DUI Damage Control: 6 Steps to Take Following a DUI Charge

April 24, 2021

So, you’ve been charged with a DUI. A DUI can significantly impact your life by revoking your license, creating a permanent mark on your records, or racking up hefty fees. However, don’t panic. You can make the process as smooth as possible by following a few simple tips. Here’s a couple of steps you should take immediately after receiving a DUI.

Determine if you need an attorney

The consequences of a DUI can include suspension of your driver’s license, paying fees, and a court date. If that seems daunting, and you’re unsure how to proceed, a DUI attorney can be an excellent resource. Find an attorney with experience handling DUI cases to help you through your hearing and filling out paperwork. A DUI attorney is beneficial if you plan to plead not guilty and help you build a case in your defense.

Arrange a ride home

After a DUI, you will likely be taken to a police station to be processed. Depending on your age or if this is your first DUI offense, you may be at the police station for several hours. You may have to stay overnight to sober up. Once you are released, call someone to take you home to begin preparing for the consequences of your DUI.

Locate your car

Your car was probably towed and impounded. The police will have the information on where your vehicle is and the number you need to call to contact the towing company. Make sure to call and set up a time to pay the towing fee and retrieve your car.

Find temporary transport

If your driver’s license is suspended, you will need to make alternate arrangements to get from place to place. See if you can carpool with a coworker or find a public transit route near you. Ride-sharing apps are also a good resource for hitching a lift. If you live close to where you work, you could even walk.

Work towards getting your license again

Not being able to transport yourself can be an inconvenient pain. To get your driver’s license back as soon as possible, make sure you attend and complete any treatment course or therapy assigned to you. Pay any fees necessary. The best way to get your license back is to cooperate and show you will not drive under the influence again.

Don’t let your DUI consume your thoughts

It’s only natural that you be worried about the outcomes and impacts of your DUI. However, don’t let your fears and concerns about your DUI overwhelm you. It’s a stressful situation, but you will get through it. Contact loved ones for support. Talk to your DUI attorney when any questions arise and don’t ruminate over the consequences of your DUI.

Wrap up

Getting a DUI can be a distressing experience. However, a DUI can also help you learn and grow as a person. With the right attitude and some legal help, you can get your life back on the road after a DUI.

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The Undeniable Benefits of CRM Software

April 23, 2021

Customer Relationship Management software is a platform that collects customer data into one location, giving your staff a clearer insight into client behaviours and giving them the information they need to improve their customer service approach. By guiding your clients through every step of the customer cycle, you can improve client retention and enhance customer loyalty with one effective program.

But what are the other benefits of CRM software? Read on to find out the benefits of Customer Relationship Management software.

Benefit One: Improve your customer services

When it comes to CRM software, your customer service approach will change dramatically. Most notably, you’ll have all the tools you need to ensure it’s at a world-class standard. CRM software – you’ll find more info here – can streamline your entire customer service experience. Thanks to the accumulation of accurate data, your customer service teams can personalise every interaction, whether via phone, email or IM. By using collected client information and habits, customer services will have access to a full, detailed history of customer interactions, ensuring your customer is treated like an individual, not just a number, and setting you apart from your competition.

Benefit Two: Higher levels of customer retention

Leading on from a better customer service experience is the subsequent increase in customer retention. There’s nothing more exciting than a new customer but taking care of the ones you currently have is what will drive your business success forward. CRM software will continue to enhance the customer experience throughout the customer life cycle, with communication prompts and automatically reaching out to clients who haven’t been heard from in a while. With this kind of data, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to continue to sell to your customers and enjoy increased client loyalty.

Benefit Three: Better ROI on your Marketing Budget

When it comes to marketing, it’s all too easy to become wrapped up in analytics and complicated strategies that you struggle to get your head around. With CRM software, you can expect a better ROI on your marketing budget. Thanks to the collection of accurate client data, leads, opportunities, and previous shopping habits, you’ll be able to pitch your products to the right people and create campaigns based on in-depth customer insights. No more mass marketing, just highly accurate campaigns and reporting so you can see how well your latest strategy is performing.

