http://www.cdbn.net Money,loan, credit card, debt consolidation, mortgage Management Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:54:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Never forget that the big banks are in business to make money for their shareholders. Serving customers is always going to be a lower priority than boosting the bottom line, despite what thr ads say. No matter what kind of help you seek from a bank, you can be tricked and ... http://www.cdbn.net/credit-talking/banks-are-not-your-friend.html (P.S. Are you going to SxSW?  If so, drop me a line and we'll coordinate.) Most people start their first company while they still have a day job. It makes sense: You don't need loans, and you don't need funding. If you "fail" all you've lost is time, but considering ... http://www.cdbn.net/business/employed-with-a-side-of-startup.html That’s what the company wants you to believe. It’s put together a slick campaign online to show it’s committed to better service. I like the extended call centre hours. Finally! What took so long? And I like the testimonials. But why do they come only from Bell employees? Where are the ... http://www.cdbn.net/object/is-bell%e2%80%99s-customer-service-getting-better.html This is a guest post by Mike Schoeffler, founder of iPhone running application Roadbud. He writes a refreshingly approachable fitness blog. I hesitate to take issue with Jason’s Sacrifice your health for your startup — particularly after his wife gave her up-close-and-personal. His main point is dead on ... http://www.cdbn.net/business/startup-fitness.html I did a column yesterday about those in-your-face bank commercials and why they’re getting so weird. You know, the two grumpy old men (TD Canada Trust) and the dysfunctional couples (Scotiabank). I couldn’t find the real Scotiabank ad on YouTube, so I’ve linked to a parody. But there’s one I ... http://www.cdbn.net/business/investmentitos-anyone.html When I asked recently whether you'd like to see other people guest-posting here, the response was far more positive than I expected. But as much as you're open to hearing new voices, you were also clear that you come here for quality content (not quantity), for entrepreneurial perspective (not product pitches), ... http://www.cdbn.net/business/an-experiment-with-guest-posts.html After a week in the Mexican sun, I’m back connecting customers to corporations, trying to open lines of communication and relieve frustration. Two days later, I have a bunch of victories to report. You’ll find stories posted below about a 12-year-old boy’s savings at TD Canada Trust, a new mother’s ... http://www.cdbn.net/credit-talking/back-to-work-helping-people-get-refunds.html Racking up consumer debt is not difficult to do, especially during tough economic times. You may have racked up debt without even noticing. A few charges here and there and bam! You’re hit with high interest rates that make it practically impossible to make a dent in that debt. Before ... http://www.cdbn.net/credit-talking/how-do-credit-counseling-services-work.html What if your company were allowed only one advantage over the competition? What would a sales call look like, starting with your 30-second pitch, then dealing with skeptical questions, trying to earn this potential customer's interest, respect, and eventually money, all with only one advantage? Impossible, or just pointless? ... http://www.cdbn.net/business/pick-one-and-own-it.html Last year I wrote about the Credit Card Bill of Rights, and what it really meant for you.  This law went into effect last Monday, so here is a reminder about the key points of the new law and how it affects you. Overdraft Fees. Overdraft fees can only be charged ... http://www.cdbn.net/credit-talking/new-credit-card-changes-take-effect.html