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In friday’s Wall Street Journal on page 1 was a story titled “Marketers Use Trickery To Evade No-Call Lists“. The National Do Not Call Registry was insituted to give Americans the ability to stop solicitations by phone in response to the telemarketing industry basically flooding people with phone calls. If you aren’t on the list and you are reciving telemartketing calls that you do not want I suggest you get on it.
When my girlfriend and I moved to the west coast we were hammered with 4 to 5 calls, on average, per day until we got on the list. Our phone is now peacefully quiet.
I also suggest you go read this full article, especially if you have an older person in your life that you care about.
JENNIFER LEVITZ and KELLY GREENE
October 26, 2007; Page A1Older Americans around the country are getting duped by a seemingly innocuous tactic that can expose them to hard-sell pitches from the insurance industry.
The technique is centered on a marketing tool called the lead card, and it became popular after the federal government created its Do Not Call Registry in 2003 to shield consumers from unwanted solicitors. Sent through the mail, the lead card invites the recipient to mail off an enclosed reply for free information about, say, estate planning.
Lead cards are not illegal. Selling or leasing contact information is not illegal (although it can be a pain in the neck).
What the telemarketing industry has done is to join with the direct mail industry to do an end run around the law. By sending out lead cards the direct mail industry can then compile a database of people. These lists are then used by telemarketers to call people because a business relationship has been established.
OK, this isn’t illegal. What may be illegal is that the lead cards that have been sent are rather generic and are misleading. They do not come from any specific company per se. This technique may be fraudulent.
In the article several elderly people were pressured by the solicitors to purchase products or shift their savings into things they did not need. If you have a senior loved one pass this on to them.
What can a Prep-Paid Legal membership do in this situation?
Well since it isn’t illegal for a business to contact you about a product or service there isn’t much that can be done on this aspect of it.
If you have been contacted repeatedly and repeatedly to them to not contact you and to remove you from their call list a membership can help in this respect. If you tell them to remove your name from their lists they must do so – this is a federal law.
If you do decide to allow them to present you with their product or service there will be a sales a greement or contract – your membership covers document review to help protect you. Do not let them tell you you don’t need an attorney. If they say that you most definitely do.
To learn what Pre-Paid Legal Service’s Membership plans are available in your area visit my Pre-Paid Legal website.
Since moving west 2 years ago I’ve had an acquaintance who is a small business owner with a shop in a plaza across the street from a major mall. His business is a smoke shop. He also sells soda and knives an a few other things.
In the two years that I have known him his business has been broken into three times. All the break-ins were through the window that looks out on to the parking lot – in full view of anyone who happens to be passing by. However, they have been taking place about 1:00 Sunday morning.
In all cases the police have arrived and surveyed the scene. I wasn’t there so I do not know the full exchanges between him and the police. All I have is his side of the story.
According to him all the plolice did was show up, look around a bit, talk and tell him that whoever did it wore gloves. That was it. I don’t think he has heard anything about the other two times.
To top it off the thieves went through his mail – not a good sign (can you say ID Theft?).
However, as citizens of a democratic nation, we do have the right to have our grievances resolved. The police are part of that process and we expect them to do their best to help us. However, we do have the responsibility to help them to help us.
If you are the victim of robbery or any other crime and nothing seems to be getting done about it what can you do? First, contact an attorney for advice and assistance. Their job is to help us deal with legal situations. Second, follow their advice and recommendations as completely and full as you are capable. Third, have them contact the law enforcement agency on your behalf to get resolution to your situation.
My friend doesn’t have any security cameras in his store. He doesn’t have an attorney. He does have insurance for theft and damages. He doesn’t realize that as these thefts happen his insurance premiums will increase. He doesn’t have a Pre-Paid Legal membership. He doesn’t understand that our Small Business Plan is a valid tax write off for his taxes.
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To learn what Pre-Paid Legal Service’s Membership plans are available in your area visit my Pre-Paid Legal website.
I am not an attorney, therefore, do not take anything in any of my posts as legal advice. In any legal situation, as in a medical situation, always consult a professional.
