Debit card fraud occurs when a criminal gains access to your debit card number and, in some cases, PIN, to make unauthorized purchases and/or withdraw cash from your account. There are many different methods of obtaining your information, from unscrupulous employees to hackers gaining access to your data from a retailer's unsecure computer.
When your debit card is used fraudulently, the money is missing from your account instantly. Payments you've scheduled or checks you've mailed may bounce; you may not be able to afford necessities, and it can take awhile for the fraud to be cleared up and the money restored to your account.
How to Detect Debit Card Fraud
Fortunately, it doesn't take any special skills to detect debit card fraud. The easiest way to spot problems early is to sign up for online banking, if you haven't already. Check your balance and recent transactions daily. The sooner you detect fraud, the easier it will be to limit its impact on your finances and your life. If you see unfamiliar transactions, call the bank right away. If you're the forgetful type, start hanging on to the receipts from your debit card transactions so you can compare these against your online transactions.
If you don't want to bank online, you can keep tabs on your recent transactions via phone banking. In the very least, you should review your monthly bank statement as soon as you receive them, and check your account balance whenever you visit an ATM or bank teller. However, it can take much longer to detect fraud using these methods.
9 Easy Ways to Protect Yourself
While you may not have any control over hackers and other thieves, there are many things you can control that will help you avoid becoming a victim.
• Get banking alerts. In addition to checking your balance and recent transactions online daily, you can sign up for banking alerts. Your bank will then contact you by email or text message when certain activity occurs on your account, such as a withdrawal exceeding an amount you specify or a change of address.
• Go paperless. Signing up for paperless bank statements will eliminate the possibility of having bank account information stolen from your mailbox. Shredding existing bank statements and debit card receipts using a diamond-cut shredder when you're done with them will greatly reduce the possibility of having bank account information stolen from your trash.
• Don't make purchases with your debit card. Use a credit card instead, because it offers greater protection against fraud. If you do make debit card purchases, don't use your PIN - tell the cashier to select the credit option. The money for your purchase will still be withdrawn from your account right away, but you won't expose yourself to PIN theft.
• Stick to bank ATMs. They tend to have better security (video cameras) than ATMs at convenience stores, restaurants and other places.
• Destroy old debit cards. Some shredders will take care of this for you.
• Don't keep all your money in one place. If your checking account is compromised, you want to be able to access cash from another source to pay for necessities and meet your financial obligations.
• Beware of phishing scams. When checking your email or doing business online, make sure you know who you're interacting with.
• Protect your computer. Use firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer, and keep it updated regularly.
.• Use a secured network. Don't do financial transactions online, when using your computer in a public place and/or over an unsecured network.
What to Do If It Happens to You
If you learn that your debit card information has been compromised, contact your bank immediately to limit the damage the thief can do, and limit your financial responsibility for the fraud. Make contact immediately by phone, and follow up with a detailed letter stating the full name of the bank employee you spoke with, details of the fraudulent transactions, and any ideas you have about how your account may have been compromised. Ask your bank to waive any NSF fees that may be incurred because of the fraud, and to restore the fraudulently withdrawn funds to your account.
Hopefully, you won't have any trouble resolving the issue directly with your bank, but if you do, you can contact a legitimate consumer advocacy group such as Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. There are also government organizations to contact if your bank isn't cooperating. The agency to contact depends on the type of bank you use.
• The Federal Reserve Board of Governors handles complaints for state-chartered Federal Reserve System banks, bank holding companies and branches of foreign banks.
• The FDIC deals with state-chartered, non-FRS banks.
• The National Credit Union Association handles federally chartered credit unions.
• The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) oversees national banks.
• The Office of Thrift Supervision keeps an eye on federal savings and loans and federal savings banks.
• The Federal Trade Commission handles everything else.
If you're not sure which one to call, start with the OCC.
If you will have trouble making any of your monthly payments because of the fraud, contact those creditors, explain the situation and ask if they can do anything for you. This step is extremely important, as failure to do so implies your unwillingness to pay them. However, if they know about your hardship, they may be willing to work with you to reschedule payments.
Conclusion
Anything you can do to make a thief's work more difficult, whether it's staying on top of your balance, spreading your cash out across multiple accounts or making purchases with credit cards instead of debit, will help safeguard your checking account and decrease your chances of becoming a victim of debit card fraud.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
10 Places NOT to Use Your Debit Card
Debit cards have different protections and uses. Sometimes they're not the best choice.
Sometimes reaching for your wallet is like a multiple choice test: How do you really want to pay?
While credit cards and debit cards may look almost identical, not all plastic is the same.
"It's important that consumers understand the difference between a debit card and a credit card," says John Breyault, director of the Fraud Center for the National Consumers League, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "There's a difference in how the transactions are processed and the protections offered to consumers when they use them."
While debit cards and credit cards each have advantages, each is also better suited to certain situations. And since a debit card is a direct line to your bank account, there are places where it can be wise to avoid handing it over -- if for no other reason than complete peace of mind.
Here are 10 places and situations where it can pay to leave that debit card in your wallet:
1. Online
"You don't use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says.
Her reasoning: If you have problems with a purchase or the card number gets hijacked, a debit card is "vulnerable because it happens to be linked to an account," says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. She also includes phone orders in this category.
The Federal Reserve's Regulation E (commonly dubbed Reg E), covers debit card transfers. It sets a consumer's liability for fraudulent purchases at $50, provided they notify the bank within two days of discovering that their card or card number has been stolen.
Most banks have additional voluntary policies that set their own customers' liability with debit cards at $0, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.
But the protections don't relieve consumers of hassle: The prospect of trying to get money put back into their bank account, and the problems that a lower-than-expected balance can cause in terms of fees and refused checks or payments, make some online shoppers reach first for credit cards.
2. Big-Ticket Items
With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says.
"With a debit card, you have fewer protections, " she says.
In addition, some cards will also offer extended warrantees. And in some situations, such as buying electronics or renting a car, some credit cards also offer additional property insurance to cover the item.
Two caveats, says Wu. Don't carry a balance. Otherwise, you also risk paying some high-ticket interest. And "avoid store cards with deferred interest," Wu advises.
3. Deposit Required
When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.
That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you'll never actually have to part with a dollar.
4. Restaurants
"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."
Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.
The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.
The "conventional advice of 'don't let the card out of your sight' -- that's just not practical," says Tiffany.
The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.
5. You're a New Customer
Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.
That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.
6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later
Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.
"It may be an outfit you're familiar with and trust, but something might go wrong," says Breyault, "and you need protection."
But be aware that some cards will limit the protection to a specific time period, says Feddis. So settle any problems as soon as possible.
7. Recurring Payments
We've all heard the urban legend about the gym that won't stop billing an ex-member's credit card. Now imagine the charges aren't going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.
Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you've opted to allow overdrafting or not). So if you don't keep a cash buffer in your account, "to protect yourself from over-limit fees, you may want to think about using a credit card" for recurring payments, says Breyault.
8. Future Travel
Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately, " says Foley. So if you're buying travel that you won't use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you'll be out the money immediately.
Another factor that bothers Foley: Hotels aren't immune to hackers and data breaches, and several name-brand establishments have suffered the problem recently. Do you want your debit card information "to sit in a system for four months, waiting for you to arrive?" she asks. "I would not."
9. Gas Stations and Hotels
This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100, says Tiffany.
Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don't run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. The practice is almost unnoticeable if you're using credit, but can be problematic if you're using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.
At hotels, ask about deposits and holds before you present your card, says Feddis. At the pump, select the pin-number option, she says, which should debit only the amount you've actually spent.
10. Checkouts or ATMs That Look 'Off'
Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on bank property, says Foley.
So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane, she advises. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Says Foley, "Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with."
Sometimes reaching for your wallet is like a multiple choice test: How do you really want to pay?
While credit cards and debit cards may look almost identical, not all plastic is the same.
"It's important that consumers understand the difference between a debit card and a credit card," says John Breyault, director of the Fraud Center for the National Consumers League, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "There's a difference in how the transactions are processed and the protections offered to consumers when they use them."
While debit cards and credit cards each have advantages, each is also better suited to certain situations. And since a debit card is a direct line to your bank account, there are places where it can be wise to avoid handing it over -- if for no other reason than complete peace of mind.
Here are 10 places and situations where it can pay to leave that debit card in your wallet:
1. Online
"You don't use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says.
Her reasoning: If you have problems with a purchase or the card number gets hijacked, a debit card is "vulnerable because it happens to be linked to an account," says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. She also includes phone orders in this category.
The Federal Reserve's Regulation E (commonly dubbed Reg E), covers debit card transfers. It sets a consumer's liability for fraudulent purchases at $50, provided they notify the bank within two days of discovering that their card or card number has been stolen.
Most banks have additional voluntary policies that set their own customers' liability with debit cards at $0, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.
But the protections don't relieve consumers of hassle: The prospect of trying to get money put back into their bank account, and the problems that a lower-than-expected balance can cause in terms of fees and refused checks or payments, make some online shoppers reach first for credit cards.
2. Big-Ticket Items
With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says.
"With a debit card, you have fewer protections, " she says.
In addition, some cards will also offer extended warrantees. And in some situations, such as buying electronics or renting a car, some credit cards also offer additional property insurance to cover the item.
Two caveats, says Wu. Don't carry a balance. Otherwise, you also risk paying some high-ticket interest. And "avoid store cards with deferred interest," Wu advises.
3. Deposit Required
When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.
That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you'll never actually have to part with a dollar.
4. Restaurants
"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."
Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.
The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.
The "conventional advice of 'don't let the card out of your sight' -- that's just not practical," says Tiffany.
The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.
5. You're a New Customer
Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.
That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.
6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later
Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.
"It may be an outfit you're familiar with and trust, but something might go wrong," says Breyault, "and you need protection."
But be aware that some cards will limit the protection to a specific time period, says Feddis. So settle any problems as soon as possible.
7. Recurring Payments
We've all heard the urban legend about the gym that won't stop billing an ex-member's credit card. Now imagine the charges aren't going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.
Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you've opted to allow overdrafting or not). So if you don't keep a cash buffer in your account, "to protect yourself from over-limit fees, you may want to think about using a credit card" for recurring payments, says Breyault.
8. Future Travel
Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately, " says Foley. So if you're buying travel that you won't use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you'll be out the money immediately.
Another factor that bothers Foley: Hotels aren't immune to hackers and data breaches, and several name-brand establishments have suffered the problem recently. Do you want your debit card information "to sit in a system for four months, waiting for you to arrive?" she asks. "I would not."
9. Gas Stations and Hotels
This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100, says Tiffany.
Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don't run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. The practice is almost unnoticeable if you're using credit, but can be problematic if you're using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.
At hotels, ask about deposits and holds before you present your card, says Feddis. At the pump, select the pin-number option, she says, which should debit only the amount you've actually spent.
10. Checkouts or ATMs That Look 'Off'
Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on bank property, says Foley.
So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane, she advises. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Says Foley, "Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with."
Top Things That Computer Users Should Fear in 2010
Can the Internet be a scary place? Yes, and it may be an even more dangerous place this year, according to this MSNBC story.
The daunting story makes predictions including:
1. Anti-virus products will have more difficulty screening out viruses
2. Increased buying of fake anti-virus software
3. Social networking sites will continue to be platforms for impersonation/identity theft
4. Spam numbers will keep climbing
Even though this may not be the most uplifting news, it’s important that the Internet always be treated as a powerful communication tool of seemingly endless possibilities - both positive and negative.
Caution is always the key to safe surfing. If something seems suspicious, avoid it and take precautions to safeguard all your confidential information, both online and during in person interactions. Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM is a way to combat this crime offering a series of services dedicated to detection and restoration.
It’s one thing to hope that these predictions don’t come true; it’s quite another to ignore the warnings and not take steps to protect your identity and leave the door wide open for cyber criminals.
The daunting story makes predictions including:
1. Anti-virus products will have more difficulty screening out viruses
2. Increased buying of fake anti-virus software
3. Social networking sites will continue to be platforms for impersonation/identity theft
4. Spam numbers will keep climbing
Even though this may not be the most uplifting news, it’s important that the Internet always be treated as a powerful communication tool of seemingly endless possibilities - both positive and negative.
Caution is always the key to safe surfing. If something seems suspicious, avoid it and take precautions to safeguard all your confidential information, both online and during in person interactions. Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM is a way to combat this crime offering a series of services dedicated to detection and restoration.
It’s one thing to hope that these predictions don’t come true; it’s quite another to ignore the warnings and not take steps to protect your identity and leave the door wide open for cyber criminals.
Medical Identity Theft on the Rise
Imagine finding out that someone has used your identity to get more than $100,000 worth of medical treatment. Imagine finding out there’s incorrect information in your medical file like the wrong medical history, blood type and allergies. The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article on the growing prevalence of medical identity theft and the impact it has on its victims.
As more and more medical records become electronic, the information becomes easier for thieves to steal. Unfortunately, many don’t realize an identity theft has occurred until their medical records have been distorted and medical bills ran up.
The impact can be very serious if personal medical records are altered with the wrong medical history, blood type and allergies. The article says that consumers could also exhaust their lifetime coverage or be considered uninsurable, if their insurance has been used by someone else.
It’s important to take proactive measures to safeguard your personal information. Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM can help.
As more and more medical records become electronic, the information becomes easier for thieves to steal. Unfortunately, many don’t realize an identity theft has occurred until their medical records have been distorted and medical bills ran up.
The impact can be very serious if personal medical records are altered with the wrong medical history, blood type and allergies. The article says that consumers could also exhaust their lifetime coverage or be considered uninsurable, if their insurance has been used by someone else.
It’s important to take proactive measures to safeguard your personal information. Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft ShieldSM can help.
Identity Theft’s Youngest Victims: Children and Teens
Applying for that first credit card or opening that first checking account should be an exciting step for teens. But for some, this could be the moment when they discover that they’ve been victimized by identity theft. Children are susceptible because it is often years before they attempt to apply for credit, leaving the thief plenty of time to abuse their credit and vanish.
A story posted on MSN Money gives a sobering look at the impact of identity theft to our children.
