Hello from Austria - Going Back to My Roots

The story of the immigrant - the recurring tale of habitancy with two identities, their lingering attachment to their birth country and their love for their new homes... For many habitancy immigrating to a new country can be an roughly schizophrenic experience.

My palpate is a itsybitsy unique: I left my home country of Austria at the tender age of 20 and will soon be celebrating my 21st anniversary of living in Canada. Any gifted mathematician will tell you that I have spent more than half my life, and virtually my whole adulthood in Canada, my new home country, a country for which I have great respect and love. On the other hand, many habitancy are surprised when they hear me speak in my primary Austrian dialect. They can't believe I have been away from home for more than two decades and I still speak my East Styrian dialect exactly the way I spoke it 20 years ago. You could call me a truly bi-cultural individual.

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During my first 10 years in Canada I travelled back to Austria once a year to visit my family - my father, grandmother and brother. Unfortunately my mom had passed away a incorporate of months after I first arrived in Canada, and I had many sad memories of growing up. Then a necessary milestone came to pass in 1995: both my father and grandmother passed away within half a year of one another, an event that affected me deeply for a long time, especially since I had a very small family to begin with (no uncles, no aunts, no other grandparents). After this I took an roughly nine year hiatus while which I did not trip back home at all. It was not until 2004, at the occasion of my 20th high school graduation anniversary, that I travelled back home to Austria again.

Since I had started trip writing in 2004 there were so many other places to visit in the last few years, and I have since explored lively places like Havana, Mexico City, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, and many lively towns and places over Canada and the United States. So there had not honestly been an occasion to trip back to Austria, my native country.

But with the occasion of my brother Ewald's 50th birthday this year I decided to make a trip back. That was a celebration I naturally could not miss. In addition, I had set a deliberate goal to trip back home and to discover my birth region through the eyes of a trip writer and to collate Austria, and more specifically Styria, my home province, with the many other places I have had a occasion to visit over the last few years.

So I set off in late July and flew into Vienna, Austria's famed capital. On a gorgeous day I drove south on the A2 Highway through rolling hills into my home province of Styria. It was as if time had stood still, the quaint villages were still there; the fields, orchards and forests still looked the way I remembered them. One thing I distinctly noticed was the fact that virtually all the houses were beautifully renovated and all things seemed in tip top contemporary condition.

Upon my arrival and a warm welcome by my sister-in-law Anneliese (my brother was still at work) we went for a itsybitsy walk through my home town of Weiz, and I had a occasion to see some of the new buildings that had gone up since my last visit. After a great reunion with my brother and a restful night recuperating from my jet lag, the following day, a Saturday, was going to be the day of my brother's birthday dinner.

Ewald is a very talented pro chef, so the three off us set off right away in the morning and started the day with visits to the farmers markets in Gleisdorf and Weiz, my home town. Local produce, meats and baked goods made my salivary glands work overtime and my brother picked up the necessary ingredients. Then he started making ready the feast while he sent Anneliese and me on a brief hike through a measure of the Raab River Gorge, a favorite hiking and recreational area close to my home town. I added a itsybitsy driving tour through the scenic areas surrounding the local Goller and Gösser mountains and explored the old mining settlement of Arzberg. We spent the evening savouring a multi-course gastronome dinner, admiring my brother's cooking skills.

Sunday was set aside for a full-day outing: we met with our friends Luis and Isabella (who had already visited us in Toronto in 2005), and drove about an hour into the area of South West Styria, which is a very familiar winegrowing region. We went hiking in a picturesque area of rolling hills that is often referred to as the "Austrian Tuscany". After all this practice we enjoyed a scrumptious late lunch in a local winegrower's restaurant, and in the evening I went for a quick bike ride through town.

The weather did not cooperate the next day and it was drizzling or raining the whole day. This gave me a occasion to visit my friend Andrea whose daughter Nina had spent some weeks at our place in Toronto last year. I had not seen Andrea, the older sister of one of my schoolmates, for at least 23 years and the reunion was fabulous. A itsybitsy round of tennis with my friends Luis and Isabella capped off a low-key day.

A great blue sky and beaming sunshine woke me up on Tuesday and I embarked on my first photo tour of my home town. I checked out the imposing baroque pilgrimage church called Weizbergkirche in my home town, and visited Schloss Thannhausen, a Renaissance castle that is still used for concerts and extra events. I then drove through the Weizklamm mountain gorge that features vertically dropping limestone cliffs, a river and a main road that is patched against the rocks. The road is so narrow in some areas that one side of traffic has to wait for the other side to pass, there naturally isn't enough room for two vehicles to get by side by side.

The road took me up into the mountains to a settlement called St. Kathrein, a picturesque itsybitsy place with gorgeous mountain views, lots of local bed and breakfasts, hiking trails and a around ski area. In the afternoon I associated with Andrea and her family again and together we embarked on a extra excursion: a visit to the Katerloch, a familiar limestone cave that features the greatest range of stalactites and stalagmites in all of Austria.

Fritz, our guide, took us on a two-hour walking tour and with his dynamic and lively speaking style he explained all the features of the cave, together with the discrete rock formations as well as some big caverns with names such as the Hall of Fantasy, the Enchanted Kingdom and the Lake Paradise which features an incommunicable lake 135 m below the cave's entrance. He also told us about the old owners and explorers of the cave, a deeply religious married incorporate that discovered and made accessible farranging new sections of the cave in the early to mid 1950s. These two individuals assuredly believed that willpower and conviction can move mountains.

Another gorgeous summer day followed which I decided to start off with a hike through the wildest section of the Raabklamm, Austria's longest gorge and a designated European nature conservation area. My friends Andrea and Herbert set the pace which was enhanced by our Nordic walking poles. I stopped for a incorporate of Austrian culinary treats at a local restaurant before I continued my excursion to Graz, the capital of Styria and Austria's second largest city.

Graz is a honestly underrated destination, the majority of North Americans has never even heard of it. When habitancy think of traveling to Austria, the destinations Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck promptly come to mind. Surprisingly Graz is still mostly flying under the radar as far as North American travelers are concerned.

But what a shame! Graz is an honestly gorgeous destination: it is a designated Unesco World legacy Site because it has one of the most well-preserved late medieval and Renaissance city centres in Europe. It was also designated as the European Cultural Capital in 2003. Graz is known for superior architecture, music and discrete prominent edge arts festivals throughout the seasons.

On my way to Graz I made my first stop in Mariatrost to visit the impressive baroque pilgrimage church on the hill. I then stopped my car near the Opera House and walked down the Herrengasse, Graz' favorite shopping promenade and part of the farranging pedestrian area. I admired the Renaissance courtyard of the Landhaus, seat of the Provincial Styrian Government, and made my way to the Hauptplatz, the city's main square. It is a gorgeous public space, anchored by an impressive late 19th century city hall that overlooks stately houses flanking the square.

The view from the Hauptplatz is framed by the Schlossberg, a rock that is settled in the middle of the city that once featured an imposing medieval fortress. Most of the fortifications were destroyed by Napoleon's troops in 1809, but the citizenry of Graz paid necessary ransom money to retain its most favorite landmark: the Uhrturm ("Clock Tower"), the tower with the four oversized clock faces whose hour hand is longer than its itsybitsy hand.

This clock tower has for centuries been the sticker of Graz and I enjoyed my view over the city from its terraces after my funicular ride up the mountain. I also took in the afternoon doing of the carillon on the Glockenspielplatz, where since 1905 the music of 24 bells accompanies the mechanical dance of a incorporate made from wood, lively dozens of tourists who congregate to watch.

My brother and sister-in-law had taken the next day off and we were planning an excursion added afield: our destination was a mountain peak called Mangart in Slovenia, settled about a three-hour drive from my home town. The charm of Central Europe is its diversity of landscapes and its small distances, and in just a few hours of driving through the Austrian province of Carinthia we arrived in Val Canale, an area where Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet. Incidentally this is also the only area where the Germanic, Romance and Slavic language families come together right next to one another. We passed by the picturesque Predil Lake and continued our climb into the high mountains and crossed the Italian border into Slovenia.

But as it can be with the best laid plans of mice and men, our hiking trip to the Mangart Mountain was not to be: our car overheated and there was no way we were going to make it any further. We had to stop, let the car cool down and turn around to go back down the mountain. Fortunately, our discontentment did not last long since we came up with an alternate plan: we took the cable car up to Monte Lussari whose summit area features a tiny mountain settlement with a small pilgrimage church. An honestly stunning 360 degree mountain vista opens up from the top of this mountain and we enjoyed a hearty lunch on the balcony of a rustic restaurant, taking in the spectacular, Alpine panorama.

On our way home we stopped in the town of Tarvisio, a border town that has benefited for a long time from the traffic in the middle of Austria, Slovenia and Italy. We stopped at the market, my brother picked up a few Italian delicatessen and we enjoyed our wander through town. After our return in the late afternoon I embarked on a itsybitsy local excursion and drove to the Teichalm - Sommeralm area close to my home town.

This region is now marketed as the "Almenland', which honestly means "Alpine meadow country". The Tourism Region Sommeralm -Teichalm represents the largest contiguous high-altitude alpine meadow area in Europe. It features a lake, many hiking trails, ski lifts and spectacular, views into the surrounding countryside. In addition, the area is used as grazing pastures for hundreds of Alpine oxen, animals whose tender and tasty meat is prized highly by chefs and restaurant owners throughout the whole area.