The posts on this blog are only intended to provide the reader with information on how and in what circumstances they may use their Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. membership.
I am not an employee of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. I am an Independent Associate.
It doesn’t matter if you believe in Global Warming. The truth truly is we ARE destroying our environment. Pesticides and Drugs are showing up in our water and the fish and seafood we eat. The amount of fresh drinkable water available to our growing population is decreasing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2007
BLOGGERS TO UNITE ON BLOG ACTION DAY
All Blogs Invited to Take Part in Joining Voices to Help Environment
An international initiative of bloggers known as “Blog Action Day” launched today, with the aim of uniting thousands of blogging voices, talking about one issue for one day. This year on Blog Action Day, which is slated for Oct. 15, 2007, bloggers will be discussing the environment.
Major blogs have signed up to participate, including Lifehacker, Dumb Little Man, Lifehack.org, Get Rich Slowly, Web Worker Daily, GigaOm, The Simple Dollar, Zen Habits, Freelance Switch, LifeClever, Unclutterer, Pronet Advertising, Wise Bread and many more.
“For just one day, we’d like to unite as many of the millions of bloggers around the world and speak about one issue – the environment,” said Collis Ta’eed, an Australian blogger from FreelanceSwitch.com, and a cofounder of Blog Action Day. “We want to display the potential and the power of the blogging community, which is a disparate community but one with an amazing size, breadth and diversity. By bringing everyone together for one day, we can see just how much can be achieved, and how much we can be heard.”
Blog Action Day is a non-profit initiative, and will be an annual event. As an alternative to blogging about the environment on Blog Action Day, bloggers can opt to participate by donating their blog’s proceeds from Oct. 15 to one of several environmental organizations chosen for this purpose: Greenpeace International, The Nature Conservancy, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the Conservation Fund, and the Sierra Club.
Bloggers who would like to participate in Blog Action Day should visit BlogActionDay.org or email Collis Ta’eed at collis@eden.cc, so they can be listed on the Blog Action Day site. To participate, a blog just needs to write about the issue of the environment on Oct. 15, 2007, or donate its proceeds for the day to one of the chosen environmental organizations.
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Thanks to Dave Lucas for the logo!
On Saturday, September 29, 2007 on Court TV there was a 30 minute documentary about Pre-Paid Legal Services hosted by Mike Moore, the Attorney General who brought the landmark suit against the tobacco companies and won. If you think going to court is hard try being in his shoes. He had two assistant AG’s with him against 68 tobacco attorneys AND the governor of Mississippi!
To learn what plans are available in your area visit my Pre-Paid Legal website.
I am not an attorney, therefore, do not take anything in any of my posts as legal advice. In any legal situation, as in a medical situation, always consult a professional.
The posts on this blog are only intended to provide the reader with information on how and in what circumstances they may use their Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. membership.
I am not an employee of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. I am an Independent Associate.
While I was young both of my parents were teachers and we traveled quite a bit during summer vacation. I don’t ever remember dad getting a moving violation in any of the 40 states we managed to visit before I graduated.
While I was in the Navy I was transferred from the East Coast to the West Coast and I drove. At the time I had a Datsun 310 Hatchback. It was a nice car but didn’t have a very large engine (in the midwest a strong headwind would cause the car to slow down). Along the way I was doing about 5 mph over the speed limit and was being passed by other cars when I was stopped by a State Patrol Officer – or so I thought as I am not so sure now.
I received a speeding ticket. Since I had a deadline to arrive at the west coast I continued on my way and stopped twice a day to try and call to see about making payment arrangements. The phone was never answered. So I was never able to pay. I never received any summons or warrants or notification.
Anyone who travels inter-state as a regular part of their income earning profession knows that their time is limited and any time required to appear in court is extremely limited. So, what happens? Any ticket or fine is paid – whether it is warranted or not. Not only that but it can and does cost more than just the ticket in lost time, wages and possibly increased insurance rates and and a possible hit on your credit score (which has become exremely important these days).
