A recent report from CNN Money revealed that debt collectors have become more aggressive than ever over the past couple of years. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, the complaints of harassment by debt collectors surged 50 percent to 67,550 in 2009. Further, the FTC expects complaints to jump by additional 13 percent in 2010 based on the number of complaints filed in the first six months of the year.
Most people don’t like the idea of being in debt, let alone having someone constantly harass them for money they would pay if they could. If you are being harassed by bill collectors, there are steps you can take and rights you have to get them off your back. The following is a closer look at how to handle being harassed by hostile debt collectors.
Understand the Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection
When a debt collector calls to get money from you, they’re simply doing their job.
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Woot.com is having another of its Woot Offs right now. It started around midnight central time and will go until they run out of stuff. If you are unfamiliar with Woot.com, they are a site that offers items at a discount. Usually only one item is listed per day starting at 12am Central Time and is listed until it is sold out or 11:59PM Central Time.
A Woot Off, which happens rarely, is a number of products that are for sale on a particular day or successive days. One product follows another as soon as it has been sold out. The number of Woot-Off items, sequence, and quantity will not be announced so an item could take a while to sell out or sell out immediately. Don’t miss a chance to score some items at a steal if you have some money to blow! But remember, that I prefer you really think about saving it.
The silver lining in the cloud of the recession is that most Americans are recognizing the need for an emergency fund to cover at least three months of expenses. For many, opening a traditional savings account is the best way to begin building an emergency fund.
Financial experts suggest that consumers ease into a regular savings pattern by transferring money automatically from each paycheck into a savings account.
Choice Financial, a community bank in North Dakota, is offering several online FDIC-insured “RateBuilder” accounts, including a RateBuilder Savings Account that pays 2.06% APY for the first 30 days. Consumers must open the account with a minimum balance of $5,000. Aft
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These are the BOA CD rates as of August 16, 2010. They current have a high yield 12 month CD with an APY of 0.80% that is good for any deposit of $10,000 or more.
They also offer an Opt up CD with is allowed to have a onetime rate increase during the term of the investment. The term is 18 months long and the APY is 1.00%. This rate increase cannot happen in the first 6 months of the term. The minimum deposit for this CD is $10,000.
There are numerous standard CD’s being offered by Bank of America. These all have a minimum required deposit of $1000. The 120 month CD has an interest rate of 2.72% and an APY of 2.75%. The 60 month CD has an interest rate of 1.99% and an APY of 2.01%. The 48 month CD has an interest rate of 1.69% and an APY of 1.70%.
The 36 month CD has an interest rate of 1.34% and an APY of 1.35%. The 24 month CD has an interest rate of 1.10% and an APY of 1.11%. The 18 month CD has an interest rate of 0.85% and an APY of 0.85%. T
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Just one bank, Palos Bank and Trust Company, failed this week. The week was the second consecutive slow week for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
The FDIC and First Midwest Bank took over portions of Palos Bank. Palos customers can expect to continue their banking at First Midwest Bank on Saturday. Palos Bank and Trust Company was a five-branch institution based in Palos Heights, Ill. The bank had about $493.4 million in assets at the end of second quarter 2010. The government will take a $72 million hit as a result of the closure. 
The failure was the nation’s 110th this year and the 14th in Illinois. The state is second only to Florida (20) in bank failures this calendar year. J
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ING Direct is one again offering a $50 bonus when you open a new Electric Orange Checking Account.
To qualify for the bonus, all you need to do is open an account, activate your Electric Orange Debit MasterCard and use it to make at least 3 signature-based purchases within 45 days of account opening. Once this is completed, your $50 bonus will automatically be deposited into your account on day 50.
ING’s Electric Orange Checking Accountis exactly what is says, a checking account without paper, meaning you don’t get a checkbook. You can pay bills online and even have a paper check mailed, but it is all initiated from your online account. All statements are paper and you get a debit card that you can use at ATM’s or anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
You also can link your current bank accounts to your Electric Checking account that allows you to easily move money in and out of your account. The account also pays some interest on your balances. The i
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If you’re in the market for a new bank and could use a new gadget, a Premier Relationship with HSBC Bank could be an appealing option. The bank is offering with its high-level financial services package a choice of either a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 laptop computer or a Flip UltraHD camcorder. Qualifying for the offer is very simple: You just need to sign up for HSBC’s Premier service and maintain a minimum amount of money in combined personal deposits and investment balances.
- To redeem either 30,000 HSBC Points or the Dell Inspiron computer, you need to maintain a $100,000 balance
- To qualify for 20,000 HSBC Points or the Flip UltraHD camera, you need to have a $50,000 balance
The money used to meet the minimum balance requirement must either be in a new account opened before September 3 or, for existing members, must have been added to the account between July 9 and September 3.
Click here for more information.
About HSBC Premier
A HSBC Premier Relationship with HSBC Bank is a package of financial services provided by the bank. To
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