Safford, Ariz. To celebrate Arizona’s 100^th anniversary, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has produced a children’s book about the journeys of a tortoise that takes a 100-year journey across Arizona. Tori Tortoise Turns 100 will be enjoyed by young and old. The book features treasured landscapes managed by the BLM throughout Arizona, including three within the Gila District in southeastern Arizona.
BLM Arizona News Release Feed

The Colorado River Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CRADHH) is a newly formed non-profit organization that acts as the voice of the deaf and hard of hearing community within the Colorado River area — Mohave County, Arizona – Needles, California – Laughlin, Nevada.

The mission of the Colorado River Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is to promote, protect, and to preserve the rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

To bring in needed funds, CRADHH will have their first major event that is both multi-cultural and educational. The event will coincide with the annual celebration of the London Bridge Days (October 27-30, 2005), in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

CRADHH will showcase Patricia “Trix” Bruce. Trix Bruce is known nationwide as both a workshop presenter and an ASL performer. Ms. Bruce’s work has been warmly received in local community centers, national RID chapters, Deaf Way II, interpreter conventions and more. Wildly popular as a teacher of ASL storytelling and ASL interpretation, Ms. Bruce impresses audiences at all levels of ASL skill, from beginning to fluent signers.

A “meet and greet” of the CRADHH officers and Trix Bruce will be held on August 20, 2005 at 2pm, in Kingman’s Mohave County Library.

Besides the local press/media, CRADHH has also invited the following people:

Sherri Collins – Executive Director for the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ACDHH)

Dee Ann Deaton – ACDHH Community View Executive Producer

Dr. Hall Hoff – Superintendent of Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Trish Groe – Arizona House of Representative District 3.

Bob Whelan – Mayor of Lake Havasu

Monica Gates – Mayor of Kingman

Diane Vick – Mayor of Bullhead City

Pete Byers – County Supervisor of District 1

Tom Sockwell – County Supervisor of District 2

Buster Johnson – County Supervisor of District 3

Dr. Tomas C. Henry – President of Mohave Community College

For more information about Trix Bruce visit her website at http://www.trixbruce.com and Lake Havasu City at http://www.golakehavasu.com. Please visit our website at http://www.cradhh.org to learn more about CRADHH. We hope to see all of you there.

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In the early hours of the morning in April 2002 a bizarre lightshow was seen in the sky above the area of Frenchman Flats near Kingman Arizona. The odd lights were reported in the local newspaper. In the following weeks, residents of the surrounding areas talked of a series of strange events that, to this day, have not been fully explained.

Another, everyday UFO sighting? Maybe this time it was different.

Author Steve Bell has been researching the mysterious events surrounding this sighting as part of his upcoming fiction novel Secret Revelation.

“This case has formed the basis of the book I’m writing,” says Steve. “I was looking for such a case to draw inspiration from, but as I began to dig deeper I was astounded by what I found.”

The events surrounding the Kingman incident do appear to be unique. They include several reports of physical ‘alien’ evidence but the incident has something else – something chilling.

“The most striking part of the story came to me on a Sunday morning when I was directed to the hospital,” says Steve. “There were a lot of denials and blank expressions until I interviewed an orderly who was apparently on duty the night of the incident. He claimed that a patient was brought to the hospital, a patient who was soon taken away by the military. All of the team were told to forget having ever seen the man.”

Maybe a fallen pilot from one of the many experimental aircraft reported to fly in the skies above that area? Or maybe not.

“What seemed stranger were the reports that the ‘man’ brought to the hospital may not have been a man,” continues Steve. “Certain townsfolk claim he was in fact a pilot of a crashed UFO. It all seems pretty bizarre, but these reports came from very serious people. The story just gripped me.”

The strange facts around this incident have formed the central plot to Steve’s latest novel Secret Revelation, which is soon to be published by iUniverse. Although not a factual account of the events, it does use much of the reports as the core to the plot.

“I think that fact there are so many ‘real’ pieces that have inspired the book give it a very strong plot,” Steve says. “Of course I’ve embellished a great deal the events and added a lot of action. It makes for a great story with many of the twists that are based on the Kingman story. I’m not sure I could have actually come up with such a final twist on my own! The story from Kingman is astonishing.”

But does the author actually believe the events are real and that aliens are amongst us?

