Jeff's Editorial #188 – Survey –...

Have You Ever Purchased …?

I have made many mistakes in my past. I hate to admit that some mistakes were very costly. But I learned from my mistakes, and I hope not to make bigger mistakes. I list here some products, services, and investments that are highly advertised (even here on gather.com).

- Debt Management Service / Debt consolidation
- Credit Repair Service
- Cash Advance / Payday loan / Title pawn
- Credit card offers
- Bankruptcy Service
- Whole life insurance
- AFLAC
- Multi-Level-Marketing (name the type)
- Pyramid Selling
- Job Search Service / Recruiter / Headhunter / Temp Agency
- Tax refund loan
- Retirement planner / Investment advisor
- Investments (Commodities, Currency trading, FOREX, Day Trader, etc.)
- Real estate / rental properties / flips
- Franchise Financing / Franchise license
- Mortgage Refinance
- Home mortgage modification
- Private Student loan

Comment if you’ve purchased any of above and if you got less or more (or don’t know) than you expected before the purchase was made.If complaint was filed, how were you treated?

I plan to write about some of these bad products/services in the future posts entitled: "Stupid Ways to Spend Your Money"

If I missed any topic that you want me to bring up, drop me a suggestion

Comments: 6

The original comment in this thread has been deleted by its author.

John S. (arizona) May 27, 2012, 5:37pm UTC

I did something similar once and got stuck with a high interest. Years ago I bought something at Best Buy, and if you paid it off by such and such a date you wouldn't pay any interest. Well, I didn't pay enough attention to the details I guess, but later thinking I was smart I went to the store on a Friday evening after work to pay it off in full, two days before the cut-off date. Only thing is, I learned the hard way you can't pay it off at the store, you have to pay their finance company directly... being a weekend and no way to send off a payment in time, I was had, LOL.

Jeff S. May 27, 2012, 5:28pm UTC

Many years ago, I got an offer from Discover Card that offered up to $5,000 interest free loan with no transaction fee for 2 months. So I signed up and received $5,000 which I deposited in money market account that paid 5% a year. I had about 60 days in which to pay back the loan without incurring any interest. I missed the payment due date by one day, and got hit with a $150 finance charge. I earned less than $40 in interest income. So I paid more than $110 in stupid tax.

John S. (arizona) May 27, 2012, 5:38pm UTC

You moved your comment, LOL.

Jeff S. May 27, 2012, 6:54pm UTC

My apologies for moving my comment. These stores have hidden fees and charges on top of silly due dates and how you can pay the amount due. I remember Best Buy used to hound me with store warranties that they would not take "No" for an answer. I rarely go to that store now.

John S. (arizona) May 28, 2012, 1:40pm UTC

The dumb thing is I didn't even really need to do it in the first place... even dumber I just assumed I could pay it off at the store in full without reading in detail the paperwork, except for that stupid date, LOL.

Jeff S. May 28, 2012, 1:53pm UTC

We've all made dumb mistakes in the past. I've made many huge mistakes (I don't have enough space or time to list them all). The smart thing is to admit the mistake, learn from it, never to repeat it, and move on.

I plan to write about some of these bad products/services in the future posts entitled: "Stupid Ways to Spend Your Money"

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Jeff's Editorial #188 – Survey – Have You Ever Purchased _________?

Comments: 6

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