Archive for November, 2007

top-ten-tips on-the-go

Thursday’s Top Ten: Travel Safely (and wisely)

  • Posted on November 29th, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips On The Go

Who doesn’t need travel tips when planning trips around the busy holiday season? Whether you’re heading away from home for a business meeting or of to see grandma for a long weekend, check out today’s Top Ten for tips to travel smart this season.

1. Find out whether you will need to have a passport or visa to travel to your destination. The U.S. Department of State website provides this information.

2. Get background information about where you are going. The CIA Factbook is a very helpful site featuring overviews of the history, climate, political situation, demographics and industries of countries around the world.

3. Read up on exchange rates and make sure you know how much you are really paying for your purchases.

4. Contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know your itinerary so they know to authorize payments. You may also want to ask them about ATMs and getting the best exchange rates.

5. Learn how to make phone calls, whether you are in an emergency or just to check back with friends and family at home.

6. Make sure to leave copies of your itineraries and passports with family members at home. If you should lose your passport or luggage, having additional copies of these important documents can help you get out of a jam.

7. If you have food allergies, be sure to write down how to say those foods in the language spoken in the country you are visiting. It is amazing how people can communicate without speaking the same language, but if your throat swells after eating shellfish, you may want to learn how to say shrimp in Italian.

8. Don’t let your guard down when you are in your hotel. Take advantage of in-room or front-desk safes by locking up passports, credit cards, and other important documents.

9. Avoid carrying excessive amounts of money and multiple credit cards and make sure to have a back-up credit card. If you become a victim of theft or lose your card, you won’t be stuck without money.

10. Put a vacation hold on your mail by calling the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777. Your mail can be held at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. Not only will you help thwart potential burglars, but you may also protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.

daily-news in-the-wallet

Shop Wisely this Cyber Monday

  • Posted on November 26th, 2007
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  • Daily News In The Wallet

Just when you thought you finally recovered from Black Friday you woke up today to face yet another designated shopping day. Yep, it’s Cyber Monday. The term refers to the Monday following Thanksgiving when most people return to their desks to continue the shopping they started over the weekend via the internet. The recent phenomenon draws much attention, but does the day really live up the hype? Either way, it’s a great time to remind ourselves of the precautions we need to take to keep our identities safe this holiday season. Our Black Friday tips easily relate to online shopping this Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season. Also in the news, 60 Minutes ran an investigative piece last night following all the talk about Black Friday on how identity thieves can steal consumers’ credit card information by penetrating stores’ wireless networks. Watch the video and read the story here. Makes paying with cash that much more appealing.

in-the-wallet ea-news

Getting Through Black Friday

  • Posted on November 20th, 2007
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  • In The Wallet EA News

As consumers gear up for Black Friday, we can’t help but be reminded of how important it is to take extra precautions in keeping our identity safe. Here are some great tips for safe shopping this Black Friday—whether you’re hitting the malls or shopping online. After all, what good is a deal if it costs you your identity?

daily-news in-the-wallet

Black Friday: Friend or Foe?

  • Posted on November 19th, 2007
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  • Daily News In The Wallet

Ahh, Black Friday. It might sound like a dismal day, but for retailers, it’s the best day of the year. As the biggest shopping day approaches, we can’t help but remind ourselves of how important it is to thwart identity theft and credit card fraud by keeping our purchases safe this holiday season. Of course, that sounds easier than it actually is. Take a recent study by AirDefense Inc., for example. Researchers found that half of more than 3,000 retail stores in the U.S. and Europe use a wireless data system that is vulnerable to hacking by going undercover at stores in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris to expose security holes in the networks. Some of the stores investigated were exchanging data with no encryption to mask information or were using an outdated encryption method that is easily cracked by thieves. ‘Tis may be the season to shop, but we think it’s also the season to watch—your statements, that is.

on-the-go freaky-friday

Freaky Friday: Tossing and Turning

  • Posted on November 16th, 2007
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  • On The Go Freaky Friday

People usually spend the night in airports under dire circumstances—delayed flights, missed connections or bad weather. One website actually encourages people to spend the night in airports for, well, just the fun of it. The site, www.sleepinginairports.net, ranks the world’s best airports for a sleepover party, giving out the Golden Pillow award and allowing visitors to submit reviews and their own tales of overnight excursions. For those of you are stuck catching some overnight z’s in the terminal, the site is useful for tips and advice on where to find a comfy corner or how to avoid noisy cleaners. While we here at Me&Me prefer beds over airport gates (hey, to each his own), it’s worth looking up the airports you visit frequently in case, dare we say, your flight is delayed.

