As many people can see from watching the television and reading the newspaper many people are in jeopardy of loosing their American Dream…the homes which people have worked so hard to acquire. We, my husband and I are 2 of those people. We could not afford to acquire are own home until about 4 years ago, we raised our children in small rental apartments or houses. Most of the time with our son and daughter sharing the same bedroom. As the kids got older that wasn’t going to work any more, so my husband and I started working more hours and saving money, cleaning up our credit to perfection. We did everything that we could to get a home for our family.
In Feb. of 2003, we accomplished our goal, we purchased an affordable 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom home in a nice area of town with a beautiful fresh water canal in the serve yard for $94,000. The home was built in 1975 so it wasn’t perfect, but to us it was the home we hoped and dreamed about for our family to live. It was wonderful for the first time we could decorate our house the diagram we wanted, we didn’t have to live with pasty white walls, we could have pets…WE OWNED A HOME!!!!
Life was typical for our American family. Our teenagers could invite their friends over, there was enough room in the yard to play sports, fish in the canal, or just hang out and relax in elegant sunny Florida.
Until life changed, on August 13, 2004 Hurricane Charlie made a direct hit on our community. Our dream home was damaged but repairable, Thank God, but financially we where in trouble. As a result of the storm my husband had lost his job, as a person working in the school system I hadn’t worked all summer so let’s say our reserves were dinky already. As I already said we are a typical American working class family, living paycheck to paycheck..
After the storm we had lots of help in the community especially from The Salvation Army. When I went to FEMA and asked for assistance…I got NO serve at all. I asked if they could help with paying 1 month mortgage payment, they couldn’t…but they where willing to put a very expensive trailer in my front yard. So I contacted my mortgage company and they placed us with special hurricane assistance department, the very nice women advised me to get 4 months tedious in my mortgage and they would help us. By that time, both myself and my husband were working and we could pay the monthly payment but we were behind with about 1 1/2 months mortgage payment. They mortgage company kindly advised us to get 4 months behind and since we where at the mercy of those helping us in our community we listened. Got a subordinate mortgage which wouldn’t have to be paid until the end of the 30 year loan and everything was wonderful!!!
A couple months later we got a notice stating that our mortgage would be going up $150 per month because of the homeowners insurance and property taxes increasing. That was alright we could afford it, my husband and I where working steadily. We had both found better paying jobs…life was nice again. The wonderful American dream had come back, going to work, fixing nice meals for the family, going for weekend outings…a simple life but that’s all we wanted.
Financially, life was going good, so it was time to correct another problem that occurred as a result of the hurricane, we had gotten behind on the credit cards and decided it was time to refinance the house and pay off that debt, we paid off the car payment and figured that since we had stable employment we could handle the increase of our mortgage. We where advised by a different mortgage company that it was a good choice to pay off our debts, increase our credit score, etc., etc. Of course when we refinanced our credit score wasn’t that great…you observe the prior mortgage company had advised us to catch 4 months tedious and it appeared that we where in pre-foreclosure at that point in time.
As I stated before, we could have paid the mortgage prior to becoming 4 months behind, we did not pay under converse from a mortgage professional. When we refinanced we ended up with a very high adjustable interest rate…but it was worth it cause we got our debts paid off. The mortgage did increased and life was nice…for a while…until I lost my good paying job. Luckily we had a little cushion in the bank and I was able to collect unemployment, I took the first job which would hire me at a much lower pay rate and we just started living the best we could…with a few cut backs. But, you got to do, what you gotta do…THAT”S LIFE!
At the end of 2006 we received another letter from our mortgage company stating that we would have an increase in our escrow, another $100 per month…our mortgage has basically double from it’s unique amount. Unfortunately, our income has not and with the price of gas, food, electricity, and everything needed to survive increasing I decided to gawk for a better paying job. In April 2007, I found a chunky time job which would pay me more per hour and would help offset the increase in our mortgage. I knew it wasn’t going to make me rich, but I figured it would be a help. I had to do the proper thing to pay my bills properly.
Life was getting rough with the increase of gas prices, and my husbands job requiring so much driving. My mind was state on…we need more money, we need a better income, we need to do the right things to keep our American Dream going.
