June 8, 2007

5 Killer Steps to avoid Credit Card SCAMS!!!!!

Category: Ravenswood. Posted by bill at 9:01 pm.

  • If it makes sense, complete the online form.

  • Take a deep breath, and relax. Within 30 days, the list will start working for you. I can personally attest that, while the solicitations have not stopped completely, they have significantly, significantly decreased.

    Join the FTC No-CALL-Registry, and enjoy a reduction in telephone solicitation phone calls.

    2. TELEPHONE SOLICITATION:

    Believe it or not, the vast majority of lenders out there are legitimate. Also, believe it or not, a lot of these lenders utilize telemarketing as a method of reaching out to potential customers.

    1. But beware of a wolf in sheep s clothing. Legitimate Lenders never ask for a processing fee in order to complete your application (this does not include appraisals during a real estate transaction in Escrow We are discussing credit cards here).

    2. Keep your personal information to yourself! Don t give out bank information, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc., to someone you don t know, on a telephone call. Use your common sense.

    3. If you don t have the offer in hand, or confirmed in writing, then don t pay. This is fraud. Who is this person on the phone anyway? Get their phone number, their address, their federal tax ID number, and then tell them you ll call back. If they re legitimate, they ll give it to you. If you question them, then I say trust your instincts. You re probably right on target.

    Who is this on the phone? Don t trust people you haven t had a chance to get to know. Don t let one enticing offer on a phone call, be your guide…

    3. 1-900 NUMBERS:

    A 1-900 number is, of course, a phone number that charges the caller per minute for making the call. Whether it s a 1-900 number, or a future manifestation of the same type of telephone service, be wary of doing business this way.

    1. The most common Credit Card SCAM, in all of its different forms, is called an ADVANCE FEE LOAD SCAM . Typically, you will find these in the classified section of your local newspapers and trade magazines, and unfortunately, you ll also see them floating around the internet.

    2. In a nutshell, the perpetrator will guarantee you a loan, but you have to pay them an upfront fee first. The fee can range from $100 to several hundred dollars. The charges can be extracted using telephone services like 1-900 numbers. Beware of courier services, and transactions that avoid the US Postal service, often conducted so as to avoid detection. The scam is that once the fake company has your money, they disappear from the planet, leaving you a victim of their con. You are out money, and no credit card.

    3. Now lets not confuse Advance Fee Load Scam artists with legitimate lenders and institutions. I can attest that there are real companies out there, trying to help you to get the credit, loans, and consumer debt services that you need. I believe in many of these services, and I believe in the convenience and power of the internet. However, use your common sense in all your business transactions in life, and that includes credit. Never give someone money without getting anything back in return. Never trust someone that you don t know. Never get enticed into a deal that s too good to be true.

    Use your common sense, and don t fall prey to the con artists slight of hand, such as the Advance Fee Load Scam…

    4. ANNUAL FEES, INTEREST RATES, ETC.:

    Credit Card Scams come in all different shapes and sizes. Many of them are, arguably, not scams at all, but let s just call them credit card offers involving consumer unfriendly terms.

    1. Read the fine-line. Every Credit Card Offer must provide the Consumer with written documentation on the terms of the offer.

    2. Check the Annual Fee, the Interest Rates, the Cash Advance Fees, the Late Fees, and all other terms of the offer.

      c) Make sure you know what you are getting. Some offers are for secured cards, some are for unsecured cards, and some offers are for shopping portals online and offline (Like a department store card). So, while none of these are scams, by definition, it is important that you fully understand the terms of the credit card offer that you are agreeing to.

    Be a responsible consumer, and read the terms and conditions of your credit card offer…

    5. THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION::

    The best place to go for direct consumer information, protection, and remedy, is the United States Federal Trade Commission…

  • The FTC website is: http://www.ftc.gov

  • The FTC can provide you with TONS of free information about Credit Cards, and other consumer related concerns. They can help you learn more about what to avoid, how to be a smarter consumer, and what to do if you believe that you are a victim of fraud, and what your remedies may be.

    The FTC is there to help…

    SUMMARY:

    Use the No-Call Registry to cut down telephone solicitations in your home and places of business. While many legitimate lenders utilize telemarketing, be careful. Don t give out personal information to people you don t know, don t pay up-front processing fees over the phone, and get everything in writing. Consider yourself an advised consumer on Advanced Fee Load Scams, and look out for the signs, when these scams regrettably make their way to you. Read the terms of the offers that you are considering, and utilize the FTC website for trusted information, resources, and all related materials on consumer credit card issues.

    We ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.

    Publisher s Directions: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author s information, disclaimer, and an active link (where possible) are included.

    Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.

    About The Author

    Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services. You can check out Tom’s website here: http://loan-resources.org, or you can email Tom at info@loan-resources.org.

    Copyright 2004, by Loan-Resources.Org

    You as a reader of Chicago real estate agents may have learned a lot from this report. It’s our contentment to deliver you with some vital article on real estate.

