I really enjoyed reading this list. We don't have a problem with spending more than we make, but I find it funny when my wife comes home from shopping and when she tells me that she "saved" money buying something on sale. How do you save money when you actually spend it? I think it is so easy to fall into this trap and to buy something on sale when you don't really need it and when you cannot really afford it.
We also received the unsolicited NetSpend credit card today (5/30). Thank you for sharing about your experience. We have already shredded the card and have thrown the papers away!
What is decsribed by Paul Michael is typical. Papa Murphy's service is terrible. I live in the city where the corporate headquarters are they local store are the worst. The further away you get the better.
Unfortunately Papa Murphy's will survive this downturn. They offer a large pizza for $7. It's cheap and people will buy them. I expect when it turns around they will see a loss in sales.
I also received a fraudulent card from Netspend, and was so upset that I filed an official complaint with the Federal Reserve Consumer agency. This agency oversees complaints against financial institutions such as Netspend.
I would urge everyone who received such an unsolicited Visa card from Netspend to file a complaint against them in order to stop this type of marketing practice, which can lead to and encourage identity theft.
I also received a fraudulent card from Netspend, and was so upset that I filed an official complaint with the Federal Reserve Consumer agency. This agency oversees complaints against financial institutions such as Netspend.
I would urge everyone who received such an unsolicited Visa card from Netspend to file a complaint against them in order to stop this type of marketing practice, which can lead to and encourage identity theft.
of course we assume it applies to the cow - because it does. that is the whole point. it is false advertising and green washing. few have the dedication to purchase local 'from the farm' milk or the stomach to consider unpasteurized. these people relieve their guilt by buying "organic" and the idea of this blog was to expose the misleading greenfront that horizon is putting on.
this post was very worthwhile.
I'm so glad I just read that the rest of you guys received an unsolicited card from netspend too. I just got one today and freaked out because like others stated, it looks and is a real 'credit' card. I called them and they confirmed it was like a pre-approval/offer of the use of their card and not their real one. I also asked them to permanently delete my name and the pre-approved account number from their database, and also not to share my name/address with any of their subs or affiliates. This is a horrible marketing practice, and I will never in my life use them.
Wow great writing Andrea. You hit everything right on key and answered a lot of the questions that I had on being a charming person. I actually learned alot today on what you just wrote. I was actually looking for info on how to be talkative but I instead stumbled on your essay and it answered my questions. I have this friend who is the most charming mo-fo that you would ever know. If you where a girl, you would fall in love with this guy emmidiatly cause hes so charming and talkative. This guy makes ME selfconsious when hes around me! I guess because I try to compete with him. Its true, charming people do make you feel good and give you compliments, and thats just what this guy does. Everytime he comes by, he always has a compliment wating for me for whatever reason. I dont know but im starting to think that he also read your essay on being a charming person. haha, thanks Andrea
I thought this website is great but when i bought bids for $37.50..The bids was not reflected to my account and they just deducted that amount to my credit card. I made it twice cause i thought i made a mistake because the said there was an error. But when i checked my debit card and credit card. The amount was reflected immediately to my Bank and credit card account and there is no way can refund it. SO i reported it immediately to Bank of America and my credit card provider.
Beware with this website this is such a SCAM, FRAUD and ILLEGAL
Until 1975, when the Fair Credit Billing Act banned the practice, it was quite common for banks to send unsolicited credit cards. They did huge mass-mailings to people who weren't even customers, just buying mailing lists and sending cards to everybody. It was a big hassle for people with good credit, who had to cut up each card and send it back with a letter canceling it. Other people just threw them in the trash (and then claimed never to have received it when some thief used the card to run up big charges).
Probably a stored-value card (or debit card that isn't linked to any account) doesn't meet the definition in the act, so it's legal to send. (Stupid, though.)
Like the poster above, I also use a prepaid debit card(not a netspend card).
I like the fact that it pulls from an account that is tied to it, as opposed to being a true "credit" card or being tied to my bank account. I'm not convinced the same FTC regulations that apply to credit cards would apply here.
With that said, it is a little shady that a name-imprinted card would be mailed out unrequested. Although it doesn't tie into any bank or credit cards, it could make identity theft a little easier.
