How to Expose a Fake Debt Collector

2015-01-14 By Kassandra 2 Comments

Previous Post: 4 Ways to Harness Your Brain Power

Next Post: How Jason Majoue Has Impacted My Life

I recently received a phone call from a debt collection agency saying that I owed money on an apartment I hadn’t lived in for over 6 months, that both my previous complex and “roommate” said I didn’t owe anything, and that my prior roommate said IF we owed anything he would take care of. Much to my chagrin & surprise, finding out they were trying to get about $400 from me was more than a little shocking. And when I began asking questions, the collector said, “Well, [name left out] paid __ and was able to get off of the account.”

Excuse me?

Needless to say, the apartments said that was impossible, but I sure wish I had read this article a while ago so I could have been better prepared for that phone call. ESPECIALLY since apparently some debt collectors will try to get you to cough up cash you may not owe. (This article goes a little bit more in depth and was the source for the previously mentioned article.)

Here’s 3 questions you can ask “debt collectors” to make sure you separate the scammers from real collections.

“What is the name, address, and phone number of the company you are calling from?”

When I asked my collector for a number to call him back (since I was at work) he wouldn’t give it to me. Said he wasn’t allowed to. If they were a legitimate debt collector, they should be willing to provide this to you. Do not allow them to proceed until you have this information. Remember – the less you know about a fake collector, the more likely it is they’ll get away with thievery!

NOTE: Never discuss debts over the phone. Tell them to send you a “validation notice” or a letter that is required to be sent to you within 5 days of contacting you. I did not know about this one, so I didn’t request it. And I haven’t heard from the collector since he said, “I’ll make a note to call you back.”

“What is the name and address of the debtor you’re trying to reach?”

If they’re legit, should be no issue. Otherwise, their response may sound suspicious. And under federal law, they are required to provide truthful information if you ask. If they’re wrong or incomplete – DO NOT CORRECT THEM! Ask them to send that letter to the address they have on file and you will respond accordingly once received.

Then hang up.

“What are the last 4 digits of the debtor’s social security number?”

This will throw off most fake debt collectors, who may or may not attempt to answer this & can even say “I don’t have that information”. A legitimate collector WILL NOT provide this information, because if they do, they’re in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

NEVER confirm such personal information over the phone.This, as well as banking information and other personal items, can be used for fraud & can have an impact on your credit score.

If a debtor tries to scare you into paying, threaten you with an arrest or legal action, or even poses as a government official – BEWARE! These are violations of the previously mentioned act.

If after you have determined that they are a fake collector, hang up and never speak to them again, no matter how many times they call or what they say. If it’s legitimate, it doesn’t mean they are entitled to collect the debt. Wait for that letter!

According to the Simple Dollar (the 2nd article I linked to), here’s the best practice to avoid issues:

ignore collection calls entirely
if you answered the phone, tell them to stop contacting you … if they gave you their mailing information, take a minute to send a letter demanding they cease contact immediately

FDCPA requires debt collectors to halt communications if you send a request in writing, whereas phone collectors may not give you an address at all.

Report all suspicious debt collections to the FTC.

Understand Your Rights

Giving your address to a scammer can only lead to problems. Never offer your address (or confirmation of such) – just tell them to send that letter to the address they have on file. Don’t feel bullied or pressured to say anything else!
FDCPA forbids collectors from calling you repeatedly or before 8a/9p unless you state otherwise.
Obscene language is unacceptable, and not allowed to threaten or abuse you
They’re not allowed to deceive or imply they’re from a government agency
They must always identify themselves over the phone in EVERY conversation
They must inform you that any information will be used to collect debt
Family members may be called once in an attempt to locate you, but not allowed to discuss your debt
They are obligated to disclose the amount of debt, name of the creditor to whom you owe, and the aforementioned “verification letter” confirming information relative to the debt … as well as your FDCPA rights (which my collector didn’t do)
If you tell them to deal with your lawyer, they can no longer call you (further correspondence will go through them)

Choosing the Right Lawyer

Talked to my mom about my issue and she said I’d probably need a lawyer. According to the Simple Dollar article, if you’re dealing with harassing debt collection calls you should retain a consumer law attorney since you might be entitled to compensation (up to $1,000). These lawyers are paid by the debt collector as an additional penalty.