Pre-Paid Legal Memberships have been set up to deal with these situations. You have access to an attorney in every state. Seems really incredible to have an attorney on retainer – not just in one state but all 50 PLUS most of the provinces of Canada! I love it!!
To learn what Pre-Paid Legal Service’s Membership plans are available in your area visit my Pre-Paid Legal website.
I am not an attorney, therefore, do not take anything in any of my posts as legal advice. In any legal situation, as in a medical situation, always consult a professional.
The posts on this blog are only intended to provide the reader with information on how and in what circumstances they may use their Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. membership.
I am not an employee of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. I am an Independent Associate.
In the state of Washington there is a measure coming before the people that would allow people to collect triple damages from any lawsuit won against insurance companies. Needless to say the insurance companies are up in arms about this. In fact, they have put $8,000,000 into a campaign to stop this. They claim it will cause your insurance premiums to rise (the question is what doesn’t make your premiums to rise?).
Proponents have only raised a little over $800,000. Seems like a David and Goliath Story.
Interestingly, the state Attorney General is against the measure while the state Insurance Commissioner is for it.
I have not heard anything about what the AG has to say about it, but the Insurance Commissioner said that if the companies play fair and do what is in the policies they write they won’t have much of a problem. When asked why the insurance companies would be against this he replied that they basically have it too good with the way things are.
On talk radio I listened to a man who was an insurance industry insider. His take on the whole industry could be summed up as this “pay as little as possible and take as long as possible to pay it.” What would this do for insurance companies? Maximize profits. It is as simple as that.
When you get an insurance policy you should have it reviewed by an attorney – it is a contract written by the insurance company’s lawyers! Anytime the policy is changed you should get it reviewed by an attorney. Anytime you have a question about something in the policy talk to the insurance company and then talk to an attorney. Anytime they refuse to pay or take too long to pay talk to an attorney.
What is the common thread in the sentences in the previous paragraph? If you are not sure it is always consult with an attorney ANYTIME you are being seperated from your money, not getting money due you or anytime someone fails to fulfill their side of an agreement. I guarantee the big companies do.
To learn what Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. plans are available in your area visit my Pre-Paid Legal website.
I am not an attorney, therefore, do not take anything in any of my posts as legal advice. In any legal situation, as in a medical situation, always consult a professional.
The posts on this blog are only intended to provide the reader with information on how and in what circumstances they may use their Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. membership.
I am not an employee of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. I am an Independent Associate.
The end of August 2007 marked the end of the 2nd year of the Hurricane Katrina disaster and fiasco. For those of you who have forgotten Hurricane Katrina is the hurricane the virtually destroyed New Orleans and the surrounding area.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to Katrina. Only thousands have returned home. Most of the people displaced are unable to return due to their insurance company not paying what is owed or paying way too little for the people to rebuild their lives. If you remember the news in August 2006 there was a big to do about the insurance companies not paying for this reason or that reason. One reason that sticks in my mind, and craw, was the insurance company would go broke honoring the policies they sold to New Orleans residents.
I recently heard on the news from a former industry insider that the basic (unwritten) policy of all insurance companies is to pay as little as possible and take as long as possible to pay it. That is why they have “insurance adjusters”. Interesting.
Insurance is a “legal” form of gambling. The insurance company is betting that something won’t happen while you are betting something will. That is what an actuarial table is for – it gives the insurance companies the odds and is what they base your insurance payments on. You don’t have access to these odds/tables.
One of the things that insurance companies count on is that most Americans will not seek legal counsel and try to resolve insurance claims themselves. One of the things that Pre-Paid Legal memberships for Families and Small Businesses cover is access to an attorney. Did you know you have the right to legal representation when it comes to insurance companies, insurance claims and insurance policies?
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I am not an attorney, therefore, do not take anything in any of my posts as legal advice. In any legal situation, as in a medical situation, always consult a professional.
The posts on this blog are only intended to provide the reader with information on how and in what circumstances they may use their Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. membership.
I am not an employee of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. I am an Independent Associate.
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