32 Preparedness Gems

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Here are some practical steps you can take to ease problems that may be associated with Y2K. 1. Start a Y2K protection plan. Know what you will do in case problems arise. Follow news developments so you will know how to respond. 2. Obtain multiple proofs of ID. SS Card, Birth certificate, valid passport, drivers license, voter registration card, student or military ID's 3. Collect paper records of your important possessions so that you can prove ownership. Deeds, titles, proofs of purchase to homes, property, cars, boats and other big ticket items 4. Secure hard copies of financial documents. Mortgage and loan agreements, credit card statements, state and federal tax returns, health and prescription plans, leases, benefit statements, safe deposit contracts, major warrantees and insurance policies 5. Create a paper file on companies or agencies you deal with on a regular basis. The list should include electricity, water, telephone, cable TV, and internet accounts as well as credit card providers and mortgage holders. Include copies of bills received and payments made in case questions arise. Computer errors occur even in the best of times 6. Ask your employer for hard copies of your work record, including employment dates, performance reviews, bonus calculations, vacation and sick leave accumulations, payroll deductions and current pay level. 7. List the various accounts you have with your bank. Checking, savings, CD's, retirement accounts, trust and investment accounts and safe deposit boxes. List account numbers for each. 8. Take extra care if you bank by computer. Make sure your own computer is Y2K compliant. Keep paper records of all transactions 9. Write down how much you charge when you use your Credit Card. 10. Don't get into a situation where you are dependant on your credit card, especially if it has an expiration date after Jan 1, 2000. Carry at least one credit card with an expiration date other than 00. Consider carrying travelers checks in case of an emergency 11. Double check all interest calculations. Because they are based on time and date calculations there are likely to be Y2K problems 12. Make a note to check with your mortgage company to be sure that your property taxes and homeowners insurance are paid. Then confirm that with the appropriate tax authority or insurance company. Don't assume anything. 13. Know when your insurance premiums are due. 14. Make a copy of all prescriptions you have had in the last year. Ask your doctor to help you build up a month's supply in case there is a computer problem at the pharmacy 15. Check with your company benefits office about what the firm that administers your 401K account is doing to resolve the problem 16. Talk to your investment counselor about moving retirement funds if you will be making withdrawals during the first half of the year 2000 17. Read the quarterly reports from companies in which you own stock. They should be keeping stockholders aware of their progress with Y2K compliance projects. Your investment counselor should be able to help in this area 18. Keep paper records of investments as proof of holding and acquisition costs. They will insure against computer problems at the company holding your accounts 19. Request documentation on the amount in your Social Security and Medicare accounts before Dec 1999. 20. Obtain current status on Life Insurance Policies 21. Closely monitor your credit report. Any errors in the system could be magnified by computer problems 22. Collect hard copies of your children's school records. Grades, attendance, immunizations and grade level completions 23. Obtain tuition receipts, grade reports and semester transcripts for any collegians in your family. Also pay close attention to student loan activity 24. Check with your auto dealership to determine if your car has any date sensitive chips that might cause a problem 25. If you have major bills due in early Jan 2000, consider paying them in Dec 1999. 26. Once the Year 2000 arrives, double check all bills, premium notices and financial statements to make sure they are accurate. Don't let a computer glitch cause you to be shortchanged or overcharged. 27. Look for unusual fluctuations in utility bills. Make sure names and address information are correct. 28. Secure a source for emergency heat in case the power goes out. 29. Have a portable radio and extra batteries handy. Make sure you have flashlights and candles available 30. Collect some extra food and water just in case. Make sure your grill is working in case you need it for cooking 31. Gas up the family car on Dec 31, in case the pumps are not working the next day 32. Set aside some extra money for an emergency fund. Have enough cash on hand to carry you through at least a week.

-- For (your@info.com), August 07, 1999

Answers

For your info, Thought this might make it a little easier to read. Thanks for the tips, they are very good.

Here are some practical steps you can take to ease problems that may be associated with Y2K.

1. Start a Y2K protection plan. Know what you will do in case problems arise. Follow news developments so you will know how to respond.

