Leslie Pace of THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS is starring in the current Walt Disney Production of THE LION KING. This is a part of the "Disney Festival of The Lion King" and Leslie Pace sings a few songs from the Broadway and Motion Picture THE LION KING soundtrack.   Leslie is one of the founding members of The Anointed Pace Sisters based in Atlanta, GA. Their current album RETURN is still a crowd pleaser with hits like "High Praise" and "It's Already Done". On October 30th, The Pace Family will release a Christmas CD on Tyscot Records. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Darryl D. Lassiter media@ddlentertainment.net (770) 732-0484

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIPS on how to have a successful job interview When you walk into an interview, remember this: It only takes 30 seconds to make a lasting impression. Research has shown that the first impression you make on an interviewer really sticks. In one study, untrained subjects were shown 20- to 32-second videotaped segments of job applicants greeting their interviewers.

When the subjects rated the applicants on attributes like self-assurance and likeability, their
assessments were very similar to the interviewers' -- who had spent more than 20 minutes
with each applicant.

Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to help master the first impression:

Timing
Few things give a worse impression than showing up late for an important meeting. Allow
yourself plenty of time to get to the interview in case you have trouble finding the office.

But earlier isn't necessarily better. If you arrive more than 15 minutes early and beeline for
the reception area, your interviewer might feel rushed and you might appear desperate,
according to Emily Post's book "The Etiquette Advantage in Business." If you arrive early,
go to the restroom to freshen up or have an espresso and muffin at a nearby coffee shop.

Ideally, you should check in five to 10 minutes early, and always be courteous and professional
to everyone you meet -- you never know how much influence the receptionist may have on the
hiring decision.

Appearance
Like it or not, people make judgments on appearances, so it's important to arrive at the
interview looking like a seasoned professional. But if you dress too formally, you'll look
stuffy, and if you dress too casually, the interviewer may think you're not serious about the job.

Never wear anything sloppy, tight or revealing to an interview. High-quality, tailored business
suits are always appropriate for both men and women. And don't forget the details: Make sure
your shoes and any other accessories are clean and polished. Clothes may make the (wo)man,
but hair and hygiene are crucial. You never want an interviewer to smell you before they see
you, so always bathe the morning of the interview, use a good-quality bath soap and deodorant,
and avoid wearing perfume or cologne.

Be sure your hair is clean and well-groomed -- nothing spiky or wild -- and keep your makeup
minimal. Cover any tattoos, and limit visible piercings to one in each earlobe.

Handshake
According to Emily Post's book, your grip speaks volumes. Offer a limp hand and your partner
will think you're hesitant or meek. Give a bone-crunching squeeze and you can appear overly
enthusiastic or domineering -- and it hurts! But when you shake with a medium-firm grip, you
convey confidence and authority.

Extend your hand and grip when the webs of your palms touch. Then, pump your hand a couple of times.

Body language
Don't underestimate the importance of your posture and subtle movements. A study by
Albert Mehrabian of UCLA found that 55 percent of communication is received from body language.

To ensure your body language signals your confidence, sit up straight with your shoulders back.
Avoid crossing your legs and don't adopt a casual pose -- even if your interviewer does.

Even if you're nervous, try not to fidget. Don't play with your jewelry, twirl your hair or cross your
arms, and try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If staring straight into the interviewer's
eyes makes you uncomfortable, look at the bridge of his or her nose instead -- it looks like
you're still making eye contact, but might be less distracting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congress Approves Minimum-Wage Increase

WASHINGTON (AP) - America's lowest-paid workers won a $2.10 raise Thursday, with Congress approving the first increase in the federal minimum wage in almost a decade. President Bush was expected to sign the bill quickly, and workers who now make $5.15 an hour will see their paychecks go up by 70 cents per hour before the end of the summer.

Another 70 cents will be added next year, and by summer 2009, all minimum-wage jobs will pay no less than $7.25 an hour.

For years, the idea of increasing the minimum wage has been stalled by partisan bickering between Republicans and Democrats.

That almost became the fate of this year's proposal. Democratic leaders attached the provision to the $120 billion Iraq war spending bill, which was vetoed by the GOP-controlled White House on May 1 because Democrats insisted on a pullout date for American troops.

