Chase to pay $166 million forr shoddy & illegal debt collection

http://blog.credit.com/2015/07/chase-to-pat-166-million-for-shoddy-illegal-debt-collection-practices-120517/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7_10_2015_CRC&spMailingID=23045123&spUserID=MTAxNjY0NDQ3NzQ0S0&spJobID=601340086&spReportId=NjAxMzQwMDg2S0

now seems like a good time to request an update on my report. i paid every penny to this money grubbing bank and they did not report like they said they would. i entered a hardship plan and was promised it would say closed by consumer which they did not do. they also have my highest balance listed as over credit limit which is a 15 point killer seems kind of unfair since they took away the fee's that brought my balance up that high. i never spent over my limit. they revised it once on one report but when i requested the consumer dispute comment be removed someone it got added back. three lates in 8 years but still counts as a negative acct even though it's paid in full. glad to see someone is doing something about these big greedy dishonest banks.

Similar Messages

Collection agency illegally added collection to report?

Just found this today after re newing my monthly subscription here. Here is the story. A girl i know had a collection with this collection agency. She ask me to help her out so i told her i would pay the collection for her. This collection is totally hers 100% in her name etc. So i call in to the collection agency and pay the collection for her on my debit card. This collection was in no way associated with me or has never been on my credit report and never was in my name or associated to my name. So guess what happens next?? Few days after i pay it for her it shows up on MY credit report as a paid collection! **bleep**? I will call them first thing this morning and demand they call Experian to remove asap but what else should i do? This has to be illegal i would think.

its with experian. I had applied for credit for something and was denied because of a collection account or public record and i was like huh? i dont think so. So i came back on here and there it was. I called the collection agency and spoke to a lady who said we understand it should have never been on there and we have requested three times to have it deleted but it hasnt. So i called experian right after and that lady says they havent received any request for deletion so she has started a dispute and is going to reach out to them. I have requested from the collection agency something in email saying it should be deleted so i can upload it to experian but i already know i will be locked down for 30 days probably while i wait this bs out!

Do I pay this debt collection agency directly ?

I switched carriers and left an outstanding balance. Now I am getting calls from a debt collector. I want to pay or start paying but I'm not sure if I should pay verizon or the agency.

hilton1426,
I am sorry to hear that you have left us. If you have received a letter from a collection agency please reach out to them to make a payment or payment arrangement.
RobinD_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

A million pound fine for EE has not made any difference

EE were recently fined 1 million pounds for their poor handling of customer complaints. It doesn't seem to have had any effect. I have been the victim of identity fraud with someone buying a phone using my bank account details but delivered to an address in Birnmingham 42 miles away from where EE send me my bills. Even though EE acknowledge they know I have been the victim of fraud they have now passed my contact details to Buchanan Clark and Wellsa debt collection agency who say I owe EE/T-Mobile over £80. It is now over two months since I was told that the EE fraud dept would contact me but I stiill haven't heard from them. The details of the case are below..
What is equally annoying is that within a few days I will get a response from a moderator at EE to this post to suggest I contact customer services and that I should flag this up as an acceptable solution. I don't seem to have the facility to say that It is a far from acceptable solution. EE contacted me on the 6th of June to say they suspected fraudulent activity on my account. On the 19th of June my bank account was debited for £38.01 by an EE direct debit. I was unable to check my account until the 23rd of June when I notified EE (and my bank) of the fraudulent payment. They told me the Fraud Team would speak to me within 72 hours. The following day a delivery company phoned my son’s mobile to say they were unable to deliver an item of high value to an address in Birmingham which we have no connection with. I have never used my son's phone but I used to pay for it some years ago. This suggests to me that the fraudster has a connection to EE/Orange. Again I notified EE. I phoned again on the 29th of June to point out that the Fraud Team had still not been in touch and was told they would speak to me within a few days. I phoned again on the 3rd of July to register a complaint and was told I would be contacted by the Fraud Team within 7 days. I rang the Complaints department again on the 13th of July to be told for the first that the fraud dept required a recent bank statement but it wasn’t explained why no one from EE had ever asked me for one. I sent the recent statement that showed the fraudulent payment on the same day. I phoned the Complaints dept again (25th of July) but was only told that the Fraud dept were looking into it and would 'hopefully' be in touch.

The advice comes from a collection of advice across the forum that has worked for others, so based on this it's hard to say what that means. I guess it's a bad sign if it isn't listed there, as that means the player hasn't been detected.
Out of interest, are there any listed that feature "MTP" in the name?

I want to cancel my broadband and pay off my debt.

Recently I was shocked to discover that my direct debit had been altered to £73.50 a month! I was informed, upon contacting your billing people, that this was due to a number of phone calls I had made. I have since discovered that the internet phone which was provided with the Option 3 Broadband package is no longer being produced and, therefore, my free evening and weekend calls no longer apply. No warning was given or any information about this passed to me! I have been informed that the onus was on ME to find this out! I entered a contract and the terms of that contract were made clear to me and that contract has been broken as far as I am concerned.
Ever since I made the terrible mistake of signing up for BT Broadband, I have been treated appallingly and it is my wish to cancel my Broadband and no longer have anything to do with British Telecom or its services. From day one my speeds were absolutely ridiculously slow and I had to go through the indignity of calling an Indian call centre who's staff would give the constant run around with the usual "Switch it on and off again" stupidity. We are talking speeds of less than 1meg which was not what I was paying for. I was even, on a few occasions where I said there was something wrong with the line, called a liar and had the phone slammed down on me. Throughout this time I was charged £65 a month which was way over the agreed amount but I accepted this as I was told this was the charge for installation.
This £65 bill went on for longer than I care to remember (And certainly much longer than was necessary to pay off the installation charge!) so I contacted one of your staff who agreed that I was paying way more than I should have been and so the charge was reduced to £40 a month. I was told that it would always be £40 a month and was assured that that was set in stone and would not change. Once again your staff have lied to me.
I spoke to one of your staff recently, after they had contacted me enquiring about my cancellation of the direct debit (I had no choice as we have no income and are awaiting news on benefits and have a chronically ill baby son so any money we do manage to scrape together goes on train fairs to Great Ormond Street for his treatment. I also have a chronic kidney condition which is potentially fatal and have had to give up on my own medical treatment, essentially condemning myself to death, as I can no longer afford to get to my own appointments. I include this information to illustrate just how terrible our financial situation has become.) explaining that I wished to cancel my BT Broadband and phone package as I am moving home and simply cannot afford to have a landline and internet package anymore. I was advised that I should wait until I had further information on my move, as the moving in date had not been set yet, and call again where I would be able to cancel my package and come to an arrangement to pay off my debt (Which would be around the £140 mark - your staff are unable to give me a fixed sum as of yet) in instalments.
I called today to cancel my package on the date of 24th May 2012 (Our moving date) and arrange said instalment plan only to be told that I am unable to come to an arrangement to pay the debt if I dare to leave British Telecom and that they will have no option but to contact a debt collection agency to claim the amount in full unless I renew my contract(!). It is my understanding that, as I am not in contract with BT anymore, I can cancel my broadband package any time I please and it is also my right to arrange a payment plan without being bullied and cajoled into staying as a BT customer when I have absolutely no desire to do business with this company EVER again.

