| #: |
From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 3373. |
Michael
Columbus, OH
Age: 36
Jan 3, 2008
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Higher Education getting more selective!
JJ, This article talks about how many students are applying for college, but yet there are limited spaces to be filled and of course rejection sets in for teenagers. Colleges are getting (not necessarily making) more money than they ever have before and tax payers in several states are expected to subsidize the state funded schools. You should send your book out to High School Counselors and have them present your point of view as an alternative to college.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.newsweek.com/id/83159...
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| 3372. |
CONNEY
DC
Age: 53
Jan 2, 2008
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online court records
Typical is the Nov. 13 summons issued to a Sterling woman charged with failing to register her dog, a gray Shih Tzu named Puzzle, which had been declared dangerous. In addition to her name and Social Security number, the one-page document -- filed in Loudoun General District Court -- listed her home address, birth date, race, driver's license number, eye and hair color, height and weight.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic...
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| 3371. |
Mary
State College, PA
Age: 49
Jan 2, 2008
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results on LLC check
Thank you for your suggestion Mr Luna.
The attorney's office will wire the funds back into the account where the money had come out for settlement.
...
Thanks for the follow-up, Mary!
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| 3370. |
Mary
State College, PA
Age: 49
Jan 2, 2008
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can't cash LLC check
Thank you Mr Luna for helping us to become invisible. We have successfully purchased a property with a NM LLC. However, the attorney's office issued a check of funds back to us in the name of the LLC. The problem is no bank (even the bank the check is drawn on) will not only not cash it, but they insist they have to open a business acct and MUST have a Tax ID number. Any suggestons?
...
Yes. Go back to the attorney and explain the situation. I once had a title company do that to me, even though I had clearly instructed them to make the check out in the name of our trust. (The check was for the fiul amoount of a sale.) I went back to get the check changed, got some sass from a clerk, and it took a month to settle. However, I ended up with the correct check and a separate check for interest on the money for the month they had stalled.
... If your attorney won't cooperate, and if the check is a large one, get another attorney to call him on your behalf and explain to him the facts of life. However, if's it's just for the return of a few hundred dollars of overpayment, you might wish to just let it go.
... Either way, please let me know how this turns out.
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| 3368. |
Sebastian
Knoxville, TN
Age: 57
Jan 1, 2008
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Trailers
The website below is that of a man who built his own trailer. It has links to things you need to know if building or modifying a trailer. It also has a link to a trailer building forum.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.crocodiletear.com/...
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| 3362. |
Michael
Fredericksburg, VA
Age: 18
Dec 30, 2007
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(Legal) residence at a ghost address?
[Edited for length] In HTBI you suggest using a ghost address for a driver's license. In nearly every state I've looked at, DMV *requires* that you provide and update your "residence address" in addition to any mailing address, and that you sign under penalty to it. It seems to me that there couldn't be a requirement that you actually have to *live* there; e.g. I can't imagine a student being penalized if he only occasionally visits his parents' house, or a retired couple being penalized because they travel year-round. Even so, I can't imagine either that a DMV would take kindly to it should they discover that one listed as his residence some of the examples given in HTBI for ghost addresses ...
...
I agree, Michael. Some states do allow a P.O. Box but in others, some serious soul-searching must be made before listing an address. This is an area where each person must make his or her own decision. But in any case, I stand by this rule: NEVER use your driver's license for ID when your passport can be shown, instead.
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| 3361. |
Charles
Galt, IL
Age: 40
Dec 30, 2007
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Data Theft Worsens
The loss or theft of personal data such as credit card and Social Security numbers soared to unprecedented levels in 2007, and the trend isn't expected to turn around anytime soon as hackers stay a step ahead of security and laptops disappear with sensitive information.
Submitted Link #1: http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/D/DATA_BREAC...
...
It is interesting to note that the thefts of personal data normally involve those who work for others, rather than we who are self-employed.
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| 3360. |
STan
Atlanta, GA
Age: 42
Dec 30, 2007
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Fake streets
Re #3351 Fake Streets on maps.
Most map publishers do this.
