| On the way home from work, Tom looked at a | | | | increase. A victim must be proactive. Much |
| short list on his "to do list" and began | | | | depends on it. The Federal Trade Commission |
| sequencing the list into a logical travel | | | | web site on Identity Theft is a good place to |
| pattern to minimize crisscrossing. Sunday | | | | start. This is no substitute for the phone |
| grilling with family and guests were an | | | | work and letters you will need to employ |
| important event around the pool while cooling | | | | perhaps over a two or three year period to |
| off and just chilling and relaxing and | | | | fight your way back. This is where you will |
| disengaging from the challenges and stress | | | | need to invoke your own credit repair |
| from work. This would be another great | | | | program. |
| weekend. | | | | |
| | | | Can you totally eliminate this debacle? No, |
| While at the check out in the grocery store, | | | | but you can make it tougher. There are steps. |
| the total rang up $192.52. Tom had given | | | | |
| their other credit card to Tricia in the | | | | A few measures would be: (1) Get a Post |
| morning so she could make her stops as well. | | | | Office Box where no one will be able to |
| "Sir", the check out lady said seeing he had | | | | rummage through all those credit card offers |
| a credit card out, "will that be credit or | | | | and later pick that applied card up out of |
| debit?" Tom said, "credit", as he swiped his | | | | your mail box using a newly supplied phone |
| card. Some moments passed. "Hmmmmm...." The | | | | number to activate. (2) Buy and use a |
| check out girl said, "Do mind swiping your | | | | shredder for any and all personal information |
| card again, this one didn't take." Tom swiped | | | | that formerly was exposed to self-appointed |
| his card again with the same result. Tom knew | | | | garbage can divers looking for your financial |
| there was a $5,000 limit on this card and | | | | information. (3) When a vendor wants the |
| nothing was owed as he settles up every month | | | | "Three number code" on the back think twice |
| like clockwork. In a panic, not believing | | | | about sharing it. Some pin numbers are stolen |
| what was happening, thinking it was just a | | | | by looking over your shoulder. (4) Check your |
| machine malfunction Tom pleaded with the | | | | credit file frequently with all three |
| check out girl while unconsciously raising | | | | bureaus. Monitor your credit file. (5) |
| his voice to "try it one more time!" She does | | | | Require that any user of the card needs to |
| and says, "Nope, didn't go, do you have | | | | show on the spot identification. (6) Don't |
| another card?" she asks. Tom says, "no, I | | | | run dates of birth when running a credit |
| shared that with my wife this morning." The | | | | report this is too much information. (8) Be |
| clerk says, "Well sir, we have a big line up | | | | careful with your information. Credit scores |
| behind you, you'll have to push your cart | | | | are utilized for granting and quoting |
| over to the service desk and perhaps they can | | | | mortgages, car insurance, car purchases and |
| help you." Embarrassed by what was | | | | all can be adversely effected by a low credit |
| transpiring Tom pushes the cart over to the | | | | score, whether it is your fault or not. (9) |
| service desk and in further panic, calls | | | | Keep a lower limit credit card for any online |
| Tricia on his cell phone. | | | | or impulse purchases. Lower the hit. |
| | | | |
| As Tom would soon find out, he had been | | | | To get satisfaction, you will need to file a |
| mugged in his sleep. Violated as if someone | | | | POLICE REPORT. Unfortunately, many of the |
| had pistol whipped him and took all his money | | | | offending perpetrators turn out to be family |
| and destroyed his credit rating in the | | | | members and the victims are reluctant to file |
| process all in one full swoop. This story is | | | | a POLICE REPORT, which will put the |
| repeated many times every day of the year | | | | perpetrators in jail. Do not make your |
| over and over. Lives are interrupted. Yes | | | | information available to anyone in your home. |
| there is a new law regarding identity theft | | | | It would be like leaving thousands of $20s, |
| and yes there are remedies to resolve the | | | | $50s and $100 dollar bills hanging out on top |
| issue. However, now instead of having a great | | | | of tables, all over the floor or sticking out |
| weekend with family and friends, he now needs | | | | a drawer. The temptation is just too great. |
| to put on his fireman's hat and gear to fight | | | | Make it real tough for ANYONE to hurt your |
| a wild fire threatening to destroy his good | | | | credit rating. No police report, no coverage |
| credit. The point is there is a street savvy | | | | from the credit card companies and there you |
| criminal element that is out to take as much | | | | are an even bigger victim. Mugged while |
| as they possibly can from you. You are just | | | | sleeping by someone in your own home. |
| another mark. Bonnie and Clyde would be | | | | |
| considered a couple of pikers compared to | | | | Sleep with one eye open. Avoid getting mugged |
| this scum. There is the matter of "universal | | | | while sleeping. Credit repair is no fun. |
| default" where if you a delinquent on one | | | | Limit your exposure. If you find yourself a |
| card all the other credit card interest rates | | | | victim, file a POLICE REPORT and get busy. |