Hi I suggest you contact the forum mods they should be able to get your problem sorted for you this is a link to them
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/contact_email/c/4951
they normally reply by email or phone directly to you within 3 working days
They are a UK based BT specialist team who have a good record at getting problems solved
This is a customer to customer self help forum the only BT presence here are the forum moderators
If you want to say thanks for a helpful answer,please click on the Ratings star on the left-hand side If the reply answers your question then please mark as ’Mark as Accepted Solution’

Pay newest collections or largest amount collection

I am trying to buy a house, but I need 28 more points to even be considered for a loan.I have five collections (not credit cards) on my account. All of the collection agencies have agreed to completely delete the collection if paid, but I cannot pay them all at once.My question is, which will have the quickest affect/increase on my score: paying the newer collection or paying the most expensive collection? Here's what I have:$848- 12/09$3,729- 7/12$3,204- 12/12$1,896- 3/14$540- 1/15 Can someone please tell me which collection I should start with? All will be remove after I pay them, but I cannot pay them all at once. I want to know where I should start to see the quickest results.Thanks in advance!

Wow! Ok thank you. I just don't want to pay out so much, because of course I'll need to save for closong costs as well. So if i can save by avoiding at least one of the bigger collections, that would help significantly.
Basically, what you're saying is it doesn't matter the amount i owe on the collection. What matters (the most as far as seeing a quicker increase in mt fico credit score) is the date (the newest), even if the newest has a small collection amount, is more important to pay first versus the larger amount/older collection?
Thanks!

Paying Off Credit Cards

Ok so I have about 70,000 in CC debt and I am about to pay off 50,000 of this debt this week but would like some insight on the best way to do so that will increase credit score. Should I pay off highest cards and still have about 11 cards all under 3000 or pay down cards to get debt ratio say under 20% on all cards? I kinda want to pay off all high balances which will knock out about 12 cards but will still leave some other cards with high utilization. Hopefully I will pay off other 20,000 in next year to get out of debt. Give me your thoughts...

HYPASS33 wrote:
Ok so I have about 70,000 in CC debt and I am about to pay off 50,000 of this debt this week but would like some insight on the best way to do so that will increase credit score. Should I pay off highest cards and still have about 11 cards all under 3000 or pay down cards to get debt ratio say under 20% on all cards? I kinda want to pay off all high balances which will knock out about 12 cards but will still leave some other cards with high utilization. Hopefully I will pay off other 20,000 in next year to get out of debt. Give me your thoughts...Good plan for the pay down. My own balances are down from $116k in 2009. With May and June payments this year, I crossed what I think are two major scoring levels:Total revolving balances went below 20% overall utilization on active/reporting cards (other closed cards and hidden Diners are not in this calculation)At the same time, the last of several individual accounts went just below 50%. Said another way, after mid-June, no individual revolving accounts were over 50% utilization. In June, as these were all coming together, my scores jumped up over a 4-week period:May 31: EQ=714 TU=727 EX=731July 8: EQ=756 TU=775 EX=765 So my recommendation is to try for that:No individual balances over 50% utilizationOverall utilization below 20%. Good luck!

Attempt to collect old CC debt? Scam?

I received a call at work today from and Uknown on my caller ID. First I didn't answer, they kept calling. Finally I answered and he asked if I was who he was looking for and to verify my last 4 of social. I verified and he stated he was trying to deliver a summons. He was trying to deliver to my old address and said this was his 2nd attempt. I asked what it was for and he said it was sealed and for my eyes only. He gave me a docket number, a phone number and name of a person to contact. I said I would like to get more information before saying anything further. He said he had until 2:30 to deliver and it no stop order was placed on it, he would try again. I never gave him any information or admitted anything. Didn't give new address either. I did some searching and number was based out of sheboygan,milwaukee Wisconsin. Didn't trace back to a law firm or any collection agencies. Also tried googling the name and couldn't find anything on him. (the number was 920-287-0911) So I called the number and it sounded like it was a call center. Was told they weren't sure if Henry Weinsteene? (pronounced Wine-Steen) was in or not. They had to verify again it was me that was calling. I was then placed on hold for awhile then somebody else answered and had me verify it was me once again. Completely different person this time. I was told he had to let me know that this conversation was being recorded for, forgot waht he said exactly, and it would be used as evidence. He told me it was a charge that had been sent to the legal department and something about letters was said. I was told it was for an old Chase-Circuit City account that I had opened that was currently at 5k and some change. He then said it looks like it was tried to settle for 3k and then asked," How come I never attempted to pay it?" Something along those lines, but before he finished I just hung up on him. So all I did was verified it was me and I said OK after he told me his whole schpeel. After I said Ok and before I hung up is when he asked me about the 3k settlement I stated earlier. I believe I also received a 1099-C from, for cancellation of debt, on this account. I'm not sure if that relevant or not. Is this a big scam? is it legit? I have no idea and I don't want to investigate this further and have it bite me in the backside. My state statute of limitations is 6 years on open-ended accounts (credit cards) I never made any partials and I ever admitted to owning the debt personally. Sorry for the long post. I'm just trying to get this figured out without making things bad for myself. If it helps I received phone calls similar to this a couple years back for a Kays account then I basically ignored and nothing ever happened. Below is a picture of the TL from my report. Transunion Equifax

It sounds like they are collecting on "zombie" debt, past the SOL. Many CA's call and threaten legal action, wage garnishment, etc to intimidate you into making a payment thus effectively resetting the SOL back to 0 days. Keep in mind when they threaten "legal action"; the CA rep having a cup of coffee is "legal action", sending you another letter is "legal action", if they threaten to "sue" you then you have solid grounds for an FDCPA claim against the CA based on the fact that they told you they would take an action against you that they do not intend to carry out based on the SOL period being expired I did this not long ago, next time they call get their name and mailing address, give them a verbal Cease and Desist then follow up with a written CMRRR C&D. The CA is allowed to contact you one more time to say they received your C&D and debt collection will cease. Anymore calls from them and it's an easy $1k in your pocket for FDCPA violation. It's worth to note that Chase was recently fined $136 million by the CFPB. Chase is supposed to stop collecting on 528,000 accounts, yours may be one of those, here's the link: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/newsroom/cfpb-47-states-and-d-c-take-action-against-jpmorgan-chase-for-selling-bad-credit-card-debt-and-robo-signing-court-documents/

Get ready for changes in dealer finacing

I have been following the car industry closely and subscribing to come industry journals etc. I am not sure what the policy is here in terms of posting content so I will summerize what we will see in terms of changes to dealer markups on interest. We all probably know that when a dealer arranges financing they often times add points to the interest they offer you so they can add to their profit. The feds are not happy about this practice because they see it as predatory and recent data shows that they mark up the interest disproportionatly on african americans, latinos and asians. The reality is they tend to do this to anyone with credit challanges or who is not sophisticated in these transactions. Today there is a story that Honda has agreed to pay 25 million to customers who were overcharged interest by dealers. As part of their stipulated agreement (where they admit no wrongdoing by the way) they are establishing a policy that their dealers can only charge 1-1.5% over the bank quote. The dealers hate that the feds are in their business in this regard and are putting their lobbyists to work to try and get the feds to back off because this is a big part of their profit. I think it is a sleezy practice so my reccomendation is to always get a preapproval from a credit union or a bank. There are times where due to credit challanges you can't get that done and need the dealers help, if you are in that situation make sure you understand that the APR is negotiable, often times they will offer a lower APR if you take an add on like a warranty. Once they quote that APR you know that is the APR your really qualified for. Thought this was an interesting development and worthy of some discussion for those who are in the market.

