Want to avoid identity theft? Here's an Attorney's Advice -- No Charge!

[Radio_Lady]

Dear DUers,

This is EXCELLENT information. I had a purse stolen from my car in the 1980s and can attest to the fact that thieves are everywhere and you must protect yourself. You are welcome to read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. In peace -- Radio_Lady
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A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

I am an attorney, and, unfortunately, I have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thief (or thieves) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately! -- Do it in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the three (3) national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away. This weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397- 3742

3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. It could really you or help someone whom you care about if you are willing to pass this information along.

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[shoelace414]

1. why not put a block on your credit always?

[prolesunited]

20. Reporting agencies won't do it

until AFTER you've been a victim of ID theft. You have to send them a ton of documentation and it only lasts for seven years. (I only know because I've been down this path and it's still not all straightened out.)

[Heddi]

28. Absolutely not true

I lost my wallet in 2004--had no reason to believe it was stolen, I just didn't know where it was (it showed up at the 7-11 about 6 months later, I had left it there, and it was returned to me with everything in there, including the $30 in cash plus $3 in change that was in it when I lost it).

Immediately after I realized it was lost, I went back to 7-11 but they hadn't found it yet and didn't have it. Retraced my steps and couldn't find it. I lost it on a Sunday and was going to human resources on Monday to start a new job, so my SS card AND birth certificate (as well as DL, credit/debit cards, school ID, etc) were all there. I lost it around 4pm, and by 7pm, I had all my cards cancelled and reissued with new numbers.

The lady at the bank suggested that I call the credit reporting agencies ASAP to put a "flag" on my account, and she knew the circumstances (lost, not stolen). I had no problem with any of the 3 credit reporting agencies getting a flag put on my account, and like the other institutions I spoke with, they knew that it wasn't stolen, only lost.

I didn't have to send them a thing. They just told me that I would be notified if anyone tried to open any kind of line of credit or account in my name, even if it was me, and that I'd have to authorize any account being opened, and that this may inconvenience me if I was the one trying to open an account.

Within 2 days of making the call, I got copies of my credit reports from all 3 agencies and was given the option for a 2nd free report 6 months later, which I did take advantage of even though by that time I had gotten my wallet back.

It is true that the flag is only good for a certain amount of time, but I got no hassle from them and the lady at Equifax said that she wished more people would put flags on once they realized their ID or wallet was missing or stolen rather than waiting until accounts had been opened and become a victim of Identity Theft, which is much harder to resolve at that point.

[Critters2]

34. Sure they will

About 2 months ago, I found some guy going through the dumpster where the church office and I toss our trash. I was worried about ID theft, so I called all three bureaus, and told them I was concerned but not sure my ID had been compromised. They all put a check on my credit. One even called to check when I put a large purchase on a card (a gift for a family member). I didn't send any paperwork at all. Did it all over the phone.

[prolesunited]

47. Yes, they'll send you copies of your report

and flag your account, but it is very limited.

Here's what I am referring to:
Under new provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA, §605A) you can place an initial fraud alert for only 90 days. The credit bureaus will then mail you a notice of your rights as an identity theft victim. Once you receive it, write each of the three bureaus immediately to request two things: (1) a free copy of your credit report, and (2) an extension of the fraud alert to seven years. You may request that only the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) appear on the credit report. You must include an identity theft report (police report) with your letter in order to establish the seven-year alert. You may cancel fraud alerts at any time.
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm

[pitohui]