Poor weather returned on Friday, so I spent a quiet day manufacture visits to acquaintances and doing errands. The highlight of the day was a classical concert organized by the local Weiz Lions Club: a charity concert and fundraiser that featured musicians and an orchestra from Aims, the American make of Musical Studies, a Graz-based organization that offers intense summer vocal, piano and music programs to international students, most of whom come from the United States.

We listened to pieces by Mozart, Strauss and Verdi and were fully impressed by the young sopranos, tenors and musicians who put on an superior performance. The event even raised 15,000 Euros for the local charity. I interviewed some of the young music students after the concert and they were fully enjoying their international change program and sure to return home with memories of a lifetime.

Finally, the sun had returned and my second last day in Austria was going to be gorgeous. My second photo safari through my home town resulted in some encounters with acquaintances whom I had not seen for more than 20 years. Old memories were stirred up even more when I associated with my school friends Klaudia and Doris. while our walk up to the local Weizberg we also had a celebrity connection: Arnold Schwarzenegger's mother, father and brother are buried in the Weiz cemetery. His parents lived in this town for many years, and his father was a local police officer.

Of procedure we reminisced about our high school adventures and after a scrumptious orchad lunch we went to go hiking on the around Schöckel mountain. The Schöckel is the largest mountain in the region around Weiz and provides a spectacular, 360 degree panorama over the whole region. Southerly views expand into the Slovenian and Hungarian plains, and northerly vistas highlight the high Alpine peaks of Northern Styria. To the east and to the west the scenic Styrian hill country opens up. The three of us climbed up the steepest measure of the mountain, securely qualified with our Nordic walking poles. some restaurants offer refreshments and hearty Austrian food at the summit area, and high-speed excitement is in case,granted by the summer tobogganing track that runs down the mountain, a nice adrenaline kick I just had to experience.

After our hike back down we stopped off at Doris' house, a gorgeous property in the countryside, that features a brand new pond and large garden. Doris even qualified us with tasty freshly picked peaches from her father's orchards. Klaudia and I headed back to Weiz and an hour later we met up again for a backyard barbeque at my brother's place. Klaudia's whole family, her sister Andrea with daughters Nina and Katja as well as the two grandparents joined us for a tasty dinner that showcased my brother's culinary skills in a multi-course feast.

My last full day in Austria had arrived and Ewald and Anneliese had planned a extra outing: an excursion to one of Austria's most famed fortresses - the Riegersburg. In existence for more than 850 years and settled in the border region of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, this impressive fortification has withstood many attacks from the east and was never conquered. It has often been referred to as the "strongest fortification of Christianity", having successfully defended repeated attacks by Turks and Magyars.

With its numerous fortified gates, its unique location on an extinct volcanic cone, its farranging defensive walls, wooden drawbridges and moats, the Riegersburg is an authentic medieval fortress that has seen architectural additions from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. An exhibition in the fortress explains the historic era of the 16th and 17th century and sheds light on feudalism as well as two lively female characters who inhabited this fortress more than four centuries ago: Baroness von Galler and the "flower witch" Katharina Paldauf.

Our East Styrian tour continued through volcano country with a drive to Schloss Kapfenstein, other medieval fortress that has been extensive into a castle and today holds an upscale restaurant and hotel. This castle is also settled on the extinct cone of a old volcano. We enjoyed a tasty lunch in the outdoor patio of the castle, against the gorgeous backdrop of the distant Carinthian and Slovenian Mountains.

My last evening in Austria was capped off with a visit to our friends Luis and Isabella, and all five of us enjoyed the late evening sun in their gorgeous backyard. Luis even took me on a itsybitsy motor scooter adventure around town. Back at Ewald's place we spent a few more hours reminiscing until I had to pack my bags for my departure to the airport in Vienna Monday morning.

These nine days have been one of the most spectacular, trip experiences in my life. They were greatly enhanced by my connections with family and friends, but in addition, my eyes were truly opened to trip opportunities in my birth region of Austria.

Styria, with its medieval cities, imposing churches, monasteries and fortresses offers a great range of destinations to history and architecture lovers. Music, optical and performing arts are ever present, even in small communities. Outdoor lovers will find a whole smorgasbord of activities, from hiking to mountain biking, skiing, horseback riding, mountaineering, hang-gliding, river rafting and many other discrete pastimes.

The diverse landscapes featuring fertile plains, rolling hills full of orchards and vineyards, high Alpine peaks and meadows, pristine rivers and scenic lakes enchant at every corner. And food, wine and beer lovers will assuredly enjoy the diverse culinary offerings. In addition, Styria offers affordable prices and great value to international travelers. I realized my birth region is right up there at the top of any destinations I have visited in the last few years.

This trip truly opened my eyes to the spectacular, charm and range of the area where I was born, and even though Styria might not be as well known as other regions of Austria, my nine days back home were far too short and I already have a whole list of things to do and see next time I am over in the old country.

Hello from Austria - Going Back to My Roots

expanding Olive Oil Consumption

Olive oil consumption is increasing throughout the world. Heart conscious consumers are becoming aware of the protective effects of this oil on the heart. Cooks throughout the world are becoming aware of the delicious foods they can prepare. The sum total of this is that are much higher proportion of olive oil is consumed face of the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East. This is good news for those who like the oil and for whatever curious in investing in its increasing consumption worldwide.

World Consumption

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The International Olive Oil Council figures on olive oil consumption show a worldwide growth from 1,666.5 tones in 1990 to 2,839 tons in 2009. Consumption went up in the olive's primary base in the Mediterranean and Middle East from 1,427.5 tons in 1990 to 2.242.5 tons in 2009. However, it is the growth in consumption of the oil face of where it is traditionally part of the diet that is the most spectacular. From 1990 to 2009 consumption of olive oil in the world face of the Mediterranean and Middle East more than from 239 tons to 596.9 tons.

A record published by the United States department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural service (Gain record It1028) notes that "Ten years ago, Italy, Spain, and Greece produced 80 percent and consumed 90 percent of olive oil globally. Today, those leading Mediterranean countries consume about 60 percent of total oil, with consumption increasing the most in the United States, Japan, South America, and Eastern Europe."

The record also states that, "The Eu accounts for about 80 percent of global olive production, North Africa accounts for 15 percent, and the others produce the remaining 5 percent."

Olive oil producers world wide are organizing and preparing for a lasting growth in olive oil consumption. For example, the secretly owned international food products giant, Cargill, and a Spanish partner have just inaugurated a new 18 million Euro bottling plant in Spain. According to Cargill's press publish the plant will have the capacity to bottle more than a million liters of olive oil each year. The plant is also built so that capacity may be increased in hereafter years!

The nearnessy of Cargill in this execution is telling as Cargill is an international execution with vast output and risk management expertise as well as a weighty global trade, export, and distribution system.

Two Examples: the Uk and India

We gift two examples of countries where olive oil is not a primary food and where consumption is gaining ground.

The United Kingdom: Olives in the Land of Fish and Chips

As worldwide consumption has increased by 70% from 1990 to 2009 the Uk share of the total has increased from 1.9% to 2.9% (more than 60,000 tons). In just the last ten years olive oil use has increased from 35% of British homes to 50%.

The Uk share of the world consumption of oil from olives has risen from 1.9% to 2.9% in the middle of 1990 and 2009. The Uk now consumes 28 million liters of this oil per annum, all of which is imported, and sales topped £150 million a year for the first time in 2008. This is duplicate the estimate sold eight years ago and significantly more than the £90 million spent on vegetable oil. Half of Uk homes now use olive oil compared with just 35% in 2001. The use of extra virgin oil for dressings, sauces, and as a dip for bread has increased as well as the use of olive oil for cooking. This latter use is replacing the use of other oils for cooking and frying foods in the Uk. Interestingly, stock investigate shows that the majority of Brits do not know that Spain is an olive producer even though it is the largest. They just like olive oil

Breaking into the Indian Cooking Oil Market

May 5 issue of an online trade journal speaks of a promotional and awareness campaign by the International Olive Oil Council in India. In its record entitled, "Big shop Getting Bigger," the Times states that India ranks forth in the world in consumption of vegetable oils and is the third leading importer. The record states that, "The occasion of India's economy and increasing exposure to world trends in cuisine and other areas has slowly brought this oil to the attention of health-conscious Indians. The growing popularity is shown in the growth in imports of olive oil, which has gone up from 2,300 tons in 2007 to colse to 4,500 tons in 2008. Quiz, is estimated to growth to 42,000 tons in 2012, with the growing middle class affluence and concerns about condition and fitness."

As this information shows the growth of olive oil consumption in what has become the world's most populous nation is becoming exponential.

Good Food is Becoming a Good Investment

People use olive oil because of its taste, cooking qualities, and, increasingly, its heart healthy qualities. Habitancy spend in the rising consumption of olive oil for profit.

The Mediterranean Basin is historically the producer and consumer of the olive and its oil. Its climate is conducive to growing olive trees. However, the vast majority of output is on the North of the Mediterranean Sea in Spain, Italy, and Greece. As worldwide consumption outstrips provide the major producers will have a hard time keeping up. Thus orchards are being planted in North Africa. Tunisia is already the forth leading producer at colse to 8% of total production. Now Algeria is embarking on a huge agenda to plant olive trees, a million hectares.