But with the House passing a rewritten bill 280-142 and the Senate 80-14, the end is likely near for the longest stretch without the federal pay floor rising since the minimum wage was established in 1938.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., called the increase one of "the proudest achievements of this new Congress."

"We've overcome many obstacles - and faced every procedural trick in the book - to get this minimum-wage increase across the finish line," Kennedy said. "Democrats stood together, and stood firm, to say that no one who works hard for a living should have to live in poverty."

Bush announced earlier this year that he supported an increase in the minimum wage.

"We pushed for and very much prefer that it be paired with appropriate offsets for small businesses who would be disproportionately impacted by the minimum-wage increase," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. "Unfortunately, the offsets in this bill don't accomplish that."

This would be the first change since the minimum wage went from $4.75 to $5.15 on Sept. 1, 1997, under former President Clinton and a Republican-controlled Congress.

The liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute, a research group in Washington, estimates that 5.6 million workers - or 4 percent of the work force - earn less than $7.25.

"This is a great day for America's middle class," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. "America's workers have been waiting for a raise for a long time."

Currently, a person working 40 hours per week at the current minimum wage of $5.15 makes about $10,700 a year. An increase to $7.25 would boost that to just over $15,000 a year.

The full increase, according to Miller, is enough to pay for 15 months of groceries for a family of three.

More than two dozen states and the District of Columbia already have minimum wages higher than the federal level. Minimum wage workers are typically young, single and female and are often black or Hispanic.

Raising the minimum wage was a key part of Democrats' midterm election platform. To help make it palatable for Republicans, they added $4.84 billion in tax relief for small businesses to help them hire new workers and offset any cost associated with an increase in the minimum wage.

Republicans had complained earlier that the tax cuts in the House and Senate bills that led up to the final agreement were insufficient, but the inclusion of the provisions in the Iraq war spending bill made it difficult for them to stop them.

"From a small-business standpoint, the House bill was a peanut shell, the Senate bill was peanuts, and the conference agreement is a single shriveled peanut. It is a missed opportunity," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

According to the National Restaurant Association, the last minimum wage increase cost the restaurant industry more than 146,000 jobs and restaurant owners put off plans to hire an additional 106,000 employees.

"A minimum-wage increase will cost our industry jobs, and the vital discussion of how to minimize this job loss is getting lost in the debate," said Peter Kilgore, the group's acting interim president and chief executive officer.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to handle dating rejection 5 ways to get over “no” If you are like most folk worries about “rejection” top your "What keeps me from finding the love of my life?" list.

If you step out into the dating world at all, you are almost certainly going to hear some "no's." And you'll be saying a few "no's" yourself.  So what is so hard about "no?" Why does "no" have such potentially devastating impact?

Our self-centered babyhood
Infants all come into the world the same way, with no awareness of themselves as separate creatures from the people and the universe around them. We all start out incredibly self-centered. We are hungry and cry and get fed. 
But babies learn that crying doesn't always work. From their little self-centered place, babies start doubting their power. Babies start thinking that there is something wrong with themselves, something’s flawed, when they can't make their environment provide what they want.

So where does the fear of "no" come in? "No!" was usually the very first disciplining any of us had. "No!" becomes associated with restriction, punishment and inhibition of our behavior. And that insults our sense of being perfect, as well as activates our fear of being flawed.  That’s not at all pleasant, for babies or adults.

We all retain those early feelings of vulnerability, of basic perfection and basic flaw. Deep down, we know we are flawed (but that is hard to keep in perspective) and therefore makes some people feel suspect that they are unlovable. Each potential "No!" brings out that terror and shame full-tilt.

Keeping the panic at bay
The adult you have become co-exists inside you with the child you were and the parent you had. The adult part of you is logical and rational and able to put the world into perspective.

1. When your child part is terrified, engage your adult the best that you can. When you hear yourself saying, "I'll never find a sweetheart, no one will ever love me," get your adult working. Adults know that "always and never" statements are usually untrue. Make a list of the people who do care about you and read it over when you are in the depths of despond. Remind yourself that you are indeed lovable.

2. Have you heard the expression "Garbage in, garbage out"? Surround yourself with people and messages that encourage and support your love-ability. Single people tend to band together and reinforce each other's worst fears with statements like "There are no good men out there" or "All the good ones are taken." Get on a good dating site and look around. Pay attention to the positive stories of people who met online and married.