52. because you might need credit, duh

seriously it is a big, major inconvenience to have a fraud alert on your credit record, believe it or not, you might actually have a tragedy in your life where you need to have credit without getting involved in long drawn-out arguments w. people who don't know you, could be a major world event like katrina or a personal tragedy like cancer or serious auto accident but in an emergency you need credit NOW and not after you have been checked out by some snoop

the fraud alerts also make it harder for you to get your own money and i've had a relative have her money tied up because the stupid alert can't deal w. the fact that she lives in a foreign country so every time she tries to buy something the alert goes off and it's hell getting her own money

after katrina i was actually asked to prove my identity by answering a long series of questions "only you would know the answer to," well, it was ridiculous, most of the questions *i* didn't know the answers to myself, who remembers the street number or better yet telephone number of some place they lived 30 years before? christ

and if i did still have that information, clearly, plenty of strangers had it too and more at their fingertips than i did

yes, i'm talking abt you discovercards, sheesh, the cia don't know this stuff about me, i don't know it, if you are fraud alerted in some situation it is EASIER for the criminal to pass as you because YOU don't have that information but the hacker into the credit card company DOES have it!

fraud alerts were OK in the 80s i guess

they are just another way to hassle people and snoop and gather more information now

[prolesunited]

59. Some snoop doesn't check you out

You just can't get instant credit at stores or open an account online or by phone. A rep just calls you at your home phone and asks a few questions.

I have plenty of open credit to handle most anything and if I need more, I can get it easily enough.

After the hours and frustration I have put in on resolving identity theft, a day or two and a phone call would be the least of my frustrations.

[canadianbeaver]

2. Thank you Radio lady......totally appreciated...n/t

[Radio_Lady]

42. You're welcome. By the way, we have something in common

(I think). I live in BEAVERton, Oregon -- but there are no beavers there.

What's the link to that animal for you?

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[canadianbeaver]

51. Well actually its quite rude.....I'm a bit of a self joker....

I am canadian...and I have a beaver....not the real animal kind either???? get it? Very tongue in cheek!!

BTW...I love Oregon...been there many times....love Crater lake and Eugene...also south in Sunny Valley...very nice area..mountains and all!!

Peace and Happiness Always!!

[eyesroll]

3. "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" is technically not a legit signature on a CC.

The post office won't accept CCs signed like that (at least, the Juneau St. office in Milwaukee won't).

[Karmageddon]

13. I have "check photo id" on all my cards and have never been refused.

If they want a signature, there is one on the bottom of my drivers license that they can look at.

Also, I have asked phone reps at Citibank and Bank of America about this, as well as an American Express advisor, and all of them endorsed and even encouraged the idea.

If someone won't accept a CC with "check photo id" on the back when presented with a valid photo id, I would have no problem whatsoever walking out, leaving my shit piled up next to the register, and spending my money someplace else.

By the way, I've used my CC's at several post offices and at the DMV without a hitch. If I was refused I'd ask for a manager.

[Ediacara]

23. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover all say this is not legal

You can write "Check Photo ID" very large, and sign them very small. Although they haven't to my knowledge, Visa, MC, etc, could stop accepting CC purchases from retailers that accept unsigned cards.

Just for your sake, and the sake of the poor retail employees properly following the regulations, sign your cards as well as writing "Check photo ID."

[Karmageddon]

24. That's not what they told me when I specifically asked...

...and was specifically told that this was acceptable.

Besides, if they say no, I'll take my money elsewhere.
If they don't want my money, somebody else will be MORE than happy to take it.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. The very first step to take is SIGN THE CARD.

VISA, Mastercard, Discover all say this loud and clear in any official written literature on fraud preventation. An employee can tell you something that isn't policy.

The "Check ID" thing only works at preventing fraud if your signature is also on the card. Showing an ID with the same name as the name on the card doesn't prove anything. Showing an ID with a signature that can be compared to the one on the card is more effective.

[Karmageddon]

55. After more than 10 years and not a single rejection when using my card....

... I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and store your advice deep in the file cabinet with my credit card agreement where it's safe and sound and won't cause me the least bit of inconvenience thank you very much.

When I start getting refused, maybe I'll reconsider, but it hasn't happened yet.

[Ediacara]

33. You didn'ty ask Visa/MC/Amex/Disc

You asked the issuing banks. The cards say on them in very capital letters "NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED." I'm not saying you shouldn't write "Check photo ID" on your cards, just that to avoid any hassles, you must sign your cards also.

