http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2006/12/when-the-fox-is-in-the-henhouse.html The Emergent Chaos Jazz Combo Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:20:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2006/12/when-the-fox-is-in-the-henhouse.html/comment-page-1#comment-2944 Chris Walsh Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:35:29 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2104#comment-2944 "People presumably pay Debix because they don't want to keep track of managing fraud alerts at three credit agencies themselves" How much does it cost to keep such tabs? I notice that the going rate seems to be something like $100/year. I wonder how much the bureaus make from the typical file. Clearly, there is a point at which the bureaus could decide to really aggravate Arthur and offer a Debix-like service themselves, as long as they make more from it than they lose in foregone opportunities to sell credit reports. I wonder if there's a regulatory obstacle to this? One would expect their cost of production for such a thing to be lower than an outside company's, so they could own the market. “People presumably pay Debix because they don’t want to keep track of managing fraud alerts at three credit agencies themselves”
How much does it cost to keep such tabs? I notice that the going rate seems to be something like $100/year. I wonder how much the bureaus make from the typical file. Clearly, there is a point at which the bureaus could decide to really aggravate Arthur and offer a Debix-like service themselves, as long as they make more from it than they lose in foregone opportunities to sell credit reports. I wonder if there’s a regulatory obstacle to this? One would expect their cost of production for such a thing to be lower than an outside company’s, so they could own the market.

]]> http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2006/12/when-the-fox-is-in-the-henhouse.html/comment-page-1#comment-2943 David Brodbeck Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:09:16 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2104#comment-2943 I think "it's for the lazy" is a silly argument against a service, because everyone who sells a service is, in a way, catering to the lazy. I pay a barber because I'm too lazy to learn how to cut my own hair. I pay a mechanic because I'm too lazy to change my own oil. People presumably pay Debix because they don't want to keep track of managing fraud alerts at three credit agencies themselves. I think “it’s for the lazy” is a silly argument against a service, because everyone who sells a service is, in a way, catering to the lazy. I pay a barber because I’m too lazy to learn how to cut my own hair. I pay a mechanic because I’m too lazy to change my own oil. People presumably pay Debix because they don’t want to keep track of managing fraud alerts at three credit agencies themselves.

]]> http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2006/12/when-the-fox-is-in-the-henhouse.html/comment-page-1#comment-2942 Adam Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:37:41 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2104#comment-2942 So, ID theft goes from stealing something I have no control over to duping debix (which you have no control over), stealing your phone, and guessing your PIN. You're right. It's for the lazy. Try not to write your PIN on the side of your phone. So, ID theft goes from stealing something I have no control over to duping debix (which you have no control over), stealing your phone, and guessing your PIN. You’re right. It’s for the lazy. Try not to write your PIN on the side of your phone.

]]> http://emergentchaos.com/archives/2006/12/when-the-fox-is-in-the-henhouse.html/comment-page-1#comment-2941 Anonymous Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:05:19 +0000 http://emergentchaos.com/?p=2104#comment-2941 How lazy does one have to be to use Debix? All they do is provide automated fraud alerts with the three agencies. <a href="http://debix.com/products/4.htm" rel="nofollow">http://debix.com/products/4.htm</a> Great! Let me put all of my eggs into another basket. Instead of cracking the three agencies, I'll just dupe Debix, steal a SIM card, and approve things for myself. In the larger picture, the three credit agencies need a good smackdown and hard regulation. It's clear the market can't solve this. Or the SSA needs to devalue the SSN and publish them all. How lazy does one have to be to use Debix? All they do is provide automated fraud alerts with the three agencies. http://debix.com/products/4.htm Great! Let me put all of my eggs into another basket. Instead of cracking the three agencies, I’ll just dupe Debix, steal a SIM card, and approve things for myself.
In the larger picture, the three credit agencies need a good smackdown and hard regulation. It’s clear the market can’t solve this. Or the SSA needs to devalue the SSN and publish them all.

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