topic Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT! in General Credit Topics

Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:37:23 GMT

What is there something in the water? While I know this pales in comparison to knowing that a countrywide employee SOLD your information. I just opened my mail and found a litter from: Mellon Shareowner Services...

Apparently the information contained my SS#, address, name, shareowner account #'s for retirement accounts, personnel files, banking records, scanned copies of checks etc. all as a result of my previous employers merger. This company handles records for company mergers. That's a LOT of personal information.

GREAT! I will positively die if all my hardwork getting my scores into the mid 700's goes to the crapper because of this. I'm hoping it's just a missing box somewhere and there was no malice behind it.

They did offer me 24 months of FREE Triple Alerts credit monitoring. I'll be sure to take them up on that!

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

llecs — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:47:33 GMT

You and me both. I serve as custodian for DD's Disney shares. Disney didn't do anything wrong, but a company that handles their shareholders lost a backup tape that had our names, address, SSN, DOB and other info. They stepped up and offered monitoring. So far so good. Welcome to the digital age I guess.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:55:18 GMT

I guess so. Boy does it make you worried, doesn't it? I think more so because of all the hardwork I have put into my credit rebuilding. Oh man.

I just signed up for the triple alert thing, it's pretty crappy. Can't even see your whole report. The only thing they give is alerts. It's basically like scorewatch or something, but you ONLY get the alert to any new information reporting on your reports. I guess that's why they call it "triple alerts", but hey whatever, it's free for 2 years....

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:57:12 GMT

They also are providing $25,000 in identity theft insurance. What's that do for ya?

Oh wait, they don't offer it to NY residents. Ha, figures!

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:37:31 GMT

My DH works for the mouse and got his Mellon letter several months ago. I got my Countrywide letter yesterday. His code for his 2 years of free monitoring from consumerinfo.com did not include his FAKO score from Experian. Mine did. Not that FAKO scores mean anything but our free monitoring codes offered access to different products. I found that interesting.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

llecs — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:48:22 GMT

POWDER-PUFF wrote:
My DH works for the mouse and got his Mellon letter several months ago. I got my Countrywide letter yesterday. His code for his 2 years of free monitoring from consumerinfo.com did not include his FAKO score from Experian. Mine did. Not that FAKO scores mean anything but our free monitoring codes offered access to different products. I found that interesting.

Wow! You got me thinking about that vendor. It was Mellon. I wonder if they messed up twice or if they delay releasing the information to avoid a public fallout. Sounds like there is a story here somewhere.

I found my org. post. BNY Mellon.

http://fico.lithium.com/fico/board/message?board.id=generalcredit&message.id=109960&query.id=4448#M109960

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:54:57 GMT

2 completely different companies and different circumstances.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:56:11 GMT

They only thing in common is that they both offered free credit monitoring from consumerinfo.com.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:06:52 GMT

Between your husbands issue and countrywide, yes.

But, my situation was also with NY Bank Mellon, as was Llecs and I think your husbands as well. My letter did say the event took place back in Feb. *I think* . Letter is in another room. I don't feel like getting up. My credit monitoring seems crappy. No scores. Just alerts to new inquiries, accounts, etc.

POWDER-PUFF wrote:
2 completely different companies and different circumstances.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:10:58 GMT

Oh. Got it. BTW...DH's letter dated June 15,2008 and allowed 90 days to sign up for the free 2 year monitoring. I just love looking over my shoulder. Good luck to us all.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:30:14 GMT

Yeah, no kidding!

POWDER-PUFF wrote:
I just love looking over my shoulder. Good luck to us all.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:40:25 GMT

UpUpUp wrote:
Yeah, no kidding!
POWDER-PUFF wrote:
I just love looking over my shoulder. Good luck to us all.

agree... this is a horrible feeling. It is on my mind constantly. All the what if's pop up in my mind...what if they open up new cc's, what if they get a drivers license in my name, what if they get arrested with my name and info...my kids keep thinking "they're" gonna come to our house...What a great life we will live now.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

haulingthescoreup — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:52:58 GMT

If nothing else, all this garbage is going to have to prod the legislature and law enforcement into a newer, faster way of reacting when ID theft is reported. Once some US Senator gets this letter, it will dawn on people in power that ID theft and mishandling is ubiquitous, and eventually it will hit nearly everyone.

If nothing else, credit is going to have to start tilting in favor of the consumer, instead of automatically assuming that every bit of garbage and drivel on a credit report is Gospel.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:53:45 GMT

Wouldn't that be nice!

haulingthescoreup wrote:

If nothing else, credit is going to have to start tilting in favor of the consumer, instead of automatically assuming that every bit of garbage and drivel on a credit report is Gospel.

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:26 GMT

I agree companies need to be more reponsible about this stuff- BUT

Our tapes are inventoried and placed into locked "ammo boxes" and rotated to a secure facility daily- no employee EVER leaves the HQ with a tape.

Even IF someone had ALL the tapes from a group and the $300K in equipment, and the encryption keys, and the proper software and could recreate the restore/storage groups, they might have a chance of getting some data.

It is a much bigger risk of a small company with a single or 2 tapes on common data formats using unencrypted data that pose a risk to customers.

I don't think these breaches are any more common than they were a few years ago- it's the laws that are requiring their disclosure.

Message Edited by Timothy on 09-13-2008 05:00 PM

Re: Computer tapes containing my personal information missing...GREAT!

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:14:09 GMT

That's a good point, Timothy. It's probably been happening for years and years, only now they are required to tell us about it! Atleast we are warned and can be on the lookout. Thanks for putting a more positive spin on crappy news!