[Radio_Lady]

43. UPDATE: I'll try to research this at home to find out who's right!

I'm on vacation in Phoenix tonight and I have ONLY five more minutes on this hotel computer!

Now, I have to get ready for horseback riding in Scottsdale, Arizona tomorrow morning.

We're going on a trail ride at 9 AM tomorrow morning.

Love those horses!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Gormy Cuss]

56. Here are some links to get you started on credit card info

http://usa.visa.com/personal/security/protect_yourself/basics/index.html?it=il|/personal/security/index.html|Protection%20Basics
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/loyalty.do?page=FraudCenter.whatyoudo
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/cards.htm

[sybylla]

46. Like Visa, MC and AmEx would know it was unsigned

As a former cashier and bank teller I can vouch that the only thing keeping anyone else from using your credit cards are the people who handle your card during the transaction. The banks never see it and I have plenty of retailers who never even check for a signature. Heck I regularly visit two retailers whose electronic signature machines scramble my signature. I keep hoping some day they get their backsides kicked over it.

[lavenderdiva]

54. when I worked retail, for over 15 years, we were not allowed to accept

any credit cards that had not been signed by the owner. Even cards that said 'Check Photo ID', or whatever, we weren't allowed to accept. It made many people angry, but if we had accepted the card, and it wasn't signed, we would have been in very hot water with the credit card issuer and they could have refused to pay us for the purchase.

[pitohui]

53. not acceptable in europe either

i guess the person who says they will just stomp out and leave to spend their money elsewhere has no problem writing off an entire continent as a place to visit!

yeah, some of the info in this once-popular email is just plain wrong, but what do you do?

bogus email has a life of its own and even if you think it has died, it always comes back!

[Roland99]

4. #2 is improper. A credit card is NOT valid unless it's signed.

You can be refused that form of payment if it's not signed.

You can *add* See Photo ID but it must be signed.

[mmonk]

7. Mine is not signed

and I've had no problems.

[Roland99]

14. No problems yet. That card *can* and *should* be refused

If you'll read the back of your card it will say something like, "Not valid unless signed".


Unless your real name is "See Photo ID", it's not signed and, therefore, not a valid card.

[mmonk]

31. The issuer thinks it is.

It hasn't been refused nor has the issuer stopped it without my consent. And these people are very security conscious. No store has refused to use it yet either. They just check my ID like I request on the card. My drivers license has a signature they can see and/or match.

[Roland99]

36. The issuer doesn't know. It's up to the retail establishment to verify.

[cyberpj]

9. I never sign mine - ASK FOR PHOTO ID is on there instead. No sig req'd.

[Roland99]

15. Read the back and look for the "Not valid unless signed" text.

[cyberpj]

17. may be. but no one's ever refused mine in 5 years or more. nt

[Strangefire]

25. As a cashier, I hate this.

I work in retail. I see many, many people using cards that are not signed AT ALL. Not even "SEE ID" written instead. Why?!

I don't understand the rationale people use for leaving their cards unsigned. The excuse I hear most often is that they don't want a thief to be able to copy their signature. But this makes little sense, because all a thief would have to do is get their hands on an unsigned credit card, sign the cardholder's name in their own(the thief's) signature, and go on a merry shopping spree.

And some of these folks act like I'm the devil incarnate for requesting to see ID when they come in with unsigned cards. *sigh*

Please, people. At least write "SEE ID" on your cards.

[Roland99]

35. You should refuse to accept a card that is not signed

If it's being used in a case of fraud and it can be proven you didn't refuse the card after checking for a signature, your job could be in jeopardy.

If they go ahead and sign it right there, ask for another form of ID to verify, too.

[driver8]

37. Good for you!! Keep asking for IDs -- I always thank the person

who asks to see it. If they don't ask, I offer my ID to them.

[mmonk]

5. Good advice.

I already do some of those such as writing "See photo I.D." on the back of my credit cards. Thanks much.

