Equifax

• ppaw1999

  I went to sign up for the Equifax identity theft protection. On the personal information sign up page it asks for full name, birthday and social security number. I wonder how safe the rest of you feel giving all your personal information to yet another company. I have been hacked by the IRS, my personal physician office, an insurance company and now Equifax. Do I give all my personal information to someone else when all the other places I felt were safe still got hacked?
• gut

  I just signed up for it. Funny thing is, I was ALREADY a victim of identity theft and have my credit locked with them.
  
  All you can really do is take advantage of the free annual report (with each of the 3 services, so you can check a different one every 4 months) and monitor for suspicious activity.
  
  One further step you can do is the security freeze. I got a free lifetime freeze because I was a victim, but not sure if just anyone can do that for more than 5-7 years (and it costs you some money).
  
  
  I've also had my credit cards stolen 3 or 4 times. Each CC incident was absolutely painless to deal with. When my identity got stolen, I saw reports for two utilities totaling $800 and $2200. It was pretty easy to rectify that, but did take some time to gather records and prove it wasn't me (basically proof of address and billing history). Obviously identity theft has been a real nightmare for others.
• ppaw1999

  I am suppose to be under a protection plan paid for by the government because someone working for the IRS hacked me. I guess what I am questioning is TrustedID is the outfit the Equifax is offering the protection plan through. Are they a part of Equifax or a separate company?
  If Equifax couldn't be trusted with my personal info how I am I suppose to trust TrustedID? Is the protection plan I am receiving from the government enough or do I risk my personal info and hand it over to yer another organization?
• gut

  ppaw1999;1871909 wrote: If Equifax couldn't be trusted with my personal info how I am I suppose to trust TrustedID? Is the protection plan I am receiving from the government enough or do I risk my personal info and hand it over to yer another organization?

  No one can be trusted with your personal info. That's why, regardless of the Equifax hack, you should be regularly monitoring your stuff. TrustedID is giving you help there, albeit only for 12 months.
• ppaw1999

  gut;1871962 wrote:No one can be trusted with your personal info. That's why, regardless of the Equifax hack, you should be regularly monitoring your stuff. TrustedID is giving you help there, albeit only for 12 months.

  Thanks for the info Gut. Makes sense, I will follow your lead.