Reading the book Maxed Out by James Scurlock. It's a tirade against credit card companies and the way that they go after people. I read a paragraph about double cycle billing (actually less than that, the focus was on something else).
So I did a quick search with a generic search engine and found what double cycle billing was all about. Turns out, I got hit with this last month!
I typically pay my credit card in full each month. I use it a lot, gas, eating out, just about any purchase over a few bucks is on my credit card. Some purchases go on my debit card, but most on credit. Last year, I probably paid under $25 in interest, probably $0, but I can't be sure
So the bill comes monthly and is typically high. No bother, I have enough to cover it, I watch the balance carefully. But a few months ago, I got overly busy and made the payment late. Ok, a late fee and interest, I expect. It was painful (over the $25 mentioned earlier), but it was my mistake.
However, the next month's bill, I was charged interest again, even though the previous balance had been paid in full. I called the credit card company and they explained that this was there policy. If you did not pay the credit card in full, you were charged interest for that month and the following month.
I explained that I switch to this card a few years ago because of some issues with my previous card and that unless something could be done about this charge, I would switch again. The phone call was transferred to cancellations who took my information and my complaint. After a few minutes on hold, I was told that the charge would be eliminated. Checking my account online confirms it has been done.
Morals of the story:
1) Pay your credit card bill in full each month and you don't have to worry
2) If you don't pay in full, know the charges well
3) If you don't like the terms, ask for them to be changed or change cards
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Nobody knows it but me
Friday's beating was not as severe as I had feared. Somehow, showing up in person helped.
Saturday was a lost day. I accomplished very little of what I wanted. Everytime I wanted to get something done, the rug was pulled out from under me so that I couldn't do what I wanted. Such is life. But it is frustrating.
Sunday. First day of the week. A day to go to church and become refreshed. Only I don't feel like starting a new week. The song in the subject line came to me.
It's going to be one of those days.
Tomorrow morning I have to get up very early (4:30 or so) to catch a plane. Short flight, layover, another short flight, layover, 2 hour car ride. Stand-up straight, smile, think on your feet, take a friend to dinner, don't drink to much, say nice things, crash for the night and then reverse all of the above for Tuesday. Don't I sound excited?
A rough week ahead.
Saturday was a lost day. I accomplished very little of what I wanted. Everytime I wanted to get something done, the rug was pulled out from under me so that I couldn't do what I wanted. Such is life. But it is frustrating.
Sunday. First day of the week. A day to go to church and become refreshed. Only I don't feel like starting a new week. The song in the subject line came to me.
It's going to be one of those days.
Tomorrow morning I have to get up very early (4:30 or so) to catch a plane. Short flight, layover, another short flight, layover, 2 hour car ride. Stand-up straight, smile, think on your feet, take a friend to dinner, don't drink to much, say nice things, crash for the night and then reverse all of the above for Tuesday. Don't I sound excited?
A rough week ahead.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The beatings will continue, until morale improves
I'm preparing for a beating. I'll be the beat-ee, not he beat-er. Tomorrow morning, I will walk in and be severely beaten (at least verbally) for work I did not do.
This person wanted some answers and I have none. I was expecting others to care as much as me, silly expectations. I've finally gotten the attention I should have gotten a week ago, but that's going to be late. I may get answers as early as Monday, but I'm not holding my breath.
Instead, I'll sit (or stand) and say things like "yes, I understand" or "we're working on that". I always want to say "I feel your pain", but that won't do.
Wish me luck....
This person wanted some answers and I have none. I was expecting others to care as much as me, silly expectations. I've finally gotten the attention I should have gotten a week ago, but that's going to be late. I may get answers as early as Monday, but I'm not holding my breath.
Instead, I'll sit (or stand) and say things like "yes, I understand" or "we're working on that". I always want to say "I feel your pain", but that won't do.
Wish me luck....
