Page 73 - Book6E

CHAPTER 9
Privacy Choices for Your Personal Information
Sometimes we have more say in the way organizations use our personal information than we might think. Consider the following suggestions to help you do all that you can to protect vital personal data:
• Under recent law, consumers now have free access to their credit reports once per year at annualcreditreport.com. If you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit report.
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecu- tive numbers. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother’s maiden name. Ask if you can use a password instead.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor’s offices or other institutions that collect your personal information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well.
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