| #: |
From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 1117. |
Korinne
Carson City, NV
Age: 44
Dec 13, 2006
|
SS #'s to insurance companies
Response to Brian ...
FYI ... while not everyone may know this, for a general health insurance policy, you do NOT have to provide your SS# to the insurance company. If you currently have a health insurance card that lists your SS#, then I strongly recommend that you contact your insurance company and demand that they re-issue you an insurance card with a "unique ID#".
Except for Medicare, Medicaid and a few trust funds, a year or so ago most insurance carriers began switching their policies to unique ID#'s. Medicaid in California began using unique ID#s last year.
Then, if a doctor's office form requests your SS#, simply leave that line blank. If you want them to bill your insurance, you WILL need to provide them with your date of birth and your health insurance carrier's unique ID#.
If the doctor's office staff requests your SS#, then explain to them that your health insurance policy is not under your SS#, but rather is under this unique ID#. If they are familiar with medical billing, this will not be a problem or a surprise to them.
However, they will still need your date of birth (if you choose to use your health insurance; if you pay in cash, they don't need this). They need your DOB because insurance companies identify you by your name, ID# and date of birth and will not release info (such as during an insurance verification) to a doctor's office without these three forms of identification.
Another way around this is to pay in cash and bill your own insurance. However, keep in mind, if you are seeing a participating provider, then you will need to check the Explanation of Benefits form that your insurance company mails to you to see if you overpaid the doctor (there may be an adjustment if you see a participating provider).
Korinne (a medical biller)
|
| 1115. |
Stan
Atlanta, GA
Age: 41
Dec 13, 2006
|
SS#s for dentists/doctors
The last Dr I went to asked to see my DL, and before I could say anything, scanned a copy of it, good thing it has a ghost address.
A passport would be much better to have handed over.
On the paperwork I left the SS# blank and they did ask about it, but I just said, You've already verified my coverage, & Ive shown proper ID.
If you're not careful every Dr.s office you've ever been to has:
A: a scan of your Drivers Liscense
B: date of birth,
C: home & work address's & phone #'s,
D: your SS#
all in one neat computer file for someone to hack into, or laying around the office.
I recently visited someone in an ICU wing at a hospital and on the counter at the nurses station were several envelopes with the patients name, address, DOB, and SS# clearly visible on the label.
As for many places demanding a SS#, I just gotta say, Dyslexia is a terrible thing. Makes it hard to remember a 10 digit number.
Having a "ghost" DOB might be usefull also.
|
| 1114. |
Nick
Jamaica Plain, MA
Age: 30
Dec 13, 2006
|
hotels and ID
Is there a way to rent a hotel room without giving identification? When ever I stay at a hotel, I am asked for a driver's license (of course I could give a passport or state ID also). The reason is so they know who is staying in the room. Is there a way to "stay anonymously" without using a fake ID?
...
You normally give them your real name anyway when you make a reservation, or show up, and use your credit card. The only way to know for sure is to call in advance (which I sometimes do). With the exception of Westin, many upscale hotels do not require ID, and few if any Canadian hotels and motels require it. In any case, I suggest you use your passport for ID.
|
| 1113. |
Adam
Clearwater, FL
Age: 30
Dec 13, 2006
|
Re: Gina in Spring City, PA
I too have encountered similar difficulties at times. I often say that I am Canadian and we don't have SSN up there (even though that is not true -- I am American). I have never had trouble past that point. If you are paying cash, they can't refuse service based upon national origin. I even had a major elective surgery with no insurance, not given SSN, and used a fake name; paid cash. The most significant point (in my opinion) is what Frank Abagnale says: be utterly confident in how are presenting yourself and your situation.
|
| 1111. |
Leo
New York, NY
Age: 29
Dec 13, 2006
|
Banking Offshore
I have just finished reading your book but cannot find the answer to my question:
After a tumultuous 7 year live-in relationship, I am concerned about my privacy and wish to secure my life from my-ex, jilted girlfriend. We both shared a bank account (informally) and I would like to completely sever ties with that bank.
I cannot use a nominee to open an account in another state and wish to use my own name, since I'm not trying to hide assets, but just insure an additional layer of pricacy, to open an account offshore - preferrably Canada, although anywhere will due.
Since I will need an address and ID to open an account elsewhere (a CMRA wont work from my understanding) what would you suggest? I have no problem traveling to where I need to go in order to do this as long as I will be able to successfully open an account.
Thank you.
...
The short answer is: Get a ghost address in Alaska and then open an account in Canada. My new report--due out soon--has more details on low-profile banking. Watch for it.
|
| 1110. |
Brian
Detroit, MI
Age: 20
Dec 13, 2006
|
Gina's SSN post
Regarding Gina's post below: if one acquires health insurance, doesn't one HAVE to provide one's SSN to get coverage?
