Didja sign-up for the "Do Not Call" list yet? Hope you didn't get scammed by the latest ID-theft related ploy instead! Once again, the bad guys are getting creative and once again, they're cashing in on the gullibility of naïve consumers. Find out if you've been duped by reading more here...
...and once again, may I remind you of the most basic anti-ID-theft rules? Never give up personal information to a strange voice on the phone! I don't care how convincing their stories might be, good con men are just that...good con men. Giving up your Social Security Number and mother's maiden name is an invitation to years of financial nightmares. Oops! Too late? Think you've been stung? Here's the best, street-wise info on repairing the damage...
Forget the widely-distributed "700,000 people have their identities stolen every year" number that continues to float through consumer-ish circles: The FTC said last week that over 3.3 million Americans (over 27.3 million in the last five years) discovered that their personal information had been used to open fraudulent bank accounts, credit card or utility accounts, costing over $53 billion in losses. Read 'em and weep, kids.....
Do you love the amazing resources I compile every week in the Dose of Dover? Good! Then no whining about having to sign-up for free access: Like anything in life, there's always gonna be a trade-off on some level. I embed dozens of links in every edition of this newsletter, and my frequent sources, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register and USA Today require varying levels of registration in order to access their websites for free...with one small caveat: If you try to hit an older story, there's a reasonable chance that the news organization has either moved the story to a new URL, or to their archives. If it's archived, there's a high probability that they'll charge you for access to the story...usually under $3. Don't whine about it...just pay 'em if you wanna read it--or not. It's always your choice.
Also worth noting: Nowhere is it written that you have to give them accurate information when you sign up for free access on their website. They'd like you to, but they'll never really know. So use a disposable e-mail address (like Hotmail or Yahoo) and get creative when you register. But just remember: They/we are giving you a tremendous service for a great price...free! So no complaining...
IRS related, Part I: Need good tax advice? Think twice before you call the IRS for help. Treasury Department investigators have confirmed what many experts have suspected for a long time: Call the IRS help line for advice and you could be sorry. Here's why.
IRS related, Part II: What's worse than getting bad advice from the IRS? Having to pay for it! That's right, if you follow their advice and it's wrong, you still have to pay all taxes owed, plus late fees, interest and/or fines. If you've got some tax-related challenges, now's the time to tie down those loose-ends on your terms and get a deal worked out before it's too late. Non-filers...innocent spouses...941 (payroll taxes) for the entrepreneurs amongst us: Know all your options and learn why hiring an Enrolled Agent probably makes the most sense.
IRS related, Part III: Didja hear the latest out of Washington? Our buddies at the IRS are making it easier to survive the common cold! (Here's how.)
One way to keep your job...know what's on your credit reports! Just ask the janitor who used to work at defense contractor Lockheed-Martin. This really could happen to you if you don't know how the game's played.....
It's easy to get educated about the process first...and the price is right! (Free!) Everything you need to know can be found on-line; get your own copy of Bens' 2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.
Now that you're motivated to buy a house, or trade-up from your current home...how would you like to get some cash back on your next home purchase (or sale)? (I'll show you how.) Click here.....
Okay, so you're about to move, it's time to go down your "things to do" checklist: Moved your phone service and utilities? [Check!] Put in your change of address on your mail? [Check!!] Have all of your belongings held hostage by some rogue movers? [Check...not!!!] Do your homework (first) and choose the right moving company! Ben's Moving Tips will save you time, money and lots-o-heartache.....
In the market for a new set of wheels? Don't be seduced by radio-commercial claims by car leasing companies that want to get you hooked, wear you down and beat the daylights out of you! Check out Ben's free Smart Car Seminar automotive acquisition tips right here!
Here's the first and last automobile leasing company you'll ever need to deal with, no matter where you live: Ben's no-brainer choice is Manufacturers Auto Leasing: They have loyal clients across the entire state of Texas and around the nation. Why? Because they'll take care of you better than anyone else out there!
By the way: If you're facing one of those upside-down scenarios (car business term meaning you're financially buried), or maybe you simply want to bail on your current vehicle and need someone to get creative on your behalf, Manufacturers Auto Leasing is the best in the business. Period.
What a crappy idea! Apparently Americans are resistant to change, especially in the bathroom: The big shots at toilet-accessory giants Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark thought you wanted "pre-moistened" toilet paper wipes. Apparently they were wrong.
Do you know an elderly consumer? Then talk to them and make them smarter about the latest incarnation of a street-level con game making the circuit-especially if they're Hispanic: Altogether now-if it sounds too good to be true, then you'd better read all about it here.
