http://www.clean-credit.org/blog Rebuilding your credit and protecting yourself from identity theft Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:08:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en WASHINGTON — The IRS has issued a consumer alert warning consumers about an Internet scam where they receive a bogus email claiming to be from the IRS, informing them of a tax refund. The e-mail provides a link that requests personal information, such as a Social Security number and credit ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/07/27/irs-tax-refund-scam/ American consumers are being ripped off to the tune of over $45 Billion by identity theft. For more victims, by the time one discovers they're a victim it's often too late. According to polls, Americans are more worried about identity theft than corporate fraud or losing their jobs. Most people ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/06/10/protect-yourself-from-identity-theft/ Before you apply for credit for a major purchase such as a house, you should always check your credit score for problems. Credit scores at the 3 credit bureaus are all about risk. You must have at least one account such as a credit card, that has been open for at ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/04/28/understanding-your-credit-score/ By the end of 2006, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will begin using a new standardized credit score system instead of their own individual systems, that should help consumers eliminate confusion about credit scores. The old FICO score system you've probably seen on freecreditreport.com TV commercials operates on a scale of 300 ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/04/21/credit-scores/ Before the Tax Reform Act of 1986, you could actually declare credit card interest as a deduction. Without this deduction, anyone who's making the minimum payment on a balance in essence, is paying it off with "after tax dollars," basically money you have already paid taxes on. So this ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/04/18/credit-card-interest/ At one time filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy was the equivalent of a "Scarlet letter." Something to be ashamed of, not unlike a criminal record, but not anymore. In recent years, with millions of new people filing for bankruptcy every year, breaking new records, it's just not the big deal ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2006/03/23/rebuilding-credit-after-bankruptcy/ A big percentage of the US population will have to deal with an identity theft. Credit report problems are already a problem even without identity theft. 79% of credit reports had a mistake or errors as of 2004. Practical advice on how to preserve the integrity of your credit reports: Check your ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2005/12/01/identity-theft-credit-report-damage/ Good identity theft protection begins with your wallet. Your wallet might be full of old sales slips and credit cards you forgot about. "What's in your wallet?" Aside Capital One, you might have items you shouldn't have, and can do without. There's no need to carry your Social Security Card, ... http://www.clean-credit.org/blog/index.php/2005/11/29/is-your-wallet-safe-from-identity-theft/