Testing, testing, more testing
My state is reviewing the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT), a set of tests used to measure students' progress and used as part of measurements for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Everyone hates the test and schools spend a large amount of time preparing for the test. "Teach the test" is an often heard phrase. As someone who has seen this as a parent since its inception and a husband of a Special Needs teacher for 5 years, my I see two very different sides.
First as a parent, I have seen the time required to "teach the test" drop each year. The first few years, there was probably a month spent preparation. No one understood, the reasons were unclear, and everyone was frustrated. Now, the time to "teach the test" has dropped to about a week (admittedly, my youngest stopped taking the test 3 years ago - but I saw this when he was in the 8th grade).
As a husband of a Special Needs teacher, I sense frustration that all students are judged on the same level and some of these students are no where near that level.
To understand the reason for PACT and NCLB, one needs to take the way-back machine to the 90's. A time when parents and tax-payers were frustrated over schools. It was a time when business impacted everything, if we could just run the schools like a business, everything would be great (yeah, right). Business used terms like Return on Investment and the ROI for schools just wasn't there. We (collectively we) wanted a way to measure the ROI for schools. Goals 2000 came up (there were probably predecessors) to establish goals for schools. This evolved into what is now known as No Child Left Behind.
The question is, who measures the progress? Well it has to be the schools, the teachers and the school systems. Who designs the measuring stick? Well, as an investor (taxpayer), I should be the one who does, but frankly I (and collectively we) am not capable. So we leave this to school administrators and politicians (who could ask for anything more?)
So the result is we try to business-ize school, have un-qualified people set the standards and measure based on those standards.
So who is to blame for the mess? First, I have to lay the blame squarely at the feet of teachers and schools. Had we been getting results in the 90's, students who could read, write and learn, we would not have had the investor (taxpayer) push to "fix" things.
Second the blame needs to fall on politicians who took what started as a mess and made it worse. They should have realized that education can not be run like a business and let the educators decide how to "fix" things.
Third, the blame lies on local school boards for not pushing back on the federal government. Local districts can opt out of NCLB and forfeit federal funding. Instead, the push is for more federal involvement and that can only mess things up more. To my knowledge, only one district in SC has even considered opting out. The local boards need to be more agressive in setting standards and enforcing them.
Finally, the blame lies with me (and collectively us). I am the one who elects the local board, the state and federal politicians. I should spend more time understanding the requirements, the candidates and I should spend time at the school board meetings. I should not abdicate my responsibility to teach things outside the three R's. It's my job to teach honor, respect and yes even to teach sex education to my children (they will be horrified). It's my job to help my children with their homework (although once they get to Calculus, I'm outta here - I forgot that 20 years ago). By doing my job, I allow the teachers to do theirs.
First as a parent, I have seen the time required to "teach the test" drop each year. The first few years, there was probably a month spent preparation. No one understood, the reasons were unclear, and everyone was frustrated. Now, the time to "teach the test" has dropped to about a week (admittedly, my youngest stopped taking the test 3 years ago - but I saw this when he was in the 8th grade).
As a husband of a Special Needs teacher, I sense frustration that all students are judged on the same level and some of these students are no where near that level.
To understand the reason for PACT and NCLB, one needs to take the way-back machine to the 90's. A time when parents and tax-payers were frustrated over schools. It was a time when business impacted everything, if we could just run the schools like a business, everything would be great (yeah, right). Business used terms like Return on Investment and the ROI for schools just wasn't there. We (collectively we) wanted a way to measure the ROI for schools. Goals 2000 came up (there were probably predecessors) to establish goals for schools. This evolved into what is now known as No Child Left Behind.
The question is, who measures the progress? Well it has to be the schools, the teachers and the school systems. Who designs the measuring stick? Well, as an investor (taxpayer), I should be the one who does, but frankly I (and collectively we) am not capable. So we leave this to school administrators and politicians (who could ask for anything more?)
So the result is we try to business-ize school, have un-qualified people set the standards and measure based on those standards.
