Don’t waste money on identity theft protection services

Are you one of the 47.5 million Americans who purchased “identity theft protection” last year? If so, you wasted your money.

Credit reporting agencies and identity theft protection services push statistics like “almost 14 million adults were victims of identity theft in 2011” or “over 100 million Americans have had their personal identifying information placed at risk of identity theft as a result of governmental and corporate data breaches.”

These statements are made while prodding you to purchase a service that could cost up to $189 annually. What these companies fail to tell you is that identity theft protection does not cover IRS tax return filings, account takeovers, the misuse of credit or debit cards, prior instances of identity theft or the establishment of personal identification (such as a driver’s license or Social Security card) in your name.

According to recent reports, Americans are spending an estimated $3.5 billion a year on identity theft protection. Most of these services are a waste of money as almost all of the services provided are available at little or no cost to the consumer.

There is no reason to pay a monthly or yearly fee for something you can do yourself for free.

Periodically review your credit report

By keeping close tabs on your consumer credit profile, you can detect signs of identity theft early. If you find an account not opened by you and have positively identified it as fraudulent, enter a dispute directly with the creditor as well as with the credit reporting agencies of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can obtain a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com or (877) 322-8228. When you pay for identity theft protection, this free credit report is one of the “benefits” they tout.

Place a 90-day initial fraud alert on your credit report

Contact the credit reporting agencies and request a 90-day initial fraud alert on your credit report. Not only will this trigger a free credit report but will advise potential creditors to investigate any application prior to issuing credit, goods, benefits, services and/or employment. Contact Equifax at (800) 525-6285, Experian at (888) 397-3742 and Trans Union at (800) 916-8800. When you pay for identity theft protection, this fraud alert is one of the “benefits” they tout. Just be sure to renew the alert every three months.

Freeze your credit report

Identity thieves are frozen in their tracks without access to your credit report as potential creditors will not have access to your credit history. In most states, you are entitled to temporarily “freeze” access to your credit profile without cost if you are over 65 years of age or are a verified victim of identity theft. All others may be required to pay a small fee. Without access to your credit report, a responsible lender will not issue credit. When you pay for identity theft protection, a credit report freeze is one of the “benefits” they tout.

Stop unsolicited credit card offers

Are you tired of junk mail filling your mail box? Opting out at www.optoutprescreen.com or (888) 5OPT-OUT will stop most unsolicited pre-approved applications and reduce the incidence of identity theft. Opting out refers to the process of removing your name and address from lists supplied by the Equifax, Experian, Trans Union and Innovis credit reporting agencies to be used for firm (preapproved/ prescreened) offers of credit or insurance. When paying for identity theft protection, opting out is one of the “benefits” they tout.

Purchase a cross-cut shredder

“Dumpster diving” is still a very popular method of obtaining credit card applications and supporting documentation. Purchase a cross-cut shredder that cuts vertically and horizontally, turning sensitive mail into confetti. If you think a torn up credit card application will be rejected by a credit card company, you have not heard the story of how Chase Bank approved a ripped up application.

Victims of identity theft often feel pressured into purchasing additional identity theft monitoring products when contacting the Equifax, Experian and Trans Union consumer reporting agencies to repair their credit. So much so that the Federal Trade Commission has recently reported the conduct in a 73-page report titled: “An FTC Staff Report on a Survey of Identity Theft Victims.”

The FTC report also found that the vast majority of consumers dealing with identity theft issues were unaware of their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These rights included the ability to request free credit reports when placing a fraud alert, the ability to block fraudulent information from appearing on their credit reports and to receive a notice of these and other important rights directly from creditors and consumer reporting agencies.

While the Credit Card Act of 2009 mandated a number of changes in relation to “free credit reports,” the area of identity theft protection is an area to watch. Reduced fees in one area will only mean enhanced fees in another. There is no reason to pay a monthly or yearly fee for something you can do yourself for free.

Bill Lewis is the principal of William E. Lewis Jr. & Associates and host of The Credit Report with Bill Lewis — a daily forum for business and financial news, politics, economic trends and issues on AM 740 WSBR in south Florida.

Jason Taylor and David Singer kick off Broward Jail and Bail

 

Local law enforcement authorities have begun arresting unsuspecting South Floridians.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.

