Identity Protection Agencies

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
Have any of you guys ever used one of the many identity protection services, and if so, what was your experiences? I'd appreciate your thoughts.
 
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IDK dude.....I looked at those ads too and thought:

"give a company my name and all my information...SSN, DL#, Birth records, Bank account info - and then pay them to 'protect' that information?"

I get the feeling that I just paid someone to rob me....

Not happening.....
 
druid189 said:
IDK dude.....I looked at those ads too and thought:

"give a company my name and all my information...SSN, DL#, Birth records, Bank account info - and then pay them to 'protect' that information?"

I get the feeling that I just paid someone to rob me....

Not happening.....
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Well, the Chinese already got mine.
 
UffDa said:
If that's true, close the barn door. What good is an ID protection agency going to do you if your ID has already been stolen?


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/01/don-t-get-taken-guarding-your-id/index.htm
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His ID may not have been stolen yet. What they have is his personal identifying information which can then be used to "steal his identity". These protection services claim to monitor activity using one's personal identifying information in attempts to "steal" (really mimic) one's identity.
 
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UffDa said:
If that's true, close the barn door. What good is an ID protection agency going to do you if your ID has already been stolen?


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/01/don-t-get-taken-guarding-your-id/index.htm
Click to expand...

I've changed everything at my bank, credit cards, debit cards, passwords, etc., and put an alert on my accounts. However, there's just so many other things to beware of, someone using your SSN, someone using your name and personal data to obtain a loan, or to disguise their real identity, for example, I didn't know one of the reasons people steal someone's identity is to have an identity handy if they get caught as a sexual predator. A fella could end up on a sexual predators list and not even know it. Anyway, these companies are supposed to monitor all that.
 
LOL, I'd feel sorry for the poor bastard who steals my identity. Being a felon with shitty credit is not my idea of a score.
 
What I would like to see is actual cases where one of these ID protection services did what they claim to do.

BTW, if you pay attention, LifeLock says that it does not cover all transactions. What doesn't it cover?


Try this.

http://bestidtheftcompanys.com

Scroll down and read some of the reviews.
 
These companies are the equivalent of those "my fast PC" ads... they install a rootkit on your identity. You are paying money to give them admin superuser status over your identity.

F*** that.
 
Thinking back, I had exactly one attempt to buy something with one of my credit cards. I had a Discover card that was used only for a certain hotel chain. Shortly after one of our trips to the PRK, I got a call from the bank asking if I purchased two airline tickets in Florida. Of course, I didn't and the bank reversed the charges and issued me a new credit card.

Of course, I am retired and don't have a business to protect.

Maybe my situation is fairly unusual. I don't owe anyone anything. I have only two credit cards and I am contacted by email every month showing what I owe and I check the transactions before the bill is paid. The majority of my funds including my checking account are held by a very large investment company. It would be almost impossible for anyone to access my accounts without the management team contacting me.
 
After looking at the links Uffda posted, I have decided I won't go that route. I won't be able to protect myself from identity theft, but I will deal with that if it happens. In the meantime, I feel my funds are very secure, as are my credit and debit cards. It's a bitch though, isn't it?
 
it is. The main thing is to know which are your legally guaranteed protections, and which are ones that you get asked to pay for, but should be included, or useless cover. As in I was asked to add a buyer protection program to my debit card during a wave of skimmer attacks. However the insurance would not cover swipe and pin transactions, only signature ones. since you couldn't do a signature only transaction with my card, and a skimmer attack would leave them with my card and PIN, it would have been a waste of money for me, but my bank was happy to sell it to me.
Keeping an eye on your accounts, which most people don't do, and having accounts that are isolated, which is a bit inconvenient, is about all you can do from a funds protection side. As far as identity goes, good records help, at least to prove you are or aren't who they think you might be.
 
I have a savings account only. I refuse to have a checkbook or debit card. I use isolated (like Capital One) credit cards for my purchases.
 
UffDa said:
1. Thinking back, I had exactly one attempt to buy something with one of my credit cards. I had a Discover card that was used only for a certain hotel chain. Shortly after one of our trips to the PRK, I got a call from the bank asking if I purchased two airline tickets in Florida. Of course, I didn't and the bank reversed the charges and issued me a new credit card.

Of course, I am retired and don't have a business to protect.

2. Maybe my situation is fairly unusual. I don't owe anyone anything.

I have only two credit cards and I am contacted by email every month showing what I owe and I check the transactions before the bill is paid. The majority of my funds including my checking account are held by a very large investment company. It would be almost impossible for anyone to access my accounts without the management team contacting me.
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1. I've never had that problem. I don't own a single credit card. My oldest daughter, on the other hand, can't seem to live without them. She asked me once to help "balance" her CC bills....she is in debt almost as much as the US is. I told her then..."unless you cut these [colorful metaphors] up and begin to live within your means, you will never get out of debt."
2. You are not alone. Neither do I.
 
druid189 said:
I don't own a single credit card.
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I always have a credit card and a debit card. It's all about convenience. The vast majority of the time I don't have a single bill in currency on me. I just don't carry money and haven't for a long time. You'd be surprised at the number of us who go through life as if we were in a cashless society. I prefer it.

Plus try to book yourself a hotel room or an airline ticket without one.
 
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I carry precious metals. All about escape and evasion.

 
leghog said:
Plus try to book yourself a hotel room or an airline ticket without one.
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It's difficult, but it can be done. From what I have read, airlines charge extra if you pay with cash and it also alerts TSA that you may be up to something. Expect a colonoscopy.

I'm sure that you can pay for a hotel room with cash, but it may be difficult to reserve a room without a credit card.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I carry precious metals. All about escape and evasion.
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Real money - everything else is counterfeit. I'm with you, dude.
15745883048_2b96f4474e_z.jpg
 
vanslem6 said:
Real money - everything else is counterfeit. I'm with you, dude.
15745883048_2b96f4474e_z.jpg
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If it comes down to that, food will be a better currency. Even the Bible prophesises a time gold and silver will prove worthless even to fill your stomach.
 
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