"We will either find a way, or make one."

Wanna tell your cell phone company to stick it? Here's why you might wanna hold your water...for now, anyway: I was the first to alert you to the biggest, cut-throat/customer-stealing-money-grubbing offensive since the credit card companies started raiding each other for new suckers in the early '90s. And while the thought of telling your cell phone company to insert their bills into their lower-intestines might give you a warm, fuzzy feeling...don't. Not yet, anyway. Hold your water and wait for the confusion to die down and the great deals to really materialize. Another month or two of cell phone-induced angst won't hurt ya.....

Speaking of dropping your cell phone provider in the grease...state and federal regulators are painfully-aware of the multiple and onerous obstacles many companies create when you try to cut 'em loose.

Having a hard time saying buh-bye? Paper your trail, and use my Six Steps To Effective Complaining guidelines.....

"Can you hear me now, Officer?" [Not good!] You're gonna love this latest entry for the dumb-assed criminals Hall of Fame: If nothing else, this story should server as a reminder that while having your cell phone "on" may be convenient, it's also a potential "open mike" that could prove extremely embarrassing, as well as expensive. Dover's Rule? Use your "keypad lock" function. If you don't know how, now's the time to learn. (Here's a concept...get out your owner's manual...)

Dead at the age of 88. The man who created the most destructive, most cancerous, most mis-used consumer-friendly device of the 20^th century: Don't know who I'm talking about? You will if you click here.....

Don't get suckered in by countless radio-commercial claims from car leasing companies out to hooked you and then wear you down and beat you into an emotional (and maybe financial) pulp!  Check out Ben's free Smart Car Seminar automotive acquisition tips right here!

This is a no-brainer, and they're the first and last automobile leasing company you'll ever need to deal with, no matter where you live...Benjamin Dover-endorsed 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!

 

It's finally here.  Ben's 2003 Holiday Gift Picks List: Wanna get a letter from the President? How about a sheet of uncut $1/$5/$10/$20 bills? Maybe you're at a loss for the perfect gifts for the woman in your life.  Maybe you've got someone on your gift list who already has "everything....."  Outta the box solutions...all here and all $$$ affordability rated.....

Do you live in a metropolitan area? Any bets on what the lead story will be on tomorrow morning's newscast? Watch for the live shot that'll go something like this: "I'm standing here at XYZ airport and experts say this-the day before Thanksgiving-is the busiest travel day of the year..." Hmmmmmm, if it's called a newscast, shouldn't they be reporting news?

Okay Einstein, it's still not too late to make some last-minute Thanksgiving travel plans, even though T-Day is only 2 days away! (Christmas is now only 30 days away!) Get more bang for your turkey buck...check out Ben's reliable, no-brainer choice for consistently affordable and competitively priced hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.  

So you're too late to order gifts for Thanksgiving, you've still got time to lock-and-load for Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa: Be a hero this year (for a change)!   Spend a few bucks the smart way for a change, do a little planning and send some of the most beautiful flowers, direct from Hawaii. My affordable choice?  Tropical Colors.  Order on-line or give 'em a call toll-free (remember to call after 1p ET/12n CT/11a MT and 10a PT because of the time difference): (800) 965-9732.

Diamonds are still a girl's best friend.  Here's how to buy 'em right, getting maximum bang-for-your-buck: It doesn't matter where you live on the planet, I've got the absolute best, Internet-based resource for diamond rings, tennis bracelets...or even high-end watches like Rolexes. 

Here's another not-so-newsy shot of NostraDover you can count on in 2004: 106 days into the new year, you'll see yet another not-so-surprising live shot, only this one will be overlooking the local post office: "You can see everyone lining up to get their tax return postmarked by midnight tonight, April 15^th....." Duh.

Speaking of tax returns...don't even think about trying to make a deal with the IRS on your own! Lousy advice could not only cost you dearly, it could really jack up your total tax bill...late fees, interest and/or fines can jump to levels that'll make you think about heading south of the border. If you've got some tax-related challenges, make 2004 your year 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.

Okay...turn your head and cough-I mean-click: The days of getting chills from that cold stethoscope might be just a fond memory. The latest trend in doctor's offices? Cyber-consults. Skip those snotty waiting rooms, say "ahhhhhhhh" and read all about it here.....

Oh, I know. "I must have great credit, because I get dozens of pre-approved credit card offers in the mail every month." Not true, oh gullible one. Here are some eye-popping facts: Half of all consumers aged 60 or older have never checked their credit reports. Know anyone in the 18-29 age group? For being so techno-savvy, 40% of them are in the same head-in-the-sand category, at least according to the December '03 issue of Kiplinger's.

It's time to wake up and check your FICO scores! I can't make it any easier for you, either. Click here for some credit hand-holding from your pal Bennie...

Since we're on the subject of credit scores, it's time to learn more about the inner-workings of that black hole known as the credit reporting bureaus: Get a digital copy of Ben's 1993 (#5) bestseller Life After Debt on-line, right here.  Here's how..... 

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.....

What's almost as tragic as the number of people who have died in the name of God? The number of suckers that have been scammed by bad-guys using God as their biggest sales tool! Skip that Robert Tilton infomercial and read about the latest televangelist con artist to be indicted. Amen!