The article tells about a 17-year-old from California who went in to open a checking and savings account at the bank only to discover his Social Security Number was under someone else’s name. The young man’s identity had been stolen years before when he was only 12. Now as a college graduate he has been “financially crippled” by the bad credit the thief left behind.
Pre-Paid Legal offers identity theft services for minor children through Safeguard for MinorsSM, an important service that parents or guardians can add-on to the Identity Theft ShieldSM. Safeguard offers valuable services for minor children that include monitoring, consultation and restoration services and other valuable benefits.
A story posted on MSN Money gives a sobering look at the impact of identity theft to our children.
The article tells about a 17-year-old from California who went in to open a checking and savings account at the bank only to discover his Social Security Number was under someone else’s name. The young man’s identity had been stolen years before when he was only 12. Now as a college graduate he has been “financially crippled” by the bad credit the thief left behind.
Pre-Paid Legal offers identity theft services for minor children through Safeguard for MinorsSM, an important service that parents or guardians can add-on to the Identity Theft ShieldSM. Safeguard offers valuable services for minor children that include monitoring, consultation and restoration services and other valuable benefits.
10 Million Americans Have Stolen Identities Each Year
Identity theft is a skyrocketing crime. Without protection, Americans are at high risk of identity theft in the near future.
These crooks aren't just opening up credit card accounts under your name. They're also abusing your utility services, using counterfeit checks, making ATM electronic withdrawals, taking out a loan, getting your driver's license with their own picture, obtain government benefits, and the list goes on.
Damages Cost From Hundreds to Thousands of Dollars
Money isn't the only thing you'll be losing from these unfortunate circumstances. Other potential losses include loss of employment, rejection for loans, and also the possibility of being arrested for a crime you didn't commit.
Identity theft, depending on the type of theft that takes place, could take years to repair. Most Americans don't notice their compromised identity until it's too late, and it's important to educate yourself on the different warning signals your identity is stolen.
Warning Signals of Identity Theft
There are many warning signs to tell you your identity has been stolen, but there are a few more common ones we'll list.
- denied credit or loans for no apparant reason
- monthly credit card statements, utility bills, etc. stop arriving
- receive a credit card you did not apply for
- receive bills from places you never spent at to; receive bills from the collection agency
- you notice some of your mail is missing
Choosing An Identity Theft Protection Service
The sole purpose of this website is to give you an idea of which identity theft protection service you should choose. There are many companies offering insurance, however not all of them provide the security and customer service you can trust. We reviewed each of the popular credit protection companies and ranked them based on 4 standards:
Security - A good company should provide you fraud monitoring features along with good fraud alerts. Security is very broad and covers many of the features provided by a company.
Reputation - Trust is a big issue nowadays and it's important to rank each company based on their history and customer satisfaction. The staff of each of the companies also have different experience levels, and this will be factored into the reputation category.
Recovery - If your identity gets stolen, does the company have the resources to take action quickly to stop it from happening further? We searched for companies that will work with you to help you file required reports, recover stolen information, and dispute the unauthorized transactions in your account.
Customer Service - If you can't communicate with the company, the fraud protection is completely worthless. Companies that had experienced staff to guide you through any problems you have received a higher score in this category. We looked for prompt and helpful responses.
These crooks aren't just opening up credit card accounts under your name. They're also abusing your utility services, using counterfeit checks, making ATM electronic withdrawals, taking out a loan, getting your driver's license with their own picture, obtain government benefits, and the list goes on.
Damages Cost From Hundreds to Thousands of Dollars
Money isn't the only thing you'll be losing from these unfortunate circumstances. Other potential losses include loss of employment, rejection for loans, and also the possibility of being arrested for a crime you didn't commit.
Identity theft, depending on the type of theft that takes place, could take years to repair. Most Americans don't notice their compromised identity until it's too late, and it's important to educate yourself on the different warning signals your identity is stolen.
Warning Signals of Identity Theft
There are many warning signs to tell you your identity has been stolen, but there are a few more common ones we'll list.
- denied credit or loans for no apparant reason
- monthly credit card statements, utility bills, etc. stop arriving
- receive a credit card you did not apply for
- receive bills from places you never spent at to; receive bills from the collection agency
- you notice some of your mail is missing
Choosing An Identity Theft Protection Service
The sole purpose of this website is to give you an idea of which identity theft protection service you should choose. There are many companies offering insurance, however not all of them provide the security and customer service you can trust. We reviewed each of the popular credit protection companies and ranked them based on 4 standards:
Security - A good company should provide you fraud monitoring features along with good fraud alerts. Security is very broad and covers many of the features provided by a company.
Reputation - Trust is a big issue nowadays and it's important to rank each company based on their history and customer satisfaction. The staff of each of the companies also have different experience levels, and this will be factored into the reputation category.
Recovery - If your identity gets stolen, does the company have the resources to take action quickly to stop it from happening further? We searched for companies that will work with you to help you file required reports, recover stolen information, and dispute the unauthorized transactions in your account.
Customer Service - If you can't communicate with the company, the fraud protection is completely worthless. Companies that had experienced staff to guide you through any problems you have received a higher score in this category. We looked for prompt and helpful responses.
Foreclosures are No Guarantee that Headaches are Over
For those on the cusp of foreclosure, it's important to understand the details of the situation fully because troubles may not end after a foreclosure. According to a CNN Money article, if there’s a difference between what’s owed on a home and what the bank would get at auction, the bank could pursue a deficiency judgment against a former homeowner, even years after the foreclosure.
Whether it was unemployment, a job transfer, or just struggling under too big of a loan, if a borrower can no longer sell their home for what they owe and are forced to short sell or foreclose, they could face a deficiency judgment.
The article also advises borrowers to seek legal advice if they have any doubts about what their risks are. This is so important because laws vary by state, and there are multiple ways an attorney can advise a client regarding foreclosure. It is also important to never sign any paperwork without fully understanding it. Pre-Paid Legal members should contact their Provider Attorney the moment a concern arises so the attorney can go over the situation, examine any related documents, and offer sound legal advice.
Whether it was unemployment, a job transfer, or just struggling under too big of a loan, if a borrower can no longer sell their home for what they owe and are forced to short sell or foreclose, they could face a deficiency judgment.
The article also advises borrowers to seek legal advice if they have any doubts about what their risks are. This is so important because laws vary by state, and there are multiple ways an attorney can advise a client regarding foreclosure. It is also important to never sign any paperwork without fully understanding it. Pre-Paid Legal members should contact their Provider Attorney the moment a concern arises so the attorney can go over the situation, examine any related documents, and offer sound legal advice.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
FreeCreditReport.com isn't free
Back in 2003, Congress passed a law that gives every American the right to a free credit report from the three major credit bureaus each year. This was a good law, but it was not clear how people were to go about taking advantage of that free report. The only authorized (and free) way to get the report is by going to the website AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 877-322-8228.
But that web site and phone number did not get a lot of widespread publicity. The credit bureau Experian realized this and decided to run a little scam of its own. They created a subdivision of their company and named it FreeCreditReport.com, and it turned into a good moneymaker for them -- because nothing was free at this site.
You've probably seen their television ads where this small band (with singer Eric Violette) sings about how much better they would be if they'd only gone to the FreeCreditReport.com site. In one of the ads the band is working in a fast food restaurant, in another they are working a Renaissance Fair and a third shows them only able to buy a clunker of a car that has women laughing at them. There are several more besides these.
The ads make it seem like you could go to the site and actually get a free credit report, but that is, to put it mildly, not true. When you go to the site, you actually have to sign up for Experian's credit monitoring service -- for $14.95 a month. That's a far cry from free.
Fortunately, the government has finally caught up with Experian's little scam. The new credit card law contains a provision that lets the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) force Experian to put large and very obvious disclosures on their web site (like the gray box in the above picture of their site) telling everyone that the ONLY authorized place to get a free report is at AnnualCreditReport.com (the site authorized by Congress).
The FTC has been fighting Experian in court for years over this fraudulent advertising, but has been able to accomplish little. Thank goodness Congress finally gave them the power to get something done.
The ads on TV are catchy, but don't fall for them. There's nothing free about FreeCreditReport.com.
But that web site and phone number did not get a lot of widespread publicity. The credit bureau Experian realized this and decided to run a little scam of its own. They created a subdivision of their company and named it FreeCreditReport.com, and it turned into a good moneymaker for them -- because nothing was free at this site.
You've probably seen their television ads where this small band (with singer Eric Violette) sings about how much better they would be if they'd only gone to the FreeCreditReport.com site. In one of the ads the band is working in a fast food restaurant, in another they are working a Renaissance Fair and a third shows them only able to buy a clunker of a car that has women laughing at them. There are several more besides these.
The ads make it seem like you could go to the site and actually get a free credit report, but that is, to put it mildly, not true. When you go to the site, you actually have to sign up for Experian's credit monitoring service -- for $14.95 a month. That's a far cry from free.
Fortunately, the government has finally caught up with Experian's little scam. The new credit card law contains a provision that lets the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) force Experian to put large and very obvious disclosures on their web site (like the gray box in the above picture of their site) telling everyone that the ONLY authorized place to get a free report is at AnnualCreditReport.com (the site authorized by Congress).
The FTC has been fighting Experian in court for years over this fraudulent advertising, but has been able to accomplish little. Thank goodness Congress finally gave them the power to get something done.
The ads on TV are catchy, but don't fall for them. There's nothing free about FreeCreditReport.com.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
ID Theft During Tax Season
David Randall is a staff writer for Forbes
In the coming weeks, many Americans can expect to receive W-2s and other tax forms that detail just how much money they made over the last year. Unfortunately, at least some of those forms are likely to include a person’s full Social Security number and bank account number. In the wrong hands, that information can lead to identify theft.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit consumer advocacy group based in San Diego, suggests that consumers take the following steps to secure their tax forms over the next few months:
- If you’ve moved during the year, contact each company you’ve worked for and give them your new address rather than relying on the Post Office to forward your mail.
- Use a Post Office box or buy a mailbox that you can lock.
- Have the Post Office hold your mail if you are going to be away for more than one night.
- Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight. -- David K. Randall
In the coming weeks, many Americans can expect to receive W-2s and other tax forms that detail just how much money they made over the last year. Unfortunately, at least some of those forms are likely to include a person’s full Social Security number and bank account number. In the wrong hands, that information can lead to identify theft.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit consumer advocacy group based in San Diego, suggests that consumers take the following steps to secure their tax forms over the next few months:
- If you’ve moved during the year, contact each company you’ve worked for and give them your new address rather than relying on the Post Office to forward your mail.
- Use a Post Office box or buy a mailbox that you can lock.
- Have the Post Office hold your mail if you are going to be away for more than one night.
- Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight. -- David K. Randall
Saturday, January 23, 2010
ATM skimmer -- could you spot it in the wild?
Brian Krebs's "Krebs on Security" features an ATM skimmer that is chillingly well-camouflaged.
After seeing photos of early, crude skimmers -- devices that capture your card number and work in concert with a hidden camera that records you punching in your PIN -- I assumed that I could rely on my own powers of observation to keep from falling victim to one. Now I don't think I can be so sanguine. Be sure to follow some of the links in the post for some hair-raising examples of the form.
This particular skimmer was found Dec. 6, 2009, attached to the front of a Citibank ATM in Woodland Hills, Calif. Would you have been able to spot this?
This is fairly professional job: Notice how the bulk of the electronics fit into the flap below the card acceptance slot. Also, check out the tiny pinhole camera (pictured below), ostensibly designed to switch on and record the victim's movements as he or she enters their PIN at the ATM.
Would You Have Spotted the Fraud?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What will your spend $17.00 a month on?
What will $17 buy?
A pizza (maybe two, depending on where you buy your pizza), a CD (for those of us who still buy music in a store), you might even be able to take a date to a movie (forget the concessions though).
So, why would you spend $17 a month for a Pre-Paid Legal Family Plan?
What if you were able to see a great return on your investment in the VERY FIRST WEEK after you buy your membership – or during that FIRST $17 month!?
What if year after year you could realize an incredible return with your membership for doing something that most people need to do anyway?
The Pre-Paid Legal Family Plan membership provides Will preparation for the member and spouse (spouse is generally $20, but if completed at the same time, and within the first sixty (60) days of your membership it's also included at no additional cost). That’s TWO Wills that meet the needs of most North Americans.
With Pre-Paid Legal your Wills are prepared by lawyers who are experienced in the area of law dealing with Will preparation. Not only that, after you send in your questionnaire, if your lawyer has any questions or concerns about how you’ve requested your Will to be prepared (eg…if a request may not be in your best interest from a tax perspective, or your disbursement of your estate may be more likely to be contested because of the manner in which you’ve indicated disbursement to occur), then a he/she will call you to ask questions and give advice before your Will is prepared and mailed to you.
So, let’s review, for as little as $17 a month, you receive two Wills prepared (for you and your spouse) at no additional cost, in addition to MANY MANY other benefits that can help you throughout the year.
What would having a Will prepared by an experienced lawyer cost you outside of a legal plan membership?
Would you know where to go? Unfortunately, a quick internet search on “cost of legal services” and “cost to prepare a Will” was unsuccessful in easily finding sites that provide straight forward pricing for Will preparation.
I suppose you could flip through your local yellow pages and find a lawyer to call and get a price quote. I DID find several legal forms sites that offered Will preparation services.
Did you know that you can buy a Will form online – and even have an online legal forms company prepare it for you for as little as $59.95 (prices vary, but the online legal forms site pricing seems comparable. This price was found at a well-known and reputable legal forms site at the time of this article)…but often, the disclaimers on these sites point to the need for an attorney – and “preparation services” are little more than an online form that you fill out to populate their standard Will form.
On a popular legal forms site, this is a sample of the disclaimer that applies to their legal forms: “[This Online Legal Form Company] provides Legal Information which is not legal advice. Legal information informs you of the law and your rights but does not advise you what course of action to take for your situation. Legal advice is what lawyers provide.”
