Avoid Identity Theft with your checking account

We all have heard about the issues with Identity Theft and the possible personal threat. There are all types of avenues for these thieves to get your personal information. I wanted to write about checking account theft, because it has happened to me recently again. I have had this checking account fraud happen to me twice over the last 5 years. I thought I was very careful, but evidently I was not careful enough. Here is how it happens.

Stealing your checks- The thieves have to get your account number before they can do anything. Typically they can get it via your mail box, or personal checks you have wrote to a business or individual. The recent event that took place with me was a check I wrote to my kid’s private school. This check I wrote disappeared and was nowhere to be found. We are not sure who stole the check, but we know the school was the source.


Check Fraud – Here is what the thieves do once they get your checking account number. They create new checks under an assumed name and transpose your account number on these checks. In some cases they will write the phony checks to a bogus business account. Once all of this comes out in the open you will discover that all of these assumed names lead to nowhere. This is how thieves operate. They create fraudulent checking account names and bogus company checking accounts.

Money Lost – Once this has happened to you and money has been withdrawn from your checking account, don’t worry. You will get your money back from the bank. This type of activity is insured with your bank. Yes, it’s a violation of your money, but you will get every cent back.

How to Avoid – To avoid this from happening to you, I would recommend not writing personal checks from your check book. I recommend writing all bills on-line. Here ways to avoid what was mentioned.
• Pay all bills on-line with your bank
• Make sure you computer virus software is updated
• Run malware software with Microsoft to avoid hackers on your computer. This software with Microsoft is free. Go here.


I hope this helps you avoid what has happened to me twice. I don’t care who it is, I pay them on-line now through my bank.

Author: Mike Clover
CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for free credit reports, credit cards, loans, and ground breaking credit news.

Identity Theft up by more than 20%

9.9 million Americans were the victim of identity theft last year. According to Javelin Strategy and Research, that's a 22% increase from the year before.

The good news is the average amount lost due to identity theft decreased even while the number of incidents increased. This is due to better detection and resolution both by businesses and consumers.

As consumers become aware of the need to check their credit reports regularly, and to enroll in programs that send alerts every time there's activity that affects those credit reports, fraudulent activity is being halted faster.

Those who don't become aware of identity theft for 6 months or more after the fraudulent activity begins end up paying far more than those who nip theft in the bud.

While many fear using internet shopping sites because of the threat of theft, it turns out that only about 11% of victims had been victimized by on-line thieves. Lost or stolen wallets, credit and debit cards, and checkbooks were the source of 43% of the incidents.

No figures were given to indicate the number of people affected due to lost data on the part of major institutions. The Veterans Administration and at least two major banking institutions have had security breaches in the past few years, with thieves gaining access to data on millions of individuals.

A growing threat to consumers is the practice of phishing. This does happen on line – with emails directing you to visit a site and verify account information. But it also happens via the telephone.

A current scam has consumers receiving phone calls informing them that they have missed jury duty – and giving them a way to get off the hook. The caller asks for personal information such as birthdate and social security number. If they already have your credit card or bank account information, this extra data ensures that they'll have clear sailing in using your identity.

To protect yourself from identity theft, first keep your wallet, purse, and checkbook secure. Don't leave these items in the car or let them out of your sight when in stores, restaurants, health clubs, etc. When you pay by credit card, don't hand it to a server to process and bring back – wait to pay until you can keep your eye on the card.

Second, don't give out any personal information over the telephone unless you called them. If your caller is legitimate, you'll be able to look up the business telephone and return the call. Don't call a number given to you over the phone, because it could also be phony.

If you get an "urgent" email telling you to visit a site and update information, don't click the link. Go to what you know to be the true website and check to see if you do have missing or outdated information.

Check your credit card agreement to ensure that you have zero liability in the event your card number is used by an unauthorized person. If not, consider getting a different credit card.

And be sure to check your credit report regularly. Then sign up for alerts that will give you instant notification of suspicious activity on your credit report.

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for free credit reports, credit cards, loans, and free credit repair advice.

Identity theft: What to do if it happens to you

The incidence of identity theft is keeping pace with the credit crisis – as more people's credit scores shrink, more thieves come out of the woodwork.

Why? Because people whose credit is shot still want to buy things. The dishonest ones have found an easy route to accomplish that – they'll just use your good credit.

If you learn that you're a victim, here's a step by step plan to get your credit back on track and erase the effects of theft.

1. If you get notice from a collection agency, first check to make sure that the agency is on the up and up. Bogus collection notices are a phishing scheme – designed to steal your identity or take money under false pretenses. Google the agency, then call the Better Business Bureau.

