Home, Personal, Outsmart Scammers

Outsmart Scammers: Don’t Fall Prey To A Credit Repair Scam

Amid signals that the national economy may not have yet hit bottom, many Americans are finding themselves in dire financial straits, and it can be frustrating as you struggle to care for your family.

Bad credit history can keep you from getting a loan, a home, or even a job. You might see ads on TV, in the newspaper, or online with offers for credit repair services, which can be very tempting.

These ads promise to get you through bad credit, bankruptcy, or maybe a bad loan, but beware. There is no quick fix to repair credit issues, and you might even find yourself in more trouble if you fall for one of these scams.

The National Consumers League offers a few tips to consider for recognizing and protecting yourself from a credit repair scam:

  • No one can erase negative information if it is proven to be accurate, and only mistakes can be amended on your credit report. Accurate information stays on your report for 7 years.
  • You can correct mistakes on your credit report yourself. You have a right to one free copy of your credit report per year, and it is free to question or dispute any incorrect information that appears on your report.
  • You can add an explanation to your report. If you’ve lost your job or fell behind in payments because of a major illness, you can request that the credit bureau add a short statement to your file.
  • You can’t create a second credit file. You should know that any company that offers to help you build a new credit file with a different tax identification number or social security number is scamming you. This is called “file segregation”, and it’s illegal.
  • If you have credit problems, get counseling. There are non-profit organizations which can help you to get your credit back on track, often by negotiating payment plans with your creditors.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reminds us that the only legitimate way to fix your credit is through time, conscious effort, and a personal debt repayment plan. Check out the FTC’s website for more facts and tips that could help you avoid falling prey to a credit repair scam.

August 27, 2008
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Home, Family, Emergency

Does Your Family Have An Emergency Plan?

An emergency can happen to your family at any time. Whether an accidental fire in your home, or as a result of a natural disaster in your area, you could be forced to evacuate, or you could be trapped at home. If you were to lose power, water, or your phone service, would you know what to do? Emergency workers will respond to a scene after a disaster, but depending on the scale they may not be able to reach your family right away. Read More of Does Your Family Have An Emergency Plan? »

August 25, 2008
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Internet, Personal, Outsmart Scammers

Outsmart Scammers: Don’t Be A Victim Of Smishing

We’ve all received unwanted spam messages sent to our email inboxes. And now with more of us sending text messages, checking email and accessing the internet through our phones, we are opening ourselves up for a new area of vulnerability. Experts estimate that this year as many as 1.5 billion spam messages will be sent out to mobile devices.

In 2003, Congress passed the CAN-SPAM (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography) Act in order to help stop spam. However, there are some loopholes in the Act that may still leave you and your phone vulnerable to spammers. Read More of Outsmart Scammers: Don’t Be A Victim Of Smishing »

August 21, 2008
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Sports & Recreation, Family, Health

Protecting Yourself Against Melanoma

With just a few more weeks of summer left, many Americans will take advantage of the sun by hitting the beach, or soaking up the sun outdoors. If you are going to be spending time under the warm sun, it’s always important to remember to protect your skin. More than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer (Melanoma) each year in the United States.

The exact cause is unknown, but a major contributing factor in developing melanoma is ultraviolet (UV) light damaging the skin. Some of the factors that put you at risk include a fair complexion, age, having several moles, and a history of serious sunburns. Read More of Protecting Yourself Against Melanoma »

August 20, 2008
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Weather, Health, Community, Emergency

Don’t Become a Heat Related Statistic

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that heat accounts for nearly 700 fatalities every year. With summer temperatures soaring, it sometimes feels as if there is no end in sight.

Some precautions to escape serious physical symptoms due to heat exposure seem obvious but are frequently forgotten or the effects of high temperatures are under estimated. Read More of Don’t Become a Heat Related Statistic »

August 18, 2008
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