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Question #1:
This really is a big time of year for charities, isn't it?
Answer #1: You
betcha. In fact it's estimated that half of all charitable giving for
2003 will occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas...and since there's so
much cash on the charity-tables, you know it's gonna bring out the bad guys.
And unfortunately, alotta donations never reach the people who need the
help the most. Some solicitations are outright scams and take all the funds
contributed while others eat up so much of the money in "fund
raising expenses" that virtually none is left for true
charity. These questionable charities cheat donors, shortchange people who
truly need help, and hurt legitimate charitable organizations that rely on
donations. Some of the most frequent cover-stories for these charity
scams? Anything to do with police or firefighters, unfortunately.
Question #2:
So what should consumers do to make sure their monies getting into legitimate
hands?
Answer #2:
Give
directly to a known charity of your choice. That's always the
best option. Check your telephone directory for a charity's local office and
contact the office.
Don't
be fooled by "look-alike" charity names. Some scams
use names that sound impressive and are designed to resemble well-respected
organizations...like law enforcement or fire department affiliations.
Ask
phone solicitors to send written information. Check out the
charity before you make a decision. Be suspicious if they refuse to send solid
information.
Ask questions! Reputable
charities welcome them! Ask how much of your donation actually goes for the
charitable purpose. Ask 'em for a copy of their IRS
filing, Form 990: It provides a detailed breakdown on their expenses
and costs and will usually send the bad guys running--or hanging up the phone!
Ask
if the caller will be paid a commission.
Ask if they're a professional solicitor and, if so, what percentage of the
donation they're receiving.
Don't
ever give credit card or checking account numbers over the phone!
Question #3:
You've got all of these charity-related questions and answers already up on
your website, don't you?
Question #4:
Next time we're gonna talk about tipping, right?
More good news for future home buyers (and
their credit reports): 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. Hit
their website or
call
their Austin office at:
(512) 329-9040
or toll-free: (877) 340-9040.
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. Hit
their website or
call
their Austin office at:
(512) 329-9040
or toll-free: (877) 340-9040.
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.
What's in your credit files? How do you know?
Yeah-I've heard the faulty logic: "I get dozens of pre-approved
credit card applications every month, so I must have great credit."
Wrong, Einstein: Don't come cryin' to me if your file's loaded with credit
crapola. Get
to work and find out what's in your file-here's how.
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.....
Speaking
of brain-damage, Californians should check out this special section on
the website 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.
Don't get suckered in by
countless radio-commercial claims from car leasing companies out
to hook you, 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!
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.
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.....
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!
Okay chicken, so
you didn't want to fight the brain-damage of Thanksgiving travel...fine!
Goin' anywhere for Christmas? It's only 21
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.
NostraDover, Part III-I've been tellin' ya that
this may be the hottest gift of the 2003 holiday season for the last several
weeks: The Saturday, 11/29/03 edition of The
Boston Globe spotlighted Dallas-based "Despair.com"
and their line of "Demotivational"
products: Cheer up...this stuff is hilarious,
incredibly-affordable and their no-brainer gift catalog? Only a click
away.....
Diamonds are still a girl's
best friend. Here's how to buy 'em right, and get 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.
How deep are your pockets?
Wanna even-up the gift-giving score for the next coupla years?
Okay, so this one's not
for everyone's budget...(but at least you won't have to worry about fighting
lines at the post office to get this gift delivered on time).
Is getting right with the IRS on your list of
New Year's Resolutions for '04? Don't even think about trying to make a
deal with them 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.
Looking for a few December '03 gift ideas?
Why not...
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