Canadian-Money-Advisor.ca BLOG
Identity Theft! Watch out!
Do take a few minutes to read this article as you may be one of the victims of identity theft. Identity theft is a condition where someone erroneously uses your personal information to get loan, steal money, transfer credit, open new accounts etc., in your name. You may not know about it until maybe you plan to get a loan or buy a new house. Or worse, when you are asked to pay back a loan that someone else has taken in your name. Though you cannot completely make sure that no one uses your personal information falsely, you could be a little more cautious by regularly going through your credit reports.
In case you have already been affected by identity theft then there are a few steps that you should follow as soon as possible. With evidence, report the matter firstly to the three major credit reporting agencies - Equifax, TransUnion and Experian, then, to the police and the Federal trade commission. Finally in case of fraud report it to the concerning credit card company. It is extremely mandatory for you to report the problem immediately after you notice it. Any delay might work against you.
In case of Social Security number (SSN) misuse, though the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not usually assist in identification of theft victims, do contact the SSA on time, to report Social Security benefit fraud, employment fraud, or welfare fraud.
Once you are done with reporting, keep track of your credit reports. Try to make it regular. Make use of the law which helps to obtain free credit reports at the end of every 12 months. In case of any suspicious dealings, immediately call or mail the concerned creditor or bank and let them know about it. If you are lucky enough you may be able to trace the thief or in the least, resolve your problem. Once your identity theft dispute with a company has been resolved, get the company’s closure, on the disputed accounts, in black and white. This will come in handy in case the problems relating to this account resurfaces.
As the good old saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. It is very important to make your Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information, more personal. Once the identity thief catches hold of any of these details then you are sure to confront a tough battle against all the mess that he would make. So the next time you dispose your bills which has personal or financial information or fill up your personal information in unknown websites, think twice. It might as well be someone who is trying to steal information about you and use it to drain your financial savings and destroy your reputation.
Be exceptionally watchful over the internet. This is the medium where you can easily spill over personal information. If you feel that a particular website is not authorized, then make sure you do not enter any personal information in it. And do not open spam messages. You can help others from falling victim to this kind of fraud by spreading awareness among your family and friends.
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Getting a Loan from Banks
Before you think of getting a loan from banks, make sure that you are well prepared. Do small researches on all the things that you need to know before you apply for a bank loan. Consider the kind of loan you will be requiring – long term or for a particular period, the total amount you will need, how you are planning to use the money and mainly how you will be paying it back in time. And most importantly, think of all the short comings that you may face during the loan period. For example, if you are planning to start a business, you need to have a clear plan of how you would execute it. Your plan will decide if you are worthy enough for the loan. The bank is flooded with thousands of proposals to get loans each day. Only if your plan is crisp and well sketched will the bank consider it. Once that is accepted and you are able to convince the bank with your business strategy then you have crossed half the well.
Though banks are more comfortable and opt for financing the up and running business which shows promise, it also risks in lending a loan to start a new venture. Basically, all they want to know is if they can rely on you. If they are sure of your trustworthiness, then you can be sure of getting the loan from them. Your credit history speaks a lot about you. If you have been paying your due in time, it will help the bank to know more about your sincerity.
Apart from your character, the bank also bets on things that you own. This is known as security or assets. Before the bank sanctions the loan, you are asked to submit details regarding the security you own. The security includes –
- Government bonds
- Shares, land, building that you own,
- Fixed deposits
- Machineries – both movable and immovable
- Vehicles
Showing proof of any of these above assets will ensure that you are granted a loan. Even if in some unfortunate circumstance you are unable to pay the loan, then the bank can cease your security. “Sureties” (any well known reliable account holder) can be your referral. A fine bond with the bank will make things smoother for you. Maintaining this connection during the loan period will help in easing out any misunderstandings that might occur later.
There are different types of loan offered by the bank. Few of them are – industry loan, vehicle loan, personal loan, commercial loan, housing loan, educational loan, etc. Though each bank differs in their own set of rules or terms in offering loans, a good credit report increases your chances. Opt for banks that offer flexible repayment terms. Look into all the terms and conditions of the bank before you apply for the loan.
The main advantage of acquiring loan from the bank when compared to other means is that it is easier to get. Though initially your credibility is under scrutiny, once they are sure of you, you won’t be having any problems.
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What are credit tips?
Purchasing an Toronto-area home may be a far different experience than it was just a couple years ago. If you purchased a home in Toronto - or virtually any other part of the country, for that matter - during the height of the housing and {{{credit}}} boom, you will likely have breezed right through the loan application process. As a result of government-encouraged incentives, {{{lenders}}} developed a myriad of loan programs to put homeowners into homes - some of which they simply could not have afforded otherwise. We are all more than aware of the result of these loan programs and the havoc it wreaked on our nation. As a result, banks have switched gears entirely; in fact, the good majority of individuals in the United States can no longer breeze through a loan application for a mortgage. Changes in the Lending Industry that may Affect you when Purchasing a Home:
Traditional loan programs rule. If you are looking for one of the trendy loan programs of years past, you may be out of luck. No-doc loans, subprime {{{loans}}} and interest-only loans are now, for the most part, a thing of the past, and have been replaced with more traditional loan programs. What does this mean for you? Traditional loans generally consist of 15 to 30-year loans with a hefty down payment (about 20 percent). These loans also require documentation regarding your debts, your income and your credit. ~ Competitive Loan Rates are now the Name of the Game. Those looking to purchase or refinance will likely experience excellent, competitive interest rates, provided they have the credit to back it up. Interest rates are now at near-historic lows, so this is certainly a prime opportunity for those with excellent credit.