Having a bad dream?  No you are not “under arrest.” The rights you have just heard are all in fun and part of David Singer’s annual Jail and Bail event to benefit the Broward County chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“Some of South Florida’s most high-profile figures will appear in front of a judge this week and answer charges ranging from ‘illicit basket-weaving’ to ‘needle dusting,’ stated attorney Marc Anidjar of Anidjar & Levine PA, an event sponsor.

Required to “post bail” to secure their release, it’s all to benefit the American Cancer Society and cancer research.

This year’s Jail and Bail honorary chairman is Jason Taylor – former Miami Dolphins linebacker, ESPN NFL analyst, and co-founder of the Jason Taylor Foundation.

Following in the footsteps of legendary criminal defense attorney Roy Black, NSU Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti, State Attorney Michael Satz, radio personality Paul Castronovo, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida Marlins coach Jack McKeon, WPLG newscaster Kristi Krueger, former Miami Dolphin Bernie Kosar and WQAM personality Joe Rose, Taylor continues the tradition of influential leaders that have lent their name and support in the effort to fight cancer.

“I’m proud to follow so many great community leaders and lend my name to Jail and Bail,” stated Taylor.  “Giving back. It’s a simple concept, but one not grasped often enough.”

“Arrested at their home or place of business, jailbirds will be housed in cells pending an appearance before the judge,” stated  David Singer a Hollywood personal injury attorney. “Detainees call family and friends in an effort to raise money for their release and in support of the American Cancer Society.”

Having committed himself to the American Cancer Society, Singer has chaired Jail & Bail for over 20 years.

Donors pitch in to “bail out” their family and friends during a 90 minute “detention.” Dozens of local business and community leaders take part in this yearly ritual.

Since the start, Jail and Bail has raised over $2.4 million for the Broward unit of the American Cancer Society. For 2012, Singer has targeted a goal of $200,000.

“The success of Jail and Bail is the result of the tireless work of it’s long serving Chairman,” stated Tiffany DiPanni, Chief Marketing Officer at County Line Chiropractic Medical & Rehab Centers.  “We are proud to support the American Cancer Society through the Broward Jail and Bail.”

This year’s Jail and Bail will be held June 26th – 29th in the lobby of the Airport Sheraton, 1825 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, with more than 150 local politicians and community leaders being “arrested.”

The four-day event concludes on August 9th with an “Up the River Cruise.”

For more information on the 21st Annual Broward County Jail and Bail to benefit the American Cancer Society, please call David Singer at (954) 920-1571.

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Bill Lewis is the principal of William E. Lewis Jr. & Associates and host of The Credit Report with Bill Lewis — a daily forum for business and financial news, politics, economic trends and issues on AM 740 WSBR in south Florida.

21st annual Broward Jail and Bail to benefit the American Cancer Society

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.
Having a bad dream?

No you are not “under arrest.” The rights you have just heard are all in fun and part of David Singer’s annual Jail and Bail event to benefit the Broward County chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Some of South Florida’s most high-profile figures will appear in front of a judge later this month and answer charges ranging from “illicit basket-weaving” to “needle dusting.” Required to “post bail” to secure their release, it is all to benefit the American Cancer Society and cancer research.

This year’s Jail and Bail honorary chairman is former Miami Dolphins linebacker and ESPN NFL analyst Jason Taylor.

Following in the footsteps of legendary criminal defense attorney Roy Black, NSU Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti, State Attorney Michael Satz, radio personality Paul Castronovo, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida Marlins coach Jack McKeon, WPLG newscaster Kristi Krueger, former Miami Dolphin Bernie Kosar and WQAM personality Joe Rose, Taylor continues the tradition of influential leaders that have lent their name and support in the effort to fight cancer.

“Arrested at their home or place of business, jailbirds will be housed in cells pending an appearance before the judge,” said Hollywood personal injury attorney David Singer. “Detainees call family and friends in an effort to raise money for their release and in support of the American Cancer Society.”

Having committed himself to the American Cancer Society, Singer has chaired Jail & Bail for more than 20 years.

Donors pitch in to “bail out” their family and friends during a 90 minute “detention.” Dozens of local business and community leaders take part in this yearly ritual.