While these online companies DO provide quite a range of legal documents and forms, what they don’t seem to provide is that extra, and we believe, a necessary, step – a real lawyer’s advice and assistance. Blank forms may be legal documents, probably even prepared by experienced attorneys, but like many things in life, it’s not only important to be sure you have the right tool for the job, but it’s critical that you know how to use that tool. We believe advice from a lawyer is critical when dealing with any legally binding document - particularly one that is designed to look after those you love when you’re no longer able.
With Pre-Paid Legal, you not only get two Wills prepared by a lawyer (who will provide advice if needed), but you also receive yearly updates (no charge for the member, $20 for spouse). All for as little as $17/month! If the Will preparation benefit were the only thing you received, we believe it would be well worth the $17 per month (or $204/year). However, with Pre-Paid Legal, you get so much more. And, as life happens for a Pre-Paid Legal member, his/her Pre-Paid Legal Lawyers stand ready to advise and assist.
Talk with a Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associate today to learn more about how you can get a Pre-Paid Legal membership!
NOTE: Pre-Paid Legal membership plan benefits and costs vary by state and province, the above information is for illustrative purposes only. For plan details, benefits, and exclusions, consult a plan brochure - available by contacting any Pre-Paid Legal Independent
A pizza (maybe two, depending on where you buy your pizza), a CD (for those of us who still buy music in a store), you might even be able to take a date to a movie (forget the concessions though).
So, why would you spend $17 a month for a Pre-Paid Legal Family Plan?
What if you were able to see a great return on your investment in the VERY FIRST WEEK after you buy your membership – or during that FIRST $17 month!?
What if year after year you could realize an incredible return with your membership for doing something that most people need to do anyway?
The Pre-Paid Legal Family Plan membership provides Will preparation for the member and spouse (spouse is generally $20, but if completed at the same time, and within the first sixty (60) days of your membership it's also included at no additional cost). That’s TWO Wills that meet the needs of most North Americans.
With Pre-Paid Legal your Wills are prepared by lawyers who are experienced in the area of law dealing with Will preparation. Not only that, after you send in your questionnaire, if your lawyer has any questions or concerns about how you’ve requested your Will to be prepared (eg…if a request may not be in your best interest from a tax perspective, or your disbursement of your estate may be more likely to be contested because of the manner in which you’ve indicated disbursement to occur), then a he/she will call you to ask questions and give advice before your Will is prepared and mailed to you.
So, let’s review, for as little as $17 a month, you receive two Wills prepared (for you and your spouse) at no additional cost, in addition to MANY MANY other benefits that can help you throughout the year.
What would having a Will prepared by an experienced lawyer cost you outside of a legal plan membership?
Would you know where to go? Unfortunately, a quick internet search on “cost of legal services” and “cost to prepare a Will” was unsuccessful in easily finding sites that provide straight forward pricing for Will preparation.
I suppose you could flip through your local yellow pages and find a lawyer to call and get a price quote. I DID find several legal forms sites that offered Will preparation services.
Did you know that you can buy a Will form online – and even have an online legal forms company prepare it for you for as little as $59.95 (prices vary, but the online legal forms site pricing seems comparable. This price was found at a well-known and reputable legal forms site at the time of this article)…but often, the disclaimers on these sites point to the need for an attorney – and “preparation services” are little more than an online form that you fill out to populate their standard Will form.
On a popular legal forms site, this is a sample of the disclaimer that applies to their legal forms: “[This Online Legal Form Company] provides Legal Information which is not legal advice. Legal information informs you of the law and your rights but does not advise you what course of action to take for your situation. Legal advice is what lawyers provide.”
While these online companies DO provide quite a range of legal documents and forms, what they don’t seem to provide is that extra, and we believe, a necessary, step – a real lawyer’s advice and assistance. Blank forms may be legal documents, probably even prepared by experienced attorneys, but like many things in life, it’s not only important to be sure you have the right tool for the job, but it’s critical that you know how to use that tool. We believe advice from a lawyer is critical when dealing with any legally binding document - particularly one that is designed to look after those you love when you’re no longer able.
With Pre-Paid Legal, you not only get two Wills prepared by a lawyer (who will provide advice if needed), but you also receive yearly updates (no charge for the member, $20 for spouse). All for as little as $17/month! If the Will preparation benefit were the only thing you received, we believe it would be well worth the $17 per month (or $204/year). However, with Pre-Paid Legal, you get so much more. And, as life happens for a Pre-Paid Legal member, his/her Pre-Paid Legal Lawyers stand ready to advise and assist.
Talk with a Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associate today to learn more about how you can get a Pre-Paid Legal membership!
NOTE: Pre-Paid Legal membership plan benefits and costs vary by state and province, the above information is for illustrative purposes only. For plan details, benefits, and exclusions, consult a plan brochure - available by contacting any Pre-Paid Legal Independent
Truth about Wills
What do we know about the importance of a Will and a Pre-Paid Legal membership?
We know that members who complete their Wills are more likely to retain their Pre-Paid Legal memberships. We know that our Provider Attorney firms are excellent when it comes to well-respected lawyers prepared to handle all types of estate planning issues.
So what do you know about Wills? Are the following statements true or false?
Estate planning is for rich people only.
If I die without a Will, all my possessions will go to my spouse.
These statements are false. For more information on combating related myths and the true significance of Will preparation, check out this USA Today story. It could be a smart marketing tool for you to use to show the value of benefits offered by a Pre-Paid Legal membership.
Even though the topic of Wills may be a subject that’s difficult to approach, it should be stressed to prospects. The importance of knowing that the people, places and things cherished in life are taken care of according to one’s final wishes is a thought that can be undeniably comforting.
We know that members who complete their Wills are more likely to retain their Pre-Paid Legal memberships. We know that our Provider Attorney firms are excellent when it comes to well-respected lawyers prepared to handle all types of estate planning issues.
So what do you know about Wills? Are the following statements true or false?
Estate planning is for rich people only.
If I die without a Will, all my possessions will go to my spouse.
These statements are false. For more information on combating related myths and the true significance of Will preparation, check out this USA Today story. It could be a smart marketing tool for you to use to show the value of benefits offered by a Pre-Paid Legal membership.
Even though the topic of Wills may be a subject that’s difficult to approach, it should be stressed to prospects. The importance of knowing that the people, places and things cherished in life are taken care of according to one’s final wishes is a thought that can be undeniably comforting.
Unmasking Swine Flu Scams
The H1N1 flu outbreak is nothing to sneeze at, but unfortunately, it has become not only a major epidemic, but an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of anxious consumers.
Since May 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned more than 75 websites to stop the sale of more than 135 products that “fraudulently” made claims associated with the H1N1 flu virus.
The FDA has even gone as far as publishing a list of unapproved, uncleared or unauthorized products that made claims about effectiveness against H1N1, including a shampoo and several supplements that claimed to protect against the virus, a spray that allegedly left a layer of protective ionic silver that killed the virus on hands, and an electronic instrument that used “mega-frequency life-force energy waves” to boost one’s immune system.
Just like medicine shows peddling “miracle” medicines, there are always people that work the system for their own benefit.
As attentive consumers, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones by going to the best resources for accurate information. For instance, if there’s a law-related question on your mind, your Provider Attorney is your source.
Since May 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned more than 75 websites to stop the sale of more than 135 products that “fraudulently” made claims associated with the H1N1 flu virus.
The FDA has even gone as far as publishing a list of unapproved, uncleared or unauthorized products that made claims about effectiveness against H1N1, including a shampoo and several supplements that claimed to protect against the virus, a spray that allegedly left a layer of protective ionic silver that killed the virus on hands, and an electronic instrument that used “mega-frequency life-force energy waves” to boost one’s immune system.
Just like medicine shows peddling “miracle” medicines, there are always people that work the system for their own benefit.
As attentive consumers, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones by going to the best resources for accurate information. For instance, if there’s a law-related question on your mind, your Provider Attorney is your source.
Small Business and Legal Questions
If you own your own business, even a home based business, you almost certainly should carry some legal insurance in addition to what your current business, auto and homeowner or renter policies encompass. Your coverage on these policies probably will not cover legal services required for such difficulties as false arrest, libel, slander, or invasion of privacy.
The growing complexities of the legal system trigger the spiraling costs of lawsuits. This can be exceedingly costly to a small business owner, especially if you have a work at home business. You basically can't afford to hope that you will never be caught up in a costly legal action.
Paying an attorney to defend various claims against you or your business may ruin a small business. With cash so tight these days, what small business owner can come up with the funds to pay at least $200 an hour for a lawyer who specializes in business law? Unless you are running a million dollar business, this sort of help is far too expensive for nearly everyone.
A couple of options are open to you.
First, check with your insurance agent to determine what additional policies or riders you can get that will cover legal expenses for standard legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. You might be able to get an umbrella plan that will expand both the dollar limits of your current coverage as well as boost the number of matters covered. An umbrella plan can be a low cost solution to your legal exposure.
A second choice is a prepaid legal plan that protects you and your family as well as your business. Normally, for a fixed monthly or annual fee your can qualify for a suite of legal services that are customized to the needs of a small business.
One widely used and beneficial feature of a prepaid legal plan is your option to have phone conversations with your attorney. You can talk about potential issues with your attorney and obtain his or her legal guidance before you do something that could produce a lawsuit. This is a positive aspect of most plans and can help you prevent lawsuits, saving you a lot of time, effort, and worry.
Many prepaid legal plans also cover your attorney's time for reviewing typical documents and contracts. Without a legal plan you might not consider having contracts reviewed. But, your attorney can suggest ways to enhance the contract language and notify you of possible issues. This as well can save you from lots of headaches.
Prepaid legal plans will also cover your attorney's time for preparing for and conducting a trial, should a legal situation involve a trial. Often your plan details the precise types of legal situations that are covered for trail related assistance.
As for any legal arrangement, you ought to read over any prepaid legal plan carefully to understand precisely what services are covered as well as their limits. You don't want to believe you have extensive coverage when your coverage is very limited.
Many plans also provide discounts for services not expressly provided for by the plan.
You also should be concerned about the options you will have for your attorney or law firm. After all, legal specialization and skill play a critical role in your legal standing,. Look at the options and ask each potential firm for references from prior clients. If you know other small business owners who have used a particular plan, have a discussion about their experiences with them to find out their impression of the law firm they are working with.
You ought to also check with your state's Bar Association and the Better Business Bureau to find the background of the attorneys and see if there are some complaints, including fee disputes, against the firms. Find out about such items as your potential attorney's educational background, experience, and length of time practicing in his or her specialty.
Also, find out about how disputes with your legal plan provider are handled. See if they deal with disputes internally or submit them to an impartial third party for resolution. This may well have a big effect on your dealings with your plan provider.
By and large, as a small business proprietor, you should think about the risk of legal proceedings against you and make preparations to handle those matters. You will rest easier and perhaps avoid some pretty big expenses in the process.
See GO SMALL BIZ
PPL Necessary in Hard Times
For over 35 years, Pre-Paid Legal has proven to be a strong company with a valuable product. Today, it is a fact that as our economy falters and our nation experiences tough economic times, the need for, “Justice for All” is more prevalent now than ever before. Here are 10 reasons why Pre-Paid Legal is no luxury; it is a fundamental product that people need right now:
1. You may want to contact your Provider Attorney about severance packages, whether you've experienced a job loss or not. As layoffs abound and businesses are desperate to cut-back, ensure your rights are protected by consulting your PPL Provider Attorney about such issues.
2. In tough times, don’t be intimidated by scare tactics. Know your rights, if you are being harassed by debt collectors, or any other business or person. If you get a letter full of intimidating legal jargon, or someone threatens legal action, call your Provider Attorney.
3. Big deals may be big rip-offs in a tough economy. If you buy faulty merchandise you could be the victim of a scam. Do you know what your rights are if you get stuck with a lemon? Did you know there are lemon laws that vary from state to state? Your Provider Attorney can let you know what these laws are, and help you outline a course of action.
4. Many face foreclosure in tough times. Even people in dire financial straights can benefit from a Pre-Paid Legal Membership. When times get tough and people need to know what options are available, the Pre-Paid Legal Provider Attorney is there to carefully and considerately walk a member through all the options.
5. Speeding tickets surge in tough economic times. The weakening economy has affected not just individuals, but entire communities as well. In need of money, these places are cracking down on speeders in an effort to generate revenue. Pre-Paid Legal Members can call their Provider Attorney and get advice on any matter, including traffic-related issues.
6. The Pre-Paid Legal Membership is ideal for military families. In tough times more and more people are finding job stability in the military. With Provider Law firms covering all 48 states and Hawaii, as soldiers move from one place to another, the membership moves with them. When soldiers ship out overseas, they take with them the peace of mind in knowing their family is covered by the membership should any legal issues arise.
7. Tough economic times = scammers paradise. Advanced free loans, debt repair, counterfeit checks, mortgage foreclosure “rescue,” are some of the biggest scams going around. Have your Pre-Paid Legal Attorney review your contracts before you sign your name to them. Legal review is a good way to detect potential scams.
8. Tough economic times have seen a surge in legal issues. making it harder to get an attorney, and harder to afford one. There is no struggling to find an available attorney, or getting stuck with a huge bill. Your monthly fee covers all your listed benefits, and you get the 25% discount on anything not otherwise listed.
9. Can you afford the unexpected? With a Pre-Paid Legal Membership, you have a low monthly fee. When you face an emergency, your membership provides trial time, consultation, contract reviews, and more at no additional charge. If an emergency arises and you don’t have a membership, you might find yourself doing without due to the high costs of legal counsel.
10. Coverage includes you, your spouse, and your kids! Wherever you go, whatever issues you encounter in these tough times, you are covered. So is your spouse, and so are your dependent children. Knowing if your teenager gets a speeding ticket, you have a number to call, and with Legal Shield, if any member of your family is detained by police or involved in a traffic accident and need assistance. Your attorney is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
Tips Spotting Phone Scams
Whether or not you’ve signed up for the Do Not Call Registry, there are companies/organizations that can still call you; like political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors. If you gave written permission for a company to contact you or have an existing relationship with a company, they may call. Scammers will often call posing as one of these. The FTC lists some important questions you should ask yourself the next time you get a sales call.
