However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

• State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
• Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business backg
  The Value of Thank You Cards in an Email World
  A thank you card has long been a courteous gesture to show genuine appreciation for something. Sending a thank you card often sets you apart from the masses. A thank you card is seen as a thoughtful and professional way to offer thanks for a service rendered. In business, a thank you card can help develop relationships and serve as a subtle reminder that makes you stick out from other vendors, customers, or employees.In this day and age, email has become the common form of communication. Email is easy, fast, and cheap. Each of these virtues has made it so popular as a form of business communication. The ease of email and other electronic forms of communication have left the art of the written letter or thank you note on the wayside. Because of the prevalence of email, sending a thank you card will make the gesture stand out even more. It has once again become uncommon to send thank you cards on a regular basis, so by sending one each time you have something to say thanks for, your message will make a strong impression with the receiver of the card.It is a good idea to keep a sufficient supply of thank you cards on hand to send out. Set aside time every few days, or at least once a week to write and send thoughtful thank you cards to people who have given you something that week. It can be an actua
  Whenever a person applies for a loan of any sort – whether it is a mortgage, a personal loan, or even a credit card, their credit report is pulled and scrutinized. Everyone knows this. However, what isn’t as widely known is the mass amount of information available within these credit reports and histories.

  There are three primary national credit bureaus in the United States. Each agency’s primary form of business is the reporting of credit information that will enable their clients to learn certain facts about a person or business’s credit history, which, in turn, allows their clients to make better overall business decisions. The “big 3” in the United States are:

  1. Experian, formerly known as TRW – www.experian.com
  2. Equifax – www.equifax.com
  3. Trans Union – www.transunion.com

  So, what information is on a credit report? Is it just data that pertains to an individual or to a business’s finances? Or is other information noted there as well? In fact, there is a very large amount of data collected and displayed in a credit report. The following is the information that may be found, in part or in total, on a credit reporting history from Experian, Equifax, or Trans Union:
  • Their total credit score. The score is made up of three individual parts. One-third is based on the subject’s payment history, one-third is based on their debt/credit ratio, and the final third is a compilation of the length of their credit history, their types of credit, and the amount of their recent credit inquiries.
  • Individual credit information. Credit history – including payments, lines of credit, secured loans, and any other type of debt the subject may have. The information here is detailed. The reports break down what the total amount of credit is per loan, what each balance is, as well as a detailed payment history.
  • Settlements, tax liens, and other judgments. If the subject has any tax liens or judgments brought against them, they may be listed as part of the report. Also, any bad debt settlements reached will be reported.
  • Bankruptcy. If bankruptcy is in the subject’s history, it will be noted, as well as if it was a Chapter Seven or a Chapter Thirteen bankruptcy. Also, if they are making payments to the creditors, it will show what their complete payment history is.
  • Arrest and conviction data. Basic data that will show an arrest or conviction information along with dates of arrest, conviction, etc.
  • Other legal information. Such as if the person or business has been sued by another individual or business, including the when and where.
  • Fraud reports. If there are any possible instances of fraud in place, the credit report will detail which accounts are thought to be compromised.
  • Address information. Shows the current as well as several past residences for the individual or business.
  • Employment history. Where the individual is currently working as well as their past employers and dates of employment.

  Basically, the consumer files from these national agencies are vast and often include far more than basic credit worthiness. Local and/or regional credit reporting agencies may have even more in-depth, and more detailed, data on individuals and businesses in their local area.

  Also, it is smart to be aware of what information is on your own credit report. This is extremely important for a variety of reasons, but mainly, to be sure your report is accurate. Though, if you have suspicions that someone else is using your identifying information to steal from you, in other words – identity theft, checking your credit report is an excellent way of deducing if your suspicions are correct or not.

  However, there is another reason to know what types of data lurk in a credit report. If you’re investigating a person or a business, having access to their credit report can often give you exactly the data you’re looking for, in addition to the obvious financial history. Because of this, and the risk associated with it, the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has amendments in place to protect credit reports from being illegally retrieved.

  To obtain a credit report on someone other than yourself, you must have a “legitimate business need,” as well as, in most cases, a signed release. Some of these legitimate business reasons may include:

  • Renting property, apartments, houses, etc. If you’re a landlord, retrieving credit information on possible tenants is within the parameters of the law as long as there is a signed release.
  • Approving loans of any sort (from a mortgage to a credit card). This is fairly obvious. Any institution that loans money, in whatever form, has the legal right to request credit history information on their applicants.
  • Employment verification. Many companies in the United States now have potential employees sign a credit report release as part of their pre-employment screening. This, along with general backgrounds checks, is quickly becoming the norm.
  • Collection proceedings for bad debt. If an individual, or business, has not paid a debt back, the lending institution may begin collection proceedings with or without a collection agency. Credit reports are almost always used in these proceedings.

