WHAT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TELLS ABOUT YOU
April 25th, 2008 Filed Under Free resources, Resources
Your social security number is a unique identification. You are the only
person who has that number. But did you ever wonder what the numbers in
your social security number mean? This report will tell you exactly what
those numbers tell about you, and how to effectively use social security
numbers as a means of identifying your customers.
Your social security number is made up of 3 parts called the AREA (XXX),
GROUP (XX), and SERIAL(XXXX). I’ll explain these parts separately. First,
the AREA (XXX) has one of two meanings, depending on when you got your
number. If you received your social security card before 1972, the area
number shows what state you APPLIED for your card in. If you received your
social security card after 1972, the area number shows the state you RESIDED
in at the time you applied. Here is a list of the number combinations and
their corresponding states.
000 NONE 387-399 WI 528-529 UT
001-003 NH 400-407 KY 530-NV
004-007 ME 408-415 TN 531-539 WA
008-009 VT 416-424 AL 540-544 OR
010-034 MA 425-428 MS 545-573 CA
035-039 RI 429-432 AR 574-AK
040-049 CT 433-439 LA 575-576 HI
050-134 NY 440-448 OK 577-579 DC
135-158 NJ 449-467 TX
580 VI (Virgin Islands) 159-211 PA
468-477 MN 581-584 PR (Puerto Rico)
212-220 MD 478-485 IA 585-NM
221-222 DE 486-500 MO
586PI (Pacific Islands - Guam)
223-231VA 501-502 ND
232-236 WV 503-504 SD
237-246 NC 505-508 NE 587-588 MS
247-251 SC 509-515 KS 589-595 FL
252-260 GA 516-517 MT
596-599 PR (Puerto Rico)
261-267 FL 518-519 ID 600-601 AZ
268-302 OH 520 WY 602-626 CA
303-317 IN 521-524 CO
318-361 IL 525NM
900-999 Were used when state aid to the aged, blind, and disable was
converted to federal programs administered by the Social Security
Association, not valid social security numbers
You will see that some states have more than one group of numbers. This is
because their original group of numbers became exhausted.
The GROUP (XX) has no meaning other than to determine whether or not a
number has been assigned. This is important to know, if you want to use
social security numbers as identification for your customers. Here’s how
you should use this information.
Every month, the Social Security Association publishes a list of the highest
group assigned for each AREA. The order of assignment is odd numbers under
10, even numbers over 9, even numbers under 9 (except for 00, which is not
used), and odd numbers over 10. So, for example, if the highest GROUP
assigned for AREA 999 is 72, then a customer who gives you the social
security number 999-04-1234 is a fraud, because even GROUPS under 9 have
not yet been assigned.
The SERIAL (XXXX) portion has no meaning and is not assigned in strict
numerical order. 0000 is never used. If you know what to look for, social
security numbers are an important tool for screening customers.
the Social Security Association publishes a list of the highest
group assigned for each
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HOW TO SECURE A MERCHANT ACCOUNT TO ACCEPT VISA & MASTERCARD
April 25th, 2008 Filed Under "How to", Business Credit, Business Options, Free resources, Resources
You can seriously increase your orders by accepting credit cards as payment.
It’s easy and convenient for the customer, and that makes it more likely for
them to order. The only problem is that it’s hard for a business,
especially a small mail order business, to gain the ability to accept credit
cards.
Banks are very reluctant to authorize credit card acceptance, mainly
because they have been burned too many times by fraudulent businesses. So,
many businesses go on, accepting only checks or money orders for payment,
and miss out on the added sales they would get through credit cards. There
is a way, though, for businesses that can’t get bank authorization to accept
credit cards.
The easiest way to get a merchant account is to work with an Independent
Sales Organization (ISO), which acts as a middleman between small businesses
and banks. They will charge an additional fee for each transaction, so you
will be paying a bit more than the standard percentage charged for credit
card transactions. There will also be an application fee. Here are the
typical charges to expect, as of this writing.
Application fees: Usually, these range from $95 to $400 and may or may not
be refundable.
