 While some items should be found in every trunk, not every emergency road kit is built the same. Tailor it to the type and condition of your vehicle, as well as the weather where you typically travel. With the unpredictability of winter weather, even drivers in traditional warm-weather states may want to consider adding safety items for snow and ice. It’s always wise to err on the side of caution and include certain items just in case.
Here is the essential emergency car kit list: 1. Flares & Lighting The first and most important safety items to include in your auto emergency kit are flares or reflective triangles, which warn other drivers of the roadside hazard. In case of a breakdown they should be spaced out evenly along the roadside behind your vehicle. For a reusable, longer-lasting option, invest in battery-operated LED flares. A flashlight is also a necessity, especially a multi-use version that flashes. 2. Jumper Cables Jumper cables are another essential to include in the car emergency kit. Batteries can die or lose their juice at the least opportune moment; jumper cables, with a jump from another motorist, can at least get you to the next service station. You should also consider carrying a separate battery pack for starting your car when no one else is around to help. 3. First Aid Kit A first-aid kit is an must have item to include in any emergency road kit, indispensable for addressing smaller, everyday injuries and more serious wounds from an accident. You can purchase them pre-packed with all the essentials or assemble one customized to your needs. Families with small children should include medications that are age appropriate. 4. Car Fluids & Tools Flat tires are one of the most common causes of roadside trouble, but it’s not always possible to change a tire. Including a can of tire inflator and sealant in your kit can get you back on the road at least to the next stop. Other items that may help avert a roadside crisis and keep you going: a quart or more of motor oil, a gallon of coolant and a toolkit with screwdrivers, pliers and adjustable wrench. It’s essential your emergency road kit include specific items in case you end up spending several hours or more in your disabled car. Bottled water and long-lasting food items such as granola or energy bars can be rotated out over time. Blankets, a sleeping bag or a heat-retaining emergency survival blanket are critical for making it through a cold night, especially in wintry climates. 5. Winter Items If you know you’ll be driving in snowy weather include an ice scraper, a spray bottle with washer fluid and a set of snow chains for your tires. Store all your items together in a box or carrying case in the trunk, making sure it’s easily accessible in case you need it in a hurry. Cars aren’t the only place you should have an emergency kit ready to go. Learn about what you should have in your home emergency kit to keep you and your family safe. 
 Shelby County Federal Credit Union has a new convenient and enhanced online bill pay system. Our new system includes features that will make this valuable tool more efficient including:
All current payments will process through August 15, 2018. Any payments scheduled after August 15, 2018 will need to be scheduled using the new bill pay provider. * You must use your Shelby County Federal Credit Union checking account to pay bills using this system* HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: Be sure you are set up for on-line banking. Please sign up for online banking after August 15, 2018. SCFCU will need an email address on file. If you need assistance please call 901-930-0757 for additional support. Using Bill Pay
Q. Why did you change to the new Bill Pay service provider? A. We updated our service provider to make access to your account quicker and easier. The new system will deliver an online experience with more flexibility, control and reliability. Q. Will “repeating” or “automated payments” features convert? A. No. You will have to re-enter your Bill Pay data since this will not convert to the new system, so you will need to enter payees and payments that you would like to pay. In advance of the Bill Pay going live, we encourage you to go into our current bill pay system and save or take notes on your payee and payment information. Q. Do I need to re-register for Bill Pay? A. Yes, You will need to register for Online Banking. For first time users please use your account number as your username and the last four digits of your SSN as your password. You will be prompted to change both. Also, you will need to add an email address to your profile. Follow the steps below to get started.
Q. Will I be able to see my payment history? A. No, your bill pay history will no longer be available after August 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm. It will not convert over to the new bill pay provider. Q. Will my payments still process during the upgrade? A. Yes. During the upgrade window, your payments are still expected to process as normal through the end of day August 15,2018. **To avoid scheduling duplicate payments, be sure to document your payments scheduled through the above date (08/15/18) as they will not display within the new system on August 16,2018, however they will still be paid. Q. What is different about the Bill Pay Upgrade? A. There are some exciting changes with this upgrade. Online Banking features a simplified portal where you can review all checking accounts, balances and recent transactions, and pay important bills. Q. Do I need to re-register for Bill Pay? A. Yes, You will need to register for Online Banking. For first time users please use your account number as your username and the last four digits of your SSN as your password. You will be prompted to change both. Also, you will need to add an email address to your profile. Follow the steps below to get started.