Down payments are required - so start saving now! Many of the alternative loan programs required very little - if any - down payment monies, but that went away as quickly as the easy credit. Expect to have at least 20 percent down of the purchase price of a home, maybe more, depending on the lender's requirements. You can raise your FICO score by paying off credit card debt, by always making the payments on your monthly bills (in time and in full), and by keeping your debt-to-income ratio at a reasonable level. Don't forget that many things come into play regarding your FICO score. Even your utility bills can come back to haunt you if you've failed to pay them on time. Realtors represents buyers and sellers of real estate in Toronto, Ontario including homes for sale in Bowmanville. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_W_Fountain
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Credit repair in Canada is a recently new term term that has been around for the since the late 1990's.
Credit repair has to do with your Equifax credit report, and your TransUnion credit report. By law, everything on your credit report needs to be accurate, complete and verifiable. Many times what happens is that there are data entry errors, or reporting errors on an individuals credit report that are not reporting the true status of a person's credit history. Items that are reported on a credit report can be your personal contact information, credit information, public information inquiries and more.
You need to ensure that your credit information is perfectly correct, accurate and verifiable. The ensures that you have complete control over what is being reported about you to current and future creditors.
Items that could be wrong on your credit report � Identity Theft items could occur on the credit report. � Name Misspelled � Employers misspelled � Address information recorded incorrectly � Credit card or bank loan Information reported incorrectly & Duplicate items listed & Payment history errors & Collection agency Items reported illegally or incorrectly & Delinquent accounts reported incorrectly. & Unverified credit inquiries & Unverified credit or collection items There are approximately 45 different types of information on a credit report. And because of the methods they are entered in to you credit report, there could be errors. If you suspect that there are errors, inaccuracies or unverifiable items on your credit report, then you need to start the credit repair process.
The credit repair process is as follows: Identify the credit report line item that needs to be fixed. Write a letter to the company that originated the information. This could be the collection agency, creditor, court, etc. As them to fix the error and re report the item to the credit bureau. Write a letter to the credit reporting agency asking them to investigate the item and then fix it as necessary. Wait for the responses and then repeat the process if necessary.
If required you can complain to your provincial Consumer Protection Agency to have them enforce your credit dispute if you're not getting the appropriate action from the credit bureau and the originator of the credit listing.
The main point of the credit repair process is to ensure that your current, and future creditors are getting 100% accurate information about you and your credit history. It is very important to make sure that they make accurate credit decisions for you.
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UPDATE: VAN IS SOLD
FOR SALE: 1998 Plymouth Voyager Mini Van:
White - PICSWhat a shameless way to sell our mini van... I thought I would post it on the blog. :)
AS OF: May 3, 2009
1998 Plymouth Voyager Mini Van FOR SALE
ASKING PRICE: $2,500
Front Passenger Side View
Rear Driver Side View
Rear Passenger Side View
This van is really good condition. We've owned the van since 2001.
Details:
New tires - 1 year old
Air conditioning
Power locks
power windows
power rear (fin) windows
3.3L - 6 cylinder engine
150,000 KMs ( low kilometers)
Located in REGINA, SK
REASON FOR SELLING: We purchased a new car and no longer need this vehicle.
MORE INFORMATION:
The thing I like about the Plymouth Voyager, is that it's a common vehicle. There aren't a shortage of parts available. This is a well built vehicle by Chrysler. It's made for the family. It has extra outlets from which we plugged in a TV , cooler etc on our trips out west to Calgary, AB.
This has served us well as a family vehicle for the last several years.
For Sale
1998 Plymouth Voyager Mini Van for Sale
Low Kilometers, - 150,000KM
Family Vehicle
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Retail Theft Could Get you Sued. - Zellers
Stealing $20 head phones is expensive!!
I got this letter from a close friend whose child stole a pair of $20 head phones from Zellers back in March.
The child is 15, and the parent is stuck with a $475 (could be as much as $900) bill from a law firm!
I thought it would be interesting to post the letter up for everybody to see. Zeller is taking a pretty aggressive stance on theft.
I'd be curious to know other's opinions... Should the parent have to pay $475 to a law firm for a $20 pair of head phones?
In this case, the parent IS making the child pay for the legal fees. This is to help the child understand that stealing is costly and that it's not really the "thrill" that he thought it was supposed to be.
PATRICK K. MARTIN, B.A.,LL.B.,B.C.L.
BARRISTER AND SOLICITER
1370 DON MILLS ROAD, SUITE 300
TORONTO, ONTARIO, M3B 3N7
TEL (416) 847-3359 FAX (416) 847-3358
WITHOUT PREDJUDICE
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Mr. Parent
Re: Zellers Inc. and Parent of Child
Recovery of Civil Damages/Our Case Number ZZZZ ? XXXXXX
I am external legal counsel for Zellers Inc. (the ?Retailer?) with respect to civil recovery matters. It is alleged that on March XX, 2007, a young person under your care and custody, (namely The Child) took unlawful possession of merchandise from the Retailer?s premises located at Zellers Inc, 489 Albert Street N. , Regina, SK. The retailer takes the position that it has right to claim damages from the said your person and/or you as a result of such action based on theft, damages and conversion. The Retailer?s right of civil recovery and payments made to the Retailer are separate and distinct from any criminal proceedings which may be instituted by the police.
