Femtalks Blog

At first, it started with a lot automated phone calls to my home phone. “..We have detected some suspicious activity in your credit card purchases. Please contact Chase Fraud Detector back …”
I didn’t recognize this charge in my credit card statement, and after googling “ID*Protection 888-217-0291 DE” it , I found that it was Chase Fraud Detector / Chase ID protection service.

I am trying to get this membership charge removed from my Chase Visa credit card by calling their customer service number. I called their 1800 number ( 1-800-621-0361 and 1-888-217-0291 ) and have waited for over 60 minutes and have not even been able to speak with a customer service rep.

The classical music was cheesy, annoying at best. I am so, so, very much irritated.
Anyone has a better idea on how to cancel this and get rid of this charge? Thanks in advance.

What I really hate is that there is no “web form” for me to submit my inquiry or cancel this thing. This is the 21st century. Their Contact Us page only lists one method of communication : the number 1800-621-0361 . I really *hate* calling 1800 number and waited over the phone until my ear gets red and hot. And what I don’t understand as well: why large corporations spend so much money on their call center operations when many of the things can be streamlined with a web form/case management interface.

On a side note, identity theft is definitely a problem in America and you can follow these tips to prevent problems:

1) Start getting electronic statement for your credit card, phone, and utility bills. Save trees and paper :). And Also save you time from opening mail and throwing away paper trash You never realize how much time you spend on opening up mails, reading them, filing them, and throwing away paper trash.

2) Don’t give out your SSN (social security number), driver’s license number, birth date, maiden name - or personally identifying information, unless it is absolutely, critically, unarguably necessary.

3) Stop Junk Mail by asking to be removed from mailing lists.

4) If you feel that your SSN has been compromised, you can put a credit freeze or fraud alert so no one can open a new line of credit without manual verification.

Many states have laws that let consumers “freeze” their credit – in other words, letting a consumer restrict access to his or her credit report. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. This means that it’s unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score – nor does it keep you from getting your free annual credit report, or from buying your credit report or score.

Credit freeze laws vary from state to state. In some states, anyone can freeze their credit file, while in other states, only identity theft victims can. The cost of placing, temporarily lifting, and removing a credit freeze also varies. Many states make credit freezes free for identity theft victims, while other consumers pay a fee – typically $10. It’s also important to know that these costs are for each of the credit reporting agencies. If you want to freeze your credit, it would mean placing the freeze with each of three credit reporting agencies, and paying the fee to each one.

You can find more information about credit freeze laws specific to your state by clicking here, including information on how to place one.

A fraud alert is another tool for people who’ve had their ID stolen – or who suspect it may have been stolen. With a fraud alert in place, businesses may still check your credit report. Depending on whether you place an initial 90-day fraud alert or an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must either contact you or use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. However, the steps potential creditors take to verify your identity may not always alert them that the applicant is not you.

Link