Benefit Four: Centralised data location

CRM software means the accumulation of client data into a centralised, cloud-based location. This means you can leave your email chains, complicated and out of date spreadsheets and dusty filing cabinets in the past. Not only does this software make it easier to find the right client information, but it’s also kept up to date, ensuring precision and enhancing the customer experience.

In addition, interdepartmental access means that whoever your client is speaking with, your marketing team, customer service reps or your social media staff will have access to the right data, eliminating the need to pass the customer from one department to the next.

And finally…

Benefit Five: Automation of sales

Want to streamline the sales process? Often, it’s the fiddly, administrative tasks that take up the most time in your calendar. But with CRM software you can automate many of these obligations such as order processing, sales forecasts and quote creations, freeing up more time for your staff and pushing your business forward.

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5 Ways To Increase Productivity At Your Manufacturing Site

April 23, 2021

As the saying goes, time is money. Accordingly, the more manufacturing you can perform in a shorter period, the more money you will earn. However, if you struggle with how to manage the improvement of your production processes or even if everything is operating smoothly, there are many things you can do to increase production capacity without sacrificing quality.

Nevertheless, you can begin by removing obstacles followed by reorganizing your whole workflow. Increased productivity in manufacturing facilities should always be governed by intended change instead of just quick fixes. Quick solutions may help in the short run but cause issues in the long run.

You should make a thorough review of your current manufacturing processes and equipment to uncover any concealed bottlenecks that you can easily fix by a change in the process itself or by utilizing modern technology.

Whether it’s a CNC machine or EDM sinker, maintaining your equipment in good shape reduces the possibility of an unexpected cessation of work or daily operation. Continuous training of your employees and maintaining your facility well organized can provide a safer workspace. It might even result in suggestions from the workers themselves about resolving the problems they notice.

Below, we give you five ways how you can increase productivity at your manufacturing site. So, read ahead to find out more about these helpful ways that can be beneficial for your overall production, as well as your production’s profitability.

Update Your Current Processes And Technology

After you have gone through your current workflow and mapped everything, start identifying areas where technology or processes may use some changes and updates. Manufacturing processes that have been in place for an extended period can be filled with alternative solutions once new equipment is added or production techniques are changed.

Automation is an effective tool for an increase in efficiency and reduces the chance for errors. Furthermore, you can utilize new software solutions that will help with inventory, scheduling, and monitoring work performance. Improvements in machinery can enhance manufacturing quality and speed. For example, you can invest in equipment so that you can provide precision CNC machining services to your clients, including grinding, milling, and turning. When selecting new technology and machinery, bear in mind the overall cost of ownership and how the outcome will be affected. Speaking of which, you may also invest in used CNC machineries. You can visit Revelation Machinery here to help you find what you need.

A high initial price is worth it only if the entire cost of ownership is lower than the process or technology you are substituting. Or if it fixes a problem like clearing a manufacturing bottleneck or reducing junk. Currently, equipment and machinery, such as the Deutz 04297148, is not as expensive as it used to be, so consider updating your current manufacturing processes and technology to differentiate your company from your fierce competitors.

Review Your Ongoing Execution Of The Tasks

You can’t know what needs to be changed before you examine how everything works currently. Three areas hold vital information to help you with identifying the changes you need to do, so pay attention to:

Employees – You need to have the people with the proper skill set in the right spot. Also, you must have a project owner to maintain the path visible and according to plan. Ultimately, ask yourself if the objectives are identified, reasonable, and safe;
Processes – You have to map your processes from time to time using value stream mapping to evaluate process advancement projects. Furthermore, always check for pressure points and bottlenecks;
Equipment and technology – Check if all your machinery is in good shape and if the technology you depend on is ideal for your actual needs. Evaluate how easy it will be to make changes in your production processes.

Before you start making changes, understand how everything exactly functions. If it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it. So, unless you can recognize an economic or safety motive for making some changes, take your time and think hard about the worth of the anticipated results.

Maintaining An Optimal Inventory Is Imperative

If you have excess inventory, you need to have a place to store it and hope to use it all. On the contrary, if you have insufficient, you take the risk of a work cessation as you wait for more inventory. So, optimal inventory is especially significant if you are following some of the principles of lean manufacturing.

