[bonnotsm9]

Hi. I am needing info as to what type of identity theft protection dh and I should buy. My mother is bipolar and is showing signs of heading for another huge manic episode. In the past she has gone on huge spending sprees that included flying all over the country, buying cars and wrecking them, charging $10,000 to an American Express card in one month, etc. Her husband has told her if she has another episode due to her refusing to take the correct medications, he will divorce her.

When my parents split up, my mom was having an episode and was so hard up for money that she emptied my savings account and may have used my information to open a credit card account. I was only 15 at the time, so I didn't know about it until several years later when I was in college, applied for credit in my own name, and was turned down for a credit card. My mother's name at that time was similar to mine. It was taken off my credit history as I clearly couldn't have opened the account at that age.

My mom has kept all my siblings and I social security numbers and I am concerned that if she goes into another manic episode, she'll use my info to open accounts once her husband cuts her off. I have never given her my husband or children's numbers. My siblings both have bankruptcies on their records. My mom has two bankruptcies. My credit is clear- no bankruptcies, no repo's, no late payments, etc. I want to keep it that way.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Contrary Housewife]

You can request a fraud alert be put on your credit report.

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq#fraudalert

This has the added benefit that the CC companies stop sending solicitations and junk mail.

 

[Nishu]

I agree with the fraud alert. Alert all 3 credit reporting agencies. I've done this, they won't ask any questions about why so it won't matter that she hasn't done anything as of yet. You might want to tell her stepfather that he should do the same, only I wouldn't mention your mom though because she probably wouldn't take it too well. Just act like you're recommending it for no particular reason, just safety in general.

I use a credit monitoring service that I pay $13 a month for. It automatically sends alerts when things change, plus I'm able to access my credit report any time at no additional charge. I can check it every day and it won't cost anything extra.

I don't use any identity theft protection service so I can't recommend one of those.

Sorry bout your mom. Hopefully she won't do anything too crazy.

 

[bonnotsm9]

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe what I'm wanting is a credit monitoring service? My main concern is making sure she doesn't use my info to open credit card accounts. I've been looking at identity protection or credit monitoring companies, but don't know which ones are reputable.

 

[Nishu]

I use Experian, which is about as reputable as you're going to get. It is one of the 3 credit monitoring companies. If you go through their site, it's $15 a month. I get a discount through my bank so you might want to check through your bank.

Triple Advantage Credit Monitoring at Experian.com

They also offer a separate identity theft protection service for $13 a month.

Identity Theft Protection from Protect My ID at Experian.com

I'm sure the other 2 companies, transunion and equifax, have similar programs.

 

[bonnotsm9]

Thanks. The Protect My ID was one of the ones I'd seen while searching.

 

[khaski]

I do not know much about, but you could look into 'Life Lock', who, from my understanding, not only monitors, but helps clean up, id theft. For those who do not have a 'red flag' towards it as you do, you can get a free credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus 1x a year...so you can check your credit, for free, every 4 months, using a different company. (I wish you could get your scores for free, too, but alas, not yet!).

I am so sorry you have to worry about this, what a stress no one needs. My mother, who has some MAJOR issues, and wouldn't steal our IDs but would happily 'check' on our personal financial things, tried to get my 3 kids' socials from me a few years ago claiming she needed them to leave stuff to the kids in her will. I knew it to be untrue, no social #s needed to will things to people, and refused to give them out....I have no doubt she still has mine on file, though! I have even looked into getting mine changed because of her issues with 'boundaries' but it seems to be a REALLY big hassle to do, but you might consider it to protect yourself.

 

[frugal is fun]

I was thinking to check with Social Security and see if they have any program where they can alert you if someone is using your SS#. I have no idea if they do or not but I would definitely check with them.

 

[Nishu]

I was thinking to check with Social Security and see if they have any program where they can alert you if someone is using your SS#. I have no idea if they do or not but I would definitely check with them.

That's how the fraud alert and the active duty alert work. They'll actually call you up if someone runs a hard inquiry on your account.

Look at this, I didn't know about an extended fraud alert...

An extended fraud alert is similar to an initial 90 day alert, except that it lasts for 7 years, and to verify your request a creditor must contact you on the telephone number(s) you provide to Equifax when you requested the extended fraud alert. A valid police report showing that you have been a victim of identity theft is required to place an extended fraud alert. Also, you may request two additional free credit file disclosures, and your name is removed from prescreened offers of credit or insurance for 5 years. Download an extended fraud alert request form. (The request form requires Adobe Reader. Get Adobe Reader)

Equifax Online Help: How to Set a Fraud Alert

You can get an extended fraud alert from all three companies. I might do that for mine.

If you can get an extended fraud alert on all 3 credit reports, paying for id theft protection seems kind of pointless.

 

[thriftyshopper]

When you put a fraud alert on, noone including yourself can open a credit card in your name. I believe the cost was $10.00 per credit agency to put it on, and every time you need someone to access your credit history (like to apply for a loan, to open a new credit card, or even to apply for some jobs) you need to contact them and give them a code for them to remove the freeze. It will cost you each time you have them remove the freeze, and they will only allow the company you want to check your credit history to access the information. Some places will want to check all three of the agencies, so you will end up paying $30.00 total each time. But, that is a small price to pay if it keeps someone from bankrupting you and ruining your credit. Hope this helps!