2.Obtain multiple proofs of ID. SS Card, Birth certificate, valid passport, drivers license, voter registration card, student or military ID's

3. Collect paper records of your important possessions so that you can prove ownership. Deeds, titles,proofs of purchase to homes, property, cars, boats and other big ticket items

4. Secure hard copies of financial documents. Mortgage and loan agreements, credit card statements, state and federal tax returns, health and prescription plans, leases, benefit statements, safe deposit contracts, major warrantees and insurance policies

5. Create a paper file on companies or agencies you deal with on a regular basis. The list should include electricity, water, telephone, cable TV, and internet accounts as well as credit card providers and mortgage holders. Include copies of bills received and payments made in case questions arise. Computer errors occur even in the best of times

6. Ask your employer for hard copies of your work record, including employment dates, performance reviews, bonus calculations, vacation and sick leave accumulations, payroll deductions and current pay level.

7. List the various accounts you have with your bank. Checking, savings, CD's, retirement accounts, trust and investment accounts and safe deposit boxes. List account numbers for each.

8. Take extra care if you bank by computer. Make sure your own computer is Y2K compliant. Keep paper records of all transactions 9. Write down how much you charge when you use your Credit Card. 10. Don't get into a situation where you are dependant on your credit card, especially if it has an expiration date after Jan 1, 2000. Carry at least one credit card with an expiration date other than 00. Consider carrying travelers checks in case of an emergency

11. Double check all interest calculations. Because they are based on time and date calculations there are likely to be Y2K problems

12. Make a note to check with your mortgage company to be sure that your property taxes and homeowners insurance are paid. Then confirm that with the appropriate tax authority or insurance company. Don't assume anything.

13. Know when your insurance premiums are due. 14. Make a copy of all prescriptions you have had in the last year. Ask your doctor to help you build up a month's supply in case there is a computer problem at the pharmacy

15. Check with your company benefits office about what the firm that administers your 401K account is doing to resolve the problem

16. Talk to your investment counselor about moving retirement funds if you will be making withdrawals during the first half of the year 2000

17. Read the quarterly reports from companies in which you own stock. They should be keeping stockholders aware of their progress with Y2K compliance projects. Your investment counselor should be able to help in this area

18. Keep paper records of investments as proof of holding and acquisition costs. They will insure against computer problems at the company holding your accounts

19. Request documentation on the amount in your Social Security and Medicare accounts before Dec 1999.

20. Obtain current status on Life Insurance Policies

21. Closely monitor your credit report. Any errors in the system could be magnified by computer problems

22. Collect hard copies of your children's school records. Grades, attendance, immunizations and grade level completions

23. Obtain tuition receipts, grade reports and semester transcripts for any collegians in your family. Also pay close attention to student loan activity

24. Check with your auto dealership to determine if your car has any date sensitive chips that might cause a problem 25. If you have major bills due in early Jan 2000, consider paying them in Dec 1999.

26. Once the Year 2000 arrives, double check all bills, premium notices and financial statements to make sure they are accurate. Don't let a computer glitch cause you to be shortchanged or overcharged.

27. Look for unusual fluctuations in utility bills. Make sure names and address information are correct.

28. Secure a source for emergency heat in case the power goes out.

29. Have a portable radio and extra batteries handy. Make sure you have flashlights and candles available

30. Collect some extra food and water just in case. Make sure your grill is working in case you need it for cooking

31. Gas up the family car on Dec 31, in case the pumps are not working the next day 32. Set aside some extra money for an emergency fund. Have enough cash on hand to carry you through at least a week.

-- shellie (shellie01@hotmail.com), August 07, 1999.


What happened to 32? Oh well sorry.

-- shellie (shellie01@hotmail.com), August 07, 1999.

"For", thanks for taking time to post this excellent list.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 07, 1999.


I would suggest are to gas up the car before the 31st and instead of setting aside extra cash for a week that you make sure and have preps in place so this wont be necessary. If you do decide to set aside some cash do it now.

Thanks For, I'm sending this list out to all my DGI and DWGI family and friends : )

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 07, 1999.


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