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Being Stalked By An Ex-Spouse? Here's What You Can Do To Protect Your "Numbers" Plus: Why Reverse Mortgages Are The Greatest Innovation For Senior Homeowners Since Metamucil And...Getting Prepared For Weather-Induced Financial Heartburn
April 17, 2003
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Dear Ben: How do I prevent my ex-spouse from seeing my credit activity? I'm sure he has access to all of my credit card, Social Security and driver's license numbers. What's the best strategy to protect myself and my information? Can I change them all? He seems to know too much about me and my personal/professional life; the guy's psycho and obsessed with destroying me.
Anonymous, via e-mail
Dear Anonymous: I wish it were that simple to just "change numbers" but it's not. Here's what you can do: Contact all of your credit card companies and ask them to re-issue new cards with new account numbers. Contact the Department of Public Safety and request they issue a new driver's license with a new number-but then you risk being stuck with a new picture that you don't like for the next few years. (Okay, maybe that's not so important to you, but you'd be surprised...)
While I'm sure he knows your Social Security Number (assuming you filed joint tax returns together), unless he has a valid right to access your credit information, he's violating federal law. What's a valid right? About the only reason I can think of would be in the role of a "judgment creditor"...someone you owe money to who's gotten a judgment in civil court. Do you owe him any money as a result of the divorce?) Outside of this wrinkle, he's setting himself up for criminal charges if he gets caught trying to access this information without a legally valid reason. How would you know? Get copies of all three of your credit bureau reports and check out your "Inquiry" history. Anyone that's accessed your credit reports in the last two years will show up; if you don't recognize an entry, contact the credit bureau and ask them to explain and document. And if you're that concerned about this whacko, you might want to contact your local police department to discuss your situation and pursue stalking charges against the ex. Additional information about "Inquires" is available on-line:
www.bendover.com/inquiries.asp.
Dose of Dover For The Week, Part One: Life's too short to spend your senior years worrying about finances, so I've posted a new section of information on my website that explains the ins-and-outs of reverse mortgages. They're a new-breed of mortgage specially designed for senior homeowners (ages 62 and up). And contrary to misinformation floating around since reverse mortgages became available a couple of years ago, you don't have to own your home "free-and-clear" in order to qualify. In fact, reverse mortgages give seniors tax-free funds to use as long as they live in their home, there's no loan repayment for as long as they live there, and no income, medical or credit requirements. I love reverse mortgages because they allow senior homeowners to retain ownership of their homes for life as long as the home's maintained and used as their primary residence (and the insurance and taxes are kept current). For more information, visit my website: www.bendover.com/reverse.asp.
Dose of Dover For The Week, Part Two: Didja like that little reminder a couple of weeks ago about the financial brain-damage that can pour out of Texas skies? Between last winter's brief taste of ice-and-snow, to the infamous Fort Worth tornado of 2000, to the hail storm which pounded North Texas a couple of weekends ago, being prepared means many things. And while some of which may seem like common-sense, it's the financial lessons learned the hard way that we tend to remember for the long haul. If you've got a little time this evening, why not join WFAA-TV/Channel 8's weather-predicting trio of Troy Dungan, Steve McCaulley and Greg Fields at the Family First Weather Expo and Town meeting at the Hurst Recreation Center in (you guessed it), Hurst. Okay, so examining Troy's bow-tie up close doesn't light you up? Fine, then come hang out with me: I'll have my own take on being prepared for weather-related events that will help you avoid financial nightmares. It's the stuff Mom and Dad should've told you-in a convenient written form-ready to pass along to future generations. Everything begins at 6 pm; get your directions from the Channel 8 website: www.wfaa.com/familyfirst. (Of course it's free!)
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