| |
| |
|
|
Credit Information |
|
Shoppers Beware - Tis The Season
It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips to help you safeguard your identity and other valuables: 1) Protect your account numbers - Most stores only print the last four or five digits of the charge account on your receipt. However, some stores haven't caught up with technology. If the merchant makes an impression of your charge card, be sure to ask for any carbons that are part of the receipt. "Dumpster divers" can lift account numbers from discarded carbons to steal your identity and your account information. 2) Protect Your Social Security Number - If you are asked to provide a SSN when making a purchase, challenge the cashier as to why they need this information. Request that some other form of ID be used instead of your SSN. There is no valid reason for them to request this information. You provided it when you applied for your account so they should already have this on file. However, if you've opened a new account, don't be surprised if the cashier asks to see some form of picture ID, such as a driver's license. Don't view this as an imposition, remember that the store is actually taking steps to protect you - making sure that you are the account holder. 3) Keep an eye on your charge cards and receipts - Don't let your charge card leave your sight. Most cashiers will keep your card so that they can verify the signature on the receipt. However, sometimes they simply swipe your card, then hand it back to you or put it on the counter for you to retrieve. Check that the card you've been given back is yours and not someone else's. Occasionally, mistakes can happen, especially when the store is busy. Also, make sure that you take your receipts with you. You'll need them to verify your purchases when your bills come in January and February. 4) Watch for pickpockets - Professional pickpockets love the holiday shopping season. Open backpacks, large shopping bags and unstrapped purses are a pickpockets dream. "Be wary of the distractions around you, because that's what the pickpockets like. They usually work in teams," said Edward Gross, a Chicago police officer. "They usually work in teams. For example, one of the team members fakes a fall and when an innocent person tries to help that's when the other pickpocket lifts the victim's wallet." 5) Use a credit card and a secure site when shopping online - Paying by credit card is the safest way to pay online. It protects your legal right to dispute charges for goods or services never received, never ordered or misrepresented. When you get to the merchant's payment page, the "http" at the beginning of the url address should change to "https" or "shttp". This is a sign that the site is encrypting or scrambling your credit card information as you send it to them. Many browsers will even alert you of this via a pop-up window. Whenever possible, print and keep a receipt of your online transaction in case you need it later. Happy Holidays! About The Author © 2004, www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com James H. Dimmitt is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a weekly free newsletter to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. He is also author of "Identity Theft - How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!" available at http://tinyurl.com/bc45.
MORE RESOURCES:
Credit - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Good vs. Bad Credit Debt Do you know the difference between good and bad credit debt? Most everyone seems to think that all debt is bad, but that is not always the case. In fact, there are some instances where good debt can actually help your financial situation. Home Loans - Repair Your Credit Before You Buy Before you take out a home loan or make any major purchase, you should be aware that any prospective lender will want to take a look at your credit report. Your credit report is a record of all of your past financial dealings, and any loans, credit cards, judgements, bankruptcies or other major financial transactions are listed there. Free Credit Reports: From The 3 Major Credit Bureaus! Get your credit report online for FREE. Many financial advisors suggest that you periodically review your credit report for inaccuracies or omissions. Credit Reports: Find out why you have been refused Credit. You may already have 2 or more credit cards in your purse or wallet and you have just applied for a third and been declined. This can be very frustrating considering you pay off your other credit cards regularly and you are continually having your credit limit raised. Ethical Finance: Who Benefits From Our Spending? On one hand consumers are being universally criticised for running up significant amounts of debt on credit cards, yet conversely many companies are capitalising on the growing credit card debt, from charities and political organisations to football clubs, the Association of Surgeons and somewhat ironically ActionAid, an international development agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide.Financial comparison site moneynet. Using Credit Cards Wisely "I think money was stolen from my card" or "I might have blocked my card in the ATM" - these are frequent problems that bank customer-support officers usually hear from agitated clients. Incorrect use of credit cards or wrong interpretations of their functions are frequent even after tens of years of credit-card extensive use. Addressing Bad Credit Card Debt Spending HabitsSo you've just got your credit card. The first thing you need to be wary about is that a credit card is very easy to use - afterall you can shop in stores, via catalogs and online with your credit card. SuperCharged Secret 1 of 5 - Credit Card Utopia I AM THE CONSUMER. AND I HAVE LOW-RATE SUPER-POWERS!Note: The following is part 1 of a 5 part series. Free Credit Report - A Website Typo Could Be Costly In 2003, Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions act (FACT), which made it possible for consumers to obtain a copy of their credit report for free. In fact, the legislation makes it possible for consumers to obtain one free report from each of the three main credit bureaus - Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax, per year. Practical Suggestions for Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft It's no surprise that thousands of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year. Last year more than 9,000,000 people were victims of identity theft amounting to some $45 billion dollars. Identity Theft - Who Would Want Mine? With all my bills who would possibly want my credit? Let them steal my identity and pay my bills! Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. Many of us mistakenly believe that identity thieves hit only the wealthy. Is Your Credit Score Costing You Money? Most of us want a good credit report to obtain automobile financing, credit cards, and to purchase a home. But, beyond these consumer loans, your credit report can cost you in everyday living expenses. Understanding Your Credit Score When you apply for credit one of the first things almost all credit officers do is check your credit score. Although not all of those officers explained to us what a credit score is, we are all rated according to it and the offers we receive were all dependent on that score. Repairing Your Credit Score and Clearing Derogatory Marks on Your Credit Report Raising your credit score can be a fairly simple and straightforward process unless you have derogatory marks that need to be disputed (which will be explained below).The reasons for bad credit can be as follows, high balances, bankruptcies, late payments, and many others. Free Credit Reports - How to Maintain Your Credit Profile Maintaining your Credit ProfileEvery consumer should be maintaining their credit profiles to ensure the highest scores possible. To do so, you must first order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. Online Credit Report and Online Credit Reports Online credit reports are easily accessible to those interested in viewing them. If you have wondered about what kind of credit score you have, you can go on the Internet and look at your online credit report. How to Evaluate and Raise Your Credit Score Why do some people get offers for pre-approved credit cards and others don't? What do car dealers know about your financial health that you don't know? The answer is your credit score.Your credit score is a number generated by a mathematical formula to estimate how likely you are to pay your bills. Manage Your Credit Wisely Getting your first credit card is a big deal and all young people look forward to it with bated breath. We wait for years to be able to apply successfully for out own credit card. Credit Card Incentives Credit card companies want your business. After all, lending money to people is profitable. Credit Cards or Store Cards - Which Is Better? Introduction In this article, a presentation is made of the differences between major credit cards and credit cards offered by specific stores to their customers. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of major credit cards and store cards to aid consumers in making decisions regarding which lines of credit lines would be the best for them in a given set of circumstances.
|
||||||||||||||||
