| Consumer Affairs warns about 'not-so-free'
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) encourages people to check their credit reports annually. This is an important way consumers can safeguard against identity theft, credit fraud or unauthorized charges, and check for errors or inaccuracies that can affect a credit decision. Legislation that became effective in South Carolina on June 1, 2005, gives consumers the right to receive a FREE copy of their credit report once a year. However, if ordering your credit report online, consumers are warned to stay away from misleading Web sites claiming to offer free credit reports, then enrolling the unsuspecting consumer in a monthly reporting service costing $11.95 each month. SCDCA has received numerous complaints from consumers who are further victimized when emails trying to cancel the service go unanswered and the Web sites offer no information on cancellation.
'Security Risk' Blocks U.S. Troops Overseas from Free Credit Report Site
No Free Online Access for Millions of Americans YONKERS, N.Y., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Millions of U.S. citizens outside the country -- including several hundred thousand members of the armed forces -- are not permitted to see their personal credit information on the Web site set up by law to provide free access, over security concerns that an offshore user might create. Four years ago, the U.S. Congress mandated creating the http://www.annualcreditreport.com site that gives consumers free access to one report per year from each of the three major credit agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The law that created that site, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 -- known as FACTA, or the FACT Act -- was designed to protect U.S.
Asian bourses close weaker on credit worries, Hong Kong investment fears
HONG KONG: Asian stocks were mostly weaker yesterday as worries about the impact of a US credit crunch weighed on investors, dealers said.
Benchmarks in Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul and Shanghai closed down, while Hong Kong traded lower as the markets continued to fret over the fallout from the US subprime mortgage crisis.
�It�s a threatening dollar problem worldwide and it should play a major role on the markets for some time to come,� said Jose Vistan Jr, research director at AB Capital Securities in Manila.
Concern that China could limit investments from the mainland into Hong Kong, and that it would hike interest rates for the sixth time this year to cool the economy, also weighed on sentiment, dealers said.
China�s banking watchdog meanwhile denied a report that it had ordered local lenders to freeze all loans until the end of the year.
Aberdeen keep pace with dashing Lokomotiv
CONFRONTED by able opponents who were more technically gifted and enjoyed the lion's share of possession, Aberdeen scrapped hard for a share of the spoils against Lokomotiv Moscow last night in what was a thoroughly entertaining contest in Group B of the UEFA Cup. Although the Scots took a merited lead early on thanks to Zander Diamond's headed goal, the Russians dominated the rest of the first-half and equalised on the stroke of half-time when defender Branislav Ivanovic's header eluded Jamie Langfield from a corner. .
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