Posts by George Lewis9

Look, banks aren't exactly obligated to open an account for just anyone. But seriously—are we ever going to hear what kind of "secret data" they’re actually digging for?

☕

boldskipper6 said:Man, who taught you that line? I guess it was probably someone smart... maybe.

Just past experience. But that’s not even the point—I want to know what kind of "excessively personal" data banks are actually digging for.

Jesse Long2 said:The entire system is built on a foundation of privacy violations, yet they have the audacity to slap a "counter-terrorism" or "anti-money laundering" label on it to justify their reach. On one hand, you’re sitting there preaching about the freedoms you enjoy... but if you actually want to exercise those rights, they demand your fingerprint. If you won't give them a thumbprint, they won't give you an ID. But honestly, what does a standard ID card even have to do with biometric data?
Is that not blatant discrimination?
What was once considered unthinkable just a decade ago has become our everyday reality.
Then there are those who actually agree with being bugged because they claim they have nothing to hide. That’s just how their logic works.

Well, if you have nothing to hide, you supposedly have nothing to worry about. Though, you didn't mention which specific data the bank was digging for that triggered this whole privacy invasion rant of yours.

Why is everyone so incredibly touchy about data privacy? Over in Sweden, once you enter the tax system and get assigned a social security number—which is mandatory if you want to see a doctor, for instance—your entire profile is basically public record online. We’re talking full name, address, age, gross annual income, marital status, whether you own a house or a car... you name it. And honestly? Nobody complains about it.

Can I stack another car to hit that 50% bonus threshold?

Charles Ramos7 said:Honestly, the fact that they didn't ask for a pay stub doesn't seem like that big of a concession to me. By the way, speaking of the major players, I've never even had to send a payroll statement to Bank of America to get an American Express.

That’s just because you have your direct deposit set up there. The system sees those regular inflows and triggers the pre-approved credit limit automatically.

Smaller banks tend to panic about clients defaulting, so they overcompensate with a hundred different layers of bureaucracy.

Nothing special, really. First instance was at a pharmacy—dealing with bandages and gauze because I managed to wreck myself a week before my trip and had to dress my wounds every single day 🙂. The second time was even more entertaining: I was fueling up at a gas station, and after tapping my card, I realized I wanted to grab some water too. Turns out, the lady at the pump wasn't having any part of it 🙂. Usually, I just swipe everything and carry cash solely for food or drinks at those random spots that don't take cards
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By the way, you see way more plastic being used in bars and restaurants over in Mexico than you do here or in Bulgaria
.

Does anyone know if a merchant is actually allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for credit cards? I ran into this issue a few days ago while traveling through Bulgaria—they refused to take my Mastercard for some tiny expenses (one was about a buck fifty, another was less than a dollar), claiming the transaction fees were just too high to justify it.

So, my wife is currently stuck in a dispute with Verizon. Back in November 2011, she canceled her Google contract and settled everything she thought was owed—even getting a verbal confirmation from the clerk at the Verizon store that her balance was zero. Turns out, that clerk was wrong; there were still some outstanding charges from late 2011 that hadn't hit yet.

Regardless of the misinformation from the store, Verizon didn't send a single bill or even a late notice until May 2012, when a collection agency suddenly showed up with a proposal for garnishment. She contested it, and while the court eventually tossed the proposal, she ended up footing the bill for the legal costs.

Then, my "brilliant" wife went and made an even bigger blunder—she actually paid off $33 the debt. I told her not to do it, but she did, effectively admitting the claim was valid.

Now, a court summons has arrived for a preliminary hearing this Thursday in Des Moines, which she can't attend because of work.

My plan is to file a written objection based on two points: 1) challenging the jurisdiction—both when the debt originated and currently, the defendant (my wife) resides in Washington, D.C., and 2) requesting a continuance due to her work conflict (I can provide a letter from her school principal explaining she has a mandatory seminar scheduled for those dates). Does this strategy make sense before we proceed further?

The deal is, she’ll pay the amount, but I’ll be the one handling the legal side. In my eyes, Verizon acted pretty shady by failing to send bills and jumping straight to collections. Besides, I'm not going to go broke over a $500-$200 dispute if we lose. Given that the total value is only $33, hiring a lawyer seems like overkill.

