Stop Identity Theft With a Credit Freeze

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(Originally posted in November 2007. Updated as of December 2010.)

Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.  There are many types of identity theft, but one of the worst is when someone uses your personal information to borrow money or establish credit. 

Sadly, the 3 major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, have done little to help us prevent identity theft before it happens.  In fact, they make money by selling services that inform you if someone has accessed your credit file...after the fact.

SECURITY FREEZES

But over the last eight years, 47 states have passed laws that REQUIRE credit bureaus to offer "security freezes" to consumers that prevent access to your credit records.  A crook cannot take out a loan in your name if your file cannot be accessed.  Security freezes go a step further than "fraud alerts" offered by the bureaus that tell the lender to double check your identity.  The main problem with fraud alerts is that no law says the creditor must contact you.

California's security freeze law has been in place since January 2003.  Security freezes are free to ID theft victims, $10 per credit bureau for those under 65 and $5 per credit bureau for those 65 and older.  It costs another $10 ($5 to 65 and older) to "unlock" your account, either temporarily, for a particular creditor, or permanently. 

It takes a little work to set up your security freeze as the bureaus require a written request sent by certified mail.  The State of California provides guidance and sample letters for this purpose (click here for a link to the California Office of Privacy Protection website).  After registering, each credit bureau will send you a confirmation letter with instructions on how to remove the freeze.  Security freeze information is also available on the Experian, TransUnion and Equifax websites by clicking the links

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Over 1,800 are Homeless in Ventura County According to a January 2010 Survey

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During the last week of January 2010, the Ventura County Homeless and Housing Coalition coordinated a count of homeless individuals in Ventura County.

A person was considered homeless in the survey if he/she fell within the Department of Housing and Urban Development definition, residing in 1) places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks and abandoned buildings, 2) in an emergency shelter or 3) in transitional housing for homeless persons.

In its April 2010 report, the Coalition counted 1,815 homeless individuals, keeping in mind that the count understated the actual number due to the complexities involved. The count in 2009 was 2,193 and the previous count in 2007 was 1,961. Here are some details from the latest count:

  • 88% were adults and 12% were children
  • 5% of the adults counted were 62 or older
  • 67% of the adults were men and 33% were women
  • 117 families were counted, the majority (74%) of which were single-parent families

Of the 1,815 reported homeless, 601 were in Ventura, 520 in Oxnard, 229 in Simi Valley, 223 in unincorporated areas, 106 in Thousand Oaks, 54 in Santa Paula, 52 in Ojai, 15 in Camarillo, 9 in Port Hueneme, 5 in Fillmore and 1 in Moorpark.

The Coalition noted this count does not include people at risk of becoming homeless. In 2000, there were 42,000 households, consisting of about 130,000 people (20% of Ventura County at that time) whose households earned less than $25,000 per year. Additionally, 8%, or close to 64,000 Ventura County residents, were living below the poverty level*.

If you encounter someone in need, refer them to this list of Ventura County homeless shelters and hot meal providers.

* 2010 Poverty Guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services is $10,830 for a 1 person family, $14,570 for 2, $18,310 for 3, $22,050 for 4 and so on.

The Ventura County Maritime Museum is More Than Doubling its Size in 2011!

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The Ventura County Maritime Museum is currently located at Fisherman’s Wharf, on the corner of Channel Islands Boulevard and Victoria Avenue in Oxnard.  The Museum was opened in 1991 and will celebrate its twentieth anniversary in February.  The permanent collection includes an unbelievable array of fine maritime art, a large number of exquisitely detailed model ships, and other marine artifacts.  The Museum is open seven days a week from 11 to 5 and has always offered free admission.  The Museum is staffed by one full time employee and 4 part time employees, and this small staff is adequate only because of the over 80 active volunteers.

Because of impending redevelopment and the desire for a larger facility, the Museum is moving from its present 5,000 sq ft location to a larger 12,000 sq ft facility on the west side of the harbor.  The Museum has purchased the rights to a building, the old Port Royal restaurant, and has entered into a long term lease with the County.  Our selected architectural firm, Lauterbach and Associates, has completed the

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Check Your DUI Test Results Online Via the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Website

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The Ventura County Sheriff's Department announced that, beginning October 1st, people arrested for driving under the influence can obtain their test results via their website at www.vcsd.org.

