How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » christmas

Arizona Telemarking Scam Leaves 5,000 Out Of Over $6.3 Million

Amanda Miller — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:37:48 +0000

Earlier this month word broke when a complaint was issued against four Arizona LLCs and 11 Arizonians that Arizona telemarketers had defrauded almost 5,000 people out of over $6.3 million. These criminals conducted a scam that used victims’ credit-card limits to determine how much to charge them in setting up their very own “web mall” business that they would receive commissions off of. They ran defendants Solid Ad Solutions, Solid Tech Solutions, Freedom Billing, and E-Web Financial.

The latter two companies, Freedom Billing and E-Web Financial made illegal calls to consumers offering them the work from home business opportunity through setting up their own “web mall” business. Promised to the customers was a business coaching program that would show them how to successfully operate their business and to buy the program back at the end of one year ‘if for some crazy reason you don’t make your investment back.

As soon as a consumer gave the go-ahead their credit cards were immediately processed and their money was gone. The scammers completed an order form with each successful sale stating the names of the opener and closer, the price paid, the package ordered, contact information and notes about the consumer to assist the upsell defendants in making further sales. This information was then sent to Solid Ad Solutions and Solid Tech Solutions.

“These notes included statements like, ‘Has 9K available on this card today,’ ‘BACK END CHA-CHING!! YOU ARE WELCOME!’ ‘Old dude, has no clue’ and ‘living on social security.’”

Employees from Solid Ad Solutions and Solid Tech Solutions would then call the customer back and claim to be the business coach to which they would then offer a website advertising and traffic opportunity. This “service” would cost between $500 to $33,400 depending on the customer’s available balance on their card.

These “coaches” would claim that by partaking in the advertising and traffic boost opportunity that they would soon turn around the money they’d put into the business opportunity. Consumers were lead to believe that this was an extremely lucrative deal. Once they agreed to this offer their “coaches” were unattainable to consumers.

The contract offered by Solid Ad Solutions and Solid Tech Solutions gave consumers only three days to cancel, purposely confusing consumers who believed they were entitled to the 30, 60, or 90 day to a year cancellation policy offered by defendants E-Web Financial and Freedom Billing.

If a customer did actually try to purchase something from one’s “web mall” the victims caught in this scam would not even see commissions coming in. Refunds were “stonewalled” and many were very aggressive sales representatives who talked them out of canceling or convinced them to wait for their “first quarter commission check” or “until after the Christmas shopping season,” knowing full well that the consumer would then be past the allowable cancellation period and well past the dispute deadline with their credit card.

Victims were promised to make between $1,000 to $7,000 a month. Attorney General Tom Horne is seeking an injunction and $10,000 for each violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act – Source.

If you have been scammed and would like to file a scam report, please click here.

His Lost Job at GM is to Blame for Our Debt. We Might Lose Our House. – Jamie

Steve Rhode — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:59:08 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

I am 33 years old and the mother of 2 daughters. We were doing really great, until GM pulled their job out from under my husband. We are now strugging to get by.

I do the best I can to pay our bills, and have dropped the unimportant things, like cable and internet (I’m in a public library sending this). But two Capital One accounts have fallen behind, (I do have one Capital One account still in good standing.) who actually only got behind thanks to their slapping us with fees that didn’t make any sense.

They said I had made my payment late, although I had the copy of the online billing that stated I made it on time. Then the late fee was followed by an overdraft fee, etc and so forth. I tried to talk to them. I tried to fix it, but they didn’t want to work with me. Now they have sued me. I couldn’t afford the mediation fees, so I talked to the law office that had sued me and they were very kind and said when I had a lump sum of money, to call them and they would see if Capital One would take it. So, I started trying to save, which isn’t easy when after you pay your bills you have only a few dollars left over.

I just received a tax garnishment in the mail. I am devastated as our taxes are behind and if we don’t use our tax refund to pay our back taxes, we are going to lose our house. Plus, Christmas is coming up. I just don’t know what to do. It makes me ill to think of this mess we’re in. I stumbled across your site this afternoon when searching for any answers. Do you have any advice?

Is there anything I can do to stop the garnishment on our taxes? I have found information on filing an order for installment payments. But I’m not sure what this would involve payment wise? I can’t agree to a high amount. There simply isn’t enough money coming in at the time. And if they take our taxes, we’re going to lose our house because I was depending on that to pay the back taxes. Do you have any advice?

Jamie”

The Answer:

Dear Jamie,

First, thank you for reaching out to me for help and advice. I’ll do my best to get you steered in the right direction.

I can sense your drowning in stress and debt right now. If it’s the same for you as it was for me when I was in that situation it all feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to turn. I even felt like I couldn’t breathe at times.

