ComputerForms.us Earns TRUSTe Certification

Customers purchasing products from the ComputerForms.us online store can now do so with the confidence their personal information is being protected. ComputerForms.us is now certified by TRUSTe for demonstrating and maintaining privacy policies that meet or exceed program guidelines.

Privacy concerns are always at the forefront of consumer’s minds when they shop online. To help mitigate that concern, ComputerForms.us has earned TRUSTe certification as a means of demonstrating to customers their commitment to privacy and security. The TRUSTe logo now appears at the bottom of the ComputerForms.us website where it will remain as long as the company continues to comply with TRUSTe standards.

TRUSTe certifies companies based on high standards of online privacy. The goal of certification is to give customers the assurance that companies they do business with online are protecting their personal information by any and all means necessary. Certification includes compliance with EU Safe Harbor rules, the COPPA rule for protecting minor children, and Federal Trade Commission guidelines. TRUSTe recommends all web users read the privacy policies of any website they purchase from.

ComputerForms.us is pleased to earn TRUSTe certification because of its commitment to its customers. The company provides top selling laser checks and forms used by many businesses. ComputerForms.us many satisfied customers and excellent business reputation testify to the quality of both their company and their products.

Spotlight on Software: Deltek Vision^®

Deltek Vision^® is one of the leading accounting and project management software packages designed for professional service firms in industries such as architecture and engineering. This software package helps the entire organization achieve its goals regardless of the task at hand. Whether it’s project management, efficient utilization of resources or general accounting tasks like accounts payable, payroll or invoicing, Deltek Vision^® has got you covered.

This accounting package is typically used by professional engineering firms to support the entire service delivery life cycle including providing accurate estimates of service cash flows, reduce complexity in project planning/resource use planning and standard accounting functions.

ComputerForms.us provides laser forms compatible with Deltek Vision^® including checks and direct deposit notification or advice forms.

“Check washing takes place to the tune of $815 million every year in the U.S. And it is increasing at an alarming rate.”
- The National Check Fraud Center

What is “check washing?”

Mail thieves can erase the ink on a check using common household cleaning products found on the shelves of a local grocery store and then rewrite the checks payable to someone else or increase the amount payable by hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.

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Check Washing Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WKBaZKiBSc

Tools To Prevent Check Washing

The Uniball 207 pigment-based gel pen

Features:

• Helps prevent check washing
• Comfortable textured grip
• Fade- and Water-resistant ink
• Acid-free

Click Here to Learn More

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Video of the Uniball 207 in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gN8MHDWTB4

Checks Designed For Your Accounting Software

Guaranteed!

We have high-security checks that work with most accounting software packages. Our checks work with Quickbooks, MYOB, Peachtree, Great Plains, Realworld, Solomon and most others. Check out our full check selection.

With the introduction of MICR printing, businesses across the country are now capable of printing their own checks as they need them instead of ordering thousands of pre-printed checks at one time.

The hardware requirements to begin printing your own checks are minimal and can be very cost effective for businesses like property management companies, homeowners’ association management companies and offices that perform bookkeeping functions for multiple companies from a single office.

MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition)

MICR technology uses magnetic ink which allows the characters printed with this ink to be read by automated check reading equipment. Normally the check information is encoded with magnetic ink printed along the bottom of the check and includes the check number, routing number and account number, though not always in that order. You should ask your bank for a sample check to get the order of this information correct so your checks will be processed accurately.

Additional security features are implemented within the check stock are as follows:

ABA Endorsement

The American Banking Association endorsement is printed on the back of blank check stock paper. This endorsement includes a statement saying that the check document contains multiple security features including an image of the check’s watermark, the use of micro printing and various other security features that are described below.

Security Watermark

Secure check paper is usually imprinted with a watermark. The watermark identifies the check as being an original document as opposed to a copy and is normally only viewable when held up to the light and can become more visible when held under a black light. It is normally printed on the back of the check in a repeating pattern and ensures that the laser check printing meets ANSI and ABA standards. The watermark is an effective security feature because it cannot be photocopied and ensures that the check is authentic.

Fluorescent Fibers

Unlike the watermark, fluorescent fibers are embedded within the check paper itself. Under a black light, the florescent fibers will become visible. Since this feature cannot be duplicated by a photocopy process and the absence of fluorescent fibers can indicate that a check is not authentic.

Anti-Photocopying Feature

The anti-photocopier feature works similarly to the watermark and fluorescent fiber features. The words “VOID” or “COPY” are usually displayed on either side of the check and is barely visible unless the check is photocopied. Special markings may also be displayed behind the amount and signature lines to indicate that a check is fake.

Rainbow Gradient Features

High-security Laser checks are usually printed with a two-color background where the two colors fade in a uniform fashion from one to the other, making the checks very difficult to photocopy accurately since photocopiers are not designed to reproduce minute changes in color or shading.

