March 11th, 2009
Many of you know what a big fan I am of Redbox. One movie, one day, one dollar. OK, $1.08 with tax.
Each Wednesday in March, 2009, you can go to their blog at http://blog.redbox.com/ and find a code for a free one night rental. You can get it anytime on Wednesday. If you return it by 9:00pm Thursday it doesn’t cost anything. FYI, today’s code is JBG123
One great thing about Redbox is that you can return your movie to any location. So, if you’re going out of town you can watch it on your laptop and return it in another city. Many Walgreens and McDonalds have them. To find a Redbox near you go to http://www.redbox.com/Locations/KioskSearch.aspx. You can’t miss it. It’s red and shaped like a box.
March 10th, 2009
Would you know what to do if a bank called and said someone was attempting to open an account in your name? Have you thought about buying credit card protection? Are you worried about identity theft?
There’s a good article in today’s Wall Street Journal about credit monitoring services: Cardholders Buy Peace of Mind, if Not Security. You can read about some consumers’ experiences with the four largest companies and get some tips for securing your information. The companies mentioned are CardCops, LifeLock Inc., Debix Inc. and TrustedID Inc. A service can’t protect you from everything, but it is good for people who don’t have the time or computer savy to do it themselves.
There’s also a non-profit agency, Identity Theft Resource Center, that helps victims. The center has an excellent website loaded with resources and “Fact Sheets.” You can get step by step instructions on everything from what to do if your wallet or PDA is stolen to how to get a credit report for a child. It has a Fact Sheet on how to understand your credit report that is one of the best I’ve read. Regularly reviewing your credit report is the most important way to detect identity theft.
Would you know what to do if a bank called and said someone was attempting to open an account in your name? I would go to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s website and follow their advice.