StartingOver10 wrote:
oblackhawko wrote:
There have been threats of "Flat Fees" instead of Points for dealerships for a while now. Each lender is a litte different with underwriting guidelines. and yes Honda did get slapped with a fine but that's the government showing their constituents their teeth. It was because there was a statistical difference between different demographics. It could be they are charging them more or they are charging them LESS. And you would say "It's definitely not LESS because that wouldn't make any sense" well the dealership I work at got a call and they said we were charging women a "Statistically significant difference in pricing" What was the difference? 25 basis points LESS than everyone else (.25%) and they suggest we change some policies etc. NADA has already suggested to their members how to protect your dealership. People think it's huge difference in APR between "discrimination" but all it needs to be is some type of difference. APR sometimes is negotiable, depending on lender and your tier. higher tier (6,7,8): less to no negotiations. In RE: StartingOver10: Extended Service Contracts cannot be tied to the approval of the LOAN, the APR is a separate issue. Contracts that have Extended Service Contracts perform better than contracts that have no ESC.^^^What do you mean by that statement highlighted above? If you are using third party lenders (eg Chase, WF etc) you would not know the performance of the loan unless you had some sort of buy back arrangement if the loan defaulted. The obvious difference would be in you were in a BHPH type lot where you service the loan and the vehicle. That is what prompted my question to you. What report do you get from the lender that ties the two together? [Note, you can tell I am not a fan of ESC because I want to be able to shop for any service I get with no restrictions. I don't want to pay thousands of dollars up front for a 'warranty' that has many exclusions. But that is just me. Others prefer to have a ESC.]Neither am I. I bought my first new car in 1971 and have purchased probably several dozen since then and have never had a ESC. I've never needed one and IMO that's pretty good odds I will never need one in the future. But in the end it's like any other kind of insurance. We each have to decide if we think we'll need it and go from there.