2. Contact your local law enforcement and report the theft. Get a case number.

3. Contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov and get the form to fill out. You'll need to get this notarized. Follow the FTC instructions.

4. Call the FTC ID theft hotline: 1-877-438-4336 to register your name on the national list of victims. Record your reference number.

5. Contact the fraud unit at the collection agency and register a dispute. FAX them a copy of the FTC form and the police report.

6. Contact the credit card issuer or bank involved in the discovered theft. FAX them the documentation. Get your account numbers changed to prevent further use.

7. Contact one of the major credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your account. The one you contact will pass the information on to the others.
Equifax: 800-525-6285
TransUnion: 800-680-7289
Experian: 888-397-3742

8. Consider putting a freeze on your credit report so that it cannot be accessed without your permission. Reading your report is one way that identity thieves choose their victims. After all, there's no sense stealing someone's identity if their credit is no better than your own! They want the "excellent credit identities!"

Note that stealing your actual accounts is not the only method of stealing your identity in use today. Now some thieves are merely stealing your information to print on bogus checks – many of which are not even tied to an actual checking account. It comes back on you because your name and information is printed on the check. The checks are passed using fake ID.

CreditScoreQuick.com your resource for free credit reports, credit cards, loans, and free credit repair advice.

Could You be the Next Victim of Identity Theft

Yes, you could, and unless you check your credit report often, you might not even know it until the next time you need credit.

A smart identity thief will operate in ways that you won’t notice right away. First, he’ll pretend that you’ve moved to a different community. Then he’ll apply for new credit cards and perhaps even purchase a house or a car. He may actually pay the payments for a little while to keep your credit in good standing until he’s gotten what he wants and/or moved on to a new victim.

If this is happening, the only way you’d know is by checking your credit report.

When you get it, look for discrepancies in your address and look for new accounts that have been opened. If you find them, contact the credit bureau at once and let them know those weren’t your transactions – and see what they can do to trace the origin.

The better your credit, the bigger risk of becoming a victim you face.

It happened to a friend of mine – she and her husband are both doctors with a sizeable income. They don’t need to use credit often, so had not checked their credit report in years. One day she called in a panic, telling me that someone in California was using accounts in her name and she was faced with a mountain of red tape to get it straightened out.

Apparently they had decided to use credit for a major purchase, and had been turned down due to the number of unpaid accounts in her name. She, being a person who is understandably proud of her station in life, was devastated. The idea of people thinking she didn’t pay her bills was almost more than she could bear.

This had been going on for quite a long time, so the accounts were many months past due. Had she ordered a free credit report and periodic updates, she would have known. She could then have stopped it before she had to deal with such a large number of accounts – and before she suffered such embarrassment.

Remember, while the internet is a wonderful tool for honest people, it’s also a handy tool for the dishonest. With the right skills to access it, your personal information – including your social security number, date of birth, occupation, and much more – is available on line.

No one is safe, but those with the highest FICO scores and highest income are most at risk. After all, when an identity thief uses your name, he or she wants an easy time of obtaining credit.


Author: Marte Cliff
CreditScoreQuick.com is your on-line resource for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

What to Do If You’re a Victim of Identity Theft… Part I

Right after you stop reeling from the shock, it’s time to take action.

You may have learned of the identity theft by examining your credit report and finding inquiries from unfamiliar companies (a sign that someone has applied for credit in your name) or by finding debts or new credit accounts that you don’t recognize.

If instead you learned of it only when debt collectors began to call, get a copy of your report immediately. You’ll need it when you take the next step: Contacting law enforcement.

You must file a formal report, because you’ll need a copy of the report when you contact the credit bureaus and respond to debt collectors. Your police report should include all the fraudulent accounts you identify when examining your credit report.

Contact:
• Your Local Police Department
• FTC.gov/bcp/coline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
• FTC 800-438-4338 or 800-ID THEFT

As you begin this process, keep a detailed log of everything you do, everyone you speak with, and what is said by both parties. Keep track of every expense you incur, as well. Put all receipts in one safe place for easy access later. In your log, make note of the emotional stress and how it is affecting your work and your personal relationships. Depending upon circumstances, your actual expenses and your time loss could be tax-deductible.

Now contact the credit bureaus. Notify one of the credit bureau fraud units that you are a victim of Identity Theft. That Bureau will take responsibility for telling the other two bureaus. (Call Equifax: 800-525-6285; Experian: 888-397-3742; or Trans Union: 800-680-7289) Next:

• Tell the Bureaus to flag your credit report with a fraud alert
• Send a dispute letter, accompanied by the police report and the FTC fraud affidavit specifying which accounts are fraudulent.
• Subscribe to the bureau’s monitoring services
• Consider signing up for Trusted ID services – which will block your credit report so only you can use it.
• Ask the Bureaus to contact the creditors and let them know that fraudulent activities have taken place.