daily-news on-the-go

Travel Woes This Turkey Day

  • Posted on November 16th, 2007
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  • Daily News On The Go

For those of you who are regular visitors to Me&Me, you won’t be surprised to hear that experts are expecting this Thanksgiving to be a dreadful time for travelers. Heck, even the President is getting on the “we need to fix this” plane—ahem, wagon—by opening up military bases to be used as “express lanes” this Turkey Day. We bet he’s thankful Air Force One doesn’t ever have to land at JFK. Also in the news, many Americans are planning on ditching the turkey, parades, and football for a trip abroad. An expert from the Air Transport Association expects international traffic on U.S. airlines to increase by 8% from last year. How do you say “delay” in French?

top-ten-tips in-the-wallet

Thursday’s Top Ten: Protecting Your Finances

  • Posted on November 15th, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips In The Wallet

It seems like the holiday shopping season arrives earlier and earlier every year. With an increase in spending and the craziness of the holidays, it’s easy to lose sight of your finances. The tips below won’t stop you from slapping down that credit card, but they can help protect what’s left of your wallet. Check out this week’s Top Ten for tips to help protect your finances.

1. Carry only one or two credit cards in your wallet and only carry identification information that you will actually need when you go out.

2. Review your bank and credit card statements monthly and contact the company immediately if you notice anything suspicious.

3. Check your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus at least twice a year and correct any inaccuracies.

4. Avoid paying by credit card if you think the business does not use adequate safeguards to protect your personal information.

5. If your bank statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

6. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet; leave it in a secure place.

7. If your purse or wallet was stolen, report it to the policy immediately.

8. Place unusual passwords on your credit card, bank, and telephone accounts.

9. If shopping online, use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and make sure to update them regularly.

10. Cancel all unused credit card accounts. Even though you do not use them, their account numbers are recorded on your credit report.

daily-news in-the-wallet

Shop ’till you drop

  • Posted on November 13th, 2007
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  • Daily News In The Wallet

It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner and advertisers and marketers are making sure we are all aware. For those of you who opt out of the holiday mall madness and choose to battle the online crowds, check out this article from USA Today about e-commerce sites offering different options for purchasing that expand beyond basic credit card purchases. A survey in the article finds that over one third of consumers feel that services like PayPal, Google Check-out, or Bill Me Later are more secure than entering their credit card information online. Regardless of how you shop, we all need to be on our toes when it comes to protecting ourselves from credit card fraud and identity theft. In the spirit of the holidays and it’s subsequent online shopping, stay tuned for this week’s top tips on keeping your identity safe.

qa on-the-go

Meet a Member of the Europ Assistance Team

  • Posted on November 12th, 2007
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  • Q&A On The Go

vickie_thompson.jpgThis week we introduce you to Vicki Thompson, a claims pre-processor who has been with Europ Assistance USA for 6 months.

Me&Me: What does “client service” mean to you?

Vicki Thompson: Client service means catering to every need and want (in my power) that the client might request and to make sure that their trip is as pleasant as possible.

Me&Me: What do you enjoy most about your job?

VT: Being able to help people when they need it the most.

Me&Me: Give us three adjectives that describe you as a person.

VT: Optimistic, Focused, and people-person

Me&Me: What is the most overplayed song on your iPod?

VT: Sara Smile

daily-news on-the-go

The Travel Industry Goes Green

  • Posted on November 7th, 2007
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  • Daily News On The Go

From reusable bags at the grocery store to energy-efficient light bulbs to sustainable furniture, the whole world seems to be going green—an effort we can’t help but applaud. The movement is even making its way to the travel industry. Go-green guidebooks, environmentally conscious hotels and even hybrid rental cars are available to travelers. But while the majority of Americans say they support a green company, a recent Travel Industry Association study found that just 13% of U.S. adults say they would be willing to pay higher rates or fares to support environmentally responsible travel services. Looks like when it comes down to the green that’s in your pocket, not too many travelers are onboard. And finally, if you are one of the many people who have found themselves dealing with a delayed flight this year, check out these tips that might help in preventing a delay and offers advice for coping with one. We’re from the thinking that anything is worth a shot when it comes to flight delays.