Posted by Yardie Luke on December 25, 2011 under Saving Money | 
NACA’s historic Save the Dream Tour has been an incredible success with hundreds of thousands of participants. Thousands of homeowners received same day solutions saving hundreds some over $1,000 a month. All of NACA’s services are FREE. Below is one of the cities we’re planning to host events in 2012.
| Atlanta, GA |
Jan 10 – 15 |
Georgia World Congress |
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Thanks for reading – Yardie Luke
Posted by Yardie Luke on February 22, 2011 under Saving Money |
NACA’s historic Save the Dream Tour has been an incredible success with hundreds of thousands of participants. Thousands of homeowners received same day solutions saving hundreds some over $1,000 a month. All of NACA’s services are FREE. Below is one of the cities we’re planning to host events in 2011.
| Miami, FL |
Feb 25 – 28 |
Miami Beach Convention Center |
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Thanks for reading – Yardie Luke
Posted by Yardie Luke on January 12, 2011 under Saving Money |
NACA’s historic Save the Dream Tour has been an incredible success with hundreds of thousands of participants. Thousands of homeowners received same day solutions saving hundreds some over $1,000 a month. All of NACA’s services are FREE. Below is one of the cities we’re planning to host events in 2011.
| Los Angeles, CA |
Jan 20 – 30 |
L.A. Sports Arena |
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Thanks for reading – Yardie Luke
Posted by Yardie Luke on October 16, 2010 under Saving Money |
Searching for legitimate money-saving websites can be daunting. That’s why editors of Wise Bread compiled a list of over 190 best online resources for saving money. These websites have been hand-picked for their innovation and effectiveness. Here are 12 of the most unique and relatively unknown websites from the list. Take a look – chances are you’ll be able to put several of them to good use right away!
1. BeatThat!: We all know someone who is passionate about tracking down the very best deals. With BeatThat, an entire community of such people is put to work for you. Those who find the very best deals are put into a daily drawing that can earn them $50 to $125. With an incentive like that, topnotch results are guaranteed – and spammy, unreliable “deals” are kept out of the loop. The site once focused strictly on electronics; today, you can find deals on just about anything that can be purchased online.
2. Zilok: If the thought of buying a new chainsaw for a one-off project makes you cringe, relax – Zilok is a site that lets you rent everyday items from everyday people in your area. Better still, you can list items that you’d happily let others rent in order to make a little extra money. The entire process is regulated through the site, ensuring that everything goes smoothly. It’s a smart way to avoid buying big-ticket items that you don’t need on a regular basis.
3. BillShrink: Who doesn’t want to save money on credit card fees? Now you can get a list of credit card offers, cell phone plans, cable packages, and savings account offers that are better than what you have in less than 5 minutes. Answer a few questions about your current plan and BillShrink will recommend better options to fit your needs.
4. CrossLoop: Is your child a whiz at solving computer problems, but attends school thousands of miles away? Thanks to CrossLoop, you don’t have to say goodbye to their assistance when they fly the coop. The site allows users to link their computers remotely, making it possible for one person to solve another’s computer issues from anywhere in the world. Various levels of service are available; if you’re a computer whiz, you could even make some extra money by signing up for a pro account and setting up a profile.
5. Shop It To Me: Have you ever stumbled upon an amazing sale on your favorite designer clothing brand, only to discover that they are out of your particular size? At times like those, the urge to have your very own personal shopper couldn’t be stronger; Shop It To Me is the next best thing. Simply plug in the sizes you wear and the designers you love, and the site will alert you to incredible deals from across the web. You can be alerted as frequently, or infrequently, as you’d like – and you’ll always stay abreast of the lowest prices on the clothes you adore.
6. Covestor: We’d all like to get ready for retirement with smart investments. But who has the time to keep track of stocks on a daily basis? Covestor is a site that lets you ride on the coattails of savvy investors who share their portfolios with the unwashed masses. The site is easy to navigate, with intuitive search options and useful rankings. Best of all, users have the option of automatically matching the trades that are made by the investors that they like the best.
7. MyLifeScoop: Do you have a closet full of gadgets you don’t understand how to use? If you like cool toys but hate reading manuals, then MyLifeScoop is the community for you. This site offers thousands of surprising ways to make use of everyday technology. (For example, do you know which smartphone apps can protect your family in an emergency?) Written in plain English, the tips from MyLifeScoop can help anyone get the most out of their tech purchases.
