Security Freeze vs. Fraud Alert for Stolen Wallet

HImom
Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:56:37 +0000

Spoke with a burglary victim (home was burgled taking computers, various financial docs, various cards, SSNs & various other things from her, hubby & their sons). She says that they put on a security freeze and then paid for a service to monitor their credit. They have forgotten/lost the password and can’t figure out how to access the system but still are being billed for the monthly charge :(. She says she did ahve a security freeze but it was too tough to purchase online, so they decided to to the monitoring service.

Within hours after her wallet was stolen, she was called by her debit card company. The thief had withdrawn $500 from 3 separate ATMs and they wanted to know if that was really her. She told them she had been burgled & was still sorting out what was missing. They reimbursed her for the $1500 but never caught the burglars.

She said with the security freeze they had, it was difficult/impossible to purchase things on-line, which is why they discontinued it & instead are paying for the service they no longer can access!

I think I’ll advise D to put a fraud alert onto her credit report instead. It seems like it will be less onerous for her everyday activities & they DON’T have her SSN.

Anyone with thoughts or experience? Thanks!