 

[Nishu]

When you put a fraud alert on, noone including yourself can open a credit card in your name. I believe the cost was $10.00 per credit agency to put it on, and every time you need someone to access your credit history (like to apply for a loan, to open a new credit card, or even to apply for some jobs) you need to contact them and give them a code for them to remove the freeze. It will cost you each time you have them remove the freeze, and they will only allow the company you want to check your credit history to access the information. Some places will want to check all three of the agencies, so you will end up paying $30.00 total each time. But, that is a small price to pay if it keeps someone from bankrupting you and ruining your credit. Hope this helps!

If that were the case, than anyone willing to pay an extra $30 can still access your credit report.

You shouldn't be paying anyone anything to "unfreeze" your credit. All that happens is they make an extra effort to verify your identity, which typically means a phone call.

 

[thriftyshopper]

I have fraud alerts through all three credit agencies and you have to your personal code and verify lots of personal information to unfreeze your credit history.

 

[Pianolady]

I used to have LifeLock and they got sued by the credit card companies & they can no longer place fraud alerts for you, you have to do it yourself. I place fraud reports every 90 days, and it's free, canceled LifeLock.

Here's the information LifeLock provided when they stopped placing the fraud alerts for their customers.
"Contact TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance
at 1-800-680-7289. Follow the prompts to place a fraud alert via their automated fraud alert system.

Note: It is not necessary to request fraud alerts with each individual credit reporting agency as they are required by law to notify the others of your request."

I just put a reminder on my calendar 90 days, and do it automatic. Be sure to decline the sales pitches. I tried to open an instant credit just to see if I could, couldn't do it. The credit card company must talk to you before they'll open the account. I place alerts on the kids' SS#'s too.

 

[thriftyshopper]

Sorry, I just checked, I have a credit freeze, not a fraud alert. That is what costs $10.00 per agency.

 

[bonnotsm9]

I used to have LifeLock and they got sued by the credit card companies & they can no longer place fraud alerts for you, you have to do it yourself. I place fraud reports every 90 days, and it's free, canceled LifeLock.

Here's the information LifeLock provided when they stopped placing the fraud alerts for their customers.
"Contact TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance
at 1-800-680-7289. Follow the prompts to place a fraud alert via their automated fraud alert system.

Note: It is not necessary to request fraud alerts with each individual credit reporting agency as they are required by law to notify the others of your request."

I just put a reminder on my calendar 90 days, and do it automatic. Be sure to decline the sales pitches. I tried to open an instant credit just to see if I could, couldn't do it. The credit card company must talk to you before they'll open the account. I place alerts on the kids' SS#'s too.

Do you think just putting the fraud alert on my credit report would be enough? I looked at LifeLock and they provided other services. Don't really know that my mom would be savvy enough to do more than open a credit card using my info.

I'd like to add the disclaimer that I do not mean to imply that being bipolar makes you dishonest and a thief. It is a physical illness just like diabetes or epilepsy. It just alters a person's mental functioning. There are medications that a person can take which are very helpful. My mom refuses to believe she's bipolar and tries to go off her meds or talk her doctor into giving her ones that are just for depression instead of Bipolar I. Right now she's taking just lexapro instead of lithium, which I think is what is causing her to be unstable again. Then she causes all kinds of problems, in large part because she's just not a very nice or honest person in the first place.

 

[bonnotsm9]

I do not know much about, but you could look into 'Life Lock', who, from my understanding, not only monitors, but helps clean up, id theft. For those who do not have a 'red flag' towards it as you do, you can get a free credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus 1x a year...so you can check your credit, for free, every 4 months, using a different company. (I wish you could get your scores for free, too, but alas, not yet!).

I am so sorry you have to worry about this, what a stress no one needs. My mother, who has some MAJOR issues, and wouldn't steal our IDs but would happily 'check' on our personal financial things, tried to get my 3 kids' socials from me a few years ago claiming she needed them to leave stuff to the kids in her will. I knew it to be untrue, no social #s needed to will things to people, and refused to give them out....I have no doubt she still has mine on file, though! I have even looked into getting mine changed because of her issues with 'boundaries' but it seems to be a REALLY big hassle to do, but you might consider it to protect yourself.

Thanks. I checked my credit report recently and all was well. Just trying to prevent a problem.

My mom asked for the kids' SS#s once and we wouldn't give them to her. It was to open a savings account for them, but knowing my mom, they'd never actually get the money.

 

[Nishu]

If you don't want to spend the money on a id theft prevention, I'd put a fraud alert on it and just check it periodically. I doubt it will be necessary to have a real id theft prevention.

If you're concerned about your kids' id's, you can contact the 3 credit reporting agencies and get their credit reports as well. I think you have to fill out a form or something.

 

[bonnotsm9]

Thank you, everyone, for the advice. I put a fraud alert on my credit report yesterday.