Sometimes you will receive an offer through the mail that is “pre-approved.” This means that credit card companies, furniture companies, electronic companies, etc. have checked your level of credit to see if you meet certain qualifications for an offer they would like you to sign up for.

This does NOT mean that if you actually apply for the offer, they will extend you a line of credit. What it does mean is that they are gathering information, such as income, debts, social security number, etc. so they can pull your credit score to see if you are a good credit risk. Even though they say you are pre-approved, the final approval comes after they have pulled your credit and have actually seen your credit scores and credit file.

It is important to protect these pre-approval credit card offers offers from unscrupulous people who would steal your identity and try to apply for the card in your name. An identity thief will apply but change the address or, even more daring, they will keep the address, but check your mail every day, until the offer arrives. They will then steal it and use it in your name.

One way of protecting yourself from these offers coming in the mail is to “Opt-Out” of the “junk mail” programs of the credit bureaus. It is an easy thing to call the phone number and electronically “Opt-Out” for 5 years. Or you can write them and “Opt-Out” permanently.

Here is the information:

It is important to review your credit file on a regular basis to see what is actually going on in your credit file.

If you have the money to do so and you feel it is important enough, it would be a good practice to engage in a credit monitoring service that will mail or, better yet, email you when there is activity on your credit file. You especially want a good credit monitoring service if your job requires a healthy credit file and credit score or you feel that you may be at risk for identity theft.

With a good credit monitoring service, you will be immediately notified when things are happening and you can tell quickly what is authorized and what is not.

I would suggest going with http://www.MyFICO.com as a good monitoring service because the scores they give are the most realistic. (And no, I do not get a kickback or a fee for sending you there. I am just aware that they have the best credit scores for monitoring.)

Of course, there are other services out there that vary in price and service.

If you have one that you feel is especially good in service and benefits, please inform me at Esteembuilder@gmail.com I would love to hear from you and know how you feel these services have benefited you.

Also, if anyone has a good story or testimonial, please send it along.

We live in a crazy, fast-paced and hectic world.  So getting the payments on-time to all your bills, loans and mortgages is quite a strain on the brain and can cause a big worry.  Especially since credit scores are so important and getting even 1 late on your credit report can cost you up to 100 to 120 point drop.  That could be disastrous as it takes 7 years for it to fall off your credit report, if the credit bureaus actually do what they are required by law to do.  That’s saying a lot.

Ok, so what to do so that you never have to worry again?  Well, if the payment was made without you having to think about it, then you would be a happy person, right?  So, let’s set it up.  Auto Pay is a service by credit card companies, banks and other institutions to help you get their payment to them on time, as agreed.  So, it helps them, but it can also help you out big time.  Some people ask me about making additional payments on credit cards or mortgage loans so they can get it paid off early.  Sure, not a bad idea, but my idea to never having a late is a foundation to spring-board off of that will truly help you to never be late again.

Your credit card company can set up a auto-deduction or auto-payment from your bank account on the date you want it to be pulled just by going into your account online and setting the date and the amount.  I suggest paying the minimum about 7 days after the monthly statement comes out.  This will eliminate having the payment be posted to the last statement and will posted long before the payments are reported to the credit bureaus and you will never be late again.

OK, so  you want to make a bigger payment.  That you can do at anytime by just going into your credit card account and setting up a one time payment and for any amount at any time.

It’s that simple and it works wonderfully.  Give it a try.  But remember, if you do have a late on a credit report and it is causing you frustration because your credit scores have slipped, your interest rates have gone up, your credit limits have dropped and you are paying more for insurance… there is a way to get it all fixed.  With Vantage Credit Alliance – Credit Repair by Attorneys you can get the negatives removed, learn how to never make the mistakes again, know what to do in credit emergencies and get credit scores into the 700 and 800’s, then give them a call, read this blog or visit their website.  It will amaze you how fast the scores can be recovered and improved.  It’s up to you… ignore it and it will get worse, cost you more and you’ll still be frustrated…  or listen, learn and take action by getting a Free Credit Analysis by credit consultants that have your best interests at heart.  Just give them a call at 877-720-FICO (3426) or 801-769-9443     http://www.VantageCA.com   Let them amaze you…

Keeping your social security number safe is like being a secret agent by thinking and acting like one.

Our social security number was never meant to be a public identification number but alas, it has become so. In fact, so much so that unscrupulous people will hunt for social security numbers and use them to steal money from bank accounts, start new credit cards (using them but not paying for them), or even to hold a social security number hostage so that the owner will pay money for it not to be used, trying to protect their credit, which they use for employment, etc.

You must always think ahead and see if you have paperwork, mail, taxes forms, loan applications that may be available to anyone and make sure they are destroyed or so secure that no one can take them or copy them. Even on the Internet there are companies that mistakenly give it out or make it available online without knowing they are doing so.

This is a constant battle and it needs to be actively and continually pursued to be sure that your social security number is kept safe.

(One rather ironic fact is that credit bureaus will use only 7 of  9 digits in a social security number to add information to your credit file. This is how, and why, 79% of all credit files have negative information in them that is not theirs. Of course, when we try to get these negatives removed we are guilty until proven innocent and half the time or more, they refuse to remove these negatives even though they are false.)

One of the biggest challenges we face today is the difficulty of keeping our identity safe and out of the hands of those that would take it to steal our money, our security, and our freedoms.

It is worth the effort to being cautious in protecting our social security number from would be thieves and charlatans.

Yes, I said charlatans, it’s a real word and even in the dictionary.

Charlatan definition: A person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money or advantage by false pretenses.