Credit Questions? Just Ask Nicole

Small Businesses: Stop Crying and Adapt, NOW is the Time to Make Money! Take it from Ed King.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners, do yourself a HUGE favor and take the 1:39 required to view this video of Ed King, Director of Small Business  Services at Wayne State University, drop some sure-fire pure gold nuggets of truth!

I had the distinct pleasure of taking Ed King's 'Starting a Small Business' and 'Running a Small Business' courses several years ago. I still keep the binders from those courses on the shelf in my office.

Matter of fact, I even consulted with him about a few things prior to founding Credit Hour. And hey, now that I think about it, I might need to call his office and schedule an appointment for a business check-in and check-up. :)

This man is good, and he definitely tells it like it T-I-S!

"...if you can't handle the truth, get out of small business and go to work for somebody else." ~ Ed King

Now wasn't that worth watching? Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Senator John McCain: Mortgage Crisis, Foreclosures and Mansions

Someone just sent me this YouTube video focusing on Senator John McCain and comments he's made along the campaign trail regarding the current mortgage crisis and the high incidence of foreclosures here in the US.

The video appears to have been created in response to Senator McCain not knowing how many homes he owns when recently asked by a reporter. He told the reporter he'd have to get back to them with the information.

You've probably already seen the coverage of this story on the news, or heard it on the radio, or read it in the newspapers.

But, I was just wondering what you think about the whole thing because this video struck a cord with me.

I personally think Senator McCain is totally out of touch with the working class population of America. And not knowing how many homes or mansions he owns sure doesn't fare well with him being "in touch" with the majority of the people of this country.

Take a look at the video for yourself, and after watching, feel free to sound off your thoughts about it in the comments below.

Don't be Surprised to See Me in the Dollar Store

Let me just start off by saying, I LOVE dollar stores. Not the junky, dirty and messy ones, but the nice, clean, and organized ones.

I often find some really cool and useful stuff in the dollar store. And I each time I go, it's like a mini treasure hunt because I never know what I'm going to discover seeing how the inventory constantly changes.

The other day, I happened to be in an area I don't usually frequent, and I stopped at a dollar store that I spotted. You know, just to see what goodies they might have. :-)

I'm doing my thing, just nosing around the store and picking up a few nick-nacks, when I hear a voice say "Nicole?"

I turned around and immediately recognized the person. It was someone I've casually encountered on a few occasions at various events around and about the metro Detroit area.

We engaged in the normal small talk, and then I was slightly taken aback when she said "I'm SO surprised to see YOU here."

I could tell it was a loaded statement just by the way she said it.

So I asked, "Surprised? How so?"

She said, "Well, I had no idea you shopped in dollar stores. I just didn't figure you for the type."

In my head I'm thinking... Type? What type? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!

Following a very bewildered expression on my face, still smiling nonetheless, I quickly responded, "Honey, it takes all types to shop in the dollar store! But what do you mean by that? I don't get where you're coming from?"

And she went on to explain that based on what I do for a living, by having my own business, and by seeing me around, she just didn't think I shopped in "those" kind of stores. She thought I was more of an "upscale shopper."

Trying not to be offended (because that's where it was headed), I promptly informed her that people from all walks of life shop at dollar stores - regardless of their occupation, their socioeconomic status, or how much money they have in their wallet. And she shouldn't be surprised to see Oprah or a destitute homeless person, or anyone in between, shopping in the dollar store.

I'll admit, I do like nice things. But I also like nice prices. Sometimes I splurge, but in general, I'm a frugal bargain shopper, and a firm believer in getting the most for my dollar, even if what I'm getting is in the dollar store.

The dollar store is my favorite place to buy gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon and bows, fun little craft supplies for kids, those long stem barbecue-type lighters, aluminum foil cooking pans, and toys for my dogs. Heck, I even found raincoats for my dogs at the dollar store!

Seeing as though a great part of my business involves helping consumers improve their credit, which encompasses improving their overall financial profile and saving money, why was it such a stretch for her to see me in the dollar store?

I don't get it.

I'd think that if anything, seeing me in the dollar store would come as no surprise at all.

Change Bad Credit Habits or Credit Restoration Will NOT Work!

Your credit may be bruised and abused, but there's plenty of different ways to improve it. It may take a little time - and maybe an act of Congress - but it can be done. :)

Out of the many strategies and tactics that can be used to help restore your credit, nothing can replace knowledge and accountability.

Both play a vital role in the credit restoration process and if either is ignored, your chance of credit success - especially long-term success - is slim.

Now I can help you take care of the knowledge part. After all, the very core of my business is helping you "get smart about your credit."

But when it comes to accountability, that's something you have to take care of on your own.

I can give you all of the credit knowledge, tips and best practices in the world, and give your credit an overhaul by taking you through my credit restoration process, but if you refuse to implement what you learn and be more accountable for your financial actions, then it all just becomes pretty much a waste.

In order to improve your credit, become a smarter consumer, and move forward in life without repeating the credit mistakes and mishaps of your past, you must be willing to fully commit to the credit restoration process.