Who’s calling – and why? Telemarketers are supposed to inform that the call is a sales call, give the seller’s name and the product for sale before going into the sales pitch.
What’s their hurry? Most businesses will give you time and should be willing to provide written information about the offer before asking you to commit. Don’t let them rush you.
If it’s free, why are they asking me to pay? If you are asked to pay anything for something they are telling you is “free” then it’s not a prize or gift: it’s a purchase.
Why am I “confirming” my account information – or giving it out at all? Even if the business calling already has your account info, they may be trying to get you to say okay so they can charge you and claim you approved it.
Remember, sales calls may only be made between 8 am and 9 pm, and if you don’t want a business to call you again tell them. Pre-Paid Legal Members have the peace of mind in knowing that anytime they’re confronted by a possible scam or faced with harassment from debt collectors, they can call their provider attorney to look over documents and offer sound legal advice.
Who’s calling – and why? Telemarketers are supposed to inform that the call is a sales call, give the seller’s name and the product for sale before going into the sales pitch.
What’s their hurry? Most businesses will give you time and should be willing to provide written information about the offer before asking you to commit. Don’t let them rush you.
If it’s free, why are they asking me to pay? If you are asked to pay anything for something they are telling you is “free” then it’s not a prize or gift: it’s a purchase.
Why am I “confirming” my account information – or giving it out at all? Even if the business calling already has your account info, they may be trying to get you to say okay so they can charge you and claim you approved it.
Remember, sales calls may only be made between 8 am and 9 pm, and if you don’t want a business to call you again tell them. Pre-Paid Legal Members have the peace of mind in knowing that anytime they’re confronted by a possible scam or faced with harassment from debt collectors, they can call their provider attorney to look over documents and offer sound legal advice.
Less then 1% are prosecuted
As Brian Hansen demonstrated with one of the “tracked” cards, the card was gone in seconds and major purchases were being made all over the world within minutes. Cards became maxed out quickly. Billing cycles being what they are, by the time a cardholder’s statement rolls in it’s too late. Since no card was stolen, the arm wrestling begins with the card issuer of the liability on the charges. As the story unfolds Brian Hansen traces the femme fatal to Nigerian Internet Cafes where the countries number one sport is honing Internet skills for fraud. While Nigerian governmental officials try to root out the problem, “wink, wink”, the illicit activity continues. The Internet Cafes in Nigeria remain very popular. Dateline set up its own sting operation involving their own online electronic store using credit cards working in concert with a set up “special” delivery company to track the purchases and movement of goods using the stolen cards all over the world. Keep in mind, this is just one small segment examined. The scam is huge and ongoing. In this example additional hooks were set using the love angle to get the “assistance” of the pigeon to forward purchases to help win the “love” of the scam artist. This is the “new sting”, the “new rounders”, “new badger game” with a different face but with the same result, separate the mark from their money.
Feeling the heat of legitimate enforcement agencies worldwide something sinister may be under way. The online chat rooms serving as the clearinghouse for credit card scams may be moving their server access to Iran and out of reach of Internet sleuths trying to chase the perpetrators of credit card thief and identity theft. The stakes of the game are getting higher.
What’s consumers to do to protect themselves from this devastating assault? When it happens ones credit history can be totally destroyed and will require hours and hours to even begin to unwind the events to win back the consumers good credit. Police reports need to be filed immediately to form a basis of the case deflecting blame to the culprit where it belongs rather than the consumer. Every time a consumer uses the Internet their IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) is exposed to those who may wish to do them harm. It is possible to pinpoint a consumer’s location and thus reveal even more information that may be used to build a credit file to support efforts to defraud and scam.
The free online government site on new credit card scams is bulging with different wrinkles on old con schemes. A consumer has a permanent mark tattooed on their forehead as a “mark” screaming “Come and get me.” A consumer can do everything to protect themselves and yet a scammer is able to come in the back door and gains access to a consumers information by someone hacking into mainframes or other means outside the realm of normal protection.
What is a consumer to do to erect defenses against this stealth enemy? Limiting the number of cards would be a good start. Having a bevy of credit cards with little or no balances is asking for trouble. A caution here, if a bunch of cards are closed out all at once, it can plummet the credit scores. So over a year’s time one could shed the extraneous cards without adversely impacting the credit scores with all other things being equal. Obtaining a card with say a $500 limit would be good for online purchases to limit the liability. Even though there is a $50 loss limit on many cards, if a scammer opens a card in your name and a consumer does not find out about it for several months, the arm wrestling will begin with the credit card issuing company. One defaulted card can precipitate a case of “universal default” where all the other credit cards will have their interest rates accelerated to the full legal limit. A great 7.5% rate card could be accelerated to say 25% with one single 30 day late on a scammed card. It will take months and months to unwind and in the meantime a consumer’s credit scores are adversely impacted and this single action spills over to all the other credit criteria.
Services such as “PayPal” and such can offer a layer of protection. Even here, there are scams imitating the real company to gain personal information to perform a rip off. Many scams imitate the consumer’s bank to “verify” their personal information to perpetrate additional scams. Mailbox pilfering have been replaced by scalping data from mainframe penetration to access personal information on multiple consumers. Firewalls need to be toughened and hardened against such infiltration. Even more serious events happen for consumers when the employee’s laptops are stolen with millions of personal information allowing credit card rip-offs. Many of these forays turn out to be inside jobs with someone within the company selling the records.
Some how, some way, there must be a way to encrypt a consumer’s data either by requiring eye scans, finger print or other devices to squash the scammers. In the meantime, it’s up to the consumers to protect themselves. If a consumer has much to lose, accounts must be checked for any unusual activity, a post office box might be utilized to prevent credit card rip-offs. In addition, there are several credit card fraud insurance companies are willing to offer protection against this peril for a premium and provide personnel and attorneys if necessary to fight against fraud and clean up the credit card history. Consumers, have protection against auto accidents, fire and hazard perils, workman’s compensation, job loss protection and even pre-paid legal. With this great exposure to loss and credit history destruction this can offer a level of protection to consumers whom might be exposed to dramatic financial losses. Like any insurance a consumer must make a good faith effort to minimize losses. Like leaving the car keys in the ignition with a running motor and the door open, invites a crime. In another case, if all the doors and windows are left open in the home which by its very action may invite a burglary. A consumer has to make a minimum effort to protect their information, but it is good to have a layer of protection from an insurance company just in case.
Summarizing, with less than 1% of identity thieves ever being prosecuted this world-wide problem must be elevated to nothing less than the equivalent of a mugging or strong armed robbery. Where countries are being used, as a sanctuary for identity thieves such as Internet cafes’ then there must be diplomatic engagement with resulting foreign aid offsets against losses perpetrated from that foreign country. If the server being used by these scalawags is moved to rouge countries it will make enforcement even tougher. There must be a price to be paid for such outlaw activity. The ghosts of “Butch Cassidy” and the “Sundance Kid” have found new life on the Internet. A consumer needs to be vigilant and aware of their credit information or credit challenges will follow. A layer of insurance protection might be a needed tool in protecting a consumers credit history and financial reputation. A clean credit history means everything in getting the best terms and interest rates for any credit purchase or refinance. Keep a sharp eye out.
Consider Identity Theft Protection
Feeling the heat of legitimate enforcement agencies worldwide something sinister may be under way. The online chat rooms serving as the clearinghouse for credit card scams may be moving their server access to Iran and out of reach of Internet sleuths trying to chase the perpetrators of credit card thief and identity theft. The stakes of the game are getting higher.
What’s consumers to do to protect themselves from this devastating assault? When it happens ones credit history can be totally destroyed and will require hours and hours to even begin to unwind the events to win back the consumers good credit. Police reports need to be filed immediately to form a basis of the case deflecting blame to the culprit where it belongs rather than the consumer. Every time a consumer uses the Internet their IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) is exposed to those who may wish to do them harm. It is possible to pinpoint a consumer’s location and thus reveal even more information that may be used to build a credit file to support efforts to defraud and scam.
The free online government site on new credit card scams is bulging with different wrinkles on old con schemes. A consumer has a permanent mark tattooed on their forehead as a “mark” screaming “Come and get me.” A consumer can do everything to protect themselves and yet a scammer is able to come in the back door and gains access to a consumers information by someone hacking into mainframes or other means outside the realm of normal protection.
What is a consumer to do to erect defenses against this stealth enemy? Limiting the number of cards would be a good start. Having a bevy of credit cards with little or no balances is asking for trouble. A caution here, if a bunch of cards are closed out all at once, it can plummet the credit scores. So over a year’s time one could shed the extraneous cards without adversely impacting the credit scores with all other things being equal. Obtaining a card with say a $500 limit would be good for online purchases to limit the liability. Even though there is a $50 loss limit on many cards, if a scammer opens a card in your name and a consumer does not find out about it for several months, the arm wrestling will begin with the credit card issuing company. One defaulted card can precipitate a case of “universal default” where all the other credit cards will have their interest rates accelerated to the full legal limit. A great 7.5% rate card could be accelerated to say 25% with one single 30 day late on a scammed card. It will take months and months to unwind and in the meantime a consumer’s credit scores are adversely impacted and this single action spills over to all the other credit criteria.
Services such as “PayPal” and such can offer a layer of protection. Even here, there are scams imitating the real company to gain personal information to perform a rip off. Many scams imitate the consumer’s bank to “verify” their personal information to perpetrate additional scams. Mailbox pilfering have been replaced by scalping data from mainframe penetration to access personal information on multiple consumers. Firewalls need to be toughened and hardened against such infiltration. Even more serious events happen for consumers when the employee’s laptops are stolen with millions of personal information allowing credit card rip-offs. Many of these forays turn out to be inside jobs with someone within the company selling the records.
Some how, some way, there must be a way to encrypt a consumer’s data either by requiring eye scans, finger print or other devices to squash the scammers. In the meantime, it’s up to the consumers to protect themselves. If a consumer has much to lose, accounts must be checked for any unusual activity, a post office box might be utilized to prevent credit card rip-offs. In addition, there are several credit card fraud insurance companies are willing to offer protection against this peril for a premium and provide personnel and attorneys if necessary to fight against fraud and clean up the credit card history. Consumers, have protection against auto accidents, fire and hazard perils, workman’s compensation, job loss protection and even pre-paid legal. With this great exposure to loss and credit history destruction this can offer a level of protection to consumers whom might be exposed to dramatic financial losses. Like any insurance a consumer must make a good faith effort to minimize losses. Like leaving the car keys in the ignition with a running motor and the door open, invites a crime. In another case, if all the doors and windows are left open in the home which by its very action may invite a burglary. A consumer has to make a minimum effort to protect their information, but it is good to have a layer of protection from an insurance company just in case.
Summarizing, with less than 1% of identity thieves ever being prosecuted this world-wide problem must be elevated to nothing less than the equivalent of a mugging or strong armed robbery. Where countries are being used, as a sanctuary for identity thieves such as Internet cafes’ then there must be diplomatic engagement with resulting foreign aid offsets against losses perpetrated from that foreign country. If the server being used by these scalawags is moved to rouge countries it will make enforcement even tougher. There must be a price to be paid for such outlaw activity. The ghosts of “Butch Cassidy” and the “Sundance Kid” have found new life on the Internet. A consumer needs to be vigilant and aware of their credit information or credit challenges will follow. A layer of insurance protection might be a needed tool in protecting a consumers credit history and financial reputation. A clean credit history means everything in getting the best terms and interest rates for any credit purchase or refinance. Keep a sharp eye out.
Consider Identity Theft Protection
Legal Insurance for Landlords
As a landlord (or a prospective one), you need to protect yourself against the damages that can potentially occur to your properties and your overall financial health. Mostly likely, you won't need all of the forms of insurance I'm going to describe in this article; however, you should know what each one can do for you in case you ever have need of them.
On a general note, I can't stress enough the importance of having adequate insurance, especially if landlording is your entire livelihood. Compared to catastrophic losses (fire, floods, tornadoes, liability suits, etc.), insurance costs are definitely a bargain! Types of Insurance Title insurance this establishes who owns the title and prevents you from throwing away money on a property that might legally belong to someone else.
Fire insurance definitely don't skimp on protection in this area! Recommendation: insure your properties for top value, or the insurance company may discount their payment. For example, if you paid $100,000 for a house and it's worth $120,000, but you insure for only $100,000, then that hundred-thousand is all you'll get.
Liability insurance be sure to have this insurance. Recommendation: read the policy carefully and note any exclusions! If necessary, pay the extra money to have specific exceptions included in the policy. If you do any building, remodeling, or painting, you may also want to get a separate contractor's insurance policy
Extended coverage this is also called "comprehensive" coverage or a "package policy." It's often offered along with the standard fire insurance policy, and it's an investment well worth paying for. This type of coverage can protect you from damage caused by a variety of phenomena--hail, windstorms, smoke, rioting, falling trees, vandalism, freezing temperatures, landslides, accidental water discharge from burst pipes, and so forth. Tailor the coverage to your particular geographic area. Earthquake coveragealways a separate policy. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, you should definitely have this policy. Nature's power can destroy your property in a matter of seconds!
Flood insurance insurers consider flood damage different from water damage caused by burst pipes and such. So, if you live in a flood-prone area, be sure to have this coverage.
Vandalism/malicious mischief cheap insurance and worth the price. It can pay for repairs caused by vandals who damage or destroy your property.
Property improvements insurance a standard building policy doesn't cover damage to such items as swimming pools, fences, signs, parking lots, and other areas. So, because weather can badly damage these items, it pays to have them covered as well.
Business interruption insurance basically, this is "loss of rent" coverage. Here's an example: if a fire damages one of your properties, making it unlivable for a while, then you'll lose rent until that damage is repaired. In the meantime, fixed expenses keep piling up! With business interruption insurance, the insurance company compensates you for loss of rental income over a specified period.
Mortgage insurance the purpose of this insurance is pay off the balance of your outstanding mortgage if trouble strikes. Believe me, it's well worth the price. Check with a lender for the type you need.