[izzybeans]

6. And when you are young and naive, don't ever let the bank tell

you a police report is unnecessary. They will not handle it other than to confirm it was fraud. Happened to me. Now the banks sell the account opened when my identity was stolen every so often and I have to pull out the letters and resend them to the credit bureaus. It's cycled through three times now.

[driver8]

8. Never, ever, ever put your outgoing mail in your mailbox -- especially

if you have credit card payments.

My identity was stolen because someone stole my outgoing mail. I happened to have a student loan payment in my mail and it had my SS# on the payment stub (how smart is that?).

[cyberpj]

11. Use US mailboxes. Luckily my condo has LOCKED IN AND OUT MAILBOXES.

[Heddi]

29. Not foolproof either (US Mailboxes)

Around Christmastime in 2005 (or maybe 2004, but I think it was '05), there were about 8 mailboxes broken into in my town and TONS of mail was stolen. The Post Office reccomended that people use in-office post office boxes to mail outgoing letters, which is what I do anyway, and did before the mailbox theives because we live in a shitty town that is rife with identity theft.

[stevietheman]

10. Great advice -- thanks! n/t

n/t

[DemInDistress]

12. thats some good advice my friend even though I have no

credit cards, in particular "photo ID required" as your signature. That surely would prevent me from flashing a stolen credit card. In the past I had experience with OP's credit cards and it was a breeze 95% of the time.
Back in the 60"s and 70's merchants only had a weekly bulletin of stolen/lost credit cards and my mailman friend often brought me fresh credit cards and away we went. I confess these things today since I mended my ways back in 1983 but thought you should know the "tips" you describe are well worth the effort many cardholders should consider. Pat yourself on the back for a "GOOD POST"..
A good warning is worth tons of aggravation and cost... ^5

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Snopes this one just for fun.

Snopes says it did originate from an attorney's letter years ago but the points have morphed over time.

[Radio_Lady]

57. Thanks for checking, Gormy Cuss. These things take on a life of their own,

but I didn't have the time to "snopes" it.

You did my work for me, and I appreciate it.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Up2Late]

18. All good info, but mine was stolen on-line, when I bought a hard to find

Computer keyboard directly from a small website.

I got the keyboard, but the criminals some how intercepted my CC number, and I DO use a LOT of safety precautions on my connection. Luckily CITI Bank has a great Identity Theft resolution process, they did most of the work.

[Joe Fields]

19. very grateful to you, maam

[Radio_Lady]

62. Appreciate your comments, Joe.

Make peace a worldwide priority in 2006!

Radio_Lady (vacationing in Phoenix)

[midnight]

21. very good to know.

I will discuss the advice with my husband. We had our identity theft-ed via a hospital incident. Someone checked into our local hospital,and gave my husbands name. The receptionist did all the paper work to admit this man as an out patient and gave him my husbands paper work. This is what I found out when an outpatient clerk called to check my husband in for a procedure. She gave this other address, and said my husbands account was accessed by this other client, but that he just left with the paper work and decided not to have any procedure done. This had my husbands social security on it.

[Ediacara]

22. A number of these are not OK

Many businesses will not accept checks with a PO Box as an address. It is also not legal for banking institutions to accept a PO Box as an address (although they can print that on your check).

You must sign the reverse of your credit cards. They're technically not activated without a signature and anyone accepting them is breaking the law. You may also write in huge capitol letters CHECK PHOTO I.D (which is what I do), but the card has to be signed on the reverse.

Three more tips that I would like to bring up are these:

1) Never, ever, ever put your social security card in your waller. This should be common sense, but I feel that over 50% of Americans store their social security card in their wallets and that's just a disaster waiting to happen.

2) Do not have your drivers license or telephone number printed on your checks. If a store really really needs them, they can ask you and input them into the computer manually.

3) If you live in one of the (shockingly many) states that use your SSN as your drivers license number for "convenience," DON'T DO IT! They all have alternatives to the SSN, and new federal laws stop this practice, but it will take many years for the old licenses to expire and the SSN/DLN to phase out.