Here is something that you should read to help you get through the days right now, “The Second Attribute to Getting Out of Debt – Gratitude.”

Let’s step back for a moment and look at the situation. While it sucks that GM dumped the job and left you in this mess it really could have been any company doing that. All employees work at the pleasure of the employer and no job, anywhere, is guaranteed these days.

The Capital One issue is painfully ironic but one I’ve seen before. In another case the annual fee put the account into overdraft and the overdraft fee was missed by the person so their account went into default. Well…you know the story.

Based on your current situation and the looming tax issue it probably makes sense to discuss bankruptcy with a local bankruptcy attorney you like. If bankruptcy is right for you depends on how much total debt you have and if eliminating that debt would allow you to make your tax installment payments.

A more drastic option for you to consider is starting over and maybe in a new part of the country. This might actually be your chance to get a totally fresh start with bankruptcy and a move if jobs are not available in your area. Moving can suck but if there is an economic drought in your area you might just have to make a move to greener pastures.

Let’s talk Christmas for a moment. Being broke at Christmas can really suck and make you feel guilty. But you know what, when I think back on the best times I ever had at Christmas it’s never about what someone bought me. It’s about the special times and memories I shared with others.

You can share love and gratitude with the people you care about for very little money. You just need to find a way to make an emotional investment in showing them how you feel about them.

One of the most memorable Christmas times my family talks about was the year Pam and I were so broke we could not afford to buy presents. Instead we bought mason jars and dried beans. We measured out the different beans according to a recipe we really enjoyed and attached the recipe to the jar with a big bow. It was must money wise but it allowed us to feel as if we were giving what we could.

And if I was your long lost friend, what I’d love from you most this year is not a stinking pair of gloves, but a hug or a lunch with just you to catch up. So much can be given for so little money.

Please update me on your progress by posting updates here in the comments section of your question. I’m very interested in how this works out for you.

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

P.S. Be sure to read ‘The Secret of Surviving Through Difficult Economic Times. What I Learned On My Journey‘.

If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Tim Wants His Share of Free Money Available to Consolidate His Debt

Steve Rhode — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:36:14 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

We are currently $2600.00 behind on all are bills, including our mortgage. I can’t get aloan cause it would be just another bill. I was looking for someone who might just give a gift. I really want to go into Christmas stress free.

I have a beautiful wife and two children.It is really hard looking at them with the situation we are in. I know if we could get caught up it would really change things. Things have really fallen off in the last three months cause my hours got cut at work.

I am so tired at looking at an empty fridge and a pile bills. I just need someone to help us right now. I have tried everything.

I am very dedicated to never be in this situation again want this problem is resolved.

Where can I get help?

Tim”

The Answer:

Dear Tim,

Even if there was some magic money fairy that paid off bills, it would not help. While it might bring you current so you could enter the Christmas season without delinquent bills, it would do nothing to resolve the underlying issue that you can’t afford your monthly obligations.

Your tension and stress about entering the holiday time of the year is common. Often those feelings and emotions revolve around the guilt of not being able to give gifts. But the magic of the holidays is actually not about the gifts, but about the joy of family, fellowship and being thankful for what you do have at hand.

This might be a good opportunity to sit down with the entire family and explain the reality of your current financial situation and let everyone think about what you can do special for each other without spending money on commercial gifts. Make things, do things and find other ways to give this year.

In figuring out which bills to pay, always pay the mortgage, and utilities first. Don’t let those bills get behind.

It might just be that bankruptcy might be the best option for you to eliminate the bills you can’t pay. It is a legal way to discharge your debt that is no longer sustainable with your current income. Otherwise, you can increase your income to cover the bills or ask your wife if she can work.

For more information about bankruptcy, contact a local bankruptcy lawyer and ask for a free bankruptcy review or meeting to discuss if bankruptcy is right for you.

If you are living on the edge and without food for your children, you may qualify for Nutrition Assistance Programs offered by the USDA. Check out the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

The Answer:

It Will Make You Laugh. Merry Christmas From Steve, Pam and the Rhode Dogs

Steve Rhode — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:05:02 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Nothing says Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays more than a spoof video. So from me and the entire Rhode family this year, may all your days be be full of happiness and hugs.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

http://twitpic.com/u2k2k Nothing screams Christmas like Santa pez

Steve Rhode — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:41:24 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

getoutofdebtguy: Nothing screams Christmas like Santa pez

This is a picture sent from me through TwitPic.

Click here to see the bigger version of this picture.

You can follow me on Twitter to get all my picture updates.

http://twitpic.com/txiib Christmas is so festive. Ho ho ho.

Steve Rhode — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:20:40 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

getoutofdebtguy: Christmas is so festive. Ho ho ho.

This is a picture sent from me through TwitPic.

