Stuff to Blog About and More: Life Jacket from The Titanic Sold

A life preserver from the Titanic found during the initial search for bodies and owned by the same family for 96 years has been auctioned in New York for $68,500.

Christie's auction house said it's one of about six believed to have survived to this day. It had been expected to sell for $60,000 to $80,000.

The identity of Wednesday's winning bidder hasn't been disclosed.

The life-jacket and other lots go under the hammer at Christie's in New York

bbc photo

Ironically, the cork-filled life jackets were one of the leading causes of death on the Titanic. If a person jumped overboard from 10 feet up or higher, their necks would be broken upon impact with the water. The jackets were made by "Fosberry London" manufacturing stamp. The jackets were made of solid cork, wrapped in canvas. Although the cork provided buoyancy, many people died because of this material. When jumping or being pushed into the water from over 10 feet up, the cork would catch the person under the jaw, effectively snapping the head back and breaking the neck.

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.