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Check out that article linked above. Turns out I probably will have the last laugh at Rite Aid and there army of incompetent managers that don't fairly refund money on watches thereby losing a person's business for life from when they are a teenager to when they die (lots of years of lost potential business) over a stupid idiotic management decision to not honor a full refund on a returned item.
Hahahahah @ Rite Aid. They probably have the worst store managers in the industry.
If I win the jackpot, I'll give most of the money to charity, keep my job, help support my ex-wife, quit drinking and see if a therapist can stop me from telling these lies. Funny!
Seriously, If I win, everyone I have posted a response to on this forum gets a new Mustang GT loaded any way you want it. (if I get enough people pulling for me to win, it may just happen)
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I'm pulling for you, mako! Not because I get a Mustang GT if you do, but because you deserve it!!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
For the first 18 months it was in a CD which was paying 3+%. When that matured in 2009 rates were in the toilet so I put some in a Hi-yield bond fund and some in a large cap dividend fund. Between capital gains and dividends I estimate I made $8k on Mitsu's money.
I bet you guys could have done better.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Man, we think alike. At one point I was bragging about what a smart investor I was and how I was up $6,000 on one set of investments. She was giving me me the same "when can I see it?" line so I went to the bank and pulled that amount out of our cash reserve in small bills. I then went home and dumped it on the table in front of her. I said "here you go baby, it's all yours!"
She made me turn right around and put it back. :surprise:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
That's for sure. When I bought the Eclipse my score was 790 out of a possible 850. This year when I applied for a credit card it was 842. The bank said they had never seen a credit report so thin with such a high score.
Ha, if they knew how much I make my score would probably be 3.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Hey there is survival value to being a paranoid nut. You never take anything at face value. When it comes to money I just assume anything I'm told is baloney until I verify it for myself. There is so much spin put on facts these days that you have to take a step back and separate the truth from the puffery.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Actually, it would not! How you pay your bills and how much credit you use of the credit you have been extended determines your score along with a good mix of different kinds of credit (mortgage, revolving, installment). That is why, when you apply for a lease or loan on a car, the ask for the amount of income from wages, investments, pensions, etc. then, the lending institution looks at income (ability to pay) and credit score (payment history and amount of usable credit vs. outstanding debt) to determine eligibility.
I do not have a mortgage, so my credit score is only 789. If I had a mortgage I had been paying off for 8-10 years, it would be much higher. Also, I pay off my credit cards prior to the statement closing date (I pay all bills electronically) which results in 0 balances on all credit cards, thus payment history is lacking.
Because of the above, I decided not to pay credit card balances until after the closing dates, thus showing balances. The following month, I pay before the closing date, showing I paid off the total debt. This month, I have $4500 in outstanding credit card debt, but next month it will be zero. This approach was recommended by Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. They said it would raised scores 20% over the next several months.
Another negative on my scores has to do with so many auto loans. It was suggested that I not buy a new car for awhile (phooey) and keep one outstanding car loan for a couple of years.
So, it's not so much what you have (income) as it is how you pay your debts and how much of your extended credit you are using.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
As an owner of a 21 year old Mustang GT, bought new, can I ask for a little upgrade if you win?
http://familyfordofenfield.com/Hartford-and-Springfield-area/For-Sale/New/Ford/M- - ustang/2013-Boss-Green-Car/13191402/
My wife bought 5 tickets, so if we win, I'll do the same, although I'll wait until she has spent a few million, so she won't notice a few Mustangs being expensed.
We'll let Ford make that decision. I would like one as well, but I have to have mine in A/T. If you can get Ford to make me a factory Boss in A/T (the only 1 of 1 A/T Boss), you can have one any way you want it. How's that sound?
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I have Edsel's email address, so I'll ask him if you win.
He was a big Miami Ohio University benefactor.
How about this pitch? Ford builds 2 Boss A/T's.
You get one and they auction the other one off for charity at Barrett Jackson.
That would bring in some big money.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
“You can have everything in life
you want, if you will just help
enough other people get what
they want” Zig Ziglar
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Guess you spent so much time bothering them about that $7 watch they couldn't concentrate on managing their stores!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'd like a red one!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I bet you guys could have done better.