3. Use the techniques that successful salespeople use: Decide how many people you'd be willing to meet before you give up the search. Ten? Probably not enough. One hundred? Now you're getting there -- I can't imagine that you won't meet someone very attractive who also thinks you are pretty neat before you hit 100 first dates. And every time you hear or say "No!" you will be one date closer to your goal of love.

4. Here's another sales tip: Not everyone will want to buy what you are selling, but if you have a good product, you'll be able to find customers if you look in the right places. Make sure you believe in your product (you!) and that your product is ready for market. My book "Find a Sweetheart Soon! Your Love Trip Planner" deals with just that: getting as ready as you can be. Then be sure you are knocking on the right doors!

5. Now for some reverse psychology: Develop some "No!" tolerance. I often tell rejection-phobic clients to go out and collect some "no's." It doesn't take too many "no's" to find out that you are going to live through the experience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Black Church Music Facing Challenges Shortage of Ministers of Music nationwide The traditional gospel choir in the church, particularly the black church, may be facing a shortage of accomplished music ministers, according to a recent report. Black churches throughout the country are finding it harder to find skilled musicians to lead music – an integral part of the worship experience – reported Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.

"It's a difficult thing to try to find someone trained. I talked to one of my friends who told me it took him five years to find a musician finally that would be his minister of music," Dr. Gary Simpson, pastor of Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, N.Y., told the TV newsmagazine. Simpson has also been unable to find a new music minister.

The main competition churches are up against is the mainstream music industry. "The big money is in producing. The big money is in rap," said Leo Davis, Jr., minister of music at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, according to Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. "They're looking at rappers with the million-dollar houses with gold ceilings, and why do I want to work in a church and make $30,000?" And while skilled musicians may be turning to the multi-billion dollar lifestyle of rap and hip hop, the mainstream industry is also taking many gospel singers out of the church.

"Gospel music is coming to the mainstream. Singers are coming out of the church and introducing the gospel style to a mainstream audience," said gospel diva Yolanda Adams (above left), according to Real Black Radio. Still, others have chosen to take rap to the pulpit with such groups as Dem Unknown WarriorZ infusing words about Jesus with a popular beat youths recognize.

While some pastors are embracing hip-hop music to draw crowds and relate to younger believers, Dr. Glen McMillan, interim music director of Concord Baptist Church of Christ, asks where the memorable sounds of music such as hymns are.

Hymns like "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and "Amazing Grace" live on, McMillan told the TV newsmagazine, while many won't remember a hip hop line, he believes.
Not only are accomplished music ministers becoming harder to find, but soon, even traditional gospel music in the church may become a rare sound.

McMillan wants younger generations to embrace the traditional songs and pass it down, but says that possibly 20 years from now, "hymnal music is going to be obsolete."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 Tips for a Great First Date

Follow these simple first-date etiquette tips and you'll greatly improve your chances for a second date.

1. Make a Backup Plan

The weather can change quickly, restaurants can close for renovations, and your tickets can turn out to be counterfeit. Have a backup plan in mind in case your date takes an unexpected turn.

2. Plan a Short Date

No need to map out the rest of your lives together. Start with a simple, 1-2 hour date. If things go well, you can always extend the date. There's nothing worse than being on an all-day tour when you realized five minutes into the date that you have no future together.

3. Be Punctual

There's no greater sign of disrespect than being late for your first date. Get directions to your location, arrive early, and show your date that you care about him or her and the plans you made.

4. Agree on the Dress Code

When planning the date, talk about the dress code for the particular event. It can be embarrassing if one person shows up in a suit while the other wears jeans and a sweatshirt.

5. Compliment, But Don't Over Do It

A few nice words make everyone feel special, but persistent comments about the other person's looks, personality, body, etc., gets old and can seem desperate.

6. Drink Responsibly

A few drinks may take the pressure off the date, but don't pretend you're at a fraternity party. Drinking too much will likely bring out some bad sides to your personality -- and that can't help your chances.

