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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Introduce Yourself! -> What "important" documents to take
Post Info TOPIC: What "important" documents to take
foxriverguy


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What "important" documents to take
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As future full-timers we wonder what others do with such important papers as insurance policies, RV and/or toad titles, etc.

We don't know if we should keep them in a safe deposit box or with us as we travel.

What do you take and what do you keep in a safe location other than your RV home?

As always, thank you for taking time to respond.confusedconfusedconfused

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Froggi


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RE: What "important" documents to take
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I've had a small fire safe for years and carry all my important papers with me. This time around I will also scan them and upload them to a portable flash drive as well.

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Donna & Stu (& Sadie, too)
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mcw50


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As Froggi suggested, its a good idea to scan or photo the important documents and put them on a flash drive or CD and keep it somewhere, such as with a relative or safe deposit box.  However, we finally gave up the safe deposit box because the times we needed the contents, we were 2000 miles away!  We keep all our titles, insurance papers, birth certificates, passports, etc. with us...you just never know when you might need them to trade in the car, take a trip to Costa Rica, file for Social Security, check our insurance policy to make a claim.....all things we've done from "somewhere on the road."

Mary

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Jim01


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As Froggi and Mary have said, we feel it best to carry everything with us in a fireproof safe. A few times in the past, we have needed some of the papers, and it would have been very difficult if they would have been in a safety deposit box somewhere.

There are companies that make small fireproof safes that you can bolt to the floor of a closet or some other convenient place.

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Jim and Linda
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Happytrails


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This is along the same lines as the original question.  Do you all carry your medical records among the documents to take with you? 

Also, look at Wal-Mart and Staples, they have nice fireproof safe boxes that are just the right size for RVs.

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Jim01


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If you have your medical records, I don't see any reason not to carry them. We do not, and have found that they can be faxed to a doctor or medical facility if they are needed.

We once inquired about getting copies of Linda's records, (there are many), and they were going to charge us "an arm and a leg" to do it, so now we just have the doctor get, them if needed.

So far, no problems.smile 

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Jim and Linda
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Howard


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We have our licenses, registrations, titles, policies, warranties, wills, and passports with us.

We do not have a safe deposit box, but we do have copies of important docs stored with trusted friends/family.

We do not carry our medical records, but many people do.  If you have them, take them.  If you can get them copied on a CD without much hassle or cost, consider it.

As suggested, it is good to have a fireproof box in the rig for these documents and it is advisable to have electronic back-ups somewhere.  I'd recommend having more than one electronic back-up and keeping one with you.

Another back-up option I like is to photograph documents and store the photos in a private gallery on an online photo gallery website.  Their back-up systems are extensive, so the chance of losing the documents permanently is slim, and you can acess them from anywhere you can get an internet connection.

As always, there is plenty of food for thought here.  biggrin

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Jan and GC


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I have started scanning our documents and putting them on a CD for when we get on the road.  I will give the CD to my oldest son and carry the originals in the safe I purchased from Walmart.  GC will bolt it to the floor. 

Another thought is what if the CD is stolen.  It sure would give someone everything they need for identity theft!  I don't think I would want all my documention online somewhere. It would be convenient but is it really secure?  

This probably is the dumb question of the week but when I got the insurance policy out I was wondering if I should just scan the first page or should I scan every page of the document?  What does everyone else do?

Jan



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debandfrank


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What "important" documents to take
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Jan, It isn't a dumb question! What you need to be sure you have a copy of is the declarations page of the policy. This is the page that shows your name as insured, what is being insured, policy number, effective date, etc. Most of the time it is the front page, but not always. The actual policy (all the rest of the pages) would only be needed if you were going to contest a claim denial or if you had a question about whether or not the claim would be covered BEFORE you filed it with the insurance company. Hope this helps. Debbie

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Jan and GC


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RE: What "important" documents to take
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Thanks Debbie!  I will look it over again and make sure I have scanned what I need.  It's the Life Insurance Policy that had me wondering and I think there is another page in there where I was added when we married and when the boys were born.  Wasn't sure what my son would need if something were to happen to us and the original document was destroyed.