  Also, the FCRA mandates that procuring a credit report under false pretenses is a crime, which could lead to fines, jail time, and/or the relinquishment of a business license.

  So, what do you do if you are in need of a credit report other than your own, and you do not fall into one of these prior categories? Well, unfortunately, to actually retrieve an official credit report – there’s not a whole lot you can do. Even online information brokers need to be extremely careful that the users of their databases have a legitimate business purpose – which means you’d probably have to verify this to utilize their services.

  However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

  • State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
  • Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business backgr
    Job Search Methods - Is the Internet Right For You?
    Why do so many people post their resumes on the Internet when the rate of success is actually LOWER than finding a job with classified advertising in a local newspaper?Actually, according to the ever-popular book, “What Color is Your Parachute?” the success rate for sending out your resume randomly to employers (and getting a job offer) is actually higher than securing the position of your choice through an electronic resource. The rate is somewhat higher for IT-related positions.So, why do so many people spend their time, effort and money on a tool that offers so little reward? Well, it is a novelty. People can zip a resume into the job abyss and dream of someone finding it. Also, it is unbelievably easy. Click, click, click and you have posted your resume to a job board. A few more clicks and a couple of dollars and you can have your resume “blasted” to employers who might match your job-search criteria.Unfortunately, this process does not always work well. Sometimes it doesn’t even work at all. For the 4 - 5% of folks who DO find their jobs online, life is good.The best approach to finding a job is to keep all of your options open. Do not rely on one source. Read the classified ads, scour the internet, network your socks off and go to job fairs. Oh, read the newspaper’
    types of credit, and the amount of their recent credit inquiries.
  • Individual credit information. Credit history – including payments, lines of credit, secured loans, and any other type of debt the subject may have. The information here is detailed. The reports break down what the total amount of credit is per loan, what each balance is, as well as a detailed payment history.
  • Settlements, tax liens, and other judgments. If the subject has any tax liens or judgments brought against them, they may be listed as part of the report. Also, any bad debt settlements reached will be reported.
  • Bankruptcy. If bankruptcy is in the subject’s history, it will be noted, as well as if it was a Chapter Seven or a Chapter Thirteen bankruptcy. Also, if they are making payments to the creditors, it will show what their complete payment history is.
  • Arrest and conviction data. Basic data that will show an arrest or conviction information along with dates of arrest, conviction, etc.
  • Other legal information. Such as if the person or business has been sued by another individual or business, including the when and where.
  • Fraud reports. If there are any possible instances of fraud in place, the credit report will detail which accounts are thought to be compromised.
  • Address information. Shows the current as well as several past residences for the individual or business.
  • Employment history. Where the individual is currently working as well as their past employers and dates of employment.

  Basically, the consumer files from these national agencies are vast and often include far more than basic credit worthiness. Local and/or regional credit reporting agencies may have even more in-depth, and more detailed, data on individuals and businesses in their local area.

  Also, it is smart to be aware of what information is on your own credit report. This is extremely important for a variety of reasons, but mainly, to be sure your report is accurate. Though, if you have suspicions that someone else is using your identifying information to steal from you, in other words – identity theft, checking your credit report is an excellent way of deducing if your suspicions are correct or not.

  However, there is another reason to know what types of data lurk in a credit report. If you’re investigating a person or a business, having access to their credit report can often give you exactly the data you’re looking for, in addition to the obvious financial history. Because of this, and the risk associated with it, the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has amendments in place to protect credit reports from being illegally retrieved.

  To obtain a credit report on someone other than yourself, you must have a “legitimate business need,” as well as, in most cases, a signed release. Some of these legitimate business reasons may include:

  • Renting property, apartments, houses, etc. If you’re a landlord, retrieving credit information on possible tenants is within the parameters of the law as long as there is a signed release.
  • Approving loans of any sort (from a mortgage to a credit card). This is fairly obvious. Any institution that loans money, in whatever form, has the legal right to request credit history information on their applicants.
  • Employment verification. Many companies in the United States now have potential employees sign a credit report release as part of their pre-employment screening. This, along with general backgrounds checks, is quickly becoming the norm.
  • Collection proceedings for bad debt. If an individual, or business, has not paid a debt back, the lending institution may begin collection proceedings with or without a collection agency. Credit reports are almost always used in these proceedings.

  Also, the FCRA mandates that procuring a credit report under false pretenses is a crime, which could lead to fines, jail time, and/or the relinquishment of a business license.

