Sabrina’s Money Matters

You think you know everyone who has your information, and thus has the potential to use it against you….at least you think you do.

You really don’t. After you read this list, you’re going to be surprised at how many of these places you never even thought about having your personal information. You’ll see…

Cable TV Companies - yeah you knew that.

Movie Rental Establishments - you may have even thought of that one…

Home Owner’s Associations - did ya know that one?

Pet Licensing Offices and Veterinarian Offices - Oops, didn’t think of that…

Newspaper Files - You were so proud your little bake sale was in the paper…

Apartment Complex Staff - Hmmm…

Garbage / Trash Collectors - Oh boy do they know what you’re up to….lol. If only you knew what they knew.

Vehicle Service Department Manager - Yes, if you own a new car, and you’ve left the name of the dealership on your vehicle, it’s very easy to call that dealership and pose as the owner. You know what can happen when someone thinks they’re talking to you. Ouch.

Court Traffic Tickets - Municipal and court records are public record. Indeed.

Small Town Grocery Store/Gas Station - If you live in a small town, the gas station on the corner you stop at everyday, what does he know about you? The grocery store that’s around the corner, what do they know about you?

Domino’s Pizza - That one wowed me even.

There’s a huge list, a lot of which no longer applies, due to new laws, etc. But you get the idea, right?

Having done a “pretext” call myself and seen first hand how simple it is to pretend to be someone else and get that information, I can tell you it is a lot easier than you would even believe. I was prepared to be asked a few questions, and was not even asked one.

I won’t tell you the key phrase to use in these situations, just because I don’t want this information used for bad. I just want to inform you how to protect yourself. Use cash a lot. I know we’re in an automated world and cash goes fast, keep a little notepad with your spending and treat it like a bank ledger, but if you’re concerned about your personal information being out there, you have to take the steps to protect yourself. No one else will.

Tonight I will be posting an article that will show you just how many unexpected places your personal information is that can and WILL be given out.

STAY TUNED! You don’t want to miss this!

I have a special treat for you all today. You have to pay a service to do this to hear some companies tell it.

I’m telling you how for FREE!

Bet ya didn’t know that you can LOCK your credit report. Yep, lock it. From inquiries, from background checks, from pre-approved offers, from identity theft, from everything except accounts you already have open.

Pull a fast one on those companies who want you to pay for this level of security…

Okay, for your credit reports to be locked it’ll take a little money - but it’s ten to twelve dollars for each company and it’ll cost the same to unlock it if you need to.

Your existing creditors will still be able to report to your credit and send you offers but no one will be able to perform an inquiry, a background check, a credit check or anything.

If you want it released for a certain period of time you can do so, you can also have it released to just one person. You have to notify the credit agency 5 days before you take any action on your credit file and in writing.

To freeze your credit you need to send the letter by certified mail - return receipt requested so that you know when they’ve received it and you’ll know when you can tell someone to pull your report.

Each of these instances may cost you a fee. This is free to people who have a police report verifying identity theft. The addresses you’ll write to are below:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Trans Union Security Freeze
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Here’s what you have to include:

1. A letter by certified mail.

2. Provide your full name, including middle initial, address, social security number and date of birth.

3.You haven’t moved but if you had over the past five years you’d need to list your addresses out for the past five years.

4. Provide proof of current address with a utility bill or phone bill.

5. Send a photocopy of a government issued id card or license.

6. Pay the fee by check, money order or credit card.

After five days the freeze will be in place. After ten days you’ll receive a pin number or password, you know what to do once you get that.

Credit bureaus have to lift a freeze three days after receiving your request to lift it. If anyone tries to pull your file while it is frozen, they will get a code that indicates the report is frozen. You can still order your own report however and your score is not affected by this.

By the way if you haven’t stopped the pre-approved credit card offers read this opt out guide to find out how.

The case law that allows you to lock your credit report is called the Regulation of Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act.

I’ve attached a sample letter so you can just plug your info and the address to the proper agency in so that you don’t have to do much to get this going.

Security Freeze Sample Letter

Read this article if you want to know how to put a
Fraud Alert On Your Credit File before you lock it.

I hope this guide proves to be useful to you, and please know that you DO NOT have to pay for information to protect yourself. You CAN find it for free. Look through my archives for multiple articles that help you help yourself. I believe in doing what you can do yourself, because that is the only way you can be sure YOUR interests are what are important.

That’s all for today folks, don’t be suckered into paying for something that you can get for free!

It is our second edition of Friday Frustration and boy have I been holding it in! I’ll get right to it, y’all jump on this bandwagon and join me in this - let’s purge it so we can have a decent weekend.

My FF’s this week - (doesn’t it seem naughty to say that? My FF’s!) I feel better already…

Ungrateful children. Isn’t that a rule rather than an exception?

Telemarketers I know it’s just a job to you, but it’s my dinner to me now leave me to it!

People who walk their dogs in my grass! If you’re doing this to my yard - stop it!

Self check-out at a regular grocery store I wish this would end, now. I don’t pay inflated prices so Junior can pick his nose at the movie counter on Tuesday night!

Okay, okay, I’m taking all of yours, join me in this misery, purge it and forget it!

Post a comment and tell me what’s frustrating you so we can carouse together and get it off our chests!