identy theft

[barrie elliot]

we are in florida in lakeland dw and i was in walmart shopping. went to check out for our items with our debit card and it wouldn't accept our card. we had to pay for our items on a credit card. when we got back to our motorhome we called our bank and they told us they froze our debit account because our debit number had been stolen. it may been taken when we had fueled. and one possible source was kanagroo gas we have been here about a month and about another month and half to go. and when you come to use a debit card you really miss it. also has anyone used those prepaid credit cards they sell in retail stores so you don't have to use your own credit card or debit card

[chasfm11]

also has anyone used those prepaid credit cards they sell in retail stores so you don't have to use your own credit card or debit card

There have been problems with those as well. The thieves go to the store, write down the numbers on the cards and then watch for them to be activate. As soon as the card shows up on the active list, the thieves create purchases to wipe it out. If you are going to pick up one of those, the recommendation is to go deep onto the rack and not take the top few.

[GaryKD]

Another measure of protection is subscribing to one of the anti identity theft services. LifeLock caught my eye and I now subscribe to it. Go here to read about their services.

[Roam America]

I use Lifelock too.

Consider a regular credit card. As long as you pay the balance each month (what the credit card companies call freeloading) there is no interest to pay. If it gets used fraudulently you have an avenue to dispute without your account getting cleaned out. When I do use my debit card, I use it as a credit card so as not to use my PIN number.

My only experience with a pre-paid card is a rebate card I got recently. Worked very well.

[Glen41]

Has anyone considered using cash? You know, that untraceable folding green stuff. I realize it is a little old school but ...

[paz]

We use a prepaid Walmart gift card (we just keep reloading the same card from our credit card as needed) to buy gas at Walmart gas stations at a 3 cent per gallon discount. No fees, but you do have some of your money tied up in the card. The disadvantage to the card is it is only accepted at Walmart.

Most of the major prepaid cards like Visa charge a fee up front, then will usually charge a monthly fee after a certain period or will charge a fee if the card isn't used for a certain period.

Cash is always good, but if you decide to use a credit card, get one that pays rewards. We get cash rewards of up to 5%.

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally posted by Glen41:
Has anyone considered using cash? You know, that untraceable folding green stuff. I realize it is a little old school but ...

All of mine is busy "stimulating" others . . .

[Hitchhiker]

The problem with carrying a lot of cash is that it takes so much of it for the fuel, groceries, accommodations, etc., when on an extended trip. Each transaction is OK but it's that large sum of money needed to be withdrawn from the bank before leaving out on a 3 or 4 month road trip or a seasonal stay in a warmer climate.

Plus, it's a lot simpler and safer to just swipe a credit card everywhere and then make one online payment every 30 days.

[Route 66]

I agree with Richard.

I use a credit card for everything possible and use little cash.

There are excellent bank protections for your credit card account.

There are some protections with a debit card, but if someone cleans out your checking account, it can take a while to get it straightened out, so I rarely use my debit card.

[read & learn]

We also use A Credit Card that has Rewards and pay it off in full each month.
Down side of Credit Cards is that many of the Companies have either lost or information has been stolen by employees. Now if you do something that red flags the system your card gets cancelled.
Thats good, but like us on the road full time and have been to areas without cell coverage [Rocky Point, Mexico]I found out when I needed fuel.
We have fixed that problem. Company now has e-mail address and we will let the Credit Card Companies know if and when we leave the USA again.

[TXiceman]

We also use a CC that pays a rebate on purchases and fuel. Pay it in full at the end og the billing cycle for no interest charge. Beats a debit card all over the place...rebate and using their money for close to a month.

Ken

[FatDog]

identity theft is extremely aggravating,
but when it happened to me it was someone I knew very well, a lot of time and grief went to fixing that,

nowadays, i use my card somewhat routinely on the internet but my CC allows me to use 'virtual' numbers that i can generate at will and are only good for one use and i can put a $$ limit on them,
the charges go back to my one real number,
and IF the vendor tries to use the virtual number again my CC company calls me and lets me know who the lousy scoundral is,
the whole theft thing is a real pain

[chasfm11]

Fatdog, would you mind sharing some more information about which organization allows you to generate those numbers? I've used my CC successfully for years to make purchases of the Internet and without problems. I'm always worried, however, that some of the organizations that I deal with might be more lax about security than I would prefer and will allow the CC card data to be stolen from them.

Just this morning, I found an erroneous charge on a CC. It was between statements, which is why I monitor the activity. I was able to get it handled immediately.

I,personally, am not comfortable carrying a large enough sum of cash around to make the many purchases that we make, especially on trips. Besides, that means that I cannot use the pay at the pumps feature and have to stand in those horrible lines inside at the truck stops. The CC takes care of that problem.

[Route 66]

would you mind sharing some more information about which organization allows you to generate those numbers?

Bank of America has that feature.