Utilize a software system to track inventory and generate automatic notifications of shortages. You can allow suppliers to have direct access to your inventory and automatically fulfill required supplies. Make forecasts about the impact of specific shortages and set up processes to reduce production delays.

Keep a record of rejection rates, reduction in quality, and late delivery so you can correct them with your supplier or search for a new one. In addition, if you know one of your suppliers is going through a radical change, demand assurances or guarantees that your supplies will remain the same.

Organize Your Workspace For Maximum Optimality

Reducing clutter and movement can save precious time. Therefore, avoiding unnecessary movement in the facility for optimal task performance is really important. Establish an optimal arrangement of your tools and materials needed for the working processes. Remove any unused tools or materials from the workspace. Set up organized storage to decrease the time for finding materials and gear. Additionally, lay out the manufacturing floor for maximum efficiency.

Decrease travel time and distance anytime possible. If an item needs to be moved from one machine to another, find a way to reduce that distance and move the item faster but safely toward the next step in the production process. Every excess movement is an example of poor organization and may cost you a lot of production time.

Training Your Employees Constantly Will Boost Your Overall Workflow

Employee training is a never-ending process. In some industry sectors, specific types of training are mandatory, as the safety training for all workers that use safety gear. Plus, new machinery and technology need the training to get the maximum value.

Schedule training sessions for all the employees once new equipment is employed. Hold records of training and plan refresher courses if required. You can also offer educational opportunities for workers that wish to advance their skills or gain new ones.

However, you must not restrict training or education to equipment. Your manufacturing site will run even smoother if all employees understand the policies on staff like mobbing or proper communication.

Final Words

Finally, increasing productivity leads to revenue growth and the chance to expand your business. You will be able to engage in more work, increase salaries or acquire new equipment. Make it a rule to examine your processes routinely. New manufacturing machinery, materials, and methods show up on the horizon constantly. So, prepare to embrace those that make the most value for your business.

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Can Lending for P2P Projects be Interesting for me as well?

April 23, 2021

Investing in stocks and cryptocurrencies requires time and commitment. Managers of funds don’t know where to invest, and savings accounts don’t offer interest these days. Every year, because of inflation, those who store their money in their bank accounts lose up to 2% annually. In the next few years, maybe even significantly more? Investing in P2P loans is a possible option to grow your wealth if you know what you are doing.

1. How does P2P lending work?

Peer-to-peer lending allows investors to put their money on platforms that lend their money to borrowers. The borrowers pay back the loan (P2P loan) with an additional interest credited to the lender’s account.

This is a very simplified definition of P2P investing. Each P2P platform has a slightly different structure. Overall, the P2P platform helps to connect the investors who want to invest their money with people who want to lend money.

The loans are funded by the crowd of investors, compared to the traditional setup where banks provide the funding.

2. How to invest in P2P loans

Investing in P2P loans is generally not difficult. Most P2P lending platforms allow you to set up an investor account within minutes and deposit the money within a few hours. Before doing so, it is advisable to learn about the risks associated with P2P loans.

Apart from becoming aware of the risks, you should consider the following three points to answer the question whether P2P lending can interest you as well.

2.1 Define your financial goals

As with any investment, you should know why you want to invest in P2P loans and what role P2P loans play within your investment portfolio. Try to determine the answers to the following questions.

How long do you want to invest?
How quickly do you want to access your investment?
What is your expected rate of return?
What percentage of your money do you want to invest in P2P loans?
Why do you want to invest in P2P lending in general?

This will help define which platform is right for you. Some platforms allow you to withdraw your investment within hours, others may lock your investment for several months. Once you know the answers to the above questions, your P2P lending strategy will certainly become clearer.

2.2 Evaluate your individual risk profile

Evaluating your risk profile is one of the most important points – whether you invest in stocks, ETFs or P2P lending. Be aware that P2P lending involves certain risks and that you could lose some or all of your money.

