourth free app to be offered by AAA. The first three apps, released for iPhone users, were AAA Discounts, AAA Roadside and AAA TripTik Mobile. AAA Roadside enables members who need roadside assistance to send their location and breakdown details directly to AAA. The AAA TripTik Mobile app provides mapping and displays frequently updated gas prices.

For details about AAA apps, visit www.AAA.com/mobile.

Guard your identity while holiday shopping

As shoppers head to the mall and cruise the Internet for gifts to give over the holidays, there’s one thing they should make sure they don’t give to the wrong people: their identity.

Identity theft is among the fastest-growing crimes today. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Some victims spend hundreds of dollars repairing damage to their name and credit record.

Yet there are many protective steps people can take, starting with being guarded about giving out personal information. Consumers should not give out their credit card number, Social Security number, birth date or other personal information via the phone or the Internet unless they are familiar with the merchant or initiated the contact.

In addition, AAA members can take advantage of a free credit monitoring product or a more comprehensive product at a discounted rate. Keen awareness of your personal information is among the most powerful weapons to combat fraud.

AAA members can receive free credit monitoring and identity fraud resolution support from CreditCheck® Select*, a part of Experian®. Members must sign up online at www.AAA.com/identity. The product includes free daily monitoring of your Experian® Credit Report and e-mail alerts of key changes to your report.

AAA members can save 46 percent on a more robust solution offered by Experian® called ProtectMyID™, which monitors your credit reports daily for key changes at all three credit bureaus. It scans the Internet for illicit use of your personal information. ProtectMyID™ includes $1 Million Identity Theft insurance.**

AAA members save 46 percent on the monthly fee ($6.95 per month or $69.95 annually). For details, call (877) 440-6943, or visit www.AAA.com/identity.

*CreditCheck® Select is provided by ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian® Company. To be eligible to enroll, you must be at least 18 years old and a current member. After you enroll, if for any reason you decide to cancel your CreditCheck® Select benefit, you may not re-enroll in this benefit at a later date. Benefit subject to change or termination at any time without notice. Certain terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

**Identity Theft Insurance coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions; for complete details, go to www.protectmyid.com/evidence-of-coverage.

VIN Etch helps deter auto theft

As an effective theft deterrent, the Club will offer window etching of your vehicle’s VIN (vehicle identification number) at several AAA offices.

The cost for the service is $30 for AAA members and $40 for non-members, including six etchings per car. AAA offers discounts on insurance for VIN Etching.

Call 1-800-AAA-ROAD ext. 6821 to make appointments at least 48 hours in advance of the dates. Please have your VIN number handy when you call.

View dates and locations