So who is to blame for the mess? First, I have to lay the blame squarely at the feet of teachers and schools. Had we been getting results in the 90's, students who could read, write and learn, we would not have had the investor (taxpayer) push to "fix" things.
Second the blame needs to fall on politicians who took what started as a mess and made it worse. They should have realized that education can not be run like a business and let the educators decide how to "fix" things.
Third, the blame lies on local school boards for not pushing back on the federal government. Local districts can opt out of NCLB and forfeit federal funding. Instead, the push is for more federal involvement and that can only mess things up more. To my knowledge, only one district in SC has even considered opting out. The local boards need to be more agressive in setting standards and enforcing them.
Finally, the blame lies with me (and collectively us). I am the one who elects the local board, the state and federal politicians. I should spend more time understanding the requirements, the candidates and I should spend time at the school board meetings. I should not abdicate my responsibility to teach things outside the three R's. It's my job to teach honor, respect and yes even to teach sex education to my children (they will be horrified). It's my job to help my children with their homework (although once they get to Calculus, I'm outta here - I forgot that 20 years ago). By doing my job, I allow the teachers to do theirs.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell
Interesting quote by Larry Flynt:
"After meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends."
The article is here.
"After meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends."
The article is here.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Debt - good or bad?
Having just finished my MBA (I love saying that), I read with interest an article in the local paper about the average debt for a college graduate. Turns out that in my state (SC) the average is around $18,000 for graduates from state sponsored colleges.
Being an avid Dave Ramsey fan (who believes all debt is bad) and starting my new summer reading book Maxed Out, I began to wonder, how much debt is good and how much is bad.
So, here are my questions:
1) Education is seen as the answer to all of life's problems. Should debt be considered a viable way to get the education?
2) How much debt is acceptable? Or does this even matter?
3) Is debt an option for other areas? House? Car? Medical? Major lifeevents (ranging from car repair, home improvement, children, etc).Groceries?
4) When is debt acceptable? Always, sometimes, never?
I'm planning to finish my newest book (should take a couple weeks) and then report back with my ideas... For now, I'm still gathering information.
Being an avid Dave Ramsey fan (who believes all debt is bad) and starting my new summer reading book Maxed Out, I began to wonder, how much debt is good and how much is bad.
So, here are my questions:
1) Education is seen as the answer to all of life's problems. Should debt be considered a viable way to get the education?
2) How much debt is acceptable? Or does this even matter?
3) Is debt an option for other areas? House? Car? Medical? Major lifeevents (ranging from car repair, home improvement, children, etc).Groceries?
4) When is debt acceptable? Always, sometimes, never?
I'm planning to finish my newest book (should take a couple weeks) and then report back with my ideas... For now, I'm still gathering information.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Wisdom of the Crowds
Are crowds really wise? That's what James Surowiecki says in the first book on my summer reading list. The subtitle of the book is "Why the many are smarter than the few and how collective wisdom shapes business, economics, societies and nations." I started reading this book last summer and had to put it down for classes in the fall/spring. It was one of the optional books for a finance class, I chose to read two of the other books (The Smartest Guys in the Room and Barbarians at the Gate).
When I picked the book back up, I only had a few chapters to read. Problem is, I've forgotten a lot of what was in it. So it goes back on my reading list, but down a few entries. The basic premise of the book is that if you take a group of people, any people, knowledgable or not, you will get a better decision out of them that you do the experts. Our government is one example (politics is discussed in the last chapter).
He cites other examples, one where a group of non-scientists were polled about a missing submarine. The people were given facts and asked to guess where the sub might be based on a map. The answers were all averaged together (as I recall, by lattitude/longitude) and the search started with the non-scientific answer. The sub was soon found very close to the speculated position.
The postulates in the book are significant for business that typically attempts to find the perfect expert to solve a problem (can you say "CEO pay"?). The conclusion is that crowds can do a better job than individuals.
