In order for you to know the latest events for your local and your agency, and to see how you and your colleagues can stand up for government workers, we need to make sure we can get in touch.
Fill in your home email address and your personal cell phone number (never your government phone), and we’ll add you to our email list.
There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert.
An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You can ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of identity theft. When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to order one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
An extended alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you’ve been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an Identity Theft Report. An automated Identity Theft Report, such as the printed ID Theft Complaint available from this Web site, should be sufficient to obtain an extended fraud alert. When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.
What are the signs of identity theft?
Stay alert for the signs of identity theft, like:
Early detection of a potential identity theft can make a big difference. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity by routinely monitoring:
Once you get your reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
An amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete theAnnual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually; they provide free annual credit reports only through www.annualcreditreport.com, 877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Under federal law, you’re also entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company that supplied the information about you. You’re also entitled to one free report a year if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; you’re on welfare; or your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for any other copies of your report. To buy a copy of your report, contact:
Equifax: 800-685-1111; www.equifax.com
Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742); www.experian.com
TransUnion: 800-916-8800; www.transunion.com
More information: AFGE Website
Holiday Joy!
AFGE National President J.David Cox conducted a Conference Call Thursday 9-24-2015 with over 50,000 federal employees.
Maryland Representative Benjamin (Ben) Cardin gave updates on pending legislation,
Follow the Fair Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015
AFGES Call to Action is:
Lets Prevent the SHUTDOWN by making three (3) calls and three (3) e-mails PER DAY for SIX (6) days to your two (2) Senators and your Congressional representative.
Dial one Number and enter your zip code to be connected to your representative. 1-844-913-7574.
This should generate 60,000 to 70,000 calls per day. In Addition, We need every federal employee, their friends and family to make a call.
AFGEs LINK to updated information: SHUTDOWN
Sign up for TEXT Alerts: Text SHUTDOWN to “225568”
NOTE: DON’T USE AGENCY TELEPHONE/COMPUTER. DON’T BE IN DUTY STATUS!
Closed for Business?
The 2013 government shutdown cost the economy $24 billion, and it could happen again at the end of this month.
That’s why AFGE is mobilizing support for the Federal Employees Fair Treatment Act of 2015 (FEFTA) to be introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland to ensure that all government employees receive guaranteed back pay for their work in the event of any future government shutdown. The bill also would allow employees with scheduled leave during a shutdown to take that leave.
Know Your Contract
Well it is almost time for your FY 2015 final rating and just in case you did not know you have the option of “tooting-your-own-horn”. Sometimes your manager might not remember all the things you have done over the last twelve (12) months, so why not remind them…
Our AFGE/SSA National Agreement states:
Article 21, Section 6. G –Optional Employee Self-Assessment
“Employees will be provided the option of completing an end-of-cycle self-assessment, highlighting their accomplishments relating to the performance plan. Employees, who wish to submit a self-assessment,must do so no later than 10 days after the end of their appraisal period. A reasonable amount of time will be provided for this activity. Self-assessments should be maintained in the SSA-7B Extension File or electronic equivalent. Management will inform employees of the above self-assessment option fifteen (15) days prior to the end of the appraisal period.”
Deadline: Saturday October 10, 2015, if your appraisal year ends 9/30/2015
NOTE: All appraisals will not end on 09/30/2015.
Union Plus Mortgage Program
Show Me the Money!
On April 1, 2014 the AFGE SSA General Committee filed a grievance (GM UMG 14-01). The issue was the disparate impact of the Agency’s application of the PACS appraisal system against minority and disabled employees, as evidenced by the distribution of ratings in FY 2013 appraisals to AFGE bargaining unit employees.
The Union’s review of the data reveled that minority and disabled employees received a disproportionately lower share of “Outstanding (5)” appraisals than non-minority and non-disabled employees.
Text “AFGE” to 225568 and start receiving text alerts to the attacks on federal government employees by Congress to cut their pay and benefits all why passing tax cuts to the top 1% and corporations. Federal employees have already contributed over $159 Billion in deficit reductions with reduced and frozen pay over the last 6 years.
Enough is enough, and we need to demand that Congress stop using federal employees as the easy target.
Call, write and visit your Congressional representative and tell them “Hell No” to any further cuts on our pay and benefits.
Medical Bills
Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service provides AFGE MEMBERS with large out-of-pocket medical bills FREE assistance negotiating bill reductions with physicians, hospitals and other medical providers> The service negeotiates with medical providers on the member’s behalf to lower costs and establish payment plans.