Q. Has Bill Pay information converted with Online Banking, or do I now have to re-enter all of my information? A. No, once you sign up/re-sign up for online banking you will have access to the Bill Pay Center. It is a single log in application. Q. How will my payments be processed? A. You will select the day that you want your payment to be processed. The screen will display an estimated delivery date for your convenience. Example: If your payment(s) is due on 8/27/2018; you must login before your 8/27/2018 and schedule your payment. Option #1: Electronic Payment - You must log in and submit your payment request on or before 8/26/2018. Note: Funds will automatically deduct from the account by the end of the business day Option #2: Check Payment - You must log in and submit your payment request on or before the 8/20/2018. See Bill Pay Key Terms Below for more details. Note: Funds are deducted from your account when the check clears with the merchant. Q. How will I receive pay notifications? Email Notification: You will receive an email notification from our bill pay system. The communication will be sent by noreply@billpaycustomerservice.com. We encourage that you add this email address to your address book to ensure that it is correctly delivered to your inbox. Online Banking Notification: You will receive an alert that the money has been withdrawn from your account as long as you have selected to receive the alert that a withdrawal has posted to your account above the selected amount. Bill Pay Key Terms: ELECTRONIC PAYEE: Merchant allows payments to be processed electronically. (Processing Time: 1-2 Business Days) PAPER CHECK PAYEE:Merchant will receive a physical check in the mail delivered by the United States Postal System (USPS). (Processing Time: 5 Business Days) MANAGED PAYEE:The bill pay vendor and the payee have established a relationship to better deliver payments on behalf of the member. The payment address is not displayed to member because the information is considered proprietary information to the vendor. RECURRING PAYMENTS:User-defined request for automatic payments for a specific payee. The member will define the payment amount, frequency, start date, and end date. EBILL:Payment (bill) information will display within your Bill Pay Dashboard. This information will provide you with the important items such as Payment Date, Amount Due, and Available Balance (if applicable).  Protect against card fraud and misuse - in real time - via your smartphone. > Turn cards on, off, and back on again, in seconds. > Use GPS to control transactions within a designated location. > Control spending by setting limits to match your budget. > Receive real-time, in-app card-use notifications and spending-limit alerts. Download the app at ITunes or Google Play for free!  Get a $100 Cash Reward for Every New Line You Switch to Sprint
This new exclusive cash rewards offer is our best one EVER! Now, as a credit union member, you can earn $100 for every line when you switch to Sprint®. Here’s how it works: > Members get a $100 cash reward for every new line when you switch to Sprint®. > Current Sprint customers will receive a $50 cash reward for every line transferred into Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Rewards. > Plus, get a $50 loyalty cash reward every year for every line. > Credit union members are eligible for 25% off accessories with the Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Rewards program Here’s how to sign up for Sprint cash rewards: 1. Become a Sprint customer. 2. Register at LoveMyCreditUnion.org/SprintRewards. 3. Allow up to six to eight weeks to see cash rewards directly deposited into your credit union account!  Everybody looks forward to summer vacation, but as we all know travel can be expensive. If you’re looking to squeeze a getaway into your budget this summer, here are some tips for traveling on the cheap and getting the best deals.
Go in the Off-Season During the hottest summer months, business at popular vacation spots like Arizona and New Mexico tends to slow down dramatically. If you can take the heat, you can score some great deals at premium resorts, golf courses, and other attractions during the off-season. Just remember that the off-season is also when many of these places perform annual maintenance and major construction projects. If, for example, a pool is important to you, make sure the resort you’re visiting won’t be renovating it while you’re there. Buy a Package When considering a last-minute getaway, travel packages that combine flights, hotel, and sometimes meals, can be the best deals out there. The key is to be flexible on where and when to go. Get the App for That These days, there’s a travel app or website for pretty much everything – including tracking down the lowest priced flights, hotels and travel packages. A few to consider include Kayak, Hipmunk, Momondo, Airfare Watchdog, and Skyscanner. Each has a slightly different focus, so try out several to see which ones work best for your needs. Keep in mind that some of these sites do not carry regional airlines, which often have good deals. And, when you do find a great flight deal, take a look at the airline’s website since some deals are only available when you book direct.  Want to put an end to pesky telemarketer calls? The federal government set up a National Do Not Call Registry allowing you to do just that. It only takes moments to add your telephone number to the list, and once you do, telemarketers have up to three months (even though they usually take 31 days) to remove it from their call lists.
To register your number, either call the registry at 888-382-1222 from the number you want removed, or log onto www.donotcall.gov to register up to three phone numbers at once. If you receive calls when you shouldn’t, you may file a complaint at the same number and website.  Identity theft affects close to 13 million people in the United States every year and authorities have said that currently it is “the fastest growing crime across the country”. What can you do to protect yourself?
Don’t leave belongings unattended. One of the most important steps in preventing identity theft is perhaps also the simplest – don’t leave belongings containing sensitive information, such as a laptop, a wallet, or a smartphone, unattended. Lock your laptop. Using a laptop lock, which ties your laptop to a stationary item, like a desk, can be a good way to secure your computer. They are fairly cheap, usually costing less than $50. Use password protection. Many people forget to password-protect their smartphones and tablets, even though the option is usually available. Make sure your passwords are not easy to guess, and change them periodically. Delete your hard drive. If your laptop gets stolen, you can usually delete your hard drive with special software as soon as the thief accesses the Internet with your computer with remote access. Leave unnecessary items out of your wallet. You probably do not need to carry more than one credit card and never carry your social security card or anything with your social security number on it unless its necessary.  Talk about it. If you are depressed about money problems, you may feel alone. Yet the moment you begin to discuss it, you will find you are not only in immense company, but that discussing it can make you feel a lot better. If you feel your “debting” is compulsive, you may want to talk to the professionals at Debtors Anonymous. Log on to www.debtorsanonymous.org or call 800-421-2383 to find a meeting near you.
Put it in perspective. Do you have your health? The love and support from friends and family? Focus on the good things that are happening in your life. It’s hard, but you are going to need to be optimistic to make positive changes. Confront the problem. Rather than hiding from bill collectors, regain control by answering the calls. Be calm and rational. Understand the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, a law that protects your rights as a consumer. Write to your creditors to explain your situation. Include what led to the problem (even if it was your “fault”) and how you plan to fix it. Fight inertia. Doing nothing, while easier than taking action, will get you nowhere. Get up and get out, but resist the urge to shop if your spending is out of hand. If you are already loaded down with debt, and keep receiving offers for more credit cards in the mail, destroy them and throw them away. Consider removing your name from promotional lists by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or by calling 888-5-OPTOUT (888-567-8688). Prioritize your spending. Chances are, there are some expenses you can reduce or cut out that can immediately relieve some of the pressure. Review your spending plan and eliminate expenses that aren’t absolutely essential. Prioritize according to necessity – basic needs such as food, housing, utilities and children’s expenses come first, and everything else after those. |
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January 2019
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