Point of sale terminal purchase or lease: The terminal you
use to process the charge and check for fraudulent numbers is usually
available from a bank for around $300. You will only be able to get this
price, though, if a bank authorizes you. If working through an ISO, prices
will range from $400 to even as high as $1500! You can usually lease the
terminal, though, at an average of $45/month. The best thing to do, though,
is to find an ISO that will provide computer software that can be used in
place of a terminal. This will usually cost only around $150.
Concerning service fees: Banks charge between 2% and 5% for processing a
credit card purchase. ISO’s charge higher, usually 3% to 7%. They also
usually charge a per transaction fee of 20 to 25 cents, and a monthly
statement fee of $5 to $10.
Why all these fees? ISO’s only want to work with legitimate businesses
and ones that will stay with them for a long period of time. If a business
can afford these fees, they are considered less of a risk. Thus, the
important thing to do is to shop around for an ISO. Get as much
information as you can about each ISO you are considering, and READ it
thoroughly. Look for hidden charges and unreasonable requirements.
Here is a list of some of the ISO’s you may want to consider. This is
not an endorsement of any or all of them, these are just the most prominent
ones.
Bancard, Inc., 1233 Sherman Drive, Longmont, CO 80501 (800) 666-7575
Data Capture Systems, 231 Quincy St., Rapid City SD 57701 (605) 341-6461
Electronic Bankcard Systems, 2554 Lincoln Blvd., Suite 1088, Marina Del Rey,
CA 90291 (213) 827-5772
Gold Coast Bankcard Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (305) 492-0303
Harbridge Merchant Services, 681 Andersen Dr., 4th Flr., Bldg. 6, Pittsburgh,
PA 15220 (412) 937-1272
Teleflora Creditline, 12233 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
(800) 325-4849
US Merchant Services, 775 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743 (516) 427-9700
A final word: All of these services will require you to fill out an
application. Be 100% truthful with everything on the application and
don’t let the representative talk you into putting anything false down.
The reason is, if the banks affiliated with the ISO you use were to find
out that any information on your application is false, you would probably
be immediately cancelled and your business name and address would go on a
“black list.”
This would prevent you from being able to accept credit cards
for an indefinite period of time. Don’t let this happen to you. Most of
the ISO’s out there are legitimate, but there are a few that may put down
spurious information, rather than lose the fees they’d receive. Be sure to
look everything over twice. If you do, you’ll probably find an ISO that
will work with you to expand your business through the acceptance of credit
cards.
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THE FREE CREDIT CARD TRAP
April 22nd, 2008 Filed Under "How to", Business Credit, Free resources, Resources
Credit Cards
They arrive in your mail - a conspicuous looking mail piece from some
“official looking” bank claiming that you have been Pre-Approved for a
Mastercard or VISA credit card.
Of course, you don’t have to have any credit. You can even have bad credit
or have just filed bankruptcy or even be rated as a “slow payer.” It doesn’t
matter because these companies want to give you a second chance!
These companies want to make it easy for you to obtain a credit card because
they only want your money!
How the thing works is that you must send $35 to receive an application that
provides you with a name and address listing of banks willing to give you a
VISA and/or Mastercard without any credit approval. That’s a stiff price to
pay for a sheet of paper, don’t you think? The instructions that come with
the application will let you know how the scheme works. You must open up a
bank account with the bank once that bank approves you. Big deal! They make
it appear that you have won some contest or something and people will feel
“good inside” that someone has approved them.
But that’s not all. The minimum amount you must deposit is $200 but you can
deposit as much as you want. In return, you get a Mastercard or VISA credit
card with a credit limit up to the amount you deposit. Wow! What a great
honor! This is no break! Think about it. If a stranger gave you $200 to hold
for him until Friday wouldn’t you feel safe in granting them a $200 loan?
I mean _ it’s their own money you’ve got. If they default, you’ve got the
full amount to pay off the loan. It takes a twisted mind to take $200 from
you, grant you $200 credit with your own money plus charge you astronomical
interest rates just to take the money from your hand and give it back to you.
That’s insane!
Of course _ to combat this insanity, the great and wonderful banks claim to
help fix your credit report. They say that if you maintain payments in a
correct fashion, this information will be reported to the credit bureau.