I thought it was illegal to send an actual credit card... they used to do it, and then some sort of law was passed to restrict it. You might consider an FTC complaint.
I thought it might be interesting to offer a different perspective on this.
I've used a netspend card for a few years now. As one of the "working poor" with no bank account and a fall from financial grace it was a decent option to keeping and carrying large sums of cash around after payday.It is a "prepaid" card, like a "prepaid" phone, they've been decent about putting money back on it when an atm machine ran out of cash but still clamped a hold on a sum. My financial situation has improved a great deal, I'm actually somewhat secure but I refuse to get a bank account as I'm pretty disgusted with the whole banking issue. I have friends and relatives who watch large chunks of their paychecks go for overdraft "fees" etc. I'm careful with my money and this card makes me think before I use it. I don't know why they sent you a free one as they usually charge for these things unless you have had one for a while. I'm guessing it was a promotion, and I think you may have been too quick to assume they had your personal info., but I can understand your irritation.
At any rate that's my experience.
"Grammatical arrogance is something up with which I shall not put." Gotta love Churchill. I don't come here for grammar.
Anywho, I like smaller resale stores. I know they are more expensive but they have more of a boutique feel. I'm willing to pay for that indulgence. When I go, I always talk to the clerk. What's coming in; what do they need; do they have an item for which I'm looking? I've also found that the more extensive the conversation (friendly, not annoying) the more stuff they buy and at better prices.
I'd also advocate a careful eye. I once found a hole and a grease spot on a pair of shorts. They wouldn't discount the price so I didn't buy them (found the same shorts elsewhere in perfect condition for less). Another time, I found a small stain and received half off. DOH! Pesky prepositions.
i got one of these in the mail last week and sent it promptly through the shredder. i didn't even read it, because i knew i didn't apply for a card. but particularly concerning, aside from it not even being a temporary card, was that it had my name printed on it, and i know that many times, a credit card can be used as a 2nd form of ID.
It's awesome to see people who care more about other people than money. I am going to point out, however, that a free market, capitalist system is what makes it possible. In a capitalist society, everyone can choose what to do with their money, whether to keep it, bless others, or anything else. The more a society becomes socialist, the more people are forced to donate (through taxes) to causes they may not support, or may even be strongly opposed to (funding foreign abortions, anyone?). Socialism and communism (two degrees on the same scale) create a more selfish society because everyone tries to get the most from the government rather than trying to be self-reliant. So in my opinion, this is not "rising above capitalism" so much as rising above materialism and bringing out the best of capitalism.
I'd be pretty ticked off too. The worst thing that's happened to me is that a couple of store cards (like the Sears card I got to get a discount on my appliances) have converted into Visa or Mastercard without any notice. If I wanted another Visa, I'd get one, thanks. I refuse to use them, or even activate them.
This is shocking to me. I wonder about people who are not financially savy. It would be easy to get a teenager or someone without a lot of experience to start putting money onto a card. And what if a criminal used your good name to order things even if it was their money on the card.
… staff have met with First 5’s actuarial consultant to review the results of a recent study estimating First 5’s assets within the CCCERA retirement fund. The study was commissioned in anticipation of considering whether First should move its retirement to CALPERS. The study found that, based on CCCERA’s standard calculations, First 5’s assets are calculated in the negative range. “
So, people, looking at Contra Costa’s latest audit report (07/08) to get a point of comparison, it shows that this First 5 Commission contributed, for the past three fiscal years, a total of $949,920 to its employee pension plan, with an annual growth rate of 18%.
If you go back for another 4 years to probably when this First 5 started to have some number of staff, and assume just a 15% growth in the contribution over the 4 years, the expected total of contributions for FY 00/01 through FY 07/08 would be about $1,775,000 in total pension contributions.
So, here are my questions:
1. WHERE exactly did nearly $2 MILLION dollars go?
IMO, even if the stock market was down 50%, then you could expect that pension value to maybe be about $1 million, which is still ridiculous, but it being in negative territory reflects a level of investing ineptitude. Who should be held responsible for that? Well, it should be the Finance Committee.
Note that the agency will have to make up the $1.7 million first just to get back to ZERO, and then come up with a lot more to cover its legal obligation. So the real need to cover their future obligations is probably more like $3 - 4 million just to get to a point of stability.
