topic NavyFed Eligibility Question in General Credit Topics

NavyFed Eligibility Question

kjm79 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:47:21 GMT

My husband is in the military (currently overseas). He does not have an account with NavyFed but is eligible. As his spouse, does anyone know if I'm eligible to join without him? I went to their website and looked at their eligibilty section and it said family members of current members or those eligible for membership could apply for membership. I started the online app process and was stopped at the second question, enter your Access number. I clicked on the find my access number link and entered the requested info and it said insufficient info was provided. It asked for ssn, dob, and last name (I entered hubbys info). I've been hearing great things about NavyFed and was looking to set up a savings acct with them, and later on take advantage of the great benefits they offer (loans, cc's). Does hubby have to first become a member before I'm eligible? TIA for any assistance!

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:52:34 GMT

Yes, he has to be a member.

Sometimes calling the CSR speeds up the process.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:55:37 GMT

Ya know, I really am not sure. In one place it says you can if your spouse is a member, in another it says if they are eligible so are you.

It would probably be better to call them to make sure.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question

kjm79 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:01:15 GMT

Yeah, I saw that too. That's why I was confused. I'll just have to give them a call. Thanks!

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

kjm79 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:32:53 GMT

Ok, took 25 min on the phone with the CSR, but I now am a member of NavyFed. Yeah!!! Started with a membership savings account.

Funny thing is, CSR didn't ask for any identifying info about my hubby other than what branch of the military he served in. I am registered in DEERS so when she got my info maybe that info transferred over???

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:45:45 GMT

Congrats!

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:54:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Congrats!

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.

Everybody has access to DEERS. If you give your name and SSN to your paperboy, he can check DEERS to see if you are listed.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

laz98 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:31:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.
Everybody has access to DEERS. If you give your name and SSN to your paperboy, he can check DEERS to see if you are listed.

LMAO!!!

ok, seriously though......WTH is deers??? this sounds like a bizarre conversation about hunting.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:47:21 GMT

@laz98 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.
Everybody has access to DEERS. If you give your name and SSN to your paperboy, he can check DEERS to see if you are listed.

LMAO!!!

ok, seriously though......WTH is deers??? this sounds like a bizarre conversation about hunting.

DEERS stands for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. It lists all active duty and reserve personnel eligible for military benefits including medical / dental, educational and life insurance. Every service member is supposed to be automatically listed, but not all dependants are. It is up to each individual service member to register their dependants.

Since there is no public database which includes all military personnel and the normal route that a creditor would use -- personally calling an individual's duty station for verification -- can be notoriously unreliable. So, the logic is that since all military personnel are eligible for benefits and must be listed in DEERS, DEErs becomes a de facto method to verify if one is in the military or not.

DEERS works well, but there are a few weaknesses in the system when it comes to older service members with years many years of service. There is also another database which can be checked to verify if one is enlisted or a commissioned officer since all commissions are confirmed by the US Senate and are a matter of public record. USAA used to use that back when it was closed to enlisted personnel.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

laz98 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:51:04 GMT

interesting! something tells me i probably knew that at one time, but it just wasn't important enough to remember

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:37:32 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
Congrats!

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.
Everybody has access to DEERS. If you give your name and SSN to your paperboy, he can check DEERS to see if you are listed.

Wow, are you serious?! That is almost scary.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:21:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
Congrats!

I doubt they have access to DEERS. I think they take your word for it.
Everybody has access to DEERS. If you give your name and SSN to your paperboy, he can check DEERS to see if you are listed.

Wow, are you serious?! That is almost scary.

Want to know something that is even scarier?

Check your PM.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

kjm79 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:01:05 GMT

That is kinda scary. I never realized or was given any kind of notice that the DEERS info was available to the public. But they have to have your specific info right? Can't just scroll down a list of all eligible participants fishing for a name?

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:14:38 GMT

@kjm79 wrote:
That is kinda scary. I never realized or was given any kind of notice that the DEERS info was available to the public. But they have to have your specific info right? Can't just scroll down a list of all eligible participants fishing for a name?

Yes, they would need your SSN at a minimum.

After I read this I started laughing, imagining someone going line by line looking for a name in that long list.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

kjm79 — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:32:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@kjm79 wrote:
That is kinda scary. I never realized or was given any kind of notice that the DEERS info was available to the public. But they have to have your specific info right? Can't just scroll down a list of all eligible participants fishing for a name?
Yes, they would need your SSN at a minimum.

After I read this I started laughing, imagining someone going line by line looking for a name in that long list.

Shoot, with identity theft at an all time high, I wouldn't put it past some people. Good to know it's not like a mailing list you can buy.

And on a side note (bringing it back to the point of the thread). Navy Fed did a hard pull on TU to open a savings account. Grrrr. Oh well.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:00:08 GMT

@kjm79 wrote:
That is kinda scary. I never realized or was given any kind of notice that the DEERS info was available to the public. But they have to have your specific info right? Can't just scroll down a list of all eligible participants fishing for a name?

You are correct in that they cannot just go fishing.

Still, the point is that there are several ways NFCU, PenFed, USAA or any other creditor can easily verify one's military status.

Re: NavyFed Eligibility Question(UPDATE)

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:41:45 GMT

Much easier than I had ever imagined.