PCS Planning

We never worried too much about having our physical address visible online before this duty station.  The data brokers were usually one PCS behind.  However, we’ve been here almost four years in this location and our address was all over the internet in search engines and people-finder websites.  I checked some resources about how to fly below the data broker radar and here’s my plan for the next PCS:

1. Make a list of all the mail we receive.  Cancel subscriptions and catalogs before moving. Change the mailing addresses for bills and accounts online.
2. Before moving, get a PO box in the new location.  I haven’t decided if I’ll use the USPS or something like the UPS store.
3. Unsubscribe from current loyalty cards, email offers, and discount programs that have our physical address.
4. We’re registered voters in FL and have an exemption from releasing our physical addresses online.  If I needed to register to vote in our new state, I would research the state’s voter list policy and fill out an exemption, if possible.  Many states release voter rolls publicly.
5. Vehicle registrations are another way our addresses became public.  Our cars are registered in FL, also.  We used the address for my in-laws instead of our physical address.  It was released online, though, as our address.
6. Professional organizations sometimes release names and addresses.  I’m contacting my national office to find out what their policy is before I provide a forwarding address.
7. I’ll opt out of all the marketing websites and data brokers.
8. Change our billing options to paperless so no bills or paperwork with our PII are mailed.
9. Scan & save digitally our paperwork (old tax forms, medical papers, bank statements, etc…) and shred them using a microcut shredder.  Save these files on an encrypted external hard drive that we hand carry to the new location.  I’m not taking a chance with anything with our names or other PII going with movers again.
10. Trash all loyalty cards we used and set up new ones at the new location using fake phone numbers.  Pro tip:  use your new area code + 867-5309.  If it’s already being used, just give the store that number every time you shop.  They can’t track you when multiple people are using the same loyalty account.

I’ll update this list when our PCS is closer and official.  I’m sure it will be the subject of several rants in the future.  More information about it  in this post.

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