Fraud Alert – Medicare or Medicaid

Know anyone on Medicare or Medicaid? POTENTIAL FRAUD ALERTS! New Cards being sent. More details here below:

On April 1, 2018 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began a yearlong project to replace all current Medicare cards. The replacement cards are being automatically mailed to beneficiary’s home addresses and will replace the social security number with a new alphanumeric Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). Contact the Social Security office at 1-800-772-1213 if you need to correct your home address.

We have already received reports that scammers have called some Medicare recipients claiming they need to collect a fee before a new card will be sent. Protect yourself by learning about the program and refusing to give out any personal information over the phone if someone calls you. There is no charge for the new card.

Every new MBI will be eleven characters long and contain letters in specific positions and numbers in other positions in order to quickly identify fake or counterfeit cards. Please note that the letters S, L, O, I, B or Z will never be used. If you receive a card with any of these letters you should contact Medicare immediately at 1-800-633-4227.

More information about the new cards can be found here:
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/new-medicare-card/nmc-home.html
https://www.medicare.gov/…/12002-New-Medicare-Card-flyer.pdf
https://youtu.be/DusRmgzQnLY

Keep Your Personal Data Safe!

We have heard a lot about the Equifax data breach that exposed personal information to 143 million US consumers. Clark Howard has our back once again, and has detailed the issue, and given recommendations. Please act now to safeguard your information today.

Clark Howard: Equifax Data Breach FAQs: Answers to Your Biggest Questions

Be careful out there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Holt Pros wishes you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Think less sales and more customer service experience

Great article by Entrepreneur on the importance of the customer service experience. Since it costs more to add a new customer, than to keep an existing one, it makes the recommended focus on customer experience an effective strategy for businesses.

Read more at Why You Should Think Less About Sales and More About the Customer Experience

Quick Tip – Feel Happier At Work

To feel happier at work: Change Your Computer Password!
The average worker has to type a password at least six times each day.
If you make that password something upbeat and positive – like: “GreatJob” followed by your name or “LovinLife” followed by your age – you’ll subconsciously get an emotional boost every time you log on.
That comes from psychologist Dr. Noelle Nelson. Shared by John Tesh from Intelligence for Your Life.

 

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

~ Abraham Lincoln ~

Create Zen-Like Happiness at Work

Did you know research shows that two out of every three people are unhappy at work? To find out how you can create Zen-Like happiness at work read more from Lynn Watts, the Dream Achiever Coach.

5 Secrets to Zen-Like Happiness at Work by Lynne Watts

Quick Tip – Building Client Relationships – Be a Valuable Resource

Building client relationships require quality service. Providing an exceptional client experience includes being an invaluable resource to your client, all the time. Clients want and need you to provide them information and ideas, to assist them in meeting their business goals. They need your expert and timely guidance, to help them make the tough business decisions, that will excel their business growth. Keeping them informed on new information, and how it applies to their business, is a great way to be a valuable resource.

Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value.

~ Albert Einstein ~

Tax Tip – When IRS Comes Knocking

TAX TIP from the NSA Federal Taxation Committee
The IRS has indicated that they plan to increase visits to taxpayers and small businesses in the areas of payroll tax collection and compliance.  Most of our individual and small business clients are not prepared or qualified to deal with such a visit.  It’s a good time to remind our clients that they are not required to deal with the IRS alone.  If an IRS agent shows up at their door, they may politely tell the agent that they wish to have someone represent them and decline to grant an interview or give immediate access to their files.  IRC 7521(b)(2) requires the IRS to suspend the interview at any time this request is made by the taxpayer.

Every taxpayer has the Right to Retain Representation.  Taxpayers who cannot afford representation may be eligible for assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

Quick Tip – Building Client Relationships – Network for Your Client

Building client relationships require a genuine desire to see your client be successful. Consider how you can turn your contacts into network connections for your client. When you connect your client with trusted and powerful contacts, you will be rewarded with a strong relationship with your client.

The relationship between a client must be “we”. ~ Billy Baldwin ~

9 – 11 We Remember!