Posts Tagged ‘finances’

Smoking Can Harm Your Insurance Too

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

Smoking is not just a burden on your health but your finances as well. There is the direct cost of purchasing them and the accrued cost over time can be ridiculously high. The collateral financial cost of smoking is the negative impact it can have on life insurance. Smokers more than other clients will be more likely to suffer serious illness or die as a result of the habit, and so companies know there is a higher standard of risk involved when offering them life insurance.

Smokers will no doubt be quoted higher costs because policies are taken out over the long term. The variation in quotes is stark in its honesty. For example, a policy which has the lowest price quoted for £200000 of life cover for a smoker over 25 years with critical illness cover included on a single basis, will be £4503 dearer for him/her as opposed to most policies for non smokers.

If a smoker is thinking of bending the truth when applying for a policy, the best advice is not lie at all. By saying a person is a non smoker on their policy-despite cutting a 20 cigarette habit a day to, say, 2-they run the risk of their policy being declared void or even fraudulent. If a person hides the fact about their smoking and this lie is discovered when the insurer is assessing a claim, they can easily refuse to pay out. The discovery can be even more embarrassing as the client may even be asked, as part of the application process, to undertake a saliva test to confirm that their non-smoker status. If the lie is then discovered for example, the application may be declined and other insurers could then refuse to cover the individual.

The key number is 12 months. That is all a smoker has to survive to gain a better life insurance quote. After a year of not smoking, life insurance companies start to class you as a non-smoker, and being a non-smoker can result in premiums of life cover and critical illness cover being 50 per cent lower. Of course a cheaper premium is not a certainty, as it depends on age and health but by ceasing the habit, the client stands a much better chance.

The best advice then to a smoker is obviously to quit the habit, and after doing so if the individual has honestly survived the 12 months without a cigarette then they should tell their insurance company straight away. Furthermore, the individual would be well placed to research the insurance market and find the best deal when renewing the policy-the likelihood being that the best premium will be from a new and different life insurance provider.

Saurav is an author of several articles pertaining to Life Insurance. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles.

Bad Debt Loans – Financial Relief With Feasible Terms

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

The financial market is growing rapidly and providing a whole new range of opportunities like never before. This is indeed a good opportunity for those who want to avail loans to meet their various demands. The nature of the market is such that even a person with a bad credit can obtain finances without facing too many hassles. To make it more convenient for the borrowers, lenders have come up with bad debt loan. These loans are cited to be the best loans available to a borrower with credit problems as it enables them to reinstate their financial freedom.

In a typical situation, a person with bad debt implies that he/she may have arrears; defaults etc on various unpaid debts. But with these loans, no such things matter. As a matter of fact, these loans offer a chance to the borrowers to enjoy the financial freedom just like any other person with a good credit record. With the aid of these loans, a borrower can fulfill needs like enhancing the decor of home, higher studies, vacation, wedding and even consolidating debts.

These loans are further categorized in to secured and unsecured form, so that all types of borrower from various sections can derive the finance without any difficulty. Secured form of the loans provides a bigger amount, but to do so, borrower has to pledge an asset as collateral. On the contrary, unsecured loans do not require any such collateral pledging.

The interest rates for the loans are slightly higher, as the lenders are taking a lot risk by offering monetary aid. But then, to get hold of a low rate deal, borrower should undertake a proper research of the market this way, borrower has a chance to derive the loans at nominal rates. These loans are also available online where in a person can derive the finances without facing too many hassles. Besides on comparing the various rate quotes, one can easily come across lenders approving the loans at competitive rates.

Bad debt loans are easy loans meant for those with credit problems. With these loans, these borrowers have a chance to realize their needs and wishes in a convenient and systematic manner.

Peter Darwin has done his masters in Business Administration from Oxford university and is currently assisting Bad Debt Unsecured Loan as a finance specialist. For more information related to Bad Debt Loans, Unsecured Personal Loan, Bad Debt Tenant Loan, Bad Debt Unsecured Loan please visit http://www.baddebtunsecuredloan.co.uk/

The Truth About Debt Reduction Systems

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

If you’re drowning in debt, you’re probably wondering if there is anything out there that can actually help you. Whether it’s credit card debt, debt from loans or something else – you should know that you’re not alone. Debt reduction systems can work to help you pay off your debt quickly, but the trick is to choose the correct one. This article discusses the truth about debt reduction systems and whether or not they can work for you.

