clarkgriswold

Watch out, renters, don't fall for that new car-rental-counter fasttalking scam

"You probably don't need any of our additional insurance coverages today, right? You're all set with just the basic?"

No, you don't want their BASIC either (if you are already covered from your own car policy or your credit card.)

KE1TH

Loki, I try not be be paranoid either, but on the other hand, I don't want to make it easy for someone to steal "my identity". There ARE people out there that are looking for certain types of thrown away mail.... mostly those "pre-approved" applications (where your social security number isn't needed) that I receive a dozen of each week. If you have a mail box that isn't the locking kind, they can fill out the application then monitor your mailbox to watch for the arrival of the credit card. Then they go out and spend, spend, spend and a month or so later, you receive a bill for purchases against a credit card you are not even aware that exists. This happens all the time. It happened to a girl I work with and it took her months to get it cleared up. I think a few extra minutes each day is definately worth it to ensure you don't go through this scenario ever. It's a shame, but, unfortunately I think, a neccessity. Keith

BeachBoi

Identity theft is nothing to sneeze at.Keith I agree with you.It just takes a minute and I got a shredder for $20.With 4 guys sharing my house,we get a ton of junk mail every week.We take turns being the Master Shredder.Last year identity theft cost consumers and businesses $53billion and almost 10million Americans had their identies stolen.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/1....ap/index.html

GBelle

Speaking of checks in the mail, I HATE to get the blank checks with credit card statements that read something like "just use these checks if you need a little extra cash this month." Well, if you read the fine print, it will be charged to your credit card at whatever whopping % interest rate you are charged for your credit card. I just ripped one up the other day so I don't recall if it's for "cash advances" or regular credit card purchases. Different % rate on each, with the cash advance usually higher.

jenneepoo

Even though I'm getting off topic a bit, it might be worthwhile for those of you who receive lots of these offers for credit cards and the like to contact the Direct Marketing Association and the other opt-out services to get your name taken off some lists. The following was taken directly off of a privacy notice sent to me by my bank. I don't get too many of these items any longer. It helps that I no longer order much via catalog either.

For advertising received by mail:
Mail Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html

For advertising received by phone:
Telephone Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offtelephonelist.html

For advertising received by e-mail:
E-mail Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
www.e-mps.org/en/

To get off some (but not all)pre-approved credit solicitations call 1.888.5OPTOUT (1.888.567.8688)

Hope this helps someone avoid some of the headaches that have been mentioned in this post.