“I’d like to think there are other life forms in the universe. It may actually stop the human race from being so arrogant if we knew that there were greater minds out there than ours. I think from what I heard from the folks in Kingman has really made me re-think. The physical evidence they showed me, the photographs and the strange metal fragments have really changed my perceptions. What I saw seemed pretty real. But are they amongst us? That’s something I guess that will be proven true sometime in the future.”

Centre to the book’s plot is the strange device that is linked to the secret.

“When there, I saw one thing that was intriguing,” reports Steve. “One of the farmers – Barry Tucker – showed me a small silver object that resembled a computer mouse. You had to hold the thing to understand why it seems strange. I did ask to take photographs, but he denied me the rights, as they say it is going to a research centre in Philadelphia to be studied and he wants to hold onto the exclusive rights.”

Strange lights, mysterious pilots, intriguing accounts of the events and an odd device. Has the first real evidence of alien technology emerged in Kingman and will the lab in Philadelphia at last bear the proof that many have been waiting for.

Secret Revelation will be published in December 2005 by iUniverse.

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Preparing men for the most important assignment of their life – fatherhood, Dad’s Adventure, a sponsor of Boot Camp For New Dads, has recently released their latest book. “Hit The Ground Crawling” dedicates an entire chapter to the issues that new fathers face.

From common fears, long work hours, limited finances, balancing work and family and protecting the family, “Hit The Ground Crawling” gives new fathers the sense that they are not alone and provides helpful tips and advice on how to handle important issues.

Embellishing upon the fact that there is no one way or “right” way to being a dad and no need to be an assistant Mom, new dads are given a crash course in father, and man – hood. Detailed tips within the chapter Becoming A Dad include:

-Staying in touch with friends, to help balance out your life and enable you to blow off steam.

-Not taking a backseat role with baby, getting and staying involved in your child’s life.

-Addressing fear of the unknown, fear of failure and fear of losing that great life you’ve already built for yourself and your spouse.

-Money worries – from double incomes to cutting back or just trying to make ends meet. How to cope with finances after baby is born.

-Finding the strength, patience and courage to survive that long workday that becomes even longer when baby arrives.

-Choosing between competing priorities such as career, family obligations, friends, hobbies, outside activities and many other things that fill dads’ lives.

“Hit The Ground Crawling” was written and edited by Dads Adventure, a sponsor of Boot Camp For New Dads that donates royalties from book sales to support Boot Camp For New Dads programming. Providing practical, hands on tips, “Hit The Ground Crawling” is based on over 15 years of working with over 100,000 fathers. The 300 page book offers the wisdom of author Greg Bishop, the founder of Boot Camp For New Dads, an MBA from Stanford University, brother of 12 and father of four, along with the collective wisdom and real life advice of thousands of men who participated in Boot Camp For New Dads.

“Hit The Ground Crawling” ($ 17.95) is available online at http://www.newdads.com. The ISBN # for the book is 0-9727829-0-7.

Boot Camp For New Dads is a non-profit program offered at more than 250 community hospitals, clinics, schools and churches across the U.S. There are also Boot Camp For New Dads workshops in the military including the Navy, Army and Air Force. The program is in the process of expanding internationally.

Boot Camp For New Dads’ program is available to all dads-to-be regardless of cultural, economic or age level. Expectant fathers attend Boot Camp’s three-hour workshop in which a facilitator, along with veteran dads and their infants orient and teach parenting skills to rookie dads. Veteran dads are men who have graduated from the Boot Camp workshop with infants age two to four months and who return as volunteers with their new babies in tow so new dads may interact with them.

Badge of Honor

For more information about Boot Camp programs or to order a copy of Boot Camp For New Dads’ book, Hit the Ground Crawling: The Ultimate Guide For New Fathers, contact (800) 318-3803 or visit http://www.newdads.com.

Boot Camp Beginnings

Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp For New Dads, has had lots of hands-on experience caring for babies, with 12 siblings, 4 children of his own and numerous nieces and nephews. Bishop noticed that many men didn’t seem to enjoy custody of their babies. After extensive research, he founded Boot Camp For New Dads at Irvine Medical Center (CA) in 1990 and has volunteered as Head Coach ever since.

National media, including news segments on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN as well as articles in Life, CHILD, Ladies Home Journal magazines, Reader’s Digest and others, have helped fuel the expansion of Boot Camp For New Dads, reaching thousands of new dads nationwide. The program is designed to bring a dad’s perspective to the 1.5 million men who become fathers each year across America.

