All posts by Barbara Nevins Taylor

Consumer News, Immigrant News, News

Obama Pushes For Immigration Bill

President Obama upped the ante on immigration with a call for speedy action on an immigration bill. At a White House naturalization ceremony for 28 men and women he said, “I expect a bill to be put forward.  I expect the debate to begin next month. I want to sign that bill into law as soon as possible”

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress are working on immigration bills to create a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.

The President’s rallying cry was, “So let’s get this done, and let’s do it in a way that keeps faith with our history and our values.”

 

 

 

All 55 Plus, Helpful Tips: Retirement, Helpful Tips:All, Helpful Tips:Money

3 Things To Do Before Retirement

 

Okay. So you’ve heard it before. We all need to get our houses in order. It may be an old saw, but it’s true. It’s a good idea to do these 3 things before retirement.  And that includes those of us who are a bit a away from retirement age, and those of us who are putting retirement off to earn more money.

  1. You need a WILL.
    Your will should clearly spell out how you would like to leave your assets to your heirs or others.  Planning saves heartache and headaches for you, and eliminates any questions people may have later.
  2.  You need a HEALTH CARE PROXY
    A health care proxy is extremely important.  This document legally designates someone to help with doctors and hospitals if you get sick. Experts advise it, and I know it it’s true because of my personal experiences caring for my mother and elderly relatives.  If you don’t have a health care proxy, the current laws prevent medical professionals from discussing your case with anyone but you. And that’s okay to a point.  But it’s imperative to have an advocate when you deal with doctors especially in an emergency setting. So a health care proxy designates the person you want to help you get the best care possible.
  3.  You need a LIVING WILL
    This makes your wishes crystal clear about how you want medical personnel to treat you in extreme situations. You can choose to say that you want to be resuscitated and kept on life support,  or say that you do not want extreme measures used to keep you alive. This is all up to you, and your wishes should be recorded in a legal document.
  4. You need a POWER OF ATTORNEY
    This designates someone to handle your personal and business affairs while you’re alive, if you cannot do things yourself.  Even if you can do things, it’s always a good idea to have a trusted person assist. It’s smart to get a qualified estate lawyer to help make these plans and put them on paper. If you can’t afford a lawyer, some states and local bar associations offer online forms. But be careful. The American Bar Association www.aba.org offers a state-by-state list of clinics and not-for-profits that offer affordable and even free legal help.

ConsumerMojo’s video Key Steps to Plan Retirement has a lot more.

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Money News, News, Scam News

March Madness Scams

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by Barbara Nevins Taylor

Take a look at Craigslist and you’ll find plenty of tickets for NCAA games. The big question is, are they real?

Fake Tickets

I did a story about a woman who bought tickets to a Lady Gaga concert from a Craigslist seller. Her brother met the guy, paid the money and walked away with fakes. We helped out and got in touch with Lady Gaga’s team to get her real tickets. So there was a happy ending. That doesn’t always happen.

BBB Advice

But the lesson here is clear. Many dishonest people claim to sell tickets to events like the NCAA. The Better Business Bureau’s St. Louis president Michelle L. Corey says, “The BBB advises fans to check out offers with the BBB before plunking down money or giving credit card numbers.”

Remember Craigslist does not offer guarantees. Sellers don’t have to qualify or prove that they are real before they list tickets.  If a ticket is fake, you’re stuck.

NCAA Info

Official NCAA ticket information is available at http://www.ncaa.com/tickets.

Ticket Resellers

StubHub, has a reliable reputation as a ticket reseller and it has NCAA tickets. The BBB websites in every region publish lists of reliable ticket sales people. The BBB sites are a little hard to navigate. But try their Business Reviews, or sections that say “Check Out a Charity or Business.” You have to enter the search term “Ticket Sales.” And that should turn up ticket sellers who get the BBB seal of approval.

 

Banking News, Money News, News

Chase Protects Customers From Payday Lenders

This is welcome news from a big bank.  Chase says it is ready to protect its banking customers from payday lenders and others who try to milk consumers’ bank accounts. This is what the bank plans to do:

  1. Chase will only charge one returned item fee to customers in cases where a biller presents items that are returned to them due to insufficient funds in the customer account more than once in a 30-day period, even if the biller tries to collect multiple times. This change is intended to address payday lenders and others who present repeated payments to customers that are not in the spirit of their signed agreement with the customer. This change will become effective by the end of May.
  1. Chase is working to proactively identify potential misuse of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system – including misuse on the part of payday lenders or other companies – and report such practices to the National Automated Clearing House Association.  Chase will work with NACHA to try to strengthen their own policies to disallow excessive presentments.
  1. We have an existing policy to always follow a customer’s instructions to stop a payment.  We plan to enhance communication and require additional training regarding that policy.
  1. Chase will make it easier for customers to close their accounts when there are open pending charges, including payday lender payments. If we believe those pending charges are inappropriate, we won’t honor them.

