GM vs. Consumer Reports

Mar 022011
 

Chicago Tribune, Business page, Tuesday March 1, 2011

 

Chevy Volt gets 26 miles in “hasty” test:   GM’s mostly electric Chevy Volt turned in a lackluster efficiency performance in winter road tests by Consumer Reports in which the vehicle ran for 26 miles before its gasoline engine kicked in.  GM questioned CR’s “hasty” decision to test the car in the coldest temperatures this winter.?

 

I guess its not a car for all seasons. You’ll get great mileage if you take the bus when it’s too cold.:smileywink:

Improving credit

Nov 052010
 

The last time I checked my score it was 740. This year however it has dropped to 688 through TU and 696 through equifax because I’ve opened too much credit this year. The first card was back in March and it was my Kittle’s card. I actually had a card through them that I opened in 2007 when I bought a bed and had a $7500 credit limit on it. I paid it off  before the interest kicked in and didn’t use it again March when I found out they closed it out due to inactivity. I reopened the card through them because my parents’ couches were old and dying (and my dog was contributing to their distruction) and we didn’t figure out the other one had been closed until we went to pay. I had offered to put the new purchase on my card since I already had one and they had their couches 50% off with no interest for the first year. My new limit for that card is $2000. Of course it was maxed out from day 1 because the couches went on it but the balance is now $750 and coming down rapidly as both my parents and I have been making payments on it and are set on paying the couches off before the interest kicks in again.

 

Also, I was stupid and opened an Old Navy Card back in July which was paid off the next month anyway. And I am going back to school without the assistance of my employer as I had originally intended so my student loans have added another ding to my report. There’s my 3 new accounts-the last one is a different loan through the same company I already had loans from  the first round of college. My question is how long will it take before these new accounts no longer count as new and I am safe to look into getting a new (to me) vehicle without further hurting my credit? My car is on its last legs and I really don’t feel safe with driving it through another winter but after looking at my credit, I worry that I have no other choice unless I want to hurt my credit some more.

 

I think my Grandfather will loan me a small chunk of the amount I would owe on a car ($5000 maybe) and if I do it before my car craps out I may have $1000-1500 in a trade in. Since I intend on driving the next vehicle for as long as I reasonably can (10-15 years depending on the year of the vehicle and I don’t want to go earlier than 2007 and would really prefer 2008 or above) I want to get a Jeep Compass as they get about the same gas mileage as my current car does but also has room for my dogs and me-whenever I get ready to move out of my parents’ house. I figure if I want to make it last anyway I need to get what I want when I go to do it.

Be Aware of FRAUD and unethical pricing with Winter Furnace Repairs

Oct 252010
 

 Beutler Air Conditioning Service is blatantly overcharging  by up to 1000% For parts to prepare furnaces for the winter.  This action will affect hundreds if not thousands this winter.

 

Beutler dispatched a tech to a clients home recently as part of a prepaid maintenance contract. The tech recommended replacement of three parts on the furnace.  All furnaces 10 years old or just out of warranty will receive at least these recommendation.
The tech initially stated $600 for the parts and eventually $500 for the parts. I signed the home improvement contract and paid with a credit card. The next day, feeling uneasy about the cost of the parts I researched them and discovered that the parts actually cost less than $75.00. I was overcharged more than $425.00 for the parts. I contacted Beutler’s Operations manager, Bill Roberts, on 21 Oct. He became contentious immediately which is the true sign of something not right.  Rather than review his inventory prices, he initially tried to accuse me of bad research by saying I didn’t have the right prices, but quickly dropped this lie. He then told me the $428 overcharge was the markup of their parts and it included consideration that a trained tech was replacing the parts and a 2 year warranty was included. This is all a LIE. I have a two year Home Service plan with Beutler that grants me a 2 year warranty on all repairs already. The tech was on site as a result of the scheduled Home Service Plan tune-up and no labor was charged. The prices of the parts were created on the spot based on the tech’s perception of my ability to pay (nice house) and not a real price catalog.! I’m sure beutler’s records will show multiple prices charged for the same items. In my opinion this company acted fraudulently and unethically and refuses to correct its error while fabricating more untruths.


The three items were for a York Furnace. 

Based on retail internet prices;
Hot Surface Ignitor – $39.00 (max)  (actually $29 – $39)
Blower Capacitor – $18.00
Rollout Switch – $14.40
Total Cost = $72.40
Total Charged by Beutler $500.00
Overcharge = $427.60
After seeing the parts, it is clear that anyone capable of changing a 9 volt battery could have replaced them in less than 10 minutes.  No expertise was required.

Beutler and other furnace repair companies will perpetrate this same unethical act hundreds of times over the next few months as people worry about their comfort during the upcoming winter.

Consumers must be made aware of these scams during this dire economic time.

Don’t sign anything until you research the part prices.  Call a handy man and save hundreds.

1st GW unsuccessful, next step? (Chase Bank)

Aug 032010
 

Hey everyone, Thanks in advance for reading this and providing feedback!

 

I sent off my first GW letter to Chase bank last month, and I got my reply today:

 

“Dear Avi,

 

Thank you for your recent inquiry in which you asked that we research information reported to the credit bureaus for this account.

 

We have completed our research for your request. As a result of our investigation, we are unable to remove the late payment information reporting on your credit bureau report for this account. A delinquency id reported when two (2) consecutive payments are missed.