[Radio_Lady]

44. UPDATE: The original email had an address of the lawyer.

I am going to send him a copy of this link and see what she says about our discussion.

Will report back this weekend.

[marions ghost]

60. thank you

please post here

[The Witch]

26. What snopes has to say:

generally is legit. But maybesome naive.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/credit.htm

[MichiganVote]

27. cool and thanks!

[Heddi]

30. INVEST IN A SHREDDER

or some other way to destroy personal documents that you have at your home.

When we lived in Seattle, there was a group of people that would rifle through trash bags to get personal information from people. Bank statements, Credit Card Statements, stuff like that.

Don't rely on permanent markers to "black out" the information. You can easily see information through the black out if you hold it up to a light. There are also chemicals that can thin the ink on the paper and make the marker mark much more see through.

We don't have a shredder, so we burned our papers in our fireplace and now that we don't have a fire place, we burn it in the BBQ grill.

If you don't have a shredder, and don't have a BBQ/fireplace, cut your papers up with scissors. Cut lengthwise and crosswise. Basically shred it with your scissors. Then bag the scraps separately. If you can, throw 1/2 away in one trash can and the other 1/2 in another trash can at a different location (one bag at home, one bag at work).

Whether you shred or cut, always ensure that the cuts you've made aren't large enough to provide information still. I've seen people I work with shred things length-wise, which is okay if you do it on an angle, but if it goes straight through, information is easily readable because it's basically shredding by the line, instead of up and down where information is broken up.

[Radio_Lady]

41. Heidi, these are all excellent ideas. We just bought a new shredder for

the holidays -- it's tax season and we leave our paper outside all night. We couldn't be without it!

Thanks for posting!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[sandnsea]

38. Pre-paid card for online use

And only put a small amount of money on it, that way if it's ever stolen online you can only lose that amount. Prepaid credit cards reject if there's no money on them, very little risk at all.

[madokie]

39. Radio_lady, I don't mean to be a dumbass or anything but who is that pic

of. A most beautiful lady.

[Radio_Lady]

40. {{blush}} The lady is me -- and thank you for the compliment!

I must tell you the photo was taken in a studio when I was in a sales job and it's been retouched, too. It's a couple of years old, too.

Where is Chouteau, Oklahoma? Sounds really rural. I'll have to look that up.

Have a great weekend (when we get there).

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[madokie]

48. 35 miles east of Tulsa,

After the news today concerning the lies and bush*, funny how that types so easy, It will be a great weekend for all. thanks.

[Radio_Lady]

58. Thanks, madokie. I've been so busy vacationing in Phoenix that

I have had no time to hear or read the news!

Y'know, that's a GOOD thing! We can only stay on the computer for 30 minutes maximum, and if someone is waiting -- only 15 minutes.

What did we ever do before the Internet?

Sat by the fire
Listened to music
Played board games
Swam, rode horseback or bikes
Walked around the neighborhood
Met lots of other people in the flesh...

Nice to make your acquaintance! I've never been to Oklahoma, but I did love the music and the song "where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat, can sure smell sweet, when the wind comes right behind the rain..."

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[LisaL]

45. I had my wallet stolen, so I went through all that fun.

Didn't know about credit cards, though. But considering they bought tons of payless shoes, I bet the clerk knew the credit cards were stolen and sold the shoes anyway.

[jbnow]

49. Those are great and important but

even if we are careful, even if we don't shop online...it doesn't make us safe.

So many of the thefts come from large scale mistakes from the agencies that have our information, however private we are, they have it. Maybe they are hacked, maybe they leave it vulnerable for a while, maybe they give or sell the information without checking who they are giving it to.

Protecting ourselves is important, but that would screw us one at a time. Agency errors gets us by the thousands and hundreds of thousands. I know California has a law that requires notification if your information may have been wrongly released but most of us have no idea.
And what do they offer for exposing us? A year of free credit reports or something. No one takes responsibility. They couldn't get an amendment in the bankruptcy bill for the horrors that this can create.

