The Article Blog

 Did you read this article on Salon.com late last month? Entitled, “Why loan modification scams are booming,” it’s all about how bad things are getting for the unwary borrower who is in danger of foreclosure, needs a loan modification, doesn’t know where to turn, and makes the mistake of falling prey to one of the hundreds of shady “foreclosure rescue” companies who are currently out there looking for victims to rip off.

 According to the article, “…law enforcement agencies at all levels across the country have filed suit against 150 such companies, but they continue to proliferate, and the number of consumer complaints continues to rise.”

As an example, it mentions one particular company–21st Century Legal Services–who has been sued by four states and is under investigation by at least three more.

“Over 150 consumers from more than 30 states have filed complaints against 21st Century with the Better Business Bureau,” the article says. “No active firm has more complaints. Yet the company forges on. Operating under a new name, Fidelity National Legal Services, it continues to solicit consumers nationwide, even in states where authorities have won court injunctions.”

I’ll let you read the rest of the article yourself for more gory details about these scam artists, but the point is that the number of companies charging up-front fees and making guarantees they can’t deliver is increasing, not decreasing, so the problem is getting worse, not better. That means it’s even more important that homeowners who find themselves facing foreclosure know where to turn for real, honest help so that they don’t get duped by these unscrupulous crooks.

An assisted loan modification program, like the one offered by The Homeowner Center, provides borrowers with all the genuine help and one-on-one guidance they need to process their loan modification themselves–and at a fraction of the price. So, let’s all be vigilant and spread the word! Let’s do all we can to keep these con artists from claiming any more innocent victims!

Christina Inman, the CEO of TheAgentCenter.com, has been a real estate industry specialist, author and broker for 17 years.

Virtually all vehicles will require at least one major repair job before it is put out to pasture. Finding the right repair shop is an important issue. With the current state of the economy in the United States, the average American is making less and having to spend more and more on products and services so it is imperative to make the best decision possible regarding your car’s automotive repair service. Some car repair shops specialize in providing quality workmanship at reasonable prices. Others, like many car dealer shops for instance, specialize in going the extra mile – and charging you for it – when it is not necessary

Look for shops that display various certifications – like an Automotive Service Excellence seal, for example. This type of certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competence in specific technical areas.

Check to see that the certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of good or honest work. Don’t be afraid to ask if the technician or shop has experience working on the same make or model vehicle as yours.

Another excellent way to find a quality repair shop is to ask friends and co-workers where they take their own cars for servicing. You may also want to consult the Better Business Bureau for further information on the auto service shops in your area.

Most vehicles will need at least one big repair job before they are retired. If you don’t already have a regular car repair shop you may have a difficult time finding one. Price is important to everyone. With the current state of the economy in the United States and elsewhere, just about everyone is holding onto their money whenever possible so it is important to find the best value when it comes to car repair and service.

Some car repair shops specialize in providing quality workmanship at reasonable prices. Finding one of these repair shops is a voyage of discovery worth taking. A good car repair shop run by qualified car mechanics and trustworthy people is a service you’ll find yourself returning to time and time again over the years.. One of their favorite tricks of shady operators is selling you parts and service that you don’t really need. When your car is in pieces spread all over the shop and the mechanic tells you it needs a bunch of new parts there’s not much you can do about it. They more or less have you where they want you. Don’t kid yourself. This happens all the time.

The Internet has to be the best thing since sliced bread! I have been addicted for many years that’s for sure. For some time now I have been successfully creating a full-time income online and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with it. But I was kept in the dark for years.

The paranoid amongst us may have thought there was some kind of conspiracy afoot trying to keep the big money and my bank account apart! It’s no secret among the people who know me that I have tried everything online to make money and failed many times.

But I would say to myself after every failure that I’m one step closer to success. I would pick myself up, dust myself off and get on with trying something else.

One of the first things which really started paying off for me was doing paid surveys. I didn’t earn massive amounts of money but I pulled in enough to tell my boss where to go and create enough spare time to pursue more profitable ventures.

But getting paid to take free paid online surveys was the beginning of everything for me. Paid surveys are a fantastic way to earn some extra cash and actually get paid online. As opposed to getting scammed and losing all your hard earned moolah.

That happens to a lot of people. And that’s not all, it gets worse. Some of the scams are so bad that people have had their identity stolen and lost a lot more than the cost of the bogus product.

A paid survey job has become recognised as a legitimate and sound way to work from home on the Internet and make enough money to actually give up the daily rat race!

You will find hundreds of websites related to taking free paid online surveys. People like yellowsurveys.com, freepaidsurveys.net, surveyclub.com, internetpaidsurveys.com and many many more. The list is endless.

Make sure you do your due diligence and research the background to any company which you decide to go with. See if they are listed at the better business bureau and Google them for reviews.

Bear in mind you can earn good money taking surveys but you can also be seriously ripped off. Make sure the outfit is firing on all cylinders before you spend your valuable time with them.