You didn't bury any in the back 40 in coffee cans?
You did great....if you actually made money these last few years then you are doing fine.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Are you sure, I was looking forward to getting my new Mustang?
Actually, getting one number is pretty good. I think I should get a prize, when I buy lottery tickets I usually don't get any numbers - I think there should be a prize for that!
Don't feel bad, your chance of winning, one in 175 million. The chances of one of these things happening is much greater;
- Dying from a bee sting: 1 in 6.1 million.
-- Dying from being struck by lightning: 1 in 3 million.
-- An amateur golfer making a hole in one on a par-3 hole: 1 in 12,500.
-- A golfer hitting a hole in one on consecutive par-3 holes: 1 in about 156 million.
-- Being struck by lightning over an 80-year lifetime: 1 in 10,000.
-- Being attacked by a shark: 1 in 11.5 million.
I'll buy a lottery ticket once in awhile, especially for such a big huge prize, but it is probably a worse decision than getting an 84 month car loan. Ithink instead of one prize of $500 million it is better to have 500 prizes of $1 million.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
So every other month you pay interest on those cards?
I'd rather not pay any interest so I wouldn't do that. Then again I have a mortgage that is paid as agreed so perhaps I don't need to worry about doing what you do. Further, I have one credit card open with a 0% rate for another 4 months that I carry a balance on. In that case, I pay the minimum and have the balance in a money market making a little money.
My card I use for all purchases closes the 23rd of the month and then that balance is due on the 20th of the next month. So anything charged before November 23rd closing date is due on Dec 20th WITHOUT any interest.
I think what Mike was doing is going online and sending a payment before the statement closing date, therefore technically never having an outstanding balance.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
You guys seem to have a lot of knowledge about credit cards and credit background information.
I don't know if this is true, someone told me this the other day. He said, "If you collect lots of credit cards, even if you don't use them, you will get a lower credit score, because the company that tracks you, will presume you have lots of credit cards and will be using them all the time - so, you are really a big or wild spender." He advises not to get more credit cards than you really need.
I have no idea if this is true.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That reminds me when I did the kitchen I opened both Sears and Lowes cards to take advantage of 0% finance deals. They are long paid off, I should probably close them.
Honestly, no matter what you have open, outstanding, whatever if your score is 750+ there shouldn't be a problem getting approved for most anything. I think when I leased my Buick you needed a 700 or better for the best rate.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
That is interesting! We don't use a lot of credit cards in Canada, but in Florida you get extra discounts at Kohls and Bealles etc. so we have been racking up cards.
We shouldn't have a problem, and don't really need these credit cards, they are all paid on time, but, it is surprising that they could actually hurt your credit rating!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's what I do. I pay by the due date and the closing date is 3-5 days later. In fact, when I get the bill, I setup an electronic payment at the CC website for the due date.
Mike's post (see below) said he doesn't pay until after the closing date which in my world triggers interest and late fees.
I decided not to pay credit card balances until after the closing dates, thus showing balances. The following month, I pay before the closing date, showing I paid off the total debt.
Everything I've read says the opposite.
Have lots of available credit but use little of it. Lenders like to see a low credit utilization rate as it shows that the borrower is able to manage their money. Someone who has $100K in available credit who owes $5K only has a 5% utilization rate. Someone with $10k in available credit who owes $5K is at 50%.
Also, lots of old credit cards that are used occasionally shows that you have a good history with your lenders. I make sure to use each card at least twice a year to keep the account open and to show history. I have had an American Express account since 1987 - new lenders love that type of history.
Have lots of available credit but use little of it.
It's so confusing. I've read alot on this also and while some places say to keep older accounts open, when applying for a mortage, HELOC, etc the bank will tell you to close "stale" accounts.
Who knows, honestly like I said earlier if you maintain good habits by paying everything on time and keeping your accounts way under the available line you should be fine. If your score is in the 700s an extra open line or two may/may not be the difference of a few points.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
But if you are using them, they aren't stale.
