topic Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account in General Credit Topics

Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:29:53 GMT

I recently tried to create a "my Social Security" account online and had to answer questions from my credit history.

I found that only one of the questions actually applied to my history, so I answered "none of the above" to the rest. Of course, the system denied me access.

I called Social Security tech support and was told that the questions came from Equifax. I also found out that I could go in person to the local SSA office and get a verification code so I could bypass the identity questions. So I did that.

To figure out where the bogus questions were coming from, I tried to get my Equifax credit report from annualcreditreport.com, but I was unable to answer those identity questions, either. So I called Equifax. I was unable to answer the questions for their phone rep, so he told me how to request my credit report directly from Equifax by faxing my identification to them.

Today, I got my copy of the Equifax credit report, and I am baffled. The report shows only a couple of the accounts that SSA or annualcreditreport.com or Equifax asked me about. For example:

"Your credit file indicates you may have an auto loan/lease, opened in or around March 2013." No, it doesn't.
"Your credit file indicates you may have a retail card, opened in or around November 2013." No, it doesn't.
"On which of the following streets have you lived?" The credit report shows none of the streets listed for me to choose from.
"Your credit file indicates you may have a bank card, opened in or around June 2015." No, it doesn't.
"Your credit file indicates you may have an installment account ..., opened in or around July 2014." No, it doesn't.
"Your credit file indicates you may have a student loan ...." No, it doesn't.

I've read a few other posts here about similar problems, and I saw something about LexisNexis. Is it possible that SSA, annualcreditreport.com, and Equifax were all using questions from LexisNexis? So do I need to get my LexisNexis report?

'Cause if I have to open more accounts using this stupid identity verification process, I might end up losing my mind. Or possibly just my identity.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:37:48 GMT

I don’t know what the heck is up with Equifax lately but the other day when I went to view my dispute results, it had good questions and then when I went to log in later on to try to save the dispute decision for my records, not a single one of the questions applied to me and I was locked out.

I think Equifax must be having system issues. They shouldn’t be relying on information not in their own file for authentication and verification purposes because that’s a security risk but given their history with the breach and all it wouldn’t surprise me either.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Pikaboo-icu — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:45:09 GMT

The entire "identity question" thing is insane, Equifax , not Equifax , I don't care who it is, the thing is a hot mess!

I recently got asked a question on one of those verification processes and it was about an address I lived at, with a room mate when I was 16- yes, sixteen! Now, I forbid you to do the math but that was 34 freaking years ago!

How the heck does a normal human being remember all that! We are NOT computers!

Seriously!

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 20:41:42 GMT

MyNameHere ... have run into this before. After considerable digging, went to find out in my case they had drawn from LexisNexis and Innovis. My mouth dropped open "who"? Some of the questions went back 30 years ... are you serious? Like you, the answers given were not correct but, that was my problem not there's. When I went to apply for an FNBO Credit Card the same thing happened so I got Verification to ask specific questions off of the credit report hard pull and was able to work around my failed memory on questions back 30 years that had the wrong answers. It was a mind blowing experience as I had no idea. Since then, I pulled many of these other non-regular bureaus and cleaned up what I could. Also, I froze every living thing I could find. Will add that with everything frozen, Verfication Departments have been redirected back to using the results of the actual Hard Inquiry. Found that they made up some questions and I challenged them on that which stumped them because they didn't know any real answer such as the color of my 2010 Car which they used the wrong color on, and then failed me for taking "none of the above". GAMES! Today, I am aggressive on this as I figured, "nothing ventured nothing gained," and if they were going to deny me on verification, I might as well go out in glory!

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:51:32 GMT

Great so now I get to pull two more reports and dispute garbage that isn’t accurate...

I can almost guarantee you that my FATHER’s info is on those other ones — we have the same name (I have the suffix II) and it amazes me that none of his stuff has ended up on the main three, especially since they all refuse to put my suffix on there despite that being my legal name!

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

DaveInAZ — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 12:50:33 GMT

I recently requested a replacement card online from Barclays, the chip doesn't work well. At the end it asked me a security question that "was in my profile", the street name of my place of work. No, that's not "in my profile", I've never given them more than the name of my employer. So I tried the street name of the HR department, Melody Lane. Ding! Wrong! So then I tried the Postal Service version Melody Ln. Ding! Wrong! So then I tried the street name where I actually work. Ding! You failed, call this number. That took 15 minutes of endless security question and texting me a code, all to send a replacement card to the same mailing address they've always had for me since I got the card in 2012, the same mailing address I've had since 2005.

