June is Credit Score Month and our Trusted Regina Home Lawyer Robert MacKay of Mackay and McLean want's to help you understand the importance of your credit score. 

It’s often the first indicator that you are an identity theft victim. If you find names you don’t recognize, Social Insurance numbers that don’t belong to you, or accounts that aren’t yours, you might be a fraud victim. Credit reporting companies can help you stop the credit fraud and prevent future misuse of your identity.

Here are 5 reasons to check your credit score:

• It’s free. Never pass up a freebie, especially when it can affects your financial health and well-being. Your credit report plays an important part in your credit transactions and many other financial relationships.  Get your annual credit report.
•  It’s an important step in rebuilding and maintaining good credit. Reviewing your credit report periodically will help you make sure it is in good shape when you are ready to apply for new credit and enable you to monitor your progress if you are recovering from past credit problems.
• It’s an important part of managing your personal finances. You should review your credit report just like you do your bank statements and credit card bills. Managing credit, keeping track of spending and putting aside savings are all essential to being financially successful.
• It’s often the first indicator that you are an identity theft victim. If you find names you don’t recognize, Social Security numbers that don’t belong to you, or accounts that aren’t yours, you might be a fraud victim. Experian and the other national credit reporting companies can help you stop the credit fraud and prevent future misuse of your identity.
• It’s the first step in correcting any information you feel is inaccurate. The vast majority of the time people find everything is accurate. But if you do find something wrong, your personal credit report comes with instructions for submitting disputes and contact information including a toll-free telephone number, Internet address and mailing address.

Make sure your credit information accurate.

 Your credit score is a reflection of the information in your credit report. Checking your credit score can give you an indication as to whether your credit report is accurate. If your credit score is lower than you expect, it could be a sign that your credit report contains errors that need to be disputed with the credit bureaus.

Add a fraud alert

A fraud alert, or identity verification alert, tells lenders to contact you and confirm your identity before they approve any applications for credit. The aim is to prevent any further fraud from happening.

Ask the credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your credit report if:

• you've been a victim of fraud
• your wallet has been stolen
• you've had a home break-in

You may need to provide identification and a sworn statement to prove that you've been a victim of fraud.

You can set up a fraud alert for free with Equifax. TransUnion charges a fee of $5 plus taxes to set up a fraud alert.

A strong credit profile and reasonable debt ratio are equally important if you want the best mortgage rates and terms.

For more questions and help with any legal property issues consult with our Trusted Regina Real Estate Lawyer Robert MacKay

Our Trusted Regina Real Estate Lawyer Robert MacKay want's to ensure Landlords are fully aware of the financial and legal issues that can arise from criminal activity conducted by a tenant.  

A recent article from the Star Phoenix "Regina landlords lose bid to make insurer pay for drug-house explosion" details how a local landlord attempted to gain compensation for the home from the insurance company.  The insurance company had denied their claim and pointed to a 2003 notice posted in a renewal package that stated simply: “We do not insure property used for the illegal cultivating, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, distributing or selling of marijuana.”

Even though the landlords claimed they took all reasonable steps to screen the tenant and his partner, who had children and were otherwise “model tenants.” There was simply no way for them to know the tenants were surreptitiously running an illegal drug operation in the home, they argued.  However Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Richard Elson rejected those arguments stating "changes to the policy were hardly “buried.” They came highlighted in a special box on the front page of the renewal form". Further, he noted that renting always carries an element of uncertainty — and landlords should be prepared for the worst.

How can a landlord limit responsibility for crime committed by strangers on the rental property?

Screen tenants carefully and choose tenants who are likely to be law-abiding and peaceful citizens. Weed out violent or dangerous individuals to the extent allowable under privacy and anti-discrimination laws that may limit questions about a tenant's past criminal activity.

• Don't accept cash rental payments.
• Do not tolerate tenants' disruptive behavior. Include an explicit provision in the lease or rental agreement prohibiting drug dealing and other illegal activity and promptly evict tenants who violate the clause.
• Be aware of suspicious activity, such as heavy traffic in and out of the rental premises.
• Respond to tenant and neighbor complaints about drug dealing on the rental property. Get advice from police immediately upon learning of a problem.
• Consult with security experts to do everything reasonable to discover and prevent illegal activity on the rental property.

We are very excited to announce our newest Trusted Regina partners The Bone & Biscuit Co.

Located on Quance Street behind the Victoria Square Mall this charming little store has product lines for dogs and cats that include only the finest high quality raw, dry and canned foods, an abundant selection of natural treats, homeopathic  supplements, unique artisan baked goods, clothing and comprehensive  range of “boutique” toys and general care items for everyday use. The food is all free of wheat, corn or soy.  A lot of their product is Canadian – some are even from here in Saskatchewan!

