I cleared it up with one phone call, but still, it would probably be good to consider other methods if there is any chance of the actual SSA finding out about the alternate name.

I looked at the NetSpend card at the grocery store today, and see that once you have provided them with your name, address, and SSN, they will activate your card and send you a card imbossed with your name in the mail. They claim they don't do a credit check.

Has anyone tried obtaining one of these cards using their real SSN but with an alternate name?

My purpose here is to obtain a card for use in the world in an alternate name. I have no intention of defrauding or stealing anyone's identity, only to practice the principles of HTBI.

I know others, such as Wendy, have been able to obtain reliable banking/financial nominees, but after a potentially disasterous experience with a nominee, I am wary.

... [Note to Lnda and others: To form a new paragraph, use <> with a "p" in the center. I often add this html symbol on my own, as I did here.]

My point in posting this information was to alert SS recipients about what I had discovered about the DirectExpress card. At least the funds can't be garnished (according to their rep) as they can be when using a bank account, and the funds are easily accessible by you.

Presumably, for max privacy, one would access the entire amount once a month at a different bank each month.

If anyone knows a better method of having easy access to SS funds with reasonable privacy and protection from garnishment, I would be interested in hearing of it. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions JJ in your books and elsewhere.

Teach your kindergartner your PO box as his mailing address.

Take him around your neighborhood and teach him how to find his way home by explaining the directions to you. "Forget" to teach him his street address, just make sure he can find his way home or navigate a trusted adult to his home if absolutely necessary. Then make certain that he never needs to use that lesson by supervising him carefully!

In my public school system, I have our PO box listed side by side with our home address in the school records, but it is clear from the way it is recorded that the PO box is for mailing. It IS required to show a local mailing address in order to use the public school system in your district.

Our kids do play with other kids in our very small subdivision. I haven't figured out a way to raise somewhat normal children without letting them play outside with the neighbor kids once in awhile! :-) But generally speaking, I try not to bring stray kids from outside the block home with us.

You are absolutely correct in thinking that "short of homeschooling" some amount of disclosure of your true home address and/or otherwise private information is going to have to happen when you send your children to school. Not to mention the criminal background check I had to fill out today again in order to visit my children's classrooms for class parties and accompany them on field trips!

... Good reasons for home schooling, or sending the kids to a private school.

The card is in fact a debit card and is now available for all States. Below is listed the web site of the government authorized issuer.

The use of these DirectExpress cards involves very few fees. I was told by the very helpful assistant that if you use designated cash machines there are no fees. Additionally, (according to the assistant) they can be used to pay anything you can pay for with a debit/credit card. He also said they could be taken to any bank for a large cash withdrawl with no fees (I'll have to experience this to believe it).

I also talked to the representative, and his supervisor, about whether any funds available on the DirectExpress card could be garnished. They assured me that they cannot be garnished except for certain State and Federal things like child support, etc. I don't know how true this is, but I searched the internet and couldn't find anyone complainingly about their DirectExpress account being garnished.

One drawback I can see is that the issuer's privacy agreement isn't very private (to say the least). It's clear to me that someone could locate where you were using the card. I imagine that would take a court order, but who knows with the information sharing that goes on. So using the card sparingly is to be advised if you want to remain mostly invisible. Of course, the card's use could be limited to once a month withdrawing all SS funds on the card. For those not totally paranoid the DirectExpress card seems to have some advantages to offer SS receipients.

Comments?

Submitted Link #1: https://www.usdirectexpress.com/edcfdtclient/recip...

My debit cards are in the names of LLCs and nominees and don't have my SS# attached but are still vulnerable to this kind of thing.

If you're like me and you use them, make sure your bank is, like mine, fanatical about security and catches these overseas fraudsters routinely (one tried to get $2600 out of my account last year and was stopped by my bank).

Make sure you're carefully tracking your transactions to prevent fraud. And by all means, use HTBI tactics to get bank accounts so none of these kinds of criminals use information obtained from your bank accounts to show up and rob your home, business or person!

Submitted Link #1: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_bi_ge/re...

Moreover, ALL of these online identity search databases from which anybody with a debit card can buy someone else's information are rife with misinformation. For example, my age, those I'm supposed to be connected with, my previous addresses, etc., are almost ALWAYS wrong in these databases (which, frankly, makes it harder to locate me and that's just fine with me). That does not mean this place is not a start and that the records currently contained in the database to date are incorrect. Don't discount this resource. It can be a valuable one if you're checking out an individual you want to date or go into business with but, as this former investigative journalist will tell you, it's ONLY a start. Like I said, everyone who reads the posts on this site should start by making certain the information contained on them and those they love appears correctly in the database because, regardless of what's NOT there, what IS there is PUBLIC and a potential threat to your reputation and future.

However, if the information about you is false or old, you may want to try to get it removed. If you had charges against you dismissed or dropped, you can probably have the records expunged. I'd contact an attorney in the jurisdiction where the incidents occurred and see what they may be able to do to help you clear up your reputation. Your reputation is your most important asset and once it's damaged, it's difficult to repair. That's why I posted this site for everyone.

