Consumer tips

Protect yourself against Identity Theft
You can be a victim of Identity Fraud if a thief gets hold of personal information such as your credit card numbers. Using this information, a thief can open accounts in your name, run up bills and ruin your credit. Correcting the problem could take years. Protect yourself with a few common sense precautions.

Don't give out credit card numbers over the phone if you didn't initiate the call. Thieves often pretend to represent legitimate companies to get you to reveal personal information.

Protect your PIN
Never write your PIN on your ATM card or anything you carry in your wallet. If you lose your card, you will have given whoever finds it full access to your account.

Prevent Credit Card Fraud
Thanks to the Internet, you can now shop for virtually anything from the comfort of your home, rather than driving all over town. However, Internet shopping has also made it easier for thieves to commit fraud using stolen credit card numbers.

Remember, thieves don't need the actual plastic card to use it fraudulently. All they need is the 16-digit number. Protect your card from prying eyes as well as thieving hands.
Here are some tips to reduce your chances of being victimized.

  • Sign your cards as soon as you receive them to prevent misuse if your card is lost or stolen.
  • Carry only the cards you intend to use. Never write your PIN on you card or on anything you carry in your wallet or purse.
  • Get you card back as soon as possible after a transaction; a dishonest clerk could make an impression on another receipt and use it to make purchases.
  • Always check the total on your receipt before signing, and draw a line through any blank spaces.
  • Verify all transaction amounts on your monthly statement, making sure they match your receipts. If there are any transactions which you did not authorize, notify the credit card issuer immediately.
  • Never give out your credit card numbers over the phone unless you initiate the call.
  • When ordering anything online, make sure the web page is secure, and that you know and trust the vendor.

If your card is lost or stolen...
Report it immediately! If you report within 48 hours, you will not be liable for any fraudulent charges. Even after 48 hours, your liability will be only $50. However, the more transactions a thief makes before the card is cancelled, the messier it will be to clean up your credit record.

To report that your First American Credit Union Visa has been lost or stolen, call

Visa Credit Card: 1-800-325-3678

Visa Check Card: 1-800-554-8969

 

What should you do if your identity has been stolen?

Follow these simple steps:
1) Immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission:

    http://www.ftc.gov
    1-877-IDTHEFT (877) 438-4338
    Consumer Response Center, F.T.C.
    600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
    Washington, DC 20580

2) Contact the three major reporting agencies to put yourself on Fraud Alert and request a copy of your credit report:

    Equifax® –P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250,
    or call 800-525-6285

    Experian® –P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013,
    or call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)

    TransUnion –P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634,
    or call 800-680-7289

3)Cancel all accounts that have fraudulent activity or are at risk.

4) Contact your local law enforcement agency.

5)If you know or suspect that your mail has been stolen, contact the United States Postal Service.

6) Keep detailed records of any theft of your identity and of your efforts to resolve the same. Log the date, time and amount of any unauthorized activity on your accounts.

FACU has no control of, nor any responsibility for, any information provided by a linked site or any link contained in a linked site or any changes to such sites.


Used car buying tips

Read car and consumer magazine articles comparing different cars' performance, maintenance and safety.

Call the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's Auto Safety Hotline to learn about any defects requiring correction 800-424-9393, or log on to www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsain

Use tan Official Used Car Guide to learn what used cars are worth, and check prices in the classified ads. Call or visit the credit union if you would like us to check the Kelley Blue Book value of vehicles for you, free of charge. Expect to pay somewhere between the wholesale and retail book value.

Look for the “Buyer's Guide” sticker
If you're buying from a dealer, check the “Buyers Guide“ sticker on the car window. It describes the exact terms of warranty being offered by the dealer. “Implied warranties only” means that the car is covered by the state implied warranty laws. If the sticker says “as is”, any future repairs will be your responsibility.

Private sales generally are not covered by state implied warranty laws, so any sale would be on an “as is” basis.

Give it the once-over
While looking the car over, ask yourself:
  • Is it level with the ground, or could there be a broken spring? Do the body parts fit together evenly?

  • Is the paint job even? Is it too new given the age of the car? Is there over spray on the rubber trim? Are there lumps or irregularities on the body panels?

  • Are the wheels out of line with the body? Do the tires show signs of heavy wear? If the odometer reads in the neighborhood of 24,000 miles, the tires should be original and have the same tread design. Does one of the tires show excessive wear? Poor alignment may be the cause.

  • Is the engine clean? An oily engine block may point to a leaky gasket.

  • Compare the odometer reading with the mileage on the lubrication stickers, usually on the underside of the hood or on the inside door panel. Was it serviced frequently by the last owner?

Behind the wheel
Take a test drive through a variety of traffic conditions. If the steering has more than two inches of play, or the brakes go almost to the floor, there could be a problem.

Next, evaluate overall comfort and practicality. For example, long-distance drivers will want to check for lower back and thigh support. Finally, listen to the car. Pay particular attention fo engine knocks and creaks.

If it is winter, you will naturally try the heat and defroster. But don't forget the air conditioning! You don't want to learn six months from now that your air conditioning is faulty.

Take the car to a mechanic
As a trusted mechanic to give the car a check-up, noting any necessary repairs. How much will it cost to have them done? Generally, if the car is unsafe without the repairs, the seller should pay for them.

Lastly, think about financing. If you own a house, you may be able to finance your purchase with a home equity loan at tax-deductible rates. Call us to find out more.