VERIZON RIP-OFF: Verizon Plans To Charge $2 Fee To Customers For Paying Their Verizon Bill With A Credit Card

Apparently following the footsteps of fellow corporate giants Bank of America and Netflix, Verizon has found a new way to gouge its customers.

Beginning January 15th, 2012, Verizon plans to charge its customers a new $2 fee for each transaction when they pay their verizon bill with a credit card online or over the telephone.

Verizon customers can avoid this new and onerous fee by:

(1)  Yes! Paying the old-fashioned way, with a check in the mail.

(2)  Enrolling in Verizon's AutoPay, allowing the company to tap a credit, debit or ATM card or bank account on file. This appears to be Verizon's preferred option.

(3)  Paying by electronic check at a Verizon website.

(4)  Using your bank's online bill pay.

(5)  Paying at a kiosk or Verizon store.

(6)  Paying with a Verizon gift card or rebate.

[And see, "Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets", by Charles Jerome Ware, iUniverse Publishers (2011)]

2012: NEW LAWS UPDATE

[Also see, "Understanding the Law: A Primer", by Attorney Charles Jerome Ware, iUniverse Publishers]

Effective January 1, 2012, there are a number of new state laws becoming active. For example:

(1) In Alabama, the state known for outlawing the playing of dominoes on Sunday, there will be new limits governing who can testify as an expert witness in criminal and civil trials. This new law is aimed at limiting what critics call "junk science" theories of how or why a crime or other unlawful action occurred.

(2) From California, the state which by law guarantees "sunshine to the masses", comes two, of several, interesting new laws: the prohibition of virtually any business transaction involving beer which contains caffeine as a separate ingredient; and the requirement that students learn about societal contributions of gays and lesbians.

(3) In the Mormon state of Utah, new laws essentially ban "happy hour" --- making any daily alcoholic specials illegal.

(4) Four states -- Rhode Island, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas -- have enacted new laws to combat voter fraud by requiring voters to present photo identification before voting in elections.

(5) And, additionally, the state of Tennessee will require election officials to identify "possible non-citizens" who are registered to vote and order them to prove their U.S. citizenship if they wish to remain registered voters.

There are many other new state laws to look for in 2012. So, look for them.

Privilegios durante la aplicación de la "Tarjeta Verde"

Hay esencialmente dos (2) permisos y privilegios importantes que un extranjero puede adquirir mientras que su aplicación de tarjeta verde está pendiente:

1. El primero es un permiso temporal de trabajo conocido como el documento de autorización de empleo (EAD). Este permiso permite a la persona a ser empleado en los Estados Unidos.

                       

2. El segundo es un documento de viaje temporal, la llamada “libertad condicional anticipada”, que permite a la persona a reingresar a los Estados Unidos.

(Presuntamente es más fácil salir de Estados Unidos que entrar en            el.)

Ambos permisos conceden privilegios y beneficios que son independientes de cualquier otra condicion existente concedida al extranjero. Como un ejemplo, es posible que un extranjero tenga permiso para trabajar en los Esados Unidos bajo la visa H1-B, la cual es clasificada como no inmigrante usada por un extranjero que va a ser empleado temporalmente en una ocupacion especifica.

[“Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos De Inmigracion”, Chalres Jerome Ware, iUniverse Publishers, 2011]

IDENTITY THEFT: UPDATE!

"5 TIPS To Avoid Being An Identity Theft Victim While On Vacation"

More than 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.  When someone uses your personal information - your name, Social Security number or credit card number - without permission, they are stealing your identity.

How can you protect yourself while you're away?  Here are five tips to avoid being a victim:

1.  Stop your mail.  If your mail is sitting at your curb, it can be easy for someone to go through, pick what they are looking for, and take off.  Also, ask a trusted neighbor to watch for packages that may come from another course besides the Postal Service, and to hang on to them until your return.

2.  Don't advertise that you're on vacation.  Make sure if you are going to post vacation updates to social networking websites that your posts are secure - or better yet, don't post anything about it until after your return.  Put a few lights on a timer system so that your home doesn't look unoccupied for the entire time you're gone.

