Making Money Online: I Was Wrong

Copyright ฉ 2006

David Lumsden

I would like to apologise to 5 good, innocent decent people who took my advice. Their names are John Bridger, Fiona Chapson, Angie Perrin, Sonia Perrin and my best friend Graham Gardener.

They took my advice and invested their money in the 12DailyPro autosurfing scheme. At this moment they have not lost their money as such as the program is still operating, however the maximum return they can expect is a refund of their investment, but the minimum is nothing.

Do I feel guilty? By thunder Yes I do. They trusted me to give them sound advice but this time I let them down.

Now there is a mitigating circumstance. I am not making excuses but if you have got this far, please hear me out. 12DailyPro had up until recently all the way from May 2005 paid out on time every time.

Then a series of events occurred. The first one was surprising, but understandable, there had been some difficulties experienced by members about payments made from 12DailyPro to E-Gold accounts. This was a time issue, not a non-payment one. However 12DailyPro told their members that they would no longer take in payments from E-Gold.

With me so far? As a consequence members were told to either switch to Stormpay or open an account with EMO. Many members took this up and payments to 12DailyPro started to be made via EMO.

To summarise, 12DailyPro continued to accept payments in from both Stormpay (the majority of members processor) and from EMO. Payments out would continue to both Stormpay and E-Gold until all payments were fulfilled, then payments in and out would use the Stormpay and EMO systems.

This was a shudder unlike the earthquake that followed and even this started slowly. Stormpay told 12DailyPro that it would only continue business with them if Stormpay became its sole processor, otherwise it would shut its account.

Due to the large amount of funds held by Stormpay 12DailyPro were forced to give in to this request. Members were informed and it appeared all was settling. 12DailyPro would process all outstanding orders via EMO, but would only accept new payments in from Stormpay. And that should have been the end of it, but instead the earthquake came.

This may not be based on fact, but I will try to explain it as I see it. Stormpay froze the account of 12DailyPro AND many other autosurf programs, such as dadndaves (a highly respected program) among others. As the majority of American citizens use Stormpay this caused a ‘storm’ of chaos.

The freezing of accounts stopped the payments out in their tracks. The whole autosurf industry was basically grounded, the fight with Stormpay with each blaming the other goes on unabated, and the position is still unresolved.

To cut the legal side short, Stormpay say they are quite within their rights as the Autosurf programs are either ponzai or pyramid schemes and do not reflect the company programs put to them when signing up with Stormpay. The Autosurfers totally disagree, saying their programs were fully explained and accepted by Stormpay. The legal battle continues.

But what about the investors like my friends and I, where does this leave our investments and us? A scam is a scam is a scam! What normally happens is that an autosurf or HYIP program is set up, money is taken in, some given back, more join, more money goes in and the website disappears. Scam over. A recent example of this was 15DailyCash which came and went in 10 days!

So what is so different this time? Both 12DailyPro and dadndaves are still here, they appear to be doing everything possible to save their investors. (I have not taken you down the road to what Stormpay appear to be doing with the 12DailyPro Stormpay investors accounts).

Who is the guilty party? I wish I knew, both sides are blaming the other, the end is not in sight yet. Who will take the hits? My friends and me possibly, probably, but as yet not definitely. The real answer looks like Stormpay, for if they have lost the trust (even if unfounded) from the risk takers, their earnings loss will be enormous. After all Storm pay’s business is largely based on the fees they earn.

My advice is simple. Let the dust settle. I restate what I said before: Only invest what you can afford to lose. However there is, yes there still is, one scheme I have the nerve to put to you. It is called isurf2. To take a look, please click on the URL below.

At present, it pays 15% daily for 10 days with you autosurfing 40 sites a day. The maximum investment is $200, which would earn you $30 a day. Total amount payable would be $300. (I was paid yesterday using a processor not called Stormpay!

Again, I apologise to my friends and hope over time I can re-gain their trust and respect. Fortunately they have all told me I have not lost their love.