Your lawyer will contact the debt collector and determine whether the debt is due or even valid. Choose an attorney with experience, as explained in this FTC link. Be sure to do your homework and know what to expect BEFORE paying any fees.

How to Protect Yourself From Debt Collection Scams

Knowledge is power!

Keep a level head and record of your interactions – EVERY interaction you have with the caller. And don’t lose your cool!

Don’t be afraid to contact an attorney. (Many of the best will provide a free case review.)

Be willing to report suspicious debt collection activity to the FTC.

I hope the information I have provided has been helpful if you are receiving debt collection calls. If you would like more information, here are a few links to check out:

LifeHacker: Ask These 3 Questions To Expose a Fake Debt Collector
The Simple Dollar: Expose a Fake Collector by Asking These 3 Simple Questions
LifeHacker: Get Debt Collectors Off Your Back With These Sample Letters

And if you’re looking for a way to bring in additional income that is a simple, step by step process WITHOUT having to make calls or go to meetings, then check out what my team is doing and …

>> CLICK HERE <<

10 Signs You Might Be Sleep Deprived

2015-01-06 By Kassandra 8 Comments

Our society has been called a “goldfish” or “microwave society” … We want everything and we want it NOW! Sound familiar?

We value productivity and distraction, just like this site describes … We try to edge out as much time in a day as we can, and since we only have 24 hours in a day it has to come from somewhere! So in order to get that time, our sleep usually suffers for it.

Once in a while, you might be able to not get enough or adequate sleep, but doing it on a regular basis can really do a bad spell on ya.

Have you ever had muddled thoughts? Been upset over something super trivial?

Perhaps thought you saw or heard something that wasn’t really there?

“Sleep Dep” can be a source for domestic unhappiness, career shortcomings, and can even put you in life-threatening situations (research has shown that those who sleep 6-7 hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping 8 hours or more & when sleeping less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times).

Because I know I have been victim to sleep deprivation, I wanted to give you some signs of it so you are more aware and can take a nap.

Inability to Handle Stress

When you don’t get enough or adequate sleep, it wears down on your normal capacity to deal with daily aggravations or challenges that you come into contact with. It lowers your “stress perception” threshold … Your routine activities may seem to be impossible tasks.

Poor Memory

When you don’t get enough sleep, you can begin to have “senior moments” (which I truly detest this term as it’s agist, so please leave a comment below if you know of another term please) …

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep aids in the formation and retention of emotional memories.

When you sleep, you are facillitating connections between nerve cells. The less deep sleep, the less connections you form. What I found interesting from this, was that apparentely memory tests showed that both humans and animals suffered from memory loss when deprived of sleep.

Inability to Concentrate

Something really interesting I learned while looking in to sleep deprivation was that people not only perform poorly on concentration tests, they also overestimate their performance. What was even more fascinating, and seems like it should be common sense, but the effects of sleep deprivation increase as the sleep debt builds. So even someone who gets only 5 hours a day for a week would perform better than someone who got 4 hours of sleep a night for the same time frame.

That’s why all those sugary, caffeinated drinks have a peak and only last for a short while.

Increased Appetite

“The longer you’re awake, the longer you have to consume calories.” — Well, duh! What I didn’t know was that a lack of sleep causes you to be more hungry. APPARENTLY the hormones that signal the body that it’s time to eat are increased when you don’t get enough sleep, and you have less of the hormones that tell you that you’re full or satisfied.

Another issue in regards to your “new” eating habits, your body tends to crave more sweets & salty foods, as well as starches. One of the reasons for this is that your brain metabolizes sugar at a slower rate when you’re sleep deprived.

Vision Problems

When you are deprived of sleep, you may find yourself fighting through a fuzzy world — and blame it on your contacts.

You may even start to see things at the corners of your vision, or even find it difficult to process peripheral images & those in your direct sight at the same time.

The problems you experience are caused by neurons deprived of regenerative sleep becoming less efficient and trying to cut corners. Just like we all do when we cut back on our sleep.

Poor Decision Making

This is something that can have repercussions much later down the line, even when you’ve “erased” your debt (sleep). Sleep deprivation also affects your prefrontal cortex that is what affects your judgement and impulse control (which could also be part of the reason you eat more).