There were some contradictory examples cited, the Columbia disaster is one I recall. These are examples of "group-think", where the group heads on direction and won't return to "normalcy". However, he cites these as examples where a few people override the group. Groups are good.
I'm not 100% sure I agree with the book. In one example where I tried a test he suggested, the crowd I chose came up with a vastly different result than he predicted. I had students count candy in a fish bowl and, using his averages, estimated the results. I had some extremely wild guesses that blew the average. If I ignored these wild guesses, the average was close, but that seems to violate the principal of the book. My experiment may have been flawed, I want to try again.
Overall, a decent read for busines. Next time I read it, I'll focus on some of the other aspects.
When I picked the book back up, I only had a few chapters to read. Problem is, I've forgotten a lot of what was in it. So it goes back on my reading list, but down a few entries. The basic premise of the book is that if you take a group of people, any people, knowledgable or not, you will get a better decision out of them that you do the experts. Our government is one example (politics is discussed in the last chapter).
He cites other examples, one where a group of non-scientists were polled about a missing submarine. The people were given facts and asked to guess where the sub might be based on a map. The answers were all averaged together (as I recall, by lattitude/longitude) and the search started with the non-scientific answer. The sub was soon found very close to the speculated position.
The postulates in the book are significant for business that typically attempts to find the perfect expert to solve a problem (can you say "CEO pay"?). The conclusion is that crowds can do a better job than individuals.
There were some contradictory examples cited, the Columbia disaster is one I recall. These are examples of "group-think", where the group heads on direction and won't return to "normalcy". However, he cites these as examples where a few people override the group. Groups are good.
I'm not 100% sure I agree with the book. In one example where I tried a test he suggested, the crowd I chose came up with a vastly different result than he predicted. I had students count candy in a fish bowl and, using his averages, estimated the results. I had some extremely wild guesses that blew the average. If I ignored these wild guesses, the average was close, but that seems to violate the principal of the book. My experiment may have been flawed, I want to try again.
Overall, a decent read for busines. Next time I read it, I'll focus on some of the other aspects.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
The people have spoken
I'll post a note later about one of the books on my summer reading list. It had something to please everyone.
But a thought hit me this morning that I've been hearing a lot about "the people have spoken" on the war in Iraq.
Made me thing. Didn't the people speak on health care reform several years ago? Didn't we (or at least our leaders) try to reform health care? And didn't they try for several years? Seems like the people (or at least our leaders) have spoken on that issue and it doesn't need to be revisited.
Actually, there were some changes in health care in the 1990's and if you don't believe it, ask a doctor what he thinks of HIPPA. Or try to found out how "portable" (one of the two "p"s in HIPPA) your healthcare actually is.
Or, if you have an accident with injuries, compare your settlement under the new laws to what it would have been under the old laws.
But don't complain about it, the people have spoken.
But a thought hit me this morning that I've been hearing a lot about "the people have spoken" on the war in Iraq.
Made me thing. Didn't the people speak on health care reform several years ago? Didn't we (or at least our leaders) try to reform health care? And didn't they try for several years? Seems like the people (or at least our leaders) have spoken on that issue and it doesn't need to be revisited.
Actually, there were some changes in health care in the 1990's and if you don't believe it, ask a doctor what he thinks of HIPPA. Or try to found out how "portable" (one of the two "p"s in HIPPA) your healthcare actually is.
Or, if you have an accident with injuries, compare your settlement under the new laws to what it would have been under the old laws.
But don't complain about it, the people have spoken.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Tragedy in the upstate
This week, two three-year olds were killed in pedestrian vs auto accidents in totally separate incidents. Very strange coincidences, first at a car wash in Greenville (details here) and second on a major road in Anderson (details here). The two locations are about 30 miles from each other.
No amount of finger pointing will bring either of these two little ones back. My heart goes out to the families of these little ones and to the individuals who were in the vehicles that struck the children. No alcohol involved, no tickets to the drivers of the vehicles that hit the toddlers. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A small child pays the ultimate price for mistakes.