The retailer also takes the position that it has the right to claim damages from you as a parent or guardian of the young person for failing to provide reasonable supervision of the young person. You have a right to be represented by a lawyer with respect to this claim.
The Retailer is prepared to settle its claim for damages in return for a payment of $475.00 (the ?Settlement Amount?), received on or before June XX, 2007. If this amount is not paid, I may receive specific instruction, whether or not to arrange for a law firm in your jurisdiction to commence legal proceedings before a civil court for all damages, plus interest, legal expenses, and other administrative costs incurred by the Retailer in connection with this matter. These latter amounts may increase if payment is not made by the noted date. This settlement amount is based on the costs associated with the detection, apprehension, recovery of goods and damages associated with shoplifting, hereafter referred to as Recovery Costs. Retailers have calculated the average Recovery Costs to be approximately $900.00. The settlement amount is significantly lower than the Recovery Costs, however, should the retailer be compelled to prove costs in Court, they would rely on the higher or actual amount of Recovery Costs in any civil claim field.
Should you choose to settle the Retailer?s payment of the Settlement Amount, payment should be made by cheque or money order, made payable to ?CIVIL RECOVERY? on behalf of the Retailer, with your name and the above case number noted thereon. The payment should be sent in the enclosed postage paid envelope or to the following address: P.O. Box 193, Streetsville, Ontario L5M 2B8.
I have been advised that Canadian retailers estimate shoplifting amounts to an annual expense exceeding $4.0 billion. Experience indicates that pursuing shoplifters for such losses reduces the number of shoplifting incidents, resulting in savings which can then be passed on to the consumers. The Hudson?s Bay v. White supports the position that shoplifters, in certain cases, are liable for punitive damages.
Any questions in regard to this matter are to be made in writing, and addressed to the undersigned.
Yours truly,
Patrick Martin , B.A.,LL.B.,B.C.L.
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In lieu of writing a post about personal finance for Canadians, I thought I would post some of the letters I receive from our readers.
I do appreciate people writing in and asking questions. I need to redirect people to our discussion forums. I have set up the discussion forums for people to post their questions, and do so anonymously.
Where as I would love to answer everybody's emails, I need to pay the bills. It's not profitable for me to answer people's questions at no charge. If I get the time, I'll answer questions in the forums.
NOTE: I've changed the names and account numbers to ensure that everybody's information is private and confidential.
Again, if you have questions about your credit, or are having problems with collection agencies etc, please post your questions in the discussion forums.
Hi, I am trying to find out if there is any way I can stop Natale Law Offices from calling my number. The person they are looking for does not live here yet they contiue to call. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
_____________________________________________________
I have been contacted by Natale Law Offices regarding an outstanding debt for Eatons from 7 years ago. Upon doing a search I was lead to your website. Just trying to catch up here. Are they a legitimate company? Should I be paying them any money? How do I find out?
____________________________________________________
i would like to know how can i fixed my credit?
i'm really frustrated with my credit and don't know where to start.
____________________________________________________
I am having a 'terrible' time with my I.D. I was baptized in the 'United Church' in Prospect, Ontario, under the name of X L Y (name changed), which I used for my student life until I had to go to Teacher's College; then I needed a birth certificate (I suppose it was a method of uploading onto computers-launched in '66-I took a course in '67) I got my birth certificate 'laminated'-the 'ministry' responsible said that since I obtained it as 'laminated' it is not necessary to 'obtain' a new one that is 'not', as they are currently required (my son's is 'not' laminated)
I entered university as R M P (Named Changed). I received my 'degree', I suppose once they 'uploaded' it (she said that they would send it when they did and did) By that time I was 'resitered' at Teacher's College (having obtained my birth certificate) under R M P (by the time I received my birth certificate-which was required to go. (They accepted that they would register me anyway as long as I was obtaining it. I did not obtain the 'certificate' right away and (I was able to 'receive' it at any time because I was 'automatically qualified) received it under C W T (Name Changed). Now the letter I received from the college (I had asked that they verify that I did not have to write any exams because I had to go to work 'immediately' having not been accepted from college-it was a work-to-rule strike that year (as I suppose it is now called) and I had offered, very comically really, I suppose - I do know now what they were trying to do at the age of 'almost' 60-to do stuff during my lunch hour. Words were passed one to the other 'interviewer'.
Anyway, to be frank with you, I started paying back my loan at $35/week, more than required at the time (I like dealing in round figures) and paid the 'account' off early. When you wree unloading in '78, you may have 'brought' me forward from your 'archives', definitely by mistake.
I am 'rendering' my accounts and debts to 'clear' for my will, and do not owe you anything. I do know that your 'situation' with regard to payments in this area had been a problem, even at the 'onset'. That is not and was not my problem. I paid you 'early', in fact.
Please 'archive' and forward to me the fact that I do not owe you anything.
My husband was R S O (Name Changed) and I do know that you did not like the way he was operating his account and that you in fact closed it, perhaps the definition was 'kiting'.
And I am running out of breath.
Please forward the 'paid in full' advise, whichever way you want to and to:
_______________________________________________________
We received a letter that we owe $26.99 for CBCL File # 12-318999xxx5 (Account Changed) on May 5/07. We do not owe this, as I've sold Avon for 14 years and always bought my stockings from Avon. Before that time I bought from Enchantress. Could you please explain.
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I'm inquiring about something on my credit report account # ACC - 12-22999xxx5 (Account Changed). I have no idea what this could be and I would like to resolve the issue asap.