Do they intend to take this money from the funds directed to kids? If so, that bothers me a lot and shouldn’t that bother those who believe that First 5’s are doing such great work, like Marie Lakin at the Making Waves blog at Ventura Star? Because this First 5 will have to take the money from somewhere and it does not grow on trees. So, IMO, it would not be the taxpayers taking money away from First 5’s, it would be inept management and/or investors; how is that more ok? To me it is not.
2. Will Contra Costa’s next audit report for FY 08/09 actually print that they are in negative pension value land? Are they going to try to fudge the study’s assumptions so that it does not look so bad by the time the fiscal year ends?
IMO, even if it were just $1 million (when it’s clear it’s more like $3 million minimum), that amount is easily material and significant from an accounting perspective. As the agenda also says, their 09/10 budget is about $17 million – so even just using the $1 million number shows the problem is greater than 5% of their budget - and in accounting circles - that means it is significant and/or material. It’s not probably really disputable, so I do not think it can be hidden by just showing the annual pension contribution expense – it’s really just too large and so I believe their auditor will make them disclose it.
Again, folks, IMO something’s wrong here; public documents clearly show it.
p.s. while I was digging, I happened to notice Note 9 of the audit, which stated that Contra Costa has a lease obligation of nearly $1 million. Okay, can someone please explain to me this size of lease? Maybe they should downsize and put some of that money in the pension. Should they have a pension? Well, I think that could be another post.
I really enjoyed reading this list. We don't have a problem with spending more than we make, but I find it funny when my wife comes home from shopping and when she tells me that she "saved" money buying something on sale. How do you save money when you actually spend it? I think it is so easy to fall into this trap and to buy something on sale when you don't really need it and when you cannot really afford it.
A "mutual illusion?" That's just dumb.
Hello,
We also received the unsolicited NetSpend credit card today (5/30). Thank you for sharing about your experience. We have already shredded the card and have thrown the papers away!
What is decsribed by Paul Michael is typical. Papa Murphy's service is terrible. I live in the city where the corporate headquarters are they local store are the worst. The further away you get the better.
Unfortunately Papa Murphy's will survive this downturn. They offer a large pizza for $7. It's cheap and people will buy them. I expect when it turns around they will see a loss in sales.
Joe
I also received a fraudulent card from Netspend, and was so upset that I filed an official complaint with the Federal Reserve Consumer agency. This agency oversees complaints against financial institutions such as Netspend.
I would urge everyone who received such an unsolicited Visa card from Netspend to file a complaint against them in order to stop this type of marketing practice, which can lead to and encourage identity theft.
Complaints can be filed online or via phone at:
http://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/FormComplaint.cfm
1-888-851-1920
I also received a fraudulent card from Netspend, and was so upset that I filed an official complaint with the Federal Reserve Consumer agency. This agency oversees complaints against financial institutions such as Netspend.
I would urge everyone who received such an unsolicited Visa card from Netspend to file a complaint against them in order to stop this type of marketing practice, which can lead to and encourage identity theft.
Complaints can be filed online or via phone at:
http://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/FormComplaint.cfm
1-888-851-1920
of course we assume it applies to the cow - because it does. that is the whole point. it is false advertising and green washing. few have the dedication to purchase local 'from the farm' milk or the stomach to consider unpasteurized. these people relieve their guilt by buying "organic" and the idea of this blog was to expose the misleading greenfront that horizon is putting on.
this post was very worthwhile.
The brasso is probably the most good one, since DVDs are kind of made of medal anyway
I'll give this one a try, thanks a lot!!!
I'm so glad I just read that the rest of you guys received an unsolicited card from netspend too. I just got one today and freaked out because like others stated, it looks and is a real 'credit' card. I called them and they confirmed it was like a pre-approval/offer of the use of their card and not their real one. I also asked them to permanently delete my name and the pre-approved account number from their database, and also not to share my name/address with any of their subs or affiliates. This is a horrible marketing practice, and I will never in my life use them.
NEVER BE A VICTIM OF THIS WEBSITE. ITS A TOTAL FRAUD. ITS REAL FRAUD..SCAM..OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT.. I EMAILED THEM TO REFUND MY MONEY.
