Miscellaneous

9 essential tips to follow if you rent a car using your debit card

carol — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 10:37:53 +0000

9 essential tips to follow if you rent a car using your debit card carol Fri, 12/15/2017 - 10:37

Thinking about using a debit card to rent a car? It is quite possible, but it’s not so easy. Normally, rental car companies prefer that their customers use credit cards instead of debit cards.

There are strong reasons behind this typical mentality of rental car companies. Most of the time, they become anxious. What if the debit card renter returns the car with empty gas tank and don’t pay for it? The renter’s insurance policy doesn’t cover that loss at all. So, they have no choice left rather than pushing their customers to use credit cards.

However, the rental car companies also want to keep their customers happy. So, on many occasions, they’ll allow you to rent a car using your debit card. But there are some strict rules.

While renting your card through a debit card, you might have to encounter few hassles and spend a longer time at the rental car counter due to those rules.

So, let's talk about how you can ease up the process of renting a car using a debit card.

Read on and know about some situations you might have to face, and a breakdown of policies by the rental car companies.

You’ll need cash available in your account

You need to have enough money in your bank account or the debit card you are using. It is quite possible that the rental car company might lock up the full rental amount in advance. They might also deduct a little more initially to cover up any sudden mishaps. The extra money will be refunded back to you when the rental deal ends. The entire process may take up to three weeks to complete.

You may encounter a credit check

Many rental car companies will perform an automatic credit check for customers who wish to rent a car using their debit card. If you have a low credit score, the car company might reject your application. You might know that every time someone runs a credit check on you, it can practically harm your FICO score from 5 points to much more.

You need to carry extra ID proofs

In addition to a driver’s license, you might have to provide few more IDs. So, keep all of your iDs’ up to date, especially your passport. You can also use your utility bill as an address proof if the address is similar to the one on your driver’s license.

You’ll need proof of insurance

Many car rental companies will ask you to submit your insurance policy papers. The process will take time as the rental car agent will verify the documents by contacting your insurance company. If you do not have enough coverage, or if the agent finds anything fake or inappropriate, the agent will ask you to buy a proper policy. If you don’t respond to them positively, they’ll just deny your application to rent a car using your debit card.

You might be asked for evidence of return travel

Some car rental companies may ask you to show your return tickets too . This practice may depend on company to company, and even from one place to another .

For an example - Enterprise, Alamo, and National car rental companies” may want you to produce your return ticket if you want to use your debit card for non-airport locations. The ticket could be for an airline, a cruise, or a train.

You can expect a cap on vehicles types

There are also some top class cars that you cannot hire. A Mercedes sedan, a Lincoln Navigator, a Volkswagen Touareg, or a Land Rover SUV – all these cars are not rentable with a debit card at several rental locations. If somehow you manage to rent any of these luxury cars, their charges will be very high and the deposit money also is huge.

Your age might be a restriction

Some rental car companies do not allow people below a certain age limit to hire their cars. For an example - Budget and Avis company provide cars to the people over the age limit 25, with debit card payment facility. Thrifty also provides same service for off-airport locations. Other companies may also need more than one age proof for the car rental service.

You’ll pay full amount at vehicle return

Normally, rental car companies are interested to take your money as soon as you book the car. They’ll accept the money through different monetary forms like cash or credit cards, debit cards, etc. Hertz and Thrifty will offer you to pay only a part of the rental money upfront when you book a car from them at least 30 days in advance with of their Cash ID cards. However, you’ll have to pay $15 surcharge for a new card every time you reserve a car from them.

Rental policies may change according to your location

You should know the debit card policies at your rental car location. You can check out the policies by logging into their website online. Select your location where you plan to rent and then check the fine print at the bottom. Review all the details of that location’s policy and choose accordingly.

Apart from that you can call the agency directly and get quotes. You can visit their local office; it is the best way to verify and negotiate rates.