Bankruptcy FAQs

This information is not legal advice and I am not a lawyer. Always seek a reputable bankruptcy lawyer to answer your questions prior to filing.
- Tuscani
Should I file Bankruptcy?
A person should file a bankruptcy if, and only if, he or she can’t pay bills as they come due or is about to lose property or have property attached by the Court. Very few people lose any property when they file bankruptcy.
Filing a bankruptcy is generally better than having a foreclosure on your credit record. A person will often be able to rebuild credit and buy a house within 2 years after a bankruptcy. A repossession can do more damage to your credit, and it may take much, much longer to recover. Government regulations may forever keep you from financing a home with the VA or FHA if you have a repossession for a home, but allows financing 2 years after bankruptcy. Only 7 magical items may not be bankrupted: Child Support and Alimony; taxes less than 3 years old; federally guaranteed student loans; debts due to fraud; debts due to drunk driving; debts due to intentional injuries; and criminal restitution. There are many exceptions to even these. A driver’s license can be reinstated by filing, if you lost your license because of unpaid damages for an auto accident. When in doubt, always list the debt when filing: It may be bankruptable due to an exception.
What does it cost to file bankruptcy?
After October 2005, Court costs are about$300 for a Chapter 7 and $275 for a Chapter 13. After October 2005 Chapter 7 attorney fees run about $1000 plus any filing fees. Chapter 13 Attorney fees are set by the Court.
What happens when I file?
When you file a bankruptcy, a Court order goes into effect immediately stopping all collection activity. This includes stopping foreclosures, attachments, garnishments, and Creditors calling you. The sooner you come in to the law office, the sooner you can get relief—and the more you can save from Creditors. You will have a 341 hearing within about 4 to 6 weeks after the bankruptcy is filed. When the bankruptcy is finally over, a discharge is issued. This is a final and permanent order to stop all collection activity and declaring the debts to be non collectable. Bankruptcy does not normally get rid of a security interest that you gave to a Creditor such as a mortgage or a standard car lien, but it does make you not liable for the debt.
Can I plan my bankruptcy?
Of course! Good planning is why you read this thread and allows you to save more money and property. Just like taking proper tax exemptions. There is nothing illegal or improper with properly taking the exemptions.
Which bankruptcy is right for me: Chapter 13 or Chapter 7?
A Chapter 13 is like a bill consolidation loan, and you normally file it to keep property and stop foreclosures. A Chapter 7 is used to completely wipe out unsecured debts and to get rid of secured debts for property you don't want to keep. Both will stop garnishments and Creditor harassment. If you earn more than the average wage for your state and size of family you will normally be required to file a Chapter 13.
Chapter 13 cases are becoming more popular. Over 95% of all Chapter 13 cases used to fail because they became unaffordable. But now 10 and 20% repayment plans are being approved in Chapter 13 cases and they are now more successful. After 10-2005 plans below 10% will be common. Often an attorney may want to file a Chapter 13 because he or she will earn more than he would in a Chapter 7, but you will usually profit far more from filing a Chapter 7. Usually, the only times you will want to file a Chapter 13 are 1) when you have already filed a Chapter 7 and can't file another one or 2) if you have so much property and equity that a Chapter 13 is necessary to keep that property.
You may have to file a Chapter 13 if you have so much income (after you pay your normal monthly living expenses) that you can repay something to your debts. A Chapter 13 can no longer be used for special purposes, such as to debts due to fraud. But can repay child support, repay student loans, or protect a co-signer. The fortunate thing about virtually all Chapter 7 cases is that the Debtor’s assets are normally exempt, so there are rarely any assets to liquidate. Each state has different rules for what property can be kept.
Why file a Chapter 7?
If you have substantial unsecured debts you may want to file a Chapter 7. You may also want to file a Chapter 7 if you want to surrender property and not owe for it. You can usually keep all your property in a Chapter 7, because you won't have enough equity in any property to exceed the exemptions allowed.
Why file a Chapter 13?
You may want to file a Chapter 13 if you have secured debts and are threatened with foreclosure or repossession, if you filed a Chapter 7 less than 6 years ago, if you wish to protect your cosigner, or if you have debts that are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 but are payable in a Chapter 13. Child support can be paid first in a Chapter 13 before secured creditors giving you the advantage of not losing a car or property but having all of your payments go to child support at the start of the case.
Can I convert from a Chapter 13 to a 7 or from a 7 to a 13?
Yes they can be converted. Few people convert from a 7 to a 13. However if you earn over 60-70,000 you have a strong chance that the US attorney’s office will file a 707 b motion that may force you into a 13. If you file a Chapter 13 you have a good chance that you will have to convert from a 13 to a 7. Over 3-5 years, you are very likely to miss payments and have the Chapter 13 dismissed (or have to refile). Some Chapter 13 cases are never finished and are converted into Chapter 7 cases. If you are close to completing the plan, you may be granted a hardship discharge. Plans can also be later modified if incomes change.
What is a Chapter 20? What is a Chapter 26?
Some people file a Chapter 7 to wipe out unsecured debts and then file a Chapter 13 to keep their property. This is jokingly referred to as a “Chapter 20”. Filing a “Chapter 20” can be the intelligent and affordable way to file a Chapter 13 later. Filing a Chapter 7 and then a Chapter 13 to obtain the benefits of both is very effective in stopping a foreclosure. A “Chapter 26” refers to filing back-to-back Chapter 13 cases. You would do this to pay debts that can’t be paid in 5 years by just one Chapter 13. In a sense, you are “extending” your repayment time by filing two Chapter 13s. These forms of filing are no longer available after 10-2005.
How long will bankruptcy take?
It will take about 3 to 4 months for a Chapter 7 to be final. (You will get a letter within 10 days of filing, telling you the time and date of the 341 hearing. This hearing will be held about 4 to 6 weeks after you file.) A Chapter 13 will take as long as the repayment plan takes. If you file after 10-2005 before getting a discharge you will attend a hearing.
What are the most common mistakes I can make when filing?
Not showing up for your hearing and not listing all of your debts. Fail to show up at the hearing, and your case is dismissed. Fail to list a debt, and you continue to owe it. Also people often have too much in a checking account when they file or a tax refund coming. The best policy is to list all your debts and assets. Always list every debt, even if you think it is nondischargeable, it may be discharged anyway. Even include last month’s utilities.
How do I qualify for bankruptcy? Can I not be approved?
You qualify for bankruptcy if either your outgo exceeds your income or your liabilities exceed your assets. You basically have to be a US citizen, reside in the state you file in, and not have filed within certain time periods (you can’t file two Chapter 7s within 8 years of each other).
What if the Court does not approve my Chapter 13 or Chapter 7?
If there is anything wrong with your Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy it will usually be changed and amended. Of course, it is less costly and time-consuming to do it right the first time. If you earn so much money that you can afford a Chapter 13, you will be forced to change it from a Chapter 7 to a Chapter 13. Repayment plans often are amended.
How often can I file?
You can file a Chapter 7 8 years after you filed your last Chapter 7 the time used to be 6 before 10-2005. The time is measured from the time of filing your first case to the time of filing of your second case. You can file Chapter 13s 2 years after a Chapter 13 discharge. You can file a Chapter 7 4 years after a Chapter 13. You can only have one bankruptcy going on at a time.
If I file does it mean my old bad debts are erased from my credit report?
NO!
What is reported is that you had a debt and that a bankruptcy was filed. Bankruptcy does not give you a good credit record or “repair” your credit record automatically. You repair your credit by paying your debts on time after the bankruptcy.
Can I file without an Attorney?
Yes. You can file a bankruptcy yourself, and this is called “filing pro se”. You can also do dentistry on yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Doing your own case is a very bad idea. This thread alone won’t give you the knowledge you need to file on your own. Use this thread to educate yourself, so you can find a good Attorney and discuss the issues.
As an example, if you file a reaffirmation and represent yourself, it must be approved in a hearing by the Judge, and that will mean extra hearings and time for you. Considering the time and risk involved, I recommend you use an Attorney. You may lose far more in Court than what the Attorney would have cost—plus there is the extra time and effort on your part doing the work.
What about a Bankruptcy Mill?
Filing a bankruptcy through a Bankruptcy Mill or paralegal may be even worse than doing it yourself and they often charge as much as the attorney. Many people have lost thousands of dollars with these businesses—through intentional scams or just plain bad work. Non-Attorney bankruptcy petition preparers are barred by law from providing you with any legal advice. In enacting legislation governing bankruptcy petition preparers, Congress stated: “These preparers lack the necessary legal training and ethics regulation to provide [legal advice and legal services] in an adequate and appropriate manner. These services may take unfair advantage of persons who are ignorant of their rights both inside and outside the bankruptcy system.”