Spanish and English

Determined to reach fathers everywhere, Boot Camp For New Dads has 12 Spanish language sites throughout the United States. The organization has created the only curriculum in Spanish for new fathers. Boot Camp For New Dads believes the key to improving the quality of life for many young children lies in helping fathers be capable and caring.

The Spanish version of the Boot Camp video helps support the facilitator and the “veterano” father in teaching the new dads to take care of the newborn baby and mother.

Where to attend a Boot Camp workshop:

Boot Camp For New Dads locations include ALASKA (Anchorage); ARIZONA (Chandler, Flagstaff, Kingman, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City); ARKANSAS (Springdale); CALIFORNIA (Apple Valley, Bakersfield, Corona, Fresno, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Madera, Northridge, Oakland, Orange, Pomona, Port Hueneme, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, S. Lake Tahoe, Travis, Valley Springs); COLORADO (Aurora, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Fort Carson, Greeley, Longmont, Thornton, Wheat Ridge); CONNECTICUT (Bristol, Brookfield, New London, Norwalk); FLORIDA (Brandon, Clearwater, Hollywood, North Palm Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tampa); GEORGIA (Atlanta, Elberton, Gainesville, Marietta, Savannah); HAWAII (Pearl Harbor, Tripler); ILLINOIS (Alton, Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Decatur, East St. Louis, Evanston, Freeport, Geneva, Great Lakes, Highland Park, Libertyville, Moline, Oak Park, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana); INDIANA (Anderson, Bluffton, Crawfordsville, Hammond, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Kokomo, Michigan City, South Bend); IOWA (Des Moines, Jefferson, Sioux City, Storm Lake); KANSAS (Topeka); KENTUCKY (Paducah); LOUISIANA (Covington); MAINE (Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Ellsworth, South Paris, Waterville); MASSACHUSETTS (Beverly, Boston, Ipswich, Plymouth, Weymouth, Springfield); MICHIGAN (Alma, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Centreville, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Niles, St Joseph, Ypsilanti); MINNESOTA (Duluth, Robbinsdale); MISSISSIPPI (Laurel, Tupelo, Jefferson City, Columbia); MONTANA (Billings, Helena); NEBRASKA (Hastings, Kearney); NEW HAMPSHIRE (Manchester, Portsmouth); NEW YORK (Glens Falls, Little Falls, Mineola, Rome, Utica); NORTH CAROLINA (Charlotte, Concord, Ft. Bragg, Morehead City, Raleigh, Shelby); NORTH DAKOTA (Grand Forks); OHIO (Akron, Cleveland, East Cleveland, East Liverpool, Lima, Lorain, Mayfield Heights, Middleburg Heights, Orange Village, Portsmouth, Toledo, Warren, Westlake, Youngstown); OKLAHOMA (Claremore, Tulsa); OREGON (Hillsboro, McMinnville, Salem, Silverton); PENNSYLVANIA (Chambersburg, DuBois, Pottsville); SOUTH CAROLINA (Greenwood, Pickens, Walhalla); TENNESSEE (Chattanooga, Greeneville, Knoxville); TEXAS (Amarillo, Dallas, Fairfield, Lubbock, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Waco, Webster); VERMONT (Barre, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Rutland, St. Albans); VIRGINIA (Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Hampton) WASHINGTON (Everett, Fairchild AFB, Longview, Puyallup, Seattle, Yakima); WEST VIRGINIA (Wheeling); WISCONSIN (Florence, Green Bay, Madison, Watertown); JAPAN (Atsugi, Yokosuka)

Roll Call

Reserve your copy of “Hit The Ground Crawling” today by calling (800) 318-3803 or visit http://www.newdads.com. To learn more about Boot Camp For New Dads call (714) 838-9392 ext. 108.

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A law enforcement officer’s background in archaeology has paid off for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and those concerned with recording and protecting cultural and historic sites.
BLM Arizona News Release Feed

When you take in evacuees as paying guests, how do you make the decision to make a guest leave for a previously made reservation?

Have you ever had so much fun on a trip that you called the front desk to stay another night at the hotel only to have your request turned down because they were full with other guests? It does happen. Hotels play the delicate balancing act of ushering guests in and out all the time, without much room for error. Places like Disney World or almost the whole town of Las Vegas can go from dead to maximum occupancy in a day. Even the perfect paying guest can be forced to leave their room for another reservation with a higher or lower rate. That is normal business.

