My wallet was stolen, with Credit Union cards in it, who do I call?
During office hours - call the credit union!
If your credit union Credit Card has been stolen, call 1-800-325-3678. If you're traveling or live outside the United States please call 1-727-227-2447 collect.
If your credit union Debit/ATM Card has been lost or stolen, call 1-800-754-4128. If you're traveling or live outside the United States, please call 1-727-277-9012 collect.
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My Debit/Check card was blocked by Card Member Security. What do I do?
Card Member Security, our fraud detection service, will call you if fraudulent activity is dectected. And, in some cases, BLOCK your card and then call if something looks suspicious. You can call Card Member Security at 1-888-241-2440 to verify transactions and reactivate your card.
If your Credit Union Credit Card has been blocked, please call 1-800-237-6211 to have your card reactivated.
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My IDENTITY was stolen, what do I do?
Identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person's identifying information. Often, identity thieves will use another person's personal information, such as a social security number, mother's maiden name, date of birth, or account number to open fraudulent new credit accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write share drafts, open share accounts, or obtain new loans. They may obtain this information by:
* Stealing wallets that contain personal identification information and credit cards. Stealing credit union statements from the mail.
* Diverting mail from it's intended recipients by submitting a change of address form. Rummaging through trash for personal data.
* Stealing personal identification information from workplace records.
* Intercepting or otherwise obtaining information transmitted electronically.
Do not give personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, over the telephone, through the mail or over the Internet, unless you initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.
Store personal information in a safe place and tear up old credit card receipts, ATM receipts, old account statements, and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Protect your PINs and other passwords. Avoid using easily available information such as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, your phone number, etc. Carry only the minimum amount of identifying information and number of credit cards that you need. Pay attention to billing cycles and statements. Inquire of the credit union, if you do not receive a monthly bill. It may mean that the bill has been diverted by an identity thief. Check account statements carefully to ensure all charges, share drafts, or withdrawals were authorized. Guard your mail from theft. If you have the type of mailbox with a flag to signal that the box contains mail, do not leave bill payment envelopes in your mailbox with the flag up. Instead, deposit them in a post office collection box or at the local post office. Promptly remove incoming mail. Order copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a year to ensure that they are accurate. The law permits the credit bureaus to charge $8.50 for a copy of the report (unless you live in a state that requires the credit bureaus to provide you with one free copy of your report annually).
The following are the telephone numbers for the fraud departments of the three national credit bureaus:
* Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
* Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
* Experian 1-888-397-3742
You may request a free copy of your credit report. Credit bureaus must provide a free copy of your report, if you have reason to believe the report is inaccurate because of fraud and you submit a request in writing.
Review your report to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name, or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts. Also, check the section of your report that lists "inquiries" and request that any inquiries from companies that opened the fraudulent accounts be removed. Contact all creditors where you have an account that you think may be the subject of identity theft. File a report with your local police department.
Contact the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at : 877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). The FTC puts the information into a secure consumer fraud database and shares it with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Websites that provide further guidance and information:
* Fed. Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov
* U.S. PIRG & CALPIRG: www.pirg.org
* Privacy Right Clearing House: www.privacyrights.org
* Identity TheftSurvival Kit: www.identitytheft.org
* Better Business Bureau: www.bbbonline.org
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What are some other Consumer Best Practices?
Following are some helpful tips to protect you from having your identity stolen or money taken from your accounts:
1. Limit the number of identification cards carried in your wallet.
2. Regularly check your credit report and credit card statements.
3. Protect all PIN numbers.
4. Utilize web-sites with secure browsers when shopping on the internet.
5. Always carry away credit card, debit card and ATM receipts with you.
6. Us a secure mailbox when mailing credit card and utility bills.
7. Limit the disclosure of your social security number.
8. Refrain from printing drivers license information on checks.
9. Destroy unused pre-approved credit card solicitations and convenience checks.
10. Immediately review credit card statements and telephone bills.
11. Never give out credit card, bank account or social security number over the telephone unless you initiated the call.
12. Check your social security earnings and benefits statement annually.
13. Consider having your name removed from marketing lists.
14. Consider not listing your number in the telephone book or list only limited information.
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What can I do to help protect my privacy?