Here's a cyber-example of throwing the baby out with the bath water-legitimate e-mail getting deleted because it's been mistakenly spam blocked: It's happened to the Dose of Dover on many occasions and now experts are screaming about the $3.5 billion in lost business because of it. Here's some tips on how to make sure your Internet Service Provider (ISP) doesn't screen out invaluable e-mails while they fight their spam wars.
Do you know what to do if you happen to miss your weekly Dose of Dover? Aside from blaming your ISP for it, take the path of least resistance: Read the latest edition in the Dose of Dover archive right here!
Wanna find out how Junior's doing at school? Forget tryin' to schedule a parent-teacher conference at your convenience: They're not crazy about booking 2 a.m. consults, so go on-line to check in on your kids' grades and progress. Read all about the latest cyber-trend sweeping the nation's schools.....
Hey kids! Think your teacher's being too rough on you? Here's your chance to sound off, fight back and turn the tables on 'em: www.ratemyteachers.com. It's ruffling the feathers of school administrators across the nation, and it's another testament to the power of free speech and the influence of the Internet.
NostraDover strikes again! If you've signed up for one of those credit monitoring service, you might be wasting your money: I've warned you about the "free" hooks and traps set by companies like www.freecreditreport.com and now the establishment is confirming my suspicions. Between a lack of information and a hefty annual membership fee, the Federal Trade Commission's latest report on this topic make Ben sound like a profit, I mean prophet.....
Want to make it easy for your family to find all of your cash and assets after you check out for good? Then be careful about what you've passworded on your computer! As more of us become computer-savvy and track our finances through on-line services, or list assets list in a cyber-file, the chances of having all of your information locked away from friendly hands skyrockets! Sure, passwords can be broken, but plan on spending anywhere from $150-$300 per hour for a computer forensics expert to hack in. Here's what you need to know to keep your financial information secure and within the reach of authorized people, like spouses, children or executors of your Will.....
You too can make a quick $1 million! All you've gotta do is enlist in the military, get captured by the enemy, and be rescued on videotape: Jessica Lynch, the pride and joy of West Virginia checks out of the military and cashes out of her Iraqi experience, thanks to her new deal with New York-based publisher Knopf. Her new book I Am A Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story is due out next month, just in time for the holidays. (I wonder if they'll do a package deal and throw in the DVD "Wag The Dog" starring Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman while they're at it?)
If you (or someone you know) is even remotely thinking about paying some non-profit credit counseling service, hiring a debt re-negotiation company or filing for bankruptcy, you might wanna read this first: Trust me, you'll be more informed and a lot more grateful 10-minutes (or less) from now.....
Speaking of brain-damage, Californians should check out this new section on my site that'll help you get a handle on your rights if you do decide to pull the ripcord (that's slang for filing for bankruptcy) on your creditors: It's a Q&A with one of the top bankruptcy attorneys in the state, and a chance to debunk the half-truths being spewed by those bottom-feeding tele-terrorists.
Are you an MCI subscriber? Are you happy with the service they're providing you? When was the last time you scrutinized your phone bill? Billing complaints against the nation's embattled #2 long distance carrier soared 310% in the first half of 2003; Sprint was up 150%, Qwest up 149%, Verizon up 77%. It's not all bad news: AT&T's complaints were down 4%.
Wanna know how to make your voice heard, loud--clear--and quickly? Piece of cake if you follow Ben's tried-and-true steps.....
It's time to level the playing field with the long-awaited new edition of Back Off! The Definitive Guide To Stopping Collection Agency Harassment:
Read sample chapters from the new book!
Get the inside scoop on those "non-profit" credit counseling agencies.
Read all about the biggest thugs operating under the noses of authorities, rogue collection agencies that terrorize unwitting consumers.
And since we're on the subject of credit problems...do you know anyone who's got some of their own? It's time to learn more about the inner-workings of that black hole known as the credit reporting bureaus: You can get a digital copy of Ben's 1993 (#5) bestseller Life After Debt on-line, right now. Read how right here.....
What's worse? Getting stuck with a needle or getting stuck with the flu? Now you don't have to choose, thanks to the newest anti-influenza nasal spray-welcome news for needlephobes.....
Dude! It's time to get out your passport and stock up on the Oreos: The Netherlands became the first country on the planet to make pot available in pharmacies. All you need is a prescription from your Doc and some Zig-Zags.....