And if one is going to pay for a service via your health care insurance coverage, doesn't one HAVE to provide one's SSN to the service provider to facilitate the payment process via the insurance provider?
If my understanding is correct, one can NOT get health care insurance without providing SSN. And if one is going to pay for treatment via insurance one must give one's SSN to the service provider as well. It is only if one plans to pay for services rendered in cash that the provider does not HAVE to have your SSN.
JJ, is this accurate to your experience/understanding?
...
See "Korinne," above..
|
| 1109. |
Brian
Detroit, MI
Age: 20
Dec 13, 2006
|
James from TX post
A question for James' Virtual card numbers post below:
James, how did you go about getting an authorized user credit card in a "made up name"? I sought this out but a SSN was requested for the "made up name" person which made me abandon the idea. What information did you have to provide for the "phony name" person?
|
| 1108. |
Marc
Huntington Beach, CA
Age: 43
Dec 12, 2006
|
Montana
I have a NM LLC [name deleted] and registered and titled a new truck in 2003 with no problems. I had a Montana DL and never showed my LLC. No questions were asked. The address they used is the Montana PMB address.
They also are used to registering RV's owned by Montana LLC's to avoid the sales tax by out of state people. Bottom line is they want a Montana address on the registration. Usually there is only one office per county and you must register in your county. I think by dressing right, and a smile on a Friday before closing, you can get it done but they want that Montana address...
...
Thanks, Marc, for sharing your experience!
|
| 1106. |
Robby
Riverview, FL
Age: 30
Dec 12, 2006
|
Marriage license
JJ, I live by HTBI and have for some time. I am in a forensic psychology field and have had death threats. My home, utilities, everything is in a name other than my own. It is as if someone who wanted harm done to me succeeded because NO one knows where I live except for my new wife, which is the subject of this note. I recently got a marriage license to marry my best friend of 10 years. She was my college sweetheart. When going to the clerk to obtain the marriage license I provided my ghost address as the residence address. Both of us have drivers licenses with valid ghost addresses on them. We were both dressed very professionally and kindly presented the requested information. No questions were asked... The Clerk was too happy at having kind, warm customers to put up any fuss. We got our license without revealing our true home address. It can be done. Dress for success and be friendly. Make a person's day with kindness who would otherwise have grouchy customers.
My Best!
...
You wrote, "Dress for success and be friendly." Truer words were never spoken. Whenever I go to a bank or a title company, I wear a suit, a tie, and a smile. The very fact that I am dressed well helps give me confidence and a positive attitude.
|
| 1104. |
Jack
Ont
Age: 19
Dec 12, 2006
|
Laptop purchase
I'm buying a laptop for christmas using cash, do you recommend big retail stores or those mom and pop? I'm a bit paranoid that when I buy at the big retail store they'll start questioning about the purchase made in cash or something ...
...
I bought my last computer at Costco, paid cash, no problem. (Yes, I used a Costco card registered in a company name and with an address 1200 miles away, but I really don't worry about such minor details.)
|
| 1103. |
James
College Station, TX
Age: 40
Dec 12, 2006
|
Virtual card numbers
Mike in AZ on 12-7-06 noted the Citibank disposable "Virtual Card Numbers". The service is also available with the "basic Citibank card" not just the Platinum card. When I "went private and debt free" I kept this card because of the disposable one use credit card numbers.
How I use this:
1. Bill sent to my ghost address.
2. Authorized user card"- a second card in common pseudonym.
3. Launch number generator from Citibank site every use. I didnt install the optional software.
A hacker at a purchase site gets:
1. My ghost address for packages
2. A phony name
3. A useless credit card number.
4. A voicemail pager number from golden-voice.com (also in anonymous name and paid with postal m/o)
Citibank still has my actual SSN, etc. but with a ghost address. That is the weakest link and I decided the convenience was worth it. Since I only live a semi-private life this works very well for me. If I have overlooked other obvious weaknesses please let me know.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.bankrate.com/yho/news/cc/20021011a.asp...
|
| 1102. |
Al
Jackson, TN
Age: 44
Dec 11, 2006
|
FYI
2007 predictions of ID theft methods and devices. Thought your readers may want to read. Thanks for keeping up the website.
Submitted Link #1: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061211/wr_nm/britain_...
|
| 1101. |
Steve
Missoula, MT
Age: 39
Dec 11, 2006
|
Auto registration using NM LLC in Montana
I purchased from McMenemy a NM LLC (with Canary Island address) and tried to use it to title a vehicle in Montana this summer. The Motor Vehicle Department said they wouldn't take it because it was an out-of-state LLC, even though I presented them with the original LLC docs (and had copies ready to hand to them). A supervisor came to the desk and said she'd accept the outta state LLC if I could show/prove that I was the LLC "owner."
