| HSBC Survey: Consumers Slow to Seek Free Credit Reports, Despite ...
(CSRwire) PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill. - A new survey by HSBC - North America finds that while 82 percent of consumers fear identity theft, only four in 10 have taken advantage of the recent law - the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) - that gives consumers free access annually to their credit reports to check for errors. Checking credit reports regularly can help consumers detect identity theft, which, according to the Federal Trade Commission, has struck 27.3 million Americans in the past five years. It's also an opportunity for consumers to understand their credit status, see how their financial decisions impact their credit standing and assess their progress toward achieving financial goals. "Knowing your credit history represents the first step toward understanding and managing your financial well-being," says Loretta Abrams, vice president of community development and consumer advocacy at HSBC - North America.
Free steps towards protecting your ID
Thanks to a new law in Maryland, you can now request the three major credit reporting agencies not give out your credit report. It is just the newest way to protect you from identity theft. It will cost you $15, a five dollar fee from each credit reporting agencies. But there are two other steps you can take to guard your good name and they are both free.You see ads all the time promising you a free credit report. Those ads are all too familiar to Angie Barnett, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. “It is all over the internet, we find them everywhere, I'm listening to the radio, you hear it constantly." But Barnett warns buyers beware. She says, “that you can get these free credit reports but what they are going to do is give you something you can already get for free then secondly they are going to try to sell you a bundle or package of services that are directly related to protecting you from identity theft." She goes on to say that those services are steps you can take on your own without paying.The federal government requires all three of the major credit reporting agencies, Transunion, Experian and Equifax, to give you a free copy of your report once a year. There is only one place on the internet where you can do that and it is http://www.annualcreditreport.com“We encourage people to be sure you stagger it," says Barnett.
Carl's struggles continue
If he can keep his car together the whole race, I think he might have his best chance to win on an oval. — Branden from Pittsburgh, Pa. A: Welcome to FOX. Montoya's not my favorite, but I think he's a solid top-10 choice, especially with his excellent qualifying effort. Flexible schedule? Q: Bruton Smith proved that money can buy anything, i.e. the drag strip at Charlotte. Now, he does it again by buying the N.H. track and wanting to take a race away from there and giving it to Vegas. How are race dates and places determined and by whom? — Mary Anne from Panama City, Fla. A: Great question. NASCAR decides where races are awarded. It has been flexible with track owners who have multiple facilities in terms of letting them shuffle dates around, but it's up to NASCAR and NASCAR alone to decide.
Oil prices rise on cold weather reports
NEW YORK — Oil prices climbed Monday as forecasts for blustery weather nationwide raised expectations that demand for energy will surge in the coming days. Rising political tensions in the Middle East contributed to the advance, apparently outweighing worries that a weakending U.S. economy could curb oil demand. After opening lower, light, sweet crude for February delivery rose $1.14 to $93.83 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude gained $1.66 to $92.73 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. "The main thrust to the upside is pretty clearly weather driven," said Citigroup Global Markets energy analyst Tim Evans. "That has the natural gas market extending last week's gains and making heating oil the leader on the upside of the petroleum complex." Heating oil futures added more than 5 cents to $2.5866 a gallon, while natural gas futures gained 12.5 cents to $8.335 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Autistic teen reported missing in Vancouver calls, returns home
Anthony K. Abruzzini, a 13-year-old described as mildly autistic, was reported missing by his parents this evening but was found hours later. Anthony phoned his parents about 10 p.m. from a local AM/PM store, where he was located by Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies, said Sgt. C. Rothenberger, a sheriff's spokesman. He was returned home safely. Anthony had last been seen about 9:30 a.m. at the Vancouver School of the Arts and Academics, the sheriff's office said. He did not attend any of his classes there today. His parents discovered a two-page note in which Anthony wrote that he met someone named "Frank" online and planned to live with and work for him. Nothing further was known about "Frank," Rothenberger said. Anthony's friends said that in the past month he had talked about going to Seaside, Ore., to start a new life.
|