Micro Printing

Micro Printing is a technique that involves printing microscopic text around the edges of the check and on the signature and/or the amount lines that can only be read using a microscope. The text is so small that it cannot accurately be duplicated by a photocopier or image scanner and similarly cannot be printed using a standard printer. The absence or distortion of micro printed text indicates that the check may be forged or has been tampered with.

Heat Sensitive Ink

On our high-security laser checks, security marks are printed in thermochromatic ink, which changes color when the check is exposed to heat. The heat-sensitive properties of this ink cannot be duplicated by a photocopier. It is also important to note that checks that use this heat-sensitive technology should be stored in a cool dry place so as not to ruin the blank check stock.

Secure check paper can be purchased from our site and are available in many different check layout configurations.

Positive Pay is a system devised by the American banking industry in an effort to combat check fraud. This system is the implementation of a method where the banking customer, who writes the checks, sends a list of the checks issued to their bank. When checks are presented to the bank for payment, the list sent by the banking customer is consulted and if the check being presented for payment is not on this list, it will not be paid.

While this may be somewhat of an inconvenience to the banking customer, it is a powerful method to combat check fraud. Usually if a banking customer is a frequent victim of check fraud, their bank will not hold the banking customer responsible for the money lost but will require them to use the Positive Pay system. This can also cause the banking customer to incur expenses related to implementing the Positive Pay system because it must be integrated with their accounting system.

Another way to combat check fraud is to use high-security checks that make it very difficult to forge or alter the checks issued by a company. When checks like this are used, it is up to the bank staff to determine that a check is authentic. While using a security pen is usually only used to authenticate currency, the features of high security checks should erect enough barriers for a check forger that she will not attempt it.

Receiving your credit card statement and viewing fraudulent charges is one of the biggest nightmares of the modern day consumer, and rightfully so. Credit card fraud is on the rise and it’s up to you to stay vigilant and protected. Sometimes it can be out of your control and just taking a few precautions may not only save you money, but also time. Using common sense is the most important factor and if you can,  learning how to prevent credit card fraud will come easy.

If you want to learn how to prevent credit card fraud it’s important to start with the basics.  When your freshly pressed card comes to you in the mail make sure to sign it immediately. If your card is lost or stolen without being properly signed then the thief will have his way with it. Alternatively, you can write “SEE ID” on the signature line and most cashiers will ask to see another form of identification as well.

Keeping accurate records is also extremely important as a preventative measure in the event that your card is lost or stolen. When you do this it allows you to easily call your credit card provider when you are in trouble, and have all the pertinent information at hand. Part of learning how to prevent credit card fraud is being organized enough that you can stay ahead of the thief and expediently have all issues resolved.

Making sure to keep your records secure and out of the vision of a potential threat is key. You have to make sure to be proactive and thorough and take care of all your paperwork. Keep all of your originals in a safe place, and destroy all carbon copies. Invest some of your money in a small scale paper-shredder for your own personal use to make sure everything is completely destroyed. The small investment just might be the one thing to give you an edge against the potential threat of a thief lurking just around the corner.

Hopefully, now you are informed about the potential dangers and have learned how to prevent credit card fraud. It’s really not that tough once you are made aware, and take a few preventative measures. If you take the advice I have given you seriously you will be well on your way to keeping yourself secure. Just make sure to stay on guard, and keep your common sense sharp.

Growing up, most of your financial education comes from your parents. How to save. Where to save. Generally they are responsible for opening up your junior bank account at the bank they bank with themselves until you reach the age of adulthood and your account graduates just as you have. That’s when you discover fees. Fees for getting your money out. Fees for putting your money in. Fees for borrowing money are more understand, but the astronomical interest rates are enough to make anyone a little uneasy. It’s natural to look for other solutions, and its only a matter of time before you discover credit unions.

Bank’s have done everything they can to hide and deride credit unions since their creation in 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Credit Union Act to “promote thrift and thwart usury.” Why? Because it’s just a better deal. Credit unions are not-for-profit and thus exempt from most state and federal taxes. This means better interest rates are common, and fees are not only smaller, but fewer and far between. The $35 overdraft fees at banks are generally only $20 or $25 at credit unions. When searching for a credit card or car loan, credit unions can typically offer a few interest points better than banks based on your credit score. The profit that the credit union does make is redistributed to the members through dividends.

Credit unions are also member owned. Beyond the never ending stream of hidden fees, banks have a knack for making your feel guilty about calling them when you have problems. In a capitalistic country, you’d imagine if you weren’t happy you could leave and find a better bank. The problem is the the one around the corner is just as bad, or worse. At a credit union the customers are the owners, and you’re seen as a person rather than your credit score and account balance.

In the infancy of my credit life, I had many questions. Well, mostly I just wanted a credit card with a high balance so I could buy everything my heart desired. The idea of actually paying it back was overshadowed by grand ideas of nice cars and faraway places. Thankfully, Bank of America realized I was not a good investment. With a grand total of $87 in my checking account, and a history of overdraft fees, I was not approved for my first credit card. Afterwards, I decided to look into credit, first asking my parents and then a professional. The differences of opinion were staggering.