I know Barclays uses Lexis Nexis, a couple years ago when doing a BT online they asked me a question about my sister that really startled me. She lives in Columbus OH where I grew up and has terrible credit with usually a few bill collectors chasing after her. When i pulled my LN report I see they connect us from our parents's address - from the 1980s! Give me a break.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 12:59:59 GMT

It’s incredibly infuriating that these guys aren’t included in the annual credit report website. Some of them don’t even have an online report request process!

I am fairly certain that they have my dad and I tied up since I lived with him in Louisiana when I was fighting for disability in 2012 and multiple creditors had that address but other than the Equifax snafu it hasn’t been a big enough deal for me to want to go through the hassle...

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Save-n-Invest — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 01:05:43 GMT

The security question verification is absolute nonsense. Equifax could goof up a two car funeral. As to NL I have no clue. I was not able to register for USPS Informed Delivery due to failure to answer security questions. I had to go to the PO with my ID for verification, was given a barcode or some other such nonsense and finally was able to register.

United Health uses that balderdash Healthsafe ID. That's another nightmare to access an established online account for my health insurance.

Last month I was not able to activate a thirty year old MasterCard issued by my primary bank. The phone rep asked for my postal zip. How stupid is that? The zip is on the mailng. He went on to tell me that my info would not populate. Next he said there is no public record info on me. He told me to have the co-owner call and vouch for me. How stupid is that?

I went to the local branch bank to have the card activated. The rep who has helped me on may occasions had difficulty activating the account. She entered all the necessary info and was sent to a phone rep who asked a bunch of stupid quesitons. It took about half an hour to activate the renewal card on this 30 year old account. All my info disappeared per the bank rep. This is the first time I have ever had an issue activating a credit card.

How can we provide the correct answers if they don't know the question?

Thanks for the heads up on mySocial Security. I'll try to establish an account before my anticipated trip to the local SS office in a few months. I don't want to deal with them twice either. Social Security reps are another fountain of bad information. Please educate yourself about any benefits before you visit to apply. They often shoot for low score or just plain don't know anything. Their mistake can cost you $$.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecurity account

iv — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 01:48:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I called Social Security tech support and was told that the questions came from Equifax.

While they were correct that SSA (and the IRS) do use Equifax for identity verification... that doesn't mean what you might assume.

They have a contract with Equifax, the company. That does not mean that the verified data is limited to information on your "normal" Equifax credit report, just that Equifax is the sub-contractor for the verification services.

They do pull from other sources, including other Equifax databases, third-party databases, and public records.

I had a verification question last year about "someone I previously lived with", and none of the names were even close... but... I happened to recognize one of them as the spouse of someone I had sold a condo to four years ago. The public records search associated my name with the address, and the spouse of the buyer with the address, in the same calendar year, and thus linked us for the ID question.

...and since I answered "correctly" (IE: picked their name, rather than "failing" the question), there's now an additional record out there that I've "confirmed" the connection.

...sigh.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecurity account

Pikaboo-icu — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 02:39:09 GMT

@iv wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I called Social Security tech support and was told that the questions came from Equifax.
While they were correct that SSA (and the IRS) do use Equifax for identity verification... that doesn't mean what you might assume.

They have a contract with Equifax, the company. That does not mean that the verified data is limited to information on your "normal" Equifax credit report, just that Equifax is the sub-contractor for the verification services.

They do pull from other sources, including other Equifax databases, third-party databases, and public records.

I had a verification question last year about "someone I previously lived with", and none of the names were even close... but... I happened to recognize one of them as the spouse of someone I had sold a condo to four years ago. The public records search associated my name with the address, and the spouse of the buyer with the address, in the same calendar year, and thus linked us for the ID question.

...and since I answered "correctly" (IE: picked their name, rather than "failing" the question), there's now an additional record out there that I've "confirmed" the connection.

...sigh.

Oh brother! Seriously?

I've guessed a few times at things that sounded familiar, distant cousin's age etc..

Now I have to look forward to them possibly reusing that info??!!

