Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Elisabeth's Update for Adoption Voyages
My how time flies. I can hardly believe how fast 2 years can go by.
This time two years ago Lisa and I were preparing to adopt MaryAnne Jin from the Jiangxi Province in China only to have our lives rocked by the sad news of her death just two days after Christmas. To this day, Lisa and I still feel the comfort and support from the Adoption Voyages community.
Of course, many of you know the rest of the story... we did continue the adoption plans and traveled in February 2006 to adopt Elisabeth Ya. The following picture was taken while we were in Guangzhou.
Today... Elisabeth is a lot taller... loves food... hates to go to bed, but loves to sleep... she is very dramatic (i hear this is a girl-thing)... she loves to play outside... loves all kinds of animals especially cats (but Mommy is allergic to cats)... and Elisabeth loves going to the Y to "work out" with Mommy.
Elisabeth will celebrate her third birthday next March.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words...here are some photos to enjoy...
This time two years ago Lisa and I were preparing to adopt MaryAnne Jin from the Jiangxi Province in China only to have our lives rocked by the sad news of her death just two days after Christmas. To this day, Lisa and I still feel the comfort and support from the Adoption Voyages community.
Of course, many of you know the rest of the story... we did continue the adoption plans and traveled in February 2006 to adopt Elisabeth Ya. The following picture was taken while we were in Guangzhou.Today... Elisabeth is a lot taller... loves food... hates to go to bed, but loves to sleep... she is very dramatic (i hear this is a girl-thing)... she loves to play outside... loves all kinds of animals especially cats (but Mommy is allergic to cats)... and Elisabeth loves going to the Y to "work out" with Mommy.
Elisabeth will celebrate her third birthday next March.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words...here are some photos to enjoy...
Adoption Voyages
two couples who are dear friends of Lisa's and mine are in Guatemala adopting beautiful children as I write this blog .
John and Diane Brantley are adopting Jose David, and Travis and Missy Jackson are adopting Gabriel. You can view their adoption stories Adoption Voyages.
John and Diane Brantley are adopting Jose David, and Travis and Missy Jackson are adopting Gabriel. You can view their adoption stories Adoption Voyages.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Citicard Chumps
Close friends of mine and Lisa's know that we have read Dave Ramsey's book "My Total Money Makeover" and have with "gazelle intensity" taken hold of our personal finances to glorify God!
One of the first steps in the MTMM is the debt snowball...where we eliminate debt from our life for good!
Tonight, I called to pay off my Citicard Diamond Preferred Rewards World Card.
Now...on to my story:
I called to have a late fee removed after I was told by a Citi rep last month that they would remove the late fee and finance charge if it showed up on my statement.
Well, the late fee and finance charges showed up and I followed through on having them removed. After the kind Citi rep removed my late fee and finance charge, he asked if I would like to transfer any balances to my Citicard. To which I said, "no thank you, but I would like to close my account now."
I told him I was going to pay the small remaining balance online and that i would like for him to close my account.
(HIS TONE OF VOICE and tactics CHANGED)
He said he could take my payment over the phone for $14.95 (don't forget...he just removed a $15 late fee). I told him I would just pay it online and be done.
The Citi rep said he would waive the pay-by-phone fee. That's cool...so I started to go down that road with him.
He said I would have to pay the balance shown on the statement in full (which included the late fee and finance charge he JUST REMOVED). He said after the next statement came out--which would be in 13 days-- the credit balance shown on the statement could then be reimbursed to me upon request.
Bottom line is this...
my late fee and finance charge would not be credited to my account until my statement date (10 days after the due date)...AND...I would be charged interest on the balance of those two items EVEN though I requested them to be removed THREE DAYS prior to the balance due date.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
I argued...and refused...and basically stood my ground. I told the Citi rep I was only going to pay them what I owed them and they were not getting a penny more.... It did not matter how they did the math... it's me that is paying the bill and I was not going to operate on their terms.
Needless to say...
For those of you fighting credit card companies...
DO pay your debts, BUT ... FIGHT them to keep from getting ripped off from their bullying tactics!
One of the first steps in the MTMM is the debt snowball...where we eliminate debt from our life for good!
Tonight, I called to pay off my Citicard Diamond Preferred Rewards World Card.
- First of all... allow me to say that there was nothing sparkling or DIAMOND about my card... as a matter of fact...it was all black.
- Second...I am not sure what the preferences were...
- Third... I NEVER received an reward.
- The only honest description about this card is that it was worldly!
Now...on to my story:
I called to have a late fee removed after I was told by a Citi rep last month that they would remove the late fee and finance charge if it showed up on my statement.
Well, the late fee and finance charges showed up and I followed through on having them removed. After the kind Citi rep removed my late fee and finance charge, he asked if I would like to transfer any balances to my Citicard. To which I said, "no thank you, but I would like to close my account now."
I told him I was going to pay the small remaining balance online and that i would like for him to close my account.
(HIS TONE OF VOICE and tactics CHANGED)
He said he could take my payment over the phone for $14.95 (don't forget...he just removed a $15 late fee). I told him I would just pay it online and be done.
The Citi rep said he would waive the pay-by-phone fee. That's cool...so I started to go down that road with him.
He said I would have to pay the balance shown on the statement in full (which included the late fee and finance charge he JUST REMOVED). He said after the next statement came out--which would be in 13 days-- the credit balance shown on the statement could then be reimbursed to me upon request.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME...
YOU WANT ME TO KNOWINGLY LOAN THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY MY OWN HARD EARNED MONEY ONLY TO BE PAID BACK IN A BALLOON PAYMENT
if
I REQUEST IT???
YOU WANT ME TO KNOWINGLY LOAN THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY MY OWN HARD EARNED MONEY ONLY TO BE PAID BACK IN A BALLOON PAYMENT
if
I REQUEST IT???
Bottom line is this...
my late fee and finance charge would not be credited to my account until my statement date (10 days after the due date)...AND...I would be charged interest on the balance of those two items EVEN though I requested them to be removed THREE DAYS prior to the balance due date.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
I argued...and refused...and basically stood my ground. I told the Citi rep I was only going to pay them what I owed them and they were not getting a penny more.... It did not matter how they did the math... it's me that is paying the bill and I was not going to operate on their terms.
Needless to say...
- My bill was paid the way I WANTED it paid
- If finance charges are shown on my next statement...I was told they would be removed...
- Once they were removed, I could close the account
For those of you fighting credit card companies...
DO pay your debts, BUT ... FIGHT them to keep from getting ripped off from their bullying tactics!
Happy for West...He got a Harley
My brother, West, has been wanting a Harley (or a BMW) motorcycle for some time. He has been practicing and preparing for the day when he would get his bike. That day has finally arrived. Congrats West! I can't wait to get my bike so we can go riding together!
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