  So, what do you do if you are in need of a credit report other than your own, and you do not fall into one of these prior categories? Well, unfortunately, to actually retrieve an official credit report – there’s not a whole lot you can do. Even online information brokers need to be extremely careful that the users of their databases have a legitimate business purpose – which means you’d probably have to verify this to utilize their services.

  However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

  • State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
  • Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business backg
    The Fine Art of Relationship Marketing
    The buzzword these days is “relationship” marketing. Just what is it? And why is it important? Relationship marketing is so much more than “networking. It’s gathering support of your friends, peers, and business contacts. It’s developing strong, lasting, unique relationships with your most valuable asset, your customer. It’s what keeps people “coming back for more.” It’s an excellent way to shorten the traditional routes of building trust, create opportunities, increase valuable contacts, to achieve success and excel in business.Every opportunity you have to meet new people is an opportunity to grow your business! If you are willing to invest your time, networking is a process, and the payoffs are almost immeasurable. It’s not realistic to expect instant success. It takes time. You can plan your networking opportunities to shorten the time it takes to build those relationships.What do you want and need to accomplish? Do you want to develop lifelong individual customers, land large accounts, or make an impact in your community? You will accomplish all three by getting involved in your local civic organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Business Associations, Non-Profit organizations, etc. One of the best ways to get to know people “up close and personal” is to volunteer to serve on a committee; give y
    il which accounts are thought to be compromised.
  • Address information. Shows the current as well as several past residences for the individual or business.
  • Employment history. Where the individual is currently working as well as their past employers and dates of employment.

  Basically, the consumer files from these national agencies are vast and often include far more than basic credit worthiness. Local and/or regional credit reporting agencies may have even more in-depth, and more detailed, data on individuals and businesses in their local area.

  Also, it is smart to be aware of what information is on your own credit report. This is extremely important for a variety of reasons, but mainly, to be sure your report is accurate. Though, if you have suspicions that someone else is using your identifying information to steal from you, in other words – identity theft, checking your credit report is an excellent way of deducing if your suspicions are correct or not.

  However, there is another reason to know what types of data lurk in a credit report. If you’re investigating a person or a business, having access to their credit report can often give you exactly the data you’re looking for, in addition to the obvious financial history. Because of this, and the risk associated with it, the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has amendments in place to protect credit reports from being illegally retrieved.

  To obtain a credit report on someone other than yourself, you must have a “legitimate business need,” as well as, in most cases, a signed release. Some of these legitimate business reasons may include:

  • Renting property, apartments, houses, etc. If you’re a landlord, retrieving credit information on possible tenants is within the parameters of the law as long as there is a signed release.
  • Approving loans of any sort (from a mortgage to a credit card). This is fairly obvious. Any institution that loans money, in whatever form, has the legal right to request credit history information on their applicants.
  • Employment verification. Many companies in the United States now have potential employees sign a credit report release as part of their pre-employment screening. This, along with general backgrounds checks, is quickly becoming the norm.
  • Collection proceedings for bad debt. If an individual, or business, has not paid a debt back, the lending institution may begin collection proceedings with or without a collection agency. Credit reports are almost always used in these proceedings.

  Also, the FCRA mandates that procuring a credit report under false pretenses is a crime, which could lead to fines, jail time, and/or the relinquishment of a business license.

  So, what do you do if you are in need of a credit report other than your own, and you do not fall into one of these prior categories? Well, unfortunately, to actually retrieve an official credit report – there’s not a whole lot you can do. Even online information brokers need to be extremely careful that the users of their databases have a legitimate business purpose – which means you’d probably have to verify this to utilize their services.

  However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

  • State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
  • Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business backg
    Franchising
    A franchise is a continuing relationship between a franchisor and a franchisee in which the franchisor's knowledge, image, success, manufacturing, and marketing techniques are supplied to the franchisee for a consideration. This consideration usually consists of a high "up-front" fee, and a significant royalty percentage, which generally require a fairly long time to recover.About 10% of the 20 million U.S. businesses operate under some kind of franchise agreement. About 3,000 companies sell franchises to on the order of 25,000 new buyers each year, or about one every 20 minutes.Franchises account for over a third of all retail sales. Franchising offers those who lack business experience (but do not lack capital) a business with a good probability of success. It is a ready-made business, with all the incentives of a small business combined with the management skills of a large one. It is a way to be "in business for yourself, not by yourself."Franchises take many forms. Some are simply trade-name licensing arrangements, such as TrueValue Hardware, where the franchisee is provided product access and participation in an advertising cooperative. Some trade name licenses, particularly in skin-care products, are part of a multi-level marketing system, where a franchisee can designate sub-f
    ust have a “legitimate business need,” as well as, in most cases, a signed release. Some of these legitimate business reasons may include:
    • Renting property, apartments, houses, etc. If you’re a landlord, retrieving credit information on possible tenants is within the parameters of the law as long as there is a signed release.
    • Approving loans of any sort (from a mortgage to a credit card). This is fairly obvious. Any institution that loans money, in whatever form, has the legal right to request credit history information on their applicants.
    • Employment verification. Many companies in the United States now have potential employees sign a credit report release as part of their pre-employment screening. This, along with general backgrounds checks, is quickly becoming the norm.
    • Collection proceedings for bad debt. If an individual, or business, has not paid a debt back, the lending institution may begin collection proceedings with or without a collection agency. Credit reports are almost always used in these proceedings.

