Protect Your Identity

Are you actively protecting your identity?

Last November, Ann and I cleared out boxes and boxes of paperwork. There was so much that it would have taken days to shred. So I hauled it out back and burned it. We have a dependable paper shredder that I bought at Costco. It has a cross-cut design and even handles credit cards. Ann actually recycles the paper by feeding the worms in her garden.

Identity theft is a multibillion-dollar industry. A few pieces of information from your garbage is all someone needs. Are you working from home? It’s important to protect not only your own information but that of others. It keeps you in compliance with the law and helps eliminate clutter and fire hazards. Experian reported some ways that identity theft takes a toll on your finances. Please pay attention as I pass on their warning. If you fail to report phony charges on your debit or credit cards within a certain period of time, you could be held responsible for the loss. It takes an average of 6 months and roughly 200 hours of work to recover your identity once compromised. If time is money – that’s a lot of dollars!

And if someone uses your identity to commit crimes, you could face legal consequences. Think about the time and cost to clear a criminal record! Your credit report could be damaged. The time to repair and the possible costs involved are numerous. Have I convinced you yet? Get a shredder, use it and do everything else the experts advise to guard your identity. 

Now that can be depressing, but so is debt, and if you’re struggling with credit card debt, I recommend Christian Credit Counselors. They can create a debt management plan just for you. For more information call the Crown Helpline: 800-722-1976 or visit online at crown.org/ccc.