KFI Updates Saturday, February 2, 2002: How to get rid of those telemarketers and that junk mail, why you shouldn't give out your social security number to anyone, should you let the IRS prepare your taxes?, and don't let the debt collector's scare you.

Do you hate Telemarketers as much as I do? Why not have as much fun torturing them when they call you like our old friend Tom Mabe does? He has a bunch of fun at their expense...check out his hilarious CDs [available at music stores everywhere on Virgin] or via his website: www.tommabe.com Wanna reduce the number of tele-marketing calls you're receiving? "Opt-out" and "Do Not Call" lists are a waste of time; check out this special section devoted to this topic on my website. And while you're at it, why not reduce the amount of junk mail you're receiving, too? All of the info's right here for the taking... Using your Social Security Number as your account number/identifier: We’re getting hosed by local schools, colleges, hospitals, insurance companies...what you can do about it! Many of you wrote to me about my advice concerning carrying your Social Security Card/Number in your wallet-purses, etc. I say don't do it...but then you tell me about your insurance cards or Blue Cross Health Insurance cards having the magic number on it...and I still say, don't carry the card unless you know you're gonna need it...like for a doctor's appointment or scheduled surgery or to pick up a prescription, etc. Here's the first of three responses worth reviewing and discussion: #1: "I didn't like your answer on today's show to "not carry your medical card with you unless you're going to the pharmacy or a doctors appointment" WRONG ANSWER !!!!!! God forbid you have a medical emergency, and don't have the card with you, no service!" BFD: Sorry pal, but YOU are wrong. Here's why: a) Medical facilities cannot turn away a patient due to lack of ability to pay if it's an emergency. Period. End of discussion. b) Get in there [into the hospital] get fixed, and settle up WITH your precious insurance card/proof of coverage after the emergency has passed. Once again, some people hear what they want to hear and this half-listening is what gets you into jams. Trust me...I'm not going to tell you to do something that'll set you up for failure. NOT listening to my advice will haunt you sooner or later. #2: "I called Blue Cross and had them change my Patient I.D. number from my Social Security Number to a different number. All they asked was that I fax them a signed note to that effect. Let your listeners know that they can ask/demand any organization to not use their S.S.N. for I.D. purposes!" BFD: You just did! Great information...thank you! #3: "The Los Angeles Community College District will assign a student an alternate pin number if they don't wish to use their social security number. However, if you forget your pin number, you could be in big trouble as all your records will be under that number. They don't cross reference. FYI: Cal-State Northridge, does cross reference." BFD: More great information; I'll be sure to pass it along...thanks! You might have some money coming to you, but do you know where to even begin looking? If there’s an senior consumer in your life, they might have thousands of dollars out there but have forgotten where it is? I've covered this in some past columns...but there's a new site that promises to be a good resource at the best price: FREE! You might want to review the article in Kiplinger's while you're at it. Should you let the IRS prepare your tax returns? They want to get in to that side of the business...but is it a good idea? Maybe it could reduce your chances of an audit? Hmmmmm...I don't think so...but you need to find out more about this one and you decide. If I can almost get arrested at the airport for a total brain-fart, that means you’re at risk, too! You’ll love this story; here's an excerpt from my 02/07/02 column in The Dallas Morning News: Dose of Dover For The Week: It’s embarrassing for me to share this next story with you, but I’ve got to do it so you don’t end up in the news or worse yet, police custody. I travel by air a couple of times of month and consider myself a reasonably savvy traveler. So I was stunned when I got popped at DFW Airport a week ago by the security personnel working the x-ray machine at one of the American Airlines terminals. My violation? I forgot to remove my Leatherman, a multi-bladed (very sharp blades, I might add) multi-purpose knife (think Yuppie Swiss Army Knife) from my carry-on bag. I’d put it in my bag after taking it out of my car a week earlier, and simply forgot to take it out. Fortunately I got to the airport early enough–and the security personnel were kind enough to allow me–to go back to the check-in counter and check the item separately in a small box they provided, and avoided having the knife seized. The moral of the story? ALWAYS check every single pocket in any bag you intend to carrying on an airplane. (By the way: The only thing frequent flier status guarantees is that you’re increasing your chances for an oversight sooner or later; learn from my mistake and avoid the brain-damage.) Speaking of traveling, here's why you need to go make a color photocopy of your Driver's License and your Passport...like do it right now! With the easy access and inexpensive cost of color photocopiers, why not save yourself some grief and go shoot a few copies of your ID? Once you've done this, you've got a fall-back "Plan B" in the event you lose your ID, something of even higher impact in these post 9-11-01 times. Keep the extra copies in a safe place at home [so you can readily access 'em if you need to]...but when you travel, make sure you've got one of these copies with you but not in the same place as the original IDs. In a purse, but not in the billfold. In a briefcase, but never in your wallet or where ever you carry your IDs. Why having a couple of belts a day might actually be good for you and even improve your finances? I’ll drink to that...but seriously: Before you start killing off brain cells from downing shots of Thunderbird, you need to do your homework first. Don’t let those debt collectors scare you into making poor decisions…on top of an already crappy set of circumstances. Know your rights; fire the bastards…and hire an attorney to pull the ripcord if it makes the best sense. Credit counseling? You’re kidding…right? Do your homework, then make the best decision for you!!!

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