When your brain doesn’t get the chance to regenerate, refresh & reorganize itself, your decisions suffer. You’re more likely to take risks, be aggressive in the hopes of short term gains, and more likely to be fiscally irresponsible.

Diminished Motor Skills

This is one of the reasons why I am so adamant about people getting enough sleep.

Research has shown that when you go even a single night without sleep that you essentially are trying to operate your life as if you were legally intoxicated!!! You might have:

slurred speech
stuttering
speak monotonously
slower reaction time
fumbling with small objects

Click here for more information on drowsy driving!

Relationship Troubles

Having sleep patterns that are irregular (or lacking completely) can affect your significant other. It throws off schedules, bonding time, and your family’s sleep patterns.

Sleep deprivation can also cause these relationship strainers:

flagging libido
moodiness
agitation
poor memory
chronic snoring
sleep apnea

Medical Problems

Yeah, no fluff here. Just things that affect your health:

decreate in body’s ability to metabolize sugar
higher blood pressure
lower body temperature
heart rate that can’t quite find it’s rhythm
lowers defenses of immune system
decrease in white blood cell count (remaining white blood cells become lethargic)
your body will forcibly shut itself down to catch up, but you technically do have a potential to die from lack of sleep

Mood Swings

Even the littlest thing can set you off … “Cell Block Tango” anyone?

It can also increase feelings of depression, decreased empathy, burnout … or make things worse for those who already have these negative emotions.

So seriously. Stop killing yourself slowly with not sleeping. It’s not good for you and can have some detrimental effects. Both for you and your loved ones.

Take care of yourself!

Part 2 of 2 – 20 Habits for Success

2015-01-04 By Kassandra 2 Comments

Previous Post: Part 1 of 2 – 20 Habits for Success

Next Post: 8 Inexpensive Ways to Hang With Friends

They say it takes 28 days to create a new or get rid of an old habit. I know most of my friends and family want to be happy and successful, but don’t always have the role models to show them the way.

I recently shared this Huffington Post article … which was part one of a blog post written by someone named Paul C Brunson, who worked for 2 BILLIONAIRES!

The last post I made was my own take on what Paul wrote for the 1st 10 habits for success … But Part two went a little more in depth. As always, be sure to check out the original Part 2 post, but below is my take on the last 10 of 20 habits for success:

Recognize the Value of Simple Ideas

Most of the world’s wealthy got to where they are from some simple ideas … They find ways to take something we all (or a lot of people) enjoy, simplify & break it down, and bring more value to people.

In our current world, we are too often conned in to believing that when something sounds to good to be true …

And because of that thought process “regular people” close themselves to things that could greatly & positively impact their lives. But those who have been following the habits of successful people “recognize the value of simple ideas.”

Be Patiently Impatient

Nothing happens overnight. There are no get rich quick schemes, there are no short cuts to success.

I really liked what I read in the original article, because it makes sense. Successful people are always talking about the future and planning on how to get there … So it makes sense that they would exercise patience for long term goals (apparently it takes an average of 10 years for most billionaires to become successful).

And what was mentioned about daily and/or short term tasks? This falls back to an earlier post I mentioned about creating SMART goals. What you focus on expands, and you must give your goal a shorter time limit to help you keep focused.

Be Gritty

Billionaires, millionaires, and successful people do not let anything stop them. They don’t let obstacles stop them from achieving their goals.

Think about Thomas Edison … How many times did it take before 1 little change in his path opened up a new world for … well, the WORLD?

People who are in the sales world and network marketing. They can make more money than you would ever dream of, but they have to have the stomach for being turned down. And most people can’t do that because they have fears … Fears of failure. Fears that people won’t like them. Fears that they aren’t “enough” …

But successful people, regardless of whatever comes their way, don’t let the pit falls keep them down. The have a goal, they’re focused, and they continue to take action & aim until they accomplish it!

Develop Great Oratory Skills

If you are unable to articulate your goals, dreams, and aspirations, how do you expect anyone to get on board?

There’s a part in the original article that says:

“If you can’t articulate your ideas and vision (in a compelling way) you can’t galvanize the support required to make things happen.”

Basically it comes down to the fact that you have a higher chance of career success (and life success) when you are able to speak more effectively.