8. Smart Hippo: Navigating the tumultuous waters of mortgages, banks, lenders and loan officers can make even the most levelheaded person positively seasick. Instead of picking up the phone and subjecting yourself to one spiel after another, why not pick the brains of those who have been there and done that? At Smart Hippo, regular people post reviews of their experiences with all sorts of mortgage-related products and services. The stress and aggravation of buying a new home can be slashed by frequenting this simple-to-use website.
9. Coupon Sherpa: The days of waiting for the weekend circulars to arrive in order to find the best coupons are long gone. Thanks to the Internet, there are more options for tracking down deals and savings than ever. The major caveat here, though, is sorting through all of the offers that turn up in any given search. Coupon Sherpa compiles user-submitted online coupons, printable coupons, grocery coupons and even mobile coupons and ranks them according to how many votes they receive. With a few clicks of the mouse button, you’ll be on your way to exceptional savings! (See also 50 best deals and coupon sites.)
10. SmartyPig: These days, brick-and-mortar banks aren’t offering very competitive interest rates for savings accounts. SmartyPig allows you to create a virtual piggy bank, set up savings goals and solicit donations from friends and family – all while enjoying a practically unheard-of interest rate. Once you achieve your goal, the savings – plus any interest – can be added to a debit card, sent to your bank account or added to a retail card.
11. Upromise: Your kids may be babies or toddlers right now; before you know it, though, they’ll be striding across the stage accepting their high school diplomas. Will you have enough money saved up to send them to college? Upromise partners up with thousands of retailers who contribute anywhere from 1% to 25% of your purchases into a college savings account. When the time comes, that money can be put into a 529, used to pay for college expenses or used to pay down student loans. It’s totally free and it couldn’t be easier.
12. Freecycle: During tough economic times, donating used items – and using donated items – makes all kinds of sense. On Freecycle, you can find your local group and peruse listings of free, unwanted things. On the flip-side, you can post free ads for things that you’d like to give away. This especially comes in handy when you have extra items left over from a garage sale. There’s even a mobile app available that allows you to keep an eye on new listings while on the go.
Greg Go is the co-founder and Top Blog Rank Editor of Wise Bread, a blog dedicated to helping readers live large on a small budget. Wise Bread’s book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, debuted as the #1 Money Management book on Amazon.com.
SOURCE: US News
Posted by Yardie Luke on October 4, 2010 under Saving Money |
NACA’s historic Save the Dream Tour has been an incredible success with hundreds of thousands participants in thirteen cities. Thousands of homeowners received same day solutions having their mortgage payments permanently reduced by over $500 and many by over $1,000 a month often with interest rates reduced to 3% or 2% and sometimes a principal reduction. NACA has legally binding agreements with all the major lenders / servicers to achieve this. All of NACA’s services are FREE.
| Sacramento, CA |
Oct 8 – 12 |
Cal Expo Pavilion |
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Thanks for reading – Yardie Luke
Posted by Yardie Luke on September 14, 2010 under Saving Money |
The information presented here applies to residents of the USA.
While listening to the Winston Barnes show today (wavs1170.com) it became very obvious that many of our Caribbean friends have been taken advantage of by unsavory attorneys, mortgage adjusters, insurance adjusters, debt consolidators and some other licensed professionals.
Unfortunately the trusting and vulnerable among us (usually the elderly and immigrants) are seen as “easy preys” for skilled and corrupt professionals.
One person said on the “Open Mic” show that he paid $700 to an attorney to pursue a case and was told weeks later to pay $300 per month to keep the case open even after the attorney failed to show what he had done up to that point.
Another caller to the “Open Mic” show said that an Insurance Adjuster received $10,000 for an insurance claim but only gave her $5600. That amounts to a fee of 44% which seems excessive.
Many fellow Jamaicans and others have lost money to fraudulent mortgage adjusters and debt consolidation firms. Others have paid for home repairs that were either left incomplete or done in a sloppy manner.
AS A GENERAL RULE DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO ANYONE BEFORE SERVICE HAS BEEN RENDERED.
CHECK YOUR STATE’S LICENSING AND REGULATION DIVISION TO SEE IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS AGAINST A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL BEFORE AGREEING TO HAVE HIM/HER WORK FOR YOU.