You’ll probably have to deal with debt collectors. Here’s how to handle them:
• Get the collector’s name, company name, address, and phone number – noted in your detailed log. Inform the caller that you are recording this information, along with the date and time.
• Inform the collection agency you ar a victim of Identity Theft
• Provide the FTC uniform fraud affidavit
• Ask for the name and number of the credit issuer they’re representing
• Send the debt collector a letter, stating that you do not owe this debt and that the account is closed.
• Request in writing that the account be flagged as fraudulent and ask that it be removed from your credit report.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

What to Do If You’re a Victim of Identity Theft… Part II

By now you’ve contacted your local law enforcement and the FTC and have the proper documentation in hand to show that you’ve been a victim of identity theft. You’ve notified one of the major credit bureaus, who has in turn notified the other two.

You’ve been diligent about logging every conversation, along with its date and time, and you’ve kept a careful record of every expense associated with reclaiming your own identity.

You’re daydreaming about what you’d like to do to the person who caused you all this grief, but that won’t help. You need to keep a clear head and keep working on putting everything back to rights.

One of the first things you did when you discovered the identity theft was pull your credit report. Now do it again, because more information may have come in since the last report.

Examine it again for new entries, and if you find some, contact the credit bureau again and let them know of the new fraudulent accounts or charges.

If either the first or second report showed new accounts opened in your name, the next step is to contact each of those creditors and do the following:
• Notify each creditor of the identity theft and get the address where you need to send the fraud affidavit.
• Ask the creditor to send you any application that has been made in your name
• Ask to have the account closed and flagged with a fraud alert

If the thief has been using your credit cards, you need to notify the credit card issuers immediately and have those cards cancelled. They’ll issue new cards, with new numbers. Check to make sure that the address and e-mail address in their database is correct, so they don’t just send your new cards to the thief! Of course let them know which charges on your account are fraudulent, and of course note all of these conversations in detail in your log.

If the identity thief has written checks in your name…

• Call your local police and file another report
• Call your bank and close the account
• Get the proper address to send a copy of the police report
• Ask for a refund of monies fraudulently withdrawn
• And of course, carefully record each of these steps in your log

Identity theft costs millions each year, both in money and time loss. It’s a rude and devastating intrusion into your life. But if you take the steps we’ve outlined, you’ll get through it with the least amount of stress.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Think it Can’t Happen to You? It Can.

What is “It?”

Identity theft. It happens every single day, and you could easily be its next victim. Now that almost all of our personal information is somewhere on line, talented hackers can learn almost anything they might want to know, about anyone.

Just a few months ago the Veteran’s Administration announced that thousands of names had been compromised due to carelessness on the part of one employee.

It seems crazy to want someone else’s identity, but these thieves have some pretty strong reasons for doing it – almost all of them having to do with money.

With your identity, the thieves can drain your bank account, use your credit cards, and even open new credit card accounts in your name – so the bills will be reported in your name, not theirs. Some of them steal multiple identities, so they can make a big haul and then disappear.

Think about it – Using your identity, they can check “their” credit, identify accounts you aren’t using, send a change of address to them, and request new credit cards. You wouldn’t even know a charge had been made, because the bill would be going to a bogus address. And since you weren’t using the account, you wouldn’t miss the bill.

These people are without conscience – they don’t care what kind of havoc they wreak in your life. They don’t care if they leave you destitute, destroy your credit, and leave you in legal entanglements for the next few years.

So what to do?

One precaution is to freeze your credit report, but that isn’t a practical solution for everyone. The next best thing is to keep a constant watch on your credit report, so you can know right away if someone is trying to obtain credit using your name.

You can do this by checking your credit report regularly, watching for new account activity, address changes, collection accounts, credit increases or inquiries, etc. It’s a tedious job, and one you must perform regularly, because early detection is the key to stopping a financial loss before it becomes devastating.

The more convenient alternative is to sign up for a monitoring service. But even then, be careful. Check to see that the service you choose monitors all 3 of the major credit reporting companies, and that they do it frequently enough to nip trouble in the bud. Some even provide identity theft insurance – to protect you in the event that they make a mistake and overlook the early warning signs of a thief.


As with all services, some are better than others, and some are downright scams. Ask questions, read the fine print, and then choose a company to set your mind at rest. Not only will you be able to get on with your own life, a good credit report monitoring service will get you in the right direction. This is one of those do-it-yourself projects that’s better left to the experts.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Should you worry about your child’s credit report?