1. Protect your account numbers, card numbers, PINs and passwords. Never keep your PIN with your debit or credit card which can provide free access to your accounts if your card is lost or stolen.
2. NEVER run your card through a device that is attached to an ATM - crooks use "skimmers" to obtain account information this way. Insert your card directly into an ATM at all times.
3. Use caution when disclosing your account numbers, social security numbers, etc. to other persons. If someone calls you, explain the call is on behalf of the credit union and asks for your account number, you should BEWARE. Credit union employees will have access to your information and will not need to ask for it.
4. Keep your information with us current. It's important that we have current information on how to reach you. If we detect potentially fraudulent or unauthorized activity or use of an account, we will attempt to contact you immediately. If your address or phone number changes, please let us know.
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WHAT are those new electronic checks?
What is electronic check conversion?
Electronic check conversion is a process where your check is used as a source of information for the check number, your account number, and the number that identifies your financial institution. The information is then used to make a one-time electronic payment from your account, an electronic fund transfer. The check itself is not the method of payment.
How will I know that my check is being used for electronic check conversion?
When you provide your check, you must be given notice that information from your check will be used to make an electronic payment from your account. The notice is required by the federal law that applies to electronic fund transfers, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and the Federal Reserve Boards Regulation E. Notice may be provided in different ways. For example, a merchant may post a sign at the register or may give you a written notice that you'll be asked to sign.
What are some of the differences between electronic check conversion and using my check as payment? Your electronic transaction may be processed faster than a check. Be sure you have enough money in your account at the time you make the purchase. You have different consumer rights with an electronic check conversion transaction than when you use your check as payment. For example, with electronic check conversion, you have the right to an investigation by your financial institution when an error occurs.
What are my rights in electronic check conversion transactions?
You have the right to receive notice when you provide your check telling you that information from the check will be used to make an electronic payment from your account. When you provide your check, you have the right to a notice telling you of any fee that the merchant will collect from your account electronically if you do not have enough money in your account to cover the transaction. This fee is similar to a bounced check fee. You have the right to receive a receipt when you make a purchase at a store. The receipt will contain information about the transaction, including:
Date
Amount
Location
Name of merchant
You have the right to have this same information included as part of the regular account statement from your financial institution. You have the right to ask your financial institution to investigate any electronic fund transfers from your account that you believe are unauthorized or incorrect.
What should I do if I have a problem with an electronic check conversion transaction? Always review your regular account statement from your financial institution. You should immediately contact your financial institution if you see a problem. Were you charged the wrong amount? Were you charged twice for the same transaction? You have only 60 days (from the date your statement was sent) to tell the financial institution about the problem. Depending on the circumstances, the financial institution may take up to 45 days from the time you notify it to complete its investigation.
With electronic check conversion, may I use the same check more than once?
No. An electronic check conversion transaction is a one-time electronic payment from your account. If you were to use the same check for more than one transaction and you had a problem with one of the transactions, your financial institution might have difficulty investigating the problem because the same check number would appear more than once on your statement.
Can electronic check conversion occur if I mail a check to pay a bill?
Yes. For example, let's assume that each time you get your insurance bill there is a notice. It tells you that when you mail a check, information from that check will be used to make an electronic payment from your account. If you then send a check, you have agreed to electronic check conversion. Unlike what happens when you make a purchase at a store, however, you won't receive a receipt. Your check won't be returned to you with your account statement from your financial institution because the transaction was processed as an electronic fund transfer, not as a check transaction.
As with electronic check conversions in stores, be sure you have enough money in your account when you mail your check, keep records of your payments, and check your account statements from your financial institution to make sure the amounts charged are correct.
What if I don't want my check to be used for electronic check conversion?
If you don't want your check to be used for electronic check conversion, you may have to provide another form of payment (for example, cash, debit card, or credit card).
Where can I file a complaint?