_______________________________________________________
Its been 2 days I start getting calls from CBCL and they indicated that I have to pay an amount of $152.10 to my previous landlord. I called the supertendant and he indicated that this was false claim and I have abided by the lease agreement and he will talk to the landlord on my behalf.
CBCL wants a confirmation from the landlord. Which I am waiting to receive from the landlord. My question is will my credit Report get affected with this false claim put by CBCL? All I am worried about is my credit rating which is excellent.
________________________________________________________
I was in Carol Skelton's office in Saskatoon talking to her secretary.
We were discussing a matter concerning NCO Financial Services. She asked me, "Do you know what regulations those collection agencies are operating under? Have you seen guidelines?"
Where could I find a copy of these guidelines? Thank-you.
________________________________________________________
Hi, quick question. Is there a statute of limitations on outstanding judgments with CMHC? The judgment date was November 21, 1996. They started keeping my tax refunds in 2006. Thanks very much.
________________________________________________________
Ever since I obtained a cell phone a month-and-a-half ago, I have been getting recorded messages from CBCL and I am getting royally pissed off!!! Desist from this annoying, crappy behaviour NOW!!!
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New site design coming up soon.
I've been a little light in posting the last few days. I've been working on a new site design that I'm sure people will enjoy.
The devil is in the detail with the new design.
So.. it might be quiet here for the next few days while I work on the details.
Thanks.
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Hilarious... This is a prank phone call with a telephone solicitor.. Is this something people should do with collection agents?
I got a belly laugh out of this.
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I'm going to do a video on the above illustration of how many records a Canadian credit bureau might report on. I started to write out the numbers on paper but then decided that I should make an illustration of them. They're pretty staggering.
The pieces of credit information included on a credit report could include the following:
- Contact information: your addresses of where you lived for the last 20 or so years.
- Employment Information: where you worked for the last 20 or so years.
- Credit inquiries
- Credit cards
- Car loans
- Payday loans
- Mortgage info
- Collection agency activity
- Bankruptcy listing
- Court Liens and judgements
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Monty Loree talks about the DIY Credit Repair ebook for Canadians.
The video has been in development for quite a while. I'm glad to finally get something on the site here for our visitors to view and take their time with.
You can read more about (and order) my ebook on www.express-credit-repair.com
I would appreciate any comments and feed backs on the video. I want to make it as informative as possible. THANKS!
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Monty Loree talks about Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs.
Woohoo! This is my first ever video blog.
My goodness... that isn't the most flattering intro picture ever!!
I thought I would take a few minutes to do a quick video.
I'm hosting this video on Youtube as it seems to be a pretty convenient way to host videos and display them.
I've figured out how to capture the video, edit it using Adobe Premier Pro 1.5 and then get it to the size that YouTube will accept. I will have to do this more often.
Honestly, it took me about 1 hour to produce this 1.5 minute video, however it's really nice to see people in person!!
Let me know what you think.
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Some people don't care about personal finance.
I went into my UltraCuts on Albert St & 4th Ave in Regina, SK to get a haircut.. Beside the Ultracuts is a MoneyMart store.
I saw some people coming out of MoneyMart, and they went to their car. Their car was an older rusted out car. the people themselves didn't appear to be the type that really cared about personal finance and taking care of their money.
With personal finance blogs, we're always talking about better ways to handle money, better ways to invest, and share good ideas that concerned people would appreciate and enjoy.
This post is for those people who don't care about money. They don't care about personal finances... They just earn a living, spend their money and that's it!
There is a portion of the population who are like this. Where as some people don't care about sports, others don't care about money. They're not dishonest or lazy necessarily. Their interest just doesn't lie in financial affairs.
If you're a person who could care less about money and finances, this post is dedicated you! Cheers.
I don't have much more to write on this topic... :)
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3rd Ever! Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs! - May 22nd, 2007
I'm excited to announce (although it's no secret) the next Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs. It's going to be hosted by Canadian Capitalist who is a well know personal finance blogger in Canada. Canadian Capitalist has been quoted by such people as Ellen Roseman of the Toronto Star news paper.
To learn more about the Tour here, how to register etc, visit the Tour Info page.
Thanks again to The Money Diva did a super job in hosting the last Tour. She did a great job organizing the blogs into different categories.
REGISTER TODAY
If you want to get involved and have Canadian Capitalist review your post, please do take a moment to register
All of the tour participants are listed on the tour participants page.
So far, the Tour has done a great job in developing greater community with Canadian Personal Finance bloggers. I know that I have met several new participants because of the tour. It's nice because I've gotten some great information off of these tour blogs.
I am really looking forward to the May 22, 2007 Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs and I know that Canadian Capitalist is going to be a great host.
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Confessions of a HardCore work-a-holic
 Workaholism and the internet seem to go hand in hand. Especially for those who love building websites and helping people learn about money.
( 1I am the example in this post)
( 2That ISN'T a picture of me)
I thought I would take a moment to talk about a reason why being a hard core workaholic is not all that it's supposed to be.
Many years ago, as I developed into a workaholic, I worked 7 days a week with the idea that, the more I work, the more I would get done. Being self employed, there is never a shortage of things to do. And, as soon as you complete one project, you're on to the next project.
Over the years, I have had as many as 15 employees working for me. I thought that with that many employees, they would do the work that I used to do. That was the case, however, I inherited the job of managing the employees, which became... alot of work!
