I was reading the news today and I came across this article on how the certain states handle tax returns could lead to ID theft. In the article it talks about how state tax returns are out in the open, and that they are also sorted in rooms that allow employees to have access to their phones, and more importantly their phones cameras!
I think this shows how in the real world it is so easy for ID thieves to gain access to all the information they would need to open accounts in our names. Your tax returns have everything needed, birth date, social security number, home address. Those are the basics that are needed, and then they have even more crucial information. Where you work, how much you make, your home address, and telephone number.
I am sure most of you have also read about all the recent breaches in major computer systems, Sony’s online game network was one the largest that I have read about in recent times. Millions of customers data was breached, and to what extent I have no idea, as I am not sure the company has said yet. Still its a scary thought that this is happening seemingly on an increasing regular basis.
As a consumer the best thing you can do, is to read up on securing your online world, and to enroll in our credit monitoring. You will be protected 24/7.
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We have been getting a lot of questions lately, so I am going to do my best to answer them in a quick Q&A style. Here we go!
“Does being enrolled in your credit monitoring services get you enrolled in credit cards more easily”
No. The credit monitoring keeps you up to date on changes to your credit history, it is made to protect you, and to inform you of where you sit with with your credit and credit score. What it can do is tell you your credit score, and with that information you will know what credit cards you will be more likely to qualify for, and that should make it easier for you to find the right card for you.
“How long does it take for your credit monitoring service to find new accounts that have been opened?”
Within 24 hours. When shopping for a new account, you will be first notified that a inquiry has been placed on your account. After that if the account is opened you will then receive a notice of a new account being created. You can be assured that you are being protected 24/7.
“I have a charge off on my credit reports, how long will it last for?”
It will usually remain on your credit reports for 7 years from the date of first delinquency. You can learn more from the Fair Credit and Reporting Act.
Thanks for your questions, we will be answer as many as we can, stay tuned!
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This is a very common question we get here, “how do I know I am choosing the best service for me and my family?”. Well there are many factors that can and should go into choosing a credit monitoring service.
First should be to make sure you are getting protected from all three credit companies, Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. With our service you get alerts within 24 hours to any changes that happen on any of the three credit reports.
Second should be credit scores. Can you check your credit score, and if so how often? With our service you can check it as often as you like, everyday if you want!
Third, is it easy to understand? Make sure the information is presented in a user friendly way. This area we know you will be happy with ours.
To me those are the most important things to consider when choosing the best credit monitoring with these you will have piece of mind no matter what comes up. Many things have changed over the years, in the old days (3 years ago) it was enough to just pull your 3-n-1 credit report a few times a year. Now ID theft is on the rise, and thieves are getting so much more savy, that having a credit monitoring service is more important than ever.
And as always we will be constantly staying in the forefront of technology to make sure that you our customer is always protected, and we stay one step ahead of the bad guys.
ShareWell its finally here, summer 2011. I for one am very happy to have it here at last. We are based in SLC, UT, and its been a very long winter. We actually still have one of our ski resorts still open with 9 feet on snow on the group up there!
Summer is a time when most of us spend time outdoors, having BBQ’s, going to the lake, spending time in the park, doing anything we can to get outdoors. Its also a time when many Americans head out on summer vacations, and in the excitement of it all, we can be a little less diligent with our credit cards, and another financial information.
Summer time usually sees a small bump in the incidents of lost credit cards. I think this is really easy to explain as we are always on the move, and if on vacation it easy to be distracted and forget to pick up your card as we rush from one place to another.
I think with anything, just slow down, and take your time. And one of the best pieces of advice I have gotten from anyone is to create a Google Document with all my important details on it. For example I keep a list of my credit cards by name, last 4 digits of the number, and the 800 number to call for a lost card. You have no idea the piece of mind it will bring in case you do lose your wallet or purse and you can then just log into a computer anywhere and be able to have all the information you need in order to cancel you cards!
With that little nugget of advice, and knowing that my credit monitoring is protecting me 24/7 summer is a time I can just relax and go with the flow!
ShareIn the modern age of technology, instances of identity theft have become more common than ever before. Private information has become easily available due to the lesser and faster hassles involved in the process of getting the information. In such a scenario, it is the responsibility of the consumer to protect himself from the theft of his identity.
Federal law enables a consumer to get a free copy of his credit report once every year. In addition to getting the copy, it is also important to learn how to interpret the records mentioned in the credit report or credit history. This history gives a look into the personal, financial and legal history of a consumer, giving a look into the amount paid and borrowed. Reviewing one’s history, a consumer can become proactive, taking preemptive measures in order to avoid the theft of his identity.
When reviewing the information provided on the report, a consumer will find out errors and frauds, indicating whether an identity theft has taken place or not. Another indication of identity theft is when applications for loans get rejected or are offered with much higher interest rates. This will give a clear indication that the consumer’s credit score has gone down. Breach of data has become easier with technology. They can occur due to passwords getting stolen, firewalls that are out-of-date, or through computer virus.
A consumer needs to take certain precautions in order to protect himself from identity theft. This includes updating one’s computer regularly with regard to virus protection and firewall. Passwords should never be kept near the computer, and they should be changed regularly. Another thing to be taken care of is to be wary of scams. There are numerous individuals and companies who live by deceiving others of their personal information and money. Consumers must take care that emails received from unknown users should not be opened. In case a transaction has some doubtful aspects, it should not be performed. It should be taken care that sites involving regular financial transactions should be bookmarked, and their website address should be checked regularly. Majority of reputable sites would offer the option to bookmark their sites.
Credit Monitoring is still one of the best ways to protect yourself from ID Theft.
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