USAA Credit Card Expect More from USAA

So, Im a huge fan of USAA. I have my auto and home insurance through them and find it to be one of the most reputable companies in this country. Agents are always prompt, courteous, professional and never try to add things you dont need.

Im personally not a military veteran, but am privileged enough to have access to it because my father-in-law served in the 1960s. USAA has built an outstanding reputation for its customer service as well as business acumen dealing with customer claims and needs. Its a company you have a feeling will treat you better than any other insurance company out there. My father, who is an attorney, recently had to deal with USAA for the first time in his career regarding a multi-million dollar client claim.

Read more…

• 0 Comments

Debt solution company, ClearDebt, believes todays government personal insolvency figures reflect a worsening in peoples ability to repay debt.

The 6% increase in bankruptcies and debt relief orders between the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 indicates, we believe, a worsening in the circumstances of many indebted individuals and that some are giving up all hope of repaying their debts and electing to become insolvent instead. This is backed up by our experience, where ClearDebt has seen a small increase in the numbers of people in debt management plans where we have actually recommended bankruptcy instead, but our clients resist such advice.

Whilst, year on year, personal insolvencies are down, I dont believe that fee-charging debt resolution companies, like ClearDebt, are seeing a fall in demand for our services.

Read more…

• 0 Comments

Discover Open Road Card Review

Like most of America, Im spending way too much money on gas.  So, having a credit card that can help you save each month on gas can be vital.  The Discover Open Road Card and its cash back bonus on gas and travel is a little helping hand whether youre commuting to work or taking the All-American road trip.

Heres a quick rundown on all of the cash back bonus perks youll find on the Discover® Open Road Card.

1. Earn up to 2% cash back on up to $250.00 monthly on your gas and travel purchases.
2. Up to 20% cash back on purchases at 150+ online retail stores.  By using the ShopDiscover Program, you can earn up to 20% back at select retailers.
3. 1% Cash back on everything else after you spend $3,000 in the calendar year.  0.25% cash back is earned on the first $3,000 you spend annually.
4. Double your cash back As long as you purchase a gift card from one of the 100+ Discover partners.  However, you must earn $20 before you can redeem for a gift card or $50 (and every $50 increment after) if you want to credit your account.
5. No expiration dates on that cash back as long as you dont let your account go inactive for 18 months.

Discover Open Road Card Perks

• No annual fee for the Discover Open Road Card.
• 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months The introductory APR has its advantages but there is a 3% charge on all balance transfers.
• Live 24/7 Customer Service and Support Never talk to machines!
• $0 Fraud Liability and Travelers Insurance Never pay for an unauthorized purchase and travel worry free with up to $500,000 travelers insurance.

If youre the type of guy or gal that does their fair share of traveling whether it is for work or for leisure, the Discover® Open Road Card couples standard cash back benefits and a little added bonus for gas.  It is one of the more popular cards around, but the benefits dont exactly scream come get me.

However, the card is a pretty straight forward choice from Discover and it offers the status quo of options.  The ability to get the extra on gas purchases is competitive and Discover is upping their game in the customer service department so you may want to give it a look.

• 0 Comments

ClearDebt welcomes the report on Debt Management and other consumer credit matters issued today by the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee and endorses the comments made on it by Debt Resolution Forums chairman, and CEO of ClearDebt, David Mond, who said:

This report is published at a time of great change in debt resolution, with new guidance from the OFT expected shortly, with changes in funding and access to debt advice being put forward by the Money Advice Service and with the possibility of the development of a protocol compliant or regulated debt management plan being put forward by the Insolvency Service.

DRF spokesman and ClearDebt marketing and external affairs director, Andrew Smith, made the point in evidence to the committee that a clear danger to consumers was businesses which didnt operate their client accounts properly.

listen to ‘Andrew Smiths testimony to HoC Business, Innovation & Skills Committee excerpt’ on Audioboo

• All client funds are paid into client accounts
• Clearly designated client accounts which the bank MUST treat as ring-fenced for clients (i.e, in the event of insolvency the bank could not set off monies due to them against these accounts)
• No interest accrues on the balances
• No bank charges are debited to the client accounts.
• Monthly reconciliations are performed to show that there are sufficient monies in the client account to cover all liabilities

Further reaction from Andrew Smith to todays report by MPs can be heard below:

• 0 Comments

Each year, LexisNexis honors a select group of blogs that set the online standard for a given industry. I’m honored that my blog is one of the nominated candidates for the Top 20 Tax Law Blogs of 2011, featured on the LexisNexis Tax law Community.

Each comment is counted as a vote toward my blog, so I invite your comments to support my nomination. To submit a comment, visitors need to log on to their free LexisNexis Communities account. If you haven’t previously registered, you can do so for free by following this link.

Click here and you will be led to the announcement post on LexisNexis Tax Law Blog Nominees. The comment box is at the very bottom of the blog nomination page. You will only need to fill in your name and type in Tax Problem Attorney Blog with your comments in the comment box.The comment period for nominations ends on November 18, 2011.

Read more…

• 0 Comments