Well, after a different thread related to "how creditors can find things such as bank accounts, debit-cards, etc," I examined my Lexis Nexus records, and my personal information on a few other sites and here is what I found.
During the past 2 1/2 years when I realized there was a personal financial crisis on the horizon and I began to think about what information is "out there: related to my financial transactions, credit history, stock market accounts, etc," I also made all the appropriate phone calls to opt-out of shared privacy info. Lo-and-behold, the last four bank accounts I held, pre-paid debit card accounts, and insurance carrier info do NOT show up on the standard personal info-collection systems. I attribute this to reading the fine print on applications and always making the call to keep my private information private.
On another thread, folks stated that others can track your financial actions and other important info through info-systems such as Lexis Nexus, Inncurate (sp). etc. Yep, they probably can, unless you forbade the issuer from sharing any information that would otherwise be considered private. In other words my public records such old divorce's, child support orders, old mortgages, etc all show up on the information systems as these are a matter of public record. On the other hand, all my financial info that I have been careful to opt-out of sharing information in the past 2-3 years do not show up.
My current address shows up as a PO BOX that I have had for 12 years. My phone numbers are 5 iterations in the past. "Known" addresses of family members are out-dated by 10 - 15 years. Keep in mind that most of my CC records were developed 10 - 20 years ago and I was never asked to update these.
While Lexis Nexus appears to match "SSN" with other known accounts I held in the past, no new financial accounts show up as tied to the SSN (all accounts I made sure to call the appropriate number and ask that my personal info not be shared with anyone other than those who might have a "right" to it (law enforcement, etc.). The complete SSN (as far as I can tell) is not shared by Lexis Nexus.
In terms of business accounts, it appears that Lexis Nexus treats these in a different light as anyone who holds a state business license has obviously put their business records out there for those who "wish to see them."
I am convinced that it is important for folks to always opt-out of the sharing of personal information that can not be shared legally through public records.
If you are a non-believer, you can order your own Lexis Nexus record and get a eye-opening view at what the world knows about you. I was freaking amazed. But, again I see know indication that my SSn was ever tied to any of my past activities, long before there were any opt-out laws.
I'm just sharing my own research. Your results could be different. But rather than accept other's thoughts, pull you own records and see what might be there!
By the way, I have records related to national security (once interviewed with the NSA,) academic records (I'm in an academic environment,) and a multitude of public records (ancient mortgages, judgments, addressses, "neighbors" of 30 years ago (LOL), etc.) It's incredible to discover that most of the info on me is BAD or ancient info.
I don't buy that there are companies out there that have immediate access to all of your recent personal actions and transactions. I think this is just another Orwellian scare tactic. On the other hand, there appears to be a great deal of power in reading the fine print related to privacy opt-out. Do your own due diligence!
During the past 2 1/2 years when I realized there was a personal financial crisis on the horizon and I began to think about what information is "out there: related to my financial transactions, credit history, stock market accounts, etc," I also made all the appropriate phone calls to opt-out of shared privacy info. Lo-and-behold, the last four bank accounts I held, pre-paid debit card accounts, and insurance carrier info do NOT show up on the standard personal info-collection systems. I attribute this to reading the fine print on applications and always making the call to keep my private information private.
On another thread, folks stated that others can track your financial actions and other important info through info-systems such as Lexis Nexus, Inncurate (sp). etc. Yep, they probably can, unless you forbade the issuer from sharing any information that would otherwise be considered private. In other words my public records such old divorce's, child support orders, old mortgages, etc all show up on the information systems as these are a matter of public record. On the other hand, all my financial info that I have been careful to opt-out of sharing information in the past 2-3 years do not show up.
My current address shows up as a PO BOX that I have had for 12 years. My phone numbers are 5 iterations in the past. "Known" addresses of family members are out-dated by 10 - 15 years. Keep in mind that most of my CC records were developed 10 - 20 years ago and I was never asked to update these.
While Lexis Nexus appears to match "SSN" with other known accounts I held in the past, no new financial accounts show up as tied to the SSN (all accounts I made sure to call the appropriate number and ask that my personal info not be shared with anyone other than those who might have a "right" to it (law enforcement, etc.). The complete SSN (as far as I can tell) is not shared by Lexis Nexus.
In terms of business accounts, it appears that Lexis Nexus treats these in a different light as anyone who holds a state business license has obviously put their business records out there for those who "wish to see them."
I am convinced that it is important for folks to always opt-out of the sharing of personal information that can not be shared legally through public records.
If you are a non-believer, you can order your own Lexis Nexus record and get a eye-opening view at what the world knows about you. I was freaking amazed. But, again I see know indication that my SSn was ever tied to any of my past activities, long before there were any opt-out laws.
I'm just sharing my own research. Your results could be different. But rather than accept other's thoughts, pull you own records and see what might be there!
By the way, I have records related to national security (once interviewed with the NSA,) academic records (I'm in an academic environment,) and a multitude of public records (ancient mortgages, judgments, addressses, "neighbors" of 30 years ago (LOL), etc.) It's incredible to discover that most of the info on me is BAD or ancient info.
I don't buy that there are companies out there that have immediate access to all of your recent personal actions and transactions. I think this is just another Orwellian scare tactic. On the other hand, there appears to be a great deal of power in reading the fine print related to privacy opt-out. Do your own due diligence!
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