Leadpile's Blog» money

Leadpile Partners Up With Lender To Help Military

Mari Holt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:32:41 +0000

Leadpile works a lot in the payday loan industry, with regards to trying to connect those that are looking for a payday loan and those that can provide these short term loans to the consumers. However, if you are in the military you do not qualify for these types of loans, therefore there are alternatives that are offered to these consumers. Leadpile is excited to partner up with a lender that can help service these individuals. We are looking for publishers that can help us generate more of these leads.
This is what we are looking for in these leads:
Nationwide, “active duty” Military (no reserves or government employees) only, consumers must be looking for a $500+ loan, no daily caps and there is no restricted delivery schedules.

There are several ways to generate these leads:

* MicroClick Forms
* MicroClick iForms
* Banners
* Text Links
* “On Exit” Ads
* Open Market

If you are a publisher and looking to help provide these sorts of short term loans to members of our military, reach out to us!

It’s Tax Season!

Natasha Aronov — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:55:52 +0000

It is once again that time of year to start thinking about getting your taxes done. Uncle Sam is ready to collect his money, unless you are one of the lucky ones and expecting a return. Whether or not you owe or are owed money, there are both pros and cons to filing your taxes early.
The IRS officially starts accepting returns as early January and gives you the choice to file as soon as your W2 and 1099s are received.

Advantages to filling early can be:
*Receiving your refund faster
*Getting it over with
*Avoiding crowds and long lines at the post office
*Avoiding the possibility of being late, and owing more
*Giving your self time incase you realize something is more complicated that originally though

Advantages to waiting to pay your taxes until they are due:
*Maximizing your interest by keeping the money you owe in an interest-bearing account until April
*Possibly decrease your chances of being audited. Some think that it’s best to put your taxes off until the very extreme, and this will lessen your chances of being audited
*Tax forms can sometimes be updated during the tax season, the changes might not be reflected yet if you file early

If you are receiving money back it may be hard to wait, lending out your money to the government interest free is very nice, but not something that we all want to do for extended periods of time. If you are going to have to pay, it might be worth the wait!

Facebook Says Goodbye To Microsoft Banner Ads

Mari Holt — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:14:50 +0000

Facebook is saying goodbye to banner ads supplied by Microsoft, and HELLO to more targeted ads. Internews.com reports, “Facebook, which counts nearly 400 million users, said its own display ads feature interactive aspects and can target viewers based on their personal information, making them better suited to its social networking service than Microsoft’s standard Web banner ads. Ad formats that feature social actions perform better and provide a better user experience since they are more consistent with the look and feel of Facebook,” the company said in a statement. This combination of targeting and social relevance is the primary driver behind the shift in strategy.”
This change will probably not affect Microcsoft, but it brings up a good question on taking control over your page and what the user experiences. Facebook is obviously concerned with the experience the consumer goes through, versus a deal they have with Microsoft. Is this something of the future where companies really pay attention to the consumer experience versus making the most money on the ads they choose to display? Leadpile has an ability to supply banner ads for it’s publishers, however a website owner caring about the consumer experience is something we are very much concerned with also. Consumer experience or make more money????? What is the answer you believe is right?

ATM’s Not As Convenient As We Think

Natasha Aronov — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:11:32 +0000

Almost everyone goes to the ATM to take out cash on a regular basis. Most of the time we do not even think about the task because it has become second nature. But have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need cash and you can find every other banks ATM, but not yours? It is not a big deal going to an ATM other than your own until you see that they are going to charge you around $3.00 to complete your transaction. Then on top of that your bank sometime charges you additionally for banking elsewhere. Over time all those fees can really add up!
Is anything currently being done to lower the fees or get rid of them at all? Currently, the Federal Reserve is reviewing the matter of the rising fees. This all started to come to the service when Bankrate.com found that out of network bank fees rose 12.6% from last year. Where every dollar counts these days, it would be great if the bank fees were eliminated or at the least, decrease. It should not cost an individual $5.00 to take out $20.00.
Here are some useful tips of how to avoid these fees:
1. Only withdraw money from your OWN bank
2. Use your debit/credit card
3. Get cash back when you are at the store
Maybe we should all go back to the old school way of banking… use a piggy bank!

What’s Better – Shopping Online Or In Stores?

Natasha Aronov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:08:58 +0000

For many of you, it still might be a little early to do your holiday shopping. When you do start your shopping many people may ask which is better; to shop online or to go to stores? In several cases it can really depend on numerous factors. Many people think of Black Friday as a kick off to the holiday shopping season. Consumers will wake up at four in the morning (myself included) to go and get the incredible deals that are being offered. Many of them even have a certain route that they will go to hit up the stores in a certain order to make sure they can get the best deals before everyone else.
But what about everyone who wants to get the great deals, but can not justify getting up at four in the morning to save a few bucks – just hop out of bed and shop online. More times than not, a consumer will be able to get the same deals that they would online as they would when going to the store. According to adweek.com“…buying online saves on trips to the store and gas expenses (53 percent) and makes it easier to compare prices between retailers online than in the store (51 percent), the other top-cited reasons all came back to convenience. The No. 1 reason for shopping online (69 percent) was that “when I buy online I can shop whenever I’d like,” while 57 percent of respondents said it “allows me to avoid the holiday shopping crowds at stores.”
Even though the convenience factor of shopping online is huge, it can make it a little more difficult as well. Since most of the holiday season is spent shopping for other people, consumers want to make sure that the products they are buying are the right size, ensure quality, and ask questions about the product to a sales associate. At the end of the day it all comes down to the consumer and which method of shopping they like better. I know that I usually do a combo of the two. Hard to find items I will purchase online, but toys I will go to the store. Below are some useful tips for when you go shopping this season:
1. Do your research before buying – Compare prices online to make sure you are getting the best deal out there
2. Look for the holiday specials – everywhere is having discounts so paying for full price should not be an option
3. When ordering online, always check for free shipping
4. Use coupons/coupon codes – If you are going to be buying a certain item there is no reason not to get percentage off. A lot of product coupon code can be found online just by doing a simple search
5. Know the return policy of the store/items just in case your item is not a hit
6. Make a list and stick to it – this will help prevent going over budget and buying unnecessary items