 

To preserve the integrity of the credit bureau reporting system, we are unable to alter valid information reporting to the bureaus. We are unable to remove delinquencies as a courtesy, unless Chase Bank reports it in error.

 

We are here to serve your credit card needs[...blah blah blah, etc.]

 

Sincerely,

(persons name)

Financial Service Advisor

Consumer Dispute Verifications”

 

 

Ok, so my feelings,

 

I sent the letter to the address listed on their website, but I didn’t address it to anyone in particular, because I don’t know of anybody there to send it to. It’s apparent that it was sent to the dispute department, but my letter wasn’t about a dispute. I feel as though I got the standard dispute response, where a lower level representative tells you that it is impossible, and there is no way to have anything removed. We all know that to be false. I’m guessing that I have to move up in the chain, but to whom do I send my next letter (suggestions, please!).

 

While I am definitely going to try again, I’m a little less optimistic because of my delinquency record. I was good for two years, then my business went under, and I went 30, 30, 60, 90, 120, 120. That was in the spring/summer of 08. I have a perfect record since then, paying well over the minimum balance. Has anyone ever had 120′s removed? I’ve seen tons of 30′s removed, but a 120 is pretty far out there.

 

This month will be my last payment (YAY!), which will be a $500 lump. I have been paying $500-$700 lumps the past five month to bring it waaaay down, waaay fast. Will I lose any leverage if I pay it off? You know what I mean? Will they just figure, ‘oh, well he’s paid us our money, why should we pay him any mind now?’ .

 

Lastly, for anyone who is interested, here is a copy of my letter: (It was from a template provided here on the forums, I changed the beginning and middle to fit me, with a lot of bits peppered in from the example, with the end is almost exactly like the template – I forget who provided it, but I’m sure you will recognize parts, so thank you!! – )

 

Dear Madam or Sir:

             First I would like to thank you for taking a moment to read this letter; it is about my experience with First USA Bank. This is both a thank you letter, as well as a request concerning my credit card account history, which I would like to have reviewed and updated.

I received my First USA Bank credit card in August 2006, a few months after I started my own welding and fabrication company. Business was great, but like many home improvement companies towards the end of 2007, it began to slow down. I worked hard to stay ahead, but by the middle of 2008, my work had slowed to a crawl, and I began to fall behind on my bills. In respect to your company, I was unable to pay my debts, and ultimately fell behind by more than 120 days. I reluctantly made the decision that it wasn’t realistic to bring my business back, so I began searching for a full time job with a steady paycheck. Thankfully, I have been able to secure such a job with a local county government, and have been enjoying it since the winter of 2008.

 

 I am fully aware of my responsibility to your company and the debt owed, and from the moment I began receiving steady pay, I have been working diligently to rehabilitate my relationship with First USA Bank. Once I decided to reach out for help, First USA Bank was more than willing to work with me to come up with a repayment plan. For that, I am extremely grateful.

 

 I have been close to the bottom, and I did not like what I saw. I never want to be there again, and have since worked incredibly hard to become a fiscally responsible person. I believe I have acquired the essential organizational and financial management skills I need to continue to stay on top. Thankfully, my improved money management is having a positive effect on my credit records, and aside from my late entries with First USA Bank, it is looking quite good. It has not been easy, and I would like to thank you again, for working with me through my tough times. That being said, I certainly hope we are able to renew our relationship in the near future.

 I have begun to take steps to prepare myself to become a homeowner, so I will be shopping for mortgages in the near future. It has come to my attention that the late notations on my credit report from First USA Bank may hinder me from taking full advantage of the lowest interest rates available. Since those notations do not reflect my current status with First USA Bank, I am requesting that you give me a second chance at a positive credit rating by revising those entries. Your customer service representative suggested that I write you for a “goodwill adjustment.” I sincerely hope that there is chance at redemption with First USA Bank, and I beg you for such consideration. Please let me know if any additional documentation would assist in reaching a positive outcome, and I thank you again for the time you have spent reading this letter.

Very hopefully yours,

 

 [me]

 

 

Anybody see room for improvement? I had like 10 people proof read it, and I went through maybe 15 revisions of it. I’m pretty happy with how it came out, I just wish it would work, lol.

Main thing, can anybody provide me with the name of a person at Chase with whom they’ve had success?

 

Thanks for taking the time to read, I look forward to your replies!

 

-Avi

 

Tips on how to protect your home from winter ice damage

Jan 252010
 

Tips on how to protect your home from winter ice damage
To help minimize ice dam formation on your roof and protect your home from winter damage, Allstate Insurance Company offers the following tips:

Read more on The Advertiser-News

Just trying make sense of it all

Jan 252010
 

I have 3 questions: 

1.  I took a parents loan out for my son in July of 2009(William d ford federal direct loan ) the loan amount was 25,000. The first installment(7000) came in the fall, when it first appeared on my credit report in November my scored increased 70 points. Fast forward to this week, I get another installment for the winter semester and  my equifax scored decreases by 7 points, is this common? And what type of his hit should expect for the spring semester?  

2. My first payment is due in may, should I get a deferment until my son graduates school or should I begin paying the interest? And if I decided to get a deferment for this years loan will it affect my score?

3. Does FASA check your credit score