Reducing my online footprint

tgon

I'm currently dealing with a case of identity theft and fraudulent activity on my credit card. The card provider has been helpful in this matter. As a consequence, It made me realise how much of my personal information is stored in online accounts, some with payment card details.

But trying to get online companies to close down my unused accounts is incredibly frustrating as some either ignore my request or flatly refuse to do so. A particular worry is supermarket shopping where a payment card must exist alongside the account. Even though my credit card is now cancelled, it makes me wonder if the security risk of stored payment cards is worth the convenience of online shopping.

My vent is to all those companies who refuse to help reduce my digital footprint that they perpetuate the risk of online fraud. Perhaps it's a consequence of modern life but it's one I'm struggling to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

Pound

How would closing your accounts down help? Presumably they would still retain any data they hold.

tgon

Denied authorisation at login and if my data serves no statutory purpose then delete it.

shaun_from_Africa

The saving of accounts that involved a financial transaction of any sort will be kept for a minimum of 6 years from the date of a transaction as this is the time limit for attempting any claims against the company.
For this reason, even if you close your account, no reputable company will delete you personal or financial details for at least this period of time.

Stevie_Palimo

Financial services can keep records for an indefinite period of time and before anyone says different it is to do with liability on the Company and this can go both ways :-

IE:- PPI complaint after 7 years so if the DPA was in place and stated that 6 years was a maximum term then you could not reclaim any redress after this period of time.

From a Company not financial services so maybe a clothing store online if you buy off them Today there requirements by the DPA that state that records should not be used after a 6 year period and even if you write to a Company and say stop processing my data they will not delete it in full and it will be added to a do not contact list.

It can then be pulled off of a server and stored manually for archiving.

[Deleted User]

If you want to improve your security/risk to fraud then go through all your online accounts and make sure they use distinct passwords.

Password reuse is a massive risk.

missile

I feel your pain and share your anxiety over stored data. I never tick the box to store credit card data. I object to those companies who share data and use spoof details wherever possible.

TheGardener

I have a Barclays basic account with zero overdraft for this sort of thing. I use this card only as the registered payment method for ebay/amazon/supermarket etc. I do not keep any cash in this account. At the point of any purchase I use a mobile banking app to transfer the exact amount needed into the registered account - and then hit the pay now button.
This way, even if the account details get into the wrong hands - there is nothing for them to take. It doesn't prevent fraud - but it does limit the damage.
Also - never tick the 'save my details box'
I also concur that strong passwords are essential. I have a short poem I learned by heart as a child - I use system of using each line of the poem in turn as the password 'generator' its not as complicated as it sounds and if I ever forget the password - its easy (for me) to work out what it should be.

ARandomMiser

I am afraid that once you are online it is virtually impossible to go back offline

pennystretcher

Same here, I have started removing all accounts that are no longer in use, but expect the information to remain in the databases for long time afterwards...

Le_Kirk

ringo_24601 wrote: »

If you want to improve your security/risk to fraud then go through all your online accounts and make sure they use distinct passwords.

Password reuse is a massive risk.

Not according to PayPal, who never ask people to change their passwords. The reasoning apparently is that people will choose less secure passwords if they are constantly having to change them. This according to a report in Thursday's Daily Mail.