So does that apply to hurricane evacuees who may have lost everything and are struggling to pay their hotel bill? What about the business customer who has an important meeting, always stays at a particular hotel and nothing else is available at this late date? He or she may also spend money on those expensive hotel phone calls, food, room service and incidentals while the evacuees save every dime and use more of the hotels utilities 24 hours a day.

“It’s a tough call asking evacuees to leave so it can honor other reservations and a hotel may lose either way,” says Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com (http://www.allstays.com), a lodging website that is trying to keep up with what hotels are taking reservations and which are not. “As long as they don’t price gouge, we can sympathize with both sides of a issue that blurs the lines of morality and big business.”

So here is the bad publicity for kicking out hurricane evacuees. And if they let them stay? They get bad publicity in business circles and anger big-spending repeat customers who travel for business. If a hotel does not honor your reservation and leaves you out in the cold, would you go back to them later on? Probably not. If a hotel lets you stay as an evacuee in what may be the hardest time of your life, would you go back later on, perhaps to relive those memorable days? Probably not.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the governor of Louisiana issued an executive order for hotels not to displace a evacuee who is guaranteeing payment. This is also an executive order for hotels not to honor reservations, something which they would probably be penalized for under other circumstances.

For example, Holiday Inn and Choice Hotels International, which markets the brands of Clarion, Comfort Suites, Econo Lodge, Mainstay, Quality and Sleep Inns, are encouraging their franchises to give guest priority to evacuees and other emergency workers.

Hotels that closed for a couple weeks with minor damage just may be the luckiest ones.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from bed & breakfasts to yoga retreats and luxury hotels, from primitive campgrounds to motels, haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information from around the world.

Research, Browse, and book online to stay anywhere on Earth. http://www.allstays.com

AllStays.com

8824 Ironwood Drive

Kingman, AZ 86401

Phone (928) 727-1312

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According to E-LakeHavasu.com, three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that is both beautiful and entertaining. At the base of these falls, one of which is Havasu Falls, is a travertine pool filled with cold turquoise water. In fact, the names of the falls, the nearby lake, and even the city all come from the water’s beautiful color.

Located on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in Grand Canyon National Park, Havasu Falls stand 120 feet high. The falls claims one of America’s most beautiful campgrounds and backpacking area. For example, beneath the falls lies billowing cottonwoods under 400-foot rock walks which, along with the falling water, creates a striking lullaby for campers.

Although beautiful, getting to Havasu Falls can be quite an adventure. The most popular route begins in Seligman, where drivers can take I-40 to exit 123. After exiting, visitors should drive 33 miles west on Highway 66 to Indian Road 18. At this point, drivers should turn right and drive about 60 miles to a parking lot at Hualapai Hilltop at the end of the road. Alternatively, drivers can access Indian Road 18 via Kingman by driving 50 miles east on Highway 66, which is approximately 6 miles past Peach Springs.

As E-LakeHavasu.com explains, a visit to the falls entails more than just a long drive. Once visitors are a Hualapai Hilltop, the journey really begins. Visitors must endure a 10-mile hike from the hilltop to the falls. While the first 1.5 miles is a steep decent down to the bottom of Hualapai Canyon (a trek that you must make back up on your way home), the rest of the hike is mostly flat. Tourists will hike 6.5 more miles to the Hualapai village, followed by 2 more miles to the campground.

About e-lakehavasu.com

Lake Havasu provides detailed information on Lake Havasu City and Falls, Homes and Real Estate, Spring Break, RV Resorts, and more. For more information go to http://www.e-lakehavasu.com and/or visit its sister site at http://www.e-bahamasvacation.com for related information.

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100 free copies of the soon to be released novel – Secret Revelation – are available from the official novel & movie web site secretrevelation.com

“I’m looking to get the first 100 reviews done by the people that count – everyday people that read books,” says Steve. ” On the website, you can visit the download page and if you’re chosen at random you will get an offer message with a link. From there you can request the book to review.”

The novel is due to be officially released on December 1st 2005. An exciting thriller based upon the famed 1953 Kingman UFO incident.

“I’m just thrilled with the response I’m getting about the book,” says the author, Steve Bell. “Already the reviews are looking great, which is the greatest satisfaction an author can have. But I’d like to get more, as reviews and word of mouth are what really sell books.”

About the book:

A violent impact with a car leaves Ellis Landis unconscious and bleeding on a dark desert road, and the driver is shocked to find the man naked, with nothing more than a strange metal device clutched in his hands.

The device, for some unexplainable reason, meant everything.

