SS# Declaration-Not on Pacer?

[StaciMM]

Just had a minor paranoia moment. It occurred to me that as I'm able to explore other people's info on Pacer, that other people could happen across mine. While in most places on the petition, only the last 4 digits of the SS# is listed, I recall that there was a statement about SS#'s that listed it out.

I looked at my filing online, and a couple of others. Seems that page is NOT listed. Whew! I hope this is standard practice and not a fluke. (It would seem almost too good to be true that someone high up in the BK courts would have thought to leave this out, but I hope so!)

[Minnymouth]

If you KNOW the ss#, you can use it, otherwise you have to go by name or case#...
Yeah, if EVERYTHING WAS THERE ON PACER - think of all the identity theft it would create!!!!!

Minny

[StaciMM]

I guess its kind of ironic... I've looked at quite a few cases, strangers to me, yet they're likely clueless that their info is out there for anyone w/ a Pacer login to see. Knowing someone's name/address is somewhat harmless, but once I got to thinking about it, it scared me a little to think that MY info was out there for anyone to see. I'm glad though that no one can learn my SS# from the petition though.

Of course, its also worth noting that recent bankrupts are probably not the ideal target for identity theft!

If you KNOW the ss#, you can use it, otherwise you have to go by name or case#...
Yeah, if EVERYTHING WAS THERE ON PACER - think of all the identity theft it would create!!!!!

Minny

[bkfiler]

well, actually, do you want to know the terrible truth or should i let you sleep in dreamy la-la land?

i dont want to pop your bubble

[StaciMM]

Go ahead-pop my bubble.

[bkfiler]

no i cant you are too sweet and kind. if i get you crying then minny gonna start in and its gonna be a terrible thing cuz then ill start crying. and you know how aart is feeling right now so he will start in....

[StaciMM]

I don't cry that easily, and its practically impossible to make me mad. Its a little mean, though, to start something and not finish it!


Minny! BKFiler isn't playing fair!!

And now he is ignoring me!

[Kam]

Hey I wanna know too! I was checking out court dates on Pacer and found out that my boss' son and DIL had their 341 yesterday. I also saw where the son of one of our area's most prominent Morman families also had his 341 as well. If I was *really* snoopy I'd pay the $2.40 and download each case file.

I did do something constructive yesterday though. Got a dunning letter from some medical collection agency regarding my DD's account that we filed a Ch7 on. I called them and informed them that 1) they were dunning a minor child and 2) the account was discharged in BK. Gave them case number and wished them a good day.

If they send another letter then we'll start thinking about earning some extra Christmas cash.

[bkfiler]

ok for fear of getting minny after me im gonna share a bit of info...

problem number 1 - i dont want to say it outright, and hope people wont post it either but... your social can be listed in your application unknowningly if it is used as one of your account numbers. please dont post it if you know what it is im talking about.

problem number 2 is that you have to list all credit card numbers. even the good ones that you may end up keeping. they can just look for balances at 0 maybe and assume you are going to keep it.

problem number 3 is that they have your bank account numbers which you will still be using after bk.

problem number 4 is that they have all your other info as well as you already know so they can do lots of things with that.

problem number 5 - ok so if someone does steal your identity then you can track it down by asking the court who accessed pacer right? LOL if you could ever get that out of the court then good luck. also, did you know you can walk into courts, go to the pacer station and get the info without signing in?

problem number 6 - did you know that if the US Trustee or the trustee for that matter disputes your case and files motions then your paperwork is used as Exhibit A, B, etc? guess where you can see the entire motion including the exhibits? Guess whats included in the exhibits if they are motioning for dismissal based on income verses expenses? anything you submitted including your paycheck stub. think about whats on that.

problem number 7 - lets just say that if you are a victim of identity theft after bk imagine how bad this is going to be for you and your financial future with no way out for 8 more years?

problem number 8 - lets say you know realize that your petition had this info on it and you want it redaccted. sure the newest filed copy will be redacted but the original one stays there. can it be removed? 3 attorneys have told me no. LOL so much for the new privacy laws passed by the bk judges.

