Fill your gas tank for $1

How many times have you been low on gas and low on cash with payday a week away? You need gas to get to work but you still have to eat...What do you do? What if I told you that you could fill up with a full tank of gas and it would only cost you $1 upfront? Would you be interested in this little known secret? Of course you would, so listen closely!

Let's say your gas tank is on fumes and you have $25 to your name on your debit card with a week to go until payday. You still need cash for the week but you don't want to borrow money from a friend or family member because you like to stay independent. Here's what you do. Draw $20 out of the ATM for lunch or whatever. Next, you go to a gas station with just a couple bucks available on your debit card after any fees associated with the $20 withdrawal.

Now you simply swipe your debit card at the pump but choose "CREDIT" instead of debit and you can now fill your gas tank with as little as $1 available on your debit card. Now, obviously you're going to have to pay for this gas on your next direct deposit along with an overdraft fee from your bank so make sure you're on empty when you do this and be sure to max pump since you will be charged the full overdraft fee whether you get a half a tank or fill it up.

I won't get into the dynamics of why this works...I'm just telling you that it does. When it's all said and done you get a full tank of gas for as little as $1 upfront and the only downside is that you'll have to pay your banks overdraft fee. It's basically a fancy cash advance.

And lastly, this is not illegal and it is not a scam. It's a loophole and that's all it is. Use it sparingly and you will limit bank overdraft fees.

Note: I have only tried this with direct deposit associated with my debit card. I have not tested this with a debit card that was not tied to direct deposit.


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100% Free Credit Scores

If you did a Google search for free credit scores, your search would net a ton of results. Sure, the offers may sound great but just be aware that "some" of them will ask for your credit card information. The reports are free, but in order to get them you'll be required to sign up for monthly credit monitoring!

They'll tell you that it's just a trial and as long as you cancel before the trial ends, your credit card will not be charged. What they're banking on is that you won't remember to cancel the trial...and most people don't. It could take months before you even notice that you're being charged.

My advice is to compare offers and read the fine print the next time you are looking for free annual credit reports and if the condition is that you sign up for a trial, just remember to cancel in advance so that you don't get charged!


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Thank you, 800notes.com

800notes.com is a free reverse number look-up database that's used for identifying unknown bill collectors that call and harass at all hours of the day and night. Simply input the phone number into the search box and click on "search" and the database will reveal the caller about 90% of the time.

Alternately, you can just "Google" the unidentified number and look for 800notes.com in the search results. You can now read what other people of the community have to say about their call experiences with hundreds of bill collectors from around the globe.

You can use this valuable information to assist you in maneuvering through the myriad of phone calls from harassing bill collectors. I have used 800notes.com on numerous occasions and they've proven themselves to be a valuable resource for identifying unknown callers. Give them a try!


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Top Credit Repair Myths

Although this blog was created to assist people with bill collector harassment, ideally the main goal is to stop harassment AND repair your credit at the same time. First I'd like to address a couple of credit repair myths: The credit bureaus will tell you that credit repair companies are a waste of money and can't do anything to repair your credit that you can't do yourself. That's the first lie. They will also tell you that only inaccurate information can be disputed and removed from a credit report. That's the second lie.

Let's start with lie #1: It's true that you can dispute some credit report information yourself and may even be successful if there's only one or two items that need to be removed; however, if there are multiple items as in 10 or more like the majority of people with bad credit, then trust me, you're going to need help. Another way of looking at it is that you can wash your own car but most would rather pay someone else to do it and get all the extras like vacuuming, air freshener and tire dressing. It's just a better use of your time.

Now let's address lie #2: Despite what you may have heard...accurate information can be disputed and removed from credit reports. I've done it myself, but like I said, your time would be better spent letting a professional handle your credit repair needs. If you'd like to know who I currently use and highly recommend, please send me a "private" message and I will respond with the company name, price and contact information!


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The #1 Myth about Payday Loans

I can't tell you how many times I've read about people worrying until it made them sick because a bill collector left a message stating that if they didn't call back by 5pm today that the sheriff would be at their home or place of employment to arrest them and take them to jail for "check and wire" fraud!!!

