Re: Can I have you opinion? 1*I tell people I have had succes, subprime status 525 to 755 and they do not beleive me or do not understand. It's so sad : 2*I think the people who find their way to the board and take hold of the information are very rare and exceptional. tonyastime | 92 posts ============================== 1*People are not very receptive to new information or different Ideas. 2*Ouite true -as evidenced by some of the outlandish reactions I get to some of my post.
Re: Can I have you opinion? I agree that many people need better advice and counseling on credit matters, however, doing credit counseling even one on one is VERY difficult for someone who is not prepared to take full responsibiity for the consequences.Many people on this board give advice with their own agenda/goal in mind. I.e. cleaning a credit report, removing inquiries, suing cra's and ca's etc. etc.If their advice doesn't work, or if it backfires, they have no liability,as they are anonymous. If someone does the same thing in person, and there are unpleasant results,they can be held liable. That is why any lawyer who may be posting will NOT identify themselves as such without a complete disclaimer, or their e & o coverage would be cancelled.
Re: Can I have you opinion? That is a good point WhyChat. If you instruct someone to dispute a certain charge-off and it wakes a sleeping dog causing the consumer to be sued, would you then really be liable?
Re: Can I have you opinion? I can't see lbrown59. LOL, I see where someone is replying to him, but I cannot see what he says.
Re: Can I have you opinion? Know what, I was just rethinking WhyChat's response. If the one-on-one counseling included only the basics on credit repair (not actual advice on what to dispute), I don't think you can then be held liable if a consumer gets into trouble after disputing an item in particular.
Re: Can I have you opinion? I find that most people don't know much about personal finance in general. The problem begins with the schools. Most people can tell you that it takes 7 years to fix your credit and if you have an explanation for not paying your debt you can add a 100 word statement. After that, most people don't know much. Basic education about everything from balancing a check book to what goes into a credit score is needed. One of the problems is that the people who need the help the most tend to be the least receptive.
Re: Can I have you opinion? Firstly, I wouldn't instruct them, I would give them several different options and let them decide how to proceed. If you are going to instruct them on what to do, have each and every one of them sign a disclaimer form. Personally, I think it's a great idea and you should go for it. Are you charging for this, or is it a community service?
Re: Can I have you opinion? Can I have You(r) opinion...hmmm wonder when people are gonna start accusing tmitchell of being PBM LOL ) -Peace, Dave
Re: Can I have you opinion? We all know who PBM is!! Actually, the cleaning people at GEICO are PBM - their company is "Professional Building Maintenance" and they all wear T-shirts with "PBM" printed in large letters on the back. I chuckle whenever I see them, hehe.
Re: Can I have you opinion? LKH....I like the idea of either giving consumer GENERAL options or having them sign disclaimers. I'd tend to lean toward general information though. My thought is to charge a nominal fee as my original plan was to use our local boys club clubhouse and offer a one-hour or so session for $20 or so. The same would apply if I did private counseling.
Re: Can I have you opinion? If you are going to charge a fee for a service, I suggest you check your State laws on licensing for credit repair services, check your insurance agent for liability insurance, and make sure your personal life insurance is in order. The road to vindictive lawsuits, enraged clients (who have misinterpreted what you have said) and a whole lot of grief,is paved with good intentions.
Re: Can I have you opinion? Of course, if you really want to develop this much needed counseling service, you could partner with someone who has negotiated a great divorce settlement for themselves, and he could run a marriage counseling service in conjunction with your credit counseling.Our school system does not prepare people for the problems of family responsbiity either.
Re: Can I have you opinion? I don't think I'd be classified as a CRO and those laws shouldn't apply. I'm not performing any repair services - I'm simply teaching consumers what their right are under the FCRA and FDCPA. I specifically do not want to get into the CRO business becasue of all the red tape.
Re: Can I have you opinion? I do not wish to discourage your efforts to help your fellow citizens,however, if you embark on any commercial venture you are going to be identified in the catagory that comes closest. How about volunteering at your local senior citizens center,or after school tutorial program? Once you have some actual hands-on experience in dealing with other people's problems then you can consider trying your idea.If you have that much free time, you are either retired, or unemployed, if the first, then there are lots of community services that can use your help,if the second,well.. it is difficult to empower others without first empowering yourself.
Re: Can I have you opinion? I'm neither. I'm actually very well off in my current position. Anything I would do would be in the evening. This is an excerpt from the CROA: ---------------------------------------- 3) Credit repair organization. -- The term 'credit repair organization'-- (A) means any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails to sell, provide, or perform (or represent that such person can or will sell, provide, or perform) any service, in return for the payment of money or other valuable consideration, for the express or implied purpose of-- (i) improving any consumer's credit record, credit history, or credit rating; or (ii) providing advice or assistance to any consumer with regard to any activity or service described in clause --------------------------------------------------- I don't think teaching a class on understanding your credit falls under this definition. It is a seminar that makes no claims that the consumer will see any improvement or repair of their credit - they simply are taught what their general rights are.