Since the start, Jail and Bail has raised over $2.4 million for the Broward unit of the American Cancer Society. For 2012, Singer has targeted a goal of $200,000.

This year’s Jail and Bail will be held June 26th – 29th in the lobby of the Airport Sheraton, 1825 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, with more than 150 local politicians and community leaders being “arrested.”

The four-day event concludes on August 9th with an “Up the River Cruise.”

For more information on the 21st Annual Broward County Jail and Bail to benefit the American Cancer Society, please call David Singer at (954) 920-1571.

Facebook party at Wings Plus in Coral Springs

With so many friends and family between the social networks of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, MySpace, Meetup, Yelp and myLife, Brian Walsh has decided to stage another Facebook Friends and Family Meet-Up at Wings Plus in Coral Springs.

The first Facebook Family and Friends Meet-Up at Wings Plus on April 30^th went pretty well.  Despite four straight days of rain, three NBA playoff games, two NHL playoff games, an earlier Miami Marlins game, and Dancing with the Stars on ABC, they still managed to have 141 people turn out.

Many of their Facebook friends wanted to attend but could not because of the rain.  Many wanted the first event to be rescheduled.

Despite the sports playoffs, television shows, and torrential downpours throughout South Florida, the event was not canceled but went on as planned.

With that said, Wings Plus is planning a “make-up” event.  If you missed the first party on April 30th, please consider coming out on Tuesday, May 22nd for an even bigger event.

Based upon the success of the May event, Brian Walsh is considering a monthly “Facebook Party” on the fourth Tuesday of the month through the election cycle and Christmas.

“I’m glad to see so many new faces,” said Brian Walsh, the longtime owner of Wings Plus.  “Between the local and national elections, we have certainly seen a lot of increased activity around here.”

Wings Plus has hosted hundreds of state, local, and national candidates for public office in the last two decades. Numerous charity fundraisers also find a home at Wings Plus.

Generally known as the “The Cafe Versailles of Broward” or the place “where the politically elite meet,” Wings Plus is the perfect Northwest Broward venue to stage a meet and greet for their social network of friends and family.

In recent months, Presidential candidates Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich have all visited Brian Walsh at Wings Plus.  Mitt Romney visited in 2008 and George W. Bush visited when he was President of the United States.

The Facebook Friends and Family Meet-Up will be held Tuesday, May 22nd from 6pm until 9pm at the Sample Road location of Wings Plus.  Please attend and meet your Facebook friends in person.

Let’s see if the power of social media is really effective and jam pack Wings Plus the evening of May 22nd.

To RSVP on Facebook, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/208703802580252/

To learn more about the Wings Plus at 9880 West Sample Road in Coral Springs, please visit them at www.wingsplus.com.

“Don’t forget to bring the kids,” concluded Walsh.  “We have a surprise in store for them.”

‘Pay to Play’ comes to Facebook as it starts charging users

Now that I have your attention, the headline above is true. Paying to be popular has come to Facebook, the world’s largest social media platform.

With over 900 million members worldwide, the social networking giant has begun offering users a chance to be better noticed by their friends by testing a “pay-to-be-popular” option.

While “signing up will always be free,” has always been the Facebook motto, spotlighting your status now comes at a price in New Zealand as some users are being prompted with “Highlight” feature costing up to $2 when entering their status update.

The key phrase here: “Signing up” will always be free. Being “highlighted” to your friends comes at a price.

Recent studies show that only 12 percent of a Facebook user’s friends see the average status update. The Highlight feature promises to make a user’s post more prominent by allowing it to appear higher in the news feeds of friends as well as appearing in the news feeds of more friends.

The trial run is being quietly carried out on Facebook’s 1.4 million New Zealand users as a test to determine whether or not they are interested in the feature and whether they would be willing to spotlight themselves among friends for a price.

Originally reported in New Zealand’s Stuff magazine, the new feature was initially suspected to be a scam. However, it has been confirmed as a genuine feature by Facebook.

“We’re constantly testing new features across Facebook,” said Mia Garlick, a spokesperson at Facebook. “This particular test is simply to gauge people’s interest in this method of sharing among their friends.”