The easiest way to find them is to ask a local fireman. They are usually required to pass a "territory test" to demonstrate they have a knowledge of the local streets, and will spot the fake streets during the test.
Though I doubt the fake streets are in the software that most govt agencies and data miners like ChoicePoint use.
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| 3359. |
Charlie
Hernando, FL
Age: 62
Dec 30, 2007
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Re: Jack - #3357
Just a comment related to protecting your less than legal age children. If you file taxes in the US...they probably already have a SSN. That item along with their birthdate allows someone to steal their identity. It happens. "Freeze" their credit file(s) until such time as they need it to conduct some type of transaction.
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| 3357. |
Jack
Eustis, FL
Age: 41
Dec 29, 2007
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future-proofing our family
Our new year's resolution is to get our privacy in order and lay the groundwork for our kids (now age 5 and 9) to have their own privacy options when they gets older-- in the US at least, we assume it will get worse before it gets better! Although we will be focusing on undoing the damage of *not* working to be invisible in the past, we are trying think strategically for the future as well.
In one instance, we are setting up an LLC, which has as its owner a generically-named Trust. We will use it to hold property (in both FL and elsewhere) and will set up addresses and accounts that can work together now and in the future.
In this site, you mention that you "do not [...]suggest in any way that a NM LLC should be used for [...] opening a bank account in another state. "
Could you elaborate on this-- especially your concerns re: opening a bank account? Is it unwise to open an in-state account, just not an out-of-state one? (I reread the sections of HTBI and Invisible Money in case I missed it, and I am apparently failing to make this critical connection!) If a NM LLC has specific drawbacks in terms of connecting to an out-of-state bank, could you explain? (As you point out to other readers-- this is a privacy question-- sorry to be daft on this point!)
Secondly-- along the same lines of protecting future adults and their privacy: do you or your readers have suggestions for laying the groundwork for kids? We do a lot of other things to protect our kids' futures-- as parents, what can we do now to protect their privacy later? (I imagine this could be a whole new e-Book!)
As always, thanks for your guidance.
...
In the Invisible Money e-book, when I mention opening bank accounts in other states and/or Canada, I refer to opening accounts in your own name. There is nothing to gain by using an LLC because the bank will still insist on identifying you as the signer. Your name, the address you give them, and your SSN will all be entered in their computer database.
... As for your children, the best thing you can do is to impress upon their young minds, before they reach the teen years, the importance of never voluntarily giving out personal information.
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| 3355. |
Linda
San Francisco, CA
Age: 30's
Dec 29, 2007
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Thanks & We'll Let You Know
Thank you for the great suggestions on obtaining utilities! We'll probably end up using a combination of the suggested strategies, depending on which one each of us is comfortable with. We'll start the processes after the New Year holiday, and let you know how we do!
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| 3354. |
roger
Baytown, TX
Age: 58
Dec 28, 2007
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re: Larry 3350 & 3352
Larry, I just wanted to add that the trust is not only to avoid probate. It is also used when the trustor becomes incapacitated.
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| 3353. |
Mike
Chicago
Age: 49
Dec 28, 2007
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Free telephone number and mailbox.
Mr. Luna, Privatephone.com is ending their free service on 12/31/07. I did a little digging and found a similar free service but with a Seattle, WA area code. Free service, telephone number, personal voicemail, and max. of 20 messages daily. If any of your readers have a better service...please post here before privatephone.com terminates in año viejo:-)
Submitted Link #1: http://www.laservoicemail.com/?freephoneguide.com...
...
A better service with a Seattle number is K7.net.
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| 3352. |
Larry
Tucson, AZ
Age: 40
Dec 28, 2007
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More on revocable trusts
I read my previous post a few times and realized I should say a lot more. I have had enough experience with trusts to know they are remarkable tools when created and maintained properly, but a lot of people underestimate the work involved to update, maintain, and settle them. I want to add a few things here to bring this point home. A trust is simply a legal document that allows the author to avoid the probate process, care for a dependent, etc. The creator names a trustee (one who is trusted - literally) to provide benefits and/or care to one or more beneficiaries. The place most people run into problems is they assume all they have to do is write it, list their assets and beneficiaries, file it away and all is well. After all, when the author of the trust dies, their designated one simply has to show up at the bank, hospital,(etc) show the document to the manager and start dispensing instructions to the staff, right? No, it doesn't work that way.
