Using Time Wisely

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2012: First Credit Report Update

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan Eriksson)

By checking your credit reports, you can verify correct information and current accounts. With identity theft on the rise, taking initiative to check your reports from the three credit bureaus will alert you to any new, unauthorized accounts.

If you are following my recommended schedule for requesting your credit reports, then check the date of your last credit report.

Be sure to wait at least one year from the date of your last report. If you make a second request within one year, you will be charged for the second request. When you ask for your new report after last year’s report date, your new report will be free. 🙂

In using time wisely, I request our reports every 4 months. This month, I requested Paul’s Experian report and my TransUnion report. Though the request options include web site and mail, my preference is by phone. Our reports will arrive by mail on the official letterhead within 2 weeks.

When the reports are in hand, I will do the following:

  • Put file box away until June’s credit check

Running the free credit reports keeps you informed of your active accounts and alerts you to any authorized new accounts. To protect your identity, request your credit reports on a rotating schedule. Happy organizing!

Question: Which credit scores will you request?

Vehicles: Miscellaneous – Older Documents

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

You made it! Here we are at the last step in organizing our important documents for this first file box. I hope your file is progressing as you keep using your time wisely to get organized.

In this twelfth and last file opening in our box 1 of important documents, I currently have our driving records and incident reports. The last set of documents in this file opening relates to old vehicle paperwork.

Closed Loan Paperwork

Having paid off our car loan for our current vehicle, I have all the original paperwork stapled together, including the letter from our lender stating our loan is paid in full. If I have any issues regarding our clear title at the time we choose to sell this vehicle, I will be able to easily access these documents.

Documentation from Prior Vehicle

Having purchased this car, used it, and then sold it, we kept both bills of sale, copies of the titles, and proof of insurance for this vehicle. If we need to prove that the vehicle is no longer in our possession, I have these dated documents as evidence.

Documentation from Totaled Vehicle

When our vehicle was involved in a hard-hit fender bender, our car was totaled. I keep in this file our original bill of sale, our loan paperwork, the notes from the accident, the proof of the loan paid in full, the bill of sale to the insurance company, and a copy of the check from the insurance company. Should we need to access this information, these documents are housed in this file slot.

Documentation from Trade-In Vehicle

We had purchased a vehicle, used it, and then traded it in to a dealer when we purchased our next vehicle. This packet of documents includes the original bill of sale, copy of the title, and bill of sale to the dealership. These documents are stapled together and included in this set of miscellaneous documents.

All four of these stapled packets of older documents are paper clipped together and housed behind the incident reports in this last file opening in my box 1 of important documents. Wow, this box is now complete!

As you add the final documents to this file, you will have a completed file! Congratulations on getting your important documents gathered, organized, and filed in one location. Enjoy the moment! Now when you need a document from this file, you will know exactly where it is located. Great job using time wisely! What an accomplishment!

Question: Did you finish organizing your first box of important documents? If so, leave me a comment, so I can congratulate you personally!

Vehicles: Miscellaneous – Incident Reports

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Hidden Horsham)

The end is in sight. Only one more week before concluding the important documents housed in file box 1. Last week, we began the twelfth file opening and covered our driving records. This week, we continue adding miscellaneous vehicle documents to this file slot.

Incident Reports

Included in this file is a copy of a police report from vandalism to one of our vehicles. Though we did not submit a claim or receive any response from the police department, I keep the record in the event we need it in the future.

This incident report is placed behind our set of driving record documents. And next week, I will conclude the last set of documents housed in this file and in this box of important documents. Until next week, keep on organizing!

Question: Have you had to file a police report relating to your vehicle? Please add your answer to the comments.

Vehicles: Miscellaneous – Driving Records

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Scott Schrantz)

The time has come to address the final documents in the last file opening in Box 1 of my important documents. This twelfth file slot hold miscellaneous items related to the fourth category: Vehicles. Like many other slots, this file contains three sets of documents. The first set contains records pertaining to our driving.

Paul’s Driving Records

1. Official 10 Year Driver Record. This record contains our license information, address changes, any suspensions, violations, points, or accidents. I check our driver records to be sure all the information is accurate.