Heres where the nightmare starts, I started my new job in April, not just a job but a step toward my career, you search for I have been going to college for over 10 years trying to get my teaching degree…the other dream. This child care center was highly recommended to me it offered a higher income and amazing work atmosphere…it sounds great doesn’t it? By the destroy of May most of the children graduated the program and would be heading to kindergarten, the school attendance dropped considerably as a result I have been working only 30, 24, 12, even 3 hours a week a my wonderful highly recommended FULL TIME job.
In the mean time my husband lost his job and was denied unemployment (that’s another story for another time). As a result we have been living off of next to nothing for the past several months. He will actually start working next week at a lower paying job that he is overqualified for but it’s better then nothing.
As I sit here today, we are almost 4 months behind on our mortgage payment. I have spoken to my original mortgage company several times trying to get assistance. I have spoken to numerous other mortgage companies trying to refinance or get information to know and understand what to do. I have searched for a recent job, second job any way to execute additional income. My husband has been looking for a job, traveling miles spending money like crazy on gas. I have contacted several social service agencies in our community with very little success. We make too much money, we don’t fabricate enough money, they don’t assist with mortgages, I can’t go rent another house yet cause I collected occupy this one. When I asked the mortgage company “How long do I have before I have to leave this house? ” that can’t say it verbally, I have to wait until I find the letter in the mail.
My husband and I are slowly becoming physically and yes mentally sick, we can’t sleep. I go to sleep crying, I wake up crying then have to pull myself together to go to work…for how many hours? When will they utter me to go home, do I bring lunch or not? Do I go home and pack my belongings or will some miracle happen where we will be blessed with enough money to pay at least one month of the mortgage and finish or at least slow down the foreclosure process.
Will we become homeless? Thank God the kids are young adults and have their own places to live. What will happen to my kids pictures, the keepsakes I inherited from my grandparents? Who will take my pets? How much of my life will I fit in my mini van?
The American Dream…we work so hard, then what happens? Does our government really realize that the working class people need help? Will they perform the right choices with the mortgage reforms to help the working people? Will these changes happen soon enough so maybe, just maybe, I won’t loose my home?
What’s the answer to this nightmare? WHEN will it END? HOW will it END?
Are we just some of those crude lives that people are taking about?
DO WE Impartial STOP TRYING TO SUCCEED!!!???? And give up on our AMERICAN DREAM…
Filed under Types Of Auto Insurance by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment. 
Tesco Travel Insurance Company is well known to many UK travelers. Tesco offers insurance for both single trips and annual policies. Tesco Proceed Insurance offers travel insurance to UK residents. Signing up for Tesco Travel Insurance may not be so easy since they either don’t have a site or it’s not searchable. However, when you search Tesco Travel Insurance you will find many sites that offer a phone number to sign up via phone.
Tesco Travel Insurance offers many types of coverage to include; personal liability, winter sports, loss of passport, cash and credit cards, and personal possessions’ just to name a few. Tesco Insurance benefits covers up to 1500 Euros per lost or stolen items, with a single limit of 250 Euros per item. Tesco Travel Insurance claims to cover up to 5 million Euros for medical and emergency coverage. Therefore, the coverage can range very high.
One thing that you should know about Tesco Travel Insurance as well as, any other travel insurance, is that you should check your coverage and your policy VERY WELL! The hazardous activities can play a big roll in whether or not you will be receive benefits in the event something goes wrong. There are multiple things that you wouldn’t think of when getting your travel insurance. Things such as bungee jumping, par ascending, scuba diving and other possibly dangerous sports and events could void your coverage with out you realizing it.
So, what do previous customers assume about Tesco Depart Insurance? According to multiple reviews online from previous customers, you may have a hard time getting Tesco Travel Insurance to pay out if you do have claim. Multiple online reviews state that Tesco Travel Insurance either found a reason not to pay, to include the hazardous events, or brought out the fine print. While it’s everyone responsibility to read the fine print, be sure to ask any and all questions you may have about your coverage so that you don’t get caught in the same trap. Many reviews have also stated that when canceling coverage due to not taking the vacation or travel that there were no issued a refund, regardless of the reason for cancelling.
Among the negative feedback about not paying claims, another pickle that customers had about Tesco Insurance is their high rates. When comparing rates with other companies you will find that Tesco Travel Insurance is nearly double the price of other companies. Be positive to shop around for the best rates and best coverage.
