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Legal Staff News & Views Newsletter HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
An identity thief doesn’t just steal your credit card and go on a spending spree. He gets new cards, opens new accounts and takes out new loans in your name. He can even use your identity to commit crimes.
Straightening out your records is a nightmare that can take years. Victims spend hundreds of hours and major out of pocket expenses to repair their credit. Until you can prove you are innocent, you may face higher insurance rates and credit card fees, be rejected for loans or a mortgage. You may have problems getting a job and even arrested for crimes you didn’t commit.
All a thief needs is your social security number which is found on any number of government documents, military records, health care provider information, and utility companies, etc. It isn’t all that difficult to get someone’s social security number. All of your personal information is now for sale by data brokers. Bank of America, Time Warner, Choice Point, Wachovia, MCI and other brokers have admitted losing the personal data of more than 6 million customers in 2005. Card International disclosed that a hacker had stolen 40 million account numbers from a company that processes the transactions for MasterCard, Visa USA, American Express and Discover cardholders.
You can stop identity theft by freezing access to your credit file. You select a secret PIN number and your file becomes off limits to anyone who doesn’t know the number. The result is someone applying for credit in your name is rejected, because the lender can’t check your credit history to approve the application. (Your current credit cards are not affected.) If you want to apply for new credit or let someone run a background check on your credit you can thaw your credit history. Illinois is one of ten states that allow consumers to block access to their credit files. The three major credit bureaus each charge a nominal fee for a freeze or a thaw. It may take two or three days to thaw your records, and you will be charged another fee to freeze it again.
Steps you can take to secure your credit are: —Periodically check your credit report for suspicious activity. Effective September, 2005 everyone will be entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three bureaus (Experian-800-682-7654, Equifax-800-685-1111, and TransUnion-800-916-8800). You can check your records more often for a nominal fee. You can go to for more information. —Buy on line with a credit card not a debit card. With a credit card your maximum liability for unauthorized purchases is $50. — Don’t respond to an e-mail message that looks like one from a company you do business with, often it warns that your account will be terminated if you don’t’ “update” or “verify” your financial information within 24 hours. Don’t click on links in this e-mail. Either call the company or check their actual web address.
If you do become a victim, act fast and be prepared to face uncooperative credit and law enforcement agencies. For sound advice check organizations like ITRC (. —Call Equifax and TransUnion to put a fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert will last up to 90 days and requires creditors to call you before opening new accounts in your name. —Close your credit card accounts and change the passwords on all of your financial accounts. — Also, file a police report. Credit bureaus will not extend a fraud alert without one. —Mail copies of the police report to all three credit agencies with a cover letter requesting your complete credit file. Call every creditor with a bogus account listed in your file and have them close it immediately. Get copies of the fraudulent applications for credit and billing statements. You will need to put the request in writing and enclose a copy of the police report.
Safety Measures: Do not carry your social security card with you. Never give out your social security number. Just say no. Do not use your mother’s real maiden name or your real city of birth as identifiers; make up a name and/or city. (Just never make up a social security number-it may create a problem for someone else.) Add a password to online and offline accounts so that anyone who calls your bank or mutual fund needs more than your name and social security number to access your account. Buy a cross cut shredder and destroy all unsolicited pre-approved credit offers and blank courtesy checks.
It sounds like a lot of work but it is worth your effort.
FUN IN THE FALL...
November 16-20, 2005 Sister Bernie’s Bingo Bash in the Copley (Theatre). Sister returns and brings along a couple of friends, Father Martini & Sister Cherisse, to help her save the church in a wacky Bingo Bash Fundraiser. An interactive night of laughs. More info at: or call: 630-896-6666.
November 20, 2005 Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra - Swings. Dance episodes include the Porgy & Bess Suite, with plenty of Gershwin tunes. The Elmhurst College Jazz Ensemble will be featured guests. More info at: or call: 630-941-0202.
November 23 to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton is a winter wonderland. Visit the animals, December 30, 2005 find the perfect tree and wreath, holiday lights & music. Proceeds benefit Cosley Zoo new exhibits. More info at: or call: 630-665-5534.
November 25-27, 2005 Geodon Gems - Gems & Minerals Show. DuPage County Fair Grounds, Wheaton. Interesting things for the whole family. More Info call: Don at 870-453-5736. Admission charged.
December 17-23, 2005 VonHedideck Chicago Festival Ballet, The Nutcracker. McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn. Tickets $26/$25. More info at or call: 630-942-4000.
January 7, 2006 Jazz artist and Grammy nominee Kurt Elling concert. McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn. Tickets $25/$24. More info at: or call: 630-942-4000.
TIPS FOR AROUND THE HOUSE...
Since I moved to a smaller home storage has become an issue. If you have a small linen closet you can store winter blankets, quilts, and comforters in your suitcases then stash them under your bed. Before I store blankets in the suitcase I put them in a shrink bag and use the vacuum to suck all the air out so I have more room.
To store a yardstick so that it doesn’t fall out of the closet every time you open the door, glue a piece of Velcro to one end of the stick then tack the other side of the Velcro to the closet wall.
An easy way to remove wax from a candle holder is to put it in the freezer for about 10 minutes, the wax should pop off when you apply pressure. To help you clean out the gutters without having to go onto your roof or a ladder. You can create a long spray want from a length of PVC pipe (½" works well) with a “U” shape at one end. This requires two 90 degree couplings, two 6" lengths of PVC pipe and one cap. On the short side of the “U” put a PVC cap (you will need PVC primer & glue for all the joints). Drill 3 holes in the end of the cap and glue a threaded adapter to the long end to attach the garden hose. When you turn on the faucet, a high pressure stream of water will run through the PVC and out the holes in the cap, so you can raise it up and lower it into the gutter and wash out the debris.
A new product on the market is EPOXYShield Garage Floor Coating. It provides an attractive easy to clean surface that is durable and resists stains, abrasions and chemicals such as gasoline, antifreeze, motor oil, salt, etc. The kit gives you almost everything you will need including a concentrated surface cleaner, decorative chips and detailed instructions, it includes a free instructional video. The cost runs from $50-$60. More info at: or
Another new product is premixed TrafficMaster Stainproof Grout. It is ready to use straight from the bucket, making application & cleanup less of a chore - no mixing! The easy to use product also allows for touch-ups and will adhere to old grout and appear as new. It can be tightly resealed and used for up to 6 months. Available in 25 colors. Less than $20 per gallon. More info at: .
One final new product is Zinsser’s Peel Stop Primer. It is a clear, flexible binding sealer for unsound surfaces where peeling, flaking, chalking is a problem. The primer glues down old paint edges, seals cracked and checked paint, fills in fissures in alligatored paint, and binds chalky surfaces. Because the product is breathable, it is ideal for areas where moisture induced peeling is a problem. More info at: or .
WHAT’S COOKIN’...
CAULIFLOWER SOUP
4 Tbls. Chopped onion Dash of pepper 1/4 Cup Butter 1 Med. Head of Cauliflower coarsely chopped and cooked. 2 Tbls. Flour 4 Cups Scalded milk 1 Tsp. Salt 1 Cup Shredded cheddar cheese
Saute onion in butter until tender. Blend in flour, cook 3-4 minutes without browning. Add scalded milk, seasonings and cauliflower. Cook until smooth and slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Before serving, add shredded cheese and stir until melted. Serve with corn muffins.
Cheryl A. Alverson Contributions to For Your Eyes Only and
BarSmarts are most welcome! |
