Student SSN Breach

grp2013
Thu, 01 Aug 2013 13:03:56 +0000

Thanks Dean J. We have done that now, twice. Here’s an update on the sillyness.

So, my S called Experian yesterday and was on the phone with them for 20+ minutes trying to get answers and hopefully get his ProtectMyID account set up. By the end, after talking to 4 people, they finally told him that since he didn’t have a utility bill or credit card statement in his own name, at his home address, to send to them then there was absolutely no way they could set up an account for him. He left it there, frustrated.

Today I called, and after 10 minutes and 2 people was told that even though he is a minor, and he can’t use the system to open an account, that they can’t talk to me either because he’s over 14, and they can’t give information even to parents and legal guardians if a child is over 14. I did NOT leave it there though.

After additional prodding I apparently asked the question in the right way, which was: I don’t want my son’s information, I want to know exactly what he needs to do to set up this account, as a minor, and knowing that he does NOT have bills or accounts in his name that he receives statements for - and the answer can’t be Nothing.

Apparently there is a “special” fax number that has been set up specifically for the UVa breach participants that you need to fax your documents to. And the secondary proof of identity document (other than a driver’s license) does not need to only be the items they told my son, but can be something sent to us, his parents, that also includes his name - so a Minor bank account, or an insurance coverage statement.

Not sure why getting this information was so hard, or they couldn’t provide him that information yesterday - he can’t be the only minor who is affected by this, you would think the process (and knowledge of it) would be more readily available at Experian. Anyway, end of rant, time to move on :)