Do Your Research -

The first thing you should do when you hear about a debt reduction system that you think will work is do your research. Check into what the system is and what you will need to do in order to follow it. Are there any reviews from others who have used the system successfully? There are many people who have paid down their debt using systems that are legitimate and valid. Make sure you check up on the system and find out if it has worked for anyone else. Also, apply your common sense to the ideas of the debt reduction system. If you feel funny about it or think it’s a scam, it may be! Use your intuition and do your research before starting any debt reduction system.

Does It Cost Money?

There are many people who are willing to charge those who have a lot of debt in order to help them pay off their debt. While it is sad and unfortunate, it’s true that many people will try to cash in on anything or anyone. Be careful if the debt reduction system you’re looking into costs money – there are some legitimate services out there that can really, really help you. However, there are also those that you could figure out by yourself but they are still willing to charge you a pricey fee in order to give you their ‘secrets.’ If you are looking into a debt reduction system that costs money, make sure you really check up on it and see if it’s legitimate or if you will only be getting scammed if you try it.

Is It Sensible?

While you will probably have to sacrifice some of your indulgences in order to get your debt paid down, you also need to continue having extra money in your pocket. Take a look at the debt reduction system and determine how sensible it is. For instance, are you required to sell off everything you own that’s not nailed down? Obviously, something like this is not very sensible. You also need money to reward yourself so you don’t become discouraged while working only to pay off a debt and your monthly bills. If the debt reduction system still allows for small extras, it’s probably a pretty sensible one. Determine this before starting a debt reduction system!

While debt can be a major pain, so are some of the debt reduction systems that people come up with. When you’re looking into one, use the tips and suggestions above as well as your common sense to determine if it’s the right one for you!

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Bad Credit Home Improvement Loan – Finance to Refurbish Your Home

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Having problems related to bad credit usually implies that you are not in a position to obtain any external financial support. It is the reluctance on the part of the lender which makes it tough for you to derive loans. But now, things have changed and you will be quite astonished to find loans of every sizes and requirement. If you are looking for finances to make some changes to your home, then you can easily source a bad credit home improvement loan.

You can use this loan to meet expenses that may occur while making some changes to your house. It can be constructing a wall, painting, extending a room, erecting a swimming pool, flooring and tiles and so on. This loan is specially devised for those having a series of adverse credit problems such as CCJs, IVA, defaults and arrears etc. Each and every aspect like terms and conditions, accessibility of this loan has been designed to suit your prevailing circumstances.

This loan has been further categorized in to secured and unsecured form. You are free to choose in between the two options, although the terms and conditions are quite different. Secured form of the loan is collateral based and can be availed only by pledging an asset as collateral. By doing so, you can access a bigger amount at a comparatively low interest rate. The repayment term is large usually stretches for a period of 5-25 years.

Unsecured option of this loan can be availed without the requirement of pledging any asset. This implies that a borrower who is not interested to place any asset or do not have any can easily derive the loan. This loan is ideal to meet smaller requirements. Interest rates concerning this loan are slightly higher which can be paid back within a period of 6months-10 years.

Bad credit home improvement loan can be obtained from various lenders based in the financial market. But it is the online lender who offers the best deal on this loan. Before selecting any particular deal, collect and compare the quotes of various lenders and then select a lender offering comparatively better terms on this loan. Subsequently on making timely repayment of the loan amount, you can elevate the credit score which in turn strengthens your financial condition.

Dina Wilson is an expert loan advisor at online home improvement loan. She has done MSc Management and Finance from University of Whales.To find bad credit home improvement loan, home loans, home equity loans, online home loans visit http://www.online-home-improvement-loan.co.uk

The Dumb Mistakes Most Bookkeepers Make When Taking on New Clients

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

If you’re a freelance bookkeeper who is building your bookkeeping business, there are certain clients that you need to avoid to save yourself from constant stress. They are the clients who either

1) don’t pay tax bills,
2) have years worth of paperwork in boxes tax
3) who are too difficult to work with.