As I am currently redesigning this site, I've been kind of over doing it at the office. Working on templates, graphics, site designs, database designs. (I should write about the site building aspects of this site.)
Over doing it means that I have been working excessively based on the logic of getting more done.
What's been happening lately though is that I am getting burnt out and I am actually getting less work done. I have to rest more often. It's pretty counter-productive relative to trying to get alot of things done.
 STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES
Today I decided to just take the day off. Taking the day off for me means, working 2 hours and then coming home. I went out and did some yard work, and now I'm writing this article. I'm writing this article in a relaxed format, so it's kind of like taking the day off! :)
The point I'm trying to make is this... I am learning that after 20 years of hard core workaholism, it's becoming more and more important to stop, take a break, and appreciate things more.
I used to believe that by working 7 days a week that I would make more and more money. This was the case for me a few years ago, however, the body can only sustain so many years of wear and tear and abuse.
Working a proper amount of time is good for a person. Over working the mind and body is not a profitable habit in the long term. I've found that rest is a good thing, and that I need to do alot more of it.
EVERY THING IN MODERATION
Being that I love what I do, workaholism is very easy to get into. I love working on the internet. I love talking about money and finances. I NEED to do it in greater deal of moderation.
There are just some things that take a life time to learn. This will probably be one of those life long lessons for me. I hope that other people can learn a lesson from my experience.
It's good to work hard. It's good to be innovative. It's good to put in stretches of time to get project off the ground.
It's bad to continuously work 7 days a week, even after you're suffering from burnout etc. (I'm very guilty of this) This is not good for business, and it's not good for developing your personal finances in the long run.
The Work-a-Holic Takes a Rest
Now I can rest another hour before getting on to the next thing!! :) I love taking the day off, and plan to do more of it, especially with these beautiful spring days that we're experiencing.
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Hershey Plant Closing in Dartmouth, N.S.
This is a tragic story when we talk about personal finance. 580 workers being laid off is horrible for the local economy. These are hard working people from Nova Scotia who have spent a good part of their lives helping out The Hershey Company.
Now for reasons that are global in nature, they're losing their jobs.
This immediately makes me think of what's going to happen to the personal finances of these families.
With regards to the discussions on CMA... some of these families are going to run into hard times with their credit and loans.
MY POINT:
We've had many critics complain that this site helps people with bad credit. People with bad credit are often described as low life, irresponsible people.
I would dare anyone to say that to these families faces. These are hard working people who are losing their jobs to a cheaper work force, AND a cheaper dollar. It's all about global competition. To say that these people are irresponsible for not paying their bills would be completely insame!
I hope that the creditors, credit bureaus, mortgage companies, car loan companies that have supplied credit to these Nova Scotians have special sympathy and patience for their situation.
IE... I hope Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada don't start giving these R9's on their credit reports. That would be misreporting credit in my opinion.
Last Canadian plant darkening
May 10, 2007 04:30 AM
Michael Tutton
CANADIAN PRESS
HALIFAX?Hershey is closing its last Canadian candy factory, in Dartmouth, NS, laying off 580 workers and moving part of the production to the United States and Mexico.
Hershey spokesperson Kirk Saville confirmed yesterday that the Moirs factory, which makes Pot of Gold chocolates, will close by December and that the company is negotiating severance packages.
He said the U.S.-based firm is closing the operation because it's operating at a third of capacity, and the firm has to reduce costs to "ensure the long-term competitiveness of the company."
"Our manufacturing network operates at less than half of capacity, and we must make significant changes across the network in both the United States and Canada to ensure that Hershey remains competitive," he said in an interview.
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Secrets to Canadian "Spy Quarters" takeover of USA revealed
The U.S. government can now rest well as I explain what the Canadian government is going to do with our highly covert spy Poppy Quarters!
These quarters make it certain that the Canadian military is soundly taking over the U.S. Country. Canadian technology is so sophisticated that we're able to plant high grade, tracking , camera and other recording devices in these Canadian Poppy Quarters!
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S PLAN REVEALED
The plan is pretty aggressive.. We simply plan to take over the whole United States of America! George Bush, please don't read this!
How it works is as follows:
We create millions of these high quality spy quarters, and then distribute them through the change at such secret places as Tim Horton's, Robins Donuts, Royal Bank of Canada, and more.
Millions of unsuspecting, coffee drinking, Canadians will then take these spy quarters home with them. It's important to note that these quarters are so sopisticated, they won't spy on Canadians. The spy equipment only kicks in when it gets onto American soil!
When Canadian tourists go to see their loved ones living in the U.S. or business people go to conferences in the U.S. they take a handful of these quarters with them. Being proud Canadians, they love to show off their Canadian quarters!
These Canadian infiltrators secretly stash these Spy Quarters in strategic places such as hotel rooms, coffee shops, Walmart, and the conference rooms themselves.
These Canadian quarters immediately start to record unsuspecting Americans are saying and doing. All of this information is transmitted back via satellite to Canadian intelligence centers in the far north of Canada. We store all our high secret, secure data in the northern most point of Nunavut. Our secret security zone is buried 5 miles under a secret glacier!
POPPY SPY QUARTERS COLLECTING INFORMATION SINCE 2004
The reason I know that this Canadian defense strategy has by passed the biggest brains in the U.S. military and the U.S. White House, is that we've already had these spy quarters in circulation for 3 years since 2004. That's 36 months of intense spying and data collection.
Canada's now got enough information from the coffee houses, conference rooms, hotels, and Walmarts of America to completely take over the U.S!
