Credit Card Receipts
Q: Do credit card receipts hold enough information for someone to steal your identity?
A: We called Visa for the answer to this question. It says that since 2005, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act has kept consumers safe. The Act was designed to reduce identity theft. It prohibits businesses from printing more than 5-digits of a customer's credit card on any receipt. So as long as there's no additional information on a receipt, there's no reason to worry about identity theft.
Requirements For The Front Seat
Q: Is there are age, height, or weight restrictions for front seat passengers in cars?
A: We contacted Virginia, DC, and Maryland for the answer to this question. All three say that there is no legal age, height, or weight when children are able to sit in the front seat, except for rear-facing infants. However, the DC Department of Motor Vehicles, Maryland State Highway Administration, and Virginia DMV all require that children below the age of eight be properly restrained in a car seat or booster. Virginia recommends that all children below the age of thirteen sit in the back seat, and Maryland and DC advise that any children younger than twelve not be allowed in the front.
Tax Records
Q: How do I handle the tax records of my deceased in-laws?
A: We called the Internal Revenue Service to get this answer. The IRS does not normally require relatives to keep tax records of their deceased family members.
However, if the person owed additional tax, did not report income, filed a fraudulent return, or did not file a return at all, then the family should hold on to the records for at least three years. The IRS will audit a deceased person if it's suspicious about their Federal Tax Return.
New Credit Card And Your Credit Score
Q: Does opening up a new credit card affect your credit score even if you make all your payments on time?
A: We went to Transunion to understand how credit scores are really calculated. It warns that opening up a new line of credit can damage a credit score if multiple accounts are opened within a short period of time. Lenders could perceive these consumers who open various accounts as being credit hungry. Opening low-limit credit lines will not do much damage to a credit score. But utilizing a high percentage of your given credit limit can lower your credit score.
Refreezing Meat
Q: Can you refreeze meat once it's been thawed?
A: We went to the The U.S. Department of Agriculture for the answer. It says freezing the meat inactivates any microbes that exist in the food. If thawed, these microbes, such as bacteria, yeasts and molds, can become active again and lead to foodborne illnesses.
The USDA states if food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking.
Green Ways To Stay Cool
Q: Are there "green" ways to keep cool as the weather gets hotter?
A: We turned to the Alliance to save energy for this question. It says ceiling and other fans provide cooling and circulation and can cut down on air conditioning.
Also, keeps lamps or TVs away from your thermostat because of the heat they generate. Shade the east and west facing windows to keep the sunshine down.
And delay heat-producing activities such as dishwashing and clothes-drying until evening hours. You may also want to keep curtains closed during daytime hours, and install awnings on south-facing windows. And planting shade trees can also help.