 

Money News, News, Scam News

Homeland Security Email Alert


Ransomware is the latest email phishing scam to worry about. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warns that hackers are  sending emails that claim they are from Homeland Security and its National Cyber Security Division (US-CERT). The emails say your computer use has been suspended and you have to pay a fine to unblock it.

US-CERT Advises:

Do not click on or submit any information to webpages.

  • Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.
  • Use caution when opening email attachments. Refer to the Security Tip Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information on safely handling email attachments.
  • Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.

 

Latest News, Money News, News, Scam News

Car Lending Bias


If you suspected some car dealers and lenders set higher interest rates for African Americans and Hispanics, looks like you were right. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) estimates consumers lose tens of millions every year because of car dealer-lender discrimination.

Warning to lenders

The CFPB issued a bulletin, with guidelines, warning lenders they are responsible for unlawful, discriminatory pricing when they make loans through dealerships. CFPB Director Richard Cordray said, “Consumers should not have to pay more for a car loan simply based on their race,”

How dealers and lenders discriminate

When you buy a car and arrange financing through the dealer, the lender sets an interest rate. But the dealer  can mark up the loan with a higher rate and keep the difference.  The CFPB says even if they are credit worthy, “Research indicates that markup practices may lead to African Americans and Hispanics being charged higher markups than other, similarly situated, white consumers.”

 

 

Helpful tips: Loans, Helpful Tips:All, Helpful Tips:Money

Payday Lending Trap

 

A new report from the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) says some big banks act like payday lenders when they make short term loans with high interest rates. 

The group’s research found that over one quarter of all those who borrow through these loans are on Social Security.  And in 2011, the average borrower took out 19 loans.

It’s incredibly difficult to repay these loans, and that’s why people borrow over and over again. The initial loan amount may be relatively small, but the interest is high.

In some cases, payday lenders charge 400 to 600 percent. CRL says big banks include Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Regions Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of Oklahoma and its affiliates, and Guaranty Bank. 

The report says the banks claim, “…their product is not a payday loan because they call it an open-end line of credit.” But even though the loans aren’t technically pay day loans, CRL says they are structured the same way.  “These are short-term balloon loans that borrowers are unable to repay in full when due. They carry triple-digit interest rates, lack meaningful underwriting to assess a borrower’s ability to repay, and ensnare customers in a cycle of long-term debt that leaves them worse off.” Advice The best advice here is to stay away from high interest loans and find out what the interest is before you borrow.  

Watch: What’s Wrong With Payday Loans 

Money News, Mortgage News, News

Time To Shop For A Home

Realtors like to say spring is the season for home buying. This spring, there’s mixed news about what’s available. The U.S. Commerce Department says new construction and permits for new construction are at their highest levels since 2008. And there appears to be competition for the houses already on the market. Realtor.com found the number of houses for sale in the U.S. was down almost 16 percent in February from a year ago.

If you’re in the market for a new home ConsumerMojo’s, How Do I Shop for A Mortgage video and detailed printout walk you through everything you need to know.

 

 

 

 

 

55 Plus News, All 55 Plus, Consumer News, News

Worried About Retirement

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Does this surprise you? A lot of us worry about retirement according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute and many aren’t confident we’ll be financial secure. The latest survey shows:

  •  28 percent are not at all confident
  •  21 percent are not too confident.

Even though the economy is improving, EBRI’s Retirement Confidence Survey found many realize they need a lot more money for retirement than they’ve saved. And there’s a big gap between what people imagine they need and reality. While many say they need to to save between 20 to 30 percent of their income only 46 percent of those surveyed said they’d done an analysis of what’s needed.

Saving isn’t the most pressing issue

Just 2 percent of workers and 4 percent of retirees identify saving or planning for retirement as the most pressing financial issue facing most Americans today.

Worries right now

Most people say they are worried about their jobs, and trying to make ends meet, and that’s why 41 percent say they didn’t contribute to their employer’s retirement plan.

Debt

Debt is also a factor.  55 percent of workers and 39 percent of retirees say they have trouble coping with debt, and only about half say they could  come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose within the next month.

This doesn’t sound encouraging.  What’s your thought. Comment. Let us know

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Insurance News, Money News, News

Shaming Banks


Many homeowners waiting for their Superstorm Sandy insurance money complain about banks holding on to it. Now, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is shaming banks, putting 10 on the walk of shame.

Cuomo said his Department of Financial Services investigated and found 10 banks that are holding back 44 percent of Sandy insurance money. Insurance checks are issued to the bank, which  holds the mortgage, and the homeowner. It’s the bank’s responsibility to pass the money on to homeowners quickly.

Families Waiting

1,109 families are waiting for a total of $41 million dollars.

The Governor said, Selene Finance is holding back 71 percent of the money it received.

