The other day, I was in working in the “vault” of my online banking account. One of the last things VST taught me was how to navigate through our online banking site. Decades ago, we switched from “In-Person” banking to online banking. It’s been convenient and safe. So Far.
I make it a habit to check in with the banking every day. Crooks these days are quick, so a daily wellness check on the banking site is important. On my site, there are a variety of alarms that sound off from time to time. Alerts for messages. Bills that are due. And a new one that came to my attention last month. A monthly Credit Review.
There are three main credit agencies and your FICO score (credit scoring model designed by Fair Isaac Corporation) can be found on any of them. Equifax. Experian. TransUnion. Each one offers a free credit report once a year. I was about to get my free review from all three at once when my banker suggested I stagger the reports throughout the year. Such a good idea. Every four months, request a free report with another company. Mark your calendar so you don’t forget.
Reviewing posted information for my first report, I found some obvious errors. My entire teaching career was missing from the report. Isn’t that a rather important part of credit??? Everything seemed in order except one thing. I found a delinquent account reported in 2001. It was reported that I stiffed someone for $327. Yes. A credit card company. Walked right away from that bill.
Now, I’ve done a lot of things in my life. Some things I’m not so proud of. But, walking away from a credit card obligation isn’t in the lineup. Even in our poorest days, the bills came first. VST and I were careful about the bills. Always. This information was incorrect so I disputed the delinquent charge.
“Thank you for your inquiry. You will hear back within a month.”
Sure enough, this week, I heard back. The abandoned bill wasn’t mine and removed immediately. After 21 years of being there, of course.
Credit is so important to a widow. You never know when you’ll need to borrow on that rainy day. Last summer, my air conditioner broke. After catching my breath, I had no choice but to replace it as the sun is pretty hot in the high desert of Northwestern Nevada. Expenses don’t stop for the grieving. Life keeps rolling along.
Along with checking your credit report at least once a year (free), be sure to keep an eye on your credit card charges and balances. My cards have been compromised a few times. Just call the number on the back of the card and they’ll have you up and running in no time. Always stow a second card in case something happens to your main card.
Talking to some women in church the other day, I was surprised how many don’t shop online. I was one of them long ago. These days, everything is online. Even grocery shopping on some days. During my last shopping experience at Costco, a customer was run over in the parking lot requiring an ambulance. I love ordering staples from the safety and comfort of my kitchen table. My paper towels, coffee, and laundry detergent arrive within two business days. They never let me down.
As for Oliver, Chewy’s delivers his dog food and toys. Amazon handles everything else. In all the transactions I’ve made, I’ve had few problems. If one does arise, the bank is excellent in handling it. The key is to keep a watchful eye on things.
In my banking experience, it has been most helpful that all my business is with one large bank. Checking accounts, credit cards, and investments can all be seen from the main website. It’s convenient having everything in one place.
So, along with the dust bunnies and window washing, take a little time to look at your finances and credit accounts. As widows and widowers, it’s all up to us now. We can do this!
More tomorrow.