I’ll go into further detail on each of these types of clients and give you strategies to help deal with them.

1. The client who doesn’t pay:

You typically won’t know if a client is bad about paying their bills on time until you actually start sorting through their paperwork. If you start discovering a consistent amount of late bills, final notices and collection letters, you know you’ve got a client who doesn’t pay his bills in a timely manner. This should be a huge red flag for you. After all, you want to be sure that they’re going to pay your bill.

So what can you do to protect yourself? For all new clients you should insist upon a retainer up front before the work commences. The amount of the retainer will depend upon the amount of work that is required. Keep track of your hours.

Once you’ve used up the entire retainer, request another one and inform your client that work will not commence again until you receive another retainer. You’ll learn really quickly how good your client is at paying you and you won’t be out anything as you’ve already been paid for the work you’ve done.

2. The client with piles of paperwork in boxes:

This type of client tends to be extremely disorganized. After all, if they can’t take the time to sort out their paperwork into at least monthly files, then you know you’ve got your work cut out for you.

The question is: are you willing to tax the time to sort it all out? If you’re new and hungry for business, you may decide to take it on. However, bear in mind that huge gaps of essential information might be missing and it will literally be like putting together a jigsaw puzzle trying to get your client’s finances in order.

You will probably find yourself calling the client repeatedly to request documents. This type of bookkeeping job requires the patience of a saint. Make sure that you’ve requested a retainer before even taking this type of job on.

If you don’t think that you want to deal with this type of client, don’t be afraid to pass on the job. You might even suggest to the client that they could save money by sorting their paperwork into monthly files first.

3. The difficult client:

As surprising as it seems, there will always be clients who need a bookkeeper but are their own worst enemy. These are the clients who you have to hound for checks so their government remittances are paid on time or who don’t return your calls for additional information so that you can complete your job.

If you find yourself dealing with a difficult client who is just wasting your time, there are a couple of things you can do. You can raise your rates with this client, which will force him to either pay premium fees for being difficult or find another bookkeeper. Or you can tell him you can’t do his books anymore and explain why.

Being a bookkeeper you will encounter these types of clients during the course of your work. Being prepared so that you know how to handle them will greatly enhance your success as a freelance bookkeeper.

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Why Buy Gold?

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Being not only an admirer of gold but also a gold investor, acquaintances often ask me for me advice. They often tell themselves “I want to invest in gold and silver” but have fear because they don’t know much about gold as an investment. It’s wise to be cautious, and to carefully research the pros and cons of buying gold before rushing out to find some gold coins to invest in. So why buy gold?

First of all, if we look at gold prices history, we can clearly see that gold acts as a wealth preserver. Gold is money. Paper money used to be simply a representation of an amount of gold stored somewhere on your behalf, but in this day and age paper money (or fiat currency) functions separately from gold and it is susceptible to inflation and currency devaluation. Especially if you live here in the United States, the government is constantly spending money it doesn’t have, and the banks are lending out money they don’t have, devaluating our currency so that our buying power is steadily eroding. If you buy gold, however, you will maintain your buying power longterm because gold’s value doesn’t deflate. It’s price fluctuates with supply and demand, but it’s core value remains constant.

Official gold prices tend to increase along with high inflation, and when the stock market drops. They also tend to increase in times of great instability such as wars, when hyper-inflation is a threat. (This is true of commodities in general, but precious metals can obviously hold their value better than a bundle of wheat or a cow that might up and die on you.)

Precious metals are real assets, unlike stocks and bonds, and they react differently to changing economic conditions. Commodities prices tend to increase with inflation. Stocks and bonds on the other hand, tend to perform better when the rate of inflation is stable or slowing. Since 1990, commodity prices have been negatively correlated with the S&P 500. Since commodities are not positively correlated with stocks and bonds, they diversify your portfolio and help reduce risk and increase returns over time.