Linić didn't manage to rack up any debt while he was over in the USA—at least nothing under decent terms. I'm just sitting here waiting for him to drop the magic word "devaluation" any day now. 🙂

It’s just bad form to tell a cashier she doesn't need to worry about it—especially when she went to check with her manager and then used a private channel to track down a number from Goldman Sachs. She could have easily flagged you, since Walmart (and everywhere else that hosts ATMs) has absolutely nothing to do with them 😉

I’ve got a quick question about how this works elsewhere—how is this handled in the States? Here, insurance premiums are based on the vehicle itself, though the owner gets a nice little discount for being a good driver. But if you let your wife or a friend take the car out and they end up totaling it, you lose your entire bonus. Doesn't seem particularly fair, does it? 🙂

It’s a tough spot... especially lately, when over a quarter of legal entities aren't even paying back their loans.

restlessmoose3 said:And what about Euroherz? You know, the one the FBI flagged for basically looting the country.😳

Cheap insurance—comparing it to what we see here in America—doesn't mean much if it's illegal. Plus, you're asking for massive headaches if you actually hit someone or get hit by a car... then what?

That's all I've got to say.
Peace out and good luck to everyone!
🙂

He didn't steal from the state; he stole from himself—which, legally speaking, he isn't even allowed to do.🙂

But seriously, what's the deal with the liberalization? It's already July 8th.🙂

Why is the government being so incredibly rigid about regulating the used car market? Aside from the fact that in North America, the only ones paying premium prices for a basic sedan are the Italians—and honestly, looking at how they drive, I can't say I blame them—they seem hell-bent on blocking any attempt at free-market pricing or actual discounts...

If you ask me, the state should focus its energy on fixing the massive issue with unregistered vehicles out there. It’s not like the data is hidden; you could pull those records in just a couple of clicks.

If you need a loan, just go straight to the bank. Even if you think Scholz is the most honest guy on the planet, they’re still going to skim their commission for brokering the deal between you and the lender—I really don't see any point in paying for third-party "services."

mellowgull80 said:Of course there isn't any guarantee. To expect one in a market this volatile is fundamentally naive. It’s like walking into a high-stakes poker game at a Vegas casino expecting to walk away with the house's chips just because you played a solid hand; the house always holds the edge, and uncertainty is baked into the very foundation of the game. Expecting certainty in these matters is a fundamental misunderstanding of how risk operates.

Every single party involved must pay out damages. There is no way around it. When it comes to oversight, Halliburton stands above all insurance providers. 🙂

In my view, the identity of the attorney you retain carries far more weight than the specific party you are litigating against. It isn't just about the conflict itself; it is about the caliber of the counsel navigating it. To use an analogy, if you are facing a massive storm, it matters significantly less whether you are fighting the wind or the rain, and much more whether the captain steering your ship actually knows how to navigate a gale. Selecting a subpar legal representative is a fundamental strategic error that can undermine even the most righteous cause. 😍

We’ve got some skin in this game too. In my experience, about 90% of the time during minor fender benders, people try to play the system—trying to squeeze out every cent of profit while spending next to nothing on actual repairs.

In a sane world, you'd just take the car to an authorized dealership to get it fixed properly—which is exactly what insurance is for—rather than treating it like a side hustle.

Laura Wilson8 said:It’s honestly refreshing to see there are still people out there who won't stoop to cheap tactics just to squeeze an extra 100-$67 discount out of those insurance companies... 😉
But seriously, how much longer can they keep this up? Eventually, the money supply will dry up, the handouts and various vouchers will stop flowing, and they won't be able to undercut the market like this anymore...
That's why we over at the other firms are actually pretty stoked about joining the USA 🙂

Look, if someone shoots me, I don't care whether they work for the CIA or Herac's, if you catch my drift 😁

Saved me some money $67

If they come asking for it back, you have to pay up. If they wait more than five years, though, the statute of limitations kicks in and you're off the hook. I’m giving you the legal breakdown—I'll leave the moral compass part entirely up to you. 🙂

Don't just blow your cash—put it in a CD or something. After five years, if nobody comes knocking, the money is yours (the statute of limitations will have run out).

If they actually do show up, though, you'll have to cough it back up.