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In commitment to our community, we offer these financial literacy courses: Building a Better CreditPortfolio Live a Richer Life - Pre-Discharge Class
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October 2010
July 2010
April 2010
January 2010
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According to the FBI, spoofing is designed to build
a level of confidence so that individuals will provide personal, financial
information online. Other methods, “IP
Spoofing” and “Link Alteration” work in a similar manner. The bottom line is once they have gained our
trust, they can reap their reward. Information that should never be placed in
unecrypted email or in online sites like Facebook includes your Social Security
number, account information, cell phone numbers, previous employers, family
names or personal details. This information
not only creates an image of us, but it also provides a way for thieves to
build a relationship to steal our identities. What Can
We Do? One defense for thwarting spoofing attempts is to ignore
embedded web site links; instead go directly to the web site itself and learn
about the situation directly. Neither
should we call unfamiliar telephone numbers and discuss our account(s). If you need to use an embedded link, ensure
that your online security system is up-to-date, and check the URL after you
click on it to ensure it is a correct domain name. If unsure, make a phone call to ascertain if
it’s a safe link. Make sure a web site is secure, displaying a lock
icon and having a web address that starts with https:// before purchasing anything online. Create passwords that contain a combination of
letters and numbers. Never write
passwords down or share them with anyone who initiates a conversation with you. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, our parent organization will celebrate “Protect Your identity Week”, October 17-23, 2010. For more identity protection tips, go to: www.protectyouridnow.org. Or call our Identity Theft Resolution Specialists at 800.410.2227 to ask your questions directly. Professional/Business Credit Cards According to Synovate, a global
research company, 46 million “professional” credit card offers were mailed this year, Stacy Johnson, CPA with
MoneyTalk News notes that the National Business Association is lobbying for legislation
that will afford professional/business cards with the same considerations as the
consumer version. In the meantime, be
advised to use professional/business credit with care. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater San Antonio counsels consumers, some of whom use their personal credit for business. For more information, call 800.410.2227 or visit www.cccssa.org. Maximizing Your Credit Profile Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater San Antonio
(CCCSSA) offers a variety of ways to maximize your Credit
Report Reviews Because your credit report is a record of your credit
activities, it is important to review each of the three credit reporting bureau
reports (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) at least once a year. This can be accomplished by obtaining copies
from Annual Credit Report’s web site (annualcreditreport.com). Analyzing each report helps you find
mis-information caused by clerical errors or identity theft. If you would like assistance interpreting the
report, our agency provides a private review of the findings for a modest fee ($20,
single or joint). During the session a
certified consumer credit counselor will show you how to read the report, guide
you through the disputing process, and give you a general time frame for creditor
responses. The counselor will also help
you understand how long specific items will remain on your report. Credit
Score Analysis Your credit score can also
be analyzed in a confidential Credit Score Analysis session. The program is designed to identify detailed action
steps which, when taken sequentially are predicted to raise your score by a specified
number of points. Increase
your Credit Report Knowledge Gain the knowledge to take charge of your credit profile in our free "Building a Better Credit Report" class. The class reveals how to read a credit report and understand credits core composition. We also include a comparison between FICO and Vantage credit scores. “Most people don’t know what information is used to comprise their credit score,” says Bruce Witter, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor. “I like seeing their faces light up when they get it.” “I enjoy teaching Building a Better Credit Portfolio
because it gives me the opportunity to inform participants how they can rebuild
their credit. Ultimately how they handle
their personal finances reflects on their credit report,” comments Albert
Guadiano, Certified Consumer Credit and Housing Counselor. To take advantage of these free and low cost
opportunities to enhance your credit knowledge, call 800.410.2227. Or reach us online at www.cccssa.org. Putting everything you learn into practice
will help you raise your credit score which will usually make you eligible for lower
interest rates. SA Rock 'n Roll Marathon Look for the CCCSSA Team when the San Antonio Rock 'n Roll Marathon hits the pavement on November 14th.
Free Checking Won't Be Free For Long
Inside Scoop on Credit Building
Summer Tidbit
Cool Off Spending
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Making the Most of Your Tax Return
Treasure Hunt: Finding Unclaimed Cash
CCCSSA Announces Facebook Page
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Credit Score Analysis Program
[2] Delaying or deviating from any of the recommended actions can affect your results. Predicted results are supplied by the modeling product, and cannot be guaranteed.[1] $75 charge covers up to one hour of Certified Counselor time and one modeling session with theCreditXpert™ product. Clients desiring additional modeling sessions are only charged the pass-through charge of the modeling session, for up to one year.
Credit Card Changes in 2010
Interest rate increases cannot be made on existing balances; new balances are not covered. Over-limit fees may not be charged unless the card holder knowingly elects to make over-limit charges. Credit will NOT be issued to consumers under the age of 21 without Parental/ Guardian permission. These points are just a few of the highlights from the upcoming law. Click here to read the Federal Reserve's review of these changes. CCCSSA can help you understand the “Act” and how it will personally affect you. We offer workshops to the community that can increase consumer financial literacy. Contact us at 210.979.4300 or 800.410.2227 or go to www.cccssa.org for workshop information in the New Year.
$13,440 ($18,440 if married filing joint) if you do not have a qualifying child $35,463 ($40,463 married filing jointly) if you have one qualifying child $40,295 ($45,295 married filing jointly) if you have two qualifying children $43,279 ($48,279 married filing jointly) if you have three or more qualifying children)
$5,657 with three or more qualifying children $5,028 with two qualifying children $3,043 with one qualifying child
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