An Unusual Topic For Time Management!

As you read this month's newsletter you may think that the topic is odd for a time management company. However, as you read on you will find that the topic is worthwhile and that the Discovery Organizer is an important tool to this topic.

What is the topic? Lost or stolen purses and wallets! It is unknown how many people loose or misplace their purses or wallets each month, however the number that is reported as lost or stolen is staggering. And the outcome of stolen purses and wallets can have a long-term negative effective on you and your credit.

First of all, what does the thief gain access to when they steal your purse or wallet? Everything! Your credit card, your social security number, birthday, address, etc etc etc. What can they do with all of this information? They can rob you blind and they can ruin your credit. One person reported that when her purse was stolen within one week the thieves purchased an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for new credit cards, had a credit line approved to buy a new Gateway computer, received a PIN number the Department of Motor Vehicles to change their driving record information (new address, telephone number, etc) ON-LINE and more. Much more!

So, what do you do if your purse or wallet is lost or stolen? Well, you know the obvious. You should immediately call all of your credit card companies and report the cards as stolen. The problem is that most people do not know how many or which credit cards they were carrying at the moment and they don't know the correct 800#s to call (these numbers are normally on the credit card itself). How do you solve this problem? Prior to having an emergency of this type, we recommend that you create a list of all of the credit cards you carry. This list must include the company name, credit card # and the 800 # you should call if the card is lost or stolen. We recommend you make more than one copy of the list and put the copies in a safe place in the event you may need to use it (obviously your purse or wallet is not a safe place!). We recommend you put one copy in your safe deposit box or similar safe place in your home (freezer, underwear drawer, etc) and you could put one in your Discovery Organizer. That way, when you need it you can find it immediately.

Another tip is to turn to the front side of Tab 3 (orange tab) in your Discovery Organizer. On this page list all of the 800#s for your credit cards. We have listed 7 of the most common ones for your convenience (check the number on Tab 3 against the number on your credit card). Add any and all 800#s not listed on Tab 3 (to this tab) that you may need in the future.

Who else should you contact when your purse or wallet is stolen? Immediately file a police report IN THE JURISDICTION where it was stolen. This proves to your credit card companies that you acted diligently to protect your and their best interest. Besides, if it turns up in the trash or in an alley, the police will know how to contact you and return your lost purse or wallet.

Are you done? Absolutely not! Many people never do this next step but it is critical. We recommend that you immediately contact all three (3) of the national credit reporting bureaus and report that your purse or wallet was stolen with all of your critical information in it and place a fraud alert on your name and social security number. This prevents the thief from attempting to apply for credit over the Internet. Before potential new creditors can issue credit to you, they must receive a report from one of these credit bureaus. If you have placed a fraud alert on your file, the potential creditor must contact you directly to verify that it is actually you who is applying for the credit. A woman in Michigan didn't know to do this and she continues to fight a bad credit rating from a theft of her purse that occurred seven years ago!

For your convenience the following are the telephone numbers for these credit bureaus and the Social Security Administration Fraud line:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-800-301-7195
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271

Stop what you are doing right now and write these numbers down on either the front or backside of Tab 3 in your Discovery Organizer. Oh, also add these numbers to your list that you plan to hide in your underwear drawer!

As soon as you complete all of the steps we have outlined in this newsletter, the thieves won't be able to use your existing credit or obtain new credit lines. When this is the case, they will discard all of your personal data and move on to some other unsuspecting victim!

As a final note, the backside of the FORMS Tab (blue tab) in your Discovery Organizer is an excellent place to keep some of the important Personal Information that you may need in a moment's notice. You don't have to keep it here but you can and it is reliably handy!

So there you have it! And now you should easily see how this is a great topic for a time management company. These tips will save you time, lower your stress, decrease your personal liability and provide you with a common sense tool to keep this valuable information . . . your Discovery Organizer!

PS On the back of Tab 3 you will find the telephone numbers of American Express and Master Card International if your travelers checks or lost or stolen! Report these immediately as well!