Airline travel question

[Jim in Anchorage]

Flying to Buffalo for a visit for a few days in mid Oct.

Got to thinking, what would you do if you lost your drivers license and had no other photo ID?[iN Buffalo, not here]

No offense, but I do not want to be stuck in Buffalo.

[/dev/null]

you're screwed

[Jim in Anchorage]

you're screwed

Thanks for the well researched answer, even if it was a bit heavy with legal jargon.

I have decided to get a dup license here and leave it with someone who could mail it to me.

[shrader]

I lost my wallet recently but thankfully a few days before my flight; used my passport to fly.

 

On a side note, I sent in the form and $12 check to get a new license and after one month, I got a reply from the DMV saying that I hadn't paid the $$ (even though I sent them the check, which they obviously lost).

 

And when you got your statement, I'm sure you found out that they had in fact cashed that check before they "lost" it.

[loyal2dagame]

Thanks for the well researched answer, even if it was a bit heavy with legal jargon.

I have decided to get a dup license here and leave it with someone who could mail it to me.

 

[Chef Jim]

I've always wondered the same thing. I guess the tip is not to lose your wallet, or keep your passport with your luggage. If you in a hotel throw the passport in the safe.

[taterhill]

I flew from Buffalo to DC without photo ID....I forgot it at home....took a while to get through security, but they still let me fly

[Jim in Anchorage]

I flew from Buffalo to DC without photo ID....I forgot it at home....took a while to get through security, but they still let me fly

How long ago?

[JoeFerguson]

I flew from Buffalo to DC without photo ID....I forgot it at home....took a while to get through security, but they still let me fly

 

This is true. In 2003 my grandma flew without a photo ID. They just make you go through the extra security screening.

 

Do you think kids have photo IDs?

[sullim4]

The general rule is that if you lost your ID, you have to go through "SSSS" screening:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Sec...ening_Selection

[stevewin]

The general rule is that if you lost your ID, you have to go through "SSSS" screening:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Sec...ening_Selection

Yes - last year I misplaced my driver's license for a bit and at one point flew and when I got to the airport didn't have my license (or passport) - no big deal -just had to go through the extra screening at security

[TheMadCap]

not that this is relevent or anything, but I once left my entire passport/wallet pack on a train in Europe. We had to switch trains because apparently the size of the rails are different in France vs. Spain. We went to the police and they were able to get it back but that would have been a sticky situation...

[Tcali]

The general rule is that if you lost your ID, you have to go through "SSSS" screening:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Sec...ening_Selection

thanks for the info-always wondered about that

[bills_fan]

Flying to Buffalo for a visit for a few days in mid Oct.

Got to thinking, what would you do if you lost your drivers license and had no other photo ID?[iN Buffalo, not here]

No offense, but I do not want to be stuck in Buffalo.

 

 

I'd also heard that you'd have an easier time if you could produce a copy of a police report indicating your wallet was lost/stolen.

[taterhill]

How long ago?

May 2008

[Steve O]

Number 4 below offers advice about the original question but this is all useful so posting the entire thing.

 

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate Attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

 

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

 

2.. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

 

3.. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

 

4.. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

 

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my Wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an Expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had A credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number From DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

 

5.. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

 

6.. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

 

 

 

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

 

7.. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit.

 

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the Credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

 

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

 

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

 

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

 

3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289

 

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

[Tcali]

Number 4 below offers advice about the original question but this is all useful so posting the entire thing.

 

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate Attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

 

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

 

2.. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

 

3.. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

 

4.. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

 

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my Wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an Expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had A credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number From DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

 

5.. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

 

6.. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

 

 

 

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

 

7.. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over The Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your Credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by Phone to authorize new credit.

 

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the Credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

 

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

 

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

 

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

 

3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289

 

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

thanks--just did that stuff now--took 5 minutes

[Jim in Anchorage]

Good tips, particularly about photo copying the contents of your wallet. A atm ate my card once and where's the # I call? Why on the card the machine ate, of course.

[The Dean]

The general rule is that if you lost your ID, you have to go through "SSSS" screening:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_Sec...ening_Selection

 

 

I wish I knew that 10 years ago.

 

I got to Newark airport about an hour before my flight to Hawaii. I realized I had no photo ID, and I couldn't go back to my place on Long Island and still make my flight. I thought I'd talk to someone at airport security and ask what to do, but the airport was jammed and the lines were very long. I bribed a skycap to give me a boarding pass and stamp the photo ID area.

 

Then, in Hawaii, I bought a fake photo ID for my return flight.

 

Security was tight at the time, but it was pre-911. I wouldn't count on any of that to work now.

[Jim in Anchorage]

I wish I knew that 10 years ago.

 

I got to Newark airport about an hour before my flight to Hawaii. I realized I had no photo ID, and I couldn't go back to my place on Long Island and still make my flight. I thought I'd talk to someone at airport security and ask what to do, but the airport was jammed and the lines were very long. I bribed a skycap to give me a boarding pass and stamp the photo ID area.

 

Then, in Hawaii, I bought a fake photo ID for my return flight.

 

Security was tight at the time, but it was pre-911. I wouldn't count on any of that to work now.

What exactly do you do for a living again?

[The Dean]

What exactly do you do for a living again?

 

 

At the time, I was a consultant for TV stations and networks.

 

That trip was a weird one. I got to The W Hotel and had no credit card (it was at home with my photo ID). I got the hotel to check me in anyway, and a colleague put my room on her card when she arrived.

 

The day before I left, I drank my way all over Honolulu in search of fake ID. I was offered a card for $200, but passed. I finally found a check cashing place that had photo cards for $10. By that time I was pretty trashed and had spent a ton of cash on the quest. But it was more fun than just plunking it down on the first offer.

[Chef Jim]

What exactly do you do for a living again?

 

I think he makes license plates.

[Jim in Anchorage]

I flew from Buffalo to DC without photo ID....I forgot it at home....took a while to get through security, but they still let me fly

I dragged this up in light of current events. How would they know if you are on the"no fly" list?

[KD in CA]

Good tips, particularly about photo copying the contents of your wallet. A atm ate my card once and where's the # I call? Why on the card the machine ate, of course.

 

Definitely have a photocopy of your passport that someone can fax to you if needed. If you get stranded in the US you can always find alternate means of transportation, but in a foreign country it could be a major problem.

[stevestojan]

When you lose your wallet, the terrorists win.

[Just Jack]

When you lose your wallet, the terrorists win.

Then they won back in the fall of '89 for me.