The rep I worked with at the credit union sent me a hand-written card just days after I’d been in saying “Welcome! We’re glad you found us.” A quick and easy gesture, but I appreciated it.

(Meanwhile, a credit card payment I’d made online with BoA — transferred internally from one account to another, a process which was supposed to take just a few hours — did not post until the day my bill was due, despite sending it SIX DAYS earlier.)

Congrats on the book release!!

As an example, there were thousands of people who were paying their credit card bills on time. Then Congress started talking about passing laws that forced Credit Card companies to stop arbitrarily changing their policies. Credit Card companies, Bank of America included, responded by significantly upping rates on current accounts. Where one might have been paying fifteen percent, he or she would now paying thirty percent. If you are living on a fixed income, that could be a huge matter.

Further, what other type of organization is allowed to borrow money at zero percent from the government [e.g. the tax payers], and turn around and charge the same tax payers thirty percent interest? Bank of America is such an organization.

The issue is one of basic fairness. I feel no sympathy for banks like Bank of America. It is a myth that if you are facing financial trouble, the banks will work with you. They will not. They essentially force people who are willing to pay their debt into bankruptcy.

JD- I love this site! I was referred here by a friend and am here daily now. I am having a hard time getting and navigating around here today because I think the amount of traffic coming here is shutting down the servers. Not a bad problem for you! Gratz on the new book, I look forward to picking up a copy in the next few months when my budget allows

Good lists of posts too! I’m also hesitant about buying gold as an investment…

The $18,000 Wedding article sparked a bunch of posts elsewhere as well (like Frugal Confessions, which led to my post)…it’s amazing what things cost and the amount of people willing to splurge since it’s their wedding day.

I also write about finances, and I am always reading your article.

Congratulations again.

Congrats! So neat to actually hold the thing in your hands, isn’t it?

You have to remember that there’s a spectrum involved: in general, 10% will strongly agree with you; 10% will strongly disagree…it’s the other 80% who will actually be helped by the debate (and those folks comment least!)

The last big debate on your blog, started by me, drove tons of traffic to your site, tons of traffic to *my* site, and heck, one guy even found out he had Celiac disease (which I only mentioned offhand.) Had I to do it all over again, I’d write that post again. I had a blast with it.

-Erica

P.S. I own physical gold and it’s been a great investment, appreciating some 35% since I bought it…but even I think this reeks of a bubble. I plan to sell and use it as part of a house downpayment…whenever I actually do that…no concrete plans yet.

I use the word “busy” to fill in for my crappy memory. I am very socially active and sometimes I really can’t remember right away what I did last night or last weekend or last month. I have yet to figure out a cure for that. Am I relying on my calendar too much, or am I delegating to off-site storage?

Final comment: that Bank of America former-employee post should be the final nail in the coffin for anyone considering closing their accounts with a big bank. I’m so glad I moved to credit unions ten years ago. That story makes me feel sick.

I can tell you that Dun and Bradstreet can’t find the mythical 1993 credit card study. They sent my research assistant an email saying it did not exist and *they* think it is a lie. We’re still pushing on it though.

Are you going to do any book signings? I was bummed that Cakewrecks never made it out near us on their world tour.

I still say no a lot, but there’s some nickle and diming I refuse to do. I’m a top performer as well. I consider it the reason for my top performing. I’m training new people right now and I teach the same ideas.