3.  Enroll in an identity protection product. 

4.  Keep your checkbook at home.  A stolen checkbook has your bank account number and routing number on the checks - valuable tools a thief can use to steal your identity or clean out your bank account.  Use cash or credit cards or purchase traveler's checks from your bank.  Traveler's checks require a signature when you purchase them, and then another when you use them.  Generally a photo ID is required when you use credit cards or traveler's checks.

5.  Give your credit card company a heads up.  This is especially important if you are traveling internationally, because any activity that happens domestically will raise a red flag.  If you don't let them know, they may become concerned when they see overseas transactions and freeze your card.

THE AT&T DEBACLE: Antitrust Enforcement Returns to Washington

            The Corporate mergers and acquisitions deal makers are struggling to figure out what lessons to learn from the debacle of AT&Ts failed $39 billion attempt to acquire T-Mobile USA.

            “One lesson to be learned is that antitrust enforcement has finally returned to Washington,” said attorney Charles Jerome Ware, a former top Antitrust official and litigator at the U.S. Department of Justice as well as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, “No longer should giant companies like AT&T underestimate the Justice Department’s new toughness in policing mergers and acquisitions between competitors.”

[see also, “AT&T Case Shows Antitrust Mettle,” WSJ.com/article/12/21/2011]

BofA & COUNTRYWIDE: Discriminatory Lending Scandal

            Bank of America (BofA) Caught in Widespread Pattern of Loan Discrimination Against Qualified African-American and Hispanic Home Loan Borrowers!  Must pay $335 million dollars in settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

            Bank of America has agreed to pay $335 million to resolve allegations that its Countrywide unit engaged in a widespread pattern of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers on home loans.

            The settlement with the U.S. Justice Department was filed Wednesday with the Central District court of California and is subject to court approval. The DOJ says it's the largest settlement in history over residential fair lending practices.

            According to the DOJ's complaint, Countrywide charged over 200,000 African-American and Hispanic borrowers higher fees and interest rates than non-Hispanic white borrowers with a similar credit profile. The complaint says that these borrowers were charged higher fees and rates because of their race or national origin rather than any other objective criteria.

            The United States' complaint says that Countrywide was aware that the fees and interest rates that its loan officers were charging discriminated against African-American and Hispanic borrowers, but failed to impose meaningful limits or guidelines to stop it.

By steering borrowers into subprime loans from 2004 to 2007, the complaint alleges, Countrywide harmed those qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers. Subprime loans generally carried costlier terms, such as prepayment penalties and significantly higher adjustable interest rates that increased suddenly after two or three years, making the payments unaffordable and leaving the borrowers at a much higher risk of foreclosure.

            The settlement amount will be used to compensate victims of Countrywide's discriminatory mortgage loans from 2004 through 2007, when Countrywide originated millions of residential mortgage loans as the nation's largest single-family mortgage lenders.

AIRPLANE or AIRLINE SICKNESS!

            Last month I returned by way of airline from an international trip.  About five of us became very ill on the plane and needed medical treatment upon our return to our homes.  Eventually, under a doctor’s care and a prescription of antibiotic, I recovered.

            It’s a fact: germs, viruses and illnesses lurk on planes!

            I have a few suggestion that may help the reader when he or she is stuck at 35,000 feet next to sneezers, coughers, and other of the sick persuasion.

            The ‘hot zone’ for infection risk is two seats in front, behind and on either side of you.  While you may wish you could just change seats away from a sniffly stranger, the chances of that on packed flights are slim.  Some recommendations from doctors and frequent travelers:

            1.  Airplane bathrooms have multiple surfaces that harbor germs.  In addition to hand-washing, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  And don’t fill water bottles from the sink’s tap.

            2.  Open the air vent and direct flow just in front of your face to deflect germs and breath filtered air.

            3.  Tray tables can be covered with germs.  Disinfect with wipes before using.

            4.  Seat-back pockets are often stuffed with used tissues and napkins, or worse.  The only solution, doctors say, is just don’t use them.

            5.  When getting on and off the plane, passengers are tightly packed in the aisles, touching seats and latches on overhead storage bines.  Use hand sanitizer and raise concerns with the crew when air circulation is shut off for an extended period.

[and see, WSJ, Tuesday, 12/20/2011, P. D1; “Where Germs Lurk On Planes”]