Simply scroll down and find the "DUI Results" icon (or alternatively, click the "Alcohol Test Results" link in the footer, and you will be brought to a page (shown below) that requires you to submit your first/last name, date of birth and date of test (if you were REALLY inebriated, perhaps you won't remember this).

After submitting the information, you will see your test results. Hopefully you failed this particular test. You will then be allowed to print a copy that you can proudly display on you wall (if you failed) or provide to your attorney (if you "passed").

This site provides the same information that individuals can obtain by presenting their information at the Forensic Sciences Laboratory. The site was developed with funding provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to bring new technologies and enhanced services for alcohol testing to Ventura County.

PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

This is one post I hope none of you out there have to make use of!

Some Eggcellent Advice from the CDC Regarding the 2010 Salmonella Outbreak

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CDC is collaborating with public health officials in multiple states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to investigate a nationwide increase of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections.

Between May 1 to August 25, 2010, approximately 1,470 reported illnesses were likely to be associated with this outbreak.  FDA testing, identified Salmonella in egg farm environmental samples.  Epidemiologic investigations conducted by public health officials in 10 states since April, have identified 26 restaurants or event clusters where more than one ill person with the outbreak strain.  Data from the investigations suggest that shell eggs are a likely source of infections in many of these restaurants or event clusters.  Preliminary information indicates that Wright County Egg, in Galt, Iowa was an egg supplier in 15 of these 26 restaurants or event clusters.  To date, no new restaurant or event clusters have been reported to CDC.  A formal traceback was conducted by state partners in California, Colorado, and Minnesota, in collaboration with FDA and CDC, to find a common source of shell eggs. Wright County Egg in Iowa was found as the common source of the shell eggs associated with three of the clusters.  Through additional traceback and FDA investigational findings, Hillandale Farms of Iowa, Inc. was identified as another potential source of contaminated shell eggs contributing to this outbreak.

Advice to Consumers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning consumers not to eat recalled eggs. It is important that consumers avoid eating recalled eggs.  Some recalled eggs may possibly still be in grocery stores, restaurants and consumers’ homes.  If you

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Visit the SSA Website to Estimate Your Social Security Benefits in Just Minutes

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Interested in finding out what your estimated Social Security benefits will be? You can do this online in just a few minutes at www.ssa.gov. You will just need to provide your Social Security Number, Date of Birth and Mother's Maiden Name (and thus I'd suggest doing this at home...not on an unprotected WiFi Internet line).

All you do is visit www.ssa.gov website and click the "Estimate Your Retirement Benefits" link. After providing your personal information, the calculator tells you your estimated monthly benefit at age 62 (early retirement...and reduced benefits), 67 (full retirement) or age 70. This estimate is based on your actual earnings history.

Generally, if you wait until full retirement at age 67, your monthly payment will be roughly 40-50% greater than if you take early retirement. If you wait another 3 years, your payment will be another ~25% higher than normal retirement. All told, the 8 year difference (62 to 70) results in about a 75-80%

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Ventura County Residents Can Finance Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects via Property Tax Bill!

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The CaliforniaFIRST Program (AB 811) allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on homes and businesses. For participating property owners, the cost of the project is repaid on your property tax bill over up to 20 years. Financing eligibility is based on the value of your property and the current status of property tax payments, not personal credit. 

The County of Ventura is one of 14 California counties that will be participating in the CaliforniaFIRST Pilot Program! This pilot program is schedule to launch this fall!

Under CaliforniaFIRST, the property owner repays the cost of the clean energy project through a line item on their property tax bill. The minimum financing amount is $5,000. The maximum financing amount for residential property is $75,000. The maximum financing amount for commercial property varies based on property value. The repayment period will be between 5 and 20 years. The interest rate will vary based on market conditions.

Participating in the CaliforniaFIRST program gives Ventura County an opportunity to help both the community and the environment. With rising prices in electricity, gas, and water, this program will allow property owners an opportunity to access investments in technologies that will likely protect them against rising utility costs.

Loans are entered into voluntarily and transfer to the subsequent owner (INTERESTING!) upon sale and have superior lien status above one’s primary mortgage.

Learn more by visiting www.renewfund.com/node/223 and www.californiafirst.org. Sign up to be notified when the program is available at www.californiafirst.org/signup.html.