Investors seeing to profit from the growth of olive oil consumption may do well seeing at projects in a country like Algeria where soil and climate are conducive to growth the Arbequinia olive in hyper intensive culture for local processing and international export. Projects that will be thriving will pick the right olive variety, build processing plants near to output to optimize quality, and have international partners or parent associates in order to drill international markets.

expanding Olive Oil Consumption

How To Be Eligible For credit Card Without A Cosigner

If you are at least eighteen years old and have some reputation history, you may be well on your way to obtaining your first reputation card. It may take some time, analyzing your past and gift financial histories, but studying how to qualify for your first card account without a co-signer can help supply a greater sense of independence and free time for students, young adults, recently divorced men and women, shop-a-holics, and those desiring their first reputation card. You may think that it's not easy but performing a self check if you are eligible could be helpful so you can do some preparations in case you need it.

While reputation article is important, many habitancy already have a reputation history and do not realize it. If you have a bank account, now or in the fairly recent past, have telephone or insurance bills in your name or have taken out trainee loans, you most likely already have a reputation history. This can surely be beneficial, as you will be starting from something, rather than nothing. If you don't have these now, you should first try to find ways in applying for one such as paying utility bills under your name which will help generate your very first reputation history.

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Since this is a first account, be prepared for higher interest rates than person who has an established reputation card history with on-time payments. habitancy having a bank account may wish to first apply for a reputation card with their financial institutions, as rates may be lower. insurance companies, colleges and other organizations may also offer cards and may be able to offer their members special incentives or interest rates.

To collect a reputation card without a co-signer, you will need some form of monthly income. Remember to take into consideration all forms of money: trainee loans, trainee employment and part-time jobs, even if worked only while the summer. Be prepared to show evidences of these income and assets straight through some form of bank statements, current and former months' pay slips, tax certificates, and the like.

If you have already prepared these pre-requisites, head on scouting for the right card for you. There are several types of cards which has a specific purpose of tied up reward system. Choose what will be beneficial for your use.

Once approved, all the time pay on time, every time. This will help ensure you pronounce a inescapable reputation history, qualify for a inherent lower interest rate and hereafter reputation limit raise.

How To Be Eligible For credit Card Without A Cosigner

Criminal Hackers Hack Debit Card Transactions

There is no end to the ingenuity of the criminal hacker. They've figured out how to hack debit card PINS. Debit cards are linked directly to our checking accounts, which makes them tasty treats for criminal hackers. At an ATM or cash register, most debit card users are blissfully unaware of what occurs when they swipe their cards and enter their pin numbers. A magical mystery takes place and we get to walk away with our new purchase, simply by swiping a card and tapping a few keys. The money magically disappears from our account and we celebrate by eating the Twinkie we just bought.

Whether you're swiping your debit card at an ATM or in a store or restaurant, the process is similar. The user swipes his or her card and types in the pin number. The data is verified by a 3rd party payment processor or, in some cases, by a bank, over telephone lines or the Internet. Once the information has been validated and the payment processor confirms that the required funds exist, the money is moved from the user's account to the merchant's account, or is dispensed in cash.

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The convenience of debit cards has led to global popularity that vastly exceeds that of handwritten checks, all the way into 3rd world countries. We've known for some time that low-tech skimming at ATMs and gas pumps has been a point of compromise. Now, Wired reports that the transaction itself puts your PIN number at risk. Academics discovered this flaw years ago, but didn't think it would be possible to execute in the field. Criminal hackers, however, have come up with the holy grail of hacks, stealing large amounts of encrypted and unencrypted debit card and pin numbers. And they have figured a way to crack the encryption codes.

The first signs of PIN tampering were recognized when investigators studied the processes of the 11 criminals who were caught after the TJX data breach. That breach involved 45 million credit and debit cards. The crime ring needed PIN codes to turn that data into cash. An investigation into this breach reported that the hacks resulted in "more targeted, cutting-edge, complex, and clever cyber crime attacks than seen in previous years."

This revelation has some saying that the only cure for this type of hack is a complete overhaul to the payment processing system. The compromise occurs in a device called a hardware security module (HSM), which sits on bank networks. PIN numbers pass through this device on their way to the card issuer. The module is tamper-resistant and provides a secure environment for encryption and decryption for PINs and card numbers. Criminal hackers are accessing HSMs and tricking them into providing the decrypting data. They are installing malware called "memory scrapers," which capture the unencrypted data and use the hacked system to store it.

The PCI Security Standards Council, a self regulating body that oversees much of what occurs regarding payment card transaction, said they would begin testing HSMs. Bob Russo, general manager of the global standards body, said that the council's testing of the devices would "focus specifically on security properties that are critical to the payment system."

I don't own a debit card and never have and never will. Simply put, if my debit card were hacked, that money would be coming directly from my bank account. A compromised ATM or point of sale transaction often fails to exhibit evidence of hacking. This means that I'd have to go through the arduous process of convincing my bank that it wasn't me who withdrew thousands of dollars from my account. Whereas if a credit card is compromised, the zero-liability guarantee kicks in and I'm cured much more quickly.

Your ultimate responsibility here is to check your statements very closely and look for unauthorized activity. Read your statements online biweekly as opposed to relying solely on your monthly paper statement, and refute unauthorized charges immediately. Consider using a credit card instead of a debit card. While this type of fraud is generally out of your control it's still imperative you invest in internet security software such as McAfee and consider identity theft protection.

Criminal Hackers Hack Debit Card Transactions

The inexpressive to Buying a Home After Foreclosure

Buying a home after foreclosure is not impossible, despite what some population say. You do not have to wait years and years. Your life is not over and yes you will recover. I promise.

The up-to-date mortgage meltdown has caused many tales of woe. Friends of mine offer just such a tale.

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Rex and Angie were married just 6 months when they decided to buy a home 5 years ago. He had a great job with the railroad and she was a legal secretary.

Because housing in their area was appreciating so swiftly they decided to get an Armor adjustable rate mortgage. They intended to refinance their home within 2 years with a fixed rate mortgage.

Fourteen months in to the loan Rex had an crisis at work and was forced to take a distinct position with the railroad due to his injuries. This resulted in a discount of pay.

Angie was laid off when the firm she worked for merged with another law firm. It took her two months to find another job and by then they were getting behind on their bills. Negative items were starting to show up on their prestige article and then they missed a house payment.

Eventually they were able to recover but the damage was done. When they applied for a refinance they were denied and then their current mortgage took its first adjustment. The house cost went up 5.00 and the downward spiral began all over again.

With in the year the home was in foreclosure. All was not lost.

I am happy to article that they have recovered, repaired their credit, and are now enjoying the benefits of home proprietary again.

How did they do that you ask?

Sacrifice and Discipline

Typically lenders like to see 2 years pass before granting a new mortgage to man who has been in foreclosure. Ordinarily it takes that long for population to recover from the circumstances that caused the foreclosure to begin with.

If you have hope of buying a home after foreclosure there are several steps to ensue to insure success.

Get a copy of your prestige article so you can see what lies ahead. Check the article for accuracy and write dispute letters for each incorrect item. Make sure you are paying all of your bills on time so you do not have any more negative reports added to your prestige report. If you do not have any active prestige cards you should apply for at least two lines of prestige with secured prestige card companies like Orchard Bank or First Premier who give small lines of prestige for a deposit so you can reestablish distinct entries in your prestige file. Pay down any debt you have so your debt to revenue ratio is at its top when you apply for the new mortgage. Begin a savings plan so you have cash reserves when you apply for the new mortgage. If you had bad spending habits in the past you must learn to convert them and live well below your means so you can pay your debt down and build those cash reserves. Do what ever it takes to right your financial ship. Secure a second job, sell that fishing boat or put off that vacation until those debts are paid.

Buying a home after foreclosure is done all the time if you are willing to make the sacrifices it takes to turn things around.

The inexpressive to Buying a Home After Foreclosure

Debt Collector Swears Under Oath He Can't Collect Credit Card Debt If Secret Federal Law is Used

Now you have a credit card debt collector that can't collect debt money legally if some secret Federal law is used to stop him and you don't believe a word of it. Good, just keep sending him money because he has a rather lavish lifestyle and needs your money to support it.

Lots of people believe the economy is getting better, there is no depression, school teachers will not be losing their jobs due to cutbacks, bankers are honest, oil spills don't damage the ocean and they will have a new job before their unemployment benefits run out. Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?

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So where is this secret federal law and why doesn't every citizen with card debt use it to eliminate their problem? The secret federal law can be found in a cartoon by searching the term "FTC debt video" which will explain exactly how to beat a collector on the phone or in written communications in addition to explaining how to even make money from collectors for phone abuse.

If you watched the video several times and see it is real, you may be wondering why this federal law is a secret. Apparently search engines don't use credit cards. If they did they would've already wiped out their debt and put the information at the top of every page about credit cards but information that hot could trigger a server crash and after all that's where search engines live. It would be suicidal! Maybe artificial intelligence is smarter than we think, who knows?

The federal law has been around much longer than the oldest search engine. If you wanted to find the secret back in the mid-60s it would have required a trip to the library and you would have needed to know exactly what you're looking for to find it. In the mid-60s there were no credit card problems so nobody was even looking in the first place.