Sheesh! It would be nice if they could stick to the last couple decades and not ask me questions about distant relatives I've never met.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 03:03:35 GMT

@Save-n-Invest wrote:
The security question verification is absolute nonsense. Equifax could goof up a two car funeral. As to NL I have no clue. I was not able to register for USPS Informed Delivery due to failure to answer security questions. I had to go to the PO with my ID for verification, was given a barcode or some other such nonsense and finally was able to register.

United Health uses that balderdash Healthsafe ID. That's another nightmare to access an established online account for my health insurance.

Last month I was not able to activate a thirty year old MasterCard issued by my primary bank. The phone rep asked for my postal zip. How stupid is that? The zip is on the mailng. He went on to tell me that my info would not populate. Next he said there is no public record info on me. He told me to have the co-owner call and vouch for me. How stupid is that?

I went to the local branch bank to have the card activated. The rep who has helped me on may occasions had difficulty activating the account. She entered all the necessary info and was sent to a phone rep who asked a bunch of stupid quesitons. It took about half an hour to activate the renewal card on this 30 year old account. All my info disappeared per the bank rep. This is the first time I have ever had an issue activating a credit card.

How can we provide the correct answers if they don't know the question?

Thanks for the heads up on mySocial Security. I'll try to establish an account before my anticipated trip to the local SS office in a few months. I don't want to deal with them twice either. Social Security reps are another fountain of bad information. Please educate yourself about any benefits before you visit to apply. They often shoot for low score or just plain don't know anything. Their mistake can cost you $$.

Ugh! I have been able to log in to my UHC Medicare website ONCE since the switch to Healthsafe ID! I hate that stupid site!

🤬

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:59:07 GMT

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Personal-Finance/Langley-Federal-Credit-Union/m-p/5477473/highlight/true#M55001

I had a similar experience today with security questions attempting to open an account with Langley FCU. Answered the questions wrong, locked out 30 days, took a hard pull for nothing.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Save-n-Invest — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:01:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Save-n-Invest wrote:
The security question verification is absolute nonsense. Equifax could goof up a two car funeral. As to NL I have no clue. I was not able to register for USPS Informed Delivery due to failure to answer security questions. I had to go to the PO with my ID for verification, was given a barcode or some other such nonsense and finally was able to register.

United Health uses that balderdash Healthsafe ID. That's another nightmare to access an established online account for my health insurance.

Last month I was not able to activate a thirty year old MasterCard issued by my primary bank. The phone rep asked for my postal zip. How stupid is that? The zip is on the mailng. He went on to tell me that my info would not populate. Next he said there is no public record info on me. He told me to have the co-owner call and vouch for me. How stupid is that?

I went to the local branch bank to have the card activated. The rep who has helped me on may occasions had difficulty activating the account. She entered all the necessary info and was sent to a phone rep who asked a bunch of stupid quesitons. It took about half an hour to activate the renewal card on this 30 year old account. All my info disappeared per the bank rep. This is the first time I have ever had an issue activating a credit card.

How can we provide the correct answers if they don't know the question?

Thanks for the heads up on mySocial Security. I'll try to establish an account before my anticipated trip to the local SS office in a few months. I don't want to deal with them twice either. Social Security reps are another fountain of bad information. Please educate yourself about any benefits before you visit to apply. They often shoot for low score or just plain don't know anything. Their mistake can cost you $$.
Ugh! I have been able to log in to my UHC Medicare website ONCE since the switch to Healthsafe ID! I hate that stupid site!

🤬

I used the option for a phone call. UH calls my home phone. I answer and key in the numerical code that UH flashed on the computer screen. Stupid but easier than the secret questions.

I am able to access the site with the computer used to set up the Healthsafe ID. The other computer requires all the phone call foolishness. I've tried in vain to persuade the powers that be at tech support that anyone who has access to my home phone and computer is in the house. Better things to for than info on my prescription refills.

With electronic medical records we have no privacy. Health care providers no onger hide behind HIPPA when they goof up. Were the only ones unable to access our own info.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:14:39 GMT

Yes on that last point for sure. I’ve been complaining about HIPAA no longer applying for years now. The only thing is serves to do these days is make it harder for us to take control of our health records while everyone else has them. Like if you get a DNA test? Your insurance company can use that against you.