THIS SWOOPO SITE SHOULD BE BANNED. THIS IS A SCAM.. IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITY
Wow great writing Andrea. You hit everything right on key and answered a lot of the questions that I had on being a charming person. I actually learned alot today on what you just wrote. I was actually looking for info on how to be talkative but I instead stumbled on your essay and it answered my questions. I have this friend who is the most charming mo-fo that you would ever know. If you where a girl, you would fall in love with this guy emmidiatly cause hes so charming and talkative. This guy makes ME selfconsious when hes around me! I guess because I try to compete with him. Its true, charming people do make you feel good and give you compliments, and thats just what this guy does. Everytime he comes by, he always has a compliment wating for me for whatever reason. I dont know but im starting to think that he also read your essay on being a charming person. haha, thanks Andrea
I thought this website is great but when i bought bids for $37.50..The bids was not reflected to my account and they just deducted that amount to my credit card. I made it twice cause i thought i made a mistake because the said there was an error. But when i checked my debit card and credit card. The amount was reflected immediately to my Bank and credit card account and there is no way can refund it. SO i reported it immediately to Bank of America and my credit card provider.
Beware with this website this is such a SCAM, FRAUD and ILLEGAL
take it from an agent.. the bull **** on here isnt the real deal. come see me. i will give you a fucking education.
Until 1975, when the Fair Credit Billing Act banned the practice, it was quite common for banks to send unsolicited credit cards. They did huge mass-mailings to people who weren't even customers, just buying mailing lists and sending cards to everybody. It was a big hassle for people with good credit, who had to cut up each card and send it back with a letter canceling it. Other people just threw them in the trash (and then claimed never to have received it when some thief used the card to run up big charges).
Probably a stored-value card (or debit card that isn't linked to any account) doesn't meet the definition in the act, so it's legal to send. (Stupid, though.)
Like the poster above, I also use a prepaid debit card(not a netspend card).
I like the fact that it pulls from an account that is tied to it, as opposed to being a true "credit" card or being tied to my bank account. I'm not convinced the same FTC regulations that apply to credit cards would apply here.
With that said, it is a little shady that a name-imprinted card would be mailed out unrequested. Although it doesn't tie into any bank or credit cards, it could make identity theft a little easier.
I thought it was illegal to send an actual credit card... they used to do it, and then some sort of law was passed to restrict it. You might consider an FTC complaint.
I thought it might be interesting to offer a different perspective on this.
I've used a netspend card for a few years now. As one of the "working poor" with no bank account and a fall from financial grace it was a decent option to keeping and carrying large sums of cash around after payday.It is a "prepaid" card, like a "prepaid" phone, they've been decent about putting money back on it when an atm machine ran out of cash but still clamped a hold on a sum. My financial situation has improved a great deal, I'm actually somewhat secure but I refuse to get a bank account as I'm pretty disgusted with the whole banking issue. I have friends and relatives who watch large chunks of their paychecks go for overdraft "fees" etc. I'm careful with my money and this card makes me think before I use it. I don't know why they sent you a free one as they usually charge for these things unless you have had one for a while. I'm guessing it was a promotion, and I think you may have been too quick to assume they had your personal info., but I can understand your irritation.
At any rate that's my experience.
I've actually gotten a couple of these in the mail in the last year.
...the shredder makes this lovely noise when it grinds unsolicited cards up...
"Grammatical arrogance is something up with which I shall not put." Gotta love Churchill. I don't come here for grammar.
Anywho, I like smaller resale stores. I know they are more expensive but they have more of a boutique feel. I'm willing to pay for that indulgence. When I go, I always talk to the clerk. What's coming in; what do they need; do they have an item for which I'm looking? I've also found that the more extensive the conversation (friendly, not annoying) the more stuff they buy and at better prices.
I'd also advocate a careful eye. I once found a hole and a grease spot on a pair of shorts. They wouldn't discount the price so I didn't buy them (found the same shorts elsewhere in perfect condition for less). Another time, I found a small stain and received half off. DOH! Pesky prepositions.
i got one of these in the mail last week and sent it promptly through the shredder. i didn't even read it, because i knew i didn't apply for a card. but particularly concerning, aside from it not even being a temporary card, was that it had my name printed on it, and i know that many times, a credit card can be used as a 2nd form of ID.
