Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I received an e-mail saying the four major credit bureaus will be allowed to disclose personal information to anyone who requests it, as of July 1. Such things as credit information, mailing addresses and phone numbers can now be given out to the public. The e-mail also lists a phone number to call to "opt out." But they say you need to give them your Social Security number. This sounds fishy to me. Is it a scam to get people's Social Security number? Or is it legitimate? Credit fraud in
sheep’s clothingAnswer: The e-mail you received, containing half-truths and misinformation, was sent to people nationwide, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Stephen Levins, acting executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection, forwarded the FTC's alert about the e-mail, saying it is a prime example of "Don't believe everything you read," especially e-mail messages from someone you don't know.
According to the FTC, credit bureaus can release credit information only to people with a legitimate business need, as recognized by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. They include companies to which you are applying for credit, insurance, employment or to rent an apartment. Also, the FTC said "lenders and insurers may use information in your credit file as a basis for sending you unsolicited offers. This is known as 'pre-screening.'"
You can call, toll-free, 1-888-567-8688 to "opt out" of pre-screened offers by the major credit bureaus only.
Meanwhile, July 1, 2001, was the deadline the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act set for financial institutions to give you notice of their privacy policies and a way for you to opt out of some of their information-sharing practices, the FTC said. The July 1 date was not a deadline for consumers to do anything. You can contact your financial institution any time to opt out under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, according to the FTC.
The commission "strongly advises that you not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know with whom you're dealing. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal your Social Security number, mother's maiden name, financial account numbers and other identifying information. Legitimate organizations with whom you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it."
For more information about this and other consumer-related matters, you can call, toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the complaint form on the FTC Web site, http://www.ftc.gov.
Alaska death certificate
To the person who wrote asking about obtaining a death certificate in Alaska, more information is needed. Please call 529-4773 and leave a daytime contact number, or at least let us know what the legal relationship was between you and the person who died, and in what city and when he died.
Auwe
How can Hawaii's "Oldies but Goodies" radio station claim to play "the best oldies music" when it excludes all rock 'n' roll from the 1950s? No Little Richard, no Frankie Lyman and no doo-wop. It seems like they play the same '60s songs on a loop. All we hear every half an hour is the best of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Simon & Garfunkle. Are they telling us that a person who graduated from high school in 1970 is a more valuable consumer than a person from the Class of 1958? -- Smokey Spector
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com