Tag Archives: identity theft

Phone Scammers

I got a strange call the other day. The recording said I had won a prize, but I didn’t remember entering a contest. It told me to push 1 for more information. I thought, what the heck… may as well see what I won, couldn’t hurt right? Shortly after pressing 1, my call was switched to a fast talking representative. He told me I had won a new plasma TV. He just needed to get my home address, name and credit card number to pay for the shipping. Sounds probable, right? Nope! As soon as I heard that request, I … Continue reading →

Check that Bill

Are you checking that bill and checking it twice? Whether it is your phone bill or credit card statement, it is critical you spend a little time verifying each debit and credit. Understanding how you are billed and what exactly is on your statements cannot only help you find errors; it can help you prevent scams and identity theft as well. It surprises some to think that scams can even occur on everyday expenses such as your home phone bill. Unfortunately they do happen and many consumers pay these expenses completely unknowingly. Really, before you ever pay any bill or … Continue reading →

Week in Review for July 29th to August 4th

Do you even know what a delinquency is? Dig deeper into the words and meanings of the credit world in regards to your credit score in Delinquencies and Credit Issues. What exactly happens when your bill goes past due? How does the late payment show up and your credit report? In this week blog entry, Collection Activities, you can learn some valuable information to help you maintain a clean credit report. As more of our population enters their senior years, reverse mortgages are a major buzz word. What exactly are they and do you qualify? Learn more in Miriam’s article, … Continue reading →

Protect your Card

Whether you actually hold a Gold Card or not, you should treat your credit card like gold. The flexibility a credit card allows could easily be turned against you. To save time, more businesses are processing credit card transactions with very little verification. If you have used your credit card at the gas pump recently, you will know what I mean. A machine is all that views the card – no signature is even required. Therefore, you need to be diligent in protecting this piece of your financial picture. The following tips will help you ensure your credit card remains … Continue reading →

Prevent Identity Theft

In today’s world of computers, credit card numbers and easy transactions, a door has opened up to a whole new kind of crime. Stealing your identity in order to use your good name and open up accounts. Not only could you lose money, you can lose your hard earned credit score. Protect yourself with these easy tips: 1. Limit what you carry. Clean out your wallet, eliminating any piece of identity or credit card you rarely use. 2. Watch your incoming and outgoing mail diligently. Always use a neighbor or place your mail on hold when you go on vacation. … Continue reading →

Top 5 Reasons to Never Buy Credit Protection Insurance.

It’s hard to miss all the news about identity theft and the damage caused to some people’s credit reports. With so much reporting about identity theft con-artists have set up elaborate scams to scare consumers into buying worthless credit protection insurance. The question is, Should anyone buy credit protection insurance, or a payment protection plan, or identity theft insurance? The answer is NO: 1. Under Federal law, there is a limit of $50 liability for unauthorized use of your credit card. Check your statements monthly or on the Internet and make sure you authorized each charge. If you notice a … Continue reading →

Free Credit Report Site

Free credit reports? You hear this on the radio and TV all the time. But are they really free? Well yes and no. Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) you can request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. But a credit report and a credit score are not the same thing. Credit file disclosure provides you the “credit report” that contains all the information in your credit file. This information is maintained by one of three consumer reporting companies and may be … Continue reading →