Unclaimed Property Blog

There are some things we do others don’t know about and should be left that way. What about your financial records? There may be a need for someone to know how to access your accounts. Time to think this matter over.

The idea of gathering your key personal and financial documents and information into one place may seem disastrous. Then storing this sensitive data on the internet may send shivers up an down your spine. But not having a remote, off-site backup of your important documents is what should really scare you.

Having your identity stolen can be unnerving. What if you know the person? This brings up many questions on who to trust.

Identity theft experts have discovered a small but growing proportion of identity fraud is perpetrated by parents. Some victimize children who are old enough to establish credit in their own right. Others use the Social Security numbers of their minor children to set up fraudulent accounts that the victims might not discover for years.

Two years ago you almost never heard about parent perpetrators . Now Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center, gets “several complaints a week� from victims or from other adults who have uncovered the crimes.

Not all employers are accepting older applicants for the jobs that need filing. This makes it harder for those seeking employment. Read on for some ideas on how you could increase your chances of employment.

Managers and professionals in their 50s who get downsized out of a job increasingly don’t opt for early retirement. Most cannot afford to stop working. Some want to continue working because they want the camaraderie and stimulation of a job.

We all hear of the many ways that credit card debt can be paid. Yet, Americans continue to increase their credit card debt.

There are numerous reasons that the nation’s credit card debt continues growing. This is not about how it is increasing, but how you can decrease your personal credit card debt in some very simple ways.

To eliminate credit card debt as rapidly as possible at the lowest possible cost to you, follow these steps:

1. Make a list all of your credit cards. Once this is done, next to each card note the balance and the interest rate.

You receive your credit report and find there is an inaccuracy. The following data will help you in knowing some basic rules to follow.

Disputing inaccuracies on your credit report can be a quick and simple process for some. For others, it may prove more complicated. The reason for that is most often it depends on the cooperation of the creditor that reported the information to the credit bureau.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects consumers in dispute situations, mandating that credit reporting agencies (CRAs) must respond to your dispute by initiating an investigation and collecting evidence (where possible) from your creditors. If the information is inaccurate, the CRA must either remove or correct the disputed information, usually within 30 days.

Just like there are four food groups a credit report has four groups.

1. Identifying information.

This is your personal data that gives you your identity. Your social security number is part of this group as well as your current and previous addresses, your date of birth, telephone numbers, driver’s license numbers, your employer and your spouse’s name.

Look at it closely to make sure it’s accurate. It is not unusual to have different spellings of your name because someone reported the information that way.

2. Credit history.

It pays to know your rights and keep a record of all your communications when you butt heads with debt collectors. Here are some ways to hold your own.

When you bargain with a debt collector, you’re dealing with a tough, professional negotiator. One advantage you could have knowing your rights.

When collecting a debt from you, a debt collector must play by the rules. It behooves you to also know the rules. Check out consumer brochures on fair debt collection from the Federal Trade Commission. Many states have their own debt collection laws; for more information, contact the attorney general’s office in your state.

In today’s society many precautions are taken to stop identity theft. Have you thought about this same issue when traveling? Read on to learn some tips about security when traveling

A day in paradise can turn into a financial disaster if your identity is stolen on vacation or on a business trip.

It is hard enough to protect your identity from computer hacking and phishing attacks while at home. When traveling, it can be even more difficult to keep sensitive information secure. By not being careful, you may be unwittingly exposing yourself to unnecessary risks. Here are some actions you can take to limit the chances you’ll be targeted as well as how to address any loss.

Today most people have been educated regarding a credit score. Do you know who can get access to your score?

Of course there are the obvious credit checks by those who want to see how you handle credit. They include lenders, credit card companies, and department stores.

Here are some people that look into your score that you may not know. They are your landlord, boss, insurance agent, and cell phone plan provider. Each can gain access to this information.

With limited factors upon which to judge your good character, more and more people outside of the traditional lending industry are relying on your credit history to check up on you.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of both so you can decide for yourself what is best according to your financial portfolio.

Let’s start with cash. Using cash to pay for all your purchases can save you money. In today’s plastic world there are some companies that will offer you a cash discount. This saves the company time, effort and money because they know you will not default.

Paying with cash does make a difference on impulse purchases. If you cannot pay for it, you cannot get it.