And part of that commitment involves being more accountable by kicking old, bad credit habits to the curb!

You can not continue to do things that cause bad credit - like maxing out credit cards, paying bills late, bouncing checks or ignoring your financial obligations - while going through the credit restoration process to achieve better credit.

That's like oil and water - the two simply do not mix!

If you don't ditch the bad credit habits and become more accountable with your money and finances, credit restoration will not have a snowball's chance in hell of working for you!

New Way to Get a 700+ FICO Score in Just 7 Short Days!

There's a NEW proven way to get a 700+ FICO score in just 7 short days!

The process is really easy, quick, and doesn't hardly cost any money at all!

For more information, click here.

California Mortgage Scam Ring Shut Down by AG

Just this week, several mortgage-related lending operations were shut down by California Attorney General Edmund Brown, Jr. for committing many egregious offenses related to a big predatory lending mortgage scam.

The corporate culprits that were shut down are:

• Lifetime Financial
• Nations Mortgage
• Greenleaf Lending
• Virtual Escrow
• Olympic Escrow
• Direct Credit Solutions

The individual culprits named so far, to be brought up on civil and criminal charges, are:

• Eric Pony a.k.a. "Oren", the 25 year old primary ring-leader
• Paulette Pony (Eric's sister)
• Wilma Pony (Eric's mother)
• Eli Hassine
• John D H N Nielsen a.k.a. Doo Hyun No
• Carol Pencille
• Sibpun Ampornpet
• Dean Storm

Their mortgage scam tactics included:

• luring unsuspecting borrowers into high-cost loans after initially promising a much more attractive and favorable set of loan terms

• arranging loans with excessive hidden fees as high as $20,000, and worse financial terms than the borrower's original mortgage, which sometimes left the borrowers with monthly mortgage payments that exceeded their entire monthly income

• offering thousands of dollars in cash back without disclosing that the money would be used to cover the high, excessive fees

• falsely promising to reimburse the borrower for pre-payment penalties that would be assessed by their current lender

• falsifying loan documents, including income information, and creating fake references

• using appraisal reports with grossly inflated home values, copies of which were never given to the borrowers

• pressuring borrowers to sign incorrect loan documents by promising to correct excessive fees

• promising to waive thousands of dollars in fees if a borrower threatened to back out of a loan, and then present a "corrected" set of documents to the borrower, but actually use the original set of documents with the same high, excessive fees to complete the transaction

• forging the names and signatures of borrowers on loan application and closing documents - even sometimes misspelling their names!

• failing to provide copies of signed documents

• refusing to honor written demands to cancel loans

These con-artists purposely sought out vulnerable, unsuspecting borrowers, including the elderly and disabled, with reckless abandon.

And unfortunately, this scam has caused thousands of California residents to either face foreclosure or lose their homes to foreclosure all together.

Attorney General Edmund Brown was quoted as saying, "The illegal sales practices of these companies, run by Eric Pony and his family, included psychological pressure, forgery and outright lies."

AG Brown has taken action to have the companies' bank accounts seized, along with 16 separate private and commercial real estate properties valued at about $6 million, plus personal property - especially luxury cars.

He is currently seeking in excess of $20 million in full restitution and penalties.

You can view the 46-page lawsuit filed by the State of California here.

In the face of the current mortgage foreclosure crisis, where the lending market is under such tight scrutiny and countless Americans are losing their homes because of low-lifes like this, these people have to be some straight-up, bona fied idiots to think they would not get caught!

And what devil ate their souls for them to think it was OK to create a business model based on victimizing innocent, unsuspecting consumers - turning their lives upside down with financial ruin and causing them to lose their homes - all while stacking their pockets with stolen money and buying fancy cars and homes?

They are such scum-bags!

I hope the California Attorney General nails their tails to the wall!

And especially, ESPECIALLY, for messing with elderly and disabled!

Great Quote to Kickoff NCPW: Invest in Your Financial Education, Expect Great Returns

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it from you."

     ~ B.B. King

Seeing as though the theme this year for National Consumer Protection Week is "Financial Literacy a Sound Investment," this quote couldn't be more fitting.

Investing in your financial education is a very wise thing to do.

The cost you pay to better your understanding and management of financial matters will pay for itself many times over during the course of your lifetime.

Making a small investment in your financial education today will not only save you money, but also some precious time and lots of unnecessary aggravation.

If you're a consumer who's experiencing credit problems and you'd like some help understanding how today's credit system works, and how you can improve your personal credit situation, clean up your credit reports, raise your credit scores, and get from behind the financial 8-ball, click here.

I'll add you to the wait-list for my online consumer credit education course which teaches you exactly what you need to know about credit.

I personally work with each person who takes my class by helping them remove inaccurate, negative information from their credit reports and helping them implement personalized strategies for their credit success.

You owe it to yourself to put your financial woes behind you.

Face it, there's no better time than now to "get smart about your credit" and invest in your financial future.

The return will be huge!