I am so proud of the Canadian government and the Canadian Military for thinking of this ingenious strategy to spy on the incredibly paranoid American people.
FOOT NOTE:
This is a tongue in cheek post based on this article from foxnews.com where The odd-looking ? but harmless ? "poppy coin" was so unfamiliar to suspicious U.S. Army contractors traveling in Canada that they filed confidential espionage accounts about them. The worried contractors described the coins as "anomalous" and "filled with something man-made that looked like nano-technology," according to once-classified U.S. government reports and e-mails obtained by the AP.
Other bloggers blogging about This Poppy Quarter of Mass Destruction:
Isn't this taking paranoia a bit too far?
'Poppy quarter' behind spy coin alert
If you live by teh spy, you die by teh spy?
The poppy quarter -- a story of terror.
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Financial Maturity, It's good for your money situation.
Prior to doing Canadian-Money-Advisor.ca full time I wrote a blog full time about Money Maturity I loved writing about financial maturity topics so I thought I would write one here.
As I read different blog posts on reducing debt, budgeting, stock investing, I always think to myself that there needs to be a post about what happens to people's finances as they get older and start to get wiser from experience. As many bloggers in write about personal finance are younger than 40, they really haven't experienced a "generation" of using money. By generation I mean 20+ years.
I would really love to read a blog post written by a 70 year old, or 80 year old on the subject of finances and money. At that age, these people would have seen it all, done it all. I imagine that their appetite for spending money wouldn't be that great.
I'm going to try to write this post through the eyes of an 80 year old, (even though I'm half that age). I'll try to do my best.
MONEY THROUGH THE EYES OF AN 80 YEAR OLD
I don't mind not having all of the flashy toys any more. I hear about cell phones, big screen TVs, big houses, fancy cars. I don't find those appealing any more.
These days, I am content with the very basics of life. I enjoy a good meal, visiting with my friends and family, going to the odd movie, and that's about it. I don't really have money problems, as I don't spend alot of money.
I've saved quite a bit of money over the years. As such, my life style is not really cramped. I can easily afford all of the things that I want.
My house is long since paid off, I drive a late model car that runs well and is paid for. All of the furniture I own, I acquired 40 years ago. I could have upgraded it, but I don't really see the point any more.
My basic expenses are my utilities, property taxes and that's about it. My old age pension cheque pretty much covers all of that.
I enjoy going out for coffee with my friends. It costs me $6.50 every Tuesday for a soup and sandwich, and $15.00 if I'm buying lunch for my friend.
It doesn't really cost me alot to enjoy life.
THE EARLY DAYS
When I was young, I was pretty impulsive, which is to be expected. I had a good job, made good money and spent every last penny of it. I bought the new car, the house, a Black and White TV which was a new thing at the time.
Every cheque that I got was spent quicker than electricity through a power pole. It was fun for many years, but as I got older, I realized I wasn't getting ahead at all.
When I was 45 years old I had 10 years left on my mortgage, and I had a few loans outstanding. Credit cards weren't really popular back then, but I did have a few chattel loans.
At that point I was kind of tired of living the high life and paying big interest on everything I bought. All my money was used to pay down debt and cover the expenses of everything I purchased.
Along with being tired of being in debt, I was maturing as a person. I realized down deep that all of these material things weren't making me happy "as advertised". I was enjoying time with my family and friends more and more. And the best part was, time spent with loved ones costs very little money.
I decided that I had another 20 years in the work force and that I better start getting some savings in the bank etc.
This was the start to what I call my Financial Maturity. Being content with the "small things" of life, and realizing that money spent on big fancy things wasn't really making me happy.
That turning point was over 30 years ago. Since then, I've been very patient with my money. Generally I take along time to make a decision ona large purchase.
PATIENT MONEY IS THE BEST
I've realized that patient money is the best kind of money. Instead of having money burn a hole in my pocket, I am very happy to wait and think about where I invest, or what I buy. Quite frankly, the longer I take to prepare for the purchase, the better I like it.
After 80 years on this earth, I've learned that being patient is the best way to go.
The best advice I would give to young people.
- "Take your time spending your money."
- "Be patient with it.
- Learn to be content with smaller, less expensive items.
- Don't always buy the most expensive items that are advertised.
- Plan for the future, because the future is guaranteed to come.
The above text was written from the lense of an 80 year old.
_______________________________________________________
I would love to see a blog post written similarly to the one above. I'm not sure exactly how an 80 year old views money, but I hope that I have captured it somewhat accurately.
Financial maturity takes time. You've got to make your mistakes and learn from them. Hopefully someday when you're 80, you'll write a blog post about your financial experiences!
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I dropped by and noticed that they had a big collection of other Canadian Blogs. I'm always interested to meet with other Canadian Active bloggers!
If you have a Canadian personal finance blog and would like to exchange blog roll links , let me know!
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2nd Ever! Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs is Tomorrow!
 I want to thank for The Money Diva for hosting this event.
CMA has the tour participants listed here: Tour Participants
I should note that I've entered my life insurance blog into this Tour instead of this Canadian Money Advisor blog.
You can read my life insurance post titled: Life Insurance is the Defensive Strategy with Personal Finance
INVITATION TO CANADIAN PERSONAL FINANCE BLOGGERS
If you write a blog that talks about personal finance on a regular basis, or from time to time you want to share your point of view on your blog about about a personal finance topic, we invite you to register for the upcoming Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs.
