Driver’s Licence - Replace or Not?

Hamish125 on 13/05/2023 - 11:28
Last edited 13/05/2023 - 12:52 by 1 other user

Hi all, I was part of the Medibank hack and licence details were leaked.

We had the option in WA to get licence number changed. At the time there was no process for this and so they changed the card number (a separate number on the back) and this number is usually required now as well for licence verification purposes.

I’ve recently had a text from the Department of Transport telling me I have until the 15th of May to confirm if I do want to change the licence number - also warning me this may cause verification and ID problems for myself with other organisations.

What would you do in this situation? Change the licence number or not?

Edit: I should clarify the change in licence number is a result of the Optus hack. So I was actually involved in both Medibank and Optus :(

Exact wording from DoT website below:

Your replacement driver’s licence with new card number means someone else cannot use your previous licence details to commit identity fraud. This is why a new driver’s licence number is not required. Read the FAQs for more information.

If you still prefer to obtain a new driver’s licence number, please note:

• We may need to impose restrictions on your DoT transactions to allow us to change your driver’s licence number.

• We may have difficulty serving you after the licence number is changed.

• You will need to communicate the licence number change to any organisations or services you provided this information to (e.g. employer, financial institution, Government department, insurance agency, childcare).

Poll Options

  • 85
    Change the licence number
  • 16
    Don’t change the licence number - the change of additional number is enough.
Automotive Driver's Licence

Comments

  • Kongzi on 13/05/2023 - 12:07
    +2

    Are you a millionaire? If not, just leave it until next renewal

    • Hamish125 on 13/05/2023 - 12:48

      From my understanding the renewal won’t change the licence number. In WA it stays the same for life.

      • Kongzi on 13/05/2023 - 12:50

        Then might as well just do it

  • seannami on 13/05/2023 - 12:22
    +2

    I was caught in the Optus and the Latitude one. VicRoads let anyone in those breaches change their license for free. I'd say get it changed- peace of mind and no random crap on your credit score.

    • Hamish125 on 13/05/2023 - 12:49
      -1

      Yeh the WA government is allowing a free change as well. I guess the hassle involved is then informing everywhere that uses your licence number it’s been changed?

      • peterwilliams83 on 13/05/2023 - 14:36
        +11

        You don't need to inform anyone your license has changed. You only need to provide updated license information to those who request it and have a genuine need for the new number.

        If I were you, I'd change the number for peace of mind and to minimise the risk of another breach. I'd also be extra cautious for any requests for your new license information. I'd ignore any links sent to you via email or SMS requesting updated details, and instead contact any organisation directly through their website to confirm any such requests are genuine.

    • Oofy Doofy on 13/05/2023 - 22:06
      +2

      have you considered joining the class action?

      • seannami on 13/05/2023 - 23:29
        +1

        Not so far, though in both cases I hadn't been a customer of theirs for a long time. I'm already in two class actions for banks and their credit insurance stuff- at this rate Slater and Gordon are gonna think I'm scamming them!

        • Oofy Doofy on 13/05/2023 - 23:32
          +1

          I have a long kept dormant account with Lattitude financial (they took over GE money), so I was caught up in it. I guess I should join the CA if I feel like it may affect me down the line… it's possible I guess. They would only have my license on file.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/05/2023 - 12:25
    -4

    I'm not WA, but I haven't changed mine. I've had the same license number since I first got my L's and I can finally remember it by heart. If anyone opens an account with my details I'll just do a Shaggy and tell them it wasn't me.

  • bargaino on 13/05/2023 - 13:29
    -2

    Originally we used a physical drivers license for ID because they were hard to forge, and doing so was a criminal offense.
    It was better when they added photos, so could could check the physical license matched the person.

    If you wanted to open even an online bank, you had to go into a post office and show your physical ID.
    But it cost time and money, so the idiots decided is was enough to just type in your license number as "proof" of ID.

    How could they be that stupid? Answer: laziness and penny pinching.
    It should be obvious that treating a license number as a secret, but giving that secret to lots of people for ID, is plain idiotic.

    As was the banks' common practice of asking for your mother's maiden name, or date of birth.

  • herecomestheoost on 13/05/2023 - 13:57

    :D

  • boomramada on 13/05/2023 - 15:36

    I got compromised by both Optus and Medibank, if you feel unsafe do it otherwise don't. I just don't care.

    • elgrande on 13/05/2023 - 15:42
      +1

      Nothing to lose, or too much to worry about it?

      • boomramada on 13/05/2023 - 16:34

        Well worst-case scenario, someone can get a loan on my behalf of me. But the chances of that happening are very rare.

  • jjacob on 13/05/2023 - 16:59

    I'm from WA and was caught in the Medibank and Latitude hack. I haven't applied for a licence update, but I've put a credit access block with Equifax, illion and Experian, just to be safe.

    • Oofy Doofy on 13/05/2023 - 22:09

      Do you just go to their website directly and do something online? Or do you call them?

      • bamzero on 14/05/2023 - 19:21
        +1

        You can, otherwise an easy way is with the Credit Savvy app (belongs to Commbank). One tap to block or unblock credit reporting (they submit the request to one, who can then share the request with the other 2 if you choose). Just be aware the initial block only lasts 21 days, but can be extended.

      • jjacob on 15/05/2023 - 14:39
        +1

        You can submit a requests with equifax here https://www.equifax.com.au/eform/submit/credit-ban. The initial ban is for 21 days, then you need to submit another request as an extension. I did that for an year. As part of their request, they will ask if you would like them to notify the other agencies, choose yes.

  • iguana on 13/05/2023 - 23:09

    More than likely you will be involved in another data breach. Will you change your licence number again then? Just leave it. The probability of it being misused is pretty low. My data was part of the Optus breach - I haven't changed a thing.

  • OzDropBear on 14/05/2023 - 00:40

    Just get it changed for the peace of mind. I don't think anything would happen if you don't change it, but never having to think about that at all is just better.

  • Hamish125 on 14/05/2023 - 08:09
    +1

    Thanks for the comments so far! Haha still find myself in the same thought process. Can see the reasons for both changing and leaving..

    On the one hand it’s free to change and provides peace of mind, on the other very little risk of fraud occurring and most likely it will happen again to me in the future and I’ll be in the same situation.

    I’m leaning towards changing it though

  • Sinnerator on 14/05/2023 - 09:35

    Go get a metric sh!t ton of credit cards under your old licence number, change number, profit.
    IANAL

  • epyc2358 on 14/05/2023 - 09:50

    WA member here. I was affected by the Medibank and Optus hack and got mine changed. The centre was a nightmare for a new licence and failed to obtain. I was able to request a new one online through DoT, they also refunded me automatically.

    • Hamish125 on 14/05/2023 - 17:41

      Did you also get a text message recently regarding the change? I originally applied about 4 or 5 months ago and have only just now received the text saying I can do it

  • OzBargainGirl on 14/05/2023 - 10:46

    Absolutely do nothing. Write a privacy complaint to the OAIC - Privacy Commissioner for Australia. Explain how it has affected you. Ask for damages/cost for privacy breach: stress, inconvenience, and seven years worth of tracking for all three databases (Equifax, illion and Experian).

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