But the site has infuriated me so much with the Healthsafe ID issues that next time I can’t get in, I’m switching plans.

I guess my goal for 2019 will be to get ahold of all of the third party bureaus and fix any incorrect info they have for me... should be able to get that done by January 1st, 2020...

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Save-n-Invest — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 00:57:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes on that last point for sure. I’ve been complaining about HIPAA no longer applying for years now. The only thing is serves to do these days is make it harder for us to take control of our health records while everyone else has them. Like if you get a DNA test? Your insurance company can use that against you.

But the site has infuriated me so much with the Healthsafe ID issues that next time I can’t get in, I’m switching plans.

I guess my goal for 2019 will be to get ahold of all of the third party bureaus and fix any incorrect info they have for me... should be able to get that done by January 1st, 2020...

I've been able to log on to UHC site as of yesterday with the computer that did *not* set up the ID. Maybe they updated/changed the software? I tried just for fun.

This time checking the remember this computer does the trick. It didn't work previously but does now. I had to do the phone call thing but since then I can access my info.

Hope it works for you.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecurity account

MakingProgress — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 19:43:07 GMT

@Pikaboo-icu wrote:
@iv wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I called Social Security tech support and was told that the questions came from Equifax.
While they were correct that SSA (and the IRS) do use Equifax for identity verification... that doesn't mean what you might assume.

They have a contract with Equifax, the company. That does not mean that the verified data is limited to information on your "normal" Equifax credit report, just that Equifax is the sub-contractor for the verification services.

They do pull from other sources, including other Equifax databases, third-party databases, and public records.

I had a verification question last year about "someone I previously lived with", and none of the names were even close... but... I happened to recognize one of them as the spouse of someone I had sold a condo to four years ago. The public records search associated my name with the address, and the spouse of the buyer with the address, in the same calendar year, and thus linked us for the ID question.

...and since I answered "correctly" (IE: picked their name, rather than "failing" the question), there's now an additional record out there that I've "confirmed" the connection.

...sigh.

Oh brother! Seriously?
I've guessed a few times at things that sounded familiar, distant cousin's age etc..
Now I have to look forward to them possibly reusing that info??!!

Sheesh! It would be nice if they could stick to the last couple decades and not ask me questions about distant relatives I've never met.

I had one of those questions recently about people I know. DWs exhusband was listed, I have never met him, but I answered with his name and passed the verification.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecurity account

MakingProgress — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 19:46:26 GMT

and then there was the time I failed a verification for a new money market account. There had been one question about an address I lived at 30 years ago. I was sure I failed that one, but when I called in the rep told me it was one of the other questions I answered wrong. The only one I wasn't sure about was the address one.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 23:01:29 GMT

I've been trying to follow up with my own failed identity verification incident.

I got a big fat file from LexisNexis today, 78 pages. I went through the whole thing and its really boring. A few pages about my auto insurance provider. Then the rest is every variation of my name and like 7 addresses repeated over and over. Not much else in there. I guess there are 4 more parts getting mailed separately. I can't wait.

I don't see any connections yet between my LexisNexis information and the questions Langley FCU asked me to verify my identity.

Anyone here more well versed with where those questions come from? I've gone on a spree of ordering reports. I got LexisNexis, Innovis, Teletrack, EWS, Chex and more on the way. If there is bad info out there on me I want to fix it.

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

MakingProgress — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:21:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I've been trying to follow up with my own failed identity verification incident.

I got a big fat file from LexisNexis today, 78 pages. I went through the whole thing and its really boring. A few pages about my auto insurance provider. Then the rest is every variation of my name and like 7 addresses repeated over and over. Not much else in there. I guess there are 4 more parts getting mailed separately. I can't wait.

I don't see any connections yet between my LexisNexis information and the questions Langley FCU asked me to verify my identity.

Anyone here more well versed with where those questions come from? I've gone on a spree of ordering reports. I got LexisNexis, Innovis, Teletrack, EWS, Chex and more on the way. If there is bad info out there on me I want to fix it.

I ordered my Lexis Nexis report today. How long did it take to get yours?

Re: Unable to answer identity verification questions to create mySocialSecuirty account

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 02:51:36 GMT

About 2 weeks. I mailed the request form on the 4th or 5th. The report is dated the 8th.