Parents, hold your kids tightly tonight and thank the Lord that you're not the one who lost a child. This could have been me so many times over. There but for the Grace of God, go I.
No amount of finger pointing will bring either of these two little ones back. My heart goes out to the families of these little ones and to the individuals who were in the vehicles that struck the children. No alcohol involved, no tickets to the drivers of the vehicles that hit the toddlers. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A small child pays the ultimate price for mistakes.
Parents, hold your kids tightly tonight and thank the Lord that you're not the one who lost a child. This could have been me so many times over. There but for the Grace of God, go I.
Quote of the day
I rarely do quotes, but this one struck me for the second time. It must be fate. I think I found it last summer while reading "The Wisdom of the Crowds". I picked the book back up and it's on the Delta e-ticket I used as a bookmark.
"An honest tradesman is a jewel indeed, and is valued whereever he is found" - Daniel Defoe.
A quick search this morning indicates Daniel Defoe was author of (among other things) Robinson Crusoe and was himself a tradesman. Ironically, he was sometimes not confused by being honest.
"An honest tradesman is a jewel indeed, and is valued whereever he is found" - Daniel Defoe.
A quick search this morning indicates Daniel Defoe was author of (among other things) Robinson Crusoe and was himself a tradesman. Ironically, he was sometimes not confused by being honest.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Summer reading list
Schools sometimes hand out a summer reading list and since I'm finishing school, (as if you haven't heard that enough) I've developed my own list. Most of these are books I have gathered over the last three years but haven't been able to get a round tuit. Two or three of these I actually started, but could never finish.
Comments, suggested additions or subtractions are welcome. Roughly in order of the intended reading:
1) The Wisdom of the Crowds - James Surowiecki (started twice, almost finished)
2) Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lending - James Scurlock
4) Wild at Heart - John Eldredge (started once before, but school got in the way)
4) Op Center - Call to Treason - Tom Clancy
5) Red Rabbit - Tom Clancy (true Clancy, not Op Center)
6) The 9/11 Commission Report - (I've read reports on the report, never the report itself)
7) The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown (seen the movie - hope the book is better)
8) The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answer - Josh McDowell (seems like a good companion)
9) The Hitchhiker's Guide - Six stories in one - Douglas Adams (started one of these in High School, not sure what happened)
10) The Book of Totally Useless Information (just my style)
11) Tales From Clemson's 1981 Championship Season (the year after my undgrade degree)
12) America On Trial - Alan Dershowitz
Books I don't have, but look interesting:
13) What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture shaped the PC Industry - John Markoff
14) The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture - Brink Lindsey
14) Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything - Don Tapscott
This should get me through the summer and more..
Comments, suggested additions or subtractions are welcome. Roughly in order of the intended reading:
1) The Wisdom of the Crowds - James Surowiecki (started twice, almost finished)
2) Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lending - James Scurlock
4) Wild at Heart - John Eldredge (started once before, but school got in the way)
4) Op Center - Call to Treason - Tom Clancy
5) Red Rabbit - Tom Clancy (true Clancy, not Op Center)
6) The 9/11 Commission Report - (I've read reports on the report, never the report itself)
7) The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown (seen the movie - hope the book is better)
8) The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answer - Josh McDowell (seems like a good companion)
9) The Hitchhiker's Guide - Six stories in one - Douglas Adams (started one of these in High School, not sure what happened)
10) The Book of Totally Useless Information (just my style)
11) Tales From Clemson's 1981 Championship Season (the year after my undgrade degree)
12) America On Trial - Alan Dershowitz
Books I don't have, but look interesting:
13) What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture shaped the PC Industry - John Markoff
14) The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture - Brink Lindsey
14) Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything - Don Tapscott
This should get me through the summer and more..