The test includes several different methods of spotlighting a Facebook user. While some highlighted posts are very inexpensive, others cost up to $2 each. Payment can be made instantly via PayPal or credit card.

In the latest of a sequence of money-making efforts by Facebook, test participants will have the option to “highlight” a post after submitting it. Friends will then see the word “highlighted” under the post.

Based upon the need for attention and a user’s budget, the decision whether to “highlight” a specific Facebook post and to what extent is left to them.

A free option of Highlight is also available to limited test users.

Highlight comes as Facebook is gearing up for an initial public offering, something expected to value the social media giant at close to $100 billion.

The company’s recent slowdown of growth has prompted Facebook to experiment and concentrate its efforts on making money. The company’s imminent stock market flotation has also added more pressure. Currently, most of Facebook’s money comes from advertising across the site.

Over the weekend, Facebook also unveiled an application store, where for the first time users must pay for some of the available apps.

With 5,000 friends and 35,922 fans on Facebook, I always wondered whether my “message” was being heard. Now I know the answer.

Highlight and “pay to be popular” is not yet available in the United States.

Clicking ‘Like’ on Facebook not protected speech according to federal judge

 

Clicking the “Like” button on Facebook does not qualify for First Amendment protection, a United States District Court judge ruled, dismissing claims that a Virginia sheriff improperly monitored the virtual support of several now former employees.

As the November election approached in 2009, Sheriff B.J. Roberts, of Hampton, Va., learned that six of his employees were actively supporting retired chief deputy Jim Adams for sheriff. These employees had expressed their support for Adams by clicking “Like” on his campaign Facebook page and by attending a barbeque fundraiser on his behalf.

Following a successful re-election bid, Roberts fired several employees, including three uniformed deputies and three civilian workers who supported Adams.

Bobby Bland, Daniel Carter, David Dixon, Robert McCoy, John Sandhofer and Debra Woodward sued Roberts in the Eastern District of Virginia for violating their First Amendment rights.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Roberts allegedly called an agency meeting in which he advised sheriff’s office staff to get on the “long train” with him, rather than ride the “short train” with Adams.

In a motion for summary judgment against the complaint, Roberts countered that some of the employees were fired because of their poor work performance or because he wanted to replace them with sworn deputies. The uniformed deputies were terminated because their actions “hindered the harmony and efficiency of the office.”

In his order, U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson ruled that “liking” a Facebook page does not qualify as protected speech. While public employees are typically allowed to speak as citizens on matters of public concern, simply clicking the “Like” button did not constitute free and expressive speech.

“The sheriff’s knowledge of the posts only becomes relevant if the court finds the activity of liking a Facebook page to be constitutionally protected,” Jackson wrote in his opinion. “It is the court’s conclusion that merely ‘liking’ a Facebook page is insufficient speech to merit constitutional protection. In cases where courts have found that constitutional speech protections extended to Facebook posts, actual statements existed in the record.”

The legal matter enters a vaguely interpreted area of the law as previous cases have dealt with actual written postings on social networks such as Facebook and not the mouse click of a “Like” button.

Nationally recognized constitutional attorney and law professor Bruce Rogow disagreed with Jackson’s ruling.

“A communicative act is a form of free speech and while clicking ‘like’ on Facebook is a minimal act, it is a form of communication thus protected under the First Amendment,” Rogow advised. “Although simply a mouse click, you are clearly conveying a message of support to others.”

But in his ruling, Judge Jackson added, “Simply liking a Facebook page is insufficient. It is not the kind of substantive statement that has previously warranted constitutional protection. The court will not attempt to infer the actual content of Carter’s posts from one click of a button on Adams’ Facebook page.”

Jackson also ruled that Roberts is entitled to qualified immunity, even if the plaintiffs had posted written statements supporting Adams on Facebook.

“In a case where the plaintiffs have asked the court itself to engage in extensive guesswork, an objectively reasonable official in the sheriff’s position cannot be expected to engage in that same calculus,” he said. “A balancing which has been difficult for multiple courts to engage is difficult more so for a sheriff attempting to ensure his actions do not impede upon the constitutional rights of his employees.”

“Taking the facts in the light more favorable to the plaintiffs, Sheriff Roberts is entitled to qualified immunity,” the court concluded.