There is a lot we can do...but for part we are just powerless. They might be more careful if they had to take the time and money to clear things up for the victims they create.

[Radio_Lady]

61. We've taken a pro-active view of this and do all we can to insure

that no one gets our information. But you're certainly right. Recently, I read that one of the large health care organizations in Portland, OR had thousands of medical records and information stolen from an employee's car, where he had them on disks. They promised to be more careful in the future.

We also got our credit information updated at Experian, and we have used them and the other two credit organizations mentioned above at one or another time.

Thank you for your post.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Solon]

50. Another form of protection: Bad Credit...

OK, that's a joke, of sorts, but no credit would work almost as well. Take me, for example, I don't worry about getting my identity stolen, why? Because the theives in question will quickly find out it isn't worth it. I can't even get so much as a 5 dollar bank loan without a co-sign from someone with good credit, so forget that. OK, the story goes like this, back when I was a teenager that started to get the credit card offers, I was around 17 or 18 at the time, it was a matter of course for me to throw them away. I view CC companies in the same manner as I would loan sharks and Mafia hitmen, so I never got one.

The first time I ever went officially into debt, a student loan, I payed it off early, it didn't count towards credit in a positive way anyways. My dad co-signed on my first car, I payed that off early as well(6 months early), big friggen deal, hated the interest rate. OK, so, that's two strikes AGAINST having good credit, yeah, the credit companies LIKE people being in debt, not the other way around. Anyways, so let's get onto the other shit that has happened. First, my first apartment, shared by me and two friends, it was cool, somewhat expensive, but we were (barely) able to pay the bills, etc. So, the year lease is about 2 month from going up, and my roommate breaks the water heater, flooding his room and the downstairs apartment(unoccupied). It was a mistake, the thing was in his closet, with no shields, and a plastic spigot on the bottom of it, he dropped a book on it, by accident, oops moment there. So we get kicked out(less than 30 days notice, BTW), so this is what happens, nothing for an additional 8 months. Then I get a summons to court, the landlord of the place is suing us for damages, totalling over 1 grand. Well, I was broke, so was my roommate, we scrounged up the money to hire a lawyer, and were able to reduce the damages down to about half the original estimate. OK, so we both thought, case closed, move on, yeah, right.

OK, so fast forward to me trying to transfer payments from my sister's car to mine, we were trading cause she hates driving sticks but I didn't care, plus it was a convertable, can't beat that deal. So, we couldn't, why? I had an OUTSTANDING DEBT OF OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, WTF I thought? So, we were finally able to do it, but I had to bring in the court papers of the settlement to make all legal and shit, plus had to get yet another co-signer(dad again). OK, so I decided to call the three credit companies in question to ask what the fuck was up, and apparently it'll cost me money to get the debt taken off. I'm broke, so forget that, I just carry the court paper with me when needed, but still, what the fuck is up with our fucked up system of economics here?

Not to mention the fact that my Gas company FORGOT to cancel my billing for a previous apartment last year, which means that I owe them 600 bucks in money for gas I never used.

OK, things I learned from these experiences, number one, stay in debt, better yet, try to get only slighty over your head, don't miss payments, make the minimum and stay that way for the rest of your life. Number 2, don't trust anyone with anything to do with your money, not the banks(don't deposit money on time, with DIRECT DEPOSIT!!!), not employers(had a couple bounce PAYCHECKS for Christ's sake!), not landlords(the one I had actually took up half the docket as plaintiffs in suits against tenets, can you say frivolous?), and definately not utility companies. Hell, if I could, I would live "off the grid" entirely. I'm thinking of just saving up some cash, under a damned mattress if necessary, build a house out in the middle of no-where, put solar panels on top of it, draw from a well nearby and pay the phone company with money orders.

Sorry about the rant, the mention of credit, their extortionists(sorry companies), and the system in general just pisses me off!