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3
In taking my MBA courses and in helping 3 students through high school (1 yet to finish) and in helping my wife with her classes (teaching and taking) I've learned something about tests. There seem to be two types of tests: 1) tests to see how much the student knows and give a grade and 2) tests to show students what they should know and to give a grade.
These two sound very much a like, but they are very different. In the first case, the teacher/instructor/professor (TIP) may give a test with little or no preparation. A study guide may or may not be given.
The second case seems much harder. The TIP has to help students through the test. In one class I was in, the professor would give a take-home test in one class, the next class he would ask if there were questions. He would work similar problems or talk around the subject. If there weren't enough questions, he may even delay the due date so he could generate more questions.
In tests like the first case, there seems a tendency to cram for the test. You study everything in the world and then take the test quickly before you lose it. After the test, your brain drains off all the knowledge that you flooded it with before the test. The net increase in knowledge is minimal.
I like the second case much better. I think I learned better in classes that did this. Hats off to the TIPs who did this....
These two sound very much a like, but they are very different. In the first case, the teacher/instructor/professor (TIP) may give a test with little or no preparation. A study guide may or may not be given.
The second case seems much harder. The TIP has to help students through the test. In one class I was in, the professor would give a take-home test in one class, the next class he would ask if there were questions. He would work similar problems or talk around the subject. If there weren't enough questions, he may even delay the due date so he could generate more questions.
In tests like the first case, there seems a tendency to cram for the test. You study everything in the world and then take the test quickly before you lose it. After the test, your brain drains off all the knowledge that you flooded it with before the test. The net increase in knowledge is minimal.
I like the second case much better. I think I learned better in classes that did this. Hats off to the TIPs who did this....
Monday, May 07, 2007
Insurance
I've been dealing with a major insurance company for about 3 weeks now. As a result of a small accident, my son's car is a total loss. No one was hurt, it wasn't his fault and no other vehicles were damaged. I believe in treating others the way I want to be treated, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's the right way to handle these things.
To begin with, it took almost a week to get someone to look at the car. During that time, no one could tell me WHEN they would get someone to look at it. The cable company can narrow an appointment down to 1 hour, the pizza guy can be there in 20 minutes, but the insurance adjuster can only tell you "within 4 business days."
The initial offer was low. Surprise, surprise. The adjuster told me someone would call me with all the paperwork. I asked how long to get a check, he said depending on mail, it could take up to a week. (unbelievable)
The following business day (a weekend elapsed), I called to check on the status (no one called me). Nothing got loaded into their system. After a few phone calls, I was told they could go out for Dealer quotes and was promised a call back in 24-48 hours.
Well after waiting almost 72 hours, I called back. The quotes were back and they came in about 10% higher than original. My feeling that the quote was too low was obviously justified. The new quote was higher, but still over 10% too low by my calculations. I asked for some time to think it over and looked for replacement vehicles. All the vehicles I looked for verified my estimates.
Armed with this new information, along with listings of other cars similar in value but higher in price, I went back to the company. After a few minutes of discussion, it was obvious I wasn't going anywhere, so I asked for a supervisor. After discussing with him for a while, I got nowhere.
Now let's be clear, this isn't a high priced vehicle. And the difference in my appraisal versus their appraisal is relatively small. Most of it seems to hinge on the adjustments made for condition. The car has some wear and tear on it, but I believe within normal expectations. They even faxed me a list of what is "normal" and I believe it matches. If we ignored all of the adjustments, we would be very close on price, and I'd probably ignore the difference.
But now I'm left with three choices: 1) Accept the offer and lose the 10%+. 2) Seek out a lawyer, sue the driver of the vehicle (it was one of my son's friends), probably get the same amount and lose lawyer's fees or 3) Hire an arbitrator and achieve same results as in #2.