Precious metals and other commodities are not only a hedge against inflation, but also a hedge against destabilizing events or catastrophes. Commodity prices rise during times of crisis such as wars and stock market crashes. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, stocks dropped while commodities performed well. And during the stock market crash of 1987, stocks dropped by 30% while commodities held steady. There are people out there who horde gold as a way to preserve wealth in some coming cataclysmic event. I would never want to invest in only gold, but these people are right that in the event of catastrophe commodities like gold will be far more useful than stocks or cash (which will likely become unbelievably devalued if there’s a catastrophe of huge proportions). That’s not to say that precious metals are free of volatility. They are equally or slightly more volatile than the stock market, but they rarely drop at the same time as the stock market. In these volatile times with stocks continuing to drop or stagnate, gold is an essential investment. And longterm, with all the government stupidity promoting the devaluation of the dollar, gold will continue to function as a wealth-preserver for the wise.

And despite gold prices skyrocketing, if we adjust for inflation, the prices now are still nowhere near as high as during their peak in 1980. There’s still a lot of room for the price to climb higher. Don`t miss out on this great opportunity.

Paul Jorgensen gained financial independence after years of uncertainty by taking control of his finances and learning to invest strategically

For more tips visit http://the-gold-market.blogspot.com

Unpaid IRS Tax Debt – How to Dodge Penalties and Interest

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

Death and Taxes: Benjamin Franklin said that the only two things we can be sure of are death and taxes. Each day, Taxpayers all across America are discovering just how true that statement is. If you’re behind on your taxes, it’s only a matter of time before the IRS catches up to you. And if you think the debt is the most of your worries, you probably haven’t even thought about the penalties and interest.

Penalties and Interest? If you are late filing, each month that passes tacks on an interest rate of 5%. That can rise up to 25%. Interest for unpaid taxes is 6% per year. That can add up very quickly, especially when you don’t file. In the IRS Hitman business, I’ve seen people with $50,000 dollars of tax debt that started at about $3000 dollars. If you don’t keep up to date with filing, your situation can jump from bad to worse almost instantly. But what happens if you’re already there?

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: You may already be dealing with a situation like this. Maybe you missed a few years of filing. Maybe you knew you were going to owe and you didn’t have the money to pay so you just didn’t file. But whatever the reason, you’ve fallen into a world of trouble. The best thing for you to do in this situation is to get help.

The Best Help: If you feel like you penalties and interest are unjust, you may qualify for penalty abatement. This is a program that the IRS offers that can remove a portion of the penalties and interest, as long as you can prove that you had a “reasonable cause” to not pay them. These include natural disaster, serious illness to family member, death of a family member, and more.

Who Can I Trust? If you need assistance getting this issue resolved, you’ll probably hear from several tax resolution companies. Picking someone to handle something as delicate as your finances is never easy. Some companies out there are built on empty promises. You need a company built on experience, knowledge, and integrity. Before doing anything with a company, check them out with the Better Business Bureau and Dun and Bradstreet.

Crunch Time: With interest and penalties, time is everything. You need to get your tax issue resolved as soon as possible. It’s not going to go away. So don’t be afraid to get the help you need. It’s about time you got back to living a normal, debt-free life.

Now you have the smoking gun…Use it!

Richard Close was an IRS-Hitman. He worked as a revenue officer for the IRS and his father was the head of the collections branch for 30 years; so it runs in the family. He left that behind and now he’s partnered with Tax Defense Network to help thousands of Americans with their tax problems. He gives the tips and tricks for you to fight the IRS and win! Visit him at: http://irs-hitman.blogspot.com or http://www.taxdefensenetwork.com, or contact: email irs-hitman@taxdefensenetwork.com or 1-888-248-9058.

IRS Tax Debt – The IRS Knows How to Give Nurses Headaches Too

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Busy, Busy, Busy: Always tired. Nurses are known for working very long hours. With so little free time, it’s very hard for nurses to get all their bills paid on time. It’s no surprise then, that Nurses and others in the medical field are often in debt to the IRS. But what happens when the IRS decides to get their money back no matter what?

Bye Bye, Paycheck! Nurses often work overtime. They sometimes have big paychecks. And the IRS will not hesitate to seize them! The IRS cannot take your whole paycheck (although they wish they could.) But the IRS can seize up to 75% of your pay. In addition to that horror, Wage Garnishments are ongoing. The IRS will take a percentage of your paycheck until your debt is paid.

