Don't Be a Victim of Christmas Crime

The media and police are warning consumers to use caution and common sense when shopping during this holiday season. The holiday seasons are one of the highest crime periods of the year. 

Although the unemployment rate is down to 5 percent many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet. Some Americans are only working part-time or minimum wage this holiday season and thieves are more desperate than ever. A spike in crime occurred across the country on Black Friday just after Thanksgiving and usually continues through New Year’s Day. Last year someone broke into my car on New Year’s Day. The police officer who responded stated that many crimes occur on New Year’s Day.

Some of the common crimes are:

• Stealing gas while you are at the gas station
• Car theft/carjacking
• Pickpockets
• Snatch and grab
• Stealing grocery carts full of groceries when the customer walks to get their car
• Stealing packages from homeowners porches
• Employees stealing from customers or from the office
• Stealing money and gift cards in postal mail
• Workers stealing water or electricity when rehabbing a home
• Scams
• Identity theft
• Fake car trouble – pulling beside a driver telling them something is wrong with their car and they need to pull over
• Home burglaries

Don’t be a victim this holiday season. It is better to be safe than sorry. Don’t think you are immune to theft. Even the best protection systems or deterrents will not stop a thief who is determined to rob someone. Always be aware of your surroundings. Criminals also steal from people they know. Here are 41 tips to reduce your chances of being a victim this holiday season.

Auto

1. Don’t leave your car unlocked or your trunk open at any time.
2. Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the inside of your car and around the car before getting in. Get in your car quickly. Lock your doors as soon as you get in the car.
3. Don't leave anything in your car.
4. Buy gas during the daytime.
5. Be on guard when riding in taxis, Uber or Lyft, many taxi drivers get robbed during the holidays and some drivers have kidnapped riders.
6. Don't park near a van or truck that obstructs your vision especially at night.
7. Don't fall for scams when someone asks you to walk away from your car to help them.
8. Beware of people approaching you in parking lots or outside stores.
9. Drive defensively.

Home

1. Lock all the doors and windows at your home when you are at home and away from home.
2. If you go out of town, use a timer on your lights. You can also have a friend or relative house sit while you are out of town.
3. If you go out of town, hold your mail at your local post office.
4. If you come home when it's dark outside talk on your cell phone until you get in the house and lock the door.
5. Turn the porch light on if you know you will arrive home after dark.
6. Install security cameras at your front and back doors.
7. Ask neighbors to keep an eye out for you and your home.

Finances

1. Don't discuss your salary, where you live or where you go shopping.  You make spark the interest of a potential criminal or actual criminal.
2. Don't use the ATM in a secluded, poorly lit area or at night. 
3. Don't carry your social security card or birth certificate card in your wallet.
4. Don't carry your checkbook unless you know you will write a check that day.
5. Only carry cash and possibly one credit card or your debit card.
6. Don’t give out your personal information via email or over the phone to strangers.
7. If you order checks have them delivered to your bank.

Shopping

1. Leave the mall before gets dark. If you are a woman, ask a mall security guard to walk you to your car.
2. Don't go shopping when it’s dark but if you have to, go shopping with a friend or two.
3. When walking, shopping or driving use your Bluetooth.  
4. If you will be away from home get packages delivered to a neighbor’s house.
5. Ship packages that contains items of value with insurance and delivery confirmation.
6. Only carry the credit cards you need and minimal cash when shopping. Don’t flash your credit cards or money.
7. Do not buy more than you can carry. Take a friend with you or ask a store security guard to help you carry your packages to your car.
8. Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise such as prepaid cards.
9. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.

Online Shopping

1. Install security software and keep it up-to-date.
2. Delete spam messages. Don’t respond to messages asking to verify your personal identity.
3. Use caution when clicking on advertisements.
4. Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.
5. Shop with companies you know and trust.

Trash

1. Avoid taking your trash out late at night.
2. Tear up boxes that contained expensive gifts and put them in a separate trash bag to deter thieves that may go through your trash.

Be safe this holiday!

How to Apply for a Job With Bad Credit

                                

Credit scores are used by employers to screen applicants. Traditionally candidates applying for jobs with the police or fire department, government agencies, finance or banking industries only performed credit checks. Now most companies perform credit checks. 

A candidate can ask that their credit report not be pulled but this will raise an eyebrow and probably disqualify you from being considered for the job because the employer will feel you have something to hide. If you know you have bad credit notify the employer upfront and tell them what you are doing to restore your credit. 