Heck, I get that same call two or three times a week! In fact, I got one yesterday. The gentleman told me to expect a courier at my home today between 3-5pm and if I'm not available they will be forced to have my supervisor or HR Dept at my job sign for the summons! REALLY?? Give me a break!!! I sent him a text back and said "See you tomorrow." Needless to say, no one ever showed up. I did give him 2 extra points for originality due to the loud shuffling of papers in the background as he searched for the couriers' state license number. Nice touch, buddy!

Listen, it doesn't matter if you got the loan in the store or online. I've done plenty of both. Folks...You cannot go to jail for failing to pay back a payday loan. It is not fraud...It is not against the law. PERIOD. If you don't believe me you can call up your local police dept and ask them but they probably have better things to do. Trust me folks...I've had more payday loans than you can shake a stick at and I have never been arrested nor served a summons to appear in court over a payday loan. It's a bluff and that's all it is. Repeat after me: There is NO Debtor's Jail!


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Welcome to Bill Collectors Hate Me!!!

My true identity is not important. To bill collectors I am simply known as "The Ghost".
Bill collectors hate me because I am invisible, unshakable, unflappable and untouchable. I started this blog after years of harassment from bill collectors who were relentless in the pursuit of their money by any means necessary. They didn't care that I was going through a bad time and legitimately couldn't pay. The more threatening and disrespectful they were towards me, the more I stood my ground, but I NEVER let them bully me into making a payment.

Just recently, I found myself being sued for $1,600 by Tidewater Credit for a purchase I made about 4 years ago that I never paid. I had good reason for not paying but that's another story. The moment I opened the summons I knew right away that I was going to fight it. Everyone that I knew told me that I would not win the case...but I did. The case was "DISMISSED" in less than 30 days of me answering the summons. Total court cost to answer the summons: $225. Not having to pay those fools: PRICELESS!

Today, I am proud to say that I have worked very hard to become more responsible. Through my hard work and dedication, I have managed to improve my credit over the past year and have vowed to never be late on another payment. I created this blog because I wanted to share what I've learned from dealing with annoying bill collectors. Hey, nobody's perfect and I don't pretend to be. All I can do now is move forward. Okay, let's start with Lesson #1: YOU CANNOT GO TO JAIL FOR NOT PAYING A BILL!!! PERIOD...END OF DISCUSSION. Furthermore, you can sue the bill collector for telling you that!!!


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GLC launches City Rights Hubs to help the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Glasgow

Govan Law Centre is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new City Rights Hubs service funded by the Big Lottery Fund, from the Support and Connect Project. We will be providing outreach surgeries to Glasgow City Mission, The Marie Trust, Lodging House Mission Homelessness Day Centres, along with Base 75 and Grand Central Savings and other organisations.

The aim of our new project is to provide vulnerable and marginalised people in Glasgow access to their rights in terms of welfare benefits, debt, housing and homelessness law, and access to sustainable financial services.  We will bring tailored packages of services to where the greatest need is in the City of Glasgow. The project will work closely with our established Govan Law Centre team to develop and deliver the service. We are recruiting the following new posts:

Senior Solicitor, Part Time 18.5 hrs per week, Salary Pro Rata £29,405 p.a. We require a Senior Solicitor with significant court and tribunal experience to work within our new City Rights Hubs service funded, by the Big Lottery Fund.  Job specification is here.

Vulnerable Client Financial Inclusion Caseworker, 34 hrs per week, £25,000 p.a. We require a Vulnerable Client Financial Inclusion Caseworker with current welfare rights experience to work within our new City Rights Hubs service, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Experience of working with vulnerable groups is essential. Job specification is here.

Rights Hubs Project Administrator,  34 hrs per week, Salary commensurate with experience. We require an administrator with legal clerical experience to work within our new City Rights Hubs service, funded by the Big Lottery Fund.  Job sharing will be considered for this post. Job specification is here.

To apply for any of the above posts, please send a CV and personal covering letter to: “GLC City Rights Hubs Project”, Govan Law Centre,  18-20 Orkney Street, Glasgow,  G51 2BZ.  Closing Date:  Noon,  9^th August 2013. E-mail: m @govanlc.com

How to tackle payday lenders: GLC's new Payday Loan Survival Guide

With 90% of the payday lending market failing to comply with consumer protection laws to the severe detriment of vulnerable consumers, Govan Law Centre (GLC) believes there is now an urgent need to help people in the UK fight back against payday lenders.

