| Personal documents gone My social security card, birth certificate, pre-yr18 guardianship papers and health insurance card/debit cards/voters card/drivers license are all missing. I'd rather not say how, but it involved a bad move out of an apartment I was staying at. The documents in question were left with a group of people who really are not the best group of people.
I'm wondering what I should do? Stupid question I guess. I'm 20 years old. Bank cards are all cancelled, but insurance/SS/birth certificate etc, I worry. |
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 LocoObviously InsanePremium
join:2002-11-09
21 Jump St.
kudos:2
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Green Day:Bank cards are all cancelled, but insurance/SS/birth certificate etc, I worry.
Well, you should worry.
The SS card # and original birth cert are critical documents to lose.
Identity theft is on the rise. Good luck....i wish you well in this matter.
»www.ehow.com/how_6946265_report-···urce=ask
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I work hard. I play hard. I stay hard. |
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 SnakeoilIgnore Button. The coward's feature.Premium
join:2000-08-05
Mentor, OH
kudos:1
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·magicjack.com
| reply to Green Day
Notify the Insurance company. They might be able to change the policy number.
Contact Social Security. They might be able to "kill" your old number and give you a new one, and card.
As for the Birth certificate, It's gone. All you can do is call the state, where your were born, health department. You can request a certified copy of the Birth certificate. Some states have the information on their web site.
Here is NY States information on apply for a birth certificate copy: »www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/birth.htm
Next time get a safety deposit box at a bank and put important documents there.
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 nerdburgPremium
join:2009-08-20
Schuylkill Haven, PA
kudos:1 | reply to Green Day
You'll want to contact the major credit bureaus and attach a fraud alert to your name and social security number. They will do an Initial Security Alert (good for 90 days). If there is unauthorized activity, you can extend the alert. The alert notifies potential creditors to verify your identity before extending credit.
Equifax »www.equifax.com, 1-888-766-0008
Experian »www.experian.com, 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion »www.transunion.com, 1-800-680-7289
You should also check your credit reports and alert any creditors that you don't recognize that you are a victim of fraud. |
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 thegeekPremium
join:2008-02-21
united state
kudos:1
·Suddenlink
·NPG Cable
| adding on to that it would probably be worth the money to pay for a credit monitoring service for a while. if money is tight you could skip it, but if you can afford it, it would be worth the extra security. Many argue that these services aren't worth it but in this situation it's worth considering. |
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dingoPremium
join:2009-02-08
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·AT&T Midwest
2 edits | reply to Green Day
Some insurance companies offer as part of a homeowners policy "ID theft" help. They have folks who, if you find yourself in your current postion, help with advice and services as what to do. Here is a cut and paste from my carriers web site...
Why Should I Choose Sentry Home Insurance?
Unlimited access to free, expert assistance to help you resolve identity-related fraud, plus up to $10,000 of optional reimbursement coverage for expenses incurred to restore your identity
You may want to check with your insurance company and see if they offer a similar service. Good luck and stay vigilant!!
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If people realized what was really important, there would be a shortage of fishing poles. |
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 swintecPremium,VIP
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME
kudos:3
 ·RapidVPS
 ·Sprint Mobile Br..
·VoicePulse
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to Green Day
Although it costs a bit of money, consider freezing your credit that way your credit information can not be pulled and new accounts opened.
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| said by swintec:Although it costs a bit of money, consider freezing your credit that way your credit information can not be pulled and new accounts opened.
Absolutely the strongest option. Did it years ago and have not worried about credit fraud since.
Here's Experian's explanation of the process. You would need to do it with all 3 major bureaus.
'»www.experian.com/consumer/securi···eze.html' |
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 psafuxPremium,VIP
join:2005-11-10
kudos:2 | reply to swintec
said by swintec:Although it costs a bit of money, consider freezing your credit that way your credit information can not be pulled and new accounts opened.
Uh. It's free to do this yourself. |
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LocoObviously InsanePremium
join:2002-11-09
21 Jump St.
kudos:2 | reply to swintec
Life Lock is good and isn't expensive at all.
»www.lifelock.com
It's money well spent..:+)
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I work hard. I play hard. I stay hard. |
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swintecPremium,VIP
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME
kudos:3 Reviews:
·RapidVPS
·Sprint Mobile Br..
·VoicePulse
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to psafux
said by psafux:said by swintec:Although it costs a bit of money, consider freezing your credit that way your credit information can not be pulled and new accounts opened.
Uh. It's free to do this yourself. Depends on state and circumstances. In maine it costs $10 to do it, unless you were victim of Identity theft. Most states are similar. It also costs $10 or so to unfreeze them temporarily if you are applying for new credit (car loan, etc). »www.consumersunion.org/campaigns···div.html
For someone who has gotten lifes big purchases out of the way, it is probably a great idea to do. Most don't I guess because they se a nominal cost to it.
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 Mr NeutronLooks like I picked the wrong week toPremium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME | reply to Loco
said by Loco:Life Lock is good and isn't expensive at all.
»www.lifelock.com
It's money well spent..:+)
That all depends.
said by nerdburg:You'll want to contact the major credit bureaus and attach a fraud alert to your name and social security number.
All Lifelock does is attach a fraud alert to your credit reports, just like Nerdberg suggested the OP do on his own. I'm serious here: that's all Lifelock does, and they charge money for it. Which is fine, provided the person getting ready to hand them money is aware that there is no "secret formula" for what they do.
If contacting the credit bureaus to have them place a fraud alert on your credit report is too much work for you then, yes, Lifelock is a good deal. Otherwise, take the time to handle it yourself and keep your money in your pocket.
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 Wily_OnePremium
join:2002-11-24
San Jose, CA | reply to Green Day
Re: Personal documents gone In addition to all the good responses above, if you think the documents still exist but you can't get them yourself, request a cop or sheriff to knock on the door and retrieve the property. (You may need to be present.) Cops do this from time to time when someone moves out under less than pleasant circumstances. You are entitled to your personal property.
Even if you don't get them back, I think this would put a little fear into these others not to try any of the fraud you are rightly concerned about now.
As for how to do this or how hard it is, I can't tell you. On the easy end of the spectrum you might just need to explain your circumstances to an officer. On the other hand you may need a court order signed by a judge. |
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| reply to Green Day
Re: Personal documents gone thanks for all the advice. Yes, I know the documents still exist and I know where they would be. They weren't directly "stolen" or "taken" from me but they were left somewhere I should not go back to and I know the people there would/could use them against me if they have found them. I am going to take some of this advice....thanks  |
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SpensergigThreadkiller SupremePremium,MVM
join:2000-03-26
Bradenton, FL | reply to Green Day
Re: Personal documents gone Best idea, given that the docs are available...
Stop at the local PD or SO substation and ask for help.
They'll probably send someone to escort you while you retreive the papers.
Be a good idea to tip him/her.
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Edit - I didn't read the whole thread.
I see others have made the same suggestion.
This is the best, fastest, and safest way to gget them back.
Do it. |
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 joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5 | reply to Green Day
File a police report to CYA months/years down the line in case that information is used.
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PRescott7-2097 |
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Wily_OnePremium
join:2002-11-24
San Jose, CA | reply to Green Day
So dude, what was the outcome? Did you get your stuff back or did you wimp out?
Don't you know the DSLR rule? You can't post asking for help and then leave us hanging...  |
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