In addition to checking with Tesco Travel Insurance, be sure to check out Insure and Go Insurance. They provide cheaper quotes for many types of insurance to include travel insurance. Insure and Go Insurance is very convenient. They offer quotes and coverage both online, and by phone claim to be the lowest prices on the Internet. Another great travel insurance company to check out is Boom Travel Insurance. They offer competitive prices and the some of the lowest quotes as well. They offer many coverage plans as well as additional benefits such as Holiday Travel Insurance, Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance, Single Dawdle Travel, Skit Go, and 90 days Backpacker Depart Insurance plus, many more plans. Be sure to shop around to find the best quotes and coverage to meet you proceed needs.
Filed under Farmers Insurance by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment.
It’s no secret that teenage drivers are generally not as great as adult drivers on the road. In fact, teenagers catch in accident 6 times more often than adult drivers. Due to this, insurance is an indispensable thing to pay attention to for your teenager. The most primary thing is to have comfort in knowing that your child’s car will be taken care of in an affordable, yet professional manner, if they ever get into a car accident. Here are a few options for the best auto insurance for teenagers, which are easy on your wallet while still providing the coverage that you desire.
Allstate Teen Insurance
Allstate has a great teen driver program, which focuses on a parent-teen driving contract. The parent and the teen decide on agreements for certain actions, like talking on a cellphone while driving and having a curfew, station limits on these actions (or ban them altogether), and finally design consequences if the teen driver breaks any part of the contract. Allstate insurance has taken a great initiative with teen driving safety, and their website http://www.allstateteendriver.com outlines all of their efforts to keep teens safe.
Statefarm Teen Insurance
Statefarm offers two great opportunities for students to save on car insurance. The first is the ‘Good Student Discount’, which rewards students who rep good grades by reducing the auto insurance cost. This is a great incentive because, for students with lower grades, it is good motivation to increase grades if they are paying for their insurance, and for students with higher grades, it’s a greater incentive to keep up the splendid work. Another highlight of auto insurance for teenagers at Statefarm is the Steer Positive Qualified Driver Discount, which is also pointed towards students. It is an extra refresher course that, when completed, gives an extra discount to those 25 and under. The course can be completed with a kit, on a computer, or even on the iPhone.
Progressive Teen Insurance
Besides offering an online directory with information on auto insurance for teens, Progressive also offers student discounts when applicable. In the online directory, Progressive help walk teenagers through the insurance process, explaining each step. Also, they give tips on safe driving and keeping your cool. For example, one page offers tips on how to avoid road rage and tranquil yourself down when it inevitably happens. Another page explains all of the information needed in order to get a quote and figure out how much the auto insurance will cost for the teenager. Specifically, besides the general student benefits, Progressive doesn’t add any special features or benefits for their auto insurance for teenagers
Liberty Mutual Teen Insurance
Liberty Mutual is very straightforward on its website, http://www.libertymutualteendriving.com, on explaining what a teen and their parent can do to make sure they get the best teen auto insurance value. Liberty Mutual also offers student advantages, where if a student has good grades, they can get up to a 35% discount on their insurance. The amount of the discount varies depending on the grades of the teenager. Liberty Mutual insurance also tells all the specific ways a teenager can save on auto insurance, which is very helpful to have in one condensed area.
Geico Teen Insurance
Geico is yet another student-rewarding insurer, offering discounts for taking a driver’s education class and getting good grades. If the teen driver took a driver’s education class, then they are eligible for a discount on their auto insurance. Also, if they get a B-average or higher, they receive another discount. Geico does not offer any other specific teen benefits or tips, meaning the only thing that could execute Geico the best teen auto insurance choice is the price of the insurance.
You have the information now; expend it to figure out which insurance plans and benefits are right for your teenager, ensuring their safety and saving as much money as possible.
Philip Reed, Auto Insurance for Teenage Drivers, Edmunds.com.
Geico, Geico.com, Geico.
Progressive, Progressive.com, Geico.com.
Liberty Mutual, libertymutual.com.com, Liberty Mutual.
Allstate, Allstate.com, Allstate.com.
Filed under Aaa Auto Insurance by on Mar 14th, 2011. Comment.
As a former Insurance Producer, I am well aware that insurance can seem complicated and difficult to understand. Why are there so many different names for different coverages? Why do they sound so cryptic? Why does my car seem to cost so much? It is can be very difficult some people to pay hundreds of dollars a year for a product, especially when they don’t understand what it is they’re paying for. So here are some indispensable things you need to understand about auto insurance.