7. Balance Talking and Listening

Pay attention to the amount of time you spend talking versus listening. If the scale is weighing in either direction, look to balance it out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Post Office is Hiring

If you know of anyone who is interested, have them call 866-999-8777. Follow the
prompts and an application will be sent to them. This must be done before May 31.
They are hiring for full time position at $17.00 per hour. Or you can apply online at http://www.usps.com/employment/

Let's spread the news to those in need.

IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by
the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication
(or in any attachment) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for
the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting,
marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed in
this communication (or in any attachment).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hotel Key Cards
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic hotel key card?

Answer:

a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date

When you turn them in to the front desk, your personal information
is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the
hotel scanner.

An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning
device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping
at your expense.

Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until
an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time,
the new guest's information is electronically "overwritten" on the
card and the previous guest's information is erased in the
overwriting process. But until the card is rewritten for the next

guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR
INFORMATION ON IT!

The bottom line is:

Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER
leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn
them in to the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not
charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not
leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be
easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.

For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you
still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport
trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up,
especially through the electronic information strip! You can also use
a small magnet and pass it across the magnetic strip several times.
Then try it in the door, if it does not work it erases everything on the card.

Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 Excuses for Calling in Sick
Richard Castellini, Senior Career Adviser for CareerBuilder.com

When you need a random day off of work, what do you do? Do you schedule a vacation day with your boss, or call in with some overblown cover story? And just how long does it take you to come up with that excuse? With one-in-four workers considering sick days equivalent to vacation time, it's no wonder workers are so crafty at calling in sick.

CareerBuilder.com recently took a look at employees who call in sick with bogus excuses. Thirty-two percent of workers said they called in sick when they felt well at least once during the last year, down from 43 percent in the 2005 survey. This could be because some employers are evolving to a PTO (paid time off) system, which is a more flexible way for workers to take time off from work. But, workers should be mindful of company policies and their responsibilities as an employee.

The most popular motivator for missing work: good, old-fashioned R&R. Almost half of workers said they needed to relax, while 24 percent wanted to catch up on sleep. Other top reasons included running personal errands (20 percent), doctor's appointments (17 percent), plans with family and friends (16 percent) and housework (16 percent).

Some employers said they typically don't question excuses given, but others were more skeptical. Almost half of employers have caught an employee calling in sick with a fake excuse; 27 percent said they have fired a worker for calling in sick without a legitimate reason.

Forty-one percent of hiring managers said they have received unusual or suspicious sick-day alibis. When asked to share the most unusual excuses workers gave for missing work, hiring managers revealed some of their favorite alibis:

1. Employee was poisoned by his mother-in-law.

2. A buffalo escaped from the game reserve and kept charging the employee every time she tried to go to her car from her house.

3. Employee was feeling all the symptoms of his expecting wife.

4. Employee called from his cell phone, saying that he was accidentally locked in a restroom stall and that no one was around to let him out.

5. Employee broke his leg snowboarding off his roof while drunk.

6. Employee's wife said he couldn't come into work because he had a lot of chores to do around the house.

7. One of the walls in the employee's home fell off the night before.

8. Employee's mother was in jail.

9. A skunk got into the employee's house and sprayed all of his uniforms.

10. Employee had a bad case of hiccups.

11. Employee blew his nose so hard, his back went out.

12. Employee's horses got loose and were running down the highway.

13. Employee was hit by a bus while walking.

14. Employee's dog swallowed her bus pass.

15. Employee was sad.


Richard Castellini is Vice President of Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com. He is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior and workplace issues.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOWL EVERY MONDAY 7p-9p Metro Lanes and Games. Good people and the exercise bowling is great. You may even lose a couple of pounds. Praise Jesus!

Metro Lanes and Games Bowling Alley 1990 Metropolitan Parkway (well lit parking lot and police security on the premises) Atlanta, Georgia 30315-5900 (404) 767-1990 Click here for directions
If you’d like to reserve a lane for your party call (770) 987-6161 weekdays 9am-5pm

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Identity theft radio segment:

       I was watching the news on Monday night and saw a bit by Clark Howard on identity theft. 
I thought about the faithful listeners of the Reggie Gay Gospel Show and how we have been working on canceling our debt, lowering our expenses, and building our credit for the past 7 months now.  The thing that bothered me the most was wondering if it would all be in vain if we didn't talk about how to protect your new financial information.  Now I often quote Proverbs 22:1 which says, A Good Name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold.  The good name that the scripture is talking about is good credit, and lending offices love good names! Unfortunately,  Identity Thieves also like good names.

