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ME&MEE
Welcome to ME&ME, the official blog of Europ Assistance USA. A leading resource on relevant news related to identity theft, travel & medical assistance, and personal assistance services, ME&ME strives to cater to the many roles and identities people relate to, may it be at work, at home, or on the go.
Archive for January, 2008
on-the-go
Driving to Canada? Get your papers ready!
Tomorrow - January 31, 2008 - as a part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, US and Canadian citizens traveling across national borders in the region by land and sea without a passport will have to present a proof of identification, such as a driver’s license plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
This measure joins the requirement that began on January 23, 2007, requiring these same forms of identification for air travel across national borders within the region.
The intention is for a passport or passport card to be necessary for all international travel within the North American region sometime in 2009.
Me & Me’s advice – apply for your passport today if you haven’t already. Not only will you be able to travel throughout North American and the Caribbean, but lots of other places! Here’s the US State Department country directory of entry/exit requirements for international travel.
For Canadian citizens, you’ll want to visit the Canadian Border Services Agency site.
in-the-wallet
Fact and Myth on Fraud Alerts
Fraud alerts are getting some buzz lately as an identity theft prevention strategy. Consumers who are relying on this as a means of protection should be warned that they can still become victims of identity theft. What does a fraud alert do? Well, it signals to a credit grantor that they should double check that you are in fact you, often by calling you at your home. Anyone, even if not a victim of identity theft, is able to place a 90 day fraud alert on his or her credit records free of charge.
It’s important to keep in mind though, that a fraud alert does not 100% prevent thieves from still tricking the credit grantor, nor does it prevent thieves from committing fraud on your existing accounts. If you’re super-concerned about thieves trying to open accounts in your name, you may want to consider a credit freeze as a means of protecting yourself. This completely prevents any new credit accounts from being opened. You can still use your active credit accounts, such as credit cards, but cannot open a new account until you unfreeze your credit. Freezing and unfreezing your credit if you have not been a victim of fraud can get pricey though, depending on which state you live in, so it’s a good idea to carefully consider this option before taking any action.
ea-news
Welcome to our new VP Operations and CSO!
Paige Schaffer has joined Europ Assistance USA as the VP Operations and Chief Service Officer (CSO). Schaffer will manage the assistance and claims centers, including the travel assistance, claims management, identity theft resolution, medical, concierge, and training teams. Her strong management background in the travel, hospitality, and software as service industries make her a welcome addition to EA USA. She has worked for companies such as ResortCom International, seeUthere Technologies, Rosenbluth International and Maritz, Inc. where she has held executive roles and serviced a Fortune 100 client base. We’re pleased to have her a part of the EA team!
in-the-wallet
Was 2007 the Year of the Data Breach?
Happy New Year from Me & Me. Now’s the time of year when we all look to make a fresh start and make changes for the better. The Identity Theft Resource Center’s report on data breaches in 2007 gives good reason to seek improvement in the New Year. According to the 2007 ITRC Breach Report, there were 446 reported data breaches affecting just shy of 128 million personal records. It’s a large increase from their 2006 report, where almost 20 million individuals were affected. On the positive side, greater attention to privacy laws is getting organizations to fess up when these breaches happen, allowing people to take action to protect themselves from identity theft if critical information gets exposed.