    Also, the FCRA mandates that procuring a credit report under false pretenses is a crime, which could lead to fines, jail time, and/or the relinquishment of a business license.

    So, what do you do if you are in need of a credit report other than your own, and you do not fall into one of these prior categories? Well, unfortunately, to actually retrieve an official credit report – there’s not a whole lot you can do. Even online information brokers need to be extremely careful that the users of their databases have a legitimate business purpose – which means you’d probably have to verify this to utilize their services.

    However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

    • State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
    • Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business backg
      Six Power Secrets of Getting Hired and Promoted – Part 2
      Power Secret Three: Why You Will Not Be Able to Relate to EveryoneYou need to know that for every 10 people who could potentially make a decision to interview you or hire you, the odds say that 3 out of the 10 will like you, and it will have nothing to do with who you are or what you do.They may simply like your smile, your handshake, the sound of your voice, or the way you do your hair.Rest assured that 3 out of those same 10 people will not like you, and again it will have nothing to do with who you are or what you do.They may simply not like your smile, your handshake, the sound of your voice, or the way you do your hair.And when you are hired, 4 out of those same 10 people will learn to like you, or dislike you, as they develop a working relationship with you.The odds say that those 4 in 10 will like you if you actually do your job and then some, you work at earning their respect, you honor their confidence, and you treat them as you would want to be treated.Considering these numbers, you will potentially be able to develop a very good working relationship with about 70% of your fellow employees when you are hired and go to work.The other 30% you can forget, and if you bend over backwards to cultivate their good will, you will usually find that they al
      – there’s not a whole lot you can do. Even online information brokers need to be extremely careful that the users of their databases have a legitimate business purpose – which means you’d probably have to verify this to utilize their services.

      However, there are other potential alternatives at your disposal for retrieving the information you want. The following are some examples of steps you can take, and the places you can go, to get the financial as well as the additional background you’re after:

      • State or County Records – Every credit report is partially made up of information gathered from public records. Filings such as arrest and conviction records, tax liens, and bankruptcies can be retrieved from the correct locality in which the record is stored. These, most of the time, will be at the state or county level. Just check with the appropriate state to find out exactly where to go to retrieve the records you’re looking for. Also, online search agencies (information brokers) can also get this public record information for you through their public records databases.
      • Dissemination of Information – Certain reporting agencies, such as Experian and Dunn & Bradstreet, can run a comprehensive credit check on businesses within their directory for their clients. This information is an overview of the specific information that is actually on the credit report and can give valuable data to branch off from. These condensed reports can offer data on tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, business background reports, lawsuits, payment trend behavior, etc. Most of these types of reporting agencies offer a one time rate to retrieve the information you’re after. For consistent searches, they also offer a subscriber rate.
      • Do Some Legwork – Check the appropriate locality’s register of deeds office to look into real-estate mortgage records, search the appropriate files at your local courthouse to investigate public record information, interview former coworkers, friends, and family members of the individual, etc. Be ready to talk to anyone you can and listen carefully. Write everything down and continue to connect the dots. While there is some information you’d find on a credit report you won’t discover in this fashion, you may find data that will lead you onto other avenues. If you spread your net wide enough, you should end up with a fairly accurate picture of the individual you’re investigating.
      • Uniform Commercial Code Filings – The UCC allows a creditor to notify other creditors about a debtor’s assets that have been used as collateral for a secured transaction. The creditor does this by filing a public notice, or financing statement, with a particular filing office. You can search these filings by most states using online information brokers and other public record vendors. You can also do your own online search, if you’re motivated enough, by going to the appropriate state’s UCC database or by going to the state web site that offers free access to the UCC database. By doing a simple search online, you can find a plethora of information on UCC filings as well as possible information brokers to use, if you decide to go that route.

      While credit reports and histories give the needed financial information a company or individual requires to determine credit worthiness on another, these reports can also include other data that will give a greater view of the subject in question. However, even if you don’t have the legal right to retrieve the official credit report of an individual or a business; don’t give up on your investigation. Remember, there are other ways to get the information you require.