Roberts, a law enforcement professional with over four decades experience, was unavailable for comment when contacted.

“By going to a candidate’s Facebook page and liking it, you are making a political statement,” concluded Rogow. “This is a form of protected speech.”

Extreme coupon shopping tips

Since the start of the Great Recession in 2008, grocery shoppers have become more frugal.  Concerned about the rising cost of food, toiletries and household goods, they are clipping more coupons and saving more money.  According to the Promotion Marketing Association, spending as little as 20 minutes a week clipping coupons can save an average family close to $1,200 a year.   

Since early 2009, coupon distribution has exploded.  So much so that a recent study revealed over 89 percent of shoppers have used coupons in the last 12 months.  With over 175 billion coupons offered by retailers in the first six months of 2011, this growth builds upon the record-breaking trends of 2009 and 2010 when 311 billion and 330 billion coupons were distributed in the marketplace.

Many of my personal friends, co-workers and Facebook acquaintances regularly wonder how I save 70 to 80 percent at my favorite Fort Lauderdale Publix.  Although I accumulate printable coupons from various websites, the Sunday Miami Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel remain my favorite.  In accumulating coupons from multiple papers – including the Spanish edition since the coupons are different – I have a number for use when an item becomes a “BOGO” free or goes on sale.

Many shoppers use the Sunday newspaper as their main source of coupons. They come in a number of varieties, the most common being the manufacturer’s coupon.  This particular coupon provides a discount on a particular product and is distributed by the manufacturer. Stores accept manufacturers’ coupons because they receive reimbursement, plus a handling fee, upon redemption.

Although grocery retailers allocate about 85% of their coupon distribution to the free-standing insert, Internet distribution has experienced record growth over the last two years.  The most popular online printable coupon sites are: www.coupons.com, www.pgeverydaysolutions.com, www.redplum.com,  www.smartsource.com, and www.valpak.com.

In the past few years, online promotional codes have become extremely popular, providing incentives from free shipping to a percentage off discount.  According to eMarketer, digital coupons have become so popular that 88.9 million shoppers used them in 2011.

Stores and manufacturers also send coupons to shoppers who personally request them.  Obtaining coupons from these sources is as simple as searching the Internet for your favorite brand or store and typing the term “coupon” into your browser.  (For instance, typing the term “Kraft cheese” and “coupon” yielded over 559,000 results.)  Most manufacturers have a separate are for coupons or special discounts.  Thereafter, it is simply a matter of printing the coupon for redemption at the retailer.

Whether you shop at Albertsons (www.albertsonsmarket.com), BJ’s Wholesale Club (www.bjs.com), Food Lion (www.foodlion.com), Publix (www.publix.com), Save-a-Lot (www.save-a-lot.com), Sam’s Club (www.samsclub.com), Sedanos (www.sedanos.com), Sweetbay (www.sweetbaysupermarket.com), Walmart (www.walmart.com), or Winn-Dixie (www.winndixie.com), each of these retailers offer an online section for coupon savings and store discounts.  Shoppers visiting a store website need only direct them

Some grocery stores, such as Publix, will accept traditional competitor’s coupons, while others, such as Albertsons, Sweetbay, Walmart and Winn-Dixie do not.  Although no longer common and not to be expected, it does not hurt to inquire on store specific policies as competitor coupons allow for deeper savings at the checkout counter.

Thousands of websites exist that allow shoppers to buy, sell, or trade coupons.  Although illegal and generally frowned upon, the popular auction site eBay has become number one in coupon sales.

Some of my personal favorites for Internet coupon clipping are www.jillcataldo.com, www.coupondad.net, www.supercouponing.com, www.retailmenot.com, www.couponcabin.com, www.couponmom.com, and www.fatwallet.com.  Be sure to print at least two of each coupon to take advantage of any “BOGO” free offers.

When it comes to “deal-of-the-day” discounts, Groupon (www.groupon.com), LivingSocial (www.livingsocial.com) and LuckyFan (www.luckyfan) are fast becoming industry leaders.

“Today’s shopper is more discount-focused than ever before,” said Jamie McDonnell, President of LuckyFan.  “Daily deal sites are becoming a common reality in tough economic times.  More and more shoppers not only expect, but demand discounted prices.” 