Anyone else had this kind of trouble? I think if I had used a local MT ghost address (which I have) instead of the Canary Is. address on the LLC docs, maybe she'd have let it go, especially if I could have produced some other document with my ghost address on it.
Is Montana's MVD uncharacteristically strict on the issue of out-of-state LLCs? What should I do differently next time?
...
The fact that you pssess the original documents show that you ARE the owner, although not all clerks can grasp that. Can you try a different office? Also, have you checked back with Kitty McMenemy for ideas?
... Have any of you Montana readers had a similar experience?
|
| 1100. |
Gina
Spring City, PA
Age: 44
Dec 11, 2006
|
Social Security Numbers
I have been trying to avoid giving out my Social Security number for doctor and dentist offices. Now, my 2 sons have dental insurance; with an insurance card, however, the SS numbers are x'd out, but the people at the dentists office still need the SS number! I am very frustrasted over this, as I can not do business with them without giving them the number.
How can I avoid this and still do business with them.
And on the same note, what about insurance companies, they all request the SS number. Can I deny their request and demand they find another way to id me. Most of the time I talk to people, they simply refuse and I end up giving in. Help!
Thank you for your help.
...
Each dental office makes it's own rules. You might check with another dentist (even if you don't plan to switch). If the rules there are not as strict, then quote what he or she said to your present dentist.
... Just three days ago I was referred to a specialist in root canals, and got the usual form to fill out. Strangely enough, I was not asked for the SSN on this form. However, I was asked for a birth date. I put down the year only. Later, when I was already in the dental chair, the woman came in to ask me the month and the day. I said that I would not give her the month or day because that information is too commonly used as a tracking device. She didn't like it, but what could she do, throw me out?
... Later, another woman came in to give me a prescription that the dentist had already signed. Even though I had specifically said earlier that she was to use only the first initial, it included "Jack" on the form. I asked her to do it over, even if I had to wait until the dentist could find time to sign, again. When I got the second prescription, I headed out, not realizing that she had also typed in a local mailing address! I made the P.O. box illegible, then crossed out the city and state and wrote "SPAIN" in the margin. Why? Because at the pharmacy I give them a very different first name starting with "J" and there is no address in the pharmacy's computer. It just reads "visiting from Spain." (My prescription was filled with NO problem.)
... (As for insurance companies, at least some of them WILL give you a random nmber to use, if you insist.)
|
| 1099. |
jon
Honolulu, Hawaii
Age: 33
Dec 11, 2006
|
i.d. free land line
Is there another company other that Reconex, that will offer a landline, pay as you go phone line, without I.D., that services Hawaii?
...
Perhaps a reader from Hawaii can answer?
|
| 1098. |
paul
Minneapolis, MN
Age: 51
Dec 10, 2006
|
Copyrighting your personal information
Sorry John, copyright law doesn't protect factual information, but the way the information is expressed. Example: you can copyright the way you express tomorrow's weather forecast, but you can't protect the facts--- 75 degress and sunny. It's the same way with your own personal information.
|
| 1097. |
Michael
State College, PA
Age: 38
Dec 10, 2006
|
Article on LLCs in Nevada
Just in case you missed this.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Dec-10...
...
Michael, that article is mostly about corporations, not LLCs, and it deals with using them for fraudulent purposes. I agree with this statement:
... "Subcommittee members say Nevada laws ... might enable individuals to evade federal income taxes, launder money or potentially even hide money for terrorist groups."
|
| 1096. |
John
Odessa, TX
Age: 39
Dec 9, 2006
|
Copy Protection
Had a thought...have no idea of it's merit. Could an individual file for copyright protection of one's own personal information and if a company were to possess and distribute the information without written consent...well, you get the idea.
...
Even if this would work, which I doubt, the effort and expense involved would, by far, outweigh the benefits.
|
| 1094. |
Marsha
Williams, MN
Age: 34
Dec 8, 2006
|
Invisibility
Regarding David's question regarding apartment leases: I did one of those free, online searches on myself, and easily found a list of every single apartment I've rented for the last 10 years or more, up to the point when I started reading Mr. Luna's books, about four years ago. Then I apparently dropped off the planet, as I take my privacy seriously. How this information was publically available, I have no idea, but it was, with complete and accurate addresses. In other words, everywhere I lived all the way through undergraduate and graduate schools, and after. Kinda scary, if you ask me!!
|
| 1093. |
John
Odessa, TX
Age: 39
Dec 8, 2006
|
RFID Info
This article describes 51 future applications for the RFID device.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.rfidlowdown.com/2006/12/cool_surprising...
|