1. What does “state minimum coverage” mean?
Every state has certain minimum amount of insurance they require citizens to carry. This coverage is your liability coverage, the amount that the company will pay to someone else if you wound them in an accident or damage their car. In most states, coverage looks something like this: 15/30/10. While this may look like some crazy futuristic date, the numbers actually stand for the fifteen thousand dollars the company will pay per person you injure, thirty thousand dollars for the total accident, and ten thousand for and damage to vehicles or other property caused by the accident. The 15/30/10 model is Arizona’s minimum coverage requirements, but every state has different laws requiring different amounts of liability coverage.
Remember, liability does not shroud you if you’re hurt or your car is damaged; only others in accidents that are your fault
2. What coverages cover me and my car?
There are many different bells and whistles you can add onto your basic liability coverage (the only coverage required in most states). The most common are called Collision coverage and Comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage is self explanatory. If you are hit by something or you damage your car by running into something, your insurance company will pay for the amount to fix your car, minus your deductible. A deductible is an amount for which you choose to be responsible in case you need repairs. The most common deductible today is $500, but some people like to increase their responsibility to $1000, making their insurance premiums lower.
Comprehensive is the coverage that pays for your glass and windshield repairs and any other damages besides collision damage. Comprehensive coverage is also subject to a deductible, but you usually have the option to select a $0 deductible for glass coverage, which means you are not responsible for anything when you need to replace your windshield.
There are also coverages like additional medical expenses, tow truck coverage, rental car coverage. For those on a budget, these coverages often overlap with something you may already have (such as AAA or your health insurance) or may simply be unnecessary.
3. What is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage allows you to have a backup plan for injuries you might sustain in an accident with a driver who is not insured. If an uninsured driver causes you injuries, you can recover from your auto insurance to help pay for your medical bills. Underinsured works the same way, just for those drivers without enough insurance to pay for all of your bills.
In some states, there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle.
4. My insurance seems really high-priced, what can I do?
There are several things you can do to ensure you place yourself money on insurance.
-Cut out unnecessary coverages that may be on your policy. Some people haven’t looked at their insurance in 20 years and have no idea that the coverage they bought in 1987 is completely unnecessary.
-Check with your agent to seek if your policy is up to date. Most insurance companies update the types of policies they offer every few years (something only the companies themselves understand, consumers can’t tell the difference) to ensure market competitiveness.
-Do you have a teenage driver? They cost a lot of money, no matter what company insures you. Most companies offer apt student discounts for 3.0 or above GPAs, so encourage your young drivers to get a (or tell them they can’t drive until they have a) good report card.
-Are you no longer a teenager, but not yet 25 years old? Insurance becomes cheaper after your 25th birthday, and after you salvage married. This is because after age 25, people are less of a risk, as are married drivers.
-Shop around. Then go back to your unique company and see what they can do for you. If you have an agent, they will try to fudge the numbers to peer what works best for you and what can set you some money.
5. Do I really need an agent, or can I trust those 1-800 number or website type companies?
That really depends on what kind of service you’re looking for. If you don’t really feel like you need a one on one relationship with an agent, you don’t care whether you talk to the same person when you call, or you never think you’ll talk to anyone at all, insurance like Geico, Esurance, and others might work best for you. On the other hand, if you like to drop by and pay your monthly bill in person, call frequently, or have a difficult policy (a commercial policy or multiple cars, RVs, etc) you may want to determine and agent that can help you when you need it. Often times the costs is dependent upon the driver, not the company. So having an agent won’t cost you more, even though some companies like to make you think that procedure. If you have tickets or accidents, of course your insurance will cost more.
If you follow these tips and understand your coverages, you will be less likely to pay for things you don’t need, and you’ll be able to set aside hundreds of dollars on your insurance!
Filed under State Farm Auto Insurance by on Feb 26th, 2011. Comment.
Many senior citizens have been loyal to their auto insurance companies for years, often decades. Having the same reliable insurance agent and company is comforting. But the auto insurance industry has become more competitive, actively vying for the senior citizen market. It makes sense for senior citizens to gather information to compare their novel rates, especially at the time of auto insurance renewal.