When it comes to eating out, Restaurant.com (www.restaurant.com) is my favorite for gift certificates.  With over 18,000 restaurants nationwide and more than 45,000 daily gift certificate options, customers have saved over $500 million since inception of the program.  Restaurant.com also offers deeply discounted promotional codes for loyal e-mail subscribers and Facebook friends.

According to Restaurant.com, they filled more than 5.5 million tables nationwide and fed more than 18.4 million people in 2010.  This was an increase of almost 10 percent from the previous record year.  Their gift certificate strategy also generated about $400 million in revenue for a struggling restaurant industry.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements in 2011,” said Christopher Krohn, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Restaurant.com.  “These numbers tell a story that goes far beyond our own success. We’re lowering the financial barrier that keeps millions of people away from dining out in an economy that’s still struggling in the wake of a recession. We’re keeping tables filled at establishments that employ tens of thousands of workers around the country, saving jobs from being eliminated and restaurants from closing.”

Coupons represent free money and additional income to those who clip.  Nothing can be further from the truth in a tough economy where grocery bills exceed 12 percent of an average family budget.  “If it’s free – it’s for me” is quickly making its way into my vocabulary.

Togetherville: Facebook for kids is shutting down

At high noon on Sunday, March 11^th the “child-friendly” Togetherville social network will be discontinued.  Purchased by the Walt Disney Company early last year, Mickey Mouse is now saying good-bye to all his friends and disbanding thousands of neighborhoods. 

Created in 2010, founder Mandeep S. Dhillon was seeking an environment in which his tech-savvy four-year old could “play.”  Aimed at kids ten and under, the Togetherville social network was moderated by parents through their personal Facebook accounts.

On Togetherville, children were able to build a neighborhood of friends, approved of course by a parent, and were allowed access to games and art applications.  With all the familiar interaction of Facebook, children were allowed to exist within a safe online environment.

Having received a big boost with the Disney brand, the decision to shutter the social network came in four short sentences.  No rhyme or reason – just a number of referrals to other Disney branded properties:

Disney.com/Create – is a creative platform offering tools that enable children to develop original works of art, including digital paintings, video mashups, comic books, animated pets, and more.

Disney.com/Games – is a kid-friendly online destination with casual games featuring a number of favorite Disney characters.

Disney.com/Videos – is a family-friendly destination featuring original Disney web series, Disney music videos, and videos of favorite Disney characters.  

Club Penguin – is the number one virtual world for children with a reputation for providing fun for kids and peace of mind for parents.

Disney Family.com – is an online destination for mothers and families providing hundreds of crafts, recipes, advice, and family activities.

Attempts to reach Disney on the decision to shutter Togetherville were unsuccessful.

“I’m not happy about this one bit,” said six-year old Katherine of The Sagemont School in Weston and one of the first subscribers on Togetherville.  “Does that mean I can have my own Facebook page now?”

As Mickey Mouse would say, “see you real soon.”  As in the case of Togetherville – you left behind a lot of unhappy kids.  Previously worried about their MySpace accounts, instead their virtual neighborhood of friends at Togetherville is being scattered for all eternity. 

 

President’s Day week on The Credit Report with Bill Lewis

Interesting guests and timely topics will be on AM 740 WSBR and AM 1470 WWNN the week of February 20th and The Credit Report with Bill Lewis.

After more than seven years on the South Florida airwaves, Bill Lewis – host of The Credit Report with Bill Lewis – has left his 9 o’clock morning drive time show on AM 1470 WWNN.

The Credit Report with Bill Lewis, a daily forum for business and financial news, politics, economic trends, and cutting edge issues, a daily radio talk show hosted by Bill Lewis has moved south on the dial and now airs on AM 740 WSBR weekdays at 7am.

Originally launched on AM 1400 WFTL in 2004, as the “Credit Restoration Consultants Hour,” Bill Lewis provided self-help tips and advice regarding credit repair, finances, and related topics. Throughout the years, Bill’s show strayed from the original concept of providing financial awareness to his listeners.

