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| Saving a few bucks in today's economy |
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I can't tell you how many times a few minute phone call has saved us a good amount of money. I just spent 5 minutes on the phone and saved $89.09. Yesterday a 3 minute called credited my account $85.00. The other day, I returned a defective item to the tune of $42.50. I just received a call that a $244.00 dispute has been written off and that they are working on the other $177.00. (This one did take a lot of phone calls.) Some days I make more on my days off, than my work days :)
How many times are we over-charged or billed for something we don't need and just pay it? Well, not this chick! Get on the horn! Comb through those bills and make certain that you are only being charged what you should be paying for.
Here is how it works:
1.) Carefully review all of your incoming bills and receipts. If you are even over-charged a $1, call, call, call! I have been credited more than the $1 for the inconvenience.
2.) Refuse to pay annual fees or for anything that you can get for free. If you have good credit, you shouldn't have to pay annual fees. There are even cards out there with frequent flyer miles that do not charge an annual fee. I'm sorry, but I refuse to pay someone for me to be their customer!
If a credit card or bank tries to slap me with fee, my first response is to request a credit. 9 out of 10 times the request will be granted (assuming that your account is in good standing) (If not, a company is much less likely to grant your request.) On the rare occasion when they won't issue the credit, I simply tell them that I don't pay annual fees and to please close the account. Suddenly, someone will appear on the call and credit the account.
3.) Often times companies will bill members automatically for charges that they did not request. I am wondering how many people take the time to read their bills, let alone call. I can't help but wonder if these companies do this just to see how many fools will just pay the bill. Don't be one of them!
4.) I think one of the most important steps is to be friendly when you call and to make your request for credit within reason. Anyone who has worked in customer service will tell you, that they want to help the customers who are friendly over the ones who aren't.
5.) Another tip to is go up the ladder until your request has been completed to your satisfaction. "Let me speak to your supervisor" really does work. It also may be the case that the wrong person answered the phone when you called. Keep going up the ladder until your issue is resolved. Some of these calls can take about a half an hour, but it can save you $100's of dollars.
I get such a charge when a 10 minute phone call saves me more than I can make in an hour!
If something doesn't sound right, call. If you have been wronged, call.
Try it, it really works! You work hard for your money, don't let these companies rob you of what is rightfully yours.
Blessings to all in 2009! |
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| To add a comment to "Saving a few bucks in today's economy" |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Good tips...We are to be good stewards of the money God entrusts to us, so that we have enough for our own needs and the needs of others in need. God bless you for the lesson in saving money! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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That is great advice Sue.
It makes me think about how often we feel obligated to pay for something that has already been payed. Take our sins for example. So many people are still working their butts off to pay for them. But clearly Jesus paid for those already. His credit card pays my debts, not mine.
I don't listen to those that impose upon me the burden of my sins. I just tell them that I already talked to THE SUPERVISOR about it!
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Thanks for the info |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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Thank you all for your comments and stars.
Cathy, I know you get on the horn!
Michael, Love your comment! Amen!
I was just so excited that I made $333.09, today on my day off just making a few phone calls, so I had to share! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Watch out Suze Orman.. Great tips Sue! :) |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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Stars for the Star!! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Hey--Care Bear said what I was thinking! Wishing you all the stars you deserve and then some! |
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| January 09, 2009 |
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| Thanks! The funny thing is that my entire family calls me "Suzy." I changed it to Sue in my pre-teen years, and just stuck with that. Love you guys! |
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| January 10, 2009 |
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| Hi Sue. Whenever I come across something that doesn't compute right - my brain goes into tilt mode, and one minute they're saying one thing, but when you tackle them about it, sure enough - they start whistling a different tune because they hear a person on the other end of the phone that refuses to back down. And the secret behind it is to not rattle their cage - which gets their back up straight away, and a lot more can be acheived if people just kept their calm. |
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| January 11, 2009 |
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| Great advice Sue! |
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| January 14, 2009 |
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| THANKS It's True But it takes "follow through" (aka- discipline...) KLW |
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| February 09, 2009 |
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| Thanks, Sue! Great advice! |
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| February 14, 2009 |
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| So true, I do most of these steps, they work! |
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| March 26, 2009 |
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| Just saved $35 a month with a 2 minute phone call! As soon as I let Comcast know that Verizon could beat their cable prices, they cut my bill in half and threw in a movie channel! Yippie!! |
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