With identity theft becoming the biggest crime ever, identity thieves have figured who that the young and elderly are easy targets. These two types are easy victims because they typically are not checking there credit and they are not buying anything credit. With this going on it only makes sense to check your child or elderly family members credit reports often.

You have to remember the identity thieves are getting smarter and smarter on whom to go after. After all this is their profession. Current statistics show that less than 33% of the US population checks their credit report, and when they do there may be some unexpected surprises.

With all the banks going out of business banking will never be the same. No one wants to repeat what is currently taking place. So with your credit worthiness being very important, the last thing you want is love one dealing with is bad credit because of identity theft. I would allocate at least 30.00 per quarter to check you child’s or parents credit reports. You can also check their credit report once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com, just be advised you don’t get your fico scores there. You will need to pay for them. So if you want to know there credit scores with each credit bureaus, you may consider a website that offers a 3-1 credit report with all 3 credit scores.

Having this piece of mind is really worth it. There are lots of skeptical people out there about his whole matter. They don’t do anything until it’s too late. If you are still not convinced check the FTC website. They discuss it everywhere since this problem is on epidemic proportions.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Should You Freeze Your Credit Report?

Perhaps. It depends upon your immediate plans. If you’re getting ready to buy a house or a car, or if you need another credit card, then no, you definitely should not. But if you have no impending need to apply for credit, and you worry about identity theft, then it could be a good plan for you.

Many older consumers are good candidates for this. They’re at an age where they aren’t likely to want a new house or a new car – at least not any time soon. Generally they have several credit cards, many that they aren’t using, which gives them excellent credit. And, sad as it is, elders are often the target for identity fraud.

But first, what does “freezing your credit report” mean? Simply stated, it means that no one, not even you, can access your credit report.

This move helps prevent identity theft because thieves trying to use your credit will run up against a brick wall. When a would-be creditor tries to run a check, they’ll be denied. And when a creditor can’t find out if you’re a smart money manager or not, they’ll deny the credit.

The down side is that you’ll have to pay $10 to each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. If you have a spouse, you’ll also have to pay $10 each for your spouse. You’ll also have to fill out paperwork.

However, you can get a “free freeze” if you’ve already become a victim of identity theft. You’ll have to send a copy of the police report in lieu of money.

Because the credit bureaus fought for 4 years to prevent Congress from passing a bill allowing individuals to freeze their reports, they aren’t making it easy for you. You’ll have to mail certified letters, present utility bills to prove you are who you are and you live where you live, and give other personal information.

Later, when you want to purchase a house or a car on credit, you’ll have to go through a reverse process to “thaw” your reports. You’ll pay the $10 per person per credit bureau over again. That’s the second “down side” to freezing your credit report.

Only you can decide if this is the right move for you. But anyone who has gone through the hassle of putting their lives back together after a brush with identity theft would probably tell you that paying those “freeze and thaw” fees is well worth it.

Author: Marte Cliff
CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Has identity theft made our life more complicated?

With all the hustle and bustle, what else could we possibly worry about now? Life is hectic enough without having to worry about someone accessing your credit information and stealing your identity. I remember during the 80’ you did not hear about all of this. The only worry we had was Russia sending over a nuclear bomb. With the evolution of how information travels, and a paradigm shift in theft, we have to stay on top of our credit reports. Thank goodness technology allows us to access our personal information fairly quickly.

Until recently if you wanted a copy of your credit report, it took an act of congress to get one. Plus the credit report you got was almost impossible to read. Luckily with the new Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) you are entitled to a free credit report once a year. This opened the gates of other credit report offers which will provide you with your credit scores. The free credit report you get once a year gives you a 3-1 credit report with no credit scores.

With the internet presence and the ease to access personal information you cannot afford to check your credit report only once a year. Did you know that identity theft could be happening to you right now? If you waited a year to access your free credit score report 12 months from now your good name would be ruined. So yes with the internet technology two things have happened, it opened up avenues for identity thieves. The internet also opened the ability to access your personal information securely and fast over the web.

The internet is safe as long as the site you are visiting is secure. Believe it or not most identity theft does not take place over the web. It takes place in places like your trash and at companies that have your personal information on file.

So identity theft has added extra stress to our lives, but if you stay on top of your free credit score reports it’s definitely a piece of mind.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Common ways identity theft & fraud are committed

Most people don’t realize how easy it is for someone to steal your identity without breaking into your home. In public places criminals may engage in what they call shoulder surfing, watching at a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card or a credit card number. They may also listen in on a conversation as you give a credit card number over the telephone to a rental company or hotel.

