of identity theft
If you become a victim of identy theft, Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall says the first thing you need to do is contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus.
Those bureaus are Equifax at (800) 525-6285, Experian at (888) 397-3742 and TransUnion at (800) 680-7289. Ask them for a copy of your credit report in writing. Review this report carefully and submit any discrepancies to the agency, asking that the discrepancies be removed from your report. By law, the agency must attempt to verify information within 30 days of your request. Follow up with the credit reporting agencies a few months later to insure that the changes were made.
Second, contact the creditors of any accounts that were tampered with or fraudulently opened. You may do so by phone, but always follow up in writing to protect your rights under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act.
Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and open new accounts with new personal identification numbers and passwords.
Third, file a report with the police department in the community where the identity theft took place. Identity theft is a felony in Kansas.
For more tips on where to go and steps to take if you are a victim of identity theft can be found in the Federal Trade Commission's brochure "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen T YOur Good Name. For a copy of the brochure visit the FTC Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or call the FTC at (877) 438-4338. Persons also may call Stovall's consumer protection division at (800) 432-2310 to request a copy.
ETIQUETTE
Noise control helps
cubicle mates get along
Are your cubicle neighbor's noisy personal habits preventing you from performing at your peak? You might want to consider investing in some noise of your own.
John Brady, president of HRnext.com, a provider of human resources news and information in Old Saybrook, Conn., says a "white-noise" machine is probably the best weapon against such stress-inducing distractions.
Brady's Web site recommends at least a dozen other tips for thriving in a cubicle environment, such as hanging a "Do Not Disturb" to thwart unwanted visits and keeping a tidy cube if you share it. He also strongly advises against clipping your fingernails, wearing strong perfume or cologne, and chatting too loudly on the telephone.
And if a co-worker isn't showing you the same courtesy, just tell them, Brady says.
"It's tough, but the best thing is to be direct and say, 'This is nothing personal and I thought you would want to know,"' he said. "Most people who have an offensive habit aren't aware of it or aren't aware that other people notice."
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