| ♦ REFRESH to rotate MAAMAW'S CLICKY NOTES thru this space..... Timely Tips, Best of the Boards & More ♦ |
| PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS! Research all business opportunities thoroughly, and never blow off other people's bad experiences. Ask around (and listen!). The Scams101 Message Board is a good place to start. What's that? You've found a Biz Op and you're wondering if it's endorsed by FIB?... Not unless it's listed in MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox. |
| |
FIB - Scams 101
Nice post Sandi.......
Posted By: Tanya In Response To: Re: desperation sets in (Sandi Bowman)
Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2007, at 2:01 p.m.(pst)
....very informative and helpful for those of us in similar debt situations. I have considered some of those credit counseling agencies but was a bit leery. I did call and receive some stuff from Mike Midget about "melt down your debt". It was all a bunch of hype rather than any info, wanting you to fill out forms to send them for a "free debt analysis". Maybe useful info would have followed if I had sent in the form, but I didn't like the idea of giving them all that info without knowing what the charges would be to use the service. Some of our credit card companies agreed to freeze the account, (no further usage of credit), keep the APR at the current rate, and not charge late fees. That has helped, though I do always pay on time so I don't know for sure what they would do if I paid late. Anyway, thanks for the post.
Tanya>> Hi, Melissa,
>> First, here's a list of symbols and their keyboard equivalents for
>> you:
>> Trademark = ALT + 0153 (hold alternate key down and press numbers)
>> Copyright symbol = Alt + 0169
>> Insert bullet point = Alt + 0149
>> Insert hard space = Alt + 0160>> Your simplest solution would be to sell online as an affiliate. Many
>> affiliate programs provide a basic template for the site sales page. You'd
>> be wise to modify it so your presentation stands out from others. Do you
>> know HTML at all? If not, learn at least the basics...it's not that hard
>> and will be essential if you're going to be doing online selling as even
>> the best of folks you hire aren't always available to take care of little
>> glitches that occur. I'll let others go more into that and I'll address
>> something else that you obviously need that I can help you with.>> It can be terrifying and can literally drive one to suicide if you
>> don't get a handle on the stress caused by bills and bill collectors.
>> Here's how to handle some of it: First off check your attitude...it makes
>> a world of difference when dealing with it all. You have to assume you CAN
>> get everything paid IN TIME. Notice I did NOT say ON TIME.>> Once you have that, compose a letter to your creditors with a method
>> you can live with for paying off each of them beginning with the smallest
>> bills while making token payments to each of the larger bills. As a small
>> bill is paid off, you take the amount and add it to the larger ones. The
>> larger ones won't like it BUT, if you pay them something each month, they
>> have to accept it. NOTE: this will NOT keep them from suing you for the
>> full amount but it does prove that you are trying and most folks who
>> haven't turned a bill over to collection will cooperate with you if you
>> keep in touch and do as you promise.>> Try your dangdest to avoid collection agencies. They'll hold this
>> threat over you to squeeze the grape from you but realize this: they lose
>> 40-60% of their potential income from the account right off the top to the
>> agency. The secret is to play nice, but firm (ie: don't promise what you
>> cannot do) and, above all, keep in touch! Their biggest fear is that
>> you'll skip town and they'll have to go hunting and hassling across state
>> lines and all that. Reassure them.>> If calls are keeping you from doing your job, say so! The law
>> generally says they can contact you between nine A.M. and nine P.M.
>> anything outside of those hours is iffy and could constitute harrassment.
>> It varies a bit but that's a rule of thumb.>> Your ace in the hole: you CAN (but it's not advised unless they're
>> abusive or there is a handicap/physical problem that makes it dangerous
>> for frequent calls) send them a letter stating that they are not to call
>> you and all contact must be via written correspondence. Theoretically,
>> they MUST abide by this. Realistically, some may try to ignore it.>> It's up to you how to handle it if they call anyway. Remind them
>> they're breaking the law by calling once they've had time to receive your
>> letter in their office... but keep it polite. If they act like they have a
>> steel gut and will go for yours, get nasty and tell them you'll file
>> bankruptcy and, since you have nothing, they'll get nothing. This
>> generally scares the tar out of them and they'll back off unless they are
>> SURE that it's an empty threat. They won't like it and may sue you.