What makes me the maddest is that I have done everything to mitigate costs and the company has done nothing. I did not use a tow truck, the car is in my driveway incurring NO storage costs and I went without a rental car for a week. The driver of the other car admitted to me that his brakes weren't very good, so he had to "jam on" the pedal and that's what caused the skid (this was a VERY STUPID thing for him to admit). In the mean time, his parents rented him a Ford Mustang to go to the prom (and I don't understand how he was allowed to drive it, he's under 18).
So what's a man to do? I feel it is morally wrong to sue in this case (there's a Bible verse about that), and I'm not sure it even helps.
I did file a complaint with the company and got a call from a manager about their lack of responsiveness. He felt bad, but there's really nothing he can (or will) do.
Very Frustrated!
(Note: updated post - corrected a couple of typos)
To begin with, it took almost a week to get someone to look at the car. During that time, no one could tell me WHEN they would get someone to look at it. The cable company can narrow an appointment down to 1 hour, the pizza guy can be there in 20 minutes, but the insurance adjuster can only tell you "within 4 business days."
The initial offer was low. Surprise, surprise. The adjuster told me someone would call me with all the paperwork. I asked how long to get a check, he said depending on mail, it could take up to a week. (unbelievable)
The following business day (a weekend elapsed), I called to check on the status (no one called me). Nothing got loaded into their system. After a few phone calls, I was told they could go out for Dealer quotes and was promised a call back in 24-48 hours.
Well after waiting almost 72 hours, I called back. The quotes were back and they came in about 10% higher than original. My feeling that the quote was too low was obviously justified. The new quote was higher, but still over 10% too low by my calculations. I asked for some time to think it over and looked for replacement vehicles. All the vehicles I looked for verified my estimates.
Armed with this new information, along with listings of other cars similar in value but higher in price, I went back to the company. After a few minutes of discussion, it was obvious I wasn't going anywhere, so I asked for a supervisor. After discussing with him for a while, I got nowhere.
Now let's be clear, this isn't a high priced vehicle. And the difference in my appraisal versus their appraisal is relatively small. Most of it seems to hinge on the adjustments made for condition. The car has some wear and tear on it, but I believe within normal expectations. They even faxed me a list of what is "normal" and I believe it matches. If we ignored all of the adjustments, we would be very close on price, and I'd probably ignore the difference.
But now I'm left with three choices: 1) Accept the offer and lose the 10%+. 2) Seek out a lawyer, sue the driver of the vehicle (it was one of my son's friends), probably get the same amount and lose lawyer's fees or 3) Hire an arbitrator and achieve same results as in #2.
What makes me the maddest is that I have done everything to mitigate costs and the company has done nothing. I did not use a tow truck, the car is in my driveway incurring NO storage costs and I went without a rental car for a week. The driver of the other car admitted to me that his brakes weren't very good, so he had to "jam on" the pedal and that's what caused the skid (this was a VERY STUPID thing for him to admit). In the mean time, his parents rented him a Ford Mustang to go to the prom (and I don't understand how he was allowed to drive it, he's under 18).
So what's a man to do? I feel it is morally wrong to sue in this case (there's a Bible verse about that), and I'm not sure it even helps.
I did file a complaint with the company and got a call from a manager about their lack of responsiveness. He felt bad, but there's really nothing he can (or will) do.
Very Frustrated!
(Note: updated post - corrected a couple of typos)
Friday, May 04, 2007
Republican Debate - part 2
Another thought about the debate. Why didn't the Republicans boycott all of the liberal journalists? Politico.com was there and most of the questions (see post below) came from a liberal bent.
Didn't the Democrats boycott a debate on Fox because they thought it was unfair and imbalanced? What was different about last night?
Didn't the Democrats boycott a debate on Fox because they thought it was unfair and imbalanced? What was different about last night?
Republican Debate
OK, I didn't watch the debate. Yesterday was a long day in the pursuite of interstate commerce (11 hours from door to door + 1 hour before and about 2 hours afterwards.)