In an effort to strengthen his listener base and to broaden the topics hosted, Bill launched The Credit Report with Bill Lewis upon moving to AM 1470 WWNN within the Beasley Broadcasting group.

Listeners were searching for help regarding a myriad of topics from credit repair, extreme coupon shopping, and foreclosure matters, but welcomed the political format that Bill introduced locally to a south Florida audience.

Guests this week on The Credit Report with Bill Lewis include:

Foreclosure defense attorney Carlos Reyes will appear Monday and host the President’s Day show.  He will discuss the latest developments in the mortgage foreclosure crisis. After nearly a year of negotiations, federal and state officials and five major mortgage servicers (Ally Financial, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo) have announced a $25 billion settlement over alleged foreclosure and mortgage loan-servicing abuses.

Chairman Richard DeNapoli of the Broward Republican Party will appear and discuss initiatives to expand candidate awareness through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Former prosecutor and Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Jim Lewis will appear and discuss his candidacy for Broward State Attorney as the only Republican for this countywide office in 2012. Lewis is challenging incumbent Michael Satz and Chris Mancini, a former federal prosecutor turned defense attorney. Mancini switched his voter registration from independent to Democrat so he could run against Satz in the party’s primary. Lewis will face the winner of the August primary.

Tom Lauder of Red Broward will appear and discuss his political blog where “Making Broward See Red” is not such a hard job.

Brian Walsh of Wings Plus in Coral Springs will appear and discuss recent appearances by presidential candidates Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich and how his establishment has become “the place to go” for political candidates in south Florida.

Republican Party of Broward County Executive Director Rico Petrocelli will appear and discuss initiatives to grow the local party and upcoming events.

Jennifer Cabrera will appear from Saudi Arabia and discuss her efforts on behalf of Planet Beach Contempo Spa to introduce that brand to the country. Cabrera did not take the traditional road to spa ownership. After years in corporate sales, Cabrera wanted to own her own business. A member of Planet Beach, she heard about the Ms. Planet Beach Gen X contest and a grand prize package that included a free license. Cabrera is now a proud franchisee in North Miami Beach, Florida.

Fort Lauderdale philanthropist and serial entrepreneur Jamie McDonnell will appear and discuss his latest venture, daily deal site LuckyFan.  LuckyFan.com is a dynamic daily discount deal site unlike any other. LuckyFan offers spectacular deals and once in a lifetime experiences so you can live it up, and Get Lucky!

Bill Burke of Paradise Bank will appear and discuss how his three branch bank reached a significant milestone in its six year history by becoming the top Small Business Administration (SBA) community bank lender in the state of Florida.

Since the show’s inception, Bill Lewis has interviewed some of the country’s leading politicians, including: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Herman Cain, Chris Christie, Jon Huntsman, Allen West, Rick Scott, George LeMieux, Jeff Atwater, Pam Bondi, Marco Rubio, Sharon Day, Alex Sink, Adam Putnam, Charlie Crist, Bill McCollum, Jeff Kottkamp, Jennifer Carroll, Christine O’Donnell, among others.

In addition, The Credit Report with Bill Lewis has hosted a number of politicians as well as attorneys and financial experts in the south Florida area. Among the dozens that have appeared on the show are Carlos Reyes, Al Lamberti, Chip LaMarca, Adam Hasner, Ellyn Bogdanoff, Tom Rooney, Roger Stone, Bob Davids, Lori Parrish, Richard Denapoli, Rico Petrocelli, Jamie McDonnell, Jim Lewis, Tom Lauder, and John Contini.

The Credit Report with Bill Lewis airs live, Monday through Friday from 7am-8am with an encore presentation Saturday’s at 3pm on AM 740 WSBR. Streaming audio is available at http://www.wsbrradio.com and on air participation is welcome at (888) 721-0074.

If you miss the early broadcast, The Credit Report with Bill Lewis is still available weeknights at 9pm and Sunday’s at 1pm on AM 1470 WWNN by streaming audio at http://www.wwnnradio.com.

For daily updates on The Credit Report with Bill Lewis, you can join Bill’s 35,950 plus fans on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/thecreditreportwithbilllewis

Protect yourself against credit repair scams

While the economy has been showing some signs of improvement, your good name and reputation is becoming more important within the community. Creditors have tightened their guidelines effectively barring millions of Americans from borrowing money.