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Miscellaneous

Can you harm your credit score by posting in Facebook?

carol — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 13:14:32 +0000

Can you harm your credit score by posting in Facebook? carol Fri, 07/07/2017 - 13:14

We are aware of the fact that oversharing anything is a very common event in Facebook. Whether it is a picture, video, or even some text status message, we all share these things over and over again. This habit often lure us into a lot of trouble and makes our profile prone to harmful effects such as phishing, identity theft, cyber-bullying and much more. It may even harm our job life or create problems while obtaining a new one.

Soon the problem may go one step forward. Our sharing habit can be a probable factor that may influence our credit. It may also prevent us from applying for loans to certain lenders. Yes...that means your Facebook posts can harm your credit score.

Credit scoring companies are always keeping their eyes on our every move. Starting from the age of 18, they report every financial step in our credit report. By following that report, our banks decide if they want to provide money for our home, car, or any personal expenses.

Earlier 2017, rumors began to spread that FICO would start analyzing information that people share with their friends online. Even “The Financial Times” wrote in October 2016 that “Being ‘wasted’ on social platforms” like Facebook may damage our credit scores.

So, it’s crucial to check your online comments before you ruin your financial reputation. It is very easy to forget proper etiquette in the Internet, and also very easy to spend holidays in a luxury yacht. But don’t forget that it can be particularly dangerous.

So, what should we do? Let’s have a look what professionals said about this:

1. Maintain social media professionalism

Jacqueline Whitmore, etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, discussed about the importance of maintaining professionalism in social media platforms.

She said whether it is right or wrong, our presence in every online social platform is considered as an replica of yourself. Most people just do not know how to behave naturally in social media platforms. It’s very easy to wear the “Professional” mask while at work. But once you are outside your office environment, that mask struggles to remain constant, especially in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

“Hopefully you handle your Facebook page with professionalism,” Whitmore described, “but that’s not always the way it is.”

People practically use social media platforms as their personal, open journal entries. Whitmore also said that our social media presence actually denotes our entity to the faceless masses. So, whatever we share through our posts, the common people will consider them as a reflection of our character. So, if we act recklessly on the Facebook posts, it also portray us as an reckless individual.

If the credit reporting agencies also consider us as reckless, that’ll also reflect in our credit report. So, it is clear that Facebook posts can harm your credit score.

2. Take caution during holiday season and vacations

Whitmore also said, people must maintain that professionalism throughout the year. When we go to a holiday, we usually forget what we are doing, and what actually we are posting in the Facebook. Others will post different responses on our posts and those feedbacks may affect our credit score, too.

You can recheck yourself and your posting habit through the holidays. People from other profiles will surely start reacting to your posts. So, do not post or share anything that can harm your profile, your personality, and your finances.

Whitmore’s 5 pieces of online etiquette advice

Whitmore have illustrated some unique tips on how we must behave in the social media platforms:

1. While making online interactions, behave with respect and dignity like you would in a direct interaction.

2. “Think before you post”. Consider the fact that whatever you are posting is noticeable by your current and future boss, your lenders, your religious leader, your elders and your kids. Avoid posting anything suspicious about your finances, or any other thing that you don’t want them to see and discuss about.

3. Don’t say anything controversial, vulgar, or mean spirited that could be used against you and harm your status.

4. Be aware of those people also who don’t know how to maintain professionalism. You need to understand that not everybody will maintain a clear and seamless image just as you are doing now. Not everybody will diversify their online presence between work and social media. So, if you somehow engage in social communication with those people, it might be devastating for your profile too.

5. We all know the fact that driving under influence a.k.a drunk driving is a very bad thing. This also applicable to social media, too. Most of the time, alcohol fuels loose lips. Whether in person or behind a monitor, be aware that alcohol can inhibit your ability to maintain a level of professionalism.

Conclusion

It is a fact that people know very little about how to present themselves in social media platforms. You never know who will tag your posts, share them, or comment on them. It is possible to moderate your post likes and comments, but you can’t do it immediately all the time.