Who knows, honestly like I said earlier if you maintain good habits by paying everything on time and keeping your accounts way under the available line you should be fine.
That's the key. In reality as long as you pay your bills within 30 days of your due date, most creditors won't report it to the rating bureaus. But this of course will cost you a small fortune in late fees and interest charges.
If your score is in the 700s an extra open line or two may/may not be the difference of a few points.
The last time my wife and I got a loan, our scores were above 800. We've worked hard to get those credit scores.
Well, I started having problems again, but this time, it would stall after it warmed up and started to run rough. Took it back Saturday and they told me it probably was some bad gas. So I picked up the car Monday, and again this morning, it stalled and started running rough, but upon cold start, not when warmed up. I stopped at a light, and the car started to shake like it was one of the cylinders "missing". Probably starved to fuel, is my guess.
So, I took it up again this morning, and they gave me yet another loaner, third one in a week. I went immediately to the General Manager and he told me they have an identical car at one of their other dealerships, same colors, same equipment, same MSRP. He is going to call me if they can replace the car for me.
I would doubt that Mercedes would "lemon law" the car since nothing ever shows up on the readout from the cars computer - no error messages, etc. It could be a problem with the cars computer system that controls fuel, timing, etc. Who knows at this points.
So, I guess while they are trying to figure out what is wrong with the car - and they do not at tbhis point - we will see what can be done from the General Manager's vantage point.
The car did not run rough before I took it in to have them replace the injectors and pumps. When I got the car back before going to Jacksonville, that's when the problems of rough engine started - a completely different symptom from the stalling after it sat for a 20 - 30 minutes. This is not a leaking injector - they ruled that out. They cannot get to duplicate the roughness. I told them that I do not enjoy running up there every few days and if I was trying to get a new car, why would I want one exactly like the one I have if I wasn't truly thrilled with the color and equipment. I told them I have no reason to lie to them about this - my car has less than 2500 miles on it.
We will see what transpires on this - I firmly believe this is another issue - not the same one as before - so Mercedes will not approve a buy back on it unless I am lucky enough to have AutoNation pull some strings since they are the biggest Mercedes Dealership organization in the country.
I am not a very happy camper!!!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
You had a perfectly good reliable Japanese automobile but NOOOOO. You wanted a German car.
Well Mike - the issues you describe are what the Euro snobs call soul. Only German cars have soul.
:P
You need a debt history to establish it, but you cannot be too deep in debt. You need to have an ample "installment" credit (mortgage, car, home equity loan, not line of credit) both in the past and present, rather than revolving accounts (credit cards, lines of credit). You want to have credit available to you (banks trust you), but not too much (can't one day go on shopping spree and spend your entire retirement on stuff).
There is plenty of "guru" supposedly universal advice, like "keep the cards open, even if not used", or similar nonsense. It usually is correct in certain context, but makes no sense in another. For example for somebody who has only three cards with $5000 limit each, closing one is a big deal, but another guy having 10 credit cards for total of $50000 limit, closing a $2000 store cards is a non-event, even if the card is 10 years old.
Here is a perfect score (or close): 20-year long running mortgage that is nearly paid off (but still active), three-to-six credit cars with combined limit of $30,000 or more (or some number like that - high, but not cosmic), but no balances, plenty of past installment loan activity in the past (car loans and such), but nothing new in last 12 months, no new accounts of any kind, no new inquiries of any kind. Just like Rockefeller said "The way to get a loan from a bank is to prove it that you don't need it". Of course, we don't get loans because we don't need them, so there will always be "negative factors" in the score. I always get a good laugh when I read them. The best ones are those contradicting each other.
I say - do what makes sense. Close accounts that you never use, get loans that you need, but don't open new accounts every three months. And then an obvious one, like don't be late on your bills. Finally - don't worry about the exact score - it needs to be just enough to get best offer available at time you need it - between those times, it makes no difference, as long as it stays above "universal default" levels, which is pretty low, hard to get there without 60-day late payments. There are ways to juice the score up just a little bit before placing a new inquiry (like reducing card balances to zero in previous month, if possible), but with score high enough, it does not matter, anyway. Those quick fixes are usually marginal, so they'd only matter for people who are "imperfect" even for the naked eye, not just computer score.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
That seems pretty lame....how many times have you had bad gas (I mean your car) in the last 10 years?