When you invest your money on the P2P platform, you may feel the urge to check your portfolio every day to see if any loans are delayed. After some time, you should learn that this is of no use to you. P2P lending is a great way to earn passive income (under normal market conditions) – don’t treat it as day trading. Loans will be delayed, some might even default. Therefore, you should also invest in real estate secured loans or loans that have a mortgage as collateral.

2.3 Diversification options

Some platforms allow you to diversify across multiple countries and loan types, while others focus on a specific region or loan type. The more diversification options you have, the lower the risk of loan default. Investors who plan to invest a larger sum in P2P lending should consider investing on different platforms.

2.4 Liquidity

If your goal is to invest in real estate secured loans or business loans, you should not expect to be able to withdraw your money so quickly. If liquidity is your priority, it tends to make the most sense to look for short-term loans or personal loans on platforms like Mintos, PeerBerry, or Robocash.

2.5 Choose the right platform

Last but not least, you want to invest in a trustworthy platform that will protect your investments and generate the returns you expect. There are a few things you should look for when choosing the right P2P platform.

Take a look at the platform’s performance. What is the average interest rate, how many investors are active, how many loans have been funded, etc. These statistics will give you a good idea of the platform’s performance.

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Getting the Tone and Style in Academic Writing Right

April 23, 2021

When composing an essay, students should explain their points concisely and clearly. It is critical to strike the right tone in the written content; however, that proves to be a challenge to most students. They write either in a casual or too formal tone.

Both tones are unsuitable and weaken the essay’s message. Whether it is an expository essay, argumentative, or a narrative one, the good news is using an active and direct tone in writing is the most effective.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right tone and voice when writing an academic essay.

Identify the Purpose of the Essay

The first thing to determine is the essay’s purpose. An essay is written to put across your point or idea in a way that will convince the reader, so it should look like a well-researched, credible, and authoritative piece.

If you express an argument in the essay, it must be supported with evidence that will make the tone sound clearer without using fancy language. Focus on the goal of your writing and build the essay’s structure accordingly. The reader should understand your intent right from the introduction.

Keep the Tone Academic but Not Excessively Formal

Students often confuse an academic tone with a formal one. The essay should not use language that is overly formal as the results might backfire. Using excessively formal language makes it seem pretentious to the reader and is not enjoyable to read or even understand. The language should be simple and the meaning easy to comprehend so that it makes sense to the reader.

Let’s compare the following examples.

“The ecosystem of our planet is vitiated with humanity facing an existential threat from the inordinate usage of nonorganic wastes.”

The same sentence would be much easier to read and understand when rewritten in a simple and direct tone:

“The excessive use of plastics is damaging the environment and posing a threat to the health and well-being of humans.”

Avoid Casual/Colloquial Language

Colloquial phrases and words make an impression that your attitude to the given assignment is not serious enough. Avoiding slang terms in writing is easy, but preventing the use of an informal tone may be difficult. Since such expressions are used in spoken English daily, students often do not notice when they insert them in academic writing.

For instance:

“Those who snagged entry to the Yankees game over the weekend had a blast.”

The expressions “snagged entry” and “had a blast” are colloquial and alright in spoken English. However, such conversational phrases are inappropriate in academic writing.

It is better to rewrite the sentence in simple and direct English like

“People who received an opportunity to go to the Yankees game over the weekend had a good time.”

Do Not Use Fanciful Language

Students wanting to emphasize any idea in an essay may use fanciful language to convince the reader of their point of view. This is to be avoided because the content sounds pompous as if the writer is trying too hard to impress the reader.

Assume that the reader understands the literal meaning and go straight to the point. Instead of using figurative language to enhance your claim, decide on qualitative vs quantitative research necessary for your essay and strengthen your statement with scholarly information. Remember to cite your sources as well.

See the difference between the statement on environmental change using hyperbole with the same sentence rewritten in a simple and direct tone with evidence to support the claim.

“The ecosystem is facing calamitous consequences with the planet overwhelmed with noxious particles, which is an imminent threat to the Earth and humanity as a whole!”
“As per the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for approximately 4.2 million deaths annually because of health-related issues like chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and so on. It is critical to take steps to reduce environmental pollution.”