Still looking for a cool birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long? Then give 'em a subscription to the Dose of Dover...the most reliable source of insight and no s*** ideas available on the planet. (You can afford it...it's free!) Time to share the wealth! Sign-up for a subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right here!
Now this is depressing news-antidepressants prompting users to think about suicide? It's no joke, folks. Wyeth, the pharmaceutical company that manufacturers the antidepressant Effexor issued a two-page warning to doctors on August 22, 2003 that the drug may put children at greater risk of contemplating suicide.
Are your kids on Paxil? Oops...they could be at similar risk: In June, the U.K.'s version of the FDA issued a similar warning about this widely-prescribed antidepressant, urging doctors to avoid prescribing it to those under the age of 18.
I wonder if the punks that create these destructive computer viruses own any stock in Symantec or McAfee? Subscriptions for Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus service jumped, even though they raised prices by 33%. Stock prices of the top three anti-virus companies are soaring too: Symantec shares are up 22%...Network Associates is up 30%...Trend Micro's up 33%.
Have you spent the night in a hospital? Do you have any horror stories about how you were treated by the nursing staff? Do you have any success stories or other examples of medically-related heroism? I need to hear from you! I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly for research on a story I'm developing about hospital graveyard shifts.
When my cell phone rings, I'm serenaded by Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" and according to recent sales numbers, I'm not alone: Okay, so you're not a Steven Tyler fan...maybe you wanna hear a Beatle's classic like Lady Madonna, or something new from Houston-hottie Beyoncé Knowles. Cell phone ring tones are the hottest profit center for Sprint, Verizon and AT&T Wireless. Since up to 60% of the cell phones in service are capable of downloading these customized ringer tones, the cellular companies are promoting this to their hottest demographic-teen and college-aged users. Over 4.8 million ring tone purchases were made in 2002, but expect to see those numbers spike in 2003: Verizon Wireless now says 2.5 million of its customers are buying ring tones each month.
Can't carry that knife or convenient can of pepper-spray on board your next flight? Then go postal! Now DFW Airport passengers who forget to leave banned possessions in the car or at home can mail 'em back instead of giving 'em up to our pals from the Transportation Security Administration working the screening gates. The service, provided by CheckPoint Mailers, Inc. will cost you $6. Expect to see this service expand to other airports around the country; it's already in San Antonio and several airports in North Carolina.....
Time to get off your butt and start making travel plans for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! (You're on the clock and it's now 89 days away): Stretch your travel budget and get your Thanksgiving or Christmas-time travel planning handled now. Check out Ben's no-brainer choice for hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.
Wanna know the 7 deadly travel sins? It's easy to be naughty, and unknown if you're a road warrior: From in-room porn to strip clubs, cheating on your spouse or inflating expense reports, USA Today gives those of you with larceny in your heart and a credit card in your wallet a virtual "how to" guide if you're so inclined, that is.
If you think your spouse could be less than honorable, open your eyes and consider watching some Rockford Files reruns: Read Ben's tips on how to catch a cheating spouse right here.
Do you eat dessert after dinner? You're a member of a dwindling group of diners in America if you do: In-home dessert diners have declined by 6%...restaurant dessert sales are down 2% and it's got the $1.5 billion frozen dessert industry worried about profits going into the deep freeze. Cookie mix sales are down almost 13% and cake mixes, down 2.8%.
Here's the newest stock-trading technique that's making alotta people a ton of dough. The New York Times' Floyd Norris quotes the late, great Will Rogers' stock-picking advice-"Buy stocks that go up and then sell them. If they don't go up, don't buy them." It's an easy strategy if you're a favored Bank of America customer: New York attorney general's office alleges that B-of-A has been giving certain clients the ability to buy or sell certain mutual funds in a way that guarantees they can't lose by making late/after-the-market's closed trades. I'll bet Martha Stewart's kicking herself right about now.....
Cable or satellite? You may already know why Ben dropped his cable company in the grease after being a loyal customer for 16 years...but now The New York Times has done a cable-versus-satellite comparison that's really worth the read.
What's this? Is Ben changing sides as he helps creditors collect what they're owed? Someone owes you some dough, you've got the right to collect it...Plus: Why you shouldn't hire a third-party collection agency to do your dirty work...And: Remembering the lessons of 9-11-01, as well as the Great Blackout of '03. Helping you get what you're due--one lawsuit at a time--check out the latest always informative/always entertaining installment of Ask Benjamin Dover (September 11, 2003 edition) from The Dallas Morning News right here!
