Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft!

If you are like me, and receive numerous unsolicited offers of credit on a routine basis, there is now an easy way to opt out of receiving such offers.

OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture among Equifax Information Services, LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Innovis Data Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion, LLC (collectively the "Consumer Credit Reporting Companies"). Through the OptOutPrescreen.com website, you may exercise your right to Opt-Out, which is a term for removing your name from receiving firm offers of credit or insurance based on your credit information with the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion. OptOutPrescreen.com’s primary purpose is to accept and process requests from consumers to "Opt-Out" of receiving firm offers of credit or insurance.

I have exercised my right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to opt out of receiving unsolicted offers of credit or insurance for the next five years. I believe that this will reduce the chances of my becoming a victim of identity theft in the event one of these unsolicted offers ends up in the wrong hands. Opting out is also the environmentally conscious thing to do. Think how many trees will be saved, along with gasoline, etc. associated with delivering all these offers. I have also been told that opting out may increase one's credit score on the order of ten points or more. I'm not sure whether this is true, but it sounds good.

In case you don't want to opt out online, you can also call 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688). If you want to opt in, you can do that also. What a country!

OptOutPreScreen.com

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Resort Township's East Park to Remain Closed

Due to the ongoing cleanup of environmental contamination by CMS Energy at the site of the former Petoskey cement plant, Resort Township's East Park will remain closed to the public for at least another season, and possibly longer.

According to township supervisor Robert Wheaton, much of the park will have to be torn out to remediate large piles of kiln dust, including the parking lots, steps to the waterfront and pavillion.

East Park to Remain Closed [Traverse City Record Eagle]