The area near your home or office may not be safe. Criminals can engage in what they call “Dumpster Diving” and go through you trash, communal dumpster to obtain checking account numbers, credit card applications, and bank statements. These types of documents make it easy for criminals to steal your identity.

If you receive pre-approved credit card applications in the mail and disregard them without shredding them, identity thieves will try to activate them without your knowledge. Some credit card companies require credit cards once approved to be activated from your home phone, but this practice is not universal yet. Also if you mail is sent to a place where it can be easily accessed a identity thief may redirect that mail somewhere else.

During recent years the internet has been a target of identity theft. Criminals try to get personal information by spamming people and requesting personal information posing as a bank. They also sent e-mails offering some service that really is not present.

With enough of you personal information a identity thief can take over your identity and wreck your life. They can drain your banks accounts, saving accounts, charge up your credit cards, apply for new credit, and file bankruptcy in your own name. This is serious business. This will also destroy your free credit reports and good name.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Identity Theft Q & A

Q:
Hi Mike,
I have some questions and concerns about identity theft. This problem seems to be the biggest crime in America. I was curious what yiou might recommend in hopefully preventing this from happening to me and my family. Thanks for any advice.

Susie Landry


A:
Hello Susie,
Thanks for the question. Identity Theft is getting out of control in our country. It’s affecting 50 million Americans a year. That’s amazing when there is only 302 million in the United States currently. This problem is on epidemic proportions. There are some great preventative measures. The first step is to check your free credit report as often as you can. You should also set up credit monitoring to get alerted of any critical changes. At our site we provide two of the best two services for identity theft protection, under out identity theft tab. Here is a good identity theft prevention article to read as well.

Mike Clover
CreditScoreQuick.com

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Avoid a low Credit Score.

With your Credit Score being the doorway to financial health I thought I would give some tips on what to avoid so your credit score is not affected. If your credit score is currently low I guarantee that you are paying too much to your creditors. Any business that is in business for profit is looking for a reason to make money. If a creditor knows your credit scores are low they will charge you for it. The reason is because they can. Here is what to avoid so your creditworthiness is not affected.

Late Payments
This is one credit dink I see all the time. If you are late on a obligation that reports to the credit bureaus I assure you that your score will drop around 75 to 100 points. Timely payments account for 35% of your overall FICO score. This particular factor in your credit score is the biggest factor of all.

Amounted Owed
If you have credit card debt, and the balanced owed vs. the allowed credit limit is more than 30%, your score is affected. The amount owed accounts for 30% of your overall FICO score. You should keep your credit debt well below 30% of the allowed credit limit.

Length of Credit History
Once you are granted some credit the FICO score model looks at how long you have been in good standing with your credit. If you have a good history with your creditors, you can count on it helping your overall credit health. The length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your score.

Mix of Credit
Mix of credit accounts for 10% of your FICO score according to Fair Isaac. So you need credit cards, installment loans, auto loans, department store credit, etc…… The rule of thumb is to have at least 3 to 4 lines of different types of credit to get the best overall score.

New Credit
New credit accounts for 10% of your FICO score. The FICO score model does not like to see you applying for too much credit. Too many hard credit inquiries will affect your credit score. The rule of thumb is around 3 to 4 different types of credit.

Identity Theft & Credit Monitoring
Make sure you are pulling a copy of your free credit report regularly. With the identity theft problem it is recommended to set up some type of credit monitoring with immediate alerts. So if something happens you will know about it quickly.

Co-Signing
Co-signing is a big problem as well. We don’t recommend co-signing for anyone. If a family member or friend does not have the credit to buy, the best thing they can do to get credit established is to get a couple of secured credit cards. This is the fastest way to improved credit health. With a little history, usually 12 months of good payment history the creditors will open the doors of credit.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Safeguard your identity from Identity Theft

I don’t think I can write enough about this subject, identity theft is going on everywhere now. I wanted to give some more tips on what the experts recommend on safeguarding your private information from identity thieves. In the current day and time you cannot be too careful on protecting your personal information. Once it happens to you its too late and is very hard to get resolved in a timely manner.