So, your post or your posted comments may hamper your professional life and you may lose your job in a few years and be looking for a new one. Hence, it is proved that Facebook posts can harm your credit score.

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Halloween safety tips for your kids you might have missed out

carol — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 10:32:31 +0000

Halloween safety tips for your kids you might have missed out carol Thu, 11/26/2015 - 10:32

How was your Halloween this year? Was it spine-chilling? I hope you had a “safe” Halloween and your kid(s) have enjoyed a lot. Well, there are some safety Halloween tips that every parent should follow for his/her kid(s). Have you overlooked the safety tips this year? If yes, then don’t worry. But, make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes next year. Have a look at the below-given safety tips and save your child from possible accidents:

1. Safety while carving

Are you ready to carve your pumpkins? Wait, consider these Halloween safety rules:

Kids must use markers, glitter glue or paint - Let your kids draw faces on pumpkins with colors, glitters, and sparkles. It'll be better not to leave them alone while carving job. They should do the job under an elder’s guidance.
Use candles with care - Place candle-lit pumpkins on a plain surface, and away from any flammable objects and clothes. Make sure your kids don’t handle these pumpkins alone. It'll be better if you use flashlights to light the pumpkins. Recently, battery-operated flameless candles or glow sticks are also getting handy.

2. Safety while choosing costumes

From furry beasts to fairies and spooky ghosts, picking proper costumes for your kids is an important part of Halloween safety. Check these tips:

Brighter dresses are the better - Whether you make a unique costume or buy from the store, always keep in mind that your kids are gonna wear these at night. So, choose as many bright dresses as possible and attach reflective tape to their outfit or bags. Also, look for flame-retardant materials for those dresses. After dark, your kids are gonna trick-or-treating outdoors, so it'll help them to be seen even from far while crossing roads.
Choose right size - Use perfectly fit costumes for your kids so that they can carry it well. It also reduces the possibilities of a stumble. In case it's chilly outdoors, always make them wear warm clothing underneath. Avoid high-heels and over-sized costumes.
If possible, avoid masks - A mask can obstruct the vision, especially if your kids are running around the neighborhood. Mask often slips out of place, causing an accident. Use skin-friendly, non-toxic makeup equipment for dressing up.
Limit accessories - Pointed props like magic wands, spears, swords-knives, etc may cause accidents. So, if possible avoid these props. But if you really need to use them, try to make them with cardboards.

3. Safety while trick or treat

Before your kids getting out for trick-or-treating, check out these safety rules:

Be a part - Accompany your kids while they are trick-or-treating. If your kids are younger than 12, then you must go with them. If it is not possible, then pin your kid’s name, address and your phone number inside the pocket of your kid. Ask your older kids to go with their friends or older siblings. Make sure your kids have at least one flashlight with new batteries.
Make some rules - If your kids are going without you, make some plan on how to maintain a familiar route. Check all the safety rules, including their staying with the group. Make sure they remain only within the neighborhood. Kids must approach only those house, which are open and clearly lit. Ask your kids to carry a cell phone so he or she can contact you.
Check out the treats - Don't let your kids eat while they are trick-or-treating. Feed them early before going out in the neighborhood. Check out the treat before your kids eat it. Dispose of the treats that are not sealed or expired. Never open a treat that looks questionable. If you have young kids, don’t let them eat gum, hard candies and other choking foods.
Ration the loot - If your kids are getting a lot of treats, give them few and save the rest. You might ask your kids to share some of your candies, toffees or other sweets with neighborhood friends.
Plan a party - Without knocking from door-to-door, how about planning a trick-or-treat party with your neighbors? Arrange the party at your home, it’ll be the safest place for your kids. They will enjoy the Halloween. Decorate the entire house, have a musical party, and play games and puzzles.

