January 13,2009
-
Other CC Fears You May Have, Pt.2 –
– On the Run."...fraudulent web sites" (cont.): As for answering questions about sensitive credit card information, same rules apply. Check site legitimacy. With phone, get phone number and call that person back (unless you know for certain or else already placed the call yourself). Otherwise, don't surrender vital credit card info.
E-mails are almost never (perhaps never) an acceptable method to send sensitive credit card data. Even if the recipient is trusted, there are dozens of ways someone else can eavesdrop.
Same goes for utility companies and lending/bank institutions. If online, check site validity. Don't use the convenient hotlink that arrives as an e-mail. It can spoof you. Us your stored browser favorite that you saved the first time you legitimately logged into their site before surrendering vital credit card info..
In case it's from the Sheriff, call him immediately and report it.
You're already in deep credit card trouble and you just want to run and hide: Not advisable. The fact is, you can run but you can't hide. Before a storm overcomes you, it's better to be advised. This will not hasten events and may even serve to forestall them. Just making a phone call and getting nowhere at least, shows some effort on your part. If the worst happens later, like a court hearing for the credit card lender to garnish your wages or assets, the judge will not be impressed at all if you don't do anything (especially if you run and hide). The one phone call could make the difference between an immediate judgment in full against you, a lesser judgment or, even, no judgment at all. Stay in touch. It's ok to put the ball in the lender's court while they review a request by you (it can eat up months, giving you time to reach a better position of negotiation.
There is an unspoken policy being followed right now where, up to 70% of your credit card debt can be forgiven. You should only consider this as a last resort, however, as this will destroy your credit rating for a long time to come.