Precautions:
• Don’t carry too many credit cards in your wallet, maybe only one is necessary.
• Don’t carry your social security card in your wallet.
• Don’t put your social security number and driver’s license number on your checks.
• Don’t pay your bills in the mail, use on-line services. You may also use the post office.
• Use complicated username and passwords.
• Memorize your username and password, never write them down
• Install virus protection software on your computer
• Don’t give out your personal information over the phone
• Check all 3 credit reports every 4 to 5 months.
• Don’t open any attachments or emails sent to you from unknown senders.
• Look out for suspicious mail that might ask you to apply for a credit card or other types of credit.
• Change your password every few months
• Shred all bills
• Opt-out of receiving credit card offers in the mail by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT
• Get your phone numbers and address removed from reverse directories and phone books.
• Subscribe to credit monitoring services that alert you quickly
• Buy identity theft insurance.
• Review your social security and benefits carefully every year.
• Pay for stuff with cash instead of credit cards and debit cards.
• Install firewall software on your computer
• Ask business that keep your personal information about there storage and security process.
• Have you mail sent to a P.O. Box.





With 50,000 people a year getting there information stolen you can rest assure its on epidemic proportions. This crime is growing so fast that you cannot afford to just assume it will not happen to you. Protect you and your families get all of the information mentioned above in place. Its worth spending a little extra money to save yourself thousands and countless hours fixing identity theft.


About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Don’t think Identity Theft can happen to you – “Think Again”

During the course of the day you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a concert, mail your tax returns, rent a car, and apply for a new credit card. Your probably don’t think twice when you are doing these type of activities. An identity thief is always watching.

Identity theft is a serious crime, and is currently the biggest crime waive ever. People who have their identity stolen can end up taking months, years and thousands of dollars trying to recover their identity. Identity theft can steal your good name and credit record. If identity theft happens to you, it could cause you to not get a new job because of your current credit report, it could get you denied credit for housing, cars and installment loans.

How identity thieves get your information
• Stealing information and records while on the job
• Conning fellow co-workers for information
• Hacking records
• Bribing employees whom have access to confidential information
• Steal your mail, by taking bills, credit card statements, tax return information, new credit card offers and new checks as well.
• Dig through your trash, business trash cans, and public trash facilities. This is also known as dumpster diving.
• Get a copy of your credit report by abusing their employers authorized access to it, or by posing as someone like a landlord or employer who may have access to your credit reports.
• They may capture your credit card numbers or pin numbers by storing this information in a data storage device when you swipe your card. This is also know as skimming.
• They may steal your purse or wallet.
• They may complete a change of address to divert your mail somewhere else.
• They may steal your information that find in your own home.
• They may steal your information posing as your bank or some institution you do business with.





How identity thieves use your personal information
• They can give your name during a arrest and if you don’t show up for the court date it goes on your record.
• They could file fraudulent tax returns in your name
• They could get a job in your name.
• They could get a auto loan in your name
• They could get a home loan in your name
• They may open new credit cards in your name and allow them to go delinquent which will affect your credit report.
• They may establish utility bills in your name
• They may file bankruptcy in your name on charges they have accrued in you name.


There are some great preventative measures for avoiding identity theft. Here are a few good ones.

• Get your credit report at least every 3 months. Its worth paying for to avoid this mess.
• Sign up for credit monitoring to get alerts when someone applies for credit in your name.
• Shred all mail.
• Get PO Box, and don’t put anything in an un-secure mailbox.
• Safeguard credit cards, social security cards, and any other personal items you don’t use in a safe.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

Tax Lien Q & A

Q:

I have a tax lien on my credit report from 1998. This tax lien was due to taxes on a 1099 job I had for 2 years. I did not pay the amount owed for the year of 1997. The IRS filed a tax lien for $12,000. My attorney said it should drop off after seven years. Well 7 years was a while back. What am I missing here? I have been told this tax lien will affect my credit score as well. I want to resolve this matter as quick as possible. I am getting ready to sell my home and purchase another home.

Jim

A:
Determining when collections are going to come off your credit report might seem simple, but there are some types of credit report activity that does not apply to the 7 year rule. Tax liens are one of those debts owed that will not go away until you pay it. The Fair Credit Reporting ACT has different rules for this type of debt owed. Here are the facts.




• Unpaid Tax Liens- there is not a set expiration date for unpaid tax liens according to the FCRA. So tax liens will stay on your credit report until you pay it. Some credit bureaus cap how long they report records like tax liens for up to 15 years. So if a tax lien has been reporting for over 15 years, you might consider disputing to see if the bureaus will remove.

• Paid Tax Liens – Once a tax lien is paid off, the tax lien will report on your credit report for 7 years from paid date. Tax liens are the only record where the expiration date is tied to repayment.

Jim you do have a chance of getting this record off by disputing it. There is no guarantee it will com off though. You will more than likely have to pay the debt off. You can use our how to dispute process here.

Mike Clover

CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness.

How a recession can affect you.

I thought this was a good story about how identity theft , credit scores, and a recession can affect anyone. Its does not matter whether you are poor or rich, your life can change in a instant.

