| Some useful identity information
This is worth the read. Good information if you have not heard about this before.Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday.1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".2. 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.3. Put your work phone number 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 social security number printed on your checks.
Credit freezes let consumers padlock their data
Given the choice between installing a burglar alarm or an impenetrable deadbolt, most of us would choose the deadbolt. A burglar alarm might help the police catch the crooks while they're rifling through your drawers, but the deadbolt would prevent them from getting into your bedroom in the first place. For people who worry about identity theft, a credit freeze is a lot like the impenetrable deadbolt. Once a freeze has been placed on your credit reports, credit card issuers, lenders and others can't review the summary of loans and payments that makes up your credit history. Without that information, lenders won't issue credit. And that means criminals can't set up fraudulent accounts in your name. .
Get in holiday spirit by sending in nominees for 'Good Guys' feature
Dear Readers: After spending the rest of the year dealing with staticky cell phones, messed-up home repairs, missing dry cleaning items, broken-down cars and yes, unsent rebate checks, we all look forward to the end of December when we run The Fixer's annual "Good Guys" feature. Readers, this is your big chance to publicly give credit to all the hard-working, honest, helpful businesses and service people who went the extra mile for you this year. Previous years' letters have lauded a waitress who returned a wallet full of cash, a tow-truck driver who rescued a stranded Christmas shopper for the cost of a $2.75 part, a suburban mailman who returned a lost dog and some Starbucks employees who made an extra effort to help Santa find a beloved Christmas ornament for a 4-year-old boy.
Chinese Industrial Production Slows In October
(RTTNews) - China's industrial production grew 17.9% in October from last year, slightly slower than the 18.9% increase in the prior month, a report from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated Thursday. Industrial output expanded 18.5% in the first ten months from a year ago, the report said. The slowdown in industrial activity was due to a recent government policy clamping on industries running beyond capacity, consuming more energy and emitting excess pollution. Expansion was spread across the sectors in October, with a majority of them recording double-digit growth. Automobile industry topped with 75,2000 units, with annual output growth of 24.3%. Production of Sedans rose 25.7% to 394000 units in October. Non- metals sector expanded 22.7%, while chemical product output spiked 19.1%.
Markets Likely To Open Higher; Profit-taking May Cap Gains - European Commentary
(RTTNews) - The major European index futures are pointing towards a higher opening for the markets on Thursday. But global cues are weak, with the U.S. stocks closing lower overnight and the major markets across the Asia-Pacific region trading weak on Thursday. Additionally, some degree of profit-taking can be expected following three days of gains. Meanwhile, crude prices have risen on speculation that U.S. supplies are declining. In Europe, the major economic releases scheduled for the day include the German CPI, the Bank of France business sentiment, the British retail sales, and the Euro-Zone CPI. In the U.S., investors await data on CPI, weekly initial jobless claims, petroleum stockpiles, Philadelphia Fed survey and Empire manufacturing survey. The European markets rose for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, as strong earnings from companies such as HSBC, ArcelorMittal, Hochtief and Q-Cells lifted investor sentiments and rising crude oil and copper prices boosted energy and mining stocks.
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