If you feel you are the victim of fraud or deceptive practices contact the DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS/SERVICES in you state. Also get in touch with the Department of Licensing IF it is not part of the DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
If a case of fraud was committed across state line get in touch with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov)
Here is a list of websites that may help you when a professional failed to deliver as promised:
NY – Consumer Protection Board
NYC – Department of Consumer Affairs (includes Department of Licensing)
Florida – Division of Consumer Services
Florida – Office of FL Attorney General Fraud Alerts
New Jersey – Division of Consumer Affairs
Illinois – Illinois Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
Illinois – Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
California – Department of Consumer Affairs (includes Department of Licensing)
Los Angeles County – Department of Consumer Affairs
Texas – Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection
Texas - Department of Licensing & Regulation
Georgia – Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs
Virginia – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Massachusetts - Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
Connecticut – Department of Consumer Protection (includes Department of Licensing)
North Carolina – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
South Carolina – Department of Consumer Affairs
News about fraudulent companies:
Bogus Advance-Fee Credit Card Operation Targeted Hispanic Consumers
Payday Loan Defendant Settles FTC Charges; Illegally Tried to Garnish Borrowers’ Wages
Posted by Yardie Luke on August 9, 2010 under Saving Money |
If you’ve ever felt powerless in a fight against a large corporation or been blind-sided by bank fees, you should know about James Noble.
The Charlottesville, Va., software engineer found himself on the short end of a credit card interest rate increase and facing $300 in overdraft fees levied by Bank of America earlier this year. In both cases, he felt the costs were unfair, but he couldn’t get anyone at the bank to listen.
“Customer service is so bad at most places now, it’s really starting to get to the point where you have to go to court to be treated fairly,” he said.
So he did. And he won – a judgment of almost $900 against Charlotte, N.C.,-based Bank of America.
Noble took advantage of an often overlooked option in U.S. judicial systems: small claims court. Because small claims courts are inexpensive and informal, plaintiffs can represent themselves. If Internet groups devoted to small claims cases are any indication, frustrated consumers with small-dollar beefs against corporations are increasingly turning to small claims as a way to get satisfaction — and refunds.
From the start, Noble felt he had a strong case, even though he said Bank of America initially responded to his pleas like a brick wall. The overdraft fees, he said, were triggered when the bank inexplicably delayed crediting his account with a deposit for an extra 24 hours. He was watching the account closely, he said, and managed to get screen captures detailing what he called unfair debiting procedures. During the next several days, some of his payments cleared, but were then retroactively assessed overdraft fees. Before the incident was over, he owed Bank of America nearly $280 in overdraft fees.
At about the same time, Noble was five days late with a credit card payment. He blamed a glitch in Bank of America’s payroll system, which failed to direct deposit his paycheck and instead mailed him a paper check.
He was then told that his rate would be increased from 10 percent to 28 percent, but his cardholder agreement gave him the option to opt-out of the increase.
Betty Reiss, a Bank of America spokeswoman, said the bank could not comment on the specifics of the case.
“We deny the allegations in the complaint, but we can’t comment on an individual customer’s account for privacy reasons,” she said.
Federal regulations require banks to give consumers notice when their interest rates will rise, and give them the opportunity to opt out of the increase. Consumers rarely take this option, though, because when they do banks generally close their accounts.
FDIC doesn’t protect your money from fees
In Noble’s case, when he called the bank to opt out, he said the Bank of America operators had no idea what he was talking about. One told him his rate hadn’t increased; others had no idea how to opt him out of the increase.
Suspicious, he kept careful phone records. His interest rate did in fact go up, eventually costing him roughly $600 in interest charges.
“When you deposit money with banks you are entrusting them, and perhaps your money is FDIC insured,” he said. “But you are not FDIC insured against people sitting in a boardroom thinking up ways they can take your money.”
Noble escalated his complaints to an operator in executive customer service, which offered to lower his rate to 14 percent. He balked, insisting on his original rate. When the bank wouldn’t budge, he decided to research his legal options and found a video produced by filmmaker Karney Hatch called “Overdrawn,” which includes instructions on filing a small claims case.
In June, Noble paid the $56 filing fee and took the bank to court. In his complaint, he claimed the maximum amount allowed in Virginia’s small claims courts — $5,000 — to cover both current and potential future excess interest costs.
A July 6 court date was set, but four days before the date arrived, Bank of America mailed him a letter with a settlement offer.
“They offered me $500,” he said. “But I said ‘That’s not enough.’” Instead, he pulled together his paperwork and headed to court. Continue
