I heard and read good comments about the services like Life Lock. I'm more of a risk taker or just plain cheap. I don't buy extended service contracts and so far haven't needed them (knock on wood) I haven't jumped on the earthquake insurance bandwagon eventhough we live near earthquake central and only have about 30 years before the big one is way over due. I should have more life insurance I should save more for retirement I should perform more preventative maintenance I should have a physical each year & dental checkup every 6 months. and so on and so on....
We are very careful with our information....a paper shredder in our home and the RV.
One financial advisor on the radio said to ruin your own credit score, then the thieves won't get anything even if they do steal your identity.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 20th of April 2012 10:53:44 AM
bjoyce said
03:59 PM Apr 20, 2012
We have credit monitoring as part of another service we have, a legal plan, and have a couple other services that will do so for extra money. Check with your banks and credit cards to see how much extra they charge. Life Lock has to pay for all their slick advertisements and executives salaries, I am sure other services are cheaper for the same service.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 20th of April 2012 04:00:22 PM
Trabuco said
04:59 PM Apr 20, 2012
Does anyone use a credit monitoring system like Life Lock? I've seen the ads and just curious if it works as advertised or if it's just another way to waste money.
Trabuco said
06:32 PM Apr 20, 2012
Larry,
I've had 2 friends that have had their ID stolen but like you I'm kind of tight. I've bought 1 extended warranty and it was on a Harley. I just broke even on the warranty. No earth quake insurance and don't plan on getting it.
Just wondering if anyone on the forum has a horror story concerning ID theft that made them purchase a monthly ID service.
igotjam said
08:24 PM Apr 20, 2012
Had our Visa info used to make thousands in unauthorized purchases. Not sure where number was taken and nothing else impacted. Credit Card company immediately reversed the charges and issued a new card. The only hassle was the 10 day wait for the new card to arrive.
Trabuco said
08:30 PM Apr 20, 2012
Robert,
Now that you mention that we had the same thing happen. Checking my account online I noticed several hundred dollars in purchases that I did't make. When I called the credit card company they asked if I had been in Russia recently, which we hadn't they took care of the charges. At the time we only had one credit card so it was a long couple of weeks until we received the new. Needless to say we have more than one now.
rvingft said
09:33 PM Apr 22, 2012
We too have credit monitoring as part of our Legal Shield plan.
And as CDL drivers' license holders, we have Legal Shield for our DL's too. That came in VERY handy when a NE HP tried to nail us for log book violations and 3 miles over speed. He even fudged the computer read-out of the clock report to TRY to get Terry at 18 over!
NOT! Legal Shield to the rescue .....all covered in our monthly membership fee at no additional cost to us.
We did just buy an extended warranty for a used Ford pickup we just bought. Just in case the stories on this and other RVers forums about the 6.0 diesel happen to us :D
2riker2go said
11:36 AM Apr 24, 2012
I purchased a Credit Watch product through Equifax. With this, I get an email every time my credit is pulled, a new account is opened, or my credit score changes. The other two credit bureaus (Transunion, Experian) also offer similar products.
PIEERE said
02:22 PM Apr 24, 2012
If I bought in to every product on the market then I would have to eat chicken feed; cause dog and cat food got to expensive. If scammers get into my accounts; they are in for a enormous surprise. Go ahead and use my info; it may get you in the Hot Seat! LOL!
Seriously folks; my bank will notify me immediately if suspicious activity presents itself. I always call when traveling between employs or changing locales.
Pieere
Melstar said
02:49 PM Apr 24, 2012
I have had my credit cards stolen in the past and my bank accounts hacked into, and most recently my SS# used to open a Verizon account in N.Y. I live in Louisiana....never been to N.Y.
I have Identity theft protection....just in case the big one hits and I do know that it is a nightmare to restore your credit....my protection company does all the work to restore your credit and your good name!
Racerguy said
04:00 PM Apr 24, 2012
I think it has a lot to do with your comfort level.We are our own credit monitoring service and so far it has served us well.We have limits set on all our cards and check our accounts often.I hate paying for something I feel I can do myself.
Trabuco said
05:08 PM Apr 24, 2012
Many different takes on the identity thing. I guess that's why they make more than one paint color:) Like Racerguy I check my accounts often. I'm not relly concerned about the unauthorized CC charges those are easy to fix. I was more curious about ID theft, where someone takes over all your identity, like someone stealing your SSN#. Do these companies really protect that from happening?