Sorry to hear you have this problem, this has to be very frustrating and takes a lot of the pleasure out of driving a new car.
When it happens it would be good if you can use a camera to video record the event, that might help, at minimum it would show them what actually takes place. It might be good if the GM used your car for a week to see what he experiences...you could give us a road report on the GLK.
I am a mechanical dunce, but I think this problem is somehow related to the first problem....it is just too coincidental. I have owned about (rough estimate) 20 new cars between me and my wife, and I only had 1 car that had a major fault in the first few months....a 78 Malibu.
About the Lexus.....someone else on this site, said I would rather push my VW than drive a Toyota.....I think that applies to me.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Rough running is not part of any soul. It is just rough running.
To Mike - what a disapointment - I feel for you. You hated the GS, now the E-Class, time to buy 540i or A6/A7. But, man you must be some lemon magnet :lemon:
2018 430i Gran Coupe
That sounds logical and sensible. I still wonder though if your rating could be affected by the number of cards you get.
My wife had a 30% off card for Kohls. She bought $150 worth of curtains (at 50% off), had a 30% off coupon of the $75, then got 20% off of that for opening a new account, and I believe something like 15% off for being a senior which is only 55 in Florida. She paid about $30 for $150 worth of curtains.....is this a great country or what!
The only problem is we get about 10 emails a day from the same retailers, offering all kinds of bargains. I can only use so much.....STUFF!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I guess you missed the :P I put at the end of the post.
Do I have to place a disclaimer on every post that contains humor or sarcasm??
:P
Psst - that's a joke as well.
I think that's the key. The boss (my wife) is a fanatic about paying bills so we have a perfect record for four decades. I've never had a mortgage and had only one credit card up until last year.
It sure isn't income based. Not too long ago I had a four digit net income year.
I'm what you call land rich and dirt poor.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sometimes you just have to run the crap out of a new car so it knows how to respond.
When I was 17 I hung out with a 19 yr old guy that had a new (68) Mustang. One day we ended up in a new Torino which he was driving like he stole it. He told me his dad just bought the car and wanted him to "break it in right". His dad was a believer that cars run hard early would last longer. He also owned an auto parts store. Who knows.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I have "kicked" it down many times, including this morning on my way up to the dealer. It responds beautifully in those situations. It's the idling, in gear, at a stop sign or traffic light.
This morning, I started it up as always and it ran fine in its fast idle. I noticed it came out of "fast idle" (cold start-up) rather quickly, well before normal operating temperature, and began running very, very rough, like it was "missing" or being starved for gas. The car was shaking, which is what brought my attention to the engine roughness. I immediately went on to the Turnpike and kicked it down to get up to 70 mph quickly. The car responded perfectly.
IMHO, I believe it still is connected to a fuel system problem. The car is actually running more poorly since they replaced the injectors. Prior to that, it would "occasionally" stall upon starting up after it was run 30 or so miles. They were able to duplicate the stalling which occurred 20-30 minutes after running. They isolated the problem as a leaking injector, so they replaced all the injectors to be on the safe side. They also replaced fuel pumps. They noticed that the computer in the car never showed any abnormalities or error codes.
The same thing now - no error codes! Until they can duplicate the rough engine at cold start-up, I am at a loss, as are they. I do know that the shop foreman took over the car immediately along with his 2 top mechanics this morning. The General Manager spoke with them after I dropped the car off for the third time in less than 2 weeks. From what I understand, from my salesman, the GM told them to fix the damn car, once and for all - Mike is our best customer and I'm not going to tolerate this anyone. MAKE HIM HAPPY OR I'M TAKING HIM OUT OF THE CAR AND PUTTING HIM IN A NEW ONE!
So that's where it stands now. I've had the use of my car for 5 out of the last 12 days. Let's see what happens next!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
NO! I never pay interest because I pay the total amount immediately rather than waiting for the statement. What I did now was not pay the balances on 3 cards before the statement was sent out, but paid the full amount right after the statement date!