The purpose of the Tour is to show case our Canadian bloggers who like to write about all aspects of personal finance. It's a purely Canadian event.
If you participate in the Tour you'll get one of these banners which helps promote the Tour and let's people know that you've participated in the Canadian Tour of Personal Finance blogs.
Again, I encourage all of our readers and Tour participants to visit all of of the Tour participants blogs and stop and say hello. There is quite a lot of work that goes into the research and writing of these blog posts. It would be nice if we all stopped by and spent some time with each of these Canadian personal finance bloggers.
NEXT TOUR EVENT: May 22, 2007
PS: The next tour will be held on May 22st, 2007 and CanadianCapitalist has agreed to host!! Everybody knows Canadian Capitalist!!
If you would like to host one of these Tour events, please let me know!
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I'm working on a new section which is titled "Canadian Money Advisor - Deals and Savings" I'll be offering some new products and services from around Canada that people will be able to purchase on line. Also I will be adding a "Making Money on the Internet" section as well.
I believe that this site has alot to offer it's readers and am interested to add even more valuable services as time goes on. The good thing about Canadian Money Advisor is that it's dedicated to Canadians, and with that we want to bring our visitors as much Canadian information, products, services as we can.
CMA French Version
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There is a good discussion today regarding debt settlement for Canadians in the debt settlement discussion area.
Greg Roberts from CCDR.ca (Canadian Customer Debt Relief ) dropped by to answer some questions and get involved.
Debt settlement is when you settle your debts at a percentage of the original principal and interest owed.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE GET INTO A BAD FINANCIAL SITUATION?
Being in a bad financial situation is usually very hard emotionally and physically on yourself and your family. You know that you need to pay your bills but don't have the cash to do so. Making more cash to pay your bills would cause even more stress on your already stressful situation.
If you're in a bad financial state, you're probably losing sleep, not eating well, feeling constantly exhausted etc. The pressures start to wear on your body and mind.
It's really easy to want out of this horrible situation, especially if you've been experiencing it for months or even years.
It's important to keep in mind that debt settlement is a bankruptcy alternative. Bankruptcy is stressful enough to go through by itself.
Debt settlement in Canada can help you stop the creditors from calling and also lower your payments. A company that offers debt settlement can also help you pay off your debts in a structured manner and take years less than a normal payment plan.
Before I talk about the next point, it's important to point out that Canadians can do their own debt settlement. They don't need to hire a company to do this. You have to consider the fact that if you're already tired and stressed out , you may not want to get into a big learning curve to save a few bucks.
Things to think about when thinking about using a debt settlement service.
- A debt settlement plan with your creditors is not guaranteed. The creditor may or may not accept your proposal. They may also decide to sue you for the principal if you default on it.
- Debt settlement is very harsh on your credit report. The items that you settle will be given a R9 (bad debt, written off) status by Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.
- You should get some references from your proposed debt settlement company. Get some proof that they've settled debts of the same nature as yours.
The benefit of debt settlement is that you won't have to declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a stigma that you'll have to tell future creditors about, and possibly future employers, landlords, life insurance companies etc. When you declare bankruptcy, you're put on public record as a Bankrupt & Insolvent person. This is a permanent record.
You can't be delisted from the public bankruptcy list, once you've declared for bankruptcy protection.
SEE Also: Debt Settlement discussion area
Business Debt Management - Business Debt Management Restores Focus
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Review of http://www.mortgageloanplace.com/lending-guide
Website title: Mortgage loan place lending guide. Mortgage and Refinancing FAQ?s - Your Questions Answered
This site is all about information for mortgage loans, Second Mortgages, Reverse Mortgages, Refinancing, VA Loans, FHA Loans.
The FAQ page located on the Mortgage Loan Place site contains several links to onsite articles which help people better understand mortgages. These articles will answer many of your questions. And, of course, there is a handy contact page that you can use to ask them any additional questions.
The main page of the site lists where you can get quotes and information for FHA Loans (Federal Housing Administration)
I should note that this site is U.S. based,so that the information is more specific to the American market place and not Canada.
To conclude this review I thought I would list some of the article titles that are listed on the http://www.mortgageloanplace.com/lending-guide page:
- Nevada Foreclosure Rate 3.5 Times National Average
- AmeriDream Charity Program
- ?Loss Mitigation? and FHA Mortgages
- Expanding Homeownership Act of 2007
- Stop Foreclosure
- FHA Connection, Lenders? Window to the HUD
- Foreclosure Prevention Key is in the FHA
- Creative Mortgages Leading to Foreclosures in Virginia
- Using an FHA Loan for Home Repairs
- FHA Loan Mortgage Rate
- Expanding the American Homeownership Act
- A Bit on Refinancing FHA Loans
- The FHA Program Revisited
- More FHA News - Legislation Back at the Forefront
- March Madness - Subprimes Benched in Favor of FHA Loans
- FHA Loan Calculator and FHA Loan News
By this extensive list of articles, it's easy to see that www.mortgageloanplace.com is an important resource for FHA Loans.
The preceding was a paid site review
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Review of http://www.realitywired.com website:
Website title: Make money online and escape the cube.
I looked at http://www.realitywired.com and wondered what the site was supposed to be about. It states that it's a blog about making money online. This blog has been in operation since November 2006.
There are some examples of how this blogger made some extra money which helped pay for his new truck. That's nice to see!
It also shows where this blogger made some money from Yahoo!. He's showing a cheque for $107.60 that he made from Yahoo!
