Comments on: MisIdentified, Again!

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:55:39 +0000

Thanks TAM… I enjoy the discussion. Most of the folks are reasonable and supportive in their comments, even if challenging parts of my position. I can respect that.

I would always think that more good advice is better then less…. but you’re right about the free advice…

Dave

By: The Almost Millionaire

The Almost Millionaire — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:17:29 +0000

Dave,
You have created quite a comment volley here! I think it is funny that your chops are getting busted for offering a little advice to these folks who reached out to Dave R.

You CLEARLY oulined that you are not him, as to give these folks the chance to completely ignore your comments should they so choose. At that point, it is on them to take all the information they can get and make an informed choice about their situation. Hopefully they will reach out to Dave R. too as you provided them with his e-mail. You have covered your bases as far as I can see…everyone know that free advice is always worth what you pay for it

The Almost Millionaire’s last blog post..Tips for starting a business in Michigan

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:37:19 +0000

Hey Matt, thanks for your comments! I appreciate your kind words. I have given some thought to changing my name… I’ve tossed it around and agree that it’s probably a good long term move but have not mustered the action yet. I’ve written a healthy bit on this topic as well… I’ve tried to be as transparent at possible but it has still yeilded confusion so perhaps the name change is the best course of action. Hmm…

Meanwhile, I do appreciate your comments and thoughtful advice. I know don’t write about Ramsey nearly enough as the name might suggest so loosening the ties might be fun.

To be fair… I don’t post traffic stats or report on my income because it’s too low to matter. I’m not making money off the name I can assure everyone of that!!

Thanks again!
Dave

By: Matt SF

Matt SF — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:02:07 +0000

I think the identity issue is a touchy subject and is a gray area in the ethics debate. The obvious fact is that you benefiting (financially, professionally) from the Dave Ramsey name/brand. Whether you find no fault or harm in the use (or misuse depending on your point of view) of his name/brand is entirely up to you since you say that the real Dave Ramsey is kosher with it. I'm not trying to be harsh or out of line, but you appear to give great advice and should have no problem striking out on your own without the indirect benefits from Dave Ramsey Google hits. Matt SF’s last blog post..Weekend Reads: Stock Market Stuck in a Trading Range Edition

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:35:19 +0000

Thanks for updating… I do really want to take his FPU training but haven’t gotten around to it yet…. thanks for sharing from your class recollections.

As for dealing with harassing calls… I don’t know about his course materials but I love the air horn idea he offers on the radio!

Dave

By: Becky

Becky — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:13:05 +0000

Dave gave us a plan for dealing with harassing phone calls as well. If you are clearly not avoiding your creditors, and have done all you can to update them for your financial plans, they have NO legal foundation for harassing phone calls. If they continue to harass you, you can sue them. He goes through the details in his course.

As I recall (and once again, you’d have to check the coursework). If you contact your credit card company BEFORE you get on the dead beat list, you should never get the harassing phone calls to start with. Their computer system is what makes up the dead beat list – not human beings.

Really, it’s best to simply take Dave Ramsey’s course (or at least read his material) instead of going by the word of someone who took the course two years ago!

Blessings!

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Becky, that is great advice… thanks for sharing. Ramsey has talked about communicating with CC’s in a ‘no money’ situation on his radio program but not in the level of detail – at least that I’ve heard. I first think it’s foolish to get so far into debt that you can’t pay but sometimes life happens… in those instances I think it’s reasonable to expect clear, honest, and periodic communication. I doubt this prevents the harrassing phone calls but it puts you in a better position of control and it gives you a great paper trail if/when it ever gets to court. I might even augment this approach with a certified letter to the office of the CEO once at the beginning outlining your plan with perhaps quarterly updates to this level of leadership.

Thanks for sharing!
Dave

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:46:09 +0000

I took the Financial Peace University course two years ago. About the credit cards: As I recall, when you stop making payments to the credit companies, you can keep them from taking you to court by giving them a DETAILED plan for paying them back. You would need to look over the course work, but as I recall, you make a table explaining the current income and where it’s all going (rent, insurance, gas, food, utilities, medical bills, and other bills, etc.) You explain to these people that your health and welfare needs come first, and you have every plan to pay them back, but that they are on the dead bottom of the list at this point. You contact them by mail every month after that, updating your plan as you go. Contacting them even more often is not a bad idea (phone calls to them don’t hurt either). As things move along financially, you give them a heads up for when you can begin paying on your account.

Dave taught us that their systems are entirely automated. By contacting them every month BEFORE THE DUE DATE, this kicks your name out of their dead beat list. Dave said they really don’t have a category for people like this-people who cannot pay their credit card bills, but are not dead beats.

Blessings!

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:00:19 +0000

I love a strong opinion and you certainly have one HS. I appreciate you sharing what’s on your mind.

At the same time, I do hope you looked around and read some of my many words on the topic of my name and my offering of advice. I’m sure you’re harsh stance would soften with only a few moments of effort. I have contacted Ramsey’s team and other sites that invoke his name and I’ve complied with the – albeit limited – feedback I’ve received. I’ve also taken great strides to address the relatively low risk of mis-identification that may confront a ‘normal’ person.

But I do appreciate your warnings. It certainly sounds, from your tone, like you’ve encountered a similar situation in the past. That, or you’re a first year law student. Neither is a bad thing in it’s proper doses. Nonetheless, I appreciate you sharing from your experience.

Thanks again for the warning and your contribution to the discussion! I do love the dialogue!
Dave

By: Dave Ozment

Dave Ozment — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:45:32 +0000

Yeah… and here’s where it’s obvious that I’m torn because I agree with your comments and thoughts as well. Hopefully I’ve addressed the source of accidental inquiries but I do hope to get more questions and issues that I can address moving forward.

Thanks for your support and comments!
Dave