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David Lumsden of MoneyGoldMines tries to help others to make a living from online businesses. If you would like to make $30 a day, please take a look at the following website:
http://www.isurf2.net/?ref=1420

Low Interest Credit Cards: Are You Still Paying Too Much?

Copyright ฉ 2006 Edward Vegliante

You may think that the rate you are paying on your current credit card is low, but chances are it isn’t the lowest rate you could be paying. 0% interest rate credit card offers are still available…do you have one? If not, why not? If you don’t have a low interest credit card in your wallet, you may be missing out on a great way to save yourself hundreds of dollars per year. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can find a low interest credit card today.



Contact Your Current Credit Card Company.



Once in awhile, consumers can persuade their current credit card company to give them a lower rate. Unfortunately, most credit card companies will not budge much on their current rate to you or the rate they agree to give to you is not the lowest available rate going. What a hassle! While you don’t have to get rid of your current card, shopping for a new one is probably the easiest and most pain free way to secure the lowest rate.



Shop For A New Card.



Speaking of new cards, there are hundreds of credit card providers, each of whom wants your business. With bankruptcy laws tightening and consumers shopping more carefully, the competition for customers has sharpened. For smart shoppers, it is a “buyer’s market” when it comes to finding a low interest credit card that meets your needs. Rewards cards are popular and so are credit cards such as Citibank’s Citi Simplicity card which doesn’t charge you late fees. Compare the various offers out there to select the card that is right for you.



Consolidate Debt.



If you already have several credit cards and owe money on each one, consider getting a new low interest credit card with a fixed rate. Many will allow you to transfer balances from high interest credit cards -- which are currently charging you 17.9%, 21.9%, or even 24% or more per year -- to their low interest rate credit card for a small fee. You can also ask the new credit card provider to waive their balance transfer fee for even greater savings for you. In addition, some will agree to give to you a low balance transfer rate [for example, 6.9%] for the life of your balance. As you might guess, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year with this type of an agreement.



In all cases, if you don’t have the lowest rate available, just ask your credit card provider for it. If they are not interested in giving to you a 0% percent rate, start shopping for a new low interest credit card today that is right for you. Take charge of your finances: you have nothing to lose, but plenty of money to gain…what’s in your wallet?

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Ed Vegliante runs the website http://www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com , a well organized credit card directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for a variety of offers including Low Interest Credit Cards.

A Plan for Making Money Using On-line Auctions Like eBay

Copyright ฉ 2006 Dennis Watson

I have discovered a plan for making a fast profit using on-line auction sites. Of course the big one is eBay. Be advised that some of these steps require knowledge of products but if you do have a good understanding of a product line and its value you can make some serious money.



In this article I will provide steps on how you should go about implementing this plan. This plan is not for everyone but if you enjoy shopping and flipping products you will have fun and make some money. Start off buying low cost items to test the water. After you feel comfortable go for the more expensive items, this is where you will make the most profits.



Getting Started:



Search for and then sign-up on several on-line action sites.



Scan items of interest and do some research on what items are selling. It is very important that you research the products to ensure that you are getting a fair deal. And watch out for over inflated shipping cost. Many times shipping cost can be negotiable.



Only bid on an item that is to expire in 10 minutes or less, also bid on items that have not received any bids and are due to expire. And only if those items meet the criteria mentioned before.



Place your bid and in most cases you will win the auction.



Purchasing: After purchasing the item tell the seller that you need to wait 7-10 days before you receive the item. Most of the times you will not need to give an excuse why but if you do tell them it's a gift and you do not want the recipient to see it. After you have resold the item send the original seller your buyer's address for shipping. If you are not comfortable with this approach, go ahead and have the item sent to you first. This will indeed cause more work on your part.



Re-selling (Flipping): Using the same information in the original seller's ad, repost the item back on the auction site. By now the item has received a few interested buyers from the prior sellers marketing and you may get the person you out bid to place a higher bid right from the start. Be sure to price the item at the price you paid for it plus add auction fees.