Employers look at bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax liens, multiple bounced checks, divorce, driving violations and medical bills because they assume that a candidate with bad credit or money problems will not be able to perform the job or can easily be bribed.  

Credit checks can judge candidates unfairly because you don't know the reason a candidate hasg bad credit. Some employers feel that if you have bad credit you will not be a trustworthy and dependable employee, i.e. you may arrive to work late, be a lazy employee, borrow money from co-workers, spent money irresponsibly, your attitude, credibility, integrity, etc.

Credit checks can disqualify certain groups of people such as recent college graduates, employees with 1-3 years experience, low-income employees and the elderly because their credit scores may not accurately reflect how they will manage their money in the future.  Here are 5 ways to apply for a job with bad credit.

1. Applicants should be aware of their credit score and try to get the highest score possible prior to applying for jobs to increase their chances of getting hired, especially if the hiring company states that they will do a background check. It is better to be proactive and let the company know upfront than to wait and have the company find out on their own. By telling the company upfront you appear more trustworthy and honest as opposed to not saying anything which makes you appear deceitful and untrustworthy.
2. If you have bad credit and cannot get your credit problems fixed in a short amount of time you might have a better chance of getting hired by a smaller company who may not have the same resources and budget as larger companies to perform background checks. Check the law in your state to determine if credit checks are performed as a part of the employment process http://www.ncsl.org/research/financial-services-and-commerce/use-of-credit-info-in-employ-2013-legis.aspx. Here are 4 ways to apply for a job with bad credit.
3. Order a copy of your credit report from the 3 major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You can also check court records, do your own background check (look in the Yellow Pages under "investigators'") to get an accurate view of your credit history and outstanding debt.
4. Wait about 3-6 months before applying for a job if you have bad credit to allow enough time to address issues on your credit reports to help increase your credit score.
5. If you are not hired for a job and feel it was because of your credit you can ask the employer what credit bureau they used and order a free copy of your credit report. A background check can include viewing your credit report, bankruptcy filing, criminal records, court records, drug tests, driving record, and other information. Federal Law prohibits an employer from refusing a candidate basis solely on their credit or because they filed for bankruptcy (FCRA 11 USC §525) but it can be used as a factor in not hiring a candidate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets national standards for employment screening but the law only applies to background checks performed by "consumer reporting agency". The law does not apply to employers who conduct background checks in-house.

Always know your credit score, it can mean the difference between being fired or getting the job and salary you desire.

Should You Use a Personal Loan or HELOC

                                   

Today there are many options available to make a purchase: cash, prepaid cards, checks, credit cards, debit cards, loans, personal loans, home equity line of credit (HELOC) and more. With all these choices, it can be difficult to decide which payment method to choose. However, paying with cash will always save you money and offer the most negotiating power.

When it comes to making home improvements there are two types of loans you can choose from: secured and unsecured. An asset such as home secures secured loans. Unsecured loans are not secured by an asset and are riskier for lenders. Borrowers are evaluated based on credit scores.

Homeowners can use an unsecured loan such as a personal loan also known as a signature loan or use a secured loan such as a HELOC to pay for home repairs. Personal loans are loans offered by a bank or financial institution. You get a fixed amount of money in a lump sum and pay the money back over time through monthly payments. 

Mortgage companies or financial institutions allow homeowners to borrow money using the home’s equity as collateral called HELOCs also known as a second mortgage. HELOCs let you convert your home equity into cash, which can be used for home improvements, starting a business, debt consolidation, college education, or other expenses.

A HELOC works similar to a credit card because it has a revolving balance that allows you to borrow up to a specific amount for the life of the loan. You must repay the loan in full when you sell the home.

Get all the facts and ask questions when deciding between using a personal loan or HELOC. Here are the advantages of using a personal loan versus using a HELOC.

Personal Loan

1. Quicker approval times
2. Shorter terms
3. You don’t have enough equity in your home
4. You don’t want to use your home as collateral
5. Easier to qualify for
6. No fees
7. You know the loan’s full cost upfront and how much you are borrowing
8. Fixed interest rate
9. Fixed monthly payment

HELOC

1. You aren’t concerned about a fixed rate
2. Approval for large amounts
3. Interest payments may be tax deductible
4. Can borrow money periodically
5. More flexibility to use money as needed
6. Interest paid over time may be lower