Your trust will allow you to avoid the probate process, but you still have to learn and follow the procedures associated with the trust AND the institutions named in it's pages. Think of your trust as a big "to do" list for your designated one. Your instructions to him could be - Sell house, Care for little Joey until age 18, Hold funds for little Kathy until age 20, then payout according to these terms, care for retarded child until her death, draw from retirement account according to it's rules (which changed based on the death).
Do you have a car? New baby? Open another bank account lately with your year end bonus? Saving for college? Change doctors? Change jobs lately so you rolled over your IRA to a new place? Got a new life insurance policy? Closed an account? My point is your trust needs to keep up with all of this - in real time. Any change you make that is left out of the trust will be probated or otherwise challenged in court if there is a dispute. Think your children will get along with each other after you die? Of course they will, they are adults now, right? Maybe. Maybe not. You will never know. Are you sure they won't compete with each other for your assets? Be realistic about who your kids are - financially and emotionally. Provide for them, in very clear trust language that cannot be questioned and it will not matter if they argue a lot. Their arguements will have no effect on your estate. Be thorough, clear, and make changes to your trust as you make them in life. Hard work? Yes, it is. It is also necessary to provide your family with the benefits you want them to have. The worse case scenario is you create your trust, file it, forget it, make lots of life changes, then leave your untrained designated one a confusing mess. In this case, your family goes without benefits from you until "professionals" who charge a lot of money and don't care about your family come in and sort things out when they feel like it, subject to a judges approval. They might try to make changes based on the "input" of family members. These changes they make along the way are paid for by you through your estate, of course. Is this OK with you? Then write your trust clearly.
If you were a designated one, doing this big "to do" list for someone other than a close loved one, would you want to be paid? Bequeath your designated one a nice sum or a salary for his hard work. Being a designated one IS hard work. Name, in your trust, the account his salary will come out of. When you die, you will be giving your designated one a full time job, unless you estate is very simple and small. Compensate him nicely - especially if he has ongoing responsibilities, such as the care of a minor or needy child.
Did you give your designated one a durable power of attorney that gives him authority over the sale or maintenance of your real estate? Did you tell him to sell your house? Is his name on the deed? If not, you better record that durable behind the deed. If you don't, your designated one may be powerless to do what you told him to do. Trusts are remarkable tools when you learn to use, update, manage and settle them properly
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| 3351. |
Nona
CA
Age: 43
Dec 28, 2007
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Ghost Addresses
A friend sent me a link to an interesting article about fake streets and addresses being placed in printed maps.
It doesn't mention this use specifically, but while brain storming about ghost addresses for filling it our various applications, this article many hatch some possibilities.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_165.html...
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| 3350. |
Larry
Tucson, AZ
Age: 40
Dec 28, 2007
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Revocable trust general comments
After creating your trust, read it carefully and thoroughly. Know exactly what all parts of it say. It is one thing to create a legal trust, it is another to use a trust to settle your estate/ administer your wishes. Make sure your designated administrator(s) are mature, responsible and willing to do the work if necessary (it is work). Make sure you and your designated one(s) know how to settle your estate and administer your wishes. The only way to truly be sure your designated person knows how to settle your estate/administer your wishes is if you learn the processes involved and teach them. Talk to each institution named in the trust (bank, hospital, etc). Make sure each institution has the information and documents they need. Make sure YOU know each institution's processes/requirements for following the instructions your designated one will give them if you die. In other words, take care of both sides of the process. The trust side: The trust must be legal, and you must understand exactly what is says. The other side: Each institution named in the trust must be involved. Learn their processes, talk to each one to determine what they require to cooperate with your designated one. Trusts are very useful tools, however they must be maintained properly. Once you die, they become irrevocable. Any items/instructions that are not clearly identified or understandable, or are omitted altogether because the trust was not unpdated properly, could make settlement more difficult by requiring the courts to step in to interpret what the trust "really" says. Be specific, clear and thorough NOW, and you designated one will have an easier task when you die.