Click here to see the bigger version of this picture.

You can follow me on Twitter to get all my picture updates.

An Inexpensive Holiday Gift I Gave in Tough Money Times. And People Loved It.

Steve Rhode — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:17:57 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Photo by Roger Smith

Back when Pam and I were dead broke and oh yes, would have been homeless if my parents had not taken us in, we had no real money to give holiday gifts.

Being broke at Christmas can make you feel really crappy. Everyone is exchanging gifts but you have nothing affordable to give. Or do you?

I’ve grown from that day I realized that the last thing I really want from anyone at the holidays is a material gift. Instead it is more meaningful to me to receive a hug, continued friendship, or maybe just time together. The material stuff is all superficial. But I digress.

So that Christmas we were so dead broke we decided to give people a dried bean soup mix that was ready to make. Dried beans are really cheap and the dollar store had the pint jars we could use to put the mix in. We loaded the jars with the bean recipe below, cut out a piece of fabric to cover the lid, tied a ribbon around it and attached the recipe to it. We printed the recipe out with a nice font and rolled it up and attached it to the jar with a ribbon.

Our families and friends knew what our situation was and giving them this gift we made with what little money we had and the love invested in it made many remember that gift to this days.

I’ve added the present cost for all the required items and it comes to $23.95. And for $2.40 for each gift, that’s a great deal for you and a great gift for the person you give it to.

Mixture for the Jars

1 pound barley pearls – $1.50
1 pound dried black beans – $1.97
1 pound dried red beans – $2.31
1 pound dried pinto beans – $1.50
1 pound dried navy beans – $1.29
1 pound dried Great Northern Beans – $1.29
1 pound dried lentils – $1.39
1 pound dried split peas – $1.29
1 pound dried black-eyed peas – $1.79

Combine all beans. Divide into ten 2-cup packages for gift giving and present with the following recipe for Nine Bean Soup. Prepare mix according to Nine Bean Soup Recipe. Yield: ten 2-cup packages.

A new nine pack of Kerr Mason jars is about $9.62. Yes, you are one jar short on the pack. Improvise.

Recipe to Attach to Jars

Nine Bean Soup

2 cups beans – soak overnight in water 2-3 inches above beans.
2 quarts of water
1 pound of ham
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 – 16oz can diced tomatoes undrained
1 – 10oz can tomato & green chilies undrained

Add first 5 ingredients to dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 30 more minutes stirring occasionally.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Expect Tidal Wave Of Limit Reductions and Credit Card Closures to Hit Before Christmas

Steve Rhode — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:50:42 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Yesterday I wrote about a little old hardware store that had noticed an increase in card purchases over cash. That’s not a good sign if people are using plastic more for routine things and especially in this environment of credit card issuers reducing credit limits, raising interest rates and closing cards.

You see, the credit card issuers are getting freaked out that more people are going to start using the cards when they can’t afford it. Shocking! I guess that’s okay when you can limp along and make the monthly minimum payments but otherwise it is a bad thing.

The credit card message has been “use the card, use the card, use the card” but that pendulum is swinging to “don’t use the card, don’t use the card, we’ll take that card”.

Apparently this trend is not limited to just the United States or just hardware stores. A story in India noted:

Usage of plastic money is increasing with times but at the same times it is also increasing the worries of credit card companies. In September 2008, the transactions done through credit cards went up by nearly 20% against the previous month. Normally this would be a reason to cheer for the card companies but presently it has become a cause of concern.

The credit card companies are worrying because they think that rising usage of credit card may also result in higher number of defaults among these users.

If all of this is true, which it is, retailers are going to be hating life this holiday season as credit card issuers start closing cards to avoid even higher losses. Without available cash or loose credit, consumers won’t be able to go overboard on holiday spending.

I’m thinking we need a joust between banks and retailers. Wouldn’t that be fun to watch?

Video Comment

Your financial questions answered – Dallas Morning News

Steve Rhode — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:40:00 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

If you’re worried about your finances in these tough economic times, we can help. We’ve teamed up with the Dallas-Fort Worth Financial Planning Association to offer free financial advice. Just e-mail your question to moneyhelp@dallasnews.com . We …

Source: Your financial questions answered – Dallas Morning News

How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » christmas

Arizona Telemarking Scam Leaves 5,000 Out Of Over $6.3 Million

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His Lost Job at GM is to Blame for Our Debt. We Might Lose Our House. – Jamie

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Tim Wants His Share of Free Money Available to Consolidate His Debt

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http://twitpic.com/u2k2k Nothing screams Christmas like Santa pez

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An Inexpensive Holiday Gift I Gave in Tough Money Times. And People Loved It.

Mixture for the Jars

Recipe to Attach to Jars

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