So now the curtain has been pulled back, you know the secret to beating card debt because you've seen it on the Federal Trade Commission cartoon website but you're still afraid to use it for some reason. Could it be that you've been conditioned to pay no matter what? Do you feel like a thief if you don't pay or you are some kind of cheater?

Since this is "secrets revealed" day less just jerk the cover back to see what schemes your friendly credit card company slept with to keep you in debt for 20 years on a 0 purchase. Search the term "frontline: the credit card game" to watch this PBS special and you may begin to feel like a fish that fell for the debt bait hook, line and sinker.

There's just one more "gotta see" secret that most people really know about but just don't think about. Search the term "where does money come from" and you'll finally realize the banker really never loaned you money and didn't lose a penny when you stopped paying your card account.

Perhaps you've discovered enough secret stuff to make an informed decision on what to do about credit card debt, debt collectors or perhaps their lawyers, depending on where you are in the debt system at this time. There is one sure non-secret thing; if you don't do something the boogeyman is going to get you! Live life and have fun!

Debt Collector Swears Under Oath He Can't Collect Credit Card Debt If Secret Federal Law is Used

So You Have finally Brought Your Dream House in Spain - How Much is it Going to Cost You to Run?

Perhaps one of the many reasons for purchasing a asset in Spain is the cost of living. Can you really believe what your commission only sales rep of an estate agent has told you!

Well in short the answer, credit crunch/exchange rates aside is - Not as much as in England that is for certain!

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Services.

You will have the usual day to day running costs as you would expect. Water, gas and electric, these are not a lot dissimilar than in England with the added bonus that as it is much warmer here you do not incur so much in the way of heating bills, you may want to have air conditioning running but why lock yourself away in a sealed house when all you need to do is wear less and have the odd fan blowing. The systems you can get installed can run as heaters as well because you must realise it does get a small colder in the winter. The units do cost more to run as coolers than as heaters. Inverter aircon units are a small more high-priced to buy but the running costs over a 5 year duration will repay that extra investment. Gas is not commonplace in Spain.

Water is a valuable commodity in Spain, so do not waste it. Save rainwater in tanks, turn off the water when brushing your teeth or "soaping up" in the shower. Evaporation from swimming pools even in the winter increases consumption so cover the pool in the winter. Once your orchad is bedded in, the plants will not need as much water, so reduce the time the irrigation system is on by half.

Top Tip: invest in a transportable gas heater. You can move it into which ever room you are using. The gas bottles are available anywhere and can be delivered. The bottles cost about Eur12 and allow Eur100 for the heater. In the summer you can always use the gas bottles to power the Bbq. If you house has an upstairs, invest in a set of curtains so that you only heat downstairs, this also helps in reducing any drafts. Remember that these houses are designed to keep you cool 9 months of the year. A small endeavor is needed to keep them warmer.

Suma (Rates)

Yes you do still have to pay rates in Spain but not as much as most pay in England. The rates here are collected by a variety company called Suma. They regain all from rates for your house, tax for your car and bills for you access to water etc. They will bill you annually for such things like your rates (Ibi) car tax etc. You pay these bills in you bank and they will stamp the bill as proof of payment.

Top Tip: If you feel that you have been over expensed you need to see your financial representative or solicitor who will inquire the bill on your behalf. As much as I hate to say this, it is best to pay the bill and then inquire it as any allowance in the bill will be offset by the late cost fine. With bills like the Ibi it is best to check with neighbours how much they pay for similar properties. You will find that values are set by the Catastral. Urban or Urbanised land is higher taxed than rural land.

Cars.

I would suggest purchasing in Spain. If you do bring your own vehicle the first obstacle is that the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Not too much of a question unless you want to overtake one of the many slow engaging lorries, get in and out of carparks, or pay tolls on the motorways. Your car will need to go through a particular technical inspection (Itv = Mot in Uk) and if the headlamps cannot be adjusted then new headlight will be required (£500 for a Ford Focus). You will also be liable to a whole range of taxes/fees for registering the vehicle and endless hours queuing in the dreaded Trafico offices. When you come to sell, the car will be all but worthless and Spanish main dealers will not want to touch the car. Spare parts as well can be high-priced and may need to be imported.

If you buy a car in Spain, if you can afford to buy new as new cars are cheaper than in the Uk, but second hand are more high-priced as the Spanish keep hold of cars for longer. A new car is exempt from the Mot for the first 4 years, it is every two years thereafter until the vehicle is 8 years old and it is then every year.

Top Tip: The bureaucracy when it comes to motoring in Spain is legendary. When purchasing a car try to get the dealer to unblemished the paperwork for you. If you want to buy, sell, register or deregister your vehicle there are forms, forms and forms to fill in as well as fees. To change keepers in the Uk you send in the V5 and that is it. In Spain you fill in forms, stand in queues and pay exorbitant fees of several hundred euros. No wonder the Spanish don't change cars very often. If you can afford to use one of the many people/companies who advertise their services to do the legwork on your behalf.

Tax.

The tax implications are a small dissimilar from England but follow a similar sort of process. You are advised to seek expert help in these matters as you would in England and will probably save the money that the devotee has cost you by being able to claim all you are entitled to. Remember that like England the tax laws change from time to time.

Top Tip: Word of mouth is the best way to find a good tax representative. Listen to what friends and neighbours have to say. You will often be given a free consultation when approaching a prospective representative, so make good use of it. Not only do Spanish tax rules change on a quarterly basis but so do the Uk rules, so try and find a representative who is up to speed in both countries.

In general you will find the cost of living in Spain much cheaper than in the Uk. It is getting more high-priced as the credit crunch bites deeper, but as we all say I would rather be a small short in the sun in Spain than the rain, sleet and greyness of the Uk.

Please note that all of the above was written and to the very best of my knowledge is 100% correct at the time of going to print. Tomorrow the rules could change..... And the day after.

So You Have finally Brought Your Dream House in Spain - How Much is it Going to Cost You to Run?

Start A Chip Dip Business! Sell At Special Events! Over 60% Profit! Low Startup Costs!

You can start your own chip dip mix business for less than 0.00. I have been selling dip mixes for years and have made very good money with very little work. These are dip mixes made of various herbs and spices that you mix with sour cream and mayo. They are great with chips, pretzels, pork rinds, fresh veggies, and sandwiches. With these same mixes you can make dips, cheese balls, spreads, salad dressings and they are great on baked potatoes.

You can easily add dessert mixes to your roster of products also. These are dry mixes that you mix with cream cheese and whipped topping (like Cool Whip). They make a wonderful no-bake cheesecake, fruit dip, bagel spread, cream pie, parfait or mousse. Both the dip mixes and dessert mixes come in a small zip lock bag. They last up to a year in your cabinet at room temperature.

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All you do is buy the mixes from a dip mix company and stick your own labels on the bags. Presto! You now have a dip mix company. You can sell your products at flea markets, festivals, farmer's markets, craft shows, fairs, and any other type of special event. All you do is make up samples of each flavor and provide inexpensive pretzel sticks for the customers to sample the dips. One taste and they sell themselves.

Try to buy your dip mixes from a company that will teach you the business. Find one that has a start up and operations manual for you to use. This is the sign of a really professional company that is really committed to your success. A manual will show you all of the tricks of the trade for learning the best ways to conduct your business while you are still learning. Don't just buy the dip mixes from a company and then go out on your own to try to learn the business. Find a company that will help you sell and do things right with your new company. There is nothing difficult about this business, but you need someone to show you the way. It just helps you learn the business a lot faster with fewer mistakes.

You sell the dip mixes at 3 FOR .00. Your profit is about 60%. In other words, you will make a gross profit of about .00 per sale. Without needing any sales ability at all. The product sells itself when the customer samples the product.

There are many advantages to a dip mix business:

- You can work your own hours - part time or full time. Make up samples days in advance of your event. Completely flexible schedule.

- This is a fun business. All of the events you sell at are fun events. You have a good time, plus, you make money too. What could be better?

- No ongoing fees. All you do is buy the mixes at wholesale from a dip mix company and put your label on the package. That's your only requirement. Much cheaper than a franchise.

- Start up costs are less than 0.00 for an assortment of dip mix flavors.

- It's a very mass appeal product. Everyone likes at least some flavors of dip. Plus, weight conscious people can make a "light" version of the dips by using fat free or light versions of the ingredients.

- No need to worry about the product going bad if it doesn't sell quickly. All flavors sell, some just sell faster than others. No need to worry about having to throw some away.

- Dip mixes weigh very little and take up little space in your vehicle. You can store thousands of dollars worth of product in one large plastic tub. Also easy to move in and out of a building for a quick booth set up.

- Dip mixes are pre-packaged food. That means in most, if not all states, you don't have to charge sales tax, keep track of tax or pay sales tax.

- You can easily add other staff members to expand your business into other locations. You can have several booths at different locations just by staffing the booths and making up more samples. Training your staff is a no-brainer because the sampling of the product does the selling for you. Your staff just takes the money and makes change.

- The best thing is the profits. About 60%, even more for the dessert mixes (which will sell at 3 for .00).

It's a simple, profitable business with products that sell year round. People need to eat, even during a recession, and the public loves dip mixes. For such a small investment, it's hard to find a better bargain for starting a small, home based business.

Start A Chip Dip Business! Sell At Special Events! Over 60% Profit! Low Startup Costs!