I, too, was VERY surprised to find info on me relating to a dismissed 2004 traffic ticket in NC in that database for all the world to see! Regardless of how "minor" the incident appears, I look like a criminal and I'm going to have the record expunged, as such.

I encourage other visitors to this site to go to CriminalSearches.com and run their own names or those of people close to them and let those who you find who are close to you know that their criminal records are now easily, publicly available. And, by all mean, PLEASE do whatever you can to protect your privacy. It's getting scarier and scarier out there and you don't want to be on the wrong side of invasion of your privacy like I have been.

Take HTBI seriously, even if those around you think you're crazy.

1) Use a nominee (your brother's, girlfriend's, brother's wife, for example) to get the tax ID from the IRS using their social security number. You'll need to make them a temporary member of your LLC so they can say they are a member on the SS4. Then, after you get the tax ID in the mail at the address where you've rented a desk or space (see below), have them sign a "Statement of Resignation and Concluded Participation" saying they are no longer a member of and hold no member interest or management role or responsibility in your LLC. (You many want to do a limited power of attorney, similar to that mentioned in HTBI, PRIOR to asking the person do get the tax ID for you just to cover your bases if questioned later and still have them sign the "Statement of Resignation...".) Have them do the application online (at irs.gov) and ask for a printable copy instead of a mailed copy of the proof of tax ID letter that day. You'll still get a copy in the mail. None of this is illegal; there are a ton of companies that charge a fee to do this same thing and I've used a nominee to get tax IDs when I've needed them (I gave mine limited power of attorney that allows her to do it for me on behalf of my LLC's) and had them sign a similar statement of resignation.

2) Try to rent a desk in someone's office...say your accountant's or a friend who has a business. (Maybe a good friend will allow you just to use their business address for this purpose.) A storage space in a warehouse (also a la HTBI) may work for this if they'll let you get mail there. If you do the rent-a-desk thing, see if you can get a "lease". That's proof of address. But you'll have to make sure you can get DMV mail there for as long as you use that address as the LLC registration address. See if you can keep the Alaska address as the public mailing address OR tell the place where you rent your space to forward all mail and requests for you there. That will create the dead end you want for those looking for your business based on DMV records. DON'T rent space that requires you to provide your true name, SS#, true address, etc. and/or copies a license to rent space. Call in advance to see what the requirements will be. (Check or use craigslist or some other classifieds to find a more private space.)

3) Find a bank in your area that allows you to get an account in the name and tax ID of the LLC ONLY, not running ChexSystems or other credit reports on you as signer (or, better, a nominee you trust who will hand over the debit card to you and never have anything to do with the account unless you ask). Open a free checking account and get the debit card that will have the LLC's name on it along with yours but NOT your social security number. (It's critical that your social security number NOT be on the account or else your privacy isn't protected!) Keep calling around until you find a bank that doesn't require your SS# to open a business account. I know it's doable because I'm doing just that in another state.

4) If you still need further proof of address other than a bank mailing or lease, get a small business insurance policy in the name of the LLC. Have their mail sent to that business address where you've rented a desk or space. (You can always cancel later.)

5) Take the proof of address and debit card with the name of the business and yours on ot down to DMV and use that debit card to pay your titling and registration fees. Dress appropriately for your area (at least in khakis, a button front shirt and shoes), stay calm and chat up others without looking like you're up to something. Answer any questions they ask, politely. (Decide, in advance, what your business "does", like kind of consulting that relates to your actual profession. BUT, like HTBI says, ONLY use that LLC to title ONE vehicle and for NO other purpose.)

6) Make sure the state won't still require a "home" address along with your business address. If so, you may need to rent a room or cheap apartment someplace if you want to preserve your privacy. Get a Vumber or eVoice.com number (paid for by the LLC's debit card) to use as your "home" phone number.

This is a bit time consuming but it's cheaper than hiring a lawyer and probably more feasible than going to another state to register your vehicle. Of course, this is only doable if you have a couple of weeks for mail turnaround, etc. You may have to go to a DMV in another county, if that's allowed in your state, to get what you want.

Finally, YES, this is a lot of paperwork (and creates a paper trail) but when your business' legitimacy can be challenged, as it appears it can be in your state, it makes sense to do it to get what you need AND preserve your privacy at the same time. (I've used many of these tactics VERY successfully for true business purposes and it works if you don't attach YOUR SS# and "true" street address to bank accounts or tax ID's.) If you have to compromise any of these steps by doing ANY of those things I've said don't do (like put your SS# on a business bank account or apply for a tax ID in your own name and SS# or rent space providing that information about yourself instead of you LLC ONLY), then find an alternative to registering your vehicle in the name of an LLC in IN (like going next door to MI or IL, if possible), if you want to maintain your privacy. But, with a little work and patience, you can achieve the same goal...registering your vehicle in your home state in a way that preserves your privacy.