Owner Laur’Lei Silzer is an animal lover herself with three dogs and two cats, all of whom are rescues. As she say's "The only thing I love more than shoes (I have 151 pairs) is animals."  After she retired early from the government she decided to embark on a new adventure and Bone & Biscuit was a natural fit.    "I have never regretted my decision and I love coming to work every day. Everyone should have this much fun at their job!" says Silzer. 

Behind every great business stands an exceptional team.  Manager Stacie works with customers regarding nutrition and behavior. She has a diploma in Canine Nutrition and a Certificate in Nutrition and continues her studies in Canine Healthy Nutrition.  She is currently enrolled in a Raw Nutrition course and has two Diploma's in Canine Behavior Coaching and is working on a more intense course via the UK.   In addition, the support staff are also exceptionally knowledgeable and just love to help customers make decisions about what is right for their pet.

Their knowledge and willingness to help their customers really shows.  When calling to ensure they are Trusted the feedback from customers was exceptional.  Here is what some of their clients had to say.

“I am very particular about what I feed my cat.  Bone & Biscuit has everything I need.  Their staff is very knowledgeable and they have a great selection of products including some that no one else carries.  The prices are even better than I found online.”  - Courtney Debreceni

“The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and they have high quality products you can’t find anywhere else.  The really know their stuff.” – Steve John

“I have so many good things to say about Bone & Biscuit.  My dog had been on medicated food from the Vet since he was a puppy, he is now 15.  He no longer would eat any of the food from the vet and was very ill.  With a heavy heart I had even contemplated euthanasia.  Not wanting to give up I tried Bone & Biscuit and am happy to say that it has completely changed my pooch.  He is on the mend and eating very well again.  He is even able to jump up on his favorite spot by the window again because his arthritis has improved dramatically.  Whatever is in that food is just awesome and it isn’t very expensive!  I also love that they guarantee the food so if your dog doesn’t like it and you have the receipt you can return it and try something else.  They also deliver.  I love everything about them!” – Nancy Stoeber

We think Bone & Biscuit are a great addition to the Trusted Regina directory and happily welcome them aboard.  

You can find them under the Specialty Retail category. Or check out their listing directly here. 

Future Print is proud of the strong roots they have built in the Regina community. They are locally owned and operated and have been since 1981.

They love what they do and if you spend 5 minutes with Karmen you will know that this is very true!  The passion he and his team have for their work enables them to take ownership of their clients' projects. They constantly strive to deliver the highest-quality products possible.

Future Print offers a wide range of services and products:

Future Print are your Trusted Regina Printers. 

Future Print Regina answers Are you a “green” company?

You want to send out print marketing, but you’re concerned about the impact and want to find environmentally friendly printing solutions. Future Print will put your mind at ease and help you show your customers that you care about sustainability through our commitment to eco friendly printing.

The print industry as a whole, is not only environmentally friendly, but we are one of the most sustainable industries today. The industry makes tremendous investments in applying renewable energy sources and creating environmentally friendly supplies. 

Why should you use recycled papers?

When it comes to paper communications, recycled paper is the greenest option, it uses less energy, water, and produces lower carbon emissions than the manufacturing of non-recycled paper and at the same time reduces the amount of waste to landfill – as paper can be recycled up to 5 times. On average, the production of virgin fibre paper, followed by incineration uses twice as much energy than it takes to produce recycled paper. With advances in technology and processes, recycled paper is now as white and has the same print performance as non recycled paper.

Future Print takes very seriously their role in preserving the environment and integrate numerous green practices into their daily operations. In addition to energy-efficient equipment and chemical-free technologies, they can perform many print jobs using recycled paper stock. If you would like to use recycled paper for your next print job, let them know. You’ll be pleased with the results and feel good about helping the environment, too.

To find out more about Future Print check out their Trusted Regina Printers listing here

It is always a pleasure to welcome a new Trusted Regina Air conditioning, Furnace partner to the directory, it is particularly exciting to welcome a partner that has amazing values and stands by their work like Regina Plumbing and Heating does.  

Have you ever asked yourself, what ever happened to good old fashioned service?  

For Regina Plumbing and Heating, providing service like they had in the good ole day's is what they work hard to achieve each and every day. They genuinely believe that customer service is the heart of their business.   Phrases like honesty, accountability, quality and integrity aren't just buzzwords, they are guiding principles at Regina Plumbing and Heating.  It is also what set's them apart and makes them a great Trusted Regina partner.

On top of their amazing service, they also are locally Regina owned, have over 150 years of combined experience and a diverse workforce.   With staff like Jason, Chris, Mike, Ian, Ellie, Brent the boiler whisperer, Ellie the estimator and more,  they have all of the bases covered!  The experience and education list goes on and on with many staff having more than one certification.  Combined they have several Journeyperson certifications including;  Plumbing, Sheet metal, Refrigeration, Commercial plumbing and gas fitters, Boiler tech's and HVAC techs and more.