Finalize That enterprise Deal With These Corporate Gift Ideas

Running a business is more work than just returning a few phone calls and finalizing business deals with firm handshake. No matter if it's a small business or a large corporation, it is also a public club and being public requires you to give a gift here and there. You may not know it but choosing the right item as a corporate gift is serious stuff.

There will be times when you must give a corporate gift in order to seal that foremost business deal or just to assert a good personal connection with a client. Done right, corporate gift giving reaffirms a business relationship, increase buyer loyalty, and encourage more business.

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There are so many separate choices out there that it can be quite a difficult and costly decision for you to make. Before you head out to find the exquisite corporate gift for a client, know these essentials of corporate gift buying.

Corporate policies - This mostly affects larger corporations than a small business but it never hurts to check first. There are a large number of associates and government offices that have a gift course in place which limits the dollar value of a gift they are allowed to accept. Some even prohibit receiving gifts altogether. Check their company's policies and rules of gift giving so you don't put them in an awkward position of having to return the item. Determine wants - The biggest challenge you're going to face when buying a business gift is knowing what exactly to buy. There is a fine line between keeping a connection on a business level and on a personal level. You want a gift that keeps in toe with that line. There is nothing wrong with simply calling your client or buyer and asking them what they like to do in their spare time. This helps you get an idea of what to buy. Be aware of possible cultural differences - This item on the list will probably not work on too many population but it is an foremost aspect to keep in mind. Just because you do business in your own country or state doesn't mean your clients or customers will act or think in the same manner as you. separate culture each has their own rules for gift buying in regards to business. Quality - Don't be cheap and buy a poor capability gift that can do more damage than good for your image just to save a few dollars. always think about the message your gift sends as a reflection of your company. Buy good capability products but don't break the bank in order to do it. Hand write cards - I know Hallmark makes a card for all occasions but that doesn't mean you should simply buy one for an foremost client. That possible business deal is far too foremost to buy a card instead of writing your own and consist of a personalized signature. Deliver the gift personally - The best way to make sure your gift lands in the right hands is to personally deliver it. A gift delivered by you personally shows your client that you reconsider them foremost and leave a chronic impression. Be familiar with Irs deductions - Did you know that gifts given for business reasons are tax deductible up to per someone for the tax year? Now keep in mind that you cannot deduct incidentals such as packaging or mailing the gift. You may be branch to separate rules when it comes to what you can and cannot deduct depending on the type of business you run.

Finalize That enterprise Deal With These Corporate Gift Ideas

Personal Loans No Collateral Bad Credit - 10 Best Bad Credit Personal Loans

When you need money and a regular bank loan is not an option because you've got bad credit, you need to find a reputable source where you can receive a personal loan to take care of your current cash crunch. The good news is that there are several hidden sources of loan money right under your fingertips that you probably never knew existed.

Usually when you borrow money from a bank or other lending institution, they will often ask you to put up some type of collateral (something of value that you own), like a home or car. These are called assets. These assets give the banks insurance that you'll pay back the loan, and if you don't, they will move to take the money from your home or vehicle.

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Well, there are other types of assets you can own that can be used to obtain loan money quickly. You don't have to be a homeowner and you don't even have to own a car. There are methods for obtaining bad credit personal loans if you don't have traditional collateral.

1) Someone Else's Home or Car - if you don't own either one, you can go to a family member or friend who does and ask them to borrow against their assets to give you a loan. Make sure you draw up a contract between you and them that states the amount loaned and your re-payment schedule.

2) Cash Advance - you already know that if you've got a credit card you can use it to get a cash advance. These are good for smaller amounts of cash. However, there is another way you can use your credit card to get a cash advance for much larger amounts of money.

3) Person to Person - do you know there are people online who are willing to give you money no matter what your credit history is? There are private loan networks where personal investors put money down on loans. They make money off of the interest payments. All you have to do is sign up and state your case as to why you need the money.

4) Insurance - if you have a certain type of insurance policy, you can use it to get money.

5) Shopping Cards - there are literally tons of store shopping cards that people use everyday to buy goods. You probably have one sitting in your wallet. There's a unique way you can use these to obtain funds, but you have to be careful about how you do it.

6) SBA Loans - if you're trying to start a business, this government agency is a great resource that can help you obtain the money you need.

7) No Risk Co-Signer - sometimes family and friends are willing to help you out as a co-signer on a loan. However, many don't want to do this because they are afraid you won't make payments on time and it will ruin their credit. But, if you approach them with an offer that is no risk to them, they'll be more likely to help.

8) Retirement Plan - if you have a retirement plan with your employer, this is a great asset that can be used to loan money to yourself. Do not make the mistake of pulling money out early, because this will cause a penalty.There's a better way.

9) Savings Account - savings accounts are often overlooked. Most people prefer checking accounts these days. However, having a simple savings account can be a valuable asset for you when you are strapped for cash. By the way, you don't have to touch a cent of your savings.

10) Business Owner - if you own a business or you know someone who owns a business, there's a way to use that business to provide a quick loan. Banks are more willing to loan to business owners. Literally, anyone can officially own a business by filling out some easy paperwork.

Personal Loans No Collateral Bad Credit - 10 Best Bad Credit Personal Loans

Why Children Need to Know That Bible History Is Real and Not Fairy Stories

The Importance of Teaching Bible History to Your Children

When you read Bible stories to your children or your Sunday school class, do they react like you're telling them stories that might begin with, "a long time ago, in a faraway land..." That's because you are! Only these aren't fairy stories. These events really happened thousands of years ago, thousands of miles away from our homes in North America.

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Camels, olive trees, foot washing and living in tents were part of everyday life for the people who lived in the Middle East during Bible times. But for your children, they're distant from the life they live here today.

Teaching your children about how people lived during Bible times can help them understand that, even though the events of the Bible happened long ago, in a place faraway, the people involved were real, just like them, had the same needs and feelings, and worshiped the same God you're teaching them about.

Why Children Need to Know About Bible History

Understanding the context of events in the Bible makes the Bible more interesting for children. It helps them understand the stories better. The knowledge can add realism to the stories. Suddenly they're not just a series of meaningless events, but the way people really lived.

Understanding Hebrew customs like the Passover and the Day of Atonement will help them understand God's plan of salvation for us. Learning about the special rules Jewish people followed for the Sabbath day can help them understand why Sunday is a special day for us.

Also, understanding context keeps kids from focusing on how different everything in the Bible is, or how "weird" it seems. Instead, they can focus on the lessons in the stories and God's grace.

How Are Bible Customs Like What We Do Today?

To help your kids relate to the people who lived in Bible times, you can help them compare our way of living with theirs. Some things are drastically different. Some are not as different as you might think.

Today, we live in houses and apartments. During the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, people lived in tents. A tent is like a house, but it can be moved. This made it easier for the people to move around. Do you sleep in a tent on a family camping trip? These aren't the same kinds of tents your family might take on a camping trip. Sometimes the people lay mats or carpets on the ground.

Just like our houses are divided into different rooms, the inside of the tent was divided into two or three separate rooms, or apartments. They didn't have hard walls like we do, but the rooms were divided by curtains made out of goat's hair.

Later on, when people lived in houses, they often only had one room. In their houses, the floor was bare ground. Sometimes the walls were made of bricks or stones, and the roof was flat.

Not only were the way they lived very different from what we know, the things they ate and the way they ate was different as well.

In Palestine during Bible times, bread was a very important food. Children today often eat a lot of bread too, in sandwiches at lunch and toast for breakfast. But they didn't put butter on their bread; instead they used olive oil.

They couldn't go to the local grocery store, but they ate milk and cheese from their flocks, and fruits from their orchards (figs, grapes, pomegranates) and vegetables from their gardens (beans and lentils were common).

Most of us eat meat as a regular part of our diet. During Bible times, meat was for special occasions. People who lived near the Sea of Galilee were able to eat fish regularly. They didn't have sugar, but used honey to sweeten their food.

Before we sit down to eat, we wash our hands. Then we usually sit around a table, and everyone has their own plate and silverware. In Bible times, people washed their hands before and after eating. Instead of a table, they usually spread a mat on the ground. The people would sit on the floor. But instead of silverware, they ate with their hands. They also used pieces of bread to scoop up food. Each person didn't have their own plate.

We say grace before we eat. The Jews did too, and they would sometimes pray after the meal too.

When we want to buy something, we use money like coins and dollar bills, checks, credit cards and debit cards. In Bible times, instead of using money to get things, people would trade or barter.

They would often make payments in goods like wheat or olive oil instead of with money. This is still done today. Countries will give other countries large quantities of wheat of other goods in exchange for something else.

In North America, we live in a democracy and elect our President or Prime Minister. In Bible times, most societies had a king or a queen. For a long time in the Old Testament, the Jewish people were led by judges who were appointed by God. In New Testament times, many countries were ruled by the emperor of Rome.

Activities to Teach Your Children about Bible Manners and Customs

Activity #1 Have a Biblical Meal

One fun activity you can use to teach children about Bible manners and customs is to pretend have a biblical meal. Lay a blanket or mat on the floor, and sit on the floor around it. See if you can eat without using silverware of plates. Remember to wash your hands before and after you eat!

For your meal, try to eat only things that could have been found in Palestine during Bible times. You could serve bread, olive oil, milk, cheese, beans, lentils, pomegranates, grapes, figs, and fish.