In Conclusion: Now there are some risks in doing this. You have not seen the item and this could cause you to reimburse the buyer if the item is in bad shape. Also, you risk over paying for an item causing you to take a loss. Also, the seller may not want to wait in sending the item to you, which will cause a little more work for you. The good side to that is you will be able to inspect the item before shipping it to the next buyer. I usually bid on hard to find dishware or specialty items like, The Pampered Chef, Candle-lite, and Stampin' Up!, the options are endless. Give it a try, start off slow and buy low cost items at first. Good luck!

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Dennis Watson has been helping others promote their products or services for years through his Free Classifieds website =>http://www.zeoh.com/

Home Equity loans; don’t put your Home or Condo at risk!

Copyright ฉ 2006 Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.

Debt Consolidation may be a better alternative



Have you seen those bank and mortgage ads on TV and newspapers telling you to pay off those pesky high interest credit card bills by tapping into the equity of your home? They make it sound real simple, apply on-line, call-us toll free, answers within hours, etc. They almost sound too good to be true. We all know about the dangers of things that are too good to be true. So, what are the dangers of using your equity to pay off your credit card debt? A minor detail they forget to mention in those ads; while banks frequently advertise home equity loans as a way to consolidate other high-interest debt, these loans don't wipe the slate clean. You still owe the money, and now it's linked to your homeownership.



Before we start, let’s understand some important financial terms:



Unsecured debt is not guaranteed by the pledge of collateral. Most credit cards are an example of unsecured debt, which is why their interest rates are higher than other forms of lending, such as mortgages, which employ property as collateral.



Secured debt is secured by a lien on debtor’s property which may be taken by the creditor in case of nonpayment by the debtor. A common example is a mortgage loan.



Equity is how much of the house you actually own. In other words, it is the price of your house on today's market minus the amount of any loans secured on the property. For example, if your house is worth $170,000 and your mortgage balance is $115,000, then your equity is the difference -- $55,000. This value can go up or down depending on economic conditions.



You can't sell that portion of the house that you own outright. It's a package deal with the part that you're still paying on. However, you can get a hold of some of that money through a home equity loan (also known as a second mortgage).



Lately, many of us have experienced an increase in the equity of our homes or condos because of an unprecedented increase in our home values. This is mostly fueled by the abnormally low interest rates. These low interest rates created a home buying frenzy since the monthly cost of ownership was so cheap. For the past year though, interest rates have been steadily climbing and the monthly cost of home ownership has been steadily increasing making it more difficult to purchase a home. This has resulted in a glut of homes on the market for sale. Remember the old supply and demand theory? More supply than demand for homes means the price of homes will fall and so will the amount of equity in the home.



Using our initial example, if you went to the bank and took a home equity loan for the $55,000 to pay off your credit cards, you have now secured all of this (unsecured) debt to your home. Taking this one step further, as interest rates go up, your home could go down. So, in theory you could owe more than the actual value of your home. This means if you wanted to sell your home and it was now worth $150,000 you would have to come up with an extra $20,000 just to be able to satisfy your financial obligation. In 1988, homes throughout the country were at their highest value. Then in 1989, due to economic conditions, many companies had laid off employees and the housing bubble burst causing homes in some parts of the country a loss of up to 50 percent of their value overnight! There is no reason why this could not happen again. This is not a healthy scenario. The good news about equity loans is that they have lower interest rates than credit cards because they are secured against your house. The bad news is these loans are secured against your house. If you miss a payment then you risk losing your home. Miss a credit card payment by itself and initially you will only have to listen to debt collectors, but you will still have your home.



The disadvantages of using a home equity loan to pay off your credit cards:



• By pulling money (equity) out of your home to feed your spending habits, you may end up homeless.



• If you use your home to pay off credit card debt you lose your safety net.



• Taking out more debt to pay off current debt is a loser's game. Please note: If you borrow more than 100 percent of the value of your home, or if the home equity loan is more than $100,000.00, some of the interest will not be deductible.



According to Bankrate.com, the worst possible long-term cost of a home equity loan is foreclosure. If you cannot afford two mortgages on your house, especially if other debts pile up again, you can lose your home to the bank. Defaulting on only one of the mortgages can lead to this expensive conclusion.



