† ID Theft Victims Support Group of North America †

We are proud to announce that we are now being featured on the "Predators.TV web site.  Go to this web link:

http://www.predators.tv/research/identitythieves.asp

and click on Item No. 9 (America's Sleeping Giant:  Child Identity Theft) and No. 10 (VA Security Breach).

We are in the process of developing affiliations with PROTECT.ORG, Office of Victims of Crimes (OVC) and National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA).

Thank You.

Our organization has teamed up with the Federal Trade Commission and their partners with "OnGuard OnLine" to help fight Internet Fraud, Scams, and Identity Theft by educating your employees, members, constituents, friends, and customers about safer computing.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains OnGuardOnLine.gov with contributions from the following partners:

Federal Trade Commission    Homeland Security

United States Postal Inspection Service    Department of Commerce

Securities and Exchange Commission    GetNetWise

STAYSAFEONLINE.org (National Cyber Security Alliance)

Anti-Phishing Working Group    TRUSTe    I-SAFE    AARP

National Consumer League Direct Marking Association 

The National Association of Attorneys General    Better Business Bureau 

NetFamilyNews  CompTIA

CONSUMER UNION 

We have also teamed up with "Consumer Union" in fighting "Identity Theft" issues at both state and federal levels across America.  Here is some of the fights we have won this past year:

Minerva Novoa, Internet Advocacy Coordinator 7/12/06 Dear Lawrence,                                                                             Great news! Together, we're putting the kibosh on identity thieves.  In roughly one year, consumers like you sent more than 420,000 emails to lawmakers across the country asking them to pass strong identity theft protections. Due to these efforts, 25 states have passed laws protecting consumers.  Last week, more than 1,500 consumers from 49 states and the D.C. called their representatives and asked them to "Vote No" on HR 3997, a do-nothing identity bill. The effort paid off as the House delayed a vote on the bill!  Help us kill this bill once and for all.  Find out how you can help!   (Courtesy of Consumer)

Unexpected credit card "gotchas" can cost you thousands! You pay your bills, but the bank can change your interest rate and terms at any time, so you pay more, even for purchases you've already made. You mail the bill before it's due, but get hit with a late fee anyway. You sign up for a 7% interest rate, but it skyrockets to 30% if you bounce a check, go over the limit, or miss payments.

The GAO just released a study confirming what consumers have already experienced. There's momentum for reform and a new Congress seeking proposals that will make a real difference.

I take responsibility for my credit card payments. So I expect the credit card companies to do the same. I expect an END to:

* late fees if my bill payment is postmarked by the due date;
* retroactive interest rates - changes that apply a higher interest rate to charges I made under the old interest rate;
* interest rate increases due to a late payment I made on some other debt;
* over-limit fees if my credit card company has pre-approved the charge;
* "elastic" contract terms that allow credit card companies to change terms for any, or no, reason.

And:

* Each bill should update me about the financial result of making a minimum payment--how long it will take to repay the balance and how much it will cost in interest;
* The pricing disclosed in the contract and in my bills must be simpler and easier to understand.

Finally, if I can't always understand my credit card contract, how can I expect my teenaged children to understand? Congress should protect young consumers from marketing practices that place them at risk of crushing debt that can ruin their financial futures.

It's time to bring some fairness for consumers into the credit card marketplace.
 
Bills like S. 499 (the "Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act"), S. 393 (the "Credit Card Minimum Payment Warning Act of 2005"), S. 2655 (the "Credit Card Reform Act") and H.R. 3492 (the "Consumer Credit Card Protection Act") offer these kinds of protections. Don't let another year go by without acting on this important issue.

The above information is provided by Consumer Union.  Please click on the Christmas Card and send a letter to your U.S. Senator's and Representatives in Washington D.C.