ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. and PHOENIX - Chrysler Service Contracts, a division of Chrysler LLC, has chosen Merchants Information Solutions Inc. to be the exclusive identity theft service provider for Chrysler Services Contracts' new SmartIDentity program.

Chrysler Service Contracts' decision to partner with Merchants Information Solutions and enter the emerging identity theft marketplace is in response to the numerous identity theft service providers offering assisted and/or partial solutions. The Merchants Information Solutions strategy that supports the SmartIDentity program "shows a commitment by Chrysler Service Contracts to offer its' customers one of the leading and most comprehensive managed recovery programs in the United States today," stated Jerry Klesko, product manager for Chrysler Service Contracts.

The comprehensive identity theft program solution being offered by Merchants Information Solutions "focuses on helping Chrysler Service Contracts increase sales while helping improve customer retention for its auto dealer business clients," said Klesko.

The Merchants identity theft program, called SmartIDentity, responds to financial and non-financial identity theft related events. According to the FTC, 41 percent of identity theft is related to a financial instrument (including credit/debit cards, checking/savings accounts, loans, etc.). This means that 59 percent of identity theft is non-financial, including fraudulent use of medical/health insurance, driver's license information, tax information, employee ID number, student ID number, financial aid, etc.

Mark Pribish, national director of sales for Merchants Identity Theft Management Services, stated, "Merchants has helped resolve over 29,000 cases of fraud, including medical fraud, public records fraud, identity theft fraud and credit card fraud, since 1990."