Are businesses going too far in protecting from identity theft?

[Phishfan]

I have had a couple examples in the past week that make me think service providers are taking some unnecessary steps in trying to protect from identity theft. The first was when I paid my water bill. I drove to our utilities department and walked inside. In order to pay my water bill with my debit card, I had to show them my ID. This past weekend I went to my cell phone carrier to pay my bill and they told me the same thing. If anyone steals my debit card, the last thing I expect them to do is pay my bills off for me before taking the rest of my money. I get it, they are trying to be protective but it seems a bit silly since I'm going to be the only person paying my bills with my debit card.

Anyone else experience anything similar?

[Buddhagirl]

I'm more annoyed by how hard it is to even get into my accounts to pay bills online. So many security questions and stuff. I almost always get them wrong and wind up resetting my password.

[Cathal]

Is there a reason why you don't pay your bills online?

I know my dad has always done that but I can't think of anything similar since I've never driven somewhere to pay a bill.

[Phishfan]

Is there a reason why you don't pay your bills online?

I know my dad has always done that but I can't think of anything similar since I've never driven somewhere to pay a bill.

Identity theft. I don't think anyone should pay bills online and I work in the technology industry. If federal governmental systems can get hacked into (and they do) what makes you think my podunk little town has enough security in their system to keep out hackers?

Besides, I live in the town so it isn't like it is a big drive. The cell phone carrier is beside Subway, the farmers market,  and my local bar so I am right there quite a bit.

[bsmooth]

Considering the owner of Facebook has said he does not believe in personal privacy. No I do not think you can be too safe anymore. Couple this with the recent reports that the main companies that provide certification for web pages and online security have been hacked shows that nothing on the internet is truly safe.

[Cathal]

Identity theft. I don't think anyone should pay bills online and I work in the technology industry. If federal governmental systems can get hacked into (and they do) what makes you think my podunk little town has enough security in their system to keep out hackers?

Besides, I live in the town so it isn't like it is a big drive. The cell phone carrier is beside Subway, the farmers market,  and my local bar so I am right there quite a bit.

So you're extremely paranoid about identity theft and then you question whether businesses have gone too far in protecting from identity theft?

I can see what you're saying about paying your own bills, so yeah, that does seem silly in my opinion.

[Brians Stalker]

Someone got a hold of my debit card number last year and bought some gas is Cleveland, OH and then tried again at the same store before US Bank's fraud department caught it.  I don't know if US Bank pays for it, but I know that I didn't. I'm not sure how it works if you contest something.  Is the company who accepted the card just stuck with the loss? Maybe it is more to protect them than you.

I get what you are saying about the bills, I am just wondering if there is a different reason for it.

[CF DolFan]

I think what Phish is saying is dumb too but as long as I get refunded when hacked I will deal with a few other issues. I've had it happen twice to our account and was quickly repaid.

1st time - My wife left her card at a gas pump. Someone found it and then went online and bought about $500 worth of items off of Wal-Mart.com.  I noticed it online while checking my account and asked my wife who then realised her card was missing. We immediately notified Wachovia and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart immediately refunded the money and Wachovia overnighted us a new card. Neither pressed charges. Wal-Mart said it wasn't worth their effort for the money it would cost.

2nd time- I have no idea how but someone bought a bunch of ink from HP online and was having it shipped to somwhere in Virginia. I think it was about $700 worth. Immediately notified both Wachovia and HP. Wachovia immediately credited me the money and HP did again a few weeks later.  We notified the bank and they removed it so I assume they worked it out.  I'm not sure if either followed up on it.

[tepop84]

Did you write see id on the back where you are supposed to sign it?

[Phishfan]

^^^No because I don't carry my ID on my person usually. That was another part of my problem. I had to go back outside to get it.

[Cathal]

You don't carry your driver's license on you?

[Phishfan]

No, Florida licenses have a bad habit of breaking in half and forcing you to get them replaced. I have tried carrying it in my wallet, in my front pocket, etc. The only way to keep it from breaking is to leave in in my console.

[Cathal]

Hah, I gotta hear this. How have you broken your license in half? And I assume you have done this more than once. Never once in my life have I had a problem with my license getting mangled.

[Phishfan]

There is no story. Just carrying the license, either in the wallet or in my front pocket broke it in half. There is no unusual usage to cause this. It has happend in the same area both time, beside the magnetic strip.

[Dave Gray]

I've had fraud on my account a few times in my life.  I think it's just part of doing business.

The credit cards have to find a balance between protecting their money and not causing inconveniences that slow people's spending.  Wherever that balance makes the most money for the CC company is where we'll be.