It's an economic downturn when others suffer financial reversals, but it's a recession when it hits your home. In my case, it was a full-blown depression.

Although I knew what it was to experience lean times, it never seemed possible that I could become destitute. My first challenge was to recognize that was exactly what was happening. My next challenge, other than to cope, was to find a way to re-emerge.

Think it could never happen to you? So did I.

My hardships started in the mid-1990s, when I became an early victim of ID theft. Sorting out the charges took years, but I eventually negotiated with creditors to accept payment for only the charges that were legitimately mine. And then I closed the accounts.

With that behind me, I left a comfortable executive's life to become an independent consultant. Corporate chiefs paid me handsomely – so much so that I paid off my mortgage. I was debt free, and times were good.

But the Prime Time of Life celebration was short-lived. In rapid succession, my top two accounts stopped operating in the U.S., leaving me with unreimbursed expenses and collapsed receivables. I cannibalized my savings and made ends meet – until 9/11.

Still, I managed – by selling personal items on eBay and working toward a business rebound. I started building a warehouse to hold supplies – and then the unthinkable happened. My hand was caught in a table saw, and I went from bleeding in an ambulance to hemorrhaging financially.

I, who had never taken unemployment checks, was unable to access any so-called safety nets such as Medicaid.

Then, in gilded-lily lunacy, the IRS seized my income for "unpaid back taxes," citing credit card charge-offs that were in fact the result of identity theft.

Using what capital possible to pay the immediate – utilities, insurance, food – I began defaulting on bills, including property taxes. My once golden credit was ruined.

Welcome to the Under World, where Washington-approved institutions legally hang anyone who's on the ropes.

• I was rejected for work because of "low credit scores," a nonstarter under many companies' HR rules.
• My car insurance increased $100 a month, although I had filed no claims.
• Home insurance rates shot through the roof with high-risk underwriter policies.
• My credit card limits fell from $5,000 to $300. Securing even that privilege cost me a $100 deposit – on a card averaging 20 percent interest rates.
• Utilities began demanding deposits, despite my model customer history.
• In a final irony, despite outright owning my house I was denied any form of home equity loan – even with willing co-signers. Banks cited my poor credit ratings.

Broke but still unbroken, I got by. So recently flush and proud, I found myself pulling weeds on an East Texas estate for $10 an hour and working part time in a flea market. I drove for two years without valid auto registration; I was unable to get a current inspection sticker without maintenance on my car that I simply couldn't afford. I relearned how to save, shopping at Sam's, Fiesta and Big Lots. I bought and cooked in bulk and froze my food.

But the paramount key to my rebuilding was a reaffirming personal commitment, believing as I do that condescending arrogance when you're on top is a far greater failure than being broke.

It took me four years to piece my financial life back together. I won my case with IRS. My business flourished. I outlived the negatives on my credit report. Finally, I attacked those delinquent property taxes – now tripled with accrued interest, court costs and attorney fees – just before the city poised to seize my home.

By 2006, I was experiencing periodic flashbacks of what I later recognized as happiness.

I learned so much throughout this ordeal, foremost that when the chips are stacked against you, our system encourages the piranha-like free-market capitalists to pile on those who are down for the financial count.

Yes, my retirement funds are gone. But there is always abundant reason to celebrate life with caution and reverence. And share with stunned skeptics how my case is institutionally endemic rather than an anecdotal anomaly.

If this could happen to a well-connected, solvent homeowner, what does that say about those renting, leveraged, alone? Or about a Fair Credit law passed in this decade making it harder to file for bankruptcy than a divorce?

Still feel immune? All it takes is the perfect storm. And you know Texas weather.

Dallas Morning, News.

CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness.

New identity theft prevention -double authentication

With identity theft being so ramped these days and a major concern for most people, don’t worry there is new kid on the block. RSA a security firm has came up with a solution to stop cyber criminals. This new technology is cutting edge when it comes to making a purchase on the web. At a San Francisco security conference, RSA showed off a phone with unusual feature. When a web user makes a purchase or performs a banking transaction on-line, the phone receives a wi-fi signal from the PC making the transaction.
RSA’s handset, built by manufacturer HTC, then shows the transaction and waits for the user to approve it before sending another signal back to the computer, which allows the transaction to take place.

This new process is catching the eyes of the banking industry as well. Currently Bank of American has a security feature called “tokens” which is offered to there high end clients. This is offered with there cards which generate changing passwords that are required to authenticate transactions. Bank of America also currently offers a program for all there customers called “Safe Pass” which sends customers a text message to their cell phones when they bank on line, requesting that they confirm their identity.