Frozen: Goodbye, hard-earned savings! If a busy nurse forgets to pay Uncle Sam, she’ll be up for a rude awakening. The IRS has the power to freeze your bank account. You’ll have a mere 21 days to call the IRS and set something up. When time’s up, the IRS will seize all the money in your bank account. It’s not going to be easy to convince the IRS not to seize your cash. You had ample warning, and now the IRS wants the money.

Friendly Warning: As a former IRS Hitman, I know how relentless the IRS can be. I didn’t if I was calling a Nurse, a Surgeon, or Dentist. They usually had the money to pay and even if it was by force- I made sure they paid that money back. So what can a Nurse do when she owes the IRS and has no time to set up payments?

Step up to the plate: Obviously, the first step is to pay your IRS Debt on time. But if it’s too late for that, an Installment Agreement is a good option for a Nurse or anyone in the medical field. An Installment Agreement allows you to pay your IRS debt off by paying monthly. But it’s very hard to qualify for this program. You will have to list everything about your finances in detail and prove that you’ll go without basic needs (foods, clothing, work supplies, housing, transportation.) if you pay your bill in a lump sum.

Debt Free: It’s hard. When you call the IRS, they will want to discuss only one thing. And that’s when and how you’re going to make a payment in full. You may need the help of a Tax Professional. A good Tax Professional can negotiate with the IRS and set up a fair payment plan. With that out of the way, you’re one step closet to being IRS Debt Free. You’ll be able to concentrate on the thing you like. Helping people get well.

Now You Have The Smoking Gun…Use it!

Richard Close was an IRS-Hitman. He was a revenue officer who took out anyone that owed the IRS money. He left that behind and now helps thousands of Americans beat Uncle Sam and save thousands of dollars. The IRS-Hitman can help you with your tax debt problems. He has partnered with Tax Defense Network to offer free advice and tips on removing wage, bank, and tax levies; and arms you with the skills to slash your tax debt. Visit at: http://www.irs-tax-levy-hq.com Contact: http://www.taxdefensenetwork.com or call 1-888-248-9058

Silver Surfers Prove to Be Keen Online Bankers

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

When it comes to embracing net technology silver surfers are leading the way, according to recent research from two leading online advertising and measurement companies.

Those aged 55 and over are classified as silver surfers, referring to the prevalence of grey hair amongst the age group and research has identified that it is they who are logging on in ever greater numbers following the widespread roll-out of broadband across Europe. At the end of 2007 almost twice as many silver surfers were using the internet as at the start of the year, with a survey from net Value recording a staggering 90% increase.

So, proof that the older generation has eagerly embraced the internet and for them one particular feature is a godsend: online banking. Indeed, a survey by the European Interactive Advertising Agency (EIAA) found that 53% of silver surfer respondents did their banking online, taking advantage of the convenience of arranging their finances from the comfort of their own home.

The EIAA survey also found that older people spend almost 78% of their weekly average 8.8 hours online for personal reasons. As well as banking, the older generation also spend a lot of time investigating their family tree and shopping. They also spend more cash per head on the internet than any other age group, including surprisingly those in the 18 – 24 range, blowing apart the myth that the net is a youngsters’ phenomenon.

The major UK banks have not been slow to pick up on the rise of the silver surfer and typically offer products designed to appeal to more affluent people, particularly those looking for a monthly income from interest payments. So, in addition to providing day-to-day online banking via a current account most banks now offer online saving accounts, many of which offer a higher rate of interest than would be available through the branch network.

For example a monthly income online savings account can be set up to transfer the monthly interest automatically into the account-holder’s current account. Monthly income accounts are very popular amongst retired people as are other types of accounts that offer significantly higher interest rates in return for tying up the capital for a specified period.

It is these types of accounts that are attracting affluent and net-savvy silver surfers, although they are not exclusively for that age group. But, while the amount of older people on the net continues to grow you can be sure that banks will be rolling out accounts designed to appeal to them in ever greater numbers.