In the second example, facts are used as supporting evidence instead of fanciful language with nothing to back up the point.

Refrain From Generalizing Statements

You should avoid generalizing content while writing an essay. When students are not sure how to write a cause and effect essay, they often make such mistakes to appeal to the readers’ emotions. Generalizations not only sound corny; providing supporting evidence for them is difficult, and at times they are not even related to the main point of the essay.

When we write about the abolition of slavery in the US in the mid-1800s, we should recognize it was not a success until much later because of the prevailing political environment. Here is the wrong way to approach the topic:

“Abraham Lincoln was instrumental in ensuring the emancipation of blacks as slaves in the United States in the mid-1800s with the firm belief that all Americans must be equal. While it was a step in the right direction, it was not a complete success because the Southern States did not adopt the laws until later.”

The introduction of the abolition of slavery is vague and does not exactly mention when it became a complete success in the United States.

The same sentence rewritten would read as:

“While Abraham Lincoln played a pivotal role in abolishing slavery from the United States while keeping with the constitution, it was not entirely successful because of the Southern States not adopting the laws. It was the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s led by Martin Luther King that led to desegregation and inclusion of blacks in mainstream American society.”

When writing an essay, students must be specific to make the right impression on the reader.

Final Thoughts

Being a skillful essay writer is not that difficult as long as students keep the mentioned tips in mind. Adopting a direct tone, using simple language, and providing supporting evidence go a long way in engaging the reader and convincing them of the writer’s point of view.

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The 5 Steps of Investing in P&C Insurance the Smart Way

April 22, 2021

What are the most efficient ways you can sell property and casualty insurance in 2021? According to the recent AM Best’s report on the P&C insurance industry, a number of the trends which insurers encountered in 2020 are likely to continue well into the current year. Catastrophe activity, covered by catastrophe insurance which protects businesses from floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and riots, is expected to remain higher than usual. Additionally, the commercial lines pricing environment, which refers to the coverage for businesses and corporations, will remain steady. For more information on the most intelligent ways to make the right investments in the case of P&C insurance, check out the text below.

Invest in Email Marketing

Sending timely, highly customized emails to prospects and policyholders can significantly increase your volume of P&C insurance sales and help you build lasting relationships with clients. Any insurance agency working with a large client base will want to automate this process to save time and reduce the number of daily admin tasks. PathwayPort offers automation for your insurance email campaigns by seamlessly integrating with your Agent/Broker Management Systems. Once connected, the intuitive, automated trigger system sends the right email to the right prospect or policyholder. For example, clients that purchased a homeowners insurance policy will automatically receive pre-renewal and renewal emails once the renewal date gets close. The same is true for all types of insurance policies across the board. In the case of property and casualty insurance, the email reminds the recipient to renew their policy, reminding them to add any new updates, such as a driver in the case of auto insurance or a renovation in the case of home insurance. Email marketing will give you that competitive edge you’ll need in 2021, and in the future.

Start Using an App, or Update Existing App

The recent trend of both policyholders and people who work in insurance having to operate from home has given rise to the demand for mobile apps. Apps allow policyholders to file auto claims, make payments, request a quote, and even track home inventory and contact emergency services as quickly and easily. Policyholders can also upload any new documentation in-app, including photos of the damage done to their property. Photos can help assess the severity of damage during potential legislative proceedings. Together, email marketing and insurance apps provide peak convenience to both insurance agents and policyholders.

Encourage Feedback

One of the ways you can convert prospects into policyholders is to keep improving your service. Feedback can help you adjust the way you conduct your business to user expectations. Differentiating satisfied from dissatisfied customers can even help you build an online reputation via review sites. Another service you can provide via email, satisfaction surveys ask policyholders to rate your service. In the case of people who answered favorably, send an email asking for an online review on Yelp or Google Reviews. In addition, the dissatisfied policyholders can help you identify which clients you should focus on retaining. They can also provide valuable insight into areas of improvement.

