- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- 1: Getting Ready
- 2: The Costs of Space
- 3: Understanding Credit
- What is Credit?
- Establishing Credit
- Credit Reports
- Credit Scores
- Your Credit Report and Score
- Good Credit vs. Bad Credit
- Alternative Credit
- If Credit Problems Arise
- Rebuilding Credit
- Avoiding Predatory Practices
- Credit and Your Space Hunt
- Lending Criteria
- Credit and Insurance
- Credit and Identity Protection
- Resources: Chapter 3
- 4: Professional Services
- 5: Finding Space
- 6: Residential Leases
- 7: Commercial and Industrial Leases
- 8: Buying Real Estate
- 9: Types of Mortgages
- 10: The Mortgage Application
- 11: Ownership Models
- 12: Purchasing Alternatives
- 13: Chicago Zoning Ordinance
- 14: Chicago Building Code
- 15: Chicago's Neighborhoods
- 16: Property Taxes
- 17: When You Find a Property
- 18: Inspections
- 19: After Moving In
- 20: Insurance
- 21: Utilities
- 22: Rehabbing Your Space
- 23: Safe and Healthy Spaces
- 24: Green Practice
- 25: When Disputes Arise
- 26: Space Emergencies
- 27: Facility Development Planning
- Bibliography
Protecting Personal Information
Steps to protect your credit:
For additional information, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at 800-386-5438 or here.
When telemarketers call your home, it is your right to tell them to immediately stop calling and remove your name from their lists. They must comply. If you continue to receive calls, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. To stop unwanted solicitations via the mail, send your name and address with a note to remove your name from the list to:
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
For both services, any time you change your mailing address or phone number, you will need to update your information with the appropriate organization.
- Check your credit report at least once a year to make sure that no new accounts have been opened in your name. Also, check to see if any unusual inquiries or other activities have occurred. Spot problems early.
- Just as you would with your credit report, check your savings and checking accounts for unusual activity each month.
- Avoid unwanted phone calls and mailings. Recent federal legislation has made it easy for you to stop unwanted phone calls and tons of junk mail. By signing up on the National Do Not Call Registry, telemarketers must stop contacting you by law. Your registration lasts for five years, after which you must reapply. Sign-up on the list here, or call 888-382-1222.
For additional information, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at 800-386-5438 or here.
When telemarketers call your home, it is your right to tell them to immediately stop calling and remove your name from their lists. They must comply. If you continue to receive calls, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. To stop unwanted solicitations via the mail, send your name and address with a note to remove your name from the list to:
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
For both services, any time you change your mailing address or phone number, you will need to update your information with the appropriate organization.
- When your creditors send you Privacy Notices, read them thoroughly to understand how they will use your sensitive information. Opt-out to prevent them from sharing your information with other organizations.
- Shred vital information that contains your social security number (SS) or Tax I.D. number (for businesses and nonprofits) and other sensitive information. Your SS and I.D. numbers are direct gateways to all of your vital records and credit information.
- Make sure you know how businesses, banks, organizations and others use your personal/business information. Do they sell your information to other organizations? Are they destroying sensitive material? While you are being careful, others might be careless. Request that businesses and organizations do not use your Social Security or Tax I.D. number as your customer identification number.
- Again, the Information Age has made getting into your house and information easier via the web and email systems. Install firewalls on your computer.
- Do not store sensitive personal or financial information on your cell phone or pager. If you lose these items, someone can gain instant access to your sensitive information. Keep this type of information privately secured in your home.
- Keep abreast of new legislation and business practices that attack your right to privacy and/or make access to your personal information easier. Many nonprofit organizations such as the DMA Consumer Assistance Center, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Privacy Clearinghouse and Identity Theft.org provide information and resources to help you maintain and protect your sensitive information and privacy, which in effect protects your credit.
TIP: If you are planning to purchase or obtain a new lease, pull a credit report from the three primary bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at least six months to a year beforehand. This will allow you adequate time to correct any mistakes on the report and to clear up any blemishes.
TIP: Shred or remove your name from pre-approval credit card and loan applications. Some identity thieves have gained access to individuals' information by changing the return address on these forms and then opening the new account in the individual’s name.
TIP: Steer clear of “credit repair” companies, which charge astronomical fees for help that is often available for free.
TIP: For detailed information about the laws concerning your credit’s impact upon your insurance, contact the Illinois Division of Insurance’s Consumer Assistance Hotline at 866-445-5364.