Disclaimer:
This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as advice or used to make financial decisions. Expert financial advice should always be sought and any links contained within this article are included for information purposes only.

Tax Season is Bringing Out Identity Thieves

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

A number of clients have recently reported to their tax preparation services that they have been receiving calls from someone posing as a representative from the Social Security Administration. The caller began the conversation by talking about the pending Congressional leader’s announcement where a deal with the White House on the economic stimulus package would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200, and more if they have children. The caller went on to solicit from consumers their Social Security number stating confirmation of their number would ensure they received their rebate checks within the next 6 – 7 months.

The Social Security Administration is not making a conscience effort to confirm consumer identification numbers. You need to be aware that identity thief’s are however and they use a number of tactics to steal your identity. Spoofing is generally used by thieves as a means to convince individuals to provide personal or financial information that enables the perpetrators to commit credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity theft. An attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive financial or personal information, such as credit card information or a Social Security number, by impersonating a business representative or trustworthy person is also known as a Phishing attempt and is usually initiated through e-mail, phone calls or Instant Messaging.

Thieves do not just collect Social Security Numbers. They are also after your telephone taxes date of birth and your bank and credit card account numbers. This information is a personal asset as well and people who illegally solicit this information are also known as pretexters.

It is yet another name for identity theft and Pretexting is (like the other practices mentioned) a means of getting your personal information under false pretenses.

Pretexters sell your information to people who may use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you. Pretexting is against the law. Whether it is by means of Spoofing, Phishing or Pretexting the tactics are all designed to get your personal information.

According the Federal Trade Commission For example, a pretexter may call, claim he’s from a survey firm, and ask you a few questions. When the pretexter (let’s just call it a thief) has the information they want, it is used to call your financial institution.

The thief pretends to be you or someone with authorized access to your account. They might claim that they have tax their checkbook and need information about their account. In this way, the criminal may be able to obtain personal information about you such as your SSN, bank and credit card account numbers, information in your credit report, and the existence and size of your savings and investment portfolios.

Keep in mind that some information about you may be a matter of public record, such as whether you own a home, pay your real estate taxes, or have ever filed for bankruptcy.

It is not pretexting for another person to collect this kind of information. Identity thieves don’t just use the schemes we’ve just talked about to get your personal information they also procure your identity by:

* Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks and tax information);

* Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site on the Internet, from business or personnel records at work and personal information in your home;

* Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses and public trash dumps for personal data;

* Buying personal information from “inside” sources. For example, an identity thief may pay an employee for information about you that appears on an application for goods, services or credit.

Even though the laws are on your side, it’s wise to take an active role in protecting your information. The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following actions;

1. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or know who you’re dealing with. Pretexters may pose as representatives of survey firms, banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother’s maiden name, financial account numbers and other identifying information. Legitimate organizations with which you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.

2. Be informed. Ask your financial institutions for their policies about sharing your information. Ask them specifically about their policies to prevent pretexting.

3. Pay attention to your statement cycles. Follow up with your financial institutions if your statements don’t arrive on time.

4. Review your statements carefully and promptly. Report any discrepancies to your institution immediately.

5. Alert family members to the dangers of pretexting. Explain that only you, or someone you authorize, should provide personal information to others.

6. Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank checks and other financial statements that you’re discarding, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.

7. Add passwords to your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

8. Be mindful about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates or are having work done in your home by others.

9. Find out who has access to your personal information at work and verify that the records are kept in a secure location. Checking your credit report annually can help you catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances.

Order a copy of your credit report from the three tax mistakes consumer reporting companies every year. To order your free annual report from one or all the nationwide consumer reporting companies, call toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form avail at their Website annualcreditreport.com and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

If you do not have the time or expertise to put measures in place to protect you and your family’s identity consider visiting a credit protection service that can put the appropriate measures in place to preserve your good name, credit and assets.

Ronald Hudkins is a published Internet author with a very high regard for consumer awareness. Despite over 2o years in law enforcement and working many jobs requiring a security clearance he once fell victim to credit theft as a result of a disgruntled employee selling information from personnel records. To find out how he supplements and protects his identity visit and review the program he uses at http://www.registryfixing.com./LifeLock.html