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How soon can the financial markets recover from COVID-19

April 22, 2021

Alt text: recovery from COVID-19 is already on its way

Covid-19 has hit financially markets badly. The hit was felt across instruments in the second quarter of 2020. Stocks, FX pairs, and other asset classes behaved erratically. But now, one year after, it seems that the recovery from the COVID-19 induced shock is well underway.

There are many signs that indicate that recovery in the financial markets is happening even faster than expected. Among those signs is rising inflation in the US.

Inflation rises in the United States

The recent inflation report coming from the United States are a good reason to be optimistic. Annually, the inflation rate of consumer prices has gone up to 2.6%, from 1.7% in previous month. This is even 0.1% better than expected.

Economic activity is picking up in the United States in many sectors. In the energy sector, prices have risen by 13.2%. Both Gasoline and gas prices have risen. In March, Gasoline price alone saw an increase of 9.1%. In the Automobile sector, prices of new cars and used cars (and trucks) rose by 1.5% and 9.4% in March. Medical care services saw a price increase of 2.7%.

Those price increases indicate that recovery is resuming. Investors can invest in various exchange traded funds or mutual funds that invest in any of those sectors, or they can invest directly in stocks of robust companies that work in any those sectors. Alternatively, retail exposure to indices as well as specific stocks is increasingly achieved via a CFD (contract for difference), which allows trading upwards or downwards price movements without needing owning the underlying asset.

Bank sector earnings also show good signs of recovery

The major banks in the United states have also released their earnings reports, which showed quite a strong performance. Many expect the share prices of big banks to continue to climb, even if some analysts thought they were already too high.

Goldman Sachs posted earnings of $18.6 per share against $10.22 expected. JPMorgan posted earnings of $4.5 per share against $3.10 expected. Wells Fargo posted earnings of $1.05 per share against $0.70 expected. Citi posted earnings per share of $3.62 against $2.60 expected. Bank of America posted earnings of $0.86 per share compared to $0.66 expected. All in all, the major banks have painted a bright picture for the banking sector at large. The positive effects are likely to spill over to other sectors.

China posts high economic growth

China recently posted very upbeat numbers, as its economy grew by 18.3% in the first quarter in 2021 on a year-on-year basis (from the first quarter in 2020). These number are much higher than the growth registered in the final quarter of 2020, in which China grew by 6.5% on a year-on-year basis.

China has chosen to rely more on annual growth figures rather than quarterly growth figures. This may have been the reason why the numbers are high. Regardless of the reason why, China seems to have put the pandemic far behind it. China’s trade partners will find this to be good news.

Conclusion

In the US, recovery is gaining some steam. In China, it seems to be going at full force. Global indices, and many other asset classes are still in a bullish trend since the first quarter in 2020. Optimism that the recovery will continue is warranted at this point.

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Negotiating With A Bank? 6 Tips To Successfully Do That!

April 22, 2021

If you run a small business, you may face a time when you would desperately need some cash. You can resort to a bank for a loan. But negotiating with a bank is not always the same as negotiating with a traditional vendor. While persistence and patience are the common variables, you also need other negotiation skills to seal a favorable deal with a bank.

While undergoing negotiation training will help, join your strategies with the tips mentioned below to negotiate a good deal.

Here are tips on negotiating with a bank.

Understand your business credit score

Before approaching the bank, understand the credit score of your business. Factors like your trade experience, size of your business, payment habits, outstanding balances, and credit utilization affect the credit score of your small business.

Study your business credit report and determine your creditworthiness based on it. Preparing in advance will help you confidently put your point in front of the authority.

Know your finances

Just like your business credit score, knowing your finances put you in a better position to speak about the profitability and growth of your small business.

Review the finances before meeting the authority and chalk out strategies for dealing with the changing business trends and recent events. Speak about your plan with authority and come straight to your requirements.

Make it a barter deal

Successful negotiations are based on a “give and take” system. You can consider taking a Shapiro Negotiations training course to hone your negotiation skills. To seal the deal successfully, make it lucrative for the bank too. You can do it by promising a quick cash closing and compromising on the closing date, contingencies, and type of financing. By being flexible with these variables, you put yourself in the good books of the bank. But make sure you know where to be firm.

