Credit Advisors - Defeat Debt

Good to the Last Drop

Gas prices are back on the increase. (Do any of us really expect them to go down again?) Now is the time to review our driving habits to squeeze as much as possible out of every penny we spend on fuel. Follow these tips for both your everyday driving and for your road trips this summer to stay as energy efficient as possible.

Plan & Combine Your Trips

Plan your route - when running errands to avoid needless back and forth mileage, and on road trips to avoid needless sitting in traffic or back tracking for road construction.

Combine errands into one trip. Short trips with a cold engine (we know, we know - how cold can an engine be in summer?) uses more fuel than a multi-purpose trip when the engine has had an opportunity to go through its paces.

Avoid rush hour. The less time you spend in traffic, the lower the amount of fuel your vehicle will consume. Even on a road trip make every attempt to avoid metropolitan areas during peak traffic times. Best of all, it’s less aggravating for you.

Think about walking, taking public transportation, or car pooling with friends and neighbors. (They have to run errands too!)

Proper car maintenance

Check and maintain proper tire pressure. An under inflated tire will put more tire surface on the road requiring greater use of fuel to move the vehicle. Remember too, an over inflated tire may blow if it heats up when running on the road or sitting in the sun. However, when properly inflated a tire will not only require less fuel it will be safer and last longer as well. (Besides, who wants to change a blown tire on a road trip, anyway?)

Check and maintain proper wheel alignment. Improper wheel alignment consumes more fuel. The old saying wasn’t the shortest distance between two points is a squiggly line, now was it?

Keep your engine properly tuned. While it may be obvious it is true. Don’t forget to change filters as recommended in your owner’s manual.

Select the correct octane rating suitable for your car. If your car does not require premium, select the more economical fuel with lower octane.

Plan and combine your trips
to save fuel.

Drive efficiently

Do not allow your vehicle engine to idle for long periods of time, if at all possible. You are expending fuel with no mileage to show for it. Some experts recommend turning off your motor if you find yourself idling for more than two minutes.

Don’t ride the brake and/or clutch. It wastes fuel - plus it’s annoying to other drivers trying to figure out why your brake lights keep going on.

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) is a big no-no when trying to conserve fuel. Sensible driving is not only safer but can save you money too. (In time trials on the same in city route drivers who drove the speed limit and those who were speeding arrived at their destination within minutes of each other.)

Switch off the air-conditioner whenever possible. It requires more fuel to keep it running. Use your cruise control on the highway. Speed consistency also saves fuel. Finally, take an inventory and empty the trunk of unnecessary gear. Keep the emergency kit and whatnot, but most of us carry much more than we actually need in our cars, which can add to our fuel usage.

Calling All Account Updates — ALERT

Creditors are on the move again. May Company has transferred accounts to Macy’s. New account numbers have been assigned. If you have an account with any of the companies listed below it is very important to the continued success of your DMP that you check and compare your new statements as they arrive. You’re looking for new account numbers, new terms and/or new payment addresses. This information needs to get to CAF as soon as possible.

Send a photocopy of your statement by mail (please write “Attn: Research” on the front of the envelope), email us at clientcare@creditadvisors.org, or simply call 888-942-9027 with the new information.

The following companies have been affected:

Famous Barr
Filene’s
Hecht’s
Jones Store
Kaufmann’s and Strawbridge’s

The Realities of Identity Fraud

We owe you an apology. Really. You may not hear that very often. But there you go. In past editions of the Defeat Debt we’ve discussed identity theft, credit report errors and other issues related to fraud and the misuse by others of your personal information. In those stories we’ve explained in detail how to file complaints and the processes you must follow to resolve these issues, yet never once have we discussed the various difficulties you will face. We have yet to address the frustrations of attempting to be heard (and believed) or the obstacles you’ll be required to overcome to reach a ‘final’ resolution. Nor have we discussed how often in the new reality of ‘old’ debt buyers it occurs that there may never be a ‘final’ resolution as old issues resurface long down the road.

Often, the first time you will know about identity theft is when a creditor or collector contacts you to collect payment on the debt. Such a revelation can stop you in your tracks. It can be shocking. You may feel many different emotions, not the least of which is fear for your hard-won financial reputation and the tarnish of your good name.

How you proceed at this point and going forward will be very important. First, you will want to begin keeping a detailed log of any and all conversations and correspondence in reference to the debt. Each log entry should include the following: all contact information for the person with whom you spoke (name, phone number, address, email address, fax), summary of the discussion (date, time, length of conversation) or correspondence and a listing of any further steps to be taken in relationship to the contact.

Send all correspondence certified mail, delivery receipt requested. Don’t forget to keep a copy of everything you send as well. For some documentation you will want to keep the original and send only copies.

Do everything you can to maintain a calm, business-like demeanor during all contacts. Easy to say, but possibly not so easy to do. Yet, if you do become upset, it is to your advantage (and good health) to make every effort to stay calm. Yes, the process can become frustrating. Yes, at times, you may feel you are being manipulated, insulted, laughed at or embarrassed. If so, you may be speaking with someone inexperienced in handling such a situation. Calmly ask to speak to a supervisor. It will better serve your cause to write down this information in your log than to lash out at the person you are speaking with.

It may take some time to completely clear the situation. Don’t be surprised if the issue rears its head again in a few years. The debt may be sold in a block of uncollectible debts by the original creditor to a debt collector. This is the moment when it is so important to have kept all of your records from your previous work.

Ask questions again. Get the contact information for the person you are speaking to, again. Start another log. Although once the collector has made contact with you they have five days to send you notice of the debt, immediately make copies of the previous correspondence for the identity theft and send to the collector - delivery receipt requested. Here is another hint: tell the collector this is not your debt, tell the collector that the debt is the result of identity theft - but don’t use the term “dispute”. According to sources in the collection industry, disputing the debt says that you disagree with the amount, terms or other conditions of the debt - not that the debt is a fraudulent identity theft account.

In these situations, patience is definitely a virtue. Go through the process as many times as necessary and stand your ground. By maintaining your vigilance you can get through these difficult circumstances and move forward with your life. Of course, never forget, save your documentation.

Word Search

The words listed below are from the articles in this edition of Defeat Debt. Hidden in our Word Search puzzle, test your skill and find all seventeen words.

The Kitchen on a Dime

Slow-cooked Smokey Black Beans

Both spicy and sweet, these slow-cooker beans are an excellent accompaniment to grilled chicken or barbecue turkey. Easy to put together, this recipe doesn’t require a lot of attention or tending while cooking, leaving you with time to enjoy family summer fun.

Slow-cooked Smokey Black Beans
are excellent with grilled chicken.

Ingredients:

1 pound dry black beans, soaked overnight

4 teaspoons bacon drippings

1 onion, chopped

2 teaspoons hickory-flavored liquid smoke

2 tablespoons dark molasses

½ cup packed brown sugar

4 slices pickled jalapeno peppers (fresh seeded and sliced jalapeno may be used if you prefer)

Directions:

Remove black beans from soaking water, drain, and place in a slow-cooker. Fill the slow-cooker with enough fresh water to just cover the black beans. Cover the slow-cooker and set to High heat.

Heat the bacon drippings over medium heat in a small skillet. Add onions. Cook and stir until onions are translucent. Stir onions into the beans. Add the remaining ingredients (brown sugar, liquid smoke, molasses, brown sugar and jalapeno) to the bean and onion mixture in the slow-cooker. Stir to blend. Re-cover slow-cooker. Cook the beans and seasonings on high heat for 5 to 6 hours or until the beans are tender.

Makes 8 servings at 65 cents per serving.