Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I have not yet received my Social Security statement Form 1099 and I would like to do my taxes. One neighbor received it but another hasn't. I was wondering if there has been any delay in sending them out this year. Social Security statement
should arrive by next weekAnswer: Forty-five million of the form 1099s, the Social Security benefits statement, were to be mailed this year and all were supposed to be sent by the first week of February, according to Tim Walsh, spokesman for the local office of the Social Security Administration.
He suggests waiting until early next week.
"If someone hadn't gotten it by last week, it's not that unusual," he said. "But if they don't get it in the next week or so, they can either call or go online and request a new (form)."
Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to request a replacement form or, if you have access to the Internet, you can do it online by going to www.ssa.gov. Walsh says look for the "Quick Start" area at the top left of the page, click on "online services," then "request a Social Security statement."
Q: My sister and I are both getting letters from MBNA America Bank about Platinum Plus credit cards which they allege we have. Letters refer to the credit line I allegedly have, the last four digits of the card I allegedly have, etc. I threw away several mailings until we compared notes, but I know I never signed up for this out-of-state card. My sister has written to them to demand that her account be closed, which just generated more mailings. Since we both get them, I wonder if the credit card offer was connected either with our union or our alma mater. Isn't there some law that limits a bank from doing this without a customer actually consenting? Should we send registered letters, or write to some government agency or what?
A: Federal law says a company cannot issue a credit card except in response to an explicit oral or written request or an application for a card from a consumer, said Stephen Levins, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.
That's per the Truth in Lending Act, he said.
He said you should ask the bank for proof of your authorization. If somehow they do have an authorization, you need to track down how that happened without your consent, he said.
If the bank cannot provide such evidence, contact his office and "we will try to facilitate tracking it down."
Either his office will investigate or it will refer it to the consumer protection authority in the bank's jurisdiction.
Although credit card issuers cannot send you a new card that you didn't ask for, they can send you a renewal or substitute card without your approval or request, and send you applications or solicitations.
In addition to the Office of Consumer Protection, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Call the FTC toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or go online to http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/ consumer.htm and use the online complaint form.
The FTC says it "does not resolve individual consumer problems, (but) your complaint helps us investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action."
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