Determine a purchase price number and stick to it.

Know your options

A bank may put some regular options on the table, such as SBA loans, low-rate credit card offers, etc. Educate yourself on the common options beforehand. It will help you select the best possible deal.

Also, check your current deals and associations with the bank and surf across options, like account consolidation, etc. Inquire if the bank will offer you a discount depending on the business you bring.

Comply with their procedure

As already said, banks negotiate differently than traditional vendors. The biggest stumbling block is communicating with them. Once you manage to break this barrier, your get stuck in the extensive red tape.

Be patient and comply with the procedure of the bank. As it is not similar to traditional transactions, you may have to deal with tedious documents for a long time. Scan or fax all the required documents to them or places they want you to send. The waiting time may also be longer. But do not get frustrated. Have patience and hope for the best.

Know your options

If you do not understand anything, don’t agree to it. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Also, be open to the offers the bank has to make.

If you are not happy with their offers, check the alternatives you have. You can contact other banks, negotiate with your creditors and vendors, use your personal funds, cut down expenses, or go for crowdsourcing.

Keep a backup plan ready for if your deal with the bank doesn’t work out. Although, it is less likely to happen.

The bottom line

A financial emergency can put you under great stress. But you have multiple avenues to seek.

Reach out to your bank and seek help. Put your negotiating skills at the table and close a profitable deal. If you are bad at negotiating, these tips will help you to go down this lane.

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Your Rights Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Explained

April 22, 2021

By Mark Scott

Having debt hanging over your head is never a fun experience. It can be very stressful. When you have a collection agency constantly hounding you to pay the debt, it can make everything so much worse. Collection agencies are known for unscrupulous business practices. To protect yourself from unfair debt collection tactics, it is important to know your rights.

When a debt collection agency pursues a debt that you owe, you have many protections under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Learning about your rights can help you identify when a collector has violated them and possibly put you in the position to sue the agency.

What Is the FDCPA?

The FDCPA is a federal law regulating the business practices of debt collection agencies for personal debts. This law only applies in cases where the debt is being pursued by a collection agency, no by the original creditor. The law also does not apply to business debt.

The fact that you owe money does not make you a criminal, and the FDCPA works to help ensure that you are not treated like one.

Rules for Debt Collection Agencies Under the FDCPA

There are many things that the FDCPA prohibits collection agencies from doing in the pursuit of a debt.

When They Can Call

Collection agencies are forbidden from calling you before eight in the morning or after nine at night unless they have your permission to do so. They are also not allowed to contact you when you are at work if they are made aware that your employer does not approve of the calls.

Who They Can Talk To About Your Debt

A debt collector is not allowed to discuss your debt with whomever they please. The only people they are allowed to communicate with directly about your debt are you and your spouse if you have one. If you are a minor, they can also discuss your debt with a parent or guardian.

Beyond this small group of people, the debt collector is forbidden from discussing the details of your debt with anyone else. If they can not get in contact with you, the agency is allowed to reach out to your friends or family in order to get your contact information. Beyond getting your contact details, they are not allowed to discuss the debt any further. They are also only allowed to contact others for this information once.

If you hire a lawyer to represent you and give the debt collector your lawyer’s contact details, the debt collector is no longer allowed to contact you, or anyone else, regarding the money you owe. All communication with the collection agency will now go through your lawyer, who will relay any pertinent information.

Reporting Your Debt

The debt collector is not allowed to publish any sort of list about people with unpaid debt. However, they can report your debt to a credit reporting agency. As a result, your credit score would be negatively impacted.

Things They Can Say

Debt collectors are not allowed to harass you. They can not threaten you. They can not imply that you have committed a crime. Generally, they must treat you decently in pursuit of collecting your debt. Do not let a debt collector intimidate you. If they attempt to do so, they are breaking the law set down by the FDCPA and are exposing themselves to legal action.

A Written Request to Cease Contact

When a debt collection agency is pursuing your debt, they can contact you through the phone, mail, or email. However, if you send a written request for them to cease further contact, they are required to do so. While the agency that currently holds the account for your debt is no longer allowed to contact you about it, that does not mean that you will not hear from anyone regarding your debt again.