Why do we call them con men when there are plenty of con women out there doing the devil's work? Helen Carr got popped for running an AOL-related scam that successfully squeezed credit card information outta naive consumers. Wake up, smell the coffee, raise your anti-scam IQ a few hundred points and read all about it.....

Speaking of cyber-suckers, here's another example of why the bad guys are making so much dough: Spread the word and save a financial life, will ya?

Add another bad guy [bad girl, actually] to the con artists caught list: How many times do I have to remind you that the money to be made by these "work-at-home business opportunities" is bring made by the scammers that are out there selling 'em?

Didja hear about the mortgage company that was able to step in and close a tough loan on less than 24 hours notice? Despite all of the paperwork and (perceived) brain-damage that goes with the home buying process, the first mortgage company that was supposed to close fell apart and set the stage for the save of the century by my friends at W.R. Starkey Mortgage.  And what's really amazing about this story are the facts of the deal: A pock-marked credit report, a non-conforming loan and a short-fuse couldn't keep Starkey from delivering the goods for a grateful homeowner, which brings me to the moral of the story...

Don't screw around with a buncha pikers that make mortgage promises they'll never be able to keep!  You might think you're getting a good deal, but it'll likely blow up in your face when push-comes-to-shove and they can't close.  Then your problems really begin. W.R. Starkey has the Dover Seal of Approval because they're the best, no-B.S. mortgage company in the nation...period. 

They deliver and make home buyers the winners and long-term beneficiaries of Starkey's commitment to their company positioning statement: "A different kind or mortgage company where people come first."  You really can bank on it, folks.

Take the Dover-proven route to stress-free finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low levels!  Ben's no-brainer choice for any/all of your mortgage needs? Easy...do it all on-line or on the phone with the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.com and your first (and only) stop: W.R. Starkey Mortgage.

It's easy to get educated about the process first...(plus the price is right...how about free?!?)  Everything you need to know is only a click away.  Get your copy of Bens' 2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.

Here's even more proof that Homer Simpson may have keen nutrition-related insights after all: Great news for you health-conscious beer drinkers out there, courtesy of Coors.....

Is there such a thing as a stress-free holiday? (And no, this story is not sponsored by Valium, or Wild Turkey...) Thanksgiving is only two days away, and the greatest blessing of all could be quickly falling asleep after a turkey dinner, or...you could review these 10 Tips For Being A Good Houseguest.

"Is that a prescription for Cialis in your pocket, or are ya happy to see me?" Hmmmmmm, doubt that's the case, since Cialis is the newest entry looking to firm-up their share of the Viagra marketplace...

Dontcha love the amazing resources I compile every week in the Dose of Dover? Good! Then don't whine 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 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...

Why not help Mom & Dad (or Grandma & Grandpa) do a little fancy financial footwork and allow them to live in their homes until they pass on without a mortgage payment, or even pull a wad of cash outta the deal while they're at it?  I've already done the research for you on reverse mortgages.  Now it's your turn to help an older homeowner take advantage of this fantastic financial product.

Still looking for a cool holiday, birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long?  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!

Talk about discrimination: Why are contact lens users forced to pay more than people who wear glasses? Because lobbyists have been doing their job for the last 25 years, that's why. Here's how to keep an eye on the cost of your contact lens refills, thanks to a new law making its way to the President's desk...

Wanna make a difference this holiday season? Here's your chance to help the millions of Americans going toe-to-toe with Alzheimer's.  Do me a favor and follow my lead...please consider making a donation in the name of a family member, friend or business associate to Leeza's Place.  Founded by my friend Leeza Gibbons, you too can join the fight against this worldwide epidemic by making a tax-deductible donation this holiday season.  It's money that'll fuel the expansion of Leeza's Memory Foundation and will benefit caregivers, families and their recently diagnosed loved ones in the Alzheimer's challenges that lie ahead.  Click here for contact information and instructions on how and where to send your donation.

The first Leeza's Place just opened in New York City...and more are coming to a city near you.  And the best news of all?  Leeza's Place is developing information and assistance that'll help families across the nation, regardless of location.  (Thanks for helping to make a difference...)

'Tis the season to dig deep and give to the charity of your choice. Just make sure they're legit.  Check out my special section devoted to helping you make the best charitable choices this holiday season--or any time of the year.  Also included: My personal charities of choice for the 2003 holiday season.....

Do you abuse your body? Do you fail to see the doc or get your shots when you're supposed to? Then get ready to pay the price: What a concept! Make people responsible for their flakiness? You betcha...hit 'em in their pocketbooks if they won't take care of themselves.

Bad news if you bank at Wells Fargo: Your identity may already have been stolen, through no fault of your own. Here's why.

If you think your personal information has been compromised, you've gotta move fast: Check out my comprehensive section created for victims of identity theft...and good luck.

Turn up your speakers and bookmark this location: We'll keep you posted for the latest Michael Jackson-related insanity.....

You'd better grease the right people this holiday season...take care of the folks who take care of you 365-days a year: C'mon...now's no time to be a tightwad, unless you're in a financially-stressed place of course. Not to worry--Ben's got some ideas for inexpensive (even free) gifts, too! Plus: You'd better be on the lookout for the bad guys out to con you outta your charitable dough the next few weeks.  Protecting you from life's grinches, one eggnog at a time, check out the Thanksgiving Day edition of Ask Benjamin Dover from The Dallas Morning News right here!