If you like you could also do some research to find other things they might have eaten and recreate some of the dishes that people from Bible times would have eaten.

Activity #2 Make a Comparison Poster.

As you teach your children about Bible customs and manners, you'll find many similarities, and some extreme differences between our two cultures. Another way to help your children learn and remember how we're similar, and also some interesting facts about Bible manners and customs, is to create a comparison poster.

You can get a sheet of poster paper from an arts and crafts store, or a dollar store. Across the top, write the title of your poster. Then make three columns. In the middle, make a column for ways we're the same. On one side, make a column for things they did in Bible times that we don't do now. Use the third column to show things we do now, that they didn't do in Bible times.

Then you can find pictures in magazines and catalogs to fit in each category. They don't have to be exactly like what they used in Bible times, just use pictures that will remind your children of something. For example, a picture of a camping tent might remind your children that people in Bible times sometimes lived in tents.

Your whole family or class can work on this project together. When you're finished, hang it up so everyone can remember how people in Bible times were very similar to us, and help us remember how they were different.

Why Children Need to Know That Bible History Is Real and Not Fairy Stories

What Are Your Options Using Government Debt Consolidation?

There are many options to getting out of debt; one of these is a government debt consolidation. A government consolidation can no ifs ands or buts advantage some population more than a quarterly debt consolidation. Depending on your type of debt a government consolidation may be your best if not only option. Yes the government may no ifs ands or buts be able to help alleviate some of the stress straight through a consolidation.

Government debt consolidation works in basically the same way as quarterly consolidation in that it puts all of it into one low payment, instead of any high payments. This lower whole will make it easier and faster to become debt free.

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Applying for consolidation is fairly easy. To get a debt consolidation you should go to your local government division or even straight through an online application. There is usually an division ready to almost every person that can offer free help including consolidation. Buyer assistance is usually the first step in looking out about government debt consolidation. Doing so online can be done swiftly and more conveniently and can even help you get popular ,favorite faster.

Not only are there government agencies that can offer debt consolidation but they can also offer counseling to help you stay out of debt after getting a consolidation. These counseling services can also help you frame out how to best spend your money, how to pay off your bills properly and help you get out from under the debt that you are already in and stay out of it. These services are usually free as well. These services can also be found online and straight through your local government division as well.

Those who qualify for a government debt consolidation is pretty much anything who is having problem getting out from under their debt on their own. You can apply for free and find out for sure, but you will not be at risk of losing anything, because most applications are free. If you are not popular ,favorite for consolidation then they can always point you in the right direction. Either way it won't hurt to try or you could always qualify and be on your way to being debt free, just like that.

As you can see there is no ifs ands or buts no excuse for being stressed out and living in debt any longer than you have to. Either you go to the government or other source for help you have many options, and many of them are free. So give government debt consolidation a try, it can't hurt anything to at least try and can even be the first step to living debt free.

What Are Your Options Using Government Debt Consolidation?

Top 8 Signs of ECommerce Fraud - How to Detect Fraudulent Credit Card Transactions

When you have an online component of your business, experiencing ecommerce fraud is becoming the rule rather than the exception. No longer is it a matter of "if" this will happen to you but "when" it will happen to you. I did some quick research and was astounded at the extent of fraudulent transactions, especially given the poor state of the current U.S. economy.

My first major case of ecommerce fraud happened this past week. I was running a special promotion with my affiliates to see how this marketing strategy for additional sales might work out for me. Unfortunately, I got results I never expected in the way of too many sales happening in a short period of time, which made me suspicious.

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After getting additional sales over the weekend, I decided to begin to call the people who were listed as purchasing a membership to my site. Just as I suspected, none of them had heard of me nor my site. In fact, my phone call to some of them was the first indication they had of their credit card information being stolen. This guy (I'm assuming it was a guy, based on how he registered his affiliate account with me) was very thorough in that he had the COMPLETE credit card record for the victims of this fraud, including name, complete address, phone number, credit card number, card expiration date, and credit card security code (verification number).

Even though I had address verification turned on as well as the credit card security code verification turned on in the settings for my online payment gateway, this did me no good. My merchant account provider informed me that when the thief has complete information, there's essentially nothing a merchant can do to prevent fraud. Setting your address verification at maximum may block legitimate sales, especially when the sales are outside the U.S. This leaves many online merchants stuck between a rock and a hard place.

One upside to this situation is that I didn't ship out physical products but was selling virtual items like ebooks and site memberships. I've heard horror stories of merchants losing tens of thousands of dollars in goods shipped to a fraudulent account. My thief's goal in this scam was in collecting affiliate commissions. He was hoping I'd pay out affiliate commissions on his "sales" prior to discovering that all of this sales were fraudulent. Fortunately, I didn't fall prey to that, as I would have been out even a greater amount of money than I already am.

The second upside in this situation is that my thief wasn't bright enough to enter fake telephone numbers. Because he generously provided me with the correct phone numbers of the other victims in this scam, I was able to contact them and let them know what was going on. Otherwise, I would have had to resort to direct mail to reach them if I wasn't able to find a phone number through directory assistance.

So, what were the indicators that these transactions might not be valid? Here are the 8 clues that tipped me off to the possibility of ecommerce fraud:

1. Emails don't resemble the name of the purchaser. I require an email address for a purchase. In the vast majority of cases, the purchaser's email addresses resembles some portion of her name or business. In my case, none of the emails from the recent purchases mirrored the given name of the purchaser. One or two I could count as an oddity -- 5 or 6 in a row made me very suspicious. In this case, all of the emails were valid, as the thief opted into my email marketing system with each email address. However, they weren't the valid email addresses of the people whose names were on the accounts.

2. Sales are exclusive to one affiliate. In this campaign, all of my sales were linked to one affiliate. I suppose he thought I would have other sales, as well, and his would blend in unnoticed with the others. However, he didn't realize that this was my first affiliate campaign, so his sales stuck out like a sore thumb.

3. Sales are all to one gender. By and large, I have more female members than male. All of the sales that I was making last week were from men. Again, one or two is expected, but not multiple ones consecutively. I'm assuming my thief stole card information from some company whose customers are exclusively male.

4. Too many sales of a particular product in too short of a time period. I know the sales pattern for my site. Sales typically trickle in unless I do a special promotional campaign to encourage buying. Granted, I was doing a special promotion at the time, but to sell the number of yearly memberships that I did in a short period of time wasn't usual, as most people choose to purchase the monthly membership option when they join.

5. Transactions occur from same IP address. Fortunately, my merchant account provider and online payment gateway provider capture the IP (web) addresses from which the purchases are made. When I logged into my merchant account, I quickly realized that each of the transactions of the day were all coming from the same IP address. The IP address changed the next day, however, so this won't be a very valuable tool to track the thief. However, I still had my web host block access to my site from these IP addresses as an additional precaution.

6. Too many declined transactions in too short of a period of time. Normally, if someone tries to join my site and their transaction is declined, I don't receive any notification of this. I'm not sure I can change that fact, but I'm certainly more motivated now to regularly log into my merchant account to check my number of declined transactions. Had I been doing this regularly, I would have realized the fraud that was taking place on my site much sooner.

7. Affiliate is in another country. Some countries have a reputation for being a hothouse for online fraud. As I checked the info my affiliate provided in his affiliate account, his address listing didn't seem quite right, and he listed himself as a resident of a country nearby to those known for online fraud. This fact added to my ever-growing list of suspicions.

8. Big ticket items. The sales that were made were consistently my highest-priced item. As mentioned earlier, that sales pattern is unusual for me, so it tipped me off, as well. My thief apparently wanted to rack up the greatest amount of sales in the shortest period of time by repeatedly "buying" my highest-priced item.

I'm still sorting out this mess. Because the card holders have all canceled their cards, I'm unable to refund the money from the fraudulent sales. I'm working with them and their credit card companies to try and rectify the situation from my end and prevent nasty charge backs from being issued to my account (too many of these puts your merchant account in jeopardy, as you then appear to be an unreliable business). My merchant account provider also encouraged me to provide all the info I have about this scam to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

If your Spidey sense is triggered by unusual sales activity on your web site, don't delay in checking it out. At best, if your suspicions are groundless, you'll make a personal connection to your customers and they'll know you're diligent and you care. At worst, you'll nip this scam in the bud before it gets out of control.

Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com

Top 8 Signs of ECommerce Fraud - How to Detect Fraudulent Credit Card Transactions

A Guide to How to Apply For a reputation Card

It may seem like everybody in the world can get easy credit, but this isn't exactly true. While most of your friends and family probably have reputation cards, not everybody is so fortunate. You'll find that habitancy who have never had a reputation card before often have issue qualifying for them, as they have no reputation history. You'll also find that if you've had reputation problems in the past that getting a new card might not be so easy for you. In most cases, knowing how to apply for a reputation card is a easy matter of filling out a form. But, if you have no reputation or bad credit, you'll need to learn what types of forms to fill out, because that will make a contrast on either you qualify to get any kind of card or not.

If you have no reputation history, you can start by applying for store reputation cards, like Sears or Jc Penny. These are normally easier to get than other cards and are often recommended for habitancy just beginning out in the world of credit. You can also apply for gas reputation cards, as these are pretty easy to get, too. If you're a college student, you can normally qualify for a Visa or MasterCard even with no reputation history, as these companies view your parents as a back-up source of cost if you're not making adequate money to do so.

