Wednesday 30 November 2011

Five Tips To Think About Before You Go On Vacation With Your ATM Card

You have probably immediately grabbed a dress that captured your eyes and put it on only to find that it looked horrible on you. The dress was perfect but it did not suit you. You continued to try outfit after outfit. And then it happened. You found the perfect fit!Bridesmaid Dresses Wonder why some dress looks good on you and some does not? Well, the answer lies in STYLE. Each dress style is meant to complement specific body shape. The trick is to find one that flatters your body type and

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Reasons Why Some Credit Cards Are Refused Despite The Fact That You've Got A Great Credit Rating

Consumers really should not conclude that the credit score may be the only determining factor for the approval of credit card application, even if you previously had a refused credit card. Other kinds of info which are submitted together in your credit file can also affect the decision. There are several causes why your application could be declined even if your credit score is fairly high. Most credit lending institutions don't rely solely on your credit score when evaluating your financial

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Credit Card Fraud Alert - Save Yourself Pure Hell








If your credit card has been lost or stolen, you need to file a credit card fraud alert. Start by calling your credit card company and getting your card cancelled. They will arrange to send you a new card and also send you the correct forms for filing a fraud alert.





Fill the forms out promptly and get them sent in in a timely manner. The longer you wait the worse the situation can get. Like I said, it doesn't matter if the card was lost or stolen, the result can be the same. If you have only lost your card and someone finds it, they can use it fraudulently and get you in all kinds of trouble and essentially make your life a living hell until you get everything straightened out. If it was stolen, you will have the same problem. Report the loss or theft as soon as you can and get the credit card fraud alert filed. You will be glad you did.





When calling the credit bureaus remember you will only need to inform one of them, the one you report to will contact the other two for you. Filing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus allows them to advise your creditor that you may be a victim of identity theft. If someone then tries to get more credit the credit bureau should contact you to verify that it is you who is doing the asking and not the identity thief.





The initial fraud alert will stay on file for 90 days from the time you file. The 90 day fraud alert is used if you suspect that you may be the victim of identity theft or could become one. So, use this fraud alert if your credit card gets lost or there is a possibility that it was stolen or you suspect some of your mail has been stolen but you really have no proof that any theft has really occurred. 90 days is long enough to ferret out any would be identity thief. Always file a police report, just in case.





The other type of fraud alert is called an Extended Fraud Alert and last for seven years. You file an extended fraud alert in the same manner as the 90 day variety with the difference being the credit bureaus require that you also file an identity theft report. This is where the police report comes in handy as you will need a copy of the police report to file along with the form from the credit bureau.





I had a scare at the beginning of this year. All of a sudden I had stopped receiving my check stubs in the mail and then did not receive my W-2's for taxes. When I went in to the main office of my job and asked about it they gave me the login information to get my check stubs online. That is when I noticed that the address on my check stubs was incorrect and they were going to some place in a whole other state. I filed a police report just in case something ever came of it. Nothing did, though, to my relief.





This just goes to show that you cannot be too careful and although this was not a credit card, if you lose you credit card or it gets stolen, it is very important to file a credit card fraud alert.


Personal Financial Advice - A Few Words Of Caution




Everyone wants to have a financially secure future but for many that may just seem like a dream that they might not achieve. To ensure that you do have a secure financial future you need someone that can give you some unbiased, educated personal financial advice. When you are looking to hire a financial advisor to help you with your finances you will want someone that is qualified, trustworthy and someone that you like.





You can ask friends, co-workers or family members if they use a financial advisor and could possibly recommend one. It is always good to try an advisor that has been recommended as you know that if your friends or family use an advisor then they can tell you if they are good at their job and if they are trustworthy.





You can also as your bank or local credit union as they may have advisors on their own staff and if they don’t they may be able to recommend one. If your bank has financial advisors on their staff then they may try to sell you their own products so you do need to be careful that those products or services actually suit your needs. You need to find out as much as you can about any product or service that they recommend so that you have a good understanding of how you can benefit from it. If you don’t think it is beneficial to you then you might need to go elsewhere for financial advice.





A good financial advisor will be able to help you grow your current assets and also protect those assets. When looking for an advisor, don't just rush in and hire the first one that you see, it is a good idea to visit a few advisors and 'interview' them. A financial advisor is working for you after all so you have every right to ask as many questions as you need to ask to feel comfortable hiring them. You also want to find out that they are actually qualified to do the job you are hiring them for.





When you are asking questions, you should ask them whether they are an independent or a tied advisor. An independent advisor works for a number of different companies and has a much larger range of products or services to offer you. When they go over your financial situation with you and get an understanding of your current needs, then they can find the best product or service that will suit you.





Just be careful as some independent advisors will recommend the products or services that will give them the highest commission rather than the one that is best suited to you. To avoid this just ask questions so you can get a good understanding of the product and whether it will benefit you or not.





A tied advisor works for a single company and as such can only sell products or services offered by that company. The disadvantage of a tied advisor is that the range of products and services they have to offer is much smaller and also they may recommend their own products or services when there might be a better option for you elsewhere. But because they are tied to that company they cannot recommend the other options to you.





So both independent and tied financial advisors have pros and cons and with either one you need to have some knowledge so you know that you are getting the best deal. Find out as much as you can about any service or product that they recommend and have a good think about it before making a decision.





Now is the time to start taking care of your money and thinking about the future. Seeking personal financial advice can help you to set financial goals and work toward achieving those goals so you can have a secure financial future for you and your family.