I hope that you find these few tips helpful and save you some money. Have a wonderful shopping season!

Some Things We Seem To Overpay On! Are You GUILTY?

Mari Holt — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:51:58 +0000

Sometimes I come across an interesting article, or hear a great website while watching television. Therefore, I thought I would pass along this helpful information. It relates to the topic that most can not get away with at least hearing something about each day…. money. However, this is a great article about how to save money on everything we are paying too much for. According to Kiplinger.com, Turmoil in the industry could mean a terrific bargain for you with items such as cars, so we all need to pay attention to where we are paying to much. The unfortunate thing is someone else’s hardship is potentially your gain, and some different businesses are truly benefiting and so are some consumers.

Here are some everyday things we are just overpaying for now:

1. Afternon snacks-How many of you try and go with the “healthier” option of a energy/protein bar versus something like a candy bar? Most would say yes they do. However, you are paying at least double the amount for a snack that has just as much sugar as that candy bar. Try going for some fresh fruit instead.

2. Bottled water- “The dr says drink more water”…. so we grab botttled water at the nearest convenient store of by the bulk at the grocery store. Unfortunately, that is a lot more expensive than buying for instance a picture with the filter.

3. Caffeine- We are all guilty of this one… Starbucks. There are much more cheaper options out there, and we know it but just don’t do it.

4. Music- The days of purchasing a whole CD are kinda becoming extinct, and a lot more expensive than downloading certain tunes on places like iTunes or Amazon.

5. Movies-The movie theaters seem to be prospering during this tough economy, however there are some even cheaper options out there. With just as much enjoyment using services such as Netflix will allow a person to save a lot of money (ie- babysitters, food, and overall admission costs).

6. Flowers- A lot of us might be out there purchasing flowers, however if you are there are certainly some cheaper options besides the florist. Look at your local grocery store as a place to pick up that nice set of fresh flowers. There is a potential to save a lot of money and you even have an ability to customize it the way you like it. The recipient of the flowers will like it knowing you just spent more time on their arrangement.

7. Fruits and veggies- I am guilty of this one. Convenience, convenience, convenience…. cost more, cost more, cost more. Buying pre cut fruits and vegetables will cost up to 3X as much as cutting it yourself, however it is so much easier to have someone else cut it!

8. Credit card fees-Late fees and over limit fees: a great way to increase your credit card balance really really fast. Check your statements and find out the grace period (if any) that you can pay your bill late. Avoid these charges because this is a great way to increase that credit card balance back up, when you just started getting it down.

9. ATM fees-Bank with a bank that has a lot of locations so you don’t incorporate those extra fees for taking OUR OWN money out of the bank. Once again, a great way to loose money quick for something we all do regularly. These fees could be up to $4.00 at the ATM you withdrew the money at, AND another out of network bank fee assessed by your bank.

10. Fax & mail services- Look for cheaper smarter options to fax and send packages. FedEx might be the most convenient place to send a package and maybe a fax, however there are far cheaper options out there if you just look.

I know, I know this does not really relate to Leadpile Lead Exchange and what we do here, however who isn’t trying to at least try and see on some ways to save some money? I think we all are guilty of spending too much on some of these things.

Fico Score Seeing Some Changes

Mari Holt — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:10:15 +0000

In recent news the Fair Isaac Corporation is rolling out an updated FICO score. A FICO score was created back in 1989 to help consumers and businesses determine consumer’s credit worthiness. All 3 credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Equifax, and Experian) will be implementing this new scoring.

Some things that are changing with the newly updated FICO score:

1. Ignoring of small collection accounts

2. One credit problem forgiven

3. Changes to authorized users and how it affects your credit score

Things you will want to now pay attention to with regards to your score:

1. The more credit you use in regards to your balances versus credit limits will affect you more now.

2. Don’t close $0 balance accounts now. Keep them open and don’t use them.

3. You will be penalized if the lenders close your accounts. To prevent this, charge one time per month to keep activity going if you want to keep the account.

4. Diversify what credit accounts you have active. For instance, have some installment accounts (IE- CAR loans etc) AND revolving credit. This shows you are able to maintain both types of credit.

Fair Isaac is hoping these changes will help with getting a better depiction of credit worthiness. Lenders will like it more because there is going to be a more precise score of their credit. Consumers will like it more because if that score is higher, that makes the cost to get more money (loans and new credit) cheaper. The better your FICO score is, the more credit you have available and the lower your rates will potentially be to borrow money