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Quote of the Day

"The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal - that you can gather votes like box tops - is, I think, the ultimate indignity to the democratic process."

Adlai E. Stevenson








 




 
Featured Structured Settlements Articles

Annuity Transfer - What are the Risks
Annuity Transfer - What are the Risks Many people who know in the back of their minds that they got the possibility to transform a monthly payment or annuity long term payments into a big lump sum and by that to relieve some temporarily financial ...

Selling Your Assets – What to Expect
If you are selling an annuity or settlement or other type of asset, you should know what you are getting into. This article explains what you can expect. If you have a settlement, pre-settlement, lottery winning, property note, anniuty, structured ...

To Factor or Not to Factor?
The purchasing of accounts receivable (invoices) is generally known as factoring. Businesses can sell their invoices to companies known as factors. Although not all businesses are familiar with factoring, historians claim that factoring dates back to the ...




Free Credit Report – Watch Out for Scams
 
Many people may still not be aware of an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that Congress passed last year. This amendment allows U.S. citizens to receive a copy of their credit report, for free, once per year. The plan is being rolled out slowly in order to avoid swamping the system, but people living in the West and Midwest can receive their credit reports now, and everyone will be able to obtain a free credit report by September of this year. Those seeking a copy of their credit report should watch out, however, as not everyone who promises a “free” credit report is actually delivering one.

These free credit reports may be obtained through the official Website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Additional information is available at the Federal Trade Commission Website at http://www.ftc.gov/credit . Obtaining a copy of your credit report through this site is easy, and only requires your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. That would seem fairly straightforward, but there are many companies, some legitimate and some not, that are interested in attracting the business of those who seek copies of their credit report, and scams are flourishing.

Some companies have established Websites with addresses that are very similar to the address of the official site. These sites promise a free credit report, but they are actually only interested in harvesting your personal information. In addition to stealing your name, Social Security number and address, these sites may also tell you that a credit card number is necessary to “verify” your identification. With this information, the people operating these sites can steal your identity! There are many other Websites that promise “free” credit reports, but few that actually provide them for free. One such site is currently under investigation for credit report fraud. The site promised a “free” report, but required a credit card for “identification” purposes. Customers filled out the form and received a copy of the credit report but also received a charge on their credit card for $79. Other unscrupulous companies take a more direct approach by sending spam e-mail that promises to provide free credit reports. These spam messages are almost always “phishing” expeditions that are designed only to obtain your personal information. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of your credit report, you should avoid responding to e-mail solicitations.

It is a rare occasion when you can obtain something for nothing. You can, however, receive a copy of your credit report, for free, once a year. Be aware, however, that not everyone who is promising you a free credit report intends to provide you with one.

About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.



Structured Settlements News


RTT News

Ambac Commutes Approximately $3.5 Billion of CDO Exposure for Cash ...
WELT ONLINE, Germany - 14 hours ago
As a result of the settlements, Ambac expects to record positive adjustments to its aggregate mark-to-market and impairment reserves. ...
Ambac commutes $3.5 Billion in CDO exposure BusinessWeek
Ambac commutes about $3.5 billion of CDO exposure - Update Trading Markets (press release)
all 57 news articles

Structured Products PDS
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 7 hours ago
Offer Opens 20 November 2008 Expected Commencement of 21 November 2008 Trading on the ASX Calculation of Cash Call Warrant Settlement Amount at Expiry ...

The #1 Reason Consumers Sell Their Structured Settlements Is to ...
EON, WA - Oct 28, 2008
“Approximately 71% of the surveyed consumers selling all or part of their structured settlements have held them for more than 10 years, and we believe that ...

BGC Partners to Webcast 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
MarketWatch - 15 hours ago
Factors may also include the costs and expenses of developing, maintaining and protecting intellectual property, including judgments or settlements paid or ...

Jon White victim reaches tentative settlement with Urbana school ...
Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette, IL - 18 hours ago
The girl will receive the rest in the form of a structured settlement beginning when she is 18 and concluding in 2059. Mark Netter, president of the Urbana ...