Boiler/machinery insurance this is wise coverage to have with larger properties. Boiler explosions can have horrible results. Needless to say, claims can be large for these terrible accidents, and you definitely don't want to shoulder the expense. This insurance is also a good idea because the insurance company will inspect the equipment on a regular basis. In effect, the insurance company becomes your partner in maintenance and safety. Other Forms of Insurance to Consider Management insurance--if you manage properties, get management insurance so the insurance company handles any lawsuits for you.
Umbrella policy--it's called "umbrella" insurance because it's designed to give liability protection above and beyond the limits of other insurance policies; that is, it kicks in when the liability on other polices has been exhausted. Depending on the insurance company, you can get an umbrella policy with an additional one to five million in liability protection.
Workers compensation insurance--a definite must if you have employees and/or contractors working for you. Where accidents are concerned, it's better to be safe than sorry. This insurance also protects you against frivolous lawsuits.
Legal Protection--legal protection is a kind of insurance so it pays to have the services of an attorney for two reasons: To handle lawsuits. To handle insurance companies reluctant to pay in the event of covered damages.
If you find a personal lawyer too expensive, consider using pre-paid legal services. They're inexpensive, charging a monthly fee in the range of $10-30 a month. Check with the American Prepaid Legal Services Institute for a partial listing of plans and services. Or try Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. for coverage of civil cases or work-related criminal cases.
Key Point: Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish." In other words, never skimp on insurance; your property investments are too valuable to worry about saving a few dollars on premiums.
To expand and control your business consider Small Biz services.
On a general note, I can't stress enough the importance of having adequate insurance, especially if landlording is your entire livelihood. Compared to catastrophic losses (fire, floods, tornadoes, liability suits, etc.), insurance costs are definitely a bargain! Types of Insurance Title insurance this establishes who owns the title and prevents you from throwing away money on a property that might legally belong to someone else.
Fire insurance definitely don't skimp on protection in this area! Recommendation: insure your properties for top value, or the insurance company may discount their payment. For example, if you paid $100,000 for a house and it's worth $120,000, but you insure for only $100,000, then that hundred-thousand is all you'll get.
Liability insurance be sure to have this insurance. Recommendation: read the policy carefully and note any exclusions! If necessary, pay the extra money to have specific exceptions included in the policy. If you do any building, remodeling, or painting, you may also want to get a separate contractor's insurance policy
Extended coverage this is also called "comprehensive" coverage or a "package policy." It's often offered along with the standard fire insurance policy, and it's an investment well worth paying for. This type of coverage can protect you from damage caused by a variety of phenomena--hail, windstorms, smoke, rioting, falling trees, vandalism, freezing temperatures, landslides, accidental water discharge from burst pipes, and so forth. Tailor the coverage to your particular geographic area. Earthquake coveragealways a separate policy. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, you should definitely have this policy. Nature's power can destroy your property in a matter of seconds!
Flood insurance insurers consider flood damage different from water damage caused by burst pipes and such. So, if you live in a flood-prone area, be sure to have this coverage.
Vandalism/malicious mischief cheap insurance and worth the price. It can pay for repairs caused by vandals who damage or destroy your property.
Property improvements insurance a standard building policy doesn't cover damage to such items as swimming pools, fences, signs, parking lots, and other areas. So, because weather can badly damage these items, it pays to have them covered as well.
Business interruption insurance basically, this is "loss of rent" coverage. Here's an example: if a fire damages one of your properties, making it unlivable for a while, then you'll lose rent until that damage is repaired. In the meantime, fixed expenses keep piling up! With business interruption insurance, the insurance company compensates you for loss of rental income over a specified period.
Mortgage insurance the purpose of this insurance is pay off the balance of your outstanding mortgage if trouble strikes. Believe me, it's well worth the price. Check with a lender for the type you need.
Boiler/machinery insurance this is wise coverage to have with larger properties. Boiler explosions can have horrible results. Needless to say, claims can be large for these terrible accidents, and you definitely don't want to shoulder the expense. This insurance is also a good idea because the insurance company will inspect the equipment on a regular basis. In effect, the insurance company becomes your partner in maintenance and safety. Other Forms of Insurance to Consider Management insurance--if you manage properties, get management insurance so the insurance company handles any lawsuits for you.
Umbrella policy--it's called "umbrella" insurance because it's designed to give liability protection above and beyond the limits of other insurance policies; that is, it kicks in when the liability on other polices has been exhausted. Depending on the insurance company, you can get an umbrella policy with an additional one to five million in liability protection.
Workers compensation insurance--a definite must if you have employees and/or contractors working for you. Where accidents are concerned, it's better to be safe than sorry. This insurance also protects you against frivolous lawsuits.
Legal Protection--legal protection is a kind of insurance so it pays to have the services of an attorney for two reasons: To handle lawsuits. To handle insurance companies reluctant to pay in the event of covered damages.
If you find a personal lawyer too expensive, consider using pre-paid legal services. They're inexpensive, charging a monthly fee in the range of $10-30 a month. Check with the American Prepaid Legal Services Institute for a partial listing of plans and services. Or try Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. for coverage of civil cases or work-related criminal cases.
Key Point: Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish." In other words, never skimp on insurance; your property investments are too valuable to worry about saving a few dollars on premiums.
To expand and control your business consider Small Biz services.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Justice for ALL
Justice for all is a nice idea, but does it really happen in our courtrooms when lawyer fees seem to be outside of the average person’s budget?
Can the door to justice in a free society really close?
The majority of injustices never find their way into the courtroom. As life happens around us, there are times when unfairness rears its ugly head. The examples are limitless:
a company denies a warranty claim
a service provider overcharges a client
a credit card company takes advantage of a person they claim to want to help
and thousands more...
When it happens, perhaps we make a few calls, talk to a few supervisors, but sadly, most of us are forced to pay the fee of whatever injustice that day brought and move on.
It doesn’t have to work that way.
More than 3 ½ decades ago Pre-Paid Legal became a pioneer in the legal industry and today provides access to justice for common, and not so common, life events to over 1.5 million members.
We invite you to explore this site to see what it’s all about. We’re just starting today, but you’ll be able to read the stories, hear the interviews, and watch the videos.
We are dedicated to providing great service and information of interest to a community of people who need, and deserve, justice.
Can the door to justice in a free society really close?
The majority of injustices never find their way into the courtroom. As life happens around us, there are times when unfairness rears its ugly head. The examples are limitless:
a company denies a warranty claim
a service provider overcharges a client
a credit card company takes advantage of a person they claim to want to help
and thousands more...
When it happens, perhaps we make a few calls, talk to a few supervisors, but sadly, most of us are forced to pay the fee of whatever injustice that day brought and move on.
It doesn’t have to work that way.
More than 3 ½ decades ago Pre-Paid Legal became a pioneer in the legal industry and today provides access to justice for common, and not so common, life events to over 1.5 million members.
We invite you to explore this site to see what it’s all about. We’re just starting today, but you’ll be able to read the stories, hear the interviews, and watch the videos.
We are dedicated to providing great service and information of interest to a community of people who need, and deserve, justice.
Independent Associate
They are dedicated self-employed individuals marketing Pre-Paid Legal Plans from the comfort of home, or even across the United States and into Canada.
Many work full time but it’s possible to make a good income on a part time basis as well.
In addition to marketing a variety of easy to understand and useful legal plans, Associates have the unique opportunity to sign up others who are looking for a rewarding career opportunity as well.
When you sign up, you will receive an Associate packet in the mail with everything you need to get started.
Our unique compensation plan was designed to ensure new Independent Associates get money faster than ever before. Advancement is simple and you can advance to higher levels of income at your own pace.
This is a unique opportunity: you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
There are tools, a Success Guide, online resources and support from other Independent Associates available to you whenever you need it!
I love what I have started and i know you will too...
Be Your Own Boss
Work From The Comfort Of Your Own Home Or Office.
Build Residencial Income
Set Your Own Hours
Love What You Do
CONTROL YOUR FUTURE !!
To learn more about the business opportunity and product, explore this site, watch the opportunity, and membership movies, and don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like more information.
.."I am soo excited to get started with this Home Business and get some great money...so simple and PT"!!
Freedom to set your own schedule...
Freedom to break away from the "paycheck to paycheck" rat race...
Freedom to achieve real success Freedom to advance at your own pace...
Freedom to be your own boss Freedom to enhance your lifestyle…and so much more!
This is a unique opportunity: you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
************************************************************************************
Many work full time but it’s possible to make a good income on a part time basis as well.
In addition to marketing a variety of easy to understand and useful legal plans, Associates have the unique opportunity to sign up others who are looking for a rewarding career opportunity as well.
When you sign up, you will receive an Associate packet in the mail with everything you need to get started.
Our unique compensation plan was designed to ensure new Independent Associates get money faster than ever before. Advancement is simple and you can advance to higher levels of income at your own pace.
This is a unique opportunity: you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
There are tools, a Success Guide, online resources and support from other Independent Associates available to you whenever you need it!
I love what I have started and i know you will too...
Be Your Own Boss
Work From The Comfort Of Your Own Home Or Office.
Build Residencial Income
Set Your Own Hours
Love What You Do
CONTROL YOUR FUTURE !!
To learn more about the business opportunity and product, explore this site, watch the opportunity, and membership movies, and don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like more information.
.."I am soo excited to get started with this Home Business and get some great money...so simple and PT"!!
Freedom to set your own schedule...
Freedom to break away from the "paycheck to paycheck" rat race...
Freedom to achieve real success Freedom to advance at your own pace...
Freedom to be your own boss Freedom to enhance your lifestyle…and so much more!
This is a unique opportunity: you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself!
************************************************************************************
Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft has been defined as ‘the process of using someone else’s personal information for ones own personal gain’.
Researchers have been studying identity theft closely since 2004 and release a yearly ‘findings’ report. Their 2009 study reveals that:
· Identity theft is on the rise, affecting almost 10 million victims in 2008 (a 22% increase from 2007)
· Victims are spending less money out of pocket to correct the damage from ID theft. The mean cost per victim is $500, and most victims pay nothing due to zero-liability fraud protection programs offered by their financial institutions.
· 71% of fraud happens within a week of stealing a victim’s personal data.
· Low-tech methods for stealing personal information are still the most popular for identity thieves. Stolen wallets and physical documents accounted for 43% of all identity theft, while online methods accounted for only 11%.
Anyone can become a victim of Identity Theft.
It can take just seconds to occur and could take months or years to correct.
So, what does all this data translate to for you and me? It means that we need to invest in an Identity Theft Protection program.
Pre-Paid Legal's Identity Theft ShieldSM is an affordable solution. Your Identity Theft Protection membership will first provide an up-to-date Experian credit report. This report will be reviewed and analyzed to see if any suspicious has already occurred. From that point on your credit is monitored. You will be alerted if new activity is added to your credit report. If the activity is not initiated by you, it can point to identity theft.
Your coverage begins as soon as your application is completed. The application process takes just a few minutes to complete, and the Identity Theft Protection program really doesn’t cost that much.
Especially considering what you are protecting.
Everyone needs protection from identity theft. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what your profession is, everyone is at risk for identity theft.
Even your minor children are at risk for this devastating and financially debilitation crime. So PrePaid Legal.com even has program for minor children called SAFEGUARD For Minors.
To take your first step in protecting your future credit and to start the identity theft protection, visit the website . Then click on the Identity Theft Shield link. There you will find all the information you will need to determine which program is best suited for your Identity Theft Protection needs.
W Creigh Cornett
Certified Identity Theft Specialist
Researchers have been studying identity theft closely since 2004 and release a yearly ‘findings’ report. Their 2009 study reveals that:
· Identity theft is on the rise, affecting almost 10 million victims in 2008 (a 22% increase from 2007)
· Victims are spending less money out of pocket to correct the damage from ID theft. The mean cost per victim is $500, and most victims pay nothing due to zero-liability fraud protection programs offered by their financial institutions.
· 71% of fraud happens within a week of stealing a victim’s personal data.
· Low-tech methods for stealing personal information are still the most popular for identity thieves. Stolen wallets and physical documents accounted for 43% of all identity theft, while online methods accounted for only 11%.
Anyone can become a victim of Identity Theft.
It can take just seconds to occur and could take months or years to correct.
So, what does all this data translate to for you and me? It means that we need to invest in an Identity Theft Protection program.
Pre-Paid Legal's Identity Theft ShieldSM is an affordable solution. Your Identity Theft Protection membership will first provide an up-to-date Experian credit report. This report will be reviewed and analyzed to see if any suspicious has already occurred. From that point on your credit is monitored. You will be alerted if new activity is added to your credit report. If the activity is not initiated by you, it can point to identity theft.
Your coverage begins as soon as your application is completed. The application process takes just a few minutes to complete, and the Identity Theft Protection program really doesn’t cost that much.
Especially considering what you are protecting.
Everyone needs protection from identity theft. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what your profession is, everyone is at risk for identity theft.
Even your minor children are at risk for this devastating and financially debilitation crime. So PrePaid Legal.com even has program for minor children called SAFEGUARD For Minors.
To take your first step in protecting your future credit and to start the identity theft protection, visit the website . Then click on the Identity Theft Shield link. There you will find all the information you will need to determine which program is best suited for your Identity Theft Protection needs.
W Creigh Cornett
Certified Identity Theft Specialist
Help I need a lawyer
So you need legal help and you don't have the funds to cover a top rated attorney's fees. What in the world will you do?
Their is nothing more embarassing and harder than going to a court room alone. their is so much going on, and so many terms and paper work to translate without the proper knowledge to do so.
I am going to reveal how you can instantly put yourself at ease. And finally dismiss the words "I need a lawyer" from your vocabulary.
"Equal Justice Under The Law" If that is true there is supposed to be a way for you to get access to top attorneys and legal advice with very little money.
So here is a concept that I have found that gives everyone access to the justice system for very little money.
Get a prepaid plan. A pre-paid plan will give you instatnt access to the nations top attorneys and firms. For as little as $1 a day. You get health insurance,car insurance,home owner insurance....
So doesn't it make sense to get access to legal help when you need it without paying outrageous fees.
Imagine having a ticket dismissed whether you were at fault or not, or the states finest attorney working on your child support case for just $1 a day. You'll get an
expert in that area of law everytime.