Here are the 10 banks holding back money:

Selene Finance- $1,872,333

Select Portfolio-$4,859,158

Astoria Federal-$3,668,003

Capital One-$3,700,158

Nationstar Mortgage-$6,032,216

Flagstar-$2,922,580

Specialized Loan-$1,373,576

One West Bank-$14,332, 160

Sun Trust Mortgage-$$712,884

Mid-Island Mortgage-$1,251,184

 

 

 

55 Plus News, All 55 Plus, Consumer News, News

When To Take Social Security

Did you know that one out every four 65-year-olds is likely to live past 90?  There’s more. Most 65-year-old men will live until 83 and women until 85. All this good news comes straight from the Social Security Administration.

 As a baby boomer, I welcome the information. But the numbers also tell me that my plans for the future need to include as much income as possible.  My personal financial calculation includes a Social Security check, so the decision whether to take Social Security or wait is important. The math is pretty simple: the longer you wait, the more money you’ll collect.

Ages for eligibility

You can start to get a check at 62 years old, or wait until you’re 66. You’re required to take it at 70.

Difference in the benefit

La Tina Burse Greene, Assistant Deputy Social Security Commissioner for Retirement and Disability, offered a simple calculation to a congressional committee.  She explained that someone whose benefit at 66 would be:

  • $1,000 a month

At 62 would get:

  • $750

And at 70:

  • $1,320

That’s a big difference and it’s financially enticing to wait.

Social Security officials don’t offer advice, but they do suggest that you consider key factors:

  • Your health and how long members of your family live.
  • The money you have to live on now.
  • Whether you have other retirement income. If you do, maybe it won’t matter if your Social Security check is smaller. You might want to take it earlier.
  • Whether you have other sources of income. Again, that might mean it will work for you to get a smaller check now.
  • Whether others (a spouse) may depend upon your benefit in the future.

Personally 

My grandparents lived a long time, and my mom recently died at 95. So I’m looking to travel a long road and I want to get as much out of Social Security as possible. That means I’ll wait until I’m 70.

Retirement Planner 

Social Security has a very good  way to check what you might get now and later.  Under the banner of “Retirement Planner,” it offers a benefit calculator. You put your information in, and it lets you know what you’ll get at 62, 66 and 70.

Please let us know what you plan to do. Leave a comment. Talk to us and join our conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money News, Mortgage News, News

Tips to Find Foreclosures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Barbara Nevins Taylor

A friend in Northern New Jersey, with two young children, wants to find a home to buy before the lease on their apartment runs out in two months.  I suggested he check bank owned properties because he’s likely to find good deals.  RealtyTrac, the company that follows the foreclosure market, reports that foreclosure filings in New Jersey jumped 70 percent in February from the previous month. While this is heartbreaking for the homeowners, it does provide a good opportunity for homebuyers.

Bank owned properties are attractive because the banks already own them, and in most cases want to sell relatively quickly.

REO listings

Banks call the properties that come to them through foreclosure “Real Estate Owned,” or “REO,” and sections of their websites are dedicated to REO listings.

Here’s the first tip to find foreclosures

  • Search the REO listings on websites of big banks in your area, which are likely to have homes in their possession.

In Northern New Jersey for example banks with REO listings include:

For more information ConsumerMojo.com’s How Do I Find Foreclosures walks you through the process.  In our Quick Downloads section there’s a fact sheet with what you need to know.

Let us know what you’re doing to find foreclosures.  Leave a comment or show us your video!

Money News, News, Scam News

Package Waiting For You Scam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Barbara Nevins Taylor

You probably don’t think of the U.S. Postal Inspector as a super sleuth.  In fact, the Postal Inspection Service is filled with good detectives and they are now on the trail of the “Package Waiting for You” scammers.  This is another twist on the email phishing scam. This time, you get an email that claims there’s a package waiting for you because delivery attempts failed, or you owe money for postage. The email instructs you  to click on the link to open an alleged attachment or a print a label. It is completely fake and potentially damaging to you.

Don’t do it.

If you open the link you will allow a virus or malware to get into your computer to steal your personal information.

Just Delete

Postal inspectors advise that you just delete the email.

You can contact the Postal Inspector at 1-800-ASK-USPS or email spam@uspis.gov

 

 

 

 

Consumer News, Immigrant News, News

Deferred Action Slows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Barbara Nevins Taylor

Almost 200,000 people won deferred action as of February 14, 2013. But applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program slowed.  Only about 15,000 applied to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in February. More than double that number filed applications in January. The slow down is surprising because 1.7 million young people who entered the U.S. before they were 16-years-old are eligible and the benefits are huge.

Deferred Action Benefits

Once deferred action is granted a young person can:

  • Work legally in the U.S.
  • Get a driver’s license.
  • Live openly in the sunlight for least two years.

New York and New Jersey

The majority of applicants  are immigrants from Mexico who live in California and Texas. Fewer than 25,000 applied from New York and fewer than 14,000 from New Jersey.

Anyone know why so few New Yorkers and New Jerseyeans are applying?

How to Apply for Deferred Action

If you want to apply, ConsumerMojo.com’s video blog How to Apply for Deferred Action Without a Lawyer,  and How to Apply for Deferred Action walk you through the process.

We also have everything written out for you. Let us know what you think.