You might also want your record if your employer requires a background check or if you are shopping around to lower your car insurance. Knowing what is in your driving record will help you head off any issues.

Our state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) office offers both a 3-year record and a 10-year record. To be thorough, I request our 10 Year record either every 5 years or 6 months after a change. (For example, I will be requesting my new driver record in the spring after the results of my speeding ticket are resolved at the end of November. Yeah, I posted on Facebook about my lovely speeding ticket. Are you following me on Facebook, yet? If not, come “like” the page and join in.)

To get your 10 Year Driver Record:

1. Go to your favorite search engine (i.e., Swagbucks, Google, etc.) and type in “(your state) DMV.” If you live in South Carolina, then type “South Carolina DMV.”

2. Click on the web link to your DMV site.

3. If there is a Search box, type “drivers record.” If there is not a Search box, then scan the available links for on-line services or public services.

4. Look for a link to “Obtain your certified driving record.”

5. Follow the instructions. The South Carolina DMV offers these instructions:

Your Driver Record contains a history of information related to your driving privilege.  You may request a 3 year Driver Record or a 10 year Driver Record.  An “unofficial” version of your Driver Record will be made available to you online in Adobe PDF format. An official “certified” copy of your Driver Record will be mailed to your address of record.

To complete this transaction:

    • You must know your driver’s license or identification card number.
    • You must have a valid VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card that will be charged the amount due.
    • You must have Adobe Reader installed.
    • The cost of an unofficial or certified copy of your South Carolina driving record is $6.00.

After making your payment, your unofficial driver record should open in a PDF document for you to print. The official certified copy will come in the mail later.

2. Any Citations or Accident Documents. If there are any records in his file then I staple together all documents pertaining to one incident. If there are numerous incidents, whether our fault or not, I keep the records together for each occurrence.

All of Paul’s driving records are then paper clipped together.

Tracy’s Driving Records

1. Official 10 Year Driver Record. This document showed a clear license with only change of address and surrendering my Pennsylvania license for a South Carolina replacement. Now, I will get a speeding ticket violation added after my court date. Arrgh! Have I mentioned that I really hate speed traps.

2. Speeding Ticket Documents. Once I complete the court hearing and get my judgment, I will staple together all the documents relating to this speeding ticket.

Both of my documents will then be paper clipped together.

With both sets of paper clipped documents, I will then use another paperclip to hold both of these sets of driver records together. This packet is then housed inside the twelfth and final file opening in box 1 of my important documents. Keeping these documents organized takes valuable time. However, by using time wisely one step at a time, you can get those important documents filed and organized. Keep sorting and filing!

Question: How often do you request your driver record? Please add your answer to the comments.

Credit Check-up: October 2011

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan Eriksson)

Before continuing with the last file opening in Box 1 of my important documents, I need to do a little maintenance. Having ordered our credit reports this past week, I realized I had not posted a friendly reminder this month.

If you are following my recommended schedule for requesting your credit reports, then it is time to check another report from a credit bureau. You may make your request by phone, mail, or through their web site.

Before ordering your credit report, be sure you have waited at least one year since your last request for that report. If you make a second request within one year, then you will be charged for the second request. With the option for a free report each year, you do not need to pay a service fee for your report.

In using time wisely, I request my husband’s and my credit report every 4 months. By alternating which report is checked, I can keep an eye on any irregularities throughout the year. This month, I requested Paul’s TransUnion report and my Equifax report.

When the reports arrive by mail, I will review them for errors. If a discrepancy is noted, then I will dispute it. If all is correct, then I will replace this report with last year’s record in the first file slot of my Box 1 documents. I will also run a free TransUnion credit score. After comparing this score with last year’s record and noting any changes, I will file this record with the current credit report. The file will then be put away until February 2012.

By using time wisely and keeping my important documents’ file organized and up-to-date, I can easily find items needed within a short block of time. In the event I need to access these records, I will have accurate information at my fingertips. Keep plugging along. Your investment of money, energy, and time in getting these documents organized will save you frustration, headaches, and irritation in the future. Happy Organizing!

Question: How many discrepancies are your finding in your credit reports? Looking for your answer. 🙂