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debandfrank


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What "important" documents to take
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If amendments were added to the life policy, then I would also scan those pages. I know that, for my company at least, all that is necessary is to know, in fact, that there is a policy. If the original policy cannot be found at the time of death, then an affidavit has to be notarized as such, then the claim proceeds as if there were a policy in hand. I encourage my customers to at least give their beneficiaries information that they do have a policy with XYZ company and that the policy number is 123456. With that information in hand, they can contact the company after the death and file the appropriate claim.

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Lucky Mike


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Jay & Stella......Each visit I request Hard copies or a CD made of all tests and results.....I keep these on 3 separate forms of digital Hard drives.

No matter where I am these are available Immediately, My circumstances are Special, so what I do is almost excessive . But to keep it simple always request a hard copy or bring a USB Thumb drive with you and have them make a copy......then take this and make several copies. placing it on an online storage......portable hardrive.....copy it to disc. and then let your primary Ice contacts know the access to your online copies so the hospital or doctors can have immediate access.

As I Said There is now a medic alert Bracelet and pendant available that stores a whole lot of info needed for 20 bucks.....I have one and it has literally saved my life Several times already!!!!!!

I am posting the website for it so you can see what it is.......I bought mine in Walgreens


http://medicalhistorybracelet.com/


Some times I think it was all a pain to ask for it all , I still do!!................But when My Bucketlist clock started running it all has allowed me one more sunrise , new friends and most of all less stress to enjoy the best part of life!!

Edit by moderator: Activated link.  Terry



-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 13th of November 2012 02:59:16 PM

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Lucky Mike


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Medical Records and emergency (ICE) info can now be worn on your person.......Medic Alert USB......I have one it was simple to load it had full medical history onboard.....it is accessible from any computer.

It has saved my life twice........3 of the Emergency rooms I have been transported into were able to contact doctors , had a full medication list, and a current medical history. Insurance info and people to contact.

For 20 bucks you cant beat it!!!!!

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Jo And Craig


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Jan, I would recommend using a pass-coded jump drive rather than a CD.  The CD can become scratched and unusable.  The jump drive could also malfunction, so I would recommend 2 jump drives.  It's a piece of cake. I also recommend pass-coding every document on your pass-coded jump drive.  They make them.  I have two.

As far as scanning your insurance papers, does your insurance company offer online service?  If so, you can always just access your policy (policies) online and you wouldn't have to scan anything.  Using their online service, you can also make payments as you travel.  The same goes for anyone you are doing business with!

Lucky Mike also brought something to mind... I recommend everyone having an "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) contact on your cell phones.  Each "ICE" number is contact numbers for people/loved ones whom you would want emergency responders to contact in the event of an emergency.  Name these contacts "ICE 1", "ICE 2", and so forth for several emergency contacts.  Emergency responders will know what "ICE" stands for!



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sun.gifJo & Craig: Class of 2014!

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Terry and Jo


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Not that this isn't an important topic, but did anyone notice that it was a 5 year old thread?  I'm not sure "Jan" is even still active on the forums.

Terry



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jayc


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I have a question about faxing medical records. I was told by my doctor's office that medical records, test results etc. cannot be faxed or emailed because of HIPA rules. Both faxes and emails can be hijacked and made public. so they refused to send mine. Has this rule been changed?

I can't understand why someone would want to go to that much trouble to learn that I'm old and fat, have failing eyesight and can't hear thunder...


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Jo And Craig


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Lucky Mike did it!  disbelief



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sun.gifJo & Craig: Class of 2014!

http://itsourmomentintime.wordpress.com/

Life isn't about how you survived the storm, it's about how you danced in the rain!

2016 Lifestyle Luxury 39FB

2015 Ford F350 Dually Longbed (It's awesome!)
jayc


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Thanks for the link Mike, I'll keep that site and look into it further.

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