These plans cover many forms of law.
*Child Support
*Traffic Court
*Domestic Ause,etc....
*************************************************************************************
Their is nothing more embarassing and harder than going to a court room alone. their is so much going on, and so many terms and paper work to translate without the proper knowledge to do so.
I am going to reveal how you can instantly put yourself at ease. And finally dismiss the words "I need a lawyer" from your vocabulary.
"Equal Justice Under The Law" If that is true there is supposed to be a way for you to get access to top attorneys and legal advice with very little money.
So here is a concept that I have found that gives everyone access to the justice system for very little money.
Get a prepaid plan. A pre-paid plan will give you instatnt access to the nations top attorneys and firms. For as little as $1 a day. You get health insurance,car insurance,home owner insurance....
So doesn't it make sense to get access to legal help when you need it without paying outrageous fees.
Imagine having a ticket dismissed whether you were at fault or not, or the states finest attorney working on your child support case for just $1 a day. You'll get an
expert in that area of law everytime.
These plans cover many forms of law.
*Child Support
*Traffic Court
*Domestic Ause,etc....
*************************************************************************************
When Great Buy goes bad
Purchasing a new vehicle can be a big deal. But if that dream purchase becomes a nightmare, know your rights so you can act quickly and get a fair deal.
If you’ve purchased a vehicle “as is” without a warranty and it turns out to be seriously defective, you may still have some options.
The FTC’s website provides some Facts for Consumers concerning auto service contracts, and recommends checking with your local state consumer protection office or attorney general to find out about any lemon laws (which differ by state) that may be applicable.
Pre-Paid Legal Members: Remember that before you make a purchase, you have access to sound legal advice and contract/document review so you can understand all the terms before you buy.
In addition, if you do discover you’ve got a lemon on your hands, you can consult your provider attorney to find out what your options are so you don’t get taken for a ride.
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If you’ve purchased a vehicle “as is” without a warranty and it turns out to be seriously defective, you may still have some options.
The FTC’s website provides some Facts for Consumers concerning auto service contracts, and recommends checking with your local state consumer protection office or attorney general to find out about any lemon laws (which differ by state) that may be applicable.
Pre-Paid Legal Members: Remember that before you make a purchase, you have access to sound legal advice and contract/document review so you can understand all the terms before you buy.
In addition, if you do discover you’ve got a lemon on your hands, you can consult your provider attorney to find out what your options are so you don’t get taken for a ride.
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An Open Letter on Free Enterprise
Founded in 1972, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. has enjoyed a remarkable 37 year success. Built by Harland Stonecipher, who to this day, at 71 years of age, serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of this New York Stock Exchange listed 0000company.
Pre-Paid Legal employs 725 full-time Oklahomans, and counts over 1.5 million families as members across North America.
The company’s legal service membership is unique. Pre-Paid Legal Services provides its members affordable access to legal services from a network of qualified independent law firms.
We are personally familiar with many of the outstanding lawyers responsible for providing these services. Each of us have toured the company’s home office and witnessed first-hand the operations. We all know the executive management team, most of whom have served the company for a decade or more. They are responsive, honest and ethical in their leadership.
We understand the business opportunity that exists and applaud those who take advantage of it.
Pre-Paid Legal Services not only represents the free enterprise system as a corporation. The company offers motivated individuals with an opportunity to create their own business based on this free market system.
We’ve personally witnessed the integrity of the company’s executive team. Over the years, Pre-Paid Legal Services has been recognized for its leadership by national business publications, like Fortune, Forbes USA Today and others. Just this year, DeMarche Associates, an independent investment research firm recognized Pre-Paid as one of the 100 best in the U.S. for its corporate investment strategy. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. is a solid public company.
As part of its commitment to free enterprise, we think it’s important to highlight a few facts:
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. has not asked for a government bailout.
To the contrary, the company pays its corporate taxes,
and, as long-time sales associate John Hail said, “never missed a commission payment in 37 years.”
Famous Oklahoma humorist/philosopher Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Harland Stonecipher's vision and charge, has always been to make equal justice for all the standard, not merely an ideal, Through a free enterprise opportunity Stonecipher and his team built a passionate and capable sales force to meet this charge. In short, we think Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. is a company that leads by its own example.
There are beacons of hope in today’s business world. There are companies that do things right. There are true American-made success stories. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. fits the bill! We are proud to count the company and Harland Stonecipher as a friend
Pre-Paid Legal employs 725 full-time Oklahomans, and counts over 1.5 million families as members across North America.
The company’s legal service membership is unique. Pre-Paid Legal Services provides its members affordable access to legal services from a network of qualified independent law firms.
We are personally familiar with many of the outstanding lawyers responsible for providing these services. Each of us have toured the company’s home office and witnessed first-hand the operations. We all know the executive management team, most of whom have served the company for a decade or more. They are responsive, honest and ethical in their leadership.
We understand the business opportunity that exists and applaud those who take advantage of it.
Pre-Paid Legal Services not only represents the free enterprise system as a corporation. The company offers motivated individuals with an opportunity to create their own business based on this free market system.
We’ve personally witnessed the integrity of the company’s executive team. Over the years, Pre-Paid Legal Services has been recognized for its leadership by national business publications, like Fortune, Forbes USA Today and others. Just this year, DeMarche Associates, an independent investment research firm recognized Pre-Paid as one of the 100 best in the U.S. for its corporate investment strategy. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. is a solid public company.
As part of its commitment to free enterprise, we think it’s important to highlight a few facts:
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. has not asked for a government bailout.
To the contrary, the company pays its corporate taxes,
and, as long-time sales associate John Hail said, “never missed a commission payment in 37 years.”
Famous Oklahoma humorist/philosopher Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Harland Stonecipher's vision and charge, has always been to make equal justice for all the standard, not merely an ideal, Through a free enterprise opportunity Stonecipher and his team built a passionate and capable sales force to meet this charge. In short, we think Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. is a company that leads by its own example.
There are beacons of hope in today’s business world. There are companies that do things right. There are true American-made success stories. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. fits the bill! We are proud to count the company and Harland Stonecipher as a friend
FORBES Ranks PPL
Forbes just ranked Pre-Paid Legal number 66 in the 200 Best Small Companies list released.
On this same list, Pre-Paid Legal is ranked NUMBER ONE (1) in the Return on Equity (ROE).
According to investopedia.com (A Forbes Digital Company), "Return on equity measures a corporation's profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested."
Just to be on the list is a testament to the strength of where we've been. And, to be ranked number one (1) in the ROE is no accident. This indicates a dedication to resource utilization and allocation practices that produce good results
On this same list, Pre-Paid Legal is ranked NUMBER ONE (1) in the Return on Equity (ROE).
According to investopedia.com (A Forbes Digital Company), "Return on equity measures a corporation's profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested."
Just to be on the list is a testament to the strength of where we've been. And, to be ranked number one (1) in the ROE is no accident. This indicates a dedication to resource utilization and allocation practices that produce good results
Fighting Foreclosure
Fighting foreclosure where does a homeowner start and what works?
We will consider one powerful idea a homeowner can use.
For example how can non-profit counselors help you fight foreclosure?
Today some lender use a credit counseling company to handle the easy upfront qualifying part of the loan modification process. If your loan was approved for a modification it would be the lender that would generally make that decision. There are quite a few non-profit organization that are very good at helping you if you just cannot get anywhere with your lender.
These organizations can meet with you in person with just an appointment. Since 90 percent of home owners in foreclosure show up on their court day without an attorney or prepared to fight for their home. The non-profit organization will show you how to qualify for a loan modification.
Well if for some reason your income or job is not acceptable to your lender to get an approved modification or even forbearance, then they might go another step, which is to file the foreclosure.
Typically, if you miss three monthly mortgage payments, the loan servicer will send you a letter stating the intention to foreclosure.
At this point the credit counseling organization can not help you with the legal part of this. Then you need to add your attorney to the mix.
I have often spoke about looking at the organization pre-paid legal, which is the cheapest way to get legal advice that can help you deal with the lender new attack. This organization will provide hours of communication on how to deal with the court.
Therefore, in this article there are two things I am presenting that can help fight foreclosure.
1. Credit counseling organizations
2. Pre-paid legal insurance
We will consider one powerful idea a homeowner can use.
For example how can non-profit counselors help you fight foreclosure?
Today some lender use a credit counseling company to handle the easy upfront qualifying part of the loan modification process. If your loan was approved for a modification it would be the lender that would generally make that decision. There are quite a few non-profit organization that are very good at helping you if you just cannot get anywhere with your lender.
These organizations can meet with you in person with just an appointment. Since 90 percent of home owners in foreclosure show up on their court day without an attorney or prepared to fight for their home. The non-profit organization will show you how to qualify for a loan modification.
Well if for some reason your income or job is not acceptable to your lender to get an approved modification or even forbearance, then they might go another step, which is to file the foreclosure.
Typically, if you miss three monthly mortgage payments, the loan servicer will send you a letter stating the intention to foreclosure.
At this point the credit counseling organization can not help you with the legal part of this. Then you need to add your attorney to the mix.
I have often spoke about looking at the organization pre-paid legal, which is the cheapest way to get legal advice that can help you deal with the lender new attack. This organization will provide hours of communication on how to deal with the court.
Therefore, in this article there are two things I am presenting that can help fight foreclosure.
1. Credit counseling organizations
2. Pre-paid legal insurance
Energy Tax Credit
Have you taken advantage of the energy and money saving incentives in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?
If you’re unfamiliar with the multi-billion dollar federal bill signed into law in February 2009, the basic objectives included creating and saving jobs, spurring economic activity and fostering long term economic growth.
Part of the economic stimulus package offers several opportunities to save money when purchasing high efficiency appliances and energy saving vehicles. The legislation also includes incentives for those interested in making upgrades in their homes through Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits.
Home Energy Tax Credits are available to consumers who purchase specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment, installed in existing homes.
Homeowners can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements placed “in service” from Jan. 1, 2009, to at least Dec. 31, 2010. You can check out energystar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available.
With the fall in full swing and winter winds not far away, there is no time like the present to get home repairs underway. Not only do you have financial incentives to get it done, you also have a great Provider Attorney ready to review contracts with everyone you hire to work on your home.
If you’re unfamiliar with the multi-billion dollar federal bill signed into law in February 2009, the basic objectives included creating and saving jobs, spurring economic activity and fostering long term economic growth.
Part of the economic stimulus package offers several opportunities to save money when purchasing high efficiency appliances and energy saving vehicles. The legislation also includes incentives for those interested in making upgrades in their homes through Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits.
Home Energy Tax Credits are available to consumers who purchase specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment, installed in existing homes.
Homeowners can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements placed “in service” from Jan. 1, 2009, to at least Dec. 31, 2010. You can check out energystar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available.
With the fall in full swing and winter winds not far away, there is no time like the present to get home repairs underway. Not only do you have financial incentives to get it done, you also have a great Provider Attorney ready to review contracts with everyone you hire to work on your home.
Employers still not hiring
Even though layoffs seem to be slowing up a bit, employers are still holding off when it comes to hiring additional workers.
USA Today posted a story that goes over recent information released from the Labor Department. According to the data, there were about 6.3 unemployed people on average, for each job opening in October.
Many economists hope that new jobs could be generated as early as January or February. According to the article, however, the unemployment rate could climb for many more months as those who have dropped out of the work force begin job searches and add to unemployment numbers.
If you know someone who was recently laid off, someone considering a return to the workforce, or someone just trying to get by in this tough economy; now is the time to reach out and share the Pre-Paid Legal Opportunity.
USA Today posted a story that goes over recent information released from the Labor Department. According to the data, there were about 6.3 unemployed people on average, for each job opening in October.
Many economists hope that new jobs could be generated as early as January or February. According to the article, however, the unemployment rate could climb for many more months as those who have dropped out of the work force begin job searches and add to unemployment numbers.
If you know someone who was recently laid off, someone considering a return to the workforce, or someone just trying to get by in this tough economy; now is the time to reach out and share the Pre-Paid Legal Opportunity.
Dollar Signs on Everyone’s Mind
A recent Gallup Poll confirms that Americans are still worried about stretching every dollar.
When asked to name the most important financial problems facing their families today, one in six of our fellow citizens said low wages and a lack of money was at the top.
Healthcare costs, perhaps attributed to the prominence in the news, were second, according to Gallup.
The survey also ranked too much debt third, followed by the cost of rent or owning a home, unemployment and college costs.
In addition, Gallup reported that in recent weekly updates on Americans’ spending habits, it has commonly noticed that spending increases around customary paydays (the 1st and 15th of each month) and declines more in other weeks as consumers continue to scale back.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people were paid every day? No waiting to make holiday purchases or worrying if an employer will reduce hours resulting in a smaller paycheck.
In an economy of double-digit unemployment, Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associates have the assurance that a strong and stable company is ready and willing to help create the business that builds financial dreams for a secure today and tomorrow.
When asked to name the most important financial problems facing their families today, one in six of our fellow citizens said low wages and a lack of money was at the top.
Healthcare costs, perhaps attributed to the prominence in the news, were second, according to Gallup.
The survey also ranked too much debt third, followed by the cost of rent or owning a home, unemployment and college costs.
In addition, Gallup reported that in recent weekly updates on Americans’ spending habits, it has commonly noticed that spending increases around customary paydays (the 1st and 15th of each month) and declines more in other weeks as consumers continue to scale back.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people were paid every day? No waiting to make holiday purchases or worrying if an employer will reduce hours resulting in a smaller paycheck.
In an economy of double-digit unemployment, Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associates have the assurance that a strong and stable company is ready and willing to help create the business that builds financial dreams for a secure today and tomorrow.
How safe are your vhicle tires?
According to an ABC network investigation, you maybe surprised how on safe your tires are.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Benefits of Identity Theft Shield
Attorney General John Ashcroft called identity theft as "one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States".
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the leading governmental agency which keeps records on identity theft, estimates that over 9 million Americans (or 4.25% of all adults) are victims of ID theft on an annual basis, resulting in $52.6 billion losses to businesses and financial institutions.
