Here are some important tips on examining credit reports, for shoppers and merchants.
What should I look for on a credit report to indicate identity theft?
Check your credit reports carefully to make sure the
information is accurate. Look for inquiries you didn't initiate,
accounts you didn't open and unexplained debts on your legitimate
accounts. Check that information like your SSN; address(es); name
and any variations, including initials, Jr., Sr., etc.; and
employers is correct. Inaccuracies in this information may also be
due to typographical errors. Nevertheless, whether the inaccuracies
are due to fraud or error, notify the credit bureau as soon as
possible by telephone and in writing. See
How do I correct inaccurate
information on my credit report? or
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors.
Inquiries on credit reports from potential credit card issuers do not always mean that some one has tried to get credit in your name. Banks and credit card companies often inquire about a consumer's creditworthiness to help them target their marketing efforts. These inquiries will be identified in a designated section of the report.
Source: FTC
The FTC works for the
consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business
practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help
consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get
free information on
consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or call
toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other
fraud-related complaints into
Consumer
Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of
civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
HealthCare
Finance - CareCredit offers "no interest" financing for medical
procedures from Cosmetic Dentistry to LASIK Surgery.
Unmanned
Aircraft Systems - AeroVironment, Inc. is the largest producer of
small UAS in the world today.
Baby
Bassinets - Find out what characterizes a good baby bassinet in this
FAQ with Arm's Reach.
Israel
Biblical Tours - This travel company has archaeologists and scholars
to guide you through the Holy Land.
Residential
Re-Roofing - "Learn some important facts about re-roofing your home in
this exclusive interview with Jason Vaughan, a 20 year roofing
veteran.
Pet
Stairs - PetStairz talks about foam pet products.
CD
Manufacturing - Music Manufacturing Services provides CD's for the
Music Industry all around the world.
Live
Longer... A Science? - David H. Murdock, Chairman of the Dole Food
Company says it is, and he created the luxurious California Health &
Longevity Institute to prove it.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Children's
Development Toys - "No matter how good a toy looks, the way it
performs under stress is often very different." Says Brian Gordon of
eBeanStalk.
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Auto
Insurance Quotes In this FAQ GMAC explains why you should shop around,
"Each company is different so you should always check several companies to
find the best rates."
Buying
Tickets Online "That game you want to go to is sold out (Superbowl,
World Series), your favorite artist is coming to town and you want great
seats, these are some of the reasons people buy through an online ticket
service or broker." Chico at Platinum Tickets answers faqs.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