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| 3349. |
Randy
IA
Age: 40s
Dec 28, 2007
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Utilities without SSN (Ronald: 3348)
No link appeared in the original entry. I think this is probably the one to which Ronald referred (see link below).
Submitted Link #1: http://www.commonlawvenue.com/Misc/115-setting_up_...
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| 3348. |
Ronald
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Age: 55
Dec 28, 2007
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Utilities without SSN
The main point is to research the laws of your state concerning the regulation of the utilities companies and what agency is tasked to do this. Having found that out, you can actually read the pertinent laws to see what the utilities companies actually can and cannot do, not what they will tell you you must do over the phone.
If they don't follow the laws that regulate them, then you have legal recourse against them. Specific sample dialogs that are VERY effective are provided in the above link.
Here is a sample dialog that will illustrate the procedure:
"I asked the customer service representative if I could talk to
someone in their legal department. I was connected to Diane and I asked
her the following questions:
1. Is your company regulated by the PUC (Public Utilities Commision)? (yes)
2. Do you follow all of the regulations and tariffs published? (yes)
3. Can you force me to enter in to any agreement under terms that are
inconsistent with the provisions of NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive? (No)
4. Do you realize that I do not have an SSAN because of my religious
beliefs and that I cannot get state issued photo ID for the same reason?
(I do now).
5. Can you show me in the regulations or in the tariff a requirement
that I give you an SSAN or show any identification in order to contract
for service? (big silence)
Diane told me that she was going to call the corporate office and get
back to me.
20 minutes later, she told me that my service was going to be connected
and that someone would call me to set up an appointment. I get
connected on Monday, between 10 and 1."
Good luck!
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| 3347. |
Mike
Columbus, OH
Age: 36
Dec 28, 2007
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3343 - Setting up Utilities in another name:
Kitty McMenemy (who sets up LLCs) gave me a few good strategies, this took care of all of my utilities.
1) The first strategy was to claim that I am a landlord, and that my tenant (insert witty alias here) needs to have their name on the utilities. This worked for about two-thirds of my utilities.
2) Phone was a bit difficult - I switched to Vonage, as all they wanted was a Credit Card. If you hunt around, there are a couple of gift cards out there that you can get that will allow any name to be used. They also allow you to prepay a year in advance.
3) The last one was a tough one to break. This went back and forth for almost a year. The gas company would not budge. Finally, I played the tenant role and due to de-regulation they had to compete for gas service. I claimed that my tenant was from Canada, had no SSN, and had a speech impairment - thus they could only work via postal mail. They gave in and that took care of that.
The last bit of advice is to always offer up a deposit. In almost all cases, they will see that you have money and are not going to stiff them on their bill. The unfortunate aspect to this is that the whole reason why the utilities do this is because so many people skip out on their utilities for the last two months of service. My own mother had rented a place out to an older couple (through a Realtor no less) and in the end they claimed the husband had died two months into the contract, the home was parted out with light fixtures missing, and they physically destroyed the place requiring them to spend almost $25,000 to repair. All the while, every utility was left in default which amounted to another $1000 in expenses that the land owner, my mother, had to spend to get the service reinstated before the winter had come.
...
I especially agree with the last part, Mike, about deadbeat tenants, since I used to be a landlord myself. (But never again!)
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| 3346. |
Ryan
Wilmington, NC
Age: 28
Dec 28, 2007
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Gift cards as an alternative to credit cards
I got hooked on Target gift cards when I discovered that Target.com sells books online (I think they partner with Amazon). You can use gift cards from major national chains like Target, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Old Navy, Best Buy, Victoria's Secret, etc. to buy things through their websites, like items not in stock in the local stores or only offered online. Buy the gift cards with cash at the store and have the items sent to whatever address, in whatever name you wish. Plus you avoid the service charges imposed by the prepaid credit cards. These national retail chain databases are the last ones I'd want my information in.
...
Ryan, yours is the best tip yet for buying books online. Thank you!
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