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If you have bad credit, then you'll have to get a microscopic more creative. You'll need to apply for sub-prime cards, such as the Orchard Bank or First Premier cards. These cards have low introductory limits and high each year fees, but are good for re-building your reputation if it's gone bad. Just make your payments on time and you'll soon be able to qualify for a new card with a good limit and a good rate.

If you need to know how to apply for a reputation card for the worst type of credit, then go for secured cards where your limit is secured by a deposit you make. These cards still description to the reputation bureaus and can help you raise your reputation score when nothing else will work.

For more free tips and advice on loan, be sure to visit our internet website- free loan data for free tips and normal information.

A Guide to How to Apply For a reputation Card

Problems Getting a Mastercard With a Poor credit Score

In these current times despite a poor credit rating it is still feasible for person to fetch a credit card from the multitude that currently flood the market. However, people who are seeing themselves in a poor credit situation will find that Mastercard and Visa are the two fellowships most likely to agree to issuing a card. The question is really, what guarantees a bad credit Mastercard a classic choice to try for before Visa?

Outlets around the world accept both forms of credit card and although Visa appeared to have more places it could be used, that is not the case as both of them are now much more closely matched. Nonetheless, these days you might gawk that it is nothing else but Mastercard that's acknowledged and received in a greater estimate of establishments.

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For individuals with a bad credit record, probably both of these cards will come out similar and they probably would be happy to accept whether of them. There is every possibility the advantages of both will be very close to the other cards, they will more than likely gawk that the interest estimate charged by the two parties will be more than normal. Still, providing the person issued a Mastercard only ever uses it in a responsible manner, and sees to it the installments are met regularly, they will soon see improvements in their credit history. An added bonus to this will be the lowering of the interest rate you usually have to pay on the card later on, once the state of affairs has resolved itself.

As with all things financial, it is a good idea to look over the terms and conditions you need to respect if you are trying for a bad credit, credit card. Like virtually every subject you care to mention today, the smartest way to learn more and study the choices you have is to use the power of the Internet. Those with a poor credit score can see clearly which fellowships will issue a Mastercard to a person who is experiencing this situation.

Because there are a few you may be entitled to try for it is a good idea that you're conscious of nothing else but what benefits they offer so we will take a look at these below:

1. Continental Finance Gold MasterCard

Should you choose this card you can be certain, information is transmitted to the three original credit accounting bureaus on how responsibly you are utilising your card which offers an modern means of repairing your credit score. Then, if a person looks after their card in a responsible manner, development regular payments that are on time, it is not unusual for the credit card provider to growth their spending limit in acknowledgment of this.

2. Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard

Quite often, credit card fellowships will call for an up-front cost prior to supplying the card which can be awkward for numerous individuals but that is not the situation with this card and in spite of this they still offer security on all the goods it is used to buy. The Orchard Bank Platinum Mastercard, just like the Continental Finance Gold Mastercard, send details usually to the three credit bureaus which can rapidly amend your rating. The two original advantages to this definite credit card over others includes the closely matched yearly percentage rate it enforces and a much lower yearly payment which can be of big assistance to those who are in a bad way.

Problems Getting a Mastercard With a Poor credit Score

Solve Debt Problems - Repair Your Credit After Bankruptcy With 5 Simple Steps

If you have an insurmountable amount of debt bankruptcy may be the ultimate means to solve debt problems. When you file bankruptcy you will get immediate relief from your creditors and their harassing calls. When it is finally discharged you will be rid of your debts. Although it has lingering consequences it can be one of the most liberating means to resolve debt problems.

There are consequences of Bankruptcy such as it stays on your credit reports for 7-10 years. However, with a little action there are things you can do that will improve your credit even before the negative bankruptcy expires on your reports. Outlined below are five actions you can take to rebuild your credit.

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Review your Current Credit Status

Reviewing your current credit status is the very first step to take. This will let you know exactly where you stand.

You will want to get a copy of your reports from all three of the credit bureaus which are Experian, Transunion and Equifax. You can order these reports all very easily and securely online. Print each report out and you'll want to review them each very closely. Highlight any negative records or inaccuracies which are affecting your credit score.

Check Expiration Dates

The law currently states that bad credit will remain on your report for 7-10 years. However, the date of expiration may be different with each of the three reports when you review them.

What you want to do is check the exact date of the bad records these include liens, judgments, late payments, bankruptcy filings, charge offs, and discharges. Make sure the reports are accurate and have any of them that are not corrected. By correcting any errors on your reports you will see a remarkable improvement in your credit scores after the issue expires.

Have Errors on Your Credit Report Amended

While reviewing your credit reports if you find fraudulent accounts, inaccuracies, errors, or records that should have expired you have the right to send a dispute letter to each of the credit agencies. You can send a separate letter to each of the agencies that have the errors. At times you will find discrepancies between the agencies. The credit bureaus will initiate a 30 day investigation to verify the errors and then will correct the inaccuracies on your credit reports.

Establishing Good Credit

There isn't any means of removing bad credit which is accurate from your report. So, the best means of improving your rating is to add good credit history to it. Establishing a new pattern of behavior with good credit is a major factor in building new credit and receiving new sources of credit and favorable interest rates and terms. There are credit cards at banks such as Orchard which are designed for those re-establishing their credit.

You must make certain that you use this credit wisely and make all payments on time. Over time you can obtain additional lines of credit and this will raise your credit scores even higher.

Subscribe to a Credit Monitoring Service

By subscribing to a credit card monitoring service you be able to easily track your credit scores quickly and observe their improvements. As you begin using your new credit responsibly this new credit builds a positive history and boosts your score even higher.

The Bottom Line

If Bankruptcy becomes your only way out to solve debt problems and get out from under this huge burden, it doesn't have to be a ball and chain for the next 7-10 years. You do however need to take a few simple actions to restore and build your credit rating.

Solve Debt Problems - Repair Your Credit After Bankruptcy With 5 Simple Steps

No Fax, No Credit Check Payday Loans

Let's suppose that you are a week or two away from your next paycheck and necessitate cash urgently, then low no fax no credit check payday loans might be the solution. No fax no credit check payday loans are short term loans that grant you the cash you want until your next paycheck, at which time you have to repay the money. Payday money loans are also identified as money advance loans or check loans. If you are in need of money, then this article can aid you to decide if payday loans are proper for you.

The advantages of payday cash loans is that you can get hold of necessary money very rapidly, which can get you out of a tight financial place. These loans are also useful for individuals who hold poor credit and they have real problems getting other ways of funding. These cash advances are good if you recognize you can repay the sum in a few weeks after you take the loan.

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Some of you may be a bit stressed about taking out a payday advance loan. Perhaps you are nervous that it will be seen as a sign of weakness in your persona to have to take up money like this. Well, take my advice and throw away those opinions in the trash! Today this online action it's very effortless, dependable and very fast. You can apply for and receive your payday loan from the comfort of your own home over the internet. A couple of clicks of the mouse and all your financial problems will be taken care off in a really easy manner.

So stop concerning about how you are going to pay for the dentist to fix that cavity that came out of nowhere. Don't choke over the fact your car possibly needs repairing or about some other tiny troubles that may arise. Alternatively, read up on how the payday loan industry has modified in the past few years and find out how they can help you overcome your financial needs. You may be stunned to find how easygoing and convenient their services can be.

To get the cash you really need the fastest way possible please visit us :
No fax no credit check Payday loans

No Fax, No Credit Check Payday Loans

Continetal Finance Gold MasterCard - The Details

The Continental Finance Gold MasterCard is an unsecured reputation card issued by the First Bank of Delaware. It is aimed at people that have a bad history, such as those who have previously not made their payments on time and have ordinarily mismanaged former accounts.

You will be assigned an introductory limit which can vary from to 0. The actual Apr will depend on a amount of things, but could be as low as 9.75% Apr. The card also offers semi-annual limit increases, if you then pay off a good amount of your equilibrium every month on time. These are applied in chunks of , increasing your limit up to a maximum of ,000.

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It is thorough for paying for goods and services worldwide. It also offers online access, allowing you to check your balance, pay your monthly bill and see your new statements. There are also a amount of further online tools to help you manage your finances.

A key component is that it offers monthly reporting to the major bureaus. This means that if you are managing your finances well and paying your monthly bills on time, your rating could start to improve. You will be creating some obvious payment history with the bureaus.

As with most type of offer, there are further fees that you should be aware of before you apply. There is a one-time account processing fee that is charged, as well as an every year fee and an account maintenance fee. You should read the information considered before committing, and see either this is right for you.

It is also important that you make your monthly payment on time; otherwise you will be expensed a late payment fee of . The same payment applies if you achieve transactions that take you over your limit.

In order to apply you will need to verify your identification and address, and should be over 18 years old (19 in some states). There are also a small amount of exclusions; you cannot reside in Wisconsin or New York, for instance. Customers who meet the criteria will be popular ,favorite instantly, and will receive their cards within a few days.

If you apply for the Continental Finance Gold MasterCard and are turned down, you may be offered a classic instead. This carries a higher Apr of 19.92%, and the charges and fees vary slightly. Any way before you apply for any offer make sure you read the terms and conditions and are fully aware of what fees the card caries.

Continetal Finance Gold MasterCard - The Details

What Are The Differences between Silver, Gold And Platinum reputation Cards?