Even the 9/11 or September 11th hijackers were believed to have been identity thieves, using stolen passports and Social Security numbers to obscure their trail.
Beyond doubt, identity theft crimes have reached epidemic proportions with subsequent catastrophic consequences.
Identity theft crimes are not new, but they have become more persuasive in the past decade.
Advances in computer hardware and software along with the growth of the Internet have significantly increased the role that identity theft plays in crime. Individuals can hire credit-monitoring services that alert them when there are changes in their credit report.
One such company, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. in conjunction with Kroll, Inc. has developed a unique solution for victims of identity theft. This service referred to as the "Identity Theft Shield" is available to Pre-Paid Legal Services members.
With the Identity Theft Shield, you have the added security of knowing that experienced professionals from the world's leading risk consulting company are there to fight for you.
To prevent identity fraud, experts recommend that you review your credit report regularly. The ID Theft Shield makes this task easier. You receive prompt notices if any new accounts are opened in your name or if derogatory notations are added to your credit report.
On an average, ID theft victims spend more than 250 hours and $2000 to clear their names.
With Identity Theft Shield available at just $9.95/month, the cost of combating ID fraud crimes is much less. This monthly fee provides benefits to you, the member, and your spouse. At this cost, it is well worth the time and money to keep your affairs private.
Truly, Identity Theft Shield is the most factual and comprehensive solution to ID theft restoration. However, at times, even the best backup plans Fail. Therefore, you must learn to depend on yourself to set up your own identity theft shield and minimize your risk. Some things to do would be to shred all paperwork with important account information on it, don't just throw it away in the trash because one of the simplest methods of Identity theft is for the theif to go through trash cans and dumpsters. Memorize pin numbers, do not carry them with your credit cards; Just to mention a couple thoughts.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the leading governmental agency which keeps records on identity theft, estimates that over 9 million Americans (or 4.25% of all adults) are victims of ID theft on an annual basis, resulting in $52.6 billion losses to businesses and financial institutions.
Even the 9/11 or September 11th hijackers were believed to have been identity thieves, using stolen passports and Social Security numbers to obscure their trail.
Beyond doubt, identity theft crimes have reached epidemic proportions with subsequent catastrophic consequences.
Identity theft crimes are not new, but they have become more persuasive in the past decade.
Advances in computer hardware and software along with the growth of the Internet have significantly increased the role that identity theft plays in crime. Individuals can hire credit-monitoring services that alert them when there are changes in their credit report.
One such company, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. in conjunction with Kroll, Inc. has developed a unique solution for victims of identity theft. This service referred to as the "Identity Theft Shield" is available to Pre-Paid Legal Services members.
With the Identity Theft Shield, you have the added security of knowing that experienced professionals from the world's leading risk consulting company are there to fight for you.
To prevent identity fraud, experts recommend that you review your credit report regularly. The ID Theft Shield makes this task easier. You receive prompt notices if any new accounts are opened in your name or if derogatory notations are added to your credit report.
On an average, ID theft victims spend more than 250 hours and $2000 to clear their names.
With Identity Theft Shield available at just $9.95/month, the cost of combating ID fraud crimes is much less. This monthly fee provides benefits to you, the member, and your spouse. At this cost, it is well worth the time and money to keep your affairs private.
Truly, Identity Theft Shield is the most factual and comprehensive solution to ID theft restoration. However, at times, even the best backup plans Fail. Therefore, you must learn to depend on yourself to set up your own identity theft shield and minimize your risk. Some things to do would be to shred all paperwork with important account information on it, don't just throw it away in the trash because one of the simplest methods of Identity theft is for the theif to go through trash cans and dumpsters. Memorize pin numbers, do not carry them with your credit cards; Just to mention a couple thoughts.
Only 45% of American Satisfied with their jobs
How surprising is it that only 45 percent of Americans surveyed were satisfied with their jobs?
Not surprising at all in an economy where challenging and suitable jobs are hard to find, leading some people to take on temporary work just to pay the bills.
This stat comes from a survey reported by The Associated Press, which also revealed that this is considered to be the lowest level of job contentment recorded by a research group in more than 22 years of studying the issue.
What’s going on?
The suggested reasons for dissatisfaction included fewer workers find their jobs interesting, incomes have not kept up with inflation, and soaring health care costs have taken a bigger bite of paychecks.
A side note mentions that workers who did find their jobs interesting are more likely to be innovative, take calculated risks and have the initiatives that drive productivity and contribute to economic growth.
You are in luck! Engaging, unique and inventive are perfect words to describe your company and its legal service plans. Your Pre-Paid Legal business is yours to model, nurture and build, with years of experienced fellow Associates and Home Office staff working by your side.
This year can begin a new era of more opportunities, exciting challenges and increased commissions for you and your team.
This is your time to take advantage of the market’s demands, while creating security for you and your loved ones and experiencing the satisfaction knowing that the job was well done.
Not surprising at all in an economy where challenging and suitable jobs are hard to find, leading some people to take on temporary work just to pay the bills.
This stat comes from a survey reported by The Associated Press, which also revealed that this is considered to be the lowest level of job contentment recorded by a research group in more than 22 years of studying the issue.
What’s going on?
The suggested reasons for dissatisfaction included fewer workers find their jobs interesting, incomes have not kept up with inflation, and soaring health care costs have taken a bigger bite of paychecks.
A side note mentions that workers who did find their jobs interesting are more likely to be innovative, take calculated risks and have the initiatives that drive productivity and contribute to economic growth.
You are in luck! Engaging, unique and inventive are perfect words to describe your company and its legal service plans. Your Pre-Paid Legal business is yours to model, nurture and build, with years of experienced fellow Associates and Home Office staff working by your side.
This year can begin a new era of more opportunities, exciting challenges and increased commissions for you and your team.
This is your time to take advantage of the market’s demands, while creating security for you and your loved ones and experiencing the satisfaction knowing that the job was well done.
10 Ways to make extra money
I read an article today that suggested “50 businesses to start at home.”
I have a great job and I love what I do and the company where I work (they also pay me well – which doesn’t hurt). But, still…I was interested to see what the 50 home businesses were.
I think anyone with an entrepreneurial mind perks up when he/she sees an opportunity to scratch that itch. And if you’re an entrepreneur, you know the itch well. It’s this drive inside you to do more, be more, become more, enjoy life, and perhaps most of all…control your time and enjoy your work.
In a time of economic uncertainty, with doom and gloom shouted from the rooftops of our national media outlets, people are starting to look at their income and monthly budgets.
Even if we’re doing ok and our income is supporting us, we’re still holding back. We’re still considering cuts. We’re still considering what we can do to make our financial position in this economy better.
There are rare times in history where an opportunity, an idea, or even a thought can take hold and change a society.
For Pre-Paid Legal, the time is RIGHT NOW. People are looking. They are actively seeking. People want a way to strengthen their financial future. There are a lot of people and companies out there trying to take advantage of this without offering a real opportunity.
Search Google for “income opportunity.” As of this writing, that search yields over FIVE MILLION results. Worse, the top two results are franchise opportunities. Do most of the people you know have thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in a franchise?
Most people need a modest entry to an opportunity. That’s why sites offering “50 home based businesses” and “work at home jobs” and “online income” are also among the top rated results when searching for income opportunities on the internet.
People want a good opportunity with a low cost to get started. The problem is that while many of those so-called “opportunities” do provide a way to make some money (and many are just bad ideas), they are also incredibly limited in how much money they can offer.
I’ve compiled a top-10 list from the suggestions I just read.
10. Selling Collectibles – what happens when you run out of collectibles, or people stop buying collectibles as budget cut items?
9. Running Errands – in this economy people run their own errands - those who don't often have hired assistants already.
8. Supplying Firewood – My wife won’t let me cut down our trees.
7. Pet Breeding – Hmmm, I’ll leave that to the professionals.
6. Offering Notary Public Services – I’ve needed a Notary several times in the last few years, I’ve never paid for one – my bank provides the service for free.
5. Removing Snow – I live in Oklahoma, not a lot of snow. And, frankly, I like being warm too much.
4. Cutting Lawns – it’s DECEMBER!
3. Selling an e-Book – There are a lot of great FREE resources that teach people everything from sewing to woodworking to electronics repair. Let’s see…an eBook for $5 or a free website I found with a 10 second search at Google…I’ll take FREE!
2. Auctioning Items on Ebay – this one has a lot of steam behind it. Everyone has heard a story about their brother-in-laws barber’s sister who used to be a cardiologist, but now earns more money by selling stuff on eBay. I’ve heard the stories, but I’ve never actually met the person myself. I’ve even sold a lot of things on eBay myself. I’m convinced that to make any real money, it would take a LOT of work, and time that I don't have.
1. Writing Resumes – It’s true that there are a lot of people out of work. For most, I can’t imagine that they’re thinking, “hmmm, now that I don’t have a job or an income, I need to find someone I can PAY to write my Resume! I know there are free sites and resources on the internet for this, but I’d rather just pay someone to do it.”
The more I see about the economy and people trying to help by offering suggestions to make extra money or ways to cut expenses, the more I think our opportunity here at Pre-Paid Legal is really one of a kind.
Where else can you make a real difference in the life of someone right now! Everything is here. The system is ready to work. All you have to do is step in and make your mark. And there are people who will help you along the way. Your upline organization is in the business of helping YOU! It does take effort and work, but the potential payoff is much better than any of the other opportunities I’ve read about recently.
Even better, the service we’re selling is one that is NEEDED in these economic times. Technically I suppose you can sell something that people don’t “need” or that they can buy at the local discount store for less money, but filling a need that can’t be filled any other way is less like selling and more like “serving.”
Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associates serve the public interest by giving people access to legal counsel at an affordable price (ESPECIALLY in this economy).
The opportunity to serve is an opportunity that just makes sense.
All of the options listed above, and most on the list I read, require either a significant investment to keep the business running OR a great deal of physical labor – with the income potential limited by the amount of labor and time a single person can invest.
With Pre-Paid Legal, and the ability to leverage your efforts through offering the opportunity to others, your income can literally double, triple, or more over time as you work a consistent number of hours.
The secret (and it’s not really a secret) is “persistence.” Keep going, keep building your business. Don’t stop. Sometimes the advice we REALLY need stings a bit, and here it is: The solutions to many of life’s challenges – including financial – are rarely easy tasks. Real solutions require real commitment and work. But, if you’re willing, and have the right opportunity, the possibilities are limitless!
I have a great job and I love what I do and the company where I work (they also pay me well – which doesn’t hurt). But, still…I was interested to see what the 50 home businesses were.
I think anyone with an entrepreneurial mind perks up when he/she sees an opportunity to scratch that itch. And if you’re an entrepreneur, you know the itch well. It’s this drive inside you to do more, be more, become more, enjoy life, and perhaps most of all…control your time and enjoy your work.
In a time of economic uncertainty, with doom and gloom shouted from the rooftops of our national media outlets, people are starting to look at their income and monthly budgets.
Even if we’re doing ok and our income is supporting us, we’re still holding back. We’re still considering cuts. We’re still considering what we can do to make our financial position in this economy better.
There are rare times in history where an opportunity, an idea, or even a thought can take hold and change a society.
For Pre-Paid Legal, the time is RIGHT NOW. People are looking. They are actively seeking. People want a way to strengthen their financial future. There are a lot of people and companies out there trying to take advantage of this without offering a real opportunity.
Search Google for “income opportunity.” As of this writing, that search yields over FIVE MILLION results. Worse, the top two results are franchise opportunities. Do most of the people you know have thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in a franchise?
Most people need a modest entry to an opportunity. That’s why sites offering “50 home based businesses” and “work at home jobs” and “online income” are also among the top rated results when searching for income opportunities on the internet.
People want a good opportunity with a low cost to get started. The problem is that while many of those so-called “opportunities” do provide a way to make some money (and many are just bad ideas), they are also incredibly limited in how much money they can offer.
I’ve compiled a top-10 list from the suggestions I just read.
10. Selling Collectibles – what happens when you run out of collectibles, or people stop buying collectibles as budget cut items?
9. Running Errands – in this economy people run their own errands - those who don't often have hired assistants already.
8. Supplying Firewood – My wife won’t let me cut down our trees.
7. Pet Breeding – Hmmm, I’ll leave that to the professionals.
6. Offering Notary Public Services – I’ve needed a Notary several times in the last few years, I’ve never paid for one – my bank provides the service for free.
5. Removing Snow – I live in Oklahoma, not a lot of snow. And, frankly, I like being warm too much.
4. Cutting Lawns – it’s DECEMBER!
3. Selling an e-Book – There are a lot of great FREE resources that teach people everything from sewing to woodworking to electronics repair. Let’s see…an eBook for $5 or a free website I found with a 10 second search at Google…I’ll take FREE!
2. Auctioning Items on Ebay – this one has a lot of steam behind it. Everyone has heard a story about their brother-in-laws barber’s sister who used to be a cardiologist, but now earns more money by selling stuff on eBay. I’ve heard the stories, but I’ve never actually met the person myself. I’ve even sold a lot of things on eBay myself. I’m convinced that to make any real money, it would take a LOT of work, and time that I don't have.
1. Writing Resumes – It’s true that there are a lot of people out of work. For most, I can’t imagine that they’re thinking, “hmmm, now that I don’t have a job or an income, I need to find someone I can PAY to write my Resume! I know there are free sites and resources on the internet for this, but I’d rather just pay someone to do it.”
The more I see about the economy and people trying to help by offering suggestions to make extra money or ways to cut expenses, the more I think our opportunity here at Pre-Paid Legal is really one of a kind.
Where else can you make a real difference in the life of someone right now! Everything is here. The system is ready to work. All you have to do is step in and make your mark. And there are people who will help you along the way. Your upline organization is in the business of helping YOU! It does take effort and work, but the potential payoff is much better than any of the other opportunities I’ve read about recently.
Even better, the service we’re selling is one that is NEEDED in these economic times. Technically I suppose you can sell something that people don’t “need” or that they can buy at the local discount store for less money, but filling a need that can’t be filled any other way is less like selling and more like “serving.”
