For Propriety Sake

For Propriety Sake

My mother passed away four months ago. Recently I began receiving solicitations by mail offering my Mom free services and discounts to local businesses. When I called them to find out how they got my address in New York connected with my Mom’s name from Florida, they told me they bought it from a list broker. When I inquired again with the list brokers, I was advised that they buy their lists from the credit bureaus. Yes you read it right. Experian, Equifax, and Transunion sell our information to list brokers for a fee.

It appears that when we advise credit card companies of the death of a credit card holder they record the correspondent address of the next of kin in their records. They then contact the credit agencies of a change of address which is mistaken as a move to a new neighborhood. As such the list is sold to local business as a new move. While the social security administration is responsible to notify the credit bureaus of a loved one’s demise, it will take a long period of time, leaving the door open to these disconcerting actions.

What is equally troubling is the ability to get all three agencies to stop selling it. The online and customer service centers are designed to work with live individuals who have had their credit reports compromised. There is no support for the death of a loved one. After two months of trying I finally went to the corporate offices of each credit bureau. One effort required getting help at the president’s office.

Here’s what you need to know in order to remove your lost loved one’s information:

• Get a copy of the death certificate.

• Contact Transunion at 800-987-3670 and request Mary Litwa or her department. She will then request you fax her a copy of the death certificate. Stress that you are requesting the suppression of your loved one’s information.

• Contact Equifax at 404 885-800. Request someone in special disputes. They will provide direction to fax the death certificate to 888 826-0573. However you will need to talk to them first to provide appropriate information.

• Send a letter to Experian with a copy of the death certificate and power of attorney or proof of executorship to PO Box 9701 Allen, Tx 75013. Request the “opt out” department.

• Contact the Direct mail association online at https://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/ddnc.php. Register the information of your loved one to stop mail solicitations.

• Make sure you have identity theft protection for your parents long before they become ill and need our support to protect their identities in life and in death. Go to www.ID247.com to get the most support as well as a discount. Contact me for the discount code. They were recently rated by consumer magazine and a copy of that article is available by emailing ester.horowitz@apsaintl.com. Put in the subject consumer magazine.

Identity theft is a growing crime. Dormant social security numbers are a panacea for thieves once it is discovered that is it dormant due to death, incarceration, or an underage child. Don’t give them the chance to learn it. Make sure you notify the primary credit bureaus to suppress the use of their information for any reason.