    We make our optimum efforts to keep you upgraded with the erudition on Chicago real estate agents and real estate. So, stay with us.

    Source:

    Check out the blog at Best Chicago Neighborhoods for great information regarding searching for a home in Chicago, Illinois.

  • April 19, 2007

    Controller - Real Estate Management Company

    Category: Ravenswood. Posted by bill at 10:01 pm.


    Position: Controller Industry: Real Estate Management Location: Chicago North side Description: A growing real estate management company is searching for a Controller. The Controller will have responsibility for day-to-day accounting and Location: Chicago, IL Source: Jobs.net
    Source: www.Jobs.net

    Chicago Real Estate Insider information and resources: Chicago Real Estate Report.

    April 17, 2007

    Recouping losses and Cutting Expenses

    Category: Ravenswood. Posted by bill at 11:51 am.

    This report would content your necessity to explore Chicago realty. You will come to find some intriguing trivialities on real estate here. All these facts might alter your introspective.

    Let’s discern if you comprehend the complete article it has certain significant details for you to excerpt. Here it aheads.

    Many businesses go under simply due to a combination of high overhead costs, taxes, poor investment strategies and failure to recoup losses.
    To ensure your business will survive into the next decade consider ways to reduce costs and losses while recovering revenue gains.

    Cutting Overhead Costs
    Among the seemingly necessary perks of networking is the traditional business dinner. These however can be quite expensive costing the host as much as $1500 depending on the restaurant and party dining. Here is where enormous costs can be cut. Consider reducing the frequency of dining by combining parties on one or two nights a year. To accomplish your purpose schedule a day for in-depth business discussions shortly thereafter. Select restaurants that offer quality cuisine and excellent service at less cost. Some restaurants offer a discount depending on the size of the party.

    Do you think this report is versatile enough to fulfill the demands of all people?

    It worked for those folks who were seeking info on Chicago realty. But few were unhappy.

    You can analyze the material in the best possible manner. To look if the piece of information holds some worth for you, you might scan it till the final word.

    Mailing and Shipping
    Apply the same principle when giving gifts. Wholesale bulk purchases can reduce costs considerably. Apply for membership at a wholesale warehouse. Buy items from suppliers offering free shipping. Reduce mailing and shipping costs by opting for a more economical postal/carrier. Ship by priority mail rather than overnight or non-priority where possible. Reduce package size and weight to lower costs.

    Very well. Do you think this material aided you in developing your intelligence of Chicago realty? I have full confidence that it did.

    We have more and more write-ups on real estate if you wish to scan. We would give you with resources at the conclusion of this stuff.

    Man Power
    Opt for less expensive man-power costs by reducing work time when using temporary employment services. Say good bye to costly business relationships. Often these relationships come about by referring a friend of a friend to a friend. These friend of friend business favors can leave you holding the more expensive bag. Is their presence, product or service crucial to your business? Will network relations remain intact without them? Can you reduce costs significantly once these friends of friends are eliminated? If the answer is yes don’t hesitate to end a costly relationship for a more affordable one. After all, once a business goes under so goes the friend. Your business is of greater priority. Hang on to it.

    The individuals are doubtful about the vantage of this artistically written report too.

    It just added to the list of folks who were researching Chicago realty. It was not giving output for few.

    You are the ideal critic for Chicago realty. One has to be pertinacious while reading because the hindmost word could make a difference.

    Recouping Investment Losses
    Often the key to recouping investment losses is to bail out before the ship goes down.
    If you see large sums of money going down the drain it’s time to find an alternative investment approach. You may want to divide your investment money between brokers and corporations and industries for a time to see which performs best.

    RefinanceLoanRates at http://www.RefinanceLoanrates.com reports high gains for the real estate financing industry, mortgage bond and other finance sectors compared to many equity market sectors. Real estate holders are using innovative ways to recover losses due to recent stock investment failures from shaky corporate share reports. One option is short-term financing programs that allow the consumer to pocket funds for immediate alternative investment purposes. Many applicants are repeat refinancing, having refinanced as early as a year ago. When choosing alternative investments make certain that the acquisition of gains will be at an acceleration equivalent or exceeding the deceleration of investment losses.

    If you have suffered investment losses and can prove this resulted from relying on a firm s advisory and management you may have a chance of recouping at least a portion of your losses. To accomplish this you may have to go through arbitration or other legal process.

    Another avenue to recouping losses often not considered is reducing trading transaction costs. Unlike trading returns which are uncertain, transaction costs are ‘certain’ costs. Certain costs can be controlled. Consider reducing transaction costs when and wherever possible. Set up and stick to a strict limit order and stop loss regime. Following these basic cost reduction and revenue recovery methods can help your business survive for generations to come.

    About the Author

    Mark Askew is founder editor and publisher for RefinanceLoanRates.com. A daily financial resource and commentary journal.

    I believe you had a bliss glancing this stuff. We have started with a venture to deliver you a superb stuff.

    Source:

    Technorati Tags: ,

    Next Page ยป