Broad guidelines for college student credit card application form

The stealing of people`s names and other personal information for fraudulent purposes (known as `identity theft`) has become a nation-wide problem. News features on ID theft and ID fraud hit the headlines regularly. For cardholders and retailers alike, dealing with the consequences of ID theft could be expensive and really time-intensive. There`re some practical ways to minimize the likelihood of being victimized by this form of cyber crime. The following are a selected number of these precautionary measures that you may want to suggest to your clients:

• Don`t mail your creditcards checks and other bills by clipping outgoing mail to your mailbox. Place them in an official U.S. Postal mail box. Imagine the loads of valuable information that could be gleaned your check and payment slip.

• Never put your personal identification number (PIN) anywhere on your plastic cards. Instead, memorize it.

• Tear into the tiniest pieces or use a shredder before you trash preapproved college student credit card card offers along with other sensitive documentation, such as paycheck slips, prior to discarding them. In case you decide to send any applications, mail applications only by using an official USPS mailbox.

• Never waste your time (and endanger your security) by responding to an email or a `phone call requesting card-account numbers, online creditcards personal identification (PIN) numbers, passwords, mother`s maiden name, or any similar confidential information. Banking institutions and credit card online providers already have this information and will never send you emails or make phone calls soliciting details that are intended to be kept secret. Unauthorized third parties who are on the prowl for this crucial info are likely to use it for illegitimate purposes.

• Shut down online creditcards accounts that you haven`t used for some time (and aren`t likely to use) and snip up cards for cancelled accounts before discarding them.

• Avoid carrying online credit card that you do not use regularly in your billfold or pocketbook.

• If you plan on leaving home for anything longer than a day, instruct your post office to hold your correspondence or ask somebody (such as a neighbor you know and trust) to pick it up.

• Look at bank credit card and any other statements methodically to verify that there aren`t any fraudulent amounts listed. If you find any such transactions, get in touch with your card provider or bank without a moment`s delay.

• In the event that you don`t receive a creditcard, bank, or other statement at the time it`s due, contact the issuer and inform them about this matter. In case they tell you that they have received a change-of-address notification for your billing address to one that you did not authorize, notify the card issuer or bank that you aren`t the one who authorized the change of address, request duplicates of all the online credit cards statements that you`ve missed in the mail, and then go through them with a fine-toothed comb for illegitimate card transactions.

• At regular intervals, request your credit reports from the three main credit reporting institutions. Look through them methodically to spot illegitimate creditcard transactions.

• Photocopy the items you carry in your pocketbook or billfold (both sides of online credit cards, licenses, identity cards, etc. -- except for banknotes) and then keep them in a safe location.

• Maintain good records. If you do become a victim of identity theft, well-maintained plastic card records will be very valuable in your recovery endeavors.

Online Credit Card Application