The bankruptcy petition preparer's role is limited by law solely to typing. Unlike an Attorney, a bankruptcy petition preparer can not help you understand the law, advise you how to answer questions, assist you in planning, or be in Court. Federal law requires that bankruptcy petition preparers sign any documents they prepare; print on the document their name, address, and social security number; and furnish you with a copy of the document.
A bankruptcy petition preparer may not sign any document on your behalf, may not use the word “legal” or any similar term in any advertisement, and may not receive any payment from you for Court fees. The bankruptcy petition preparer is also required to disclose to the Court the amount of any fee you pay. Beware of any bankruptcy petition preparer who does not comply with these requirements an emergency, even the filing fee can be paid in payments to the Court.
What paperwork do I need to bring to my Attorney?
Bring the names, amounts, account numbers and proper addresses of all of your Creditors. You may estimate the amounts. After 10-2005 you must have the account numbers. Credit bureau reports normally don't have the addresses on them. If you have gotten a Credit bureau report before filing, you still have to get the addresses.
Can I file jointly with my spouse? Does my spouse have to file or sign if I want to file individually?
Yes, you can file jointly. No, your spouse doesn't have to file but, if most of your debts are joint debts, he or she may want to. There is no need for a spouse to file if the debts are not in his or her name. If you are filing a Chapter 7, and the bills are also in your spouse’s name, he or she generally should file to be protected. (Cosigners are protected in a 13 with 100% plans, but are not in a Chapter 7.) There should be no additional charge for a spouse filing, but some firms charge extra. The only extra work to do in a joint filing is adding an additional name and social security number to the petition.
Will it affect my spouse’s credit? Is he/she responsible for my credit cards if he/she is an authorized user?
No, filing will not affect your spouse's individual credit, but if he or she is a co-signer on any debt that is not paid that will affect him or her. The fact that you filed bankruptcy does not appear on a spouse's credit report unless he or she also files bankruptcy. Unless your spouse has signed to be legally responsible, they are not responsible. However, many credit card companies will argue that she is responsible. They may even put a “no pay” on her credit report if the amount is unpaid; however, she may ask any credit reporting service to correct that.
If she does so, the credit card company will have to show that she signed for it. If they can’t, it will be removed from her credit report file. In other words, the credit card collectors may try to collect from her by claiming she is liable, but she really is not. If they damage her credit record, it may be grounds for a lawsuit. Credit is normally granted based on a score from your past payment history, the amount of debt that you owe, the length of time you have been repaying present credit, if you have opened credit recently, and the types of credit accounts you have.
Will my co-signers be protected?
Co-signers are protected only in a Chapter 13 to the extent that the plan pays the full amount of the co-signed debt. If the plan pays the debt completely, the co-signer is protected, but it will be listed in his or her credit record as being paid late. The Creditor may ask the cosigner for any remaining portion of the debt if it not paid completely. In a Chapter 7, the co-signer will have some small protection regarding the collateral during the proceeding, but only because the Creditor can’t go against the property of the estate. After a Chapter 7 is over, the Creditor will proceed against the co-signer personally.
Can I file a personal bankruptcy and not have it affect my business?
If you own your own business, the business is a part of your assets. If it is worth very much, it may be property of the Court. If your business files bankruptcy, it won’t affect you because the business does not own you.
Can Bankruptcy stop foreclosures, wage assignments, help me get my license back from an uninsured accident, stop evictions, a judgment, or remove a lien?
Yes.
What will happen to my bills?
When you file a bankruptcy, a Court order goes into effect that keeps Creditors from legally collecting from you. When you are discharged (i.e., the bankruptcy is final), the Creditor "charges off" the debt and gets a tax deduction for the loss. The bill is not paid, and the debt shows up as a bankruptcy charge-off on your credit report. Some Creditors will attempt to get around the law and will continue attempts to collect after the bankruptcy is filed. They can be sued for this, but you need to prove they did it. One of the best methods is to record their call and then surprise them in Court with it when they deny ever making the call. Most Creditors that ignore the law will never send you letters or anything on paper after you file, but they may make phone calls hoping that you will pay anyway.
What if I keep getting bills?
You will continue to get some bills from bankrupted debts after you file. What happens is that the Bankruptcy Court sends out notices to the addresses that you give to them (that is why correct addresses are so important), but some Creditors never get these notices and continue to bill you. You should make copies of your hearing notice. If you get a bill from a Creditor, send them a copy of the bill and the notice. Some Creditors will continue to send bills even if they receive notice. It may be that their computer can’t stop sending out the bills, or they may simply be ignoring the stay hoping that you will pay anyway. You can file a motion for contempt with the judge, and you may also be able to sue for a violation of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.
Do I have to pay my bills during the Chapter 7 or 13?
No. Don’t pay any bill until after you file a Chapter 7 until you have negotiated with the creditor to keep the property. Don’t pay any payment in a Chapter 13 unless it is the regular monthly mortgage payment or car payment, and the 13 was filed to catch up the arrearage. A stay is a federal Court order to stop. If the item is secured, your overdue payments will continue to add up while you don’t pay on the item. However, the Creditor can't take the collateral until the stay is terminated. If no reaffirmation is filed within 45 days after the bankruptcy is filed the stay terminates and the bank can take the car.
The Creditor may also file a motion to terminate the stay after the bankruptcy is filed. Bankruptcy stops your obligation to pay, but the Creditor still has a lien and rights in the property. You often quit paying for items when you file so that you have time to decide if you want to workout a repayment, redeem, or surrender. I have rarely ever had a bank refuse to agree to repayment, but you don’t want to make payments if they aren't going to let you keep the property. Singing a reaffirmation will make you liable for any deficiency if you have it repossessed later. In some rare cases, with people who are never going to repay, the bank may refuse to reaffirm. Some credit unions may refuse to keep a car or mortgage unless you also repay their credit cards. In cases like this, you may want to redeem property instead. That is why you don’t want to make payments just before or after you file. You can take the time to negotiate your options. You don’t have to be caught up on your payments to reaffirm, but some banks may request it—and all of them want it.
Who notifies the Creditors and bill collectors?
After the bankruptcy petition is filed, the Court mails a notice to all the Creditors listed in the schedules. This usually takes 1-2 weeks.
Do I have to go to Court?
Not exactly, but you will have to attend a hearing presided over by the bankruptcy Trustee. This hearing is called the 341 Hearing (Meeting of Creditors). At this hearing, the Trustee (who is an Attorney) will ask questions, under oath, regarding the content of your bankruptcy papers, assets, debts, and other matters. It is very much like a deposition, not like a trial. If you can’t attend (example: if you are in the service overseas), you can answer the questions by Affidavit. The Trustee is not the judge. He is there to take any assets from you, if he can, and to check the accuracy of your paperwork. The Trustee represents the banks—not you. In a Chapter 13 you will have a second hearing to get your discharge if your case was filed after October 2005. In this hearing you must show that you are no charged or convicted of a crime of fraud or further behind in support.
Where is my 341 hearing?
Your 341 hearing is always at the Federal Court closest to you.
What do I wear to the hearing?
Don’t wear cut-offs or jeans with holes in them and don’t wear sandals. Suits are not required, but dress properly for a hearing in Federal Court. Children are not supposed to be in the hearing room. Do not borrow and wear flashy jewelry. This is not the time to brag about how rich you are or how much you own. The Trustee is looking for assets to take from you. He is not your friend. He represents the persons that you owe. You must report what you own and it’s real value, but don’t brag about your income and how much your car is worth—especially if you don’t have any.
When should I file tax returns if I am going to file bankruptcy? If I file in December do I keep my refund?
If you are considering filing a bankruptcy, you must file your tax returns. No file returns…. no file bankruptcy. If you can get your refund before you file. If you do and spend it, you will keep your refund no matter how much it is. If you get your refund after you file bankruptcy, and the refund is over the exemption, you may lose part of your refund. File a quick refund if you have to or apply any refund amount to next year’s tax debt. If you are considering filing in the later part of the year, file before December. If you file in January, you may have to wait for some time after you get your refund back. You will be asked when you got your refund and how you spent it if you got a large refund.
Message Edited by Tuscani on 10-01-2007 12:47 PM

