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