To reach your account manager:	1-800-942-9027 (toll free)
Number you give creditors to call us:	1-402-393-3100
To reach Jack or Michaela in Omaha:	341-7000 Opt. 2 OR 888-390-0941
To reach Mike in Lincoln:	475-1234 Opt. 2
To reach Mike for Colorado clients:	800-627-6925 Opt. 2
Automated Account Updates (for clients and creditors)	1-402-391-0000
If you need to find a Western Union Dealer:	1-800-325-6000

Your client # is listed on your statement.If a creditor calls you, tell them you are now with a credit counseling agency.Give them your client number and the name of your account manager. Do not give creditors the toll free numbers! Give them 402-393-3100.

Here are the credit card banks that readers complained about most in a recent Ugliest Credit Card Incident contest:

Bank One/FirstUSA was named by 39% of readers; Capital One by 10%; American Express by 7.6%; Citicorp by 6.8%; MBNA by 5.9%, and Providian and Fleet Bank, both 5.8%.

Source: Daily Record (October/November)

Please contact your account manager if you want a letter to send the above creditors. This letter requests an itemized accounting of your payments and charges. The letter suggests if they find errors they recalculate the account and give proper credit retroactively.

Call and ask your account manager.

Financial institutions now share information with their “affiliates,” or they might sell your personal data to somebody for a big commission!

A bank might turn you down for a loan because they find out you need major surgery. Or your auto insurance coverage is denied after learning you’ve been late with your credit payments.

This is what faces consumers as big financial organizations continue to share or peddle your personal financial records – your privacy – to other outfits.

They are not required to tell what they did with your sensitive personal data -- including your name, age, address, phone number, bank account numbers, checking balance, Social Security Number, credit card history and your overall creditworthiness.

There is very little legal protection. And the situation can get worse. Many financial outfits collect information on your spending habits, including many on the Internet. Then they sell information to companies that promote similar products.

Even state governments have announced they sell confidential wage data to car dealers, mortgage companies, banks and creditors.

Want to tell them “None of Your Business!”? Call your account manager and get a sample letter to send to your bank or credit card company.

Source: The Daily Record article by Robert K. Heady

Banks Looking to Peddle Your Private Financial Information

Tired of your name and address being exchanged for marketing purposes, or are tired of unwanted mail? There are several steps you can take to get off mailing lists. Be persistent and don’t expect to get rid of it all.

You can get your name removed from most national mailing lists by contacting:

The Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale NY 11735-9008

You will see a reduction in catalog, magazine offers, sweepstakes and other national advertising mail.

Want to stop only some of your “junk” mail, but still get some “junk” mail? Then do not contact the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service. Instead, contact companies individually and ask them to remove your name.

Always look for information disclosure notices and opt-out opportunities. Safeguarding privacy is good business for you and for businesses.

Source: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

For additional information and other resources, please call your account manager.

If you MUST make a change to your EFT, please send written notice to us at least TEN days before the pull date. Our fax number is 402-393-4141. After faxing wait 30 minutes then call your account manager to make sure your fax was received.

Your January money order or Western Union payments must be in our office by 10 AM January 18th to be processed for end of month payment. NO personal checks, thank you!