According to Bank of America the program they use to prevent identity theft is text based which is much slower and more costlier than wi-fi.

There are currently 140 million cell phone users that text. So it’s easy to deliver this security feature.

Just to confirm, banks have always offered text messages when they suspected suspicious activity. The problem with this its is not a preventative measure.

The challenge with this new technology is bringing two-level authentication across the entire web. I will agree that it’s the best preventive measure for internet purchases that I have seen thus yet. With identity theft being a major headache, and crime growing quicker than the prevention, this is definitely an up coming solution.

As always we recommend that you get a copy of your credit report just to make sure there are no suspicious activities going on as well. Having credit report monitoring is great solution also. We just need to manage our personal information more closely these days, to have a piece of mind.


About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance, debt consolidation ,and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness.

Top Tips to avoid Identity Theft that cause Credit Report Problems.

Identity theft happens every 3 seconds to someone in the U.S. This ultimately affects your credit score report as well. Here are some top tips to avoid this problem

1. Check your credit report regularly, once a year is not good enough.
2. Have your mail go to a P.O. Box
3. Don’t put checks in the regular mail.
4. Pay your bills on-line with bank
5. Shred all mail that has your name on it, especially credit card offers
6. Double check your bank statements for unfamiliar activity.
7. Check credit card statement for unfamiliar activity
8. Don’t give out your social security number over the phone, without verifying who is asking.
9. Don’t keep your social security card in wallet or purse.
10. Don’t put social security and driver’s license number on your checks.
11. Use firewall protection for home computers
12. Sign up for https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t to stop credit card offers in the mail
13. Sign up for identity theft protection, such as LifeLock. Life lock is a good preventive measure.
14. Don’t leave purse or wallet in your car
15. Make sure you are receiving all your mail, and make sure its not being sent somewhere else.

If you are one those people that thinks identity theft will not happen to you, you might reconsider. It can happen to anyone at anytime. When it happens and you don’t have preventative measures in place, it could take you years to fix. With the new digital age you can set up email alerts when someone is accessing your credit. This is real neat feature, or through Life Lock you can set up fraud alert features where any creditor accessing your credit must call you first before approval.






Since identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, you really cannot afford to not stay on top of your credit. Being informed and aware of you personal credit is the most important measure as well. So don’t waste anymore time get all these measures in place today to protect you and your family.


About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness

When should you check your Credit Report?

We all know to get a check up with the doctor once a year, and dental twice a year, but how often should you check your credit report health? Just like getting a physical at the doctor to get steps to improve your physical health, you need to do a financial check up to improve your overall credit report health. With the way matters are these days you cannot afford to not stay on top of your financial health. If you want to retire someday you definitely don’t want to be paying higher interest rates on money borrowed because you are not up to date on your credit report history or because you have mismanaged your credit health.

There is lots of advice on the internet to check your credit report once a year, but is this the correct information? This might be a good rule of thumb for someone who does not have any credit out there, or never makes any purchases. Unfortunately most people are doing all the above quite often. Here are triggers for checking your credit report with credit scores.

You have been denied for a credit card, loan, mortgage, or other credit based services.
If your credit was used in the decision process for a loan and you were denied, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report. Most lenders will send you a letter in the mail listing some of the reason as to why you were denied credit.

Once you get a copy of your credit report and credit scores, review it and make sure you were not denied because of inaccurate information being reported.





You suspect your identity has been stolen
Unfortunately, identity theft is becoming a problem of epidemic proportions. Identity theft can go unnoticed for months, even years. If you discover your identity has been stolen report it to the credit bureaus immediately.

Your are preparing to make a major purchase like a home, car, credit card, or any other credit-based service
Your credit report history and credit scores are the primary factors in the loan approval process. You would be surprised as to what credit report entries would get you denied for a loan. In some cases even a $16.00 medical collection can keep you from getting your dream home.

You are planning to repair your credit or get out of debt or both
Since a credit report contains most if not all of your financial accounts, it’s the best place to start when you are focused on getting financially healthy. You can also easily use the information on your credit report to get your plan started. If you are looking to get out of debt or fix your bad credit report, there is no better place to start than your free credit score report.

About the Author: Mike Clover is the owner of http://www.creditscorequick.com/. CreditScoreQuick.com is the one of the most unique on-line resources for free credit score report, fico score, free credit check, identity theft protection, secured credit cards, student credit cards , credit cards, mortgage loans, auto loans, insurance and a BlOG with a wealth of personal credit information. The information within this website is written by professionals that know about credit, and what determines ones credit worthiness