After waking in the hospital, Landis finds he has lost his memory. As events continue to unfold around him, he senses his life is in danger. Doctor Elisha Sienna, guided by sinister military forces, tries to recover his memory and gain access to the earth-shattering secret that is locked in his mind. But she is not alone. A radical terrorist groupThe Enigmawants their key holder back.

Again the word exploded in his mind Enigma it meant everything and nothing all at once. The whole thing was an enigma, a riddle he had to solve. He was sure he was part of something bigger, something important and that he and the device were at the heart of it.

While fleeing from a set of bizarre experiments and violent torture, Ellis slowly recovers the dark secrets of his paranoid mindsecrets that could mean the difference between life and death for all humankind.

Steve will begin a national and international tour for book signings. Advice is to order copies now if they are to be ready before Christmas.

Visit the web site (http://www.secretrevelation.com) to claim a copy.

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More Kingman Press Releases

One of my babies? Of course it is, and its delivery time. Author Steve Bell is about to give birth to one of his children not literally but literaturally. After nearly three years of gestation, his new novel – Secret Revelation – is about to be born.

Its an exciting time, says Steve. But also a nervous time. It really feels like when I was waiting for my kids to be born. Theres a lot of pacing going on in my house at the moment.

Steve has likened the process of writing and launching a book, to that of having a baby. Theres the initial seed of the idea that takes hold. Then as its nurtured in the womb (the writers office), it slowly takes shape and form. Then with time it grows and expands, and sometimes there are those sickening feelings. Before long youre really choosing the name and getting everything ready for that big moment the release.

I think on the 1st of December (the books birthday) Ill be incredibly relieved, Steve says. Writing a book isnt as easy as you think. Much like having a child. It takes a great deal of patience and hard word. I know that once its released there will be a day of relief, but then Ill be worrying about it growing up and people accepting it just like any parent.

Secret Revelation is a thriller based upon the spectacular 1953 Kingman UFO incident. Based in Kingman, Arizona, it is an action filled mystery with twist after twist.

Ive been inspired by many books and many movies. Lord of The Rings being one of my favourite books and movies of all time. I think much of the action in my book has been inspired by some of the great movies that have recently used ground breaking cinematic effects The Matrix and Kill Bill to name a few. One thing Ive really looked to replicate is the type of mystery within mystery I found in The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. He is a master of story telling.

So the book goes beyond just ripping action. Its also a clever mystery, with the lead character struck down with amnesia. In turn he must piece the mystery together to discover who he is and what hes done. More of a who am I, than a who dunnit.

The book really feels like a child, it feels like a piece of me, and like any parent Im proud of it, Steve says. Already Ive had some great reviews, so Im a little more tranquil now, not that my wife would agree at this moment.

Steve will soon start an international book signing tour and a series of blog seminars on writing novels. Hes keen for everyone to have children.

Its hard writing a book – but well worth the experience. Im setting out to encourage as many people as possible to take the opportunity of the fantastic resources now available to authors. Therere so many great tools on-line that everyone can realise this dream. Drop by my site, email me and Ill be happy to help.

Steve gives full credit to authors such as JK Rowling for the Harry Potter series, saying how hard it must be to keep such a series so strong, but above all how she copes with the pressure of parenting the worlds most famous child.

Any author, JK Rowling, Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Steven King – any of them have a great writing talent but I also give them credit for being able to keep doing it. Its hard just like having kids.

So with the gestation period nearly over, the inevitable question comes will you be having more kids?

Not just yet, laughs Steve. Ill get this one out of diapers first, maybe let it walk a little. But Im sure some time soon Ill get the cravings again.

Secret Revelation is published by iUniverse and available from all good book stores.

Visit secretrevelation.com for more details.

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Consumer litigant and credit consultant Christine Baker receives many complaints about credit reporting agencies (CRAs) refusing to provide credit reports and refusing to investigate disputes from clients as well as readers of her blog at http://creditsuit.org/ and forum at http://fight-back.us/forum/

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) became law in December 2003 and allows consumers to add a Fraud Alert to credit reports if they were subjected to identity theft.

Fraud Alerts notify potential creditors that the applicants are at high risk of fraud and often creditors decline applications rather than to take that risk or to pay employees to ensure that the applications are genuine.