It's awesome to see people who care more about other people than money. I am going to point out, however, that a free market, capitalist system is what makes it possible. In a capitalist society, everyone can choose what to do with their money, whether to keep it, bless others, or anything else. The more a society becomes socialist, the more people are forced to donate (through taxes) to causes they may not support, or may even be strongly opposed to (funding foreign abortions, anyone?). Socialism and communism (two degrees on the same scale) create a more selfish society because everyone tries to get the most from the government rather than trying to be self-reliant. So in my opinion, this is not "rising above capitalism" so much as rising above materialism and bringing out the best of capitalism.
I'd be pretty ticked off too. The worst thing that's happened to me is that a couple of store cards (like the Sears card I got to get a discount on my appliances) have converted into Visa or Mastercard without any notice. If I wanted another Visa, I'd get one, thanks. I refuse to use them, or even activate them.
This is shocking to me. I wonder about people who are not financially savy. It would be easy to get a teenager or someone without a lot of experience to start putting money onto a card. And what if a criminal used your good name to order things even if it was their money on the card.
Contra Costa’s First 5 Commission has blown nearly $2 MILLION of its pension assets?
From their 06/01/09 Agenda (on their website):
http://www.firstfivecc.org/index.php?page=commission-info
“Update on the pension UAAL
… staff have met with First 5’s actuarial consultant to review the results of a recent study estimating First 5’s assets within the CCCERA retirement fund. The study was commissioned in anticipation of considering whether First should move its retirement to CALPERS. The study found that, based on CCCERA’s standard calculations, First 5’s assets are calculated in the negative range. “
So, people, looking at Contra Costa’s latest audit report (07/08) to get a point of comparison, it shows that this First 5 Commission contributed, for the past three fiscal years, a total of $949,920 to its employee pension plan, with an annual growth rate of 18%.
If you go back for another 4 years to probably when this First 5 started to have some number of staff, and assume just a 15% growth in the contribution over the 4 years, the expected total of contributions for FY 00/01 through FY 07/08 would be about $1,775,000 in total pension contributions.
So, here are my questions:
1. WHERE exactly did nearly $2 MILLION dollars go?
IMO, even if the stock market was down 50%, then you could expect that pension value to maybe be about $1 million, which is still ridiculous, but it being in negative territory reflects a level of investing ineptitude. Who should be held responsible for that? Well, it should be the Finance Committee.
Note that the agency will have to make up the $1.7 million first just to get back to ZERO, and then come up with a lot more to cover its legal obligation. So the real need to cover their future obligations is probably more like $3 - 4 million just to get to a point of stability.
Do they intend to take this money from the funds directed to kids? If so, that bothers me a lot and shouldn’t that bother those who believe that First 5’s are doing such great work, like Marie Lakin at the Making Waves blog at Ventura Star? Because this First 5 will have to take the money from somewhere and it does not grow on trees. So, IMO, it would not be the taxpayers taking money away from First 5’s, it would be inept management and/or investors; how is that more ok? To me it is not.
2. Will Contra Costa’s next audit report for FY 08/09 actually print that they are in negative pension value land? Are they going to try to fudge the study’s assumptions so that it does not look so bad by the time the fiscal year ends?
IMO, even if it were just $1 million (when it’s clear it’s more like $3 million minimum), that amount is easily material and significant from an accounting perspective. As the agenda also says, their 09/10 budget is about $17 million – so even just using the $1 million number shows the problem is greater than 5% of their budget - and in accounting circles - that means it is significant and/or material. It’s not probably really disputable, so I do not think it can be hidden by just showing the annual pension contribution expense – it’s really just too large and so I believe their auditor will make them disclose it.
Again, folks, IMO something’s wrong here; public documents clearly show it.
p.s. while I was digging, I happened to notice Note 9 of the audit, which stated that Contra Costa has a lease obligation of nearly $1 million. Okay, can someone please explain to me this size of lease? Maybe they should downsize and put some of that money in the pension. Should they have a pension? Well, I think that could be another post.
That was fairly common about 15 years ago.