Yea, right! When Shell calls the credit bureau to check your credit for a
gas credit card, your report shows 47 defaulted loans and a bankruptcy.
However, there is one company that you make payments to on-time. Big deal.
Don’t you think the rest of your bad credit will still be the deciding factor
in Shell’s final decision. You bet you bottom dollar!
Look at this: the bank makes money from the interest of your deposit.
The bank also makes money by charging you 18% to 22% interest for the right
to use their Mastercard or VISA. Plus the bank is guaranteed their money
because if you don’t pay on time, they take the money out of the bank account
you opened with them along with any interest you have accumulated.
Why would anyone with $200 to deposit want a credit card with a $200 limit?
If you have $200 and want to buy an item for $200 _ go out and purchase it.
That way, you’ll own it lock, stock and barrel. No interest, no payments, no
hassle! Plus, you won’t owe your soul to the company store _ sort-of-speak.
Credit is a wonderful thing if you use it intelligently. I know people who
charge $100 at the beginning of the month and use that $100 to make $300.
It’s free money for 30 days. Then, when the bill comes, they immediately pay
the entire balance and come out smelling like a rose with $200 to the good.
Credit is also needed in certain circumstances for establishing clout. You
can’t call in a telephone order unless you can charge the purchase to your
credit card. This delays you getting items you want now.
In fact _ some companies will try and make you feel “low class” if you don’t
own a credit card. I am proud to say that I DON’T OWN one. When I’m in a
store and they say “Would you like to put this on your charge?” I promptly
say, “No, I pay for everything I buy!” They immediately shut up. And if they
would snap back with a rude answer, I’d leave the stuff sitting on the
counter, walk out of the store and get what I needed somewhere else. You
don’t have to take abuse just because you don’t choose to line the pockets
of the rich credit card companies! It’s insane!
If you’ve ever had a credit card and charged $200, you know you end up paying
back $400 or more (unless you pay the balance within 30 days.) Stop allowing
these so called banks to rip you off.
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IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT
April 14th, 2008 Filed Under "How to", Business Credit, Free resources
IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT BY PAYING BILLS LATER, RATHER THAN SOONER!
Every business will get to the point where suppliers will offer terms on
bills, rather than requiring payment up front or on delivery. Their bills
will probably be marked “2/10, net 30.” This means you get a 2% discount if
you pay within 10 days, and the bill is due within 30 days.
Many business owners will jump at the opportunity to save the 2% by paying early, and
rightfully so. However, believe it or not, they can help their credit
rating by paying at the end of 30 days.
How is this so? It’s all a matter of your business’ CREDIT HISTORY. All
of the companies who offer you terms will be reporting your history to
various credit bureaus. These bureaus are who gets consulted by banks when
they decide whether or not to give you a loan.
By always taking advantage of the 2% discount, a business establishes a
paying pattern. Thus, if you’ve been paying a company’s bills in 5 days
for the past year, this is what they will expect from forthcoming bills.
Now, say one month has a tighter cash flow than normal, and you must take
20 days to pay that bill. This sends up a red flag for the billing company.
You normally pay in 5 days, why are you now paying in 20? Even though you paid the bill well within the deadline, you have given a sign that you had a cash flow problem. This uneven paying pattern can show up on your credit rating. Even though all your bills are paid on time, an uneven paying pattern can jeopardize your future chances for more and larger credit limits.
Now, if you always pay your bills on the 25th day of the due period, even
when you can pay them early, that cash poor month won’t look any different
to the billing company. Most companies would rather grant terms to a
company that always pays on the 25th day, than one that sometimes pays
early, sometimes pays later, as this reflects an image of disorganization
and uneven cash flow.
Also, always paying toward the end of the due period will aid your cash
flow. If you pay your bills consistently, at the same time every month, you
will not be surprised by a sudden cash shortage. For example, say you
decide to pay a bill early one month. Then, the next week, your main
supplier calls to tell you about a closeout deal he has that would double
your profits.
Only problem is he can’t offer terms, it has to be cash.