So, this month, on 11/26, all three cards' statements were prepared and issued showing balances, which never happened before because I paid the balances before the statements were issued. Yesterday, I paid off 2 of the cards and have scheduled a payment to be made today to pay off the 3rd card. All 3 cards will have no balances left. But, because the statements now showed balances and were reported to the credit agencies as such for the very first time, it will finally show on my credit report. But next month, on 12/26, there will be 0 balances again showing I paid off the balances. I will do this on all alternating months to show large balances paid off!
I hope I communicated it better this time. I never pay interest because I always pay off the balances well before the due dates!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Why not take the 25 or so days of grace? That way you always show balances paid and get to play with someone else's money for up to 49 days.
Do you pull your reports regularly as allowed by law? If so, you'll see that the cards report "paid as agreed." It doesn't show "pays early." As such, there's no benefit IMHO to do so. Also, potential lenders are smart enough to see the regular patterns of your balances but really only care that you "pay as agreed."
I was thinking similar things as I read the latest installment of Mike's travails, but your response meant that I didn't have to do one of my own.
My Acura has been as boring as one could possibly imagine. Works for me.
That is correct. I used to do that, but if I paid a balance of say $3000 before the due date, there would still be balances showing, but never paid off completely. Pays as agreed could be interpreted as "pays the minimum due" rather than pays in full. That is why it was suggested that I do it the way I described in my last post - shows a high balance one month and then no balance the next month, etc. in that way, it show that when I do use credit, it is used wisely and for a sort period of time. I'm talking about "revolving" credit now. As for my car loan, it shows the original balance and the payment amount.
I have an account with Equifax that I pay $125 a year - and have access to unlimited credit reports and credit scores. I also have a gratis account with TransUnion. They send me alerts Shen a new account is opened or credit card balances exceed a preset limit to let me know if I am being defrauded or my credit is being abused by a second or third party.
I was the victim of identity theft about 6 years ago so ever since then, I have had these services to alert me if accounts are opened in my NW that I did not authorize.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
When we first got the 74 Charger it had a similar weird problem. It would start fine when cold, run good and not sputter or stall. No problem even if you shut it off as long as you started it back up within a few minutes. But if you shut it off for more than 20 minutes it would not start up again for another hour no matter how long you cranked it. It defied my limited diagnostic abilities.
Turned out to be a defective distributor. I still don't understand how that was possible but the dealer replaced it under warranty and it worked.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Driver,
It's called CC. Not 'Passat CC.'
As I said a while back, not only is it gorgeous. It's also still an actual German-engineered car, has that feel of the road, that the American-Passat doesn't hvae.
One of the reasons I hate to have anything big done on a new car. Always worry it never goes back the same!
so maybe it is a preexisting condition. Or maybe something was not put back on quite right?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Your guess is as good as mine. Eventually, they will find the problem or they will get me a new car. It's just frustrating to keep bringing it back and driving loaners all the time. When I drive a loaner, I have to stop at the entry gate to get into the community instead of driving through the residents' lane with the automatic gate. I have to wait 10-15 minutes at times.
I truly miss my car as it drives and handles so beautifully and has everything I want in a car.
We'll know more tomorrow morning when they start it up cold and hopefully can duplicate the problems I am having with it.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
We are both kind of right about the name.
This quote from Topspeed "Volkswagen first unveiled the Passat CC (known simply as the CC in the USA and South Africa)"
Topspeed VW CC
I would like to try one out, I am sure it would be a blast to drive. I don't think I would actually buy one....a little small, and no AWD offered.
Beautiful looking car, and since I am sure it will drive and handle better than the U.S made Passat, it must be a wonderful drivers car.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Congrats to you and your family on your daughter Whitney's 1st birthday. Truly a wonderful milestone, to be sure. Love her name - Whitney. I'm sure that beautiful name goes with a truly beautiful young lady!
Enjoy her and all the kids while you can - they grow up fast and before you know it, they leave the nest to create their own lives!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Nice little review of the year and what happens here.
The year has flown by.......and Whitney is one year old already! Happy Birthday Whitney!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250