The payday lending market was recently referred to the Competition Commission, and in 2011/12 there were 8.2m new payday loans made in the UK alone. There is every expectation that this number will continue to rise, and with it the financial exploitation of consumers across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

GLC has therefore decided to publish a free 'Payday Loan Survival Guide' for consumers across the UK. Our new guide explains how consumers can take back control of their finances, challenge unfair interest and charges, stop payday lenders from emptiying their bank accounts, and pay back debts legally due on a reasonable and affordable basis. The guide has been written by GLC's Principal Solicitor, Mike Dailly.

Govan Law Centre's new Payday Loan Survival Guide is designed for all consumers across the UK in difficulty with payday loans, and can be downloaded here (as a PDF) for free.

Our guide is free. It has been produced without funding, and we will be posting a link where charitable donations to GLC can be made by those who would feel able to help our work in this field.

GLC Scottish test case win for school child with diabetes

Solicitor for Callum,
GLC's Sarah-Jane Kissock

A child with diabetes has won a landmark ruling which saw the local authority criticised for failing to provide adequate support for his health care needs. 

Callum Wyper, aged 7, a pupil at Dykehead Primary School in Shotts, requires support during the school day to manage his diabetes, which includes the administration of insulin. However, due to a lack of provision by the education authority, Callum ended up missing nearly two months of school between December 2012 and January 2013.

North Lanarkshire Council had relied on volunteers from among existing school staff to support pupils with diabetes with their insulin regimes, but when this support was withdrawn and the education authority failed to provide alternative provision, Callum’s mother Julie and step-father James, felt they had no option but to withdraw him from school to ensure his diabetes was safely managed.

 

The Additional Support Needs Tribunal, which determined the case, decided that it would have been reasonable to recruit support staff whose duties included a responsibility for the administration of insulin. In failing to do so, the Council were found to have unlawfully discriminated against Callum in relation to his disability.

 

The Equality Act 2010 includes a duty on schools to make “reasonable adjustments” for disabled pupils. Since September 2012, that duty has included a duty to provide auxiliary aids and services, where required. This case which was taken on by the Govan Law Centre is regarded as an important test case and is the first to deal with the thorny issue of administration of medicines in school. The decision clarifies that the duty to assist disabled children with medication and other health care needs lies with the education authority. And as such, it is likely to benefit thousands of children with long-term medical conditions in schools across Scotland.

 

Callum’s mother Julie said: “We are so glad this is all over. We knew we were right to challenge the school and knowing the Tribunal have backed our case is a huge relief. All we wanted is for Callum to have the same chances at school as any other wee boy and are really pleased that the school and the council must take Callum’s diabetes seriously.”

 

Solicitor Sarah-Jane Kissock, of Govan Law Centre's Education Law Unit, who represented the family, said “We are very pleased that Callum's family have been vindicated by this decision and that arrangements will now be put in place to make sure that he does not have to miss school again in the future. We would urge Councils across Scotland to review their own policies in light of this decision to ensure that the support needed by children with diabetes is in place and secure. No child should miss out on their right to education as a result of a disability.”

 

Jane-Claire Judson, National Director of Diabetes UK Scotland who also attended the hearing in support of the family said: “The tribunal has demonstrated that failure to deliver on a school’s duty of care and not having inadequate plans in place to support a child with diabetes will lead to serious discrimination. The detrimental consequences to a child’s education are significant when such discrimination takes place as evidenced by this case. It is not a situation we expect to see in Scotland’s schools.

 

“Diabetes UK Scotland is pleased to note that the tribunal were very clear in their recommendation that caring for a child who needs insulin in school is a serious issue that needs to be anticipated and planned for.”

 

“Schools have a legal duty to put in place provision for supporting children with diabetes and for administering insulin. We look forward to seeing the council’s new policy on looking after children with diabetes in schools so that care programmes are developed that ensure teachers, support staff, and parents work together to look after the needs of the child. It is a disappointing situation that a family would have to pursue this through a tribunal process to ensure their child’s right to an education”

 

The case has also attracted the interest of Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Tam Baillie, who has been working on this issue for some time, following concerns raised by children and young people, their parents and practitioners. To take this work forward, he has commissioned and undertaken a series of research reports which have looked at the issues in more detail.

 

A working group has since been set up by the Commissioner to consider the findings from these reports and look at recent policy, legislative and practice developments, with a view to making formal recommendations to the Scottish Government.