        Currently, the best source of knowledge about Identity Theft is the Federal Trade Commission's  Avoid  Id Theft site http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft . The FTC takes the time to educate with printable brochures, online presentations, and testimonial video from victims. The information provided there is the source material for our segment today. I encourage you to go to the site for more in depth explanations.

Answers to Questions about Identity Theft

What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

How do thieves steal an identity?

Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
Pretexting.  They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. 

What do thieves do with a stolen identity?

Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways.

Credit card fraud:

They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report.
They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account. Because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem.
Phone or utilities fraud:

They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account.
They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, heating, or cable TV.

Bank/finance fraud:

They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number.
They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.
They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals your name, draining your accounts.
They may take out a loan in your name.
Government documents fraud:

They may get a driver's license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture.
They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits.
They may file a fraudulent tax return using your information.
Other fraud:

They may get a job using your Social Security number.
They may rent a house or get medical services using your name.
They may give your personal information to police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.

How can you find out if your identity was stolen?

The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.

You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.
You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.
You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

Stay alert for other signs of identity theft, like:

• failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

• receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for.

• being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason.

What should you do if your identity is stolen?

If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.*

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit 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. When you correct your credit report, use an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter explaining your request, to get the fastest and most complete results. 

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.

*NOTE: Fraud Alert is only good for 90 days unless you are a victim of fraud. If you have been victimized, you may ask the credit bureaus for an extended fraud alert which is good for 7 years.

2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.

When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:

For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn't have special forms, use the sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for "billing inquiries," NOT the address for sending your payments.
For new unauthorized accounts, you can either file a dispute directly with the company or file a report with the police and provide a copy, called an “Identity Theft Report,” to the company. 
If you want to file a dispute directly with the company, and do not want to file a report with the police, ask if the company accepts the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56 KB). If it does not, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms.
However, filing a report with the police and then providing the company with an Identity Theft Report will give you greater protection.  For example, if the company has already reported these unauthorized accounts or debts on your credit report, an Identity Theft Report will require them to stop reporting that fraudulent information. Use the cover letter to explain to the company the rights you have by using the Identity Theft Report.  More information about getting and using an Identity Theft Report can be found here.
Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.

3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.  Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims' complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces. 

Additionally, you can provide a printed copy of your online Complaint form to the police to incorporate into their police report.  The printed FTC ID Theft Complaint, in conjunction with the police report, can constitute an Identity Theft Report and entitle you to certain protections.  This Identity Theft Report can be used to (1) permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report; (2) ensure that debts do not reappear on your credit report; (3) prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft; and (4) place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft.   Ask them if you can file the report in person.   If you cannot, ask if you can file a report over the Internet or telephone.  See below for information about Automated Reports.
If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incident" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General's office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

When you go to your local police department to file your report, bring a printed copy of your FTC ID Theft Complaint form, your cover letter, and your supporting documentation. The cover letter explains why a police report and an ID Theft Complaint are so important to victims.

Ask the officer to attach or incorporate the ID Theft Complaint into their police report. Tell them that you need a copy of the Identity Theft Report (the police report with your ID Theft Complaint attached or incorporated)to dispute the fraudulent accounts and debts created by the identity thief. (In some jurisdictions the officer will not be able to give you a copy of the official police report, but should be able to sign your Complaint and write the police report number in the “Law Enforcement Report” section.)

        I personally encourage you to create a relationship with your banker as they may become your first line of defense.  Banks have become more alert on Id Theft and monitor spending habits or patters on accounts to better vouch for you. Last fall, someone went on a shopping spree with my wife's information. Thank God, my wife actively monitors our bank account via on line banking and by the time she noticed the transactions she received a call from our bank. They noticed some unusual activity on her bank card and were calling to verify.  They took the initiative to investigate and credited our account with the amount stolen from us. Not all id fraud matters get cleared up that easily. As a matter of fact for many it takes 2-5 years to fully recover from a bad instance of id theft. Now my goal is not to make anyone paranoid, I only want to inform so you can be alert.  Hosea 4:6 says My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, so lets avoid potential financial destruction.