Business Flip!Flip Business Flip

We ventured out today to do a bit if shopping. We had to stop by the hardware store and the grocery store for a few items. The grocery store can be dangerous place to go when you are trying to save a few bucks. You have to go into the grocery store with blinders on and a list that you don’t stray from.  It is so easy to get sucked in by those pop displays or those big sale displays at the end of the aisles. Most of the time they are items that you don’t need and are a luxury type “treat” item. Just walk right by them, keep your blinders on and shop for what you need. If you stick to your list then you won’t end up spending money you don’t have.

We keep a pad of paper and pen on our microwave oven which is in the kitchen. When we run out of something we put it on the list. If it isn’t on the list then we don’t buy it. When I am looking for those chocolate ice cream bars during the week they aren’t there because they weren’t on the list.

Here is the repost from the new Liars and Cheats EXPOSED blog. Unfortunately, the archaic software here doesn’t copy LINKS, so you have to go to the new blog FTC complaint about Experian refusal to investigate factual credit disputes to view the posted correspondence and disputes.

My client actually INCLUDED a copy of his drivers license and utility bill with his factual disputes AND Experian provided him with his credit report prior to receiving the disputes.

Trans Union and Equifax processed the disputes, but on 1/20/10, Experian not only refused to investigate, but also made the most bizarre and FALSE accusation:

We received a suspicious request regarding your personal credit information that we have determined was not sent by you. This could be deemed as deceptive or fraudulent use of your information. We have not taken any action on this request. Any future requests made in this manner will not be processed and will not receive a response. S

Read full post…

Employers are increasingly running credit checks on prospective employees. This practice will be prohibited in California with some exceptions if a bill in the California Legislature is enacted. Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk)’s bill, AB 482, would restrict credit checks except for jobs that involving handling money or certain personal information.

As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mendoza points out that credit checks discriminate against blacks, Latinos and lower income people who tend to have worse credit. Credit history often has nothing to do with job performance.

Having your credit card stolen can be a traumatic experience, but if you take action early you can prevent being the victim of a crime from hurting your credit and possibly costing you a lot of money.

As a preventative measure, you should periodically check your card statement for any unusual activity. Many credit cards use their own security measures and will contact you if, say, you live in Boston, but your card show a purchase made in Denver. But you shouldn’t count on that. Keep track of your own finances and confirm all of your purchases, even small ones.

Always report your stolen card immediately. All you have to do is call the bank and be sure to note the date and time when you noticed it was missing.  The company will put a block on the card preventing it from being used. If you report the card stolen on the issuer’s web site, print a copy of the confirmation.

If you are sure your card was stolen (as in, you were mugged), contact the police immediately. Get a copy of the report in case your identity is stolen as well.

Finally, contact the three major credit bureaus and report that your identity is stolen. Plac

Read full post…

At some point in your credit card life, you might become tempted to play the balance transfer game.

Here’s how it works: You get a high balance on your credit card. Rather than pay the high interest rate, you move the balance to a card that advertises a low- or zero-percent rate on transfers. Then that promotional period expires and so you transfer to another card. And around and around it goes.

The balance transfer game, like most tricks when it comes to money and debt, is ultimately a short-term solution to a long-term problem. It’s not the worst thing you can do with a credit card, but it does little to get you out of debt and on the right path to financial responsibility. Here are some of the inevitable drawbacks of balance transfers.

1. There is almost certainly a fee attached to any balance transfer. One some cards, it might only be about 3% which doesn’t seem like much until you start transferring a higher balance over to a new card. A $3,000 transfer with a 3% fee will cost you an extra $100. This

Read full post…

Millions of consumers are struggling each day to pay off high interest debt, with many of them falling farther and farther behind each month.  While it would be ideal if there was some sort of “magic” solution to this problem, the truth of the matter is this: each person is responsible for figuring out the best process for eliminating their high interest debt.  There is no bailout in sight for consumers, therefore you must closely examine the options that are available to pay off your debt balances and move on with your life.  One of the popular debt relief options available today that is often confused with some sort of government “bailout” is debt settlement.  The mix-up appears to be the result of some advertising that tends to lead consumers to believe they are enrolling or participating in a government sponsored program.  Here we take a closer look at debt settlement and how it can help you eliminate debt. 

Debt settlement, sometimes referred to as debt negotiation is a legal process which may cut your debt in half.  Unlike debt consolidation or debt management plans, this process does not involve paying your creditors each month, instead you set aside a predetermined amount of cash each month to be applied toward future settlements. When y Read full post…