credit report - Credit Card Fraud Protection

You have to guard your credit card or credit card number just like you guard your home keys! Somebody who knows your credit card number and expiration date can put you in thousands of dollars of debt in a few minutes. Most common credit card crime involves stealing or losing a credit card. A thief can get your credit card by stealing your wallet or burglarizing your home. Also a "sold" store employee can copy your card to be sold on the black market. They do not have to physically have your card to take advantage of it. Knowing the credit card number and expiration date is enough in most cases for credit card fraud. Another way for credit card fraud to take place is by offering you some discounted merchandise or telling you that you have won a prize. A telemarketer calls you and tells that you won something, then asks for your credit card number for "shipping charges". They either send you something worthless or nothing at all. Your credit card may also be stolen from your mail-box before you even receive it. To avoid this kind of fraud now, most of the credit card issuers require that you call from home to activate your card. Although credit card fraud has popped up on the Internet as well, it has not become widespread since most of the websites use a "secure" mode for transactions; meaning scrambling the numbers to disguise them before sending them over the Internet. There are some actions to take to guard your credit card from fraud: Do not carry more than one or two credit cards so that you have fewer to report if you lose your wallet or you are robbed. Keep the numbers to report your lost or stolen credit card in a safe place so that you will have access to them immediately. Do not ever leave your purse or wallet unattended in public. Whenever you buy something, do not forget to get your credit card back. When you are home, keep your credit cards in some place that would not be so obvious for burglars to find. When you receive your card, sign it immediately. Do not lend your card to anybody. If you want someone else to buy something with your card, do the transaction yourself. Watch the expiration dates and be aware of the times that your new cards should arrive. Let the credit card issuer know if you do not get your card on time. Keep your mailbox secure; only you and your postal carrier should have access to it. All credit card receipts and pre-approved credit card offers must be torn into tiny pieces before being thrown away and billing statements should be kept in a safe place. If you want to close your account and you have to send the card back to the issuer, cut it into several pieces before you post it. If you use you credit card to make an online purchase, make sure you see the small key or lock at the bottom left of your browser before you type in your credit card number. Do not ever give your credit card number or personal information to some stranger or telemarketer who calls you on the phone. Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Fraud Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell credit report - Disputing With Credit Bureaus The federal government enacted the Fair Credit Reporting Act on April 25, 1971, to protect consumers against the reporting of inaccurate, misleading, or obsolete information. Lawmakers designed the law to ensure that consumer-reporting agencies operate in a responsible and equitable manner. The FCRA provides a list of rights and procedures that will assist you in clearing away negative remarks and reestablishing your creditworthiness - regardless of your previous credit history. By understanding your rights and using the law to your advantage, it's possible to remove bankruptcy, judgments, late payments, collection accounts, charge-offs, and other negative information from your files permanently. The first step is to obtain copies of your credit reports from each of the major credit bureaus. You can find the address of your local credit bureau in the yellow pages under "Credit-Reporting Agencies." If you have been denied credit within the past 60 days, you can obtain a free copy of your report by enclosing a photocopy of the denial letter along with your request. Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and addresses for the past five years. If you have not been denied credit within the last 60 days, you may purchase a copy of your report from each credit bureau. In California, for example, the cost for a copy of your report is $8 from each of the major bureaus. The cost may vary in other states. You also have the right to visit the credit bureau in person to review your file. Simply call the bureau and make an appointment. You will then need to present the proper identification and pay the required fee. The law also allows you to be accompanied by one other person of your choosing. If you request your credit report by mail, you should receive a copy within three weeks. You will also receive an explanation of the various codes and abbreviations the report contains. According to the FCRA, you have the right to dispute any remark on your report that you "reasonably believe" to be inaccurate or incomplete. The act requires the credit bureau to reinvestigate those disputed items within "a reasonable period of time" - interpreted by the Federal Trade Commission as 30 days. If the bureau finds that the information was incorrect, obsolete, or could no longer be verified, it must correct or delete the information. If the bureau does not respond to your initial dispute within a "reasonable time," follow up with another letter. This time, demand that the bureau respond to your dispute immediately to prevent your being forced to take legal action. Give them about two weeks to comply and be sure to maintain copies of all correspondence. If the bureau persists in violating your rights by refusing to reinvestigate your legitimate dispute, send them a final letter demanding action. This time, send copies of your letter, along with the original request, to the Federal Trade Commission and your local office of the attorney general.