2riker2go said
02:06 AM Apr 26, 2012
When someone like that gets hold of your information and social sec. #, often what they do with it is try to open some kind of account, or a credit card, etc. Any of these credit watch programs will let you know if that is happening because if a new account is opened or your credit is pulled, you are made aware of it right away.
Lyman said
11:35 PM Sep 5, 2012
se a credit freeze
to quote
Credit freezes are frequently viewed as the most effective way to prevent financial identity theft. Each year in the United States, approximately 15 percent of all cases of identity theft are cases of new account origination identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission.[3] This form of identity theft occurs when a criminal opens credit in another individual's name. In the credit origination process, access to a credit report is critical for a lender to make a risk assessment. Because a credit freeze effectively stops any access to the credit report, it places a block in the process of issuing credit. Individuals who freeze their credit reports must therefore unfreeze their reports before they wish to apply for credit themselves.
I might suggest you search for and read Howard's posts about checking your own credit reports regularly. Sorry I don't have the link.
mcphelps7 said
12:31 AM Sep 12, 2012
Check/search Clarkhoward.com for directions on how to freeze your credit yourself at each of the three credit rating agencies. It's $10 per agency and very easy to do. Did it for my college age kids too. Great peace of mind!
I heard and read good comments about the services like Life Lock. I'm more of a risk taker or just plain cheap.
I don't buy extended service contracts and so far haven't needed them (knock on wood)
I haven't jumped on the earthquake insurance bandwagon eventhough we live near earthquake central and only have about 30 years before the big one is way over due.
I should have more life insurance
I should save more for retirement
I should perform more preventative maintenance
I should have a physical each year & dental checkup every 6 months.
and so on and so on....
We are very careful with our information....a paper shredder in our home and the RV.
One financial advisor on the radio said to ruin your own credit score, then the thieves won't get anything even if they do steal your identity.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Friday 20th of April 2012 10:53:44 AM
We have credit monitoring as part of another service we have, a legal plan, and have a couple other services that will do so for extra money. Check with your banks and credit cards to see how much extra they charge. Life Lock has to pay for all their slick advertisements and executives salaries, I am sure other services are cheaper for the same service.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 20th of April 2012 04:00:22 PM
I've had 2 friends that have had their ID stolen but like you I'm kind of tight. I've bought 1 extended warranty and it was on a Harley. I just broke even on the warranty. No earth quake insurance and don't plan on getting it.
Just wondering if anyone on the forum has a horror story concerning ID theft that made them purchase a monthly ID service.
Now that you mention that we had the same thing happen. Checking my account online I noticed several hundred dollars in purchases that I did't make. When I called the credit card company they asked if I had been in Russia recently, which we hadn't they took care of the charges. At the time we only had one credit card so it was a long couple of weeks until we received the new. Needless to say we have more than one now.
And as CDL drivers' license holders, we have Legal Shield for our DL's too. That came in VERY handy when a NE HP tried to nail us for log book violations and 3 miles over speed. He even fudged the computer read-out of the clock report to TRY to get Terry at 18 over!
NOT! Legal Shield to the rescue .....all covered in our monthly membership fee at no additional cost to us.
We did just buy an extended warranty for a used Ford pickup we just bought. Just in case the stories on this and other RVers forums about the 6.0 diesel happen to us :D
Seriously folks; my bank will notify me immediately if suspicious activity presents itself. I always call when traveling between employs or changing locales.
Pieere
I have Identity theft protection....just in case the big one hits and I do know that it is a nightmare to restore your credit....my protection company does all the work to restore your credit and your good name!
se a credit freeze
to quote
Credit freezes are frequently viewed as the most effective way to prevent financial identity theft. Each year in the United States, approximately 15 percent of all cases of identity theft are cases of new account origination identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission.[3] This form of identity theft occurs when a criminal opens credit in another individual's name. In the credit origination process, access to a credit report is critical for a lender to make a risk assessment. Because a credit freeze effectively stops any access to the credit report, it places a block in the process of issuing credit. Individuals who freeze their credit reports must therefore unfreeze their reports before they wish to apply for credit themselves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_freeze