4. Safety while being at home front

Little trick-or-treaters will knock at your door steps too. So, being a host, follow these safety measures:

Clean up - Clean your yard and main entrance. Put away things that can create problems for trick-or-treaters to enter the house, such as water hoses, bikes, lawn mower and other decorations. Clear glass doors, remove mud or other debris from the sidewalk.
Turn on the lights - Replace old or defused bulbs and use LED bulbs for brighter lights. It’ll give you enough light for good visibility at the walkway and front door.
Pets - Don’t take any chances, may be due to their peculiar clothes, your pets might get frightened, and they can bite any child at your doorsteps.

If you will be driving on Halloween, make sure to keep your headlights on. Kids may pop out from any backyard or front door and cross the street. Be especially careful while entering or leaving driveways and alleys.

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Miscellaneous

Eviction: How landlords deal with rogue tenants of payment default

carol — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:05:25 +0000

Eviction: How landlords deal with rogue tenants of payment default carol Tue, 04/28/2015 - 07:05

Do you have a tenant who continuously keep on making late payments? Are you getting tired of making several request? There are some ways of dealing with such tenants. You can report late bills to the credit bureaus. You need to have a monthly subscription with the major credit agencies to format reports. To protect credit score your tenant will surely start making payments on time.

Common eviction mistakes a landlord should avoid

Knowing what thing to avoid while evict a bad tenant can make the process hassle free. You should avoid these eviction mistakes in order to get rid of the miserable tenant and the process as well. Read on to know the mistakes a landlord should avoid.

1. Send a proper notice to quit

Most of landlord usually take action against their bad tenants without sending any proper notice. This is one of the major blunder. The proper procedure is, before file for an eviction, landlord should send a notice to quit letter to the tenant. In the notice the landlord should mention the reasons as well. Moreover, a landlord should give the notice far enough in advance. Otherwise the landlord may face difficulty while evicting the tenant.

2. Don’t play any tricky game

Don’t take any attempt of self help eviction to make the tenant’s situation miserable. There are some self help activities a landlord shouldn’t try in order to remove a bad tenants such as :

To change the locks on the tenants house to restrict his/her entry to the house.

To remove all the assets of the tenant from the house.

To turn off all the utilities (hot water, electricity, gas)

Any harassment to remove the tenants from the property.

Remember, if you take any action from the list which are mentioned above, then your tenant can file legal action against you. As a potential business man you should follow the rent rule and shouldn’t take any such illegal action to get rid of bad tenants.

3. Try to keep all evident against the tenant

A landlord should keep all the evidence against the tenant. For instance, if you’re trying to evict a tenant for late or non payment, then you should keep the bank statements and other request notice as evidence. On the other hand, if you’re trying to evict the tenant for any damage, then you should provide the evidence of damages as well. Take pictures of the damages and keep them in a safe place.

Procedure for reporting tenant’s non payments to the credit bureaus?

As a owner, you can report a non pay to the major credit bureaus, however you have to take few steps to report a late payment to the credit bureaus.

1. At first, collect the missed payments documents or bills of late payments. Take some photographs of them. Also take snaps of notification letter to the tenant that the debt remains unpaid.

2. After collecting all these proofs, you need to contact a collection agency such as Tenant Collection Services, Landlord Protection Agency to collect the due payment of your behalf. Give the copies of all the documents, SSN of your tenant, name, document of his/her actual debt and the letter of previous collection efforts to the agency.

3. Landlord Protection Agency will work on a contingency basis or a flat fee service. In contingency service the company will charge a percentage of the owed money. And in flat fee service they will charge $16.95 once the debt is collected by them. You need to choose the option according to your suitability. Both agency will report the credit bureaus about your tenants late payments.

Final words

Try to talk directly to your tenants about his/her due payment, debts or results of late payments. Thus, your tenant may pay the bills on time, or may share the reason of late payments or pray for some days more to make the payments. You can also pay a third party credit reporting service company to report the late payments of your tenants instead of filing an eviction against the tenant. If you want to file an eviction, then you need to follow the the specific rules for evicting the tenant. Remember, the eviction rules differs state to state. So, make sure you’re following the specific rule of your state.

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