Identity theft prevention is never foolproof but here are some good tips that will make it more difficult for anyone to steal your personal information.

The first and most important step for identity theft prevention is keeping a close watch on all of your personal information and your credit report.

Check your credit reports from all three bureaus at least once a year. Once you get your credit report check carefully to see that everything is accurate.

If you find an error, dispute it immediately so you can protect yourself from fraud.

Quite often similar names and similar social security numbers get mixed up, or worse, someone could have stolen your identity.

Another good identity theft prevention tip is don't carry your Social Security card or anything with your Social Security number on it in your wallet.

Keeping your social security number private is a critical part of identity theft prevention.

Also, don't keep your bank card pin number in your wallet because it helps a thief who has stolen your wallet help themselves to your cash at an A.T.M.

In this age of computer hacking, good identity theft prevention practices have to also be applied to the Internet.

If you use the Internet, make sure all your security software is up to date and be careful of Internet scams.

Remember, no legitimate business will ever send you an e-mail asking you to confirm your personal identifying information.

Identity theft prevention means you never give out personal information unless you initiated the contact or you're absolutely sure who you're dealing with.

Another good identity theft prevention practice is be especially careful about divulging your credit card number over the phone to telemarketers.

Often the only goal is to obtain your name, address and credit card number.

If you have to give your credit card number over the phone for a hotel or airline reservation, use a regular corded phone as opposed to a cordless or cell phone.

Make sure you report any lost or stolen credit cards immediately for identity theft prevention measures.

The bottom line is be careful about divulging any personal information about you.

Protect yourself by practicing these identity theft prevention tips and it may save you a lot of headaches.

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You're having your evening meal when the phone rings and on the other end you hear "Is this Bill Davis?" You get that gut wrenching feeling that the call is about your past due bills and you say "no, it's not" and quickly hang up but the calls persist. What do you do, how are you going to stop all the calls and letters and worst yet, you can't afford to pay the bills. That feeling is bad enough but when annoying phone calls turn into full blown harassment then you need to take action.

Abusing or harassing you is illegal. Just because you are past due on your bills doesn't give a debt collector the right to abuse you. A debt collector has to follow the FDCPA, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Part of that protection is not being abused by the collector. Collectors will try many tricks to find out where you work, your cell phone number, even call your relatives or neighbors so it is important for you to know what rights can stop the abuse. You also need to resolve the "alleged debts" otherwise they will not go away. Here are some tips to follow.

What the collection agency doesn't want you to know
Collection agencies are profitable only by collecting debts, however in doing that, their job is difficult because of the restrictions of the FDCPA. Collection agencies hope that you do not know about the FDCPA because when you do, it makes collecting much harder for them. For example, a collection agency doesn't want you to know that you can tell them to stop calling or writing you or that you have a right to make them prove the debt is valid. A collection agency likes an uniformed consumer. The less you know about the laws, the easier it is for them to collect money or intimidate you in to paying.

Do you owe the debt?
This is the single most important thing you should check in to. Is the debt valid. When a collection agency purchases a debt, they may be buying debts that are several years old or debts that have been placed with several collection agencies before they picked it up. Most collection agencies buy debts for pennies on the dollar and make a huge profit by collecting the entire balance. Making sure the debt is accurate is called VOD (validation of debt). VOD is part of the FDCPA and in a nutshell it means the collector must prove the debt to be yours when asked. Most people don't know this and never ask for proof. They simply pay the debt no questions asked. VOD is powerful in that you can literally wipe away the debt if the collector doesn't have sufficient data to prove it is valid. Since most debts are sold over and over, the records are often not available. If the collector cannot prove the debt is valid then he can not force you to pay it and he cannot report it to the credit reporting agencies. There are provisions to follow however so be sure to read this full article on VOD and then use a VOD sample letter to complete the procedure.

Do they have the wrong person?
This is a common problem with collection accounts. Often the identity is incorrect so it is very important to ask for VOD.

How old is the debt?
One of the most important facotrs in dealing with collection accounts is the SOL- statute of limitation. If it is expired then the debt is no longer collectable. Check your SOL to be sure you are not paying an expired debt.

Explore career information at the IAPDA website
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Debt management (specifically unsecured) is the first step to taking control of your money! Add a household budgeting plan and you've got a powerful tool for money management.

Together, budgeting and debt management build financial security and independence. Yes, you can reduce debt and save for your future financial security at the same time! It can be done.

Anyone can do it and everyone deserves it!
In fact, it's the only budgeting plan that makes perfect sense. Budgeting to include debt management in your personal finance plan builds a good strong defense against credit card use.
Unexpected events and expenses play a significant role in creating debt for most of us. A good budgeting plan that prepares you for those events and provides a strong foundation to fall back on is essential for successful debt management.

This is where most self-created budgets fail. Even the best intentions are doomed if you are you guilty of this common oversight? Without a complete plan, we fall right back into the old credit card trap. Feeling helpless and cornered into using credit to just make ends meet.

Free yourself from the burden of credit card debt. You will never be financially independent as long as you have to depend on the credit card companies to survive.

Quit investing in the credit card companies and start investing in yourself!
Yes, I know the feelings all too well. Barely making ends meet, budgeting chaos, struggling to maintain "everything's O.K." while finances continue to get worse and worse. Stop the feelings of inadequacy and failure!

In today's fast moving society it's not unusual for the average family to be living way beyond their means. With that in mind, quit blaming yourself. This is the world we live in. Many of us have gotten trapped by society's expectations.
I made the decision to stop the madness and help myself! You can too! A budgeting plan that includes managing debt will help you succeed at money management.

Create a plan based on your individual needs...set your own goals...and begin your journey to lifelong financial security and independence! After all, we all have different needs and obligations, so everyone's plan has to be designed to suit their unique situation.

The key to financial success is to live within your means!
The key to independent wealth is living below your means! But wait...we're getting way ahead now. After living way beyond your means for so long, it's hard enough to scale down to reality. Once you have that mastered, and see how much money you didn't even know you had, you'll be eager to scale down even more!

Debt management is crucial for any budgeting plan to succeed. And, likewise, a good household budgeting plan is essential for any debt management program to succeed.

One cannot be successful without the other. Like "peanut butter and jelly" most of us can't have one without the other. They just go together!

Why not explore a career oportunity (Full Time or Part Time) as a Certified Debt Arbitrator
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