40 million credit card accounts breached

[TTinCO]

Absolutely amazing.....check those statements carefully & keep an eye on your credit report.

I'm really starting to wonder how many of these breaches have gone undetected.

 

[HacheMan]

Unreal......

 

[RobFunk]

I saw something on 20/20 a while back, where a couple was a victim of identity theft.


Long story short the theif goes wild with their A+ credit and runs everything up big time.

The couple says they have been writing and calling creditors, trying to wipe out stuff they proved they did not do for 2 YEARS!! Can you imagine that? You didnt do anything wrong, but you have to suffer a 2 year headache trying to fix something you didnt do, meanwhile your credit is all screwed up and the theif most likely is scott free somewhere.

Who goes to bat for us when this happens?!

 

[TTinCO]

Most credit cards now have a "zero liability" policy, so you're okay there. As far as identity theft-it's pure hell.

People end up spending thousands of dollars and endless hours trying to undo the damage that the ID thieves have done. To say that it is a major headache is a big understatement.

....and it's only going to happen more and more with this crap going on

 

[HacheMan]

I saw something on 20/20 a while back, where a couple was a victim of identity theft.


Long story short the theif goes wild with their A+ credit and runs everything up big time.

The couple says they have been writing and calling creditors, trying to wipe out stuff they proved they did not do for 2 YEARS!! Can you imagine that? You didnt do anything wrong, but you have to suffer a 2 year headache trying to fix something you didnt do, meanwhile your credit is all screwed up and the theif most likely is scott free somewhere.

Who goes to bat for us when this happens?![/QUOTE]

Nobody does Rob.......

I had some hospital bills that ended up at a collection agency that showed up on my credit report. When I inquired about it, it wasn't even mine! It was the same last name, which turned out to be a niece. I have spoken with the collectors and the hospitals time and time and time again, but to no avail. All they have in their heads are $ signs and what you say to them goes in one ear and right out the other. I suppose it could be fought with a lawyer, but I haven't had the desire to take that step yet.....

 

[TTinCO]

When I bought a house, I found an item on my credit report that was not mine. The name wasn't even close & it was from a city that I had never been in. I have NO IDEA how it ended up landing on my report. Once it was disputed, it was quickly removed---but the burden is on YOU to make sure that the data on your report is accurate.

I've heard reports that 30% of all credit reports contain errors. They are definitely worth checking!!

 

[HacheMan]

I suppose it depends who you're dealing with TT. The guy at the collection agency that I had been speaking with was one big, complete jerk......

 

[TTinCO]

The collection agency pricks are always the worst--and it doesn't make a difference if you are right. I recently finshed a 3 month debacle over a Comcast bill from 3 yrs ago that got sent to collections this March.

In the end, it turned out that Comcast mistakenly sent a "batch" of accounts to collections. I wonder how many people just paid the money that they didn't owe?

 

[TheGeneral+]

All of the headache involved would suck. As soon as you receive a bill though you should be able to handle it without to much worry as long as you notify the CC Co. asap.

 

[Woody0]

The most interesting thing I saw in this report was the many instances of similar events reported now that California has a law mandating reporting of such thefts. Makes you wonder how much went unreported before.

I've had my credit card re-issued by the company twice in the last 2 years, but no false debits.

 

[GrandMasterB]

Good info, TTinCO. With the free credit reports from all bureaus(annualcreditreport.com), there is no excuse to not check them out. I found out that I had an outstanding debit for $14 from AMEX from 8 YEARS ago. I paid off my balance and closed the account 8 years ago, but somehow this was still on my report. Pain in the ass, but I'm glad I finally checked my report.

 

[Dante]

yep get your free Credit report as often as you can ....its great stuff to know

 

[wolfie_cr]

Woody is 100% right, with the Choicepoint issue a month or so ago, it all started when California residents got notified, of course everyone started saying "and what about the rest" and they had to admit it was far worse than they initially admitted


in this case at first it appeared that it was only Mastercard credit cards but now Visa/American Express are also involved.........

I have a small limit (1000 USD) American Express which is where I put the autodebits (Cable, phone , satellite etc) and I make it a mission to ask my credit card issuer to give me a new credit card number for the big limit cards......in this era where your card number is stored in a big number of databases I think its a sensible precaution you can take and it is FREE

 

[TTinCO]

I just saw an interview with someone who specializes in tracking identity theft. On average, it takes 3 years and costs 5 dimes to get your name cleared once your identity has been stolen.

:monsters-

 

[Holysmoke+]

and ppl here send echecks and use neteller. losing a credit card number is bad, but sending you social security number and drivers license to strangers over the net is crazy

 

[Dante]

and ppl here send echecks and use neteller. losing a credit card number is bad, but sending you social security number and drivers license to strangers over the net is crazy

Holy...anyone that knows your name can get your SS or DL number if they wanted to ...we have seen this there are info sites with this ALL over the net.. you do not have send it for it to be had