Your credit score is a measurement of how good of an investment you are. As far as a credit card company is concerned, this is heavily rooted in your track record in paying your debts on time. This in itself is something that has been beaten into us on our road to a perfect credit score. What isn’t beaten into us is the reality, that the percent of your total credit used also weighs heavily in your credit score. If you regularly carry balances of over 30% of your total credit, credit card companies get uneasy about the quality of investment you are.

This is why its also important to never cancel your cards with the largest limits. Spending $300 on your credit card is fine when you have $1000 in total credit across all of your credit cards. When you cancel your card with the $500 credit limit, the $300 is no longer just 30%. In order to stay safely in your 30%, call your credit card company every 6 months and ask for limit increases. Generally they’ll not only grant you the credit limit increase, but decrease your interest rate as well.

Age of accounts also plays a role in how stable of an investment you are. Credit card companies gauge this based on the average age of your accounts. If you’ve proven your reliability for the last 10 years, you are stable investment. If you decide to cancel your oldest card, and the average age of your accounts drops from 8 years to 2 years, your credit score may drop as well.

What gets more interesting, is when you look at the difference between good and great credit scores. When credit card companies look beyond on-time payments, they look at spending. Each time you swipe your credit card, the business pays the credit company a percent of the transaction. A person with more transactions makes the credit card company more money. Aperson who spends more money on their credit card while still paying it off every month will have a higher credit score than someone who spends less money on their credit card because they are a better investment.

It’s always important to be responsible and avoid spending money you don’t have at all cost. That being said understanding your credit score can save you thousands of dollars. Banks and lenders understand your credit score. You should, too.

In my experience, the best place to buy checks for your personal checking account is NOT from your local bank. Unless your bank is giving away checks for free as a “thank you” for giving them your business, it’s completely not worth it.

Whenever I open a new checking account, I randomly choose an online personal check provider and take their often generous offer for 3 boxes of checks for around $10.00. When the time comes to re-order, I do the same thing again. Every time, new provider, new introductory offer. Check suppliers count on the fact that at the bottom of the box of checks is a renewal offer, usually for more money than before, to order more checks.

Your local bank is no different. They are simply a middle man between you and your check supplier and a highly paid one at that. All they do is market themselves as a check supplier, place the order and get paid. Even accessories like a personal check ledger or a personal checkbook cover are less expensive than if you ordered it through your bank.

My recommendation is to order your personal checks directly from us and save yourself a bundle compared to what your bank charges.

In a world where identity theft seems to always be lurking just around the corner, and in the wake of nightmares like the Gawker security breaches, the idea of giving your personal information to yet another source is a little scary. What you as a consumer need to remember is that choosing to live a lifestyle of online banking, paying your credit card bills online, and shopping with online merchants demands you take certain precautions to make sure that you are monitoring your accounts. Mint.com is one such free way to do this.

Mint can be setup to automatically send you updates about low balances and large purchases. It cannot replace regularly checking your credit report, but since the average American household has at least 4 credit cards and 8 bank accounts, it helps in monitoring change in all of these accounts. Do you really have time to constantly monitor all of these? Mint does. Not only does Mint have bank-level data security and encryption, its runs both financial and criminal background checks on all of its employees. It’s a secure as your bank, and a lot more helpful. In addition to helping protect your identity, Mint is also a great budgeting tool.

Ever wonder where your money goes every month? How much does that cup of coffee before work everyday really cost? Another one of my favorite Mint features is the ability to automatically track spending across your credit cards and bank accounts, organizing them into different categories. You eat at Tony’s Pizza and Mint adds that $4.35 to your monthly restaurant spending. All of the spending that Mint cannot recognize you need to manually add it to a category, but Mint learns quickly. Once you have a few months of your spending history you can see where you need to cut down spending, and can set limits in certain categories. Mint will warn you when you go over budgets, and even email you a weekly update. When you decide what you want to do with your newly saved capital, Mint can you help you with that as well. With easily setup Goals, saving for your $1200 trip to Mexico is a lot more manageable at just $200 a month. If you fall behind, Mint will tell you.

Another one of Mint’s many attributes is the ability to recommend products and services better acclimated to your situation and spending tendencies. Do you use ATMs regularly and has it cost you $200 this year? Well, Etrade will reimburse you 4 ATM fees a month. Maybe Chase is not the bank for you. Do you have money sitting in a checking account that isn’t accruing any interest? Mint can help you find a reputable savings account. Do you think your interest rate is too high on your credit card? Mint can help you with that as well. Mint is a great tool for personal finance. It can help you keep your identity safe and make you a more fiscally responsibly consumer. It’s also a great company. Go create an account with Mint.com. You won’t regret it.