You benefit when
information that has been collected about you speeds approval of a credit
application or medical care. On the other hand, if the information collected
is inaccurate or misused, you could be treated unfairly, or even become
a victim of crime. You also may not want to be on lists for unsolicited
telemarketing calls and mail.
While federal law protects
some of your personal information and how it is used – for example
credit reports – other situations aren’t covered. Some companies
and industry groups have adopted voluntary policies to address privacy
concerns. Many states have their own privacy laws concerning telemarketing;
employment; use of Social Security, credit card or checking account numbers;
medical records; mailing lists; credit reports; debt collection; computerized
communications; insurance records; and public data banks. Check with your
state or local consumer agency to find out where to get information about
specific privacy rights. Here are some general tips on protecting your
privacy.
• Look for privacy policy
statements on sales materials, websites, and forms that companies ask
you to fill out. If you don’t see anything about how your personal
information will be handled, ask. By doing business with companies whose
privacy practices meet your approval, you can protect yourself from abuse
and use your purchasing power to help promote good privacy policies.
• Never give anyone
your passwords or pin numbers. Con artists may try to trick you into providing
this information by pretending to be your service provider.
• Do not give out personal
information to people or companies you don’t know. A credit card
number, savings or checking account number, or Social Security number
in the wrong hands can be used to steal from you or to steal from others
in your name. (See Identity Theft).
• Don’t give retailers
information that isn’t required. You don’t have to give numbers
other than the one you are using for payment. Some states bar merchants
from asking consumers to provide additional information on checks or credit
card slips.
• Give your Social Security
number to employers, government agencies, lenders and credit bureaus only.
• Be selective in what
information you include on warranty registration forms. Many questions
can be ignored. The company only needs the purchase date, model/serial
numbers, and how you can be contacted if there is a product recall.
• Ask what information
about you may be tracked and how it is used. Supermarket scan cards enable
you to get special sale prices, but your purchasing history could also
be sold to other companies.
• Screen your calls.
You can use an answering machine to listen to a caller and decide whether
you want to pick up. Your local telephone company may offer services that
you can buy to accept calls only from certain numbers, or to see the name
and number of the person calling you (Caller ID).
• Talk about privacy
issues with your children and other household members. Everyone should
understand what information you feel is and is not appropriate to provide
on the phone, while using a computer, and in other situations.
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