>> Generally, unless you really tiss them off, they won't sue for less than
>> $500.00 as it is not cost effective but they CAN so...act accordingly.>> Be aware that your creditors CAN get together and force you into
>> INVOLUNTARY bankruptcy but, realistically, they probably won't because
>> they have to front the filing fees etc and share equally whatever they can
>> lay hands on of your resources...and they'll delay getting anything for 6
>> months by doing so. If you have little that they can convert, this is not
>> a concern.>> Now take a deep breath and relax. It is doable and manageable. I've
>> tried to give you a peek inside to help. The most important thing: no more
>> bills...that means NO SPENDING without cash up front. Medical emergencies
>> excepted.>> A word to the wise: there are consumer credit counseling agencies who
>> will, in theory, help to keep creditors off your back for a fee by
>> arranging things between you and the creditors. Most of them aren't worth
>> the effort and will just add to your monthly expenses. Investigate their
>> reputation and methods before you consider this option.>> I wish you all the best. Hope MawMaa will forgive the long post but
>> you sounded so distressed I had to try to help. I was in collections, as
>> part of my full charge bookkeeping years ago (and hated it!)so be aware
>> that things change but the basics usually remain the same or very close to
>> the same.>> Sandi
| |
FIB - Scams 101 is maintained by Lesley Fountain with WebBBS 5.12.
| PLEASE READ THIS LEGAL NOTICE CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILE A LAWSUIT OR EVEN WASTE TIME THINKING ABOUT IT. It has been done before, but never successfully. In fact, the last dodobird who tried it ended up being ordered to pay more than $77,000 in attorney fees ($65,000+ to my attorneys and $12,000+ to my co-defendant's legal advisor).
If your attorney is worth his salt, he's going to tell you that the expense of filing a lawsuit you can't win is a whole lot worse than any "damages" resulting from messages posted on this insignificant little chunk of cyberspace. NEWS FLASH: I didn't just climb down off that ol' turnip truck yesterday. I'm well aware that expressing a negative opinion, relating one's personal experience, and restating provable facts are all legal in this country and do not constitute libel, slander, or defamation -- so you don't want to play games with me, and you sure don't want to start something you aren't prepared to finish. I don't take threats lightly, and I don't accept bribes (or did you call it a "mutually-beneficial arrangement"?). I'll turn you in faster than you can yell, "ARREST ME, I'M SCUM!!" Do yourself a favor and turn your legal team loose in greener pastures. Although we may, from time to time, monitor or review discussions, postings and the like on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, we are under no obligation to do so. We are not responsible or liable for any claim arising from the content of any such discussions or postings or for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, falsehood, obscenity, pornography, profanity, danger, or inaccuracy contained in any information contained within such locations on the Site. You are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane materials or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law. You are likewise prohibited from posting any false claims against any company or individual. We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials. By posting messages and/or content on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, you give permission for Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications to display, distribute and use the posting and content for publication, advertising, promotion, excerption or example. You grant Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications complete, perpetual, but non-exclusive rights to use, archive, reproduce, adapt, modify, distribute, sub-license, repurpose, rework, compile, or offer for sale or resale the messages, postings or content appearing on this site in whole or in part, throughout the world and universe, on a royalty-free basis without remuneration. If you cannot accept or agree with the terms of service for this website and discussion board, you are advised not to post on this board. In closing, I would like to remind you once again that it is still legal, in this great country of ours, to express a PERSONAL OPINION, as long as it is presented as opinion and not as fact. And finally, all you scammers out there will do well to remember that TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE against charges of libel, defamation, and slander... so if you're operating just a hop, skip, and jump ahead of the law, you might want to think twice before doing anything stupid... (AND SHAME ON YOU!!). |