Can I pay some Creditors and not others in a Chapter 13?
You can’t (shouldn’t) discriminate and pay one unsecured Creditor class differently than other unsecured Creditors in that class. However Secured unsecured and priority debts are paid differently.
Should I try a Debt Counseling Service instead of filing bankruptcy? How do Debt Counseling services work?
"Debt Counseling Services" are often high-interest loan companies. Other times, they are agencies that pocket 10-50% of the monthly money that you pay to them as fees for their "counseling". Most of these services will combine your bills and send a partial payment to each bill that you owe. Your credit will be listed by the credit card companies as delinquent for sending in partial payments, and the reduced amounts sent in may not even cover the interest that a debt charges.
These "Counseling Services" are often simply rip-offs that pretend to be charities or helping agencies. If you pay a debt counseling service $100 a month, what happens is that they take up to $40 for themselves and then send your Creditors $60. Your bills fall even farther behind. Eventually, Creditors file lawsuits and you are forced into bankruptcy anyway. Very few of these "repayment plans" work and over 90% fail, leaving you worse off.
Another scam is that some debt counseling companies will charge thousands of dollars by promising to find you a consolidation loan as a loan broker or mortgage broker. These loans end up being at a high-interest rate or they pocket your money and never give you the loan. Others strip the equity from your home. Whatever method used, "Debt Counseling Services" are often scams meant to take your money when you are already in trouble.
Also be wary of using services that claim to “repair” your credit file. Some may attempt to create a new credit file by getting a new social security number. Changing your identity is a felony, especially if you steal another person’s identity. Creating a false identity and using it may also be a felony.
Admin note: Please also be aware of the following excellent information provided by National Foundation for Credit Counseling on what to look for when considering credit counseling:
How to Select a Legitimate Credit Counseling Agency
The last thing a consumer needs when struggling financially is to fall into the hands of an unscrupulous credit counseling agency. If you’re considering using a credit counselor, shop around, and ask each agency the following questions. More importantly, be certain that you are comfortable with their answers before you book that first appointment. A legitimate agency is always more interested in your bottom line than theirs.
Is the agency affiliated with a national body such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) that requires strict quality, financial and ethical standards for membership? Examples of such requirements are annual audits by an independent CPA, written action plans provided to each consumer, and consumers provided with statements at least quarterly.
Is the agency accredited by an independent third party? Self-accreditation is not the answer you want. An example of a reputable third party accreditating body is the Council on Accreditation (COA). Such accreditation signifies that appropriate checks and balances are in place to protect you, the consumer.
Is the agency a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization? Being a nonprofit does not guarantee that the agency is legitimate, but it is a step in the right direction.
What is the composition of their Board of Directors? Board members should not be paid by the agency, should not be family members or friends, but should represent a wide cross-section of the community and civic interests.
What services does the agency offer? A wide-range of services is a good sign. This could include: budget counseling for those who are not in debt; debt counseling for those who may need professional assistance digging out; housing counseling for pre-rental, pre-purchase, first-time homebuyer, reverse mortgage, and foreclosure prevention; and the mandated bankruptcy pre-filing counseling and pre-discharge education.
What are the fees associated with the services provided? The agency should be forthcoming about fees, and no fee should be assessed prior to the service being provided. Be wary if the agency says their fees are voluntary. Any set-up fee or monthly fee should be reasonable, usually defined as $50 or less, with monthly fees in the $25 range. The agency should be willing to waive all fees in cases of true hardship.
What delivery options are available to you for counseling? Does the agency offer in-person counseling? Counseling by phone? Internet counseling? Is the channel that’s most appealing to you offered?
Is the counselor assigned to you a Certified Consumer Credit Counselor? You want someone qualified assisting you with your critical financial decisions. NFCC certification means that the counselor has passed a rigorous battery of tests measuring their financial knowledge.
Does the agency provide educational classes or workshops? Are any of these tools offered online? Is there a fee to attend? The absence of any true education offered to the general public is a red flag.
Will the agency work with all of your creditors? Some agencies only work with creditors who agree to make a payment to them. A legitimate agency will take a holistic approach to solving your financial distress.
Is there a minimum amount of debt required to be counseled? True credit counseling agencies will work with you regardless of how large or how small your debt may be.
What debt relief options are offered? If the only tool is the Debt Management Plan (DMP), keep shopping. A DMP is a useful tool, and is often the appropriate resolution. However, each consumer’s situation is different, thus the solution should be customized to fit their specific needs. A one-size-fits-all approach signals that you should continue your search.
Are the counselors compensated for writing DMPs? Any such incentive is not a part of a legitimate agency’s pay to their counselors.
How long will your counseling session last? Don’t be tempted by “drive-by” counseling. A counselor simply cannot do an adequate intake of your income, expenses and debts in a short amount of time. An initial session length of at least one-hour is standard.
If you go on a Debt Management Plan, how soon after receipt of your monthly payment will it be disbursed to creditors? The success of a DMP depends on timely, consistent payments to creditors.
What happens to your first payment? Believe it or not, some agencies keep the consumers first payment and consider it a donation. Be sure to ask about this.
Will the full amount of your payment be disbursed to your creditors? The full amount should go toward the repayment of your debts, with no portion going into the agency’s pocket.
How will your deposits be protected? Ask for written evidence that the agency is bonded or insured to protect the consumer from fraud or the agency’s own financial difficulties.
As a final step, check with the Better Business Bureau and your state’s Attorney General to see if there are unresolved complaints about the provider you are considering. Anyone can file a complaint. What is relevant is how the agency resolved it.
Legitimate credit counseling agencies counsel and financially educate millions of consumers each year, making financial stability a reality in their lives. It all starts with selecting the right agency. Asking the above questions, and receiving the right answers, will ensure that your credit counseling experience is a positive one.
How long should I keep a copy of my Bankruptcy?
You should keep a copy of your bankruptcy, with your tax papers, for at least 7 years. You will need them for any mortgage application but they are now filed electronically and available for download at any bankruptcy attorney’s office if you filed after October 2002. You are only required to keep receipts 3 years by the tax department—after 3 years they have the burden of proof—but keep tax and bankruptcy records for 7 years anyway.
When will I be able to get credit again?
Normally, you will qualify for a home mortgage at normal rates within 2 years if you let your home go back in foreclosure you will qualify in 3 years after the discharge of your bankruptcy. You will be able to get other credit within 6 months to a year. Your ability to get credit is based on your income and your history of repayment, as well as the security you offer. You should be able to purchase a car or house if you reaffirm one or two debts and pay for them on time after your discharge. You always have to be able to afford what you are buying on credit or meet credit standards. You will have to reestablish your credit by paying on time after your filing.
Will my employer and landlord find out about my bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy petitions are public records; however, under normal circumstances, no one will know you filed a bankruptcy petition unless you tell them. Chapter 13 Debtors are often required to make payments through wage garnishment, which means the employer will learn about the bankruptcy.
Will this affect my getting an apartment?
Many of the larger apartment complexes are owned by banks, and banks tend to grant leases according to credit bureau reports. This may affect you. Small landlords will call former landlords and may not check credit reports.
Can employers discriminate or fire me?
Generally no. There is an antidiscrimination section of the Bankruptcy Code that prevents employers or the state from denying you licenses or discriminating against you when hiring. But do yourself a favor: Keep it to yourself. They generally won’t know unless you tell them.
Are there bankruptcy crimes?
Yes. Criminal statutes related to bankruptcy can be found at 18 U.S.C. sections 151 to 157. Examples of bankruptcy crimes are knowingly and fraudulently concealing assets, lying under oath or on bankruptcy schedules, and knowingly and fraudulently filing a false proof of claim. Bankruptcy fraud can also be used to support a RICO claim. Bankruptcy crimes are often the result of claiming you don’t own property that you do own or that has been transferred to conceal it from the Court.
Do I have to disclose all of my assets?
Yes. If you knowingly and fraudulently conceal an asset from the Court, you have committed a felony and you can be fined up to $5000, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. However, this is rare and normally comes up in only the worst cases. In addition, the Court can deny discharge, or dismiss or convert your bankruptcy proceeding.
Can I run up charges on my credit cards just before filing?
The official answer is “No”. Many people do make some minor charges on their charge cards just before filing. Charges of over $1000 on any one card within 90 days before filing are presumed to be fraudulent and non-dischargeable. Luxury items of 500 within 90 and Cash advances of 750 within 70 days are non dischargeable. Charges to an account more than 90 days before filing are presumed proper regardless of the amount. But the rule that you can’t charge within 90 days of filing isn’t written in stone there are 12 factors that the judge will use to determine if it is fraudulent.
There is no reason to pay any further on debts that you are planning to avoid in bankruptcy. Normally, you should file as soon as you can, but it won’t matter if you pay the bills or not before you file. It doesn’t matter if you owed $10,000 or $10,000,000 before you filed or whether or not you paid on time before you file bankruptcy.
Message Edited by Barry on 07-11-2008 12:28 PM