Status: production others envious

Undoubtedly, Silver reputation cards, gold reputation cards, and above all Platinum reputation Cards give an idea of status to the cardholder much like a luxurious car, a yacht, costly clothing, jewels and other onerous possessions.

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There is nothing wrong with that, but one may wonder if that is sufficient intuit for requesting a financial product or paying substantially more money for it. If there is no other beneficial feature, or as we want to point out in this article, there is a tendency to reduce the differences as to real financial advantages in the middle of these products, we see no intuit to pay immoderate issuing costs and maintenance fees just because of the color or material of a reputation card.

Credit Limit

At the starting of the reputation cards' story, the main disagreement in the middle of these reputation cards was that the whole of money you could spend with them differed substantially. Platinum reputation Cards had a reputation limit much like a first-rate reputation card, gold reputation cards had higher limits and Platinum reputation Cards claimed to have no limits at all (we say claim because there was not and there isn't such thing as no limits. However, to be honest the reputation limit is high sufficient to reconsider that claim to be true.).

However, lately the limits of platinum cards and gold cards have come close sufficient to judge the disagreement insignificant. Thus, it seems to be no intuit to pay the higher charges of gold cards if that is the only disagreement in the middle of them. Moreover, as both limits are addition and reaching important amounts, platinum reputation cards and their no limit feature begins to be less appealing.

Income implications

Since there were earnings requirements to qualify for these reputation cards, being a cardholder of a silver reputation card meant you had inevitable income, being a gold reputation card owner meant your earnings was higher and so on. This could be an easy way for others to know how much you made without you talking about it. Store Card accounts could be opened without reputation checks, etc.

However, the qualification requirements' differences have also been reduced and even platinum reputation cards which where a type of reputation card that could be obtained by invitation only are now offered to anything who can qualify for it and qualifying is not that harder than qualifying for a gold reputation card.

Membership Fees

The only gigantic disagreement in the middle of these reputation cards seem to be the membership fees, renovation fees, issuing fees, etc. Thus, as stated above, it seems as you are paying higher amounts just to make it clear that you can pay higher amounts. The benefits of having a higher grade reputation card seemed to have banished and thus it might be advisable to think twice before accepting an offer from a bank that includes this kind of cards.

What Are The Differences between Silver, Gold And Platinum reputation Cards?

Columbia River Gorge Golf Getaways Are a Great Way to Relax and Spend Time With a Few Close Friends

A Columbia River Gorge Golf Getaway is something you just might want to consider. Either it's for a day trip golfing destination, a long weekend golf getaway or a mini golf & lodging getaway; the scenic Columbia Gorge is a great golf destination getaway. The whole trip from Portland Oregon to Hood River Or. Across the Columbia into the State of Washington and back down the Gorge is almost 140 miles of some of the most dynamic landscape you will ever hope to find.

Much more than just golf, a Columbia Gorge Golf Getaway includes grand vistas, small town atmospheres, local wineries and tasting rooms, fruit orchards, fine dining, quaint accommodations and a micro brew pub or two along the way. The fact that there are five golf courses along the way doesn't hurt. It's a great way to spend some time away from it all with a couple of close friends.

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Starting from uptown Portland, you enter the Gorge at Troutdale and begin one of the truly magnificent road trips in the Northwest. Columbia River views, steep rugged tree covered cliffs and waterfalls make it engaging to keep your eyes on the road. Multnomah Falls is hard to drive by; without stopping to look in awe as 150cu ft/s of water cascades down the face of the falls.

Designed as a lodge in 1925, and now on the National Register of Historical Places, the Inn at the falls serves as a restaurant, gift shop, traveler facts center and a place to wet your whistle. Only 35 miles from Portland, it is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and the third largest year round falls in the United States.

The ride from Portland to Hood River is dotted with waterfalls. If you take the old highway, look for the exit off I-84, you will drive the Historic Columbia River Highway and will be able to pull off and view these falls up close.

Heading East, the historic highway reconnects with I-84 near the town of Cascade Locks, the gateway to the Bridge of the Gods. A great place to stop and buy some locally caught fresh Salmon and also get a close up look at one of the truly beautiful bridges of the Columbia River Gorge.

Arriving in Hood River you explore a vibrant quaint town that prides itself on fine dining, friendly brew pubs, coffee shops and a range of accommodations. The climate is salutary and active. Benefitting tremendously from the windsurfing and kite sailing industry, Hood River is the excellent home base to start off each morning and end each night of any type of Columbia Gorge Golf Getaway.

Within twenty miles of uptown Hood River you will find three golf courses, two 18 hole courses (Hood River Country Club and Indian Creek Golf Course) and one spectacular 9 hole policy Across the river in Husum Washington (Husum Golf Course). The climate at all three is definitely relaxed and influenced by the dramatic setting; views of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood are prevalent.

Coming back down the Columbia River Gorge, heading west on the Washington side, you enter the town of Stevenson. Here again you find a small Gorge town that has more than its share of good food and drink. The Big River Grill and the Walking Man Brew Pub are two places you'll want to make a point of stopping at. For an old fashion burger, fries and shake experience, the Viking is one of Stevenson's long established eateries.

Just face of Stevenson, is the Skamania Lodge; set on the banks of the Columbia on 175 wooded acres the lodge has a state of the art spa and wellness center with a engaging 18 hole golf course. This is a great destination to include on your golf outing to the Gorge. The golf policy is an 18-hole, par-70 golf layout that is beautifully tucked into the resort's property. With commanding views of the Columbia River Gorge, the golf at Skamania is engaging and an feel that will stay with you for a long time.

Leaving Skamania, and chronic west for about 10 miles, you will find Beacon Rock Golf Course, a 9 hole policy that offers views many destination resort courses would love to have. Local flavor is the order of the day here. Do not expect great fanfare here, because all you will find is a low key pro shop with a quaint caf and a well maintained fun golf policy that is surrounded by the majesty of the Columbia River Gorge.

The whole Columbia Gorge golf getaway can be done in two days, depending on the number of golf you want to play; or it can be done at a slow pace and take up an extended weekend. The charm is, you will spend more time face your car than you will inside it. If done with stops for sightseeing, you will never drive more than 35 miles at a time. The only qoute you might have is a sore neck from straining to see the endless landscape that makes the Columbia River Gorge the magnificent road trip it is.

Happy and safe travels.

For more facts on destination travel-golf and lodging, visit us at Travel-golfandlodging.

Columbia River Gorge Golf Getaways Are a Great Way to Relax and Spend Time With a Few Close Friends

How Long Does a Credit Card Company Have to Enforce an Unpaid Account and Statute of Limitations

So you are having trouble making your credit card payments and probably wondering what will happen next? The next few paragraphs will discuss the treatment and removal of unpaid credit card accounts based upon the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the statute of limitations under California Civil Procedure section 337 only. Each state has its own statute of limitations for causes of action like enforcing an unpaid credit card debts.

What is a Statute of Limitations?

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The first issue is what is the statute of limitations? The statute of limitations is the length of time that one has to file a lawsuit to enforce a claim such as an unpaid debt, a personal injury cause of action or a products liability claim. When you sign up for a credit card, you are entering into a written contract agreeing to pay back the money you charge to the credit card under varying terms. When payment is not made, the contract is breached. Pursuant to CCP section 337, the statute of limitations for breach of contract in California is four years.

When does the Statute of Limitations start?

Generally the statute of limitations begins to run when the cause of action accrues or begins. This is a complicated area of the law and this article will only touch on general information and not a case by case analysis your case may require. When the statute of limitation usually begins is when you breach the contract by not paying, or the cause of action accrues arising from the date of last payment or when demand for full payment is received. In California, pursuant to CCP Section 337, the statute of limitations for breach of contract resulting from nonpayment is 4 years. In California, the statute of limitations can be extended only by a new agreement in writing to agree again to repay the credit card debt. If a credit card company does not file a lawsuit within 4 years from the date of last payment or when demand for full payment was received, and no new agreement in writing has been executed, the debt is then time-barred and is not legally enforceable. The only way the credit card company can then get a payment from you is if you voluntarily choose to make a payment. Some credit card agreements have an acceleration clause that must be invoked and once a payment is missed, then the statute of limitations begins to accrue.

What Happens if a Credit Card Company Does Not File Suit Within the Statute of Limitations and the Debt is Time-Barred?

There is also a statute of limitations regarding credit reports. The statute of limitations for reporting accounts and credit reports is controlled by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If a credit card company in California does not sue within 4 years and the debt becomes time-barred, it is still a negative account on a credit report though. Pursuant to the FCRA negative accounts can remain on a credit report for 7 years and positive accounts can remain for 10 years. There are some exceptions that are not listed here, so consult a professional in your state for the exceptions. If a credit card company does not sue to enforce the payment of the debt, the next step is to dispute the negative account with all three credit bureaus. The credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union are prohibited from continue to list old negative accounts on credit reports and must remove inaccurate item in 30 days. To dispute a credit account on a credit report you will need a recent copy of your credit report. There are a number of websites that will provide a free credit report. Then to dispute an item on a credit report, you may write a letter, file a dispute on-line at the credit bureaus website and even by telephone. Go to the Federal Trade Commission website at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.shtm.

How Long Does a Credit Card Company Have to Enforce an Unpaid Account and Statute of Limitations