Contact a reputable Debt Consolidation Company



There is little or no cost for the services. Most of the agencies are called Debt Management Credit Counseling Service and they:



• Work with lenders to negotiate a repayment schedule you can afford -- including making efforts to get finance charges reduced or waived.



• Develop a payment plan you can afford.



• Help you re-establish credit when your current debts are paid off. If you participate in a Debt Management Program (DMP) program, it will show up on your credit report. However, your credit is already blemished, your financial life is a mess, and you need to take drastic measures to get back on track. Since the bankruptcy laws have recently changed, the bankruptcy option may no longer be an option.

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Pete Glocker is employed in the Education and Charitable Services Department at Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp. (“DMCC”), a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Boca Raton, Florida. Pete graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Multimedia Journalism and was a web producer Intern for Tribune Interactive products Sun-Sentinel.com and SouthFlorida.com. DMCC provides free financial education, personal budget counseling, and debt management plans to consumers across the United States. Debt management plans offered by DMCC help consumers relieve the stress of excessive debt by reducing credit card interest rates, consolidating and lowering monthly payments, and stopping collection calls and late fees. DMCC financial counselors can be reached for free education materials, budget counseling and debt management plan quotes by calling 800-863-9011 or by visiting http://www.dmcccorp.org . Pete Glocker can be reached by email at pete@dmcccorp.org.

American Express Blue Cards: Which Blue Is For You?

Copyright ฉ 2006 Edward Vegliante

Times certainly have changed for American Express. Gone are the days where the American Express card was simply a charge card that had to be paid off in full every month. Yes, the old workhorse – the green card – is still available and popular too. However, American Express decided to take MasterCard and VISA on directly by offering its own line of credit cards. These “blue” cards have been such a hit with consumers that the admired financial giant is now offering four different blue cards from which consumers can choose. Each American Express blue card is different, so let’s take a look at just what makes each one so special.



American Express Blue Sky, The Ultimate Travel Rewards Card



Blue Sky – If you are tired of all those rewards cards that promise you a weekend in Las Vegas, but can only deliver you an overnight stay in Providence, then the Blue Sky card should appeal to you. Touted by American Express as putting an end to travel reward card restrictions, Blue Sky goes where no other American Express blue card has gone before it. With absolutely no black out dates and no travel restrictions, the Blue Sky card allows for card holders to travel where they want, when they want. But, it even gets better: 0% introductory APR and no annual fee; discounts on airline tickets, hotel stays, and car rentals. You even get free coverage on rental car insurance and travel accident insurance with Blue Sky.



Blue Cash For Cold, Hard Cash



Blue Cash – If it is cold, hard cash that you want, then there isn’t a card that matches the American Express Blue Cash card. This is no 1% or 2% cash back card; the Blue Cash card is one that really works for card holders as it gives back 5% cash on just about everything you buy. Save 5% on gas. Save 5% on drugstore visits, on the bills you pay, and on so much more. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about redeeming your points as every year American Express will give you your earnings back to you in the form of a big fat credit to your account!



The Original Blue: The American Express Blue Card



Blue – The American Express Blue card was the card that got the whole blue movement rolling. Although it isn’t as power packed with the features found in Sky Blue or Blue Cash, the Blue card is still a worthy choice. If you select “Blue” you get 0% APR for up to 15 months, 4.99% APR on balance transfers for the life of the loan, and you will earn points toward the American Express free rewards program. Yes, there is no annual fee with the Blue card either!



Jet Blue: The Airline And The Card



Jet Blue – Named for the airline it represents, the American Express Jet Blue card allows card holders to accumulate points toward free Jet Blue Airways flights. Using the card the very first time nets users a cool 5,000 points right off the bat. You can also get double points at many places where you like to shop or eat.



As you have read, the competition for credit card carrying customers is heating up. With an American Express Blue Card you can receive benefits not available to customers of competing card companies. What are you waiting for? Put an American Express Blue Card in your wallet today and reap all of the rewards!

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Please click here to find American Express Blue Card Offers http://www.credit-card-surplus.com/amex.php . Ed Vegliante runs http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for credit cards.