I am being harassed by customer service the day after my bill is due every month.

At least 6 phone calls every day, beginning at 5am, followed by text messages. All you have to you is tell me once, via text, that my payment is due. I indicated on my Verizon Wireless account online that my preferred method of contact is text message. I do not appreciate the harassment, as a customer of 11 years, who always pays the bill without disconnection. Here's a novel idea - Leave me a voicemail, automated or not, and you will get the message across. Of course I'm not going to answer the phone at 5am, but that is no reason to call me every 2 hours for the rest of the day! Calling every 2 hours is not going to magically make more money appear in my bank account. Yesterday it was 5:43am, 9:10am, 10:21am, and 11:24am. I answered the one at 11:24am to indicate to the service rep that I was planning to pay my bill the following day, but just waiting for a check to clear in my bank account. When the service rep actually picked up from the automated calling system, it sounded like she was on an airplane rifling through a big stack of papers in a microphone. I couldn't hear a single thing she said, and just tried to yell over the background noise that I was paying my bill the next day. Finally I had to tell her that I was hanging up because I couldn't hear hear at all. Today so far I've been called at 5:43am, 7:36am, 9:36am. I paid my bill at 9:30, and just got another call at 10:07am and 10:14am. No voicemails, of course. I do not appreciate this treatment, and it disgusts me to be harassed on this level. It's inhuman.

mrhelper If I am paying my bill late, it does not mean I am deserving of harassment. It means I deserve to be called and notified of my late payment and asked for said payment. It does not mean I deserve calls every 2 hours beginning at 5am. I'm talking about harassment here. It is illegal for a debt collector to harass you under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). It does not mean that you don't still owe the money, but it means you are entitled to being treated like a human being about it. There are laws being broken here. I'm filling out a report with the FTC, and hopefully they will consider changing their methods of contacting their customers. My phone has never been disconnected, but yes, I have delayed the payment a few days past due before. Sometimes the money just isn't there on the exact day the bill is due, but I always pay it. Such was the case this month. I am on a road trip across the country, have no access to my bank, and had to wait for a paycheck to clear from across the country. There was nothing I could do except wait. My snarky response to anyone else is because the point is being missed about my complaint. I didn't write this forum post to get lectured about being responsible about my bills. I wrote this post because I am reaching a dead end with contacting Verizon Wireless customer service directly. They seem to pigeonhole you into using their social media outlets. Instead of hearing from Verizon Wireless directly, I hear from people who are just trolling this forum to be mean to people.

Press release from FCC concerning tethering.

Note, this applies to those with tiered data only. Unlimited data users are not part of the settlement. So nothing has changed if you have the Share Everything Plan since tethering is included
http://www.fcc.gov/document/verizon-wireless-pay-125-million-settle-investigation
VERIZON WIRELESS TO PAY $1.25 MILLION TO SETTLE INVESTIGATION INTO BLOCKING OF CONSUMERS' ACCESS TO CERTAIN MOBILE BROADBAND APPLICATIONS
Washington, D.C. – Today the FCC's Enforcement Bureau released a $1.25 million consent decree with Verizon Wireless that resolves an investigation into whether the company had fully complied with the FCC's "C Block rules," requiring licensees of C Block spectrum to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said "Today's action demonstrates that compliance with FCC obligations is not optional. The open device and application obligations were core conditions when Verizon purchased the C-block spectrum. The massive innovation and investment fueled by the Internet have been driven by consumer choice in both devices and applications. The steps taken today will not only protect consumer choice, but defend certainty for innovators to continue to deliver new services and apps without fear of being blocked."
Verizon Wireless offers customers its 4G LTE service on C Block spectrum. Verizon Wireless bid at auction to acquire that spectrum, understanding that it was accompanied by open device and application obligations. Specifically, licensees offering service on C Block spectrum "shall not deny, limit, or restrict the ability of their customers to use the devices and applications of their choice on the licensee's C Block network," subject to narrow exceptions.
P. Michele Ellison, Enforcement Bureau Chief, said "This case was the first of its kind in enforcing the pro-consumer open access obligations of the C Block rules. It underscores the agency's commitment to guarantee consumers the benefits of an open wireless broadband platform by providing greater consumer choice and fostering innovation."
The Bureau launched an investigation after reports suggested that Verizon Wireless had successfully requested that a major application store operator block Verizon's customers from accessing tethering applications from its online market. ("Tethering" is using a wireless phone as a modem to obtain Internet access for another device, such as a laptop computer or tablet.)
The Commission also received an informal complaint alleging that Verizon Wireless had violated the FCC's C Block rules by making such a request. At that time, Verizon Wireless's terms of service required all customers who wanted to use their phones for tethering to subscribe to the company's Mobile Broadband Connect service, at an additional charge. In response, Verizon Wireless stated that the additional fee reflected the fact that customers who tether laptops or other devices have the capability to use more data capacity than others. At the time of that response, however, Verizon Wireless required not only unlimited data plan customers, but also customers who paid for data on a usage basis, to pay the
additional fee. Verizon Wireless asserted that third-party tethering applications could enable its customers to tether without paying an additional fee.
Under the terms of today's settlement, Verizon Wireless will make a voluntary payment to the Treasury in the amount of $1.25 million, and has committed to notifying the application store operator that it no longer objects to the availability of the tethering applications to C-Block network customers in the operator's online market. Verizon Wireless has also agreed to implement a compliance plan, requiring that:
· employees will receive training on compliance with the C Block rules;
· future communications with application store operators regarding the availability of applications to Verizon Wireless customers will be reviewed in advance by legal counsel; and
· Verizon will report any instances of noncompliance with the rule at issue that might occur during the two-year term of the plan.
In addition, the company recently revised its service offerings such that consumers on usage-based pricing plans may tether, using any application, without paying an additional fee.
-FCC-
For news and information about the FCC, please visit: www.fcc.gov