So be sure to read more good books! Ones that require you to branch out, stretch your mind, and put your mind in the right setting … Go to Toast Masters … Give more speeches and open discussions …. It’ll do you some good by building that speech backbone, but you’ll also get feedback on how to improve.

Grow Thick, Armor-Plated Skin

There is a basic truth about people who gain success … Those who do not achieve the same success, those who do not follow the habits and principles for happiness and success? Those who achieve the success they seek often times find themselves with a higher number of detractors (dream stealers) and the sharper the attacks will be.

That’s why it is essential to not only develop a shield against these kinds of attacks, but also surround yourself with the right people. Those who love you or respect your integrity, those that want to see you succeed are the ones who will be there to help you find ways to achieve your goals.

“… never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so, when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.” – First Lady Michelle Obama

“We were born to win, but we were programmed to lose.” – Zig Ziglar

Connect With People Outside Your Community

This quote form the article rings so true:

Your ability to be of influence within your community is directly related to your ability to make connections outside of your community.

Apparently this idea even has it’s own research done on it.

Apparently this is something I’ve been doing for years … Even before I started network marketing. What I learned to love about network marketing was the most I networked, the more people I know that had connections to other people that might be interested in the things I’m doing and might want to help in the movement! (I’ll post more on that later.)

But basically I was always looking for ways I could get people in touch with other people. If someone was looking for something I knew another friend could help them with? I just loved finding those connections!

Over-Communicate Your Message

“It’s not just about speaking loudly, it’s about speaking often.”

You never want people to guess or infer anything from your message.

With all of the things out there that basically get updated every 2 seconds, all of the information highway easily accessible … what you share can be easily overlooked or even simply missed. I mean … apparently in 48-hours of time, more content is published than the amount of content from the beginning of time until 2003!

The end of this part of the article really hit me, because it was something that was taught in:

English
Speech
Army JROTC
Air Force ROTC

… And apparently it is something Oprah and many other successful people do when they speak for a short or extended time. They always:

They start by telling you what they’re going to tell you.
Then they tell you.
Then they summarize what you just heard.

Repetition, repetition, repetition is necessary in this “goldfish society” and amongst all the noise we deal with on a daily basis.

Learn to Laugh at Yourself

There is so much in this world that people can be stressed about, and more often than not it’s things that they beat themselves up for … But having a sense of humor can really make things easier!

There’s even science behind why you should laugh at yourself — because apparently it’s a sign of an optimistic personality! Not only that, but it can improve your mood (laughter does that) as well as possibly be a factor in your own personal resilience.

“If you can laugh at yourself, you cna forgive yourself. And if you can forgive yourself, then you can forgive others.”
– Reverend Susan Sparks

Be Great At One Thing, First

As I’ve said before, what you focus on tends to expand! So if you focus on getting amazing at one thing, you will actually become more innovative. For the deeper you understanding you gain, you open yourself up to new ideas.

The original blog poster also said that limitations cans also lead to liberation … And I completely agree! Because once again, the successful are always looking for ways to make things easy and solve issues. So if you have a limitation, and if you constantly follow habits of the successful, then you won’t let that limitation stop you and you’ll find a way to achieve success!

Know A Higher Power

It seems like most successful people believe in this – and I don’t mean you have to be Christian or Jewish. Every book I’ve ever read about success has mentioned this as well. When you connect with this “higher power” you are developing a relationship that will allow you to find guidance in decisions and problem solving. I am a firm believer of that, as having faith in something triggers something akin to magic … Things tend to happen.

“Believe and succeed.”

If you’re ready to take steps to achieve your goals and become more successful, then click here to get occasional emails from me on that and so much more!

Are you ready to surround yourself with the thinking that out thinks you?

Then check out my Inner Circle. 🙂

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2015-01-02 By Kassandra 5 Comments

Seems like it should be common sense … But even if it is common sense, is it common action?

I have been involved in personal development for many years, and it actually apparently began with a previous manager.

In some form or another, my previous employers wanted me to excel and some of them had me focus on things outside of technical skills. One of these wonderful people introduced me to Stephen Covey’s book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change (25th Anniversary Edition) … It’s absolutely wonderful, and I believe absolutely everyone should read it!