I'm not getting a sense that I really learned much about making money online in technical details. I would like to see some more details about making money online and how I can do that as a fellow blogger. In my opinion, examples of making money online and specfics of how to do it would help this blog live up to its title.
It is good however to show people that you actually have made money with your blog. This shows people that you are active in internet marketing and that you shown some competency in this regard.
My recommendation to get repeat visitors who are looking for concrete facts about how to make money online is to write some technical details of how you've actually made your money.
Other than that, this blog is nicely laid out, easy to read etc.
The preceding was a paid for review:
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Review of http://www.fool.co.uk Website:
Website Title: Fool.co.uk: Seriously good with money!
Their motto is: "If you're looking for a credit card, your first stop is the Fool's Credit Card Comparison Centre. They've got all the information you need to compare credit cards and find top deals on the best credit cards!
This site is professionaly laid out and easy to follow. As I looked at the front page, I noticed that this site is affiliated with The Motley Fool Company. Motley Fool is quite well known in the financial industry.
One of the items that fool.co.uk is promoting on their site is a line of Credit Cards . The tile on their front page is promoting 0% APR credit cards.
When I clicked on the credit card page, I noticed they were displaying credit cards from the following issuers: - BarclayCard
- Halifax
- Virgin Money
- Egg
- MBNA
- Tesco
- HSBC
- RBS - Royal Bank of Scotland
- BMIBaby.com
- Buy and Fly
- Natwest
- Citi
So as you can see with that very long list of 0% Introductory APR credit cards, fool.co.uk offers quite a wide variety of good quality credit cards.
Benefits of 0% Introductory APR credit cards:
It's important to save money any time you can. With a 0% introductory APR card you'll pay zero interest for the first few months of credit card usage. It's important to note that the introductory period will vary amongst credit card companies.
For a one stop shop for 0% introductory APR credit cards, fool.co.uk is the website you want to visit. They have the selection you'll want!
The preceding was a paid review.
Get your site reviewed by Monty Loree!
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The following is a paid review of: http://www.balancetransfer.cc. website.
This site is Titled:
The 0% APR Credit Card Balance Transfer Website Compare Competing 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Offers
If you're looking for 0% Credit Cards this is where to look. This site has a list of the most popular 0% Introductory APR Credit Cards that are available on the internet.
This site lists 4 credit cards from each of the following big name credit card suppliers.
- Discover Credit Cards
- CitiBank Credit Cards
- Chase Credit Cards
- American Express Credit Cards
The 0% APR Credit Card
0% Introductory APR explained:
These credit cards are all about saving money. Any time you can get a credit card that charges no interest, even it's if for 6 months you're going to save money.
The credit cards list on this site all offer 0% for an introductory period. This period will vary from credit card to credit card. The main benefit is that you pay NO INTEREST for the full of that introductory period. It's always nice to get things for free in this day and age!
I recommend that you drop by http://www.balancetransfer.cc if you're looking for a good selection of 0% Introductory Credit Cards
Get your site reviewed by Monty Loree!
Get Reviewed At ReviewMe!
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2012-11-13 23:08:19
Cbv Collection Services Problems
same deal,,these criminals sent a bill saying i owe 18,000$..hilarious,,they call me 5x per day..i am taking rogers to court..small claimes..why not y
Comment By:karen cliff
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2012-11-13 13:18:44
Retail Theft Could Get You Sued
I keep receiving emails and phone calls from people who think they can simply ignore the letters from these Civil Recovery lawyers.
Don't.
They
Comment By:Gerry Laarakker
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2012-10-18 08:23:07
Retail Theft Could Get You Sued
Bank statements can be demanded or balloon a day even fail to repay the debts incurred from the varied lenders. The offered amount in such cash untill
Comment By:Spadiatrere
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2012-10-09 12:42:44
Credit Repair Canada 3 Things You Should Know
to , take up a new job. Also, reflect on investing in generating a payday advance loan while using classmates and more, typically the segments. The in
Comment By:WarbabsjamY
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2012-09-30 20:03:01
Cbv Collection Services Problems
I had a telus pay as you go phone from 2003 2008 and now cbv collectons is claiming that i owe over 1500 dollars, the last time they called i called
Comment By:marcus
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2012-09-25 10:19:31
Cbv Collection Services Problems
Had a bogus 'roaming charge' bill from Telus a few years back. Got mad at them and switched providers. It went to CBV. Yes, they are persistent and
Comment By:Scammed
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2012-09-23 07:37:50
First Canadian Finance Scam Site
While these aforementioned dangers are a cause for legitimate concern, there are other dangers that derive from perceptions that often have no basis i
Comment By:effomicok
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2012-09-16 16:42:15
Retail Theft Could Get You Sued
I am sick of all you so called legal counsel, wanting money from me , there was a reason i was stealing the items in the first place, i have no money!
Comment By:a shopplifter
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2012-09-13 11:18:04
Car Repossessed Trouble With High Risk Car Loans
Our car loan was with wellsfargo to begin with then transfered to carfinco,. Have never had a problem with them yet and have less than 2 years left on
Comment By:Darlene Fougere
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2012-09-02 18:27:17
15 Blog Post Articles That Talk About Equifax
obviously like www.canadianmoneyadvisor.ca however you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling p
Comment By:promotion site
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2012-08-31 11:32:19
Retail Theft Could Get You Sued
so i went in zellers and i baught bus tickets. then walked around playing with toys, and i was with a friend, we're both adults who like stupid toys.
Comment By:Aj.
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