PJNC284 wrote:
Every blog online. lol. And maybe it's just too late in the day for my brain to think, but it doesn't say anything about not applying to unlimited customers just that they recently started the Share Everything plans which have it included. And they can't really use the reasonable network management as an excuse if the average customer only uses 2GB or less eh?
Yea, I am not seeing the Unlimited plan users not being included in there anywhere, actually it includes the unlimited in addition to the tiered plans.
At that time, Verizon Wireless's terms of service required all customers who wanted to use their phones for tethering to subscribe to the company's Mobile Broadband Connect service, at an additional charge. In response, Verizon Wireless stated that the additional fee reflected the fact that customers who tether laptops or other devices have the capability to use more data capacity than others. At the time of that response, however, Verizon Wireless required not only unlimited data plan customers, but also customers who paid for data on a usage basis, to pay the
additional fee. "

Silk purses from sow's ears

When I first bought my eMac, I thought, finally I'll be able to make my little amateur films, and even be a bit ambitious with them. I can make films that don't look like third generation copies of an old VHS video tape which has been copied from VCR to VCR. This new technology promises me "full dv quality", wow! I thought my movies would look as smooth and clean, (video image-wise), as any DVD that I'd rented from a Blockbuster store.
Pretty naiive, huh?
I've found that it just ain't so. Even using a pretty good Sony video-8 camera, and filming under the best possible conditions, movies made and edited on a Mac and then burned to a DVD disk still don't come anywhere near the quality of a commercial DVD. They still LOOK amateur. Thin colour, bleeding colour, white edges on everything, broad=area pixilation, and that too-sharp "electronic" look. They never have the smooth fine-grained film-look that commercial DVDs have.
Now, you might say, Well, what did you expect?! Those commercial DVDs are made on equipment that costs a squillion dollars! And you'd be absolutely right, of course.
But I wonder when the general public is going to have access to the "real deal", without paying a million dollars for it?
I tried an experiment with my Sony camera. I hooked it up direct to my Mac, (through a converter), switched it on, and hit "Import" Everything that the camera saw, went into the Mac direct without 'benefit' of tape. Even under those conditions, the result still looked like "too-sharp video". It still contained those electronic artifacts of video; the pixelly sharpness, the bright spots, the high contrast.
So, is this the best we can expect in home video? Will the day ever come when we can make a home video that really looks as smooth and real as the old emulsion film did?

Thanks to everyone who has responded. Some very interesting points made!
I guess the bottom line is, I should be glad to have what I've got, considering that, thirty years ago, I was still using an old Super8 movie camera. And splicing scenes together with glue!!
Karsten's point about black and white sometimes being his "colour of choice" was a very good one. And what others said about a good film being possible even on amateur equipment, applies particularly to black and white, I think. In fact, I think shooting in black and white has several advantages.
For one, there is no "colour bleed", and there is no colour saturation problem, either. Monochrome films that happen to look very dark or very light can be called are "artistic". It is an advantage.
Also, if you slghtly blur a black and white image, it can look a lot better than a blurred colour image, because blurring tends to make colours bleed.
And finally, all the great classics were black and white movies!! At least, that's my opinion. :)
Anyway, as you've all suggested, it's better to concentrate on making better stories than making better pixels!
Cheers.
Thanks, all.

Themes

I've a site which runs magnificently on my Macs, but I recently changed the Theme to "Darkroom" which I like for a number of reasons, I also added "shadows" to 9 images, now the site still runs magnificently on my Macs but the vastly inferior PC/Microcrap garbage a huge number of people use scrolls the site in a slow and jerky fashion. Any ideas? AND I attempted to Change the page background but the image remains even though I'm trying to change to a solid color page. It is now an image in the upper left on top of the page I'm attempting to use. I can't make the image go away, which'd be alright but I like the menu format far and away better than that in any of the other "Themes". I will pay a million dollars effective help.. 'er something.

There are several browsers that do not handle iWeb drop shadows or frames well. Firefox and IE are two. A workaround that can be found in this tutorial: #7 - Converting Photos w/Frames, Drop Shadows and/or Reflections into a Single Image File. It also reduces the nunber of files needed to be loaded to render the page.
OT

How do I stop my Boss monitoring my Internet/email usage?

My company is having a Microsoft server system set up & one of the office staff has told me that when this is fully installed, my Boss will be able to check what sites I visit, internet usage & what emails I send. I'm not happy about this, but there's not much I can do about it, so I decided to come on here & ask if anyone knows of any software, or procedure that I can use, to stop this? I use the only Mac in the company, everyhting else is PC??
CHEERS

Hello,
It may not be what you want to hear. But, the computers you are using at work are property of your employer. And, the Internet connection you use there is paid for by your employer. And, the time you spend at work also belongs to your employer (they are purchasing your time from you).
So, you really cannot complain about them monitoring the activities performed on their computer, the traffic going over their network, and whether you are performing the task that you are paid to perform.
There really is no way for you to mask what you are doing with this type of arrangement.
Any software installed on your computer (actually their computer) will be detected. And, anything you send over their network will be archived. So, while you could use an anonymizer on the Internet, that would not prevent them from seeing the traffic to and from your system.
My wife's work computer even has a program on it that scans it every time she turns it on and looks for unauthorized software installations. Even her portable computer will report unauthorized software.
The problem, is that companies are liable for what you do on their equipment. If you install a pirated copy of your favorite program, then they are liable for having pirated software on their computer.
If you download a program from the Internet, and install it, it could create a security hole in their system for others to exploit.
If you like to go look at adult pictures on the web, then that stuff is on their systems. A local company here has actually had that happen several times on their system. They've found a couple of their male employee's to have had "kiddie" pictures on their computers, and to have been surfing those sites during work hours.
In those cases, the employers are obligated to inform the police and report what they found on their system. Without a monitoring system, all they'd be able to do is determine that someone did it. And, that would make the company fully liable for the illegal activity. But, with a monitoring system, they can determine which employee did it, and let that employee pay the consequences for his illegal activity.
You need to first understand that your employer is not sitting there specifically watching everything you are doing. They are just watching for certain things that will require their intervention and correction.
Much of this is automated with software. And, the admins are just notified when things trigger a rule violation. But, in some cases the employers will specifically watch an employee if it appears as though something illegal is happening or if they have reason to.
Either way, there isn't much you can do about it.
It's their legal right to protect their business, monitor their own equipment, and make sure that their Internet service is only being used for the purposes it is provided.
Remember that all that equipment is provided only as a "tool" to help you perform your job.
It is not a personal luxury for you to use as you like. It is a tool specifically provided to assist you in your job. Your employer does not have to allow you to use that tool for any other purpose.
And, technically, since they are purchasing your time, it is in their best interest to make sure that you are using that tool for work rather than play.
Sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear. But, if you've seen the stuff I've seen on employer's computers, then you'd understand.

Chase to pay $166 million forr shoddy & illegal debt collection

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