But I was reminded of this book today by a tweet from this cool cat >>>>>>

<<<<< @DavidKatzEO

>>>> Here’s the TWEET! <<<<

And here’s my breakdown of:

Habit 1: Be Proactive

If you aren’t constantly looking for ways to improve or eliminate waste, then you are already dying.

If you’re not proactive, then you may miss opportunities to prosper – either because you waited too long or someone beat you to the punch first.

If you’re proactive, you’re keeping your mind open to new opportunities!

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

What you focus on expands! If you begin with the end in mind, you’ll know where you need to put your focus on and because it IS your focus, your brain will want to grow more and figure things out in such a way as to achieve that outcome!

Habit 3: Put First Things First

“Eat that Frog!” as Brian Tracy would say from his book. Basically do what needs to be done first! Even if it’s something you dread, you’ll not only have completed the task but you also won’t be worrying about it all day. And after you’ve put first things first, the important items will be taken care of and there’s more room and time for the things you WANT to do, not just HAVE to do!

Habit 4: Think WIN-WIN

If you are always thinking in terms of WIN-WIN you are contributing to prosperity, even if it’s monetary. You are seeking to find a way to not only make all parties successful but that no one gets burned in the process!

Habit 5: Seek first to UNDERSTAND, and THEN be understood!

We all want to be heard and understood. But more often than not, we all forget (or are ignorant of) the ways of people.

Instead of focusing on being right or being understood, if you can understand the other party or get a better idea of their stance, then you will find common ground instead of dissension and opposition.

Habit 6: Synergize

Most people are taught from a young age to “share” … And it can have a compound effect on one’s life if this habit is understood early in life.

“Teamwork makes the dream work.” — Jefferson Santos

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Also known as PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, you need to be constantly sharpening your saw. Become more knowledgeable in things that will help you to achieve success and stay consistent.

Sharpening the saw could be surrounding yourself with the people who are successful in the places that you want to be in.

It is reading 10 pages of a book that stimulates you and helps you grow, like “The Magic of Believing” or “What to Say When You Talk to Yourself”.

It is listening to 30 minutes a day of outstanding audios or presentations of successful, influential and powerful people — like Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Scott Ross, or Jefferson Santos!

It’s giving you the edge you need to be better than the average person. And it can even cut down the time it will take to achieve the goals you desire!

I suppose that’s all from me for today. If you like the information I provided, please be sure to comment on this post at the bottom of the page! And if you want to automatically be notified as to when I have more information like this, then click >> here << and you will get occasional emails from me on more like this!

Merry Christmas!

2014-12-26 By Kassandra 2 Comments

Previous Post: Part 6 of 6 – Affiliate and Network Marketing Myths BUSTED!

Next Post: Mahatma Gandhi’s 7 Deadly Sins

Yes, it’s a day late … But I was spending time with family and loved ones, so I just let yesterday’s post be the only post.

I did, however, wanted to touch on the subject matter at hand … And not the last Chistmas post I did, but about the spirit in which the season brings.

During the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, this one idea may be lost amongst those who get so caught up in their lives … They forget this one little thing …

The holidays are a reminder to reach out to those you love. Unfortunately, it is during the holidays that a lot of people get depressed. People tend to feel suicidal. And sometimes tragedies occur as well during the holidays.

I was at karaoke the other night and a friend of mine got up and sang a song in remembrance of her brother who died on Christmas eve 2 years ago.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Whether it’s in remembrance of those we love, whether we have the pleasure and gift to be able to spend with those we care about, even if we can just make that phone call …

Love one another. It’s not that hard. A smile can turn around someone’s whole day. Offering to help open the door for someone with a ton of groceries … simply being there for someone to talk to? It could mean the world to someone.

Sometimes people are just lonely. And they don’t know how to reach out nor do they want to “burden” others …

I don’t know how many times to say it.

“All you need is love.” – The Beatles

Just spread the love. While Christmas is the big season to remind people of that, try to take a little bit of the Christmas spirit with you always so it will spread throughout the year.

And if you don’t know who to spread the love to … Or if for some bizarre reason believe you are unworthy of love yourself … Know that there IS someone out there who cares. I do. I care about you. I believe in you. I know you are meant to do great things. And I know that there is more to what is going to come from you than what you are currently able to see.

Search The Site