Pre-Paid Legal Independent Associates serve the public interest by giving people access to legal counsel at an affordable price (ESPECIALLY in this economy).
The opportunity to serve is an opportunity that just makes sense.
All of the options listed above, and most on the list I read, require either a significant investment to keep the business running OR a great deal of physical labor – with the income potential limited by the amount of labor and time a single person can invest.
With Pre-Paid Legal, and the ability to leverage your efforts through offering the opportunity to others, your income can literally double, triple, or more over time as you work a consistent number of hours.
The secret (and it’s not really a secret) is “persistence.” Keep going, keep building your business. Don’t stop. Sometimes the advice we REALLY need stings a bit, and here it is: The solutions to many of life’s challenges – including financial – are rarely easy tasks. Real solutions require real commitment and work. But, if you’re willing, and have the right opportunity, the possibilities are limitless!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Information about PPL
“ Pre Paid Legal Services, Inc. designs, underwrites and markets legal expense plans. The Company's life events legal plans (referred to as Memberships) provide for a variety of legal services. In most states and provinces, standard plan benefits include preventive legal services, motor vehicle legal defense services, trial defense services, internal revenue service (IRS) audit services and a 25% discount off legal services not specifically covered by the Membership. It also offers Identity Theft Shield (IDT) to new and existing members......the Company has 1,559,154 Memberships in force with members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia.”
Pre Paid legal services also refer to individual or group employee benefit legal plan in which a member pays a monthly fee in exchange for access to a range of legal services on-call. Pre Paid legal plans typically offer certain services for a fixed monthly charge such as legal advice and consultation, review of contracts, having a lawyer write a letter on a client's behalf or the drafting of wills and other legal documents. Legal service plans may also cover legal representation in court and the filing of motions but most plans require a client to pay extra for such services or cover a limited number of hours in court time.
Access to the law: prepaid legal services can offer significant assistance to employees with few HR headaches - Focus on Benefits
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) has been named one of the 100 Best U.S. companies in the Sixth Annual Best Company Award by DeMarche Associates, Inc., a leading U.S. Investment Research firm. The award is based on independent DeMarche research which studies the "fundamentals" of more than 3,000 U.S. corporations in terms of growth and risk management factors in maintaining shareholder value. According to the DeMarche report, being one of the top 100 Best Companies, places PPD within the top 3 percent of all U.S. corporations.
For the INDVIVIDUAL and FAMILY plans which are similar to employee plans.
Through our Life Events Legal Plan gives members access to professional legal counsel not only for traditional legal problems, but for everyday events where legal review should be routine, but rarely is. For Pre-Paid Legal members, access to legal counsel is only a toll-free phone call away.
Better Business Bureau Accreditation
This company is a BBB Accredited business . This means it supports BBB's services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.
BBB Rating Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of A+on a scale from A+ to F.
Home | About Us
We give members access to professional legal counsel not only for traditional legal problems, but for everyday events such as buying a house or a car, creating a will, handling a problem with an insurance company, dealing with identity theft, and much more where legal review should be routine, but rarely is. These events can be among the most important events in a person's life, yet there is a tendency for them to take place without proper legal review. For Pre-Paid Legal members, access to legal counsel is only a toll-free phone call away.
Pre-Paid Legal Services®, Inc. was one of the first companies in the United States organized solely to design, underwrite and market legal expense plans. For a low monthly fee of $26 or less, the Company's legal expense plans (referred to as memberships) offer a variety of legal services in a manner similar to medical reimbursement plans or HMOs.
The Company currently provides legal services to over 1.5 million families across the U.S. and Canada. Plan benefits are delivered through a network of independent provider law firms. Members have direct, toll-free access to their provider law firm rather than having to comb through a yellow-page style directory for a referral. Provider firms are carefully selected and the quality of service is closely monitored to maintain the high standards of Pre-Paid Legal.
Our members are served by a provider law firm which has been carefully screened and selected by Pre-Paid Legal. Using the plan, members simply call their provider firm directly at the toll-free number on their membership card when they have a legal question or problem. It’s really that simple. Pre-Paid Legal does all the work; no searching for a qualified lawyer, no claim forms, no worries about being able to afford a lawyer – just peace of mind.
1969 – July 11, 1969, Harland Stonecipher is involved in a head-on collision which results in serious legal fees. He has auto insurance to cover the damage to his car, medical insurance to cover the cost of his hospital stay, and even life insurance had the accident been fatal. But he has no coverage or protection for the legal bills that accumulate. He begins researching the industry of European legal expense plans. See the Pre-Paid Legal story for more information.
Pre Paid legal services also refer to individual or group employee benefit legal plan in which a member pays a monthly fee in exchange for access to a range of legal services on-call. Pre Paid legal plans typically offer certain services for a fixed monthly charge such as legal advice and consultation, review of contracts, having a lawyer write a letter on a client's behalf or the drafting of wills and other legal documents. Legal service plans may also cover legal representation in court and the filing of motions but most plans require a client to pay extra for such services or cover a limited number of hours in court time.
Access to the law: prepaid legal services can offer significant assistance to employees with few HR headaches - Focus on Benefits
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) has been named one of the 100 Best U.S. companies in the Sixth Annual Best Company Award by DeMarche Associates, Inc., a leading U.S. Investment Research firm. The award is based on independent DeMarche research which studies the "fundamentals" of more than 3,000 U.S. corporations in terms of growth and risk management factors in maintaining shareholder value. According to the DeMarche report, being one of the top 100 Best Companies, places PPD within the top 3 percent of all U.S. corporations.
For the INDVIVIDUAL and FAMILY plans which are similar to employee plans.
Through our Life Events Legal Plan gives members access to professional legal counsel not only for traditional legal problems, but for everyday events where legal review should be routine, but rarely is. For Pre-Paid Legal members, access to legal counsel is only a toll-free phone call away.
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This company is a BBB Accredited business . This means it supports BBB's services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.
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We give members access to professional legal counsel not only for traditional legal problems, but for everyday events such as buying a house or a car, creating a will, handling a problem with an insurance company, dealing with identity theft, and much more where legal review should be routine, but rarely is. These events can be among the most important events in a person's life, yet there is a tendency for them to take place without proper legal review. For Pre-Paid Legal members, access to legal counsel is only a toll-free phone call away.
Pre-Paid Legal Services®, Inc. was one of the first companies in the United States organized solely to design, underwrite and market legal expense plans. For a low monthly fee of $26 or less, the Company's legal expense plans (referred to as memberships) offer a variety of legal services in a manner similar to medical reimbursement plans or HMOs.
The Company currently provides legal services to over 1.5 million families across the U.S. and Canada. Plan benefits are delivered through a network of independent provider law firms. Members have direct, toll-free access to their provider law firm rather than having to comb through a yellow-page style directory for a referral. Provider firms are carefully selected and the quality of service is closely monitored to maintain the high standards of Pre-Paid Legal.
Our members are served by a provider law firm which has been carefully screened and selected by Pre-Paid Legal. Using the plan, members simply call their provider firm directly at the toll-free number on their membership card when they have a legal question or problem. It’s really that simple. Pre-Paid Legal does all the work; no searching for a qualified lawyer, no claim forms, no worries about being able to afford a lawyer – just peace of mind.
1969 – July 11, 1969, Harland Stonecipher is involved in a head-on collision which results in serious legal fees. He has auto insurance to cover the damage to his car, medical insurance to cover the cost of his hospital stay, and even life insurance had the accident been fatal. But he has no coverage or protection for the legal bills that accumulate. He begins researching the industry of European legal expense plans. See the Pre-Paid Legal story for more information.
Do you know how many Identity Thefts exist ?
Do you know how many Identity Thefts exist ?
When people hear the word “Identity Theft”, most immediately think of someone compromising their credit profile and opening a credit account in their name. This is a very common form of ID Theft, but did you know there are several other types of ID Theft that can do serious damage to your good name?
Driving Records Identity Theft. What would you do if someone assumed your identity and committed a motor vehicle crime in your name such as DWI, DUI, or (worse yet) vehicular manslaughter? It’s real and it is happening. Here is some helpful information from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse on how to address this. Your local motor vehicle department should also have information to help you.
Medical Records Identity Theft. What would you if someone assumed your identity when checking into a hospital and was diagnosed with a disease that then affected your ability to get insurance coverage? Even worse, what if you were prescribed the wrong medicine because of this? Here is some information on medical ID Theft from the Wolrld Privacy Forum.
Employment ID Theft. What would you do if someone got a job or earned money using your Social Security Number making you liable for taxes on money you never received? It is true that people can create “fake” Social Security cards, but also those who perform contract work can fill out a W-9 form with your Social Security Number and never have to present a copy of it for verification!
Character / Criminal ID Theft. What would you do if someone committed a crime in your name and all of a sudden you found yourself with a criminal record which affected your ability to work or caused you to lose your job? What if the police showed up at your home or office to arrest you for a crime you did not commit?
I don’t share these situations to scare you, but to help you become aware that we live in a very different world than we used to. Identity Theft os one of the fastest growing crimes in North America and with the state of the economy, it’s just getting worse.
Experts say that it can cost you hundreds of hours of your time to restore your good name or whatever form of your identity has been breached. The economic impact on an individual due to ID Theft is in the tens of thousands of dollars.
So what is one to do? We say get protected!
I have been a customer of Pre Paid Legal’s Life Events Legal plan and Identity Theft Shield for several years as has my family. On two separate occasions, family members have needed the Identity Theft Shield; once due to a theft and once due to a phishing scheme (an email scheme devised to obtain your personal information). I personally received a call from my bank a few years back saying that my business credit card information was found on a computer sized in Eastern Europe that was used by a group of computer hackers.
Identity Theft Shield is an amazing service in that is doesn’t just monitor your credit like many of the alleged ID Theft services do, but they have a full service ID Theft monitoring, recovery, and restoration program in the event that you are a victim of ID Theft. Imagine just making a phone call to have an advocate handle the A to Z’s of helping you restore your good name, as opposed to contacting multiple entities (calling, emailed, faxing, mailing, etc). Best of all, the services is very affordable at just $12.95 per month (or just $9.95 per month with a legal services plan). If you are married, it covers your spouse as well at no additional cost.
While the ID Theft Shield will assist with certain restoring your credit and your good name, you may have additional legal ramifications from having your identity compromised. For this reason, I also recommend Pre Paid Legal’s Life Events Legal plan which puts the power of the legal system at your fingertips for just pennies per day. For as low as $17 per month, you and your family can have a legal services plan and have an attorney available to you just by making a phone call.
I hope you have found this helpful, but most of all, I hope you take action today to protect yourself and your family.
Although estimates vary as to the frequency of the crime of ID Theft, it is safe to assume that in the time it took you to read this article at least 3 people became victims of ID Theft. Hopefully you were not one of them, but why take a chance?
If you have any questions about either plan, you can call W Creigh Cornett (504)784-3657 or email him usinf the contact form on the main site.
When people hear the word “Identity Theft”, most immediately think of someone compromising their credit profile and opening a credit account in their name. This is a very common form of ID Theft, but did you know there are several other types of ID Theft that can do serious damage to your good name?
Driving Records Identity Theft. What would you do if someone assumed your identity and committed a motor vehicle crime in your name such as DWI, DUI, or (worse yet) vehicular manslaughter? It’s real and it is happening. Here is some helpful information from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse on how to address this. Your local motor vehicle department should also have information to help you.
Medical Records Identity Theft. What would you if someone assumed your identity when checking into a hospital and was diagnosed with a disease that then affected your ability to get insurance coverage? Even worse, what if you were prescribed the wrong medicine because of this? Here is some information on medical ID Theft from the Wolrld Privacy Forum.
Employment ID Theft. What would you do if someone got a job or earned money using your Social Security Number making you liable for taxes on money you never received? It is true that people can create “fake” Social Security cards, but also those who perform contract work can fill out a W-9 form with your Social Security Number and never have to present a copy of it for verification!
Character / Criminal ID Theft. What would you do if someone committed a crime in your name and all of a sudden you found yourself with a criminal record which affected your ability to work or caused you to lose your job? What if the police showed up at your home or office to arrest you for a crime you did not commit?
I don’t share these situations to scare you, but to help you become aware that we live in a very different world than we used to. Identity Theft os one of the fastest growing crimes in North America and with the state of the economy, it’s just getting worse.
Experts say that it can cost you hundreds of hours of your time to restore your good name or whatever form of your identity has been breached. The economic impact on an individual due to ID Theft is in the tens of thousands of dollars.
So what is one to do? We say get protected!
I have been a customer of Pre Paid Legal’s Life Events Legal plan and Identity Theft Shield for several years as has my family. On two separate occasions, family members have needed the Identity Theft Shield; once due to a theft and once due to a phishing scheme (an email scheme devised to obtain your personal information). I personally received a call from my bank a few years back saying that my business credit card information was found on a computer sized in Eastern Europe that was used by a group of computer hackers.
Identity Theft Shield is an amazing service in that is doesn’t just monitor your credit like many of the alleged ID Theft services do, but they have a full service ID Theft monitoring, recovery, and restoration program in the event that you are a victim of ID Theft. Imagine just making a phone call to have an advocate handle the A to Z’s of helping you restore your good name, as opposed to contacting multiple entities (calling, emailed, faxing, mailing, etc). Best of all, the services is very affordable at just $12.95 per month (or just $9.95 per month with a legal services plan). If you are married, it covers your spouse as well at no additional cost.
While the ID Theft Shield will assist with certain restoring your credit and your good name, you may have additional legal ramifications from having your identity compromised. For this reason, I also recommend Pre Paid Legal’s Life Events Legal plan which puts the power of the legal system at your fingertips for just pennies per day. For as low as $17 per month, you and your family can have a legal services plan and have an attorney available to you just by making a phone call.
I hope you have found this helpful, but most of all, I hope you take action today to protect yourself and your family.
Although estimates vary as to the frequency of the crime of ID Theft, it is safe to assume that in the time it took you to read this article at least 3 people became victims of ID Theft. Hopefully you were not one of them, but why take a chance?
If you have any questions about either plan, you can call W Creigh Cornett (504)784-3657 or email him usinf the contact form on the main site.
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