Once your debt has gone to a collection agency, if they are unable to collect the debt within a few months, it typically will be passed on to another agency. The first agency may not be allowed to contact you anymore after your letter to cease contact. However, the new agency is free to contact you until they receive a new written request from you, asking them to desist.

This can go on and on for years as your debt continues to be passed from collection agency to collection agency.

Your Right to Sue

When a debt collector violates your rights under the FDCPA, you have the right to sue. You must file your lawsuit within one year of the violation. If your lawsuit is successful, you could receive as much as $1,000 plus damages and lawyer fees.

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About the Author

With a law degree under his belt and years of experience, Mark Scott set off to make the law more accessible to all. He decided to help people lost in the maze of legal terminology to find their way. Mark writes clear and concise pieces and gives simple advice that is easy to follow. On account of positive feedback from readers, he decided to dedicate more of his time to this goal and became a legal columnist. In his writings, Mark covers a wide array of topics, like how to seek legal counsel, or how to deal with different procedures. Furthermore, he directs his readers toward other trustworthy resources for more in-depth information.

Can I File for Workers’ Compensation if I Work from Home?

April 22, 2021

By Mark Scott

It’s entirely possible and quite common to work from home — especially now with the Covid-19 public health crisis causing more and more people to telecommute. Under the law, a company must have a clear telecommuting policy that ensures you qualify for on-the-job injury compensation.

The following safeguards are necessary to ensure that all your injuries are covered:

Have clear guidelines to prevent any ambiguities in a potential worker’s compensation claim.
Guidelines should include normal working hours and scheduled breaks to prevent becoming too tired to work safely.
Make sure that you have an up-to-date homeowner’s insurance policy.
Inspect and photograph your work area and identify any potential hazards.
Update your photos and private inspection every 6 months.
Make sure that all work-related devices are secured and that your home computer is protected.
Check in with the offsite employer directly at regular intervals.

Having a dedicated area from which to work is extremely important for insurance, office tax deductions, and greater productivity. You can be just a regular employee when working from the area, and you will be less distracted from common household interruptions. Workers’ Comp Settlement Amounts claim is not always a simple and straightforward process. Insurance companies will often offer a smaller settlement than you deserve or try to deny your claim outright.

When to Contact a Lawyer

When should you contact a worker’s compensation lawyer? That’s really up to you, but most workers’ comp experts recommend hiring an attorney immediately if any of the following conditions are true:

The injuries are not clearly work-related.
The injuries are extremely severe.
A long recovery is likely.
You developed a permanent disability.
It is unclear whether you were performing a personal task at the time of the work-related accident.
The accident occurred while engaging in horseplay.

One scenario seldom fits all states, and the states set the worker’s compensation criteria. It’s also important to understand the details of your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance.

Seamless Worker’s Compensation

Companies are generally required to supervise remote work and limit worker’s compensation plans to control the costs. Remote work was common even before the Covid-19 crisis, and injuries that happen while an employee is engaged in work for a company are compensable regardless of the employee’s location.

If a worker is injured while doing work for the company, they have the right to file a worker’s compensation claim. The remote-working employee has the burden of proof of providing clear evidence that the injury was work-related. That’s why establishing normal work hours is so helpful. Your computer logs might be consulted to prove a questionable case.

Your Work Environment

Employers tacitly consider working conditions at home as generally safe, but they have the right to inspect the premises, see photos of the work area, and try to spot safety hazards just as they do at the office.

During the pandemic, employers face some challenging new legal problems when assigning work to telecommuters, but they essentially bear the burden of ensuring that the work area is safe.

Limiting Liability

Obviously, it is in the best interest of both employees and employers to limit worker’s compensation liability. Only people trying to abuse the system would actively seek to hide or downplay safety risks. It’s important for employers to define working hours, remote worker duties, and compensation coverage from the get-go.

Companies can limit their liability by defining work times and conditions, establishing guidelines for remote workers, and recommending safety measures like mandatory breaks and limitations to the total hours worked in a given period.

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