Getting quotes for auto insurance is an easy process. With unbiased a few clicks on the computer or toll-free telephone calls, anyone can gather a list that compares auto insurance by services and rates. For senior citizens, who often are on fixed incomes, this can be a very cost-effective exercise, possibly saving them hundreds of dollars during an insured period.
Finding Comparable Rates
Buying auto insurance is like any other important, long-term purchase. The key is to take time to research and shop for the best deal with reliable auto insurance companies.
The following is a sample of insurance companies and insurance brokers offering auto insurance quotes on the Internet. Many have specific marketing programs targeting senior citizens.
AARP: www.aarp.thehartford.com.
AARP is an advocacy organization for seniors that promotes the interests of people over 50 years old. They offer auto insurance to members through The Hartford.
Allstate: www.allstate.com.
Allstate is a well known insurance company. Quotes can be gathered at the above website or local agents can be found in the telephone book and are available to assist in preparing a free quote.
Farmers Insurance Group: http://www.farmersinsurance.com.
Online or in person, a Farmers insurance agent can review auto insurance coverage, benefit identify potential gaps, and include any qualifying Farmers Auto insurance discounts.
Progressive Insurance: www.progressive.com.
Progressive will provide a quote for their company along with comparables of other auto insurance companies for easy comparisons.
Geico Insurance: www.geico.com.
This company can be accessed online or at one of their many offices. It is easy to get a quote; they offer flexible payment options and competitive rates.
Costco: www.costco.com.
Costco offers membership insurance through Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance.
Autoinsure: www.autoinsure.org.
Autoinsure has a page with respectable insurance information for senior citizens. They can provide quotes from all the major auto insurance companies.
Esurance: www.esurance.com.
A rising star among insurance companies that take pride in stating: “Esurance doesn’t unprejudiced offer reliable insurance coverage, we also believe in educating consumers.” Their online quote process is easy to navigate.
US Insurance: www.usinsuranceonline.com
They will provide multiple auto insurance quotes tailored to specific needs within minutes of filling out their simple short form. It’s easy then to compare them side by side to find the best prices and coverage.
Car Insurance Rates: www.carinsurancerates.com
Their network of companies and brokers offer a variety of car insurances: Farmers, Allstate, AIG, Nationwide, AARP, Safeco Insurance, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Mercury.
Every insurance rate: www.everyinsurancerate.com
EveryInsuranceCompany.com is a handy Internet directory to find local insurance companies, insurance quotes and discount insurance rates.
Quote Scout: www.quotescout.com.
This website will provide quotes from a long list of auto insurance companies – literally from “A” to “Z”.
Insurance.com: http://www.insurance.com.
Insurance.com works directly with 15 highly rated car insurance companies in 46 states: 21st Century, Electric Insurance, Esurance Auto Insurance, The Hartford, Infinity, Liberty Mutual, Meritplan Insurance, MetLife Auto Insurance, Newport Insurance, Permanent General Assurance Corporation (The General), Progressive, QBE Insurance, Safeco, Travelers Insurance, and Unitrin Direct.
Keeping Auto Insurance Rates Down
There are ways that senior citizens can take responsibility to control their auto insurance rates. Here are a few suggestions.
According to seniorjournal.com, most of the major auto insurance agencies provide a 5% – 10% discount to drivers beginning at the ages of 50 or 55. However, as a group, drivers 75 and older have one of the highest rates of fatal daytime accidents. Because of this, it’s vital that senior drivers discontinue proactive and involved in keeping their driving skills sharp.
Many states offer an auto insurance discount for mature drivers if a person meets a given age criteria and has taken an approved mature driver safety course. Local colleges and senior centers are satisfactory resources to learn about the classes. AARP has local and on-line access to the course. Costco offers its members an online drivers’ safety training course through FirstNet: www.firstnetlearning.com.
Another way to keep auto insurance rates down is to drive a low-profile car, one that as part of a group has a lower rate due to minimum repair costs, considered safer and less likely to be stolen. Check the Highway Loss Data Institute, www.iihs.org, for the latest related data.
Examine novel auto insurance needs and requirements. Changing to higher deductibles or dropping collision or comprehensive coverage for older cars may make sense.
Always ask about discounts when purchasing or renewing auto insurance.
And finally, the best long-term advice: Always drive defensively, discontinue alert and follow the driving laws. Maintaining a safe driving record is the best way to keep auto insurance rates down.
Filed under Mercury Auto Insurance by on Feb 26th, 2011. Comment.