But I read some of the silly questions that were asked. That's part of why I hate the debts. So-called journalists trying to one-up each other trying to catch the candidates off guard. And forget any chance of getting a real debate going. Candidates have their one-liners (or in Biden's case at the Democratic debate one-worders) already cooked up and they try to manipulate the question to fit their answers.
Later on, I plan to submit a list of requirements to look for in a candidate. The idea will be to review the list, see where the candidate stands and from that you can decide who to vote for. I would appreciate feedback when I do, it's an experiment. Probably be a couple of weeks....
But I read some of the silly questions that were asked. That's part of why I hate the debts. So-called journalists trying to one-up each other trying to catch the candidates off guard. And forget any chance of getting a real debate going. Candidates have their one-liners (or in Biden's case at the Democratic debate one-worders) already cooked up and they try to manipulate the question to fit their answers.
Later on, I plan to submit a list of requirements to look for in a candidate. The idea will be to review the list, see where the candidate stands and from that you can decide who to vote for. I would appreciate feedback when I do, it's an experiment. Probably be a couple of weeks....
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
I'm famous
One of my quotes has been posted on a website "across the pond".
See http://www.swiftys.org.uk/wiz?1095.
Not that I have that many quotes....
See http://www.swiftys.org.uk/wiz?1095.
Not that I have that many quotes....
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Soon to be all over
Sometimes tomorrow (actually later today, I'm up very late) I will send in my final final via email. No more classes. Technically, I have to wait on the grades, but there's little that could happen to cause me to fail one of the two classes. In the class I finished tonite, I could theoretically make a "C", but if I get at least 23 points on the final, I'll make a B. It may take a miracle to get an A.
So all of you can start calling me "Master" anytime now, you don't have to wait on it to be official.
BTW, several people have asked and I am NOT going to commencement. It lasts over two hours and if I went, several other people would feel obligated. I don't want to put them through that.
So all of you can start calling me "Master" anytime now, you don't have to wait on it to be official.
BTW, several people have asked and I am NOT going to commencement. It lasts over two hours and if I went, several other people would feel obligated. I don't want to put them through that.
Monday, April 30, 2007
The $2000 light bulb
California is on the verge of mandating the elimination of incandescent light bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
But the new light bulbs contain mercury, a hazardous substance. Read this story about how one person tried to behave responsibly and the bulb ended up costing over $2000.
When I first read this, I thought "someone is trying to make a point. Why not just clean it up yourself?"
Then I read the line that said "The [cleanup] specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination."
SIX TIMES the safe level? From breaking one bulb?
I think I'll stick with incandescent bulbs. (Yes, I'm still procrastinating)
But the new light bulbs contain mercury, a hazardous substance. Read this story about how one person tried to behave responsibly and the bulb ended up costing over $2000.
When I first read this, I thought "someone is trying to make a point. Why not just clean it up yourself?"
Then I read the line that said "The [cleanup] specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom in excess of six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination."
SIX TIMES the safe level? From breaking one bulb?
I think I'll stick with incandescent bulbs. (Yes, I'm still procrastinating)
Monday morning
and I'm procrastinating. I have one final final. It's a take-home (due tomorrow night) and once I start, I have a three hour time limit (I'm on my own honor). I am allowed to study, take notes, etc, then it's heads-down for three hours, writing.
My plan is to take some time this morning for the former and lock down 3 hours for the latter this afternoon (I always like saying former and latter... it makes me feel important).
I could have done some yesterday, but hey, I still have a day and a half. I just don't feel like starting...
My plan is to take some time this morning for the former and lock down 3 hours for the latter this afternoon (I always like saying former and latter... it makes me feel important).
I could have done some yesterday, but hey, I still have a day and a half. I just don't feel like starting...
Friday, April 27, 2007
Philadelphia Shuts Down Psychics
"City inspectors shut down more than a dozen psychics, astrologers and tarot-card readers after learning about a decades-old state law that bans fortune telling for profit."
See the article here.
Now why didn't they see that coming????
See the article here.
Now why didn't they see that coming????
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