Mortgage lenders, auto finance companies, credit card issuers and banks have all raised the bar. Borrowers with low FICO scores can expect to be denied or to pay significantly higher interest rates than those with excellent histories.

Long gone are the days of obtaining credit, goods, benefits, services and/or employment with a 620 score. In most instances, a consumer will be denied if they maintain a credit score lower than 740. Even those with high credit scores have experienced closed credit card accounts and equity lines.  When an account has not been closed, credit limits have been reduced to the current balance due. 

The terms credit repair, credit restoration or credit rehabilitation are somewhat synonymous. Those with bad histories cannot afford to ignore the potential benefits of credit repair. In today’s economy, a strong FICO score is more important than ever. 

Approximately 78% of credit profiles in the United States contain some sort of error or omission materially impacting credit worthiness.  Absent self-help and the “do-it-yourself” approach, a consumer may hire a credit service organization (CSO) in the restoration of their good name and reputation within the community.

Most – but not all – CSO’s specialize in the restoration of consumer credit worthiness as well as identity theft issues.  Assuming that the credit repair company is performing within the law, they utilize laws enacted by Congress to dispute negative, erroneous, obsolete, and/or fraudulent information contained within your consumer credit profile.

Utilizing the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, a reputable CSO will assist in the submission of disputes electronically, verbally and in writing to the Equifax, Experian and Trans Union consumer reporting agencies.  Disputes are also submitted to creditors, collection agencies, third-party record providers and/or state, federal, local, and private regulatory authorities.

Unlike most credit repair clinics that submit the same written dispute letters monthly, a reputable CSO will have devised a strategy whereby disputes are submitted electronically, verbally and in writing over a long period of time to the credit reporting agencies, creditors, collectors, and third-party record providers reporting negative, inaccurate, obsolete and/or erroneous information.

Keep in mind that anything a CSO can do – you can do yourself for little to no cost. With that said, a reputable organization should have an edge as they will possess the education, knowledge and a source proven method that is generally unknown to the average consumer. 

A reputable CSO should have a provable track record of results as well as the ability to modify and/or remove erroneous or inaccurate judgments, liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies, short-sales, student loans, inquiries, derogatory tradelines, personal identifiers and other transient data from a consumer’s credit report. Although the credit restoration process can take anywhere from 30 days to six months, most individuals should see some results within the first 45 to 60 days.

Credit repair, credit restoration and/or credit rehabilitation is as legal as pleading “not guilty” in a court of law. With that said, one must understand that most CSO’s are not law firms and that their employees may not be licensed to practice law.  As such, even a reputable CSO cannot provide legal advice nor may they represent a consumer before any court or in any legal proceeding.  In the event that legal representation is required, the credit repair company should provide an appropriate attorney referral for consultation.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as modified by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report under a narrow set of circumstances.  If you have been denied credit, goods, benefits, services, insurance, and/or employment, the credit reporting agencies of Equifax, Experian and Trans Union are statutorily mandated to provide a copy free of charge.

Equifax can be contacted at (800) 685-1111 or www.Equifax.com;Experian can be contacted at (888) 397-3742 or www.Experian.com;and Trans Union can be contacted at (800) 916-8800 or www.TransUnion.com. Be sure to prompt that you were denied credit when requested to do so.

Absent these exceptions, consumers are entitled to one free “annual credit report” per year. Credit scores are not included with any of the “free credit reports” provided by the national credit reporting agencies.

For your free annual credit report, contact the central source at 877-FACT-ACT (877-322-8228) or www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Follow the voice prompts and obtain your credit report for review.

When self-help or the “do-it-yourself” approach is not feasible and you decide to hire a CSO to restore your credit, be sure to check them out.  While the majority of credit repair clinics are scams, a few good ones do exist.  Consumers can check out a credit service organization through their state Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or through the Better Business Bureau at www.BBB.org.

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The Credit Report with Bill Lewis airs live, Monday through Friday from 7am-8am with an encore presentation Saturday’s at 3pm on AM 740 WSBR.  Streaming audio is available at www.wsbrradio.com and on air participation is welcome at (888) 721-0074.

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