they did not and obviously will not protect you. you have to protect yourself.

single most important step to protecting yourself so none of this can happen is this:

make sure that on ALL accounts that ONLY the last 4 digits appear anywhere in your petition AND on the paperwork you submit to the attorney, the trustee or the court. they dont need more then the last 4 digits anywhere. period.

the only thing that cant be redacted like this is your actual social security card that the attorney submits to the court. this is protected and cant be seen on pacer. thats ALL the protection they thought about LOL.

oh, i almost forgot...

problem number 8 - if you think that stealing the identity of a bk filer is not a good idea think again. the credit card companies are targeting them for lots of credit albeit at higher interest rates. but do you think that the theif cares about your APR? lol no.

and last but not least..

problem number 9 - think that stealing the indentity of a bk filer is not a good idea still. ok then, wait 3 years. well not actually wiat 3 years. just search for cases closed three years ago and bingo you got a list of great potential for credit theft.

**shaking head back** tisk tisk to the judges for not thinking about this at all.

so now that we all know: the question becomes if we messed up...

HOW DO WE GET THE OLD PETITION CHANGED?

court clerk says, ah no one would want a bk filers info blah blah blah... lol sure. also says theifs are not that smart to do it. yeah, ok sure lol.

if you find out how to get the court to remove the original petition let me know. my best answer yet is you have to motion the judge to do it. ok so that is my attorneys job right? she said it cant be done! that answer is based on her not wanting to do it, cant see a way to do it, doesnt know how to do it and she has been in law for over 21 years.

ROFLMAO and crying at same time!

[StaciMM]

BKFiler-you truly are becoming a Pacer Genius. I never would have thought of all that! If you ever get around to putting that "Help me pay my Pacer bill" donation button in your signature, I just might contribute $.08 to it.

I'm not concerned personally... My ss# is not used as my account # on anything-I went thru each and every page of what is available to view on Pacer and only the last 4 digits show. The bank account that I had before will be closed out within a month. (Have a new account w/ a CU and will close the old bank account once everything is setup for bill pay, etc.) And, nothing remains open from pre-BK days. (Except the student loans, and if anyone wants to contribute a payment on my behalf-I won't object.)

I have a TrueCredit subscription ($7.46/mo thru a Walmart.com link) where I can pull a new report from all 3 each day, so I'll know if there is an odd inquiry even before an account COULD show up. As to the rest, I'm sticking my head in the sand...

PS-I propose a new BK forum rule: Do NOT hint, allude, or start to comment on something that you're not willing to finish. No Teasing Allowed!

[Minnymouth]

BKFILER,

You know something my man - your a GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION - I just hope theives aren't reading this too!!!

But yes, you are right about a lot of what you said...... the laws do not protect your information submitted to the Court.

Yes it is advisable to get new checking/savings accounts (close out old ones) also TOO MANY PEOPLE put their birthday and SS# on their checks (WHAT ARE THEY THINKING????? DUH?????

Any old credit card you have or retained - pretend you lost it - have a new number issued......

YES, AFTER BANKRUPTCY - you need to protect yourself also... lots of your information is located on Pacer......
DON'T LET IT WORK AGAINST YOU.....

bkfiler, NO SLAP with my "ugly stick" today - that is info that really everybody needs to know.... just hope they use it correctly and correct any problems that they might have....

Have a good one,

Minny

[bkfiler]

see staci im not in trouble! :P

[Minnymouth]

bkfiler,
Would be great if you sent that info to the Washington office of Attorney General who handles US Trustees and the new Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005....

Sounds like it needs a little revision there!!!!!

Minny

[StaciMM]

Because you decided to play nice and finish what you started!

see staci im not in trouble! :P

[InDebtInMD]

Wow. Very interesting food for thought, great information.

We did not list bank account numbers on our petition fortunately.

Even so, we did end up changing banks (actually before we got discharged)

I went through our account numbers and sure enough none of them had the social in it.
We did not have any accounts that survived the BK.