Here are some of the amusing reasons sites like this are completely irrelevant to all but those of feeble intellect:

• The site was created and run by an organization called Freedomworks which is decidedly representative of the extreme right-wing of the American Republican Party. Also see Dick Armey, Chairman.
• The site supposedly gives a voice to renters who are upset with a supposed government bailout of mortgage lenders. Except they’re not upset (see below.)
• On the site there is a “Sign the Petition to Congress” link which apparently has been taken over by people who see right through the nonsensical nature of this site. 70,000 “signatures” so far!
• Freedomworks is one of the organizations who promoted the “astroturfing” (as opposed to real grassroots) of  the town hall meetings congresspeople were holding on health insurance reform.
• Most of the tenants I deal with are just trying to keep up with their bills. They aren’t concerned about the government bailing-out mortgage lenders because they don’t have a mortgage and it doesn’t affect them.
• …and finally, yes. The picture above represents how renters feel about this topic. NOT!

Post from: The Successful Landlord Blog

How Political Conservatives Exploit Renters

I can not think of a worse occurrence than for Wells Fargo to purchase Wachovia, and here’s why:

A few years back I had a very bad experience with Bank of America where for some years prior their credit card department was completely abusive and refused to provide any semblance of customer service. They were rude, unresponsive and pretty predatory with their credit card policies to the point that I vowed never to use another Bank of America credit card.

At the same time, I had personal and business bank accounts with Bank of America only because there was a branch two blocks from my home. Well, that experience was another “worst.” The tellers would yell (and I’m not exaggerating here) at me through the drive through when the DEPOSIT slip was not “in order.” When I went in to get some extra deposit slips, I was told that, “We don’t do that,” among other rudeness.

Fast forward a couple of years down the road: I sold a property in Singer Island, FL at the start of the big housing bubble run-up, paid off the credit card and transferred about $150K through Bank of America to my new smaller, regional bank.

Within one day, I had a Bank of America customer service rep calling me on the phone to let me know that they could help me invest my $150K. Ya! Thanks but no thanks.

Soon after that, I was sitting in front of a loan officer at Wachovia closing on a mortgage. She mentioned that I could get a “free checking account” with Wachovia because I now had a mortgage loan with them. I replied that I didn’t want to have a checking account a large national bank due to my previous experience with Bank of America.

She took the time and effort to explain that Wachovia did not do business like that and that I would be pleasantly surprised. And she was right. Despite being a big bank, the customer service was great, the bank’s corporate policies were non-intrusive and decidedly customer centric.

This is a  COMPLETE 180° turn from the way Wells Fargo operates. They are, by far, the worst bank I have ever had the displeasure to be a customer at in my life. Every department from their mortgage department to their depository services to their corporate headquarters to their human resources department is run with the bank in mind and not the customer or employee.

I personally will be closing my checking account with Wachovia/Wells Fargo and if at all possible, refinancing my mortgages with them. I will also be telling everyone who will listen about my experiences. In my opinion, life is too short to deal with such an abusive company.

Oh, and I can’t wait to join the class-action lawsuit that will inevitably be filed against them for basically treating cusomters like they’re lucky to be doing business with Wells Fargo.

Post from: The Successful Landlord Blog

Wells Fargo To Purchase Wachovia

The other day I received a refund check from our friends at the IRS for some piddly amount of money. I debated sending it back with a note saying, in effect, “You obviously need this more than me” but I deposited it instead.

In with the check was a card (pictured) that partially read,

If you think we may have made an error, please call us. If you are certain that the refund check is too large, please return the check with a letter to the service center where you filed your return and we will send you the correct amount. If the refund is too large and you don’t return the check, you may owe us interest.

Now, what in the hell is THAT about? So let me get this straight. If we screw up, we get penalized. If YOU screw up, WE get penalized? WTF?!

Oh but wait, this is America and we can appeal an IRS decision. So we have to go to tax court to do this, but at what cost?

Why is it that nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions? Even the government? Even the IRS who can not be sued, still will not take responsibility for their own actions. Nice!

Post from: The Successful Landlord Blog

Will Somebody Take Responsibility For Something?

So, I’m on hold the other day and the hold music is a local West Palm Beach, FL radio station. This cheesy “credit repair” commercial comes on saying how we can fix your credit, blah blah blah.
At the end of the commercial, the announcer says, “We take care of unlucky people.”

What?!

U-N-L-U-C-K-Y?

WTF!?

Ok, so before you get all up-in-arms about that statement, I understand that shit happens and people have unforeseen circumstances occur in their lives. There are medical emergencies (in this country? no!), divorce, natural disasters (Katrina?), job loss, The Bush Administration (ok I made that last one up,) etc.

I think that most of these situation CAN be recoverable situations provided that the proper steps are taken. You know, keep a cash reserve, purchase insurance, etc?

The amazing thing is that this credit repair company will get a GREAT response to their commercial and people will call up and say, “I’m just unlucky, please help me.” To which the company will reply, “Sure, just make the money order out to…”

COME ON people! Most of us get “taken care of” until we’re 18 by our parents, for some of us the “care” stops even earlier. Are people just flat-out lazy? Plain stupid maybe?

I know fiscal discipline in America is not one of society’s strong points but you just KNOW that when commercials like that start appearing, the number of fiscally undisciplined people is large.

Now I don’t like my liquid assets sitting there being eaten away by inflation as much as the next guy but I think that in these times it’s necessary to have ready cash just in case.

Post from: The Successful Landlord Blog

Why We Are Expected To Be Irresponsible and Stupid