Because you paid that bill early, you can’t take advantage of the special
deal. If you would have waited to pay it, your cash flow would have allowed
the purchase, and the resulting higher profit margin would have yielded the
cash to pay the bill.
So, you see, paying bills later, and not taking advantage of any early
payment discounts, CAN work to your advantage. You need to consider your
future plans and decide if saving 2% now is really worth it.
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WHY DO COMPANIES ASK FOR YOUR UPS ADDRESS?
April 14th, 2008 Filed Under Free resources, Resources, Tips
When we began providing printing services for our customers (in order to
provide full publishing services), little did we realize that so many people
would get so upset and negligent in providing us with a simple UPS address
to ship their order to them. Therefore, I hope this report helps.
UPS is short for United Parcel Service. They are a separate company from
the United Postal Service and for some reason or another _ cannot reach an
agreement to deliver mail to a post office box address. This makes it hard
for all of us in mail order, but there is a way around that: Provide a UPS
shipping address when you place a large order.
What is your UPS shipping address? Your STREET address or anything other
than a post office box. Everybody has a UPS shipping address. My mother
lives in a town of 300 people and all her mail goes to a post office box.
It’s required for every citizen in Dante, Virginia to have a post office
box and to use it as their address. However, her UPS shipping address is:
Third House on Rte 1420. Yes! Bizarre as it seems _ everyone has a
UPS shipping address. If you don’t know yours, simply call your local
United Parcel Service and find out what it is.
Why don’t mail order dealers just ship your printing or product orders by
Parcel Post or 3rd class through the post office? Several reasons _ and
good ones:
1. Most mail order dealers have a UPS account. This means the
UPS truck comes right to their door every day and picks up packages.
They don’t have to haul heavy packages in the car, drive to the
post office and stand in line to pay a clerk. Besides _ the cost is
only $5 per week for anybody to open up a UPS account and if you are
shipping packages several times per week _ the $5 cost is certainly
justified!
2. The customer saves a lot of money when a dealer ships their package
by UPS. Shipping 1,000 envelopes (13.7 lbs) would cost around $6.00
at the post office but only $2.60 by UPS.
3. The customer will get their order quicker. If a dealer mailed the same
package to you through the post office it could take from 2-3 WEEKS for
you to receive. UPS only takes 2-3 DAYS in most cases!
4. The customer’s order is automatically insured for up to $100 by UPS.
If the dealer mailed the same package through the post office, he or
she would have to pay an additional charge for insurance.
You should now be able to see “why” providing your printer or mail order
company with a UPS shipping address is as important to you as it is to them!
However, some people don’t want anything shipped directly to their home
because they might not be there or a family member might get the package
instead. UPS has a bad reputation for leaving packages inside a screen
door if no one is home _ opening up the opportunity for theft.
Therefore, you have 4 choices: (1) You can have the package delivered to
your employer’s address (or wherever you might be during the day); (2) to
a friend or neighbor’s address (who is home most of the time); (3) leave a
note on your door to NOT leave any UPS packages and pick them up yourself;
or, (4) pay an additional postage charge for the dealer to ship your order
to your post office box address.
The best rule of thumb for determining additional cost in sending to your
post office box address would be about 40% ADDED on to the total amount of
your order. Why 40%? Isn’t that too much for shipping charges? You must
remember: not only does the dealer (or printer) have to pay the additional
postage charges but they have to haul it to the post office themselves
during office hours, take time away from their daily business, stand in
line holding a heavy package and drive back home. For our printer, this
is a 18 mile round trip. (Not everybody visits the post office everyday,
even though they are in mail order.)
Just recently we received a rude comment from a customer who refused to
provide us with his UPS address and demanded we ship to his post office
box. He said: “I’m not in the UPS business and I’m not in the phone
business _ I’m in the mail order business!” (He didn’t want to place a
call to our office to talk to us about this so we didn’t have a chance to
educate him on how this situation is out of our control.)
However, the United Parcel Service IS part of the mail order business,
and calling people IS part of the mail order business too.
So the next time you place an order that you know will be sent back to
you in a box (like printing), take the time to make sure you provide the
company with your UPS shipping address OR send extra money!
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