Q. I bought (savings) bonds and they were destroyed or lost or something . . .

J.J., Cheyenne, Wyo.

A. If your bonds have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, you can usually get them replaced at no charge.

To get the process started, you’ll need to fill out a special government form, PD F 1048, “Claim for Lost, Stolen or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds.”

Many banks and credit unions that deal in savings bonds have the form in stock or can order one for you, said Stephen Meyerhardt, spokesman for the Bureau of the Public Debt.

You can also get it online through the government’s savings bond Web site: www.savingsbonds.gov.

(Click on the words “Savings Bonds” on the far left side of the screen to get to the savings bond information page.)

If you don’t have Internet access, ask that a copy be mailed to you by writing: Bureau of the Public Debt, Parkersburg, W.Va., 26106-1328.

On the form, provide as much detail as possible, including your name and address, as well as the missing bond’s issue date and serial number, Meyerhardt said.

Once the form is done, bring it to your financial institution so it can be certified, he said. (This is a key point. You must sign the completed form in the presence of an “authorized certifying officer,” such as a notary public. This usually can be done at your bank or credit union. See the instructions on the form for details.)

Your bank or credit union can then send in the form, or give you instructions on where to send it, he said. Altogether, the process can take less than six weeks, from the time the government receives your completed form to the time you receive your reissued bond, Meyerhardt said.

If you don’t have the key data that the Treasury needs to trace information about your bond, such as the bond’s serial number and issue date, write a letter to the West Virginia address listed above. Explain your circumstances and supply as much detail as you can, Meyerhardt said.

Q. Can you give me the telephone number that you can call about getting rid of telemarketers on the telephone?

-V.C., East Greenwich, R.I.

A. To enroll in the government’s National Do-Not-Call Registry, call toll-free at (888) 382-1222. You can also enroll online at the registry’s Web site: www.donotcall.gov.

Despite all the hoopla you may have seen or heard about legal challenges, the government-sponsored registry is rolling along.

Neil Downing is a Journal staff writer and author of ” The New IRAs and How to Make Them Work for You.”

If you have questions about your money matters, call us at 1-401-277-7484 or 1-888-697-7656 and leave a message. (When calling toll-free, please ask for ext. 7484.) We can’t reply personally; as many questions and issues as possible will be addressed in this column.)

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AP-NY-11-10-03 0629EST