Another unexpected side effect of Fraud Alerts is that consumers often can no longer get their own credit reports and their credit disputes may be refused. Often the CRAs demand that consumers send documentation by mail, with no alternatives to quickly and easily verify their identities by telephone, fax or e-mail. Details are at http://mylitigation.net/pr/news/release/fraud_alerts_on_trans_union_credit_report_cause_hardship/

For the men and women in the military it is even more difficult to get their own credit reports and sometimes it is impossible when serving overseas. How can a CRA demand that a soldier in Iraq mail utility bills or rent receipts? The CRAs toll-free numbers do not work outside the US and the military postal service is extremely unreliable.

Why subject yourself to ID theft by putting all your identifying data in the mail? Stolen mail is a primary source of personal and financial data for ID thieves.

A client had mailed disputes to the CRAs from an overseas base and all three mailings were lost. Two CRAs received the subsequent Express mailings after over a week and one delivery took several weeks and the fax number they had eventually provided was always busy.

Ms. Baker did not receive a response to her 11/30/05 Open Letter posted at http://mylitigation.net/pr/news/release/trans_union_fraudulent_fraud_alerts_and_refusal_to_provide_telephone_help/

Rather than supporting the troops, TU ensures that those willing to die in Iraq or Afghanistan have the worst credit, pay the highest interest rates and have the fewest opportunities to get corrections.

The FACT Act also requires CRAs to provide free annual credit reports, but the free reports at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ are frequently declined. When consumers then pay for the reports, they are often readily available.

Ms. Baker has been demanding a user changeable PIN for her credit reports for years. Almost all ID theft problems related to fraudulent accounts would be prevented if consumers could limit access to their credit reports to creditors with their PIN. The CRAs refuse to implement this incredibly simple solution.

Who would do business with a bank that refuses to provide a PIN to secure access?

When it comes to credit reporting, consumers have no choice which credit bureau to do business with as the personal and financial data is collected and sold without their permission.

In Ms. Bakers experience, Fraud Alerts do more harm than good and should only be requested when absolutely necessary and when consumers are certain that they dont need credit reports and credit, housing, bank accounts, cell phones, utilities, etc.

According to the FACT Act, the Fraud Alerts are supposed to be deleted after 3 months. However, CRAs also deny reports due to much older Fraud Alerts and in some cases the consumers never requested that a Fraud Alert be added and often CRAs refuse disputes even when no Fraud Alert is reported.

In 2001, Ms. Baker sued Trans Union in Kingman, AZ, Small Claims Court, case # 2001 CV 1751 UN, after it responded to her disputes with a form letter:

To assist in our investigation, please forward a copy of your drivers license and social security card to our office at the address located above.

Ms. Baker alleged that Trans Union had no right to refuse the credit disputes. The filings, correspondence and confidential settlement agreement are posted at http://creditcourt.com/tu/filelist.shtml

On 3/19/03, Ms. Baker filed suit against credit bureau Experian in Phoenix federal court, case # CV-03-525. Recently Fair Isaac declined her order of the Experian report with the FICO score due to a Fraud Alert. Experians attorney Scott Kirkner with Jones Day alleged that the Fraud Alert was added by credit bureau Equifax.

The FACT Act requires CRAs to notify the other bureaus after a consumer added a fraud alert. However, Ms. Baker does not wish to be portrayed as a high fraud risk to creditors and she never requested a fraud alert with any credit bureau.

Equifax is a defendant in Ms. Bakers 6/10/04 suit, Phoenix federal court case # CIV-04-1192. Equifax attorney Lewis Perling denied that Equifax added the Fraud Alert to her Experian report.

As both cases are now in the discovery stage, Ms. Baker hopes to find out how entirely fraudulent fraud alerts get on consumer credit reports and she will post updates at her blog http://creditsuit.org

The blocking of reports for consumers who filed suit against CRAs was litigated in Spector v. Equifax Info Servs, 338 F. Supp. 2d 378 (D. Conn. 2004). The court denied the Equifax motion for summary judgment as a jury might find that Equifax is liable for punitive damages. http://fight-back.us/forum/index.php?showtopic=1025

When consumers cant get their credit reports, they wont know what to dispute.

Having reviewed thousands of credit reports, Ms. Baker is certain that CRAs did not implement any computerized procedures to ensure accuracy and completeness. She sees balances higher than the highest amount owed, missing credit limits, accounts opened AFTER they were closed, undated late payments and other obviously incorrect data on just about every report.

More information about credit reporting, litigation and FICO credit scores can be found at http://fight-back.us/forum/ and http://creditfactors.com/

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