Contact:
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
877-FTC-HELP toll free (877-382-4357)
www.ftc.gov
Please also send a copy of your complaint to:
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Division of Consumer and Community Affairs
Washington, DC 20551
202-452-3693
www.federalreserve.gov
Remember . . .
Before you agree to electronic check conversion, you should first ask yourself
Do I understand that the information from my check will be used to make an electronic payment from my account?
Do I have enough money in my account to cover the payment?
Before you leave the store, you should ask yourself
Did I receive a receipt?
Does the amount on the receipt match the amount of my purchase?
Was my check returned to me and voided?
When you receive your statement from your financial institution, you should
Make sure that the charges on your statement match your records
Contact your financial institution right away if you notice a problem.
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How important is the credit score on my credit report?
When it comes to credit scores, it's the details that count. Credit scores assign a number to a person based on the information in an individual's credit report which is designed to tell credit lenders the likelihood that a consumer will repay a loan. The most widely used credit-scoring model is what's known as the FICO score. Fair, Isaac and Co produced it. All three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union may have slightly different information based on what is reported by creditor; (not all creditors report all of your history to all three bureaus, which is why it's important to check your credit reports from all three bureaus for inaccuracies). Although the scales for the scores from the three credit bureaus vary slightly, they all look at similar factors in credit reports when determining the score. For instance, maybe you have too much debt, too little credit history or a history of late payments. Whether your actual score makes or breaks a loan might depend on the lender. The way each lender may view the credit score varies also. One lender may consider a credit score of 620 to be good, while another lender may require further inquiry. With most lenders, the FICO score is only one indicator that is looked at when determining the approval or disapproval of a loan.
Credit Tips
Here are some tips to keep in mind about credit scores and reports from a variety of sources, including Fair, Isaac and Company, which produces FICO score:
*Pay your bills on time
*Keep balances low on credit cards
*Apply for and open new credit only when needed
*Don't close unused credit cards as a short-term strategy to raise your score
*Make sure all your accounts are listed
*Be cautious about taking advantage of too many same as cash offers
*Be wary of getting free credit scores or reports
*Check your credit report once a year
*Beware of credit-repair scams
*Looking at your own credit report will never harm you
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What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to members. It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership. The board serves on a volunteer basis and may hire a management team to run the credit union. The board also establishes and revises policy, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations. The result: members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates at an institution which exists to benefit them, not to make a profit.
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Who owns a credit union?
Most financial institutions are owned by stockholders, who own a part of the institution and intend on making money from their investment. A credit union doesn't operate in that manner. Rather, each credit union member owns one "share" of the organization. The user of credit union services is also an owner, and is even entitled to vote on important issues, such as the election of member representatives to serve on the board of directors.
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How did credit unions start?
The first credit union cooperatives started in Germany over a century ago. Today, credit unions are found everywhere in the world. The credit union movement started in this country in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, the St. Mary's Cooperative Credit Association, a church-affiliated credit union, opened its doors in 1909. Today, one in every three Americans is a credit union member.
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Are savings deposits insured?
Yes. All savings accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA, the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the federal government. Effective April 1, 2006 the NCUA increased the insured amount on IRA's to $250,000. SONEPCO Federal Credit Union has additional insurance through American Share Insurance Co. ASI covers an additional $250,000 per account.
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Can I get information on the car I'm driving or a car that I want to buy?
Log on to www.autosafety.org. Also, log on to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems to find out about a specific problem that may occur with your car.
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How can I find out about crash tests?
Log on to www.crashtest.com/default.htm.
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Is there a nonprofit guide for researching car buying and selling on the web?
Yes. Log on to www.autoissues.org.
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Can I stop junk mail from coming to my email, fax, phone and home?
Yes. Log on to www.junkbusters.com. Also, www.guidescope.com offers a free download that will allow you to block both banner ads and most junk emails.
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Can I get in touch with an elected official in Washington?
Yes. Log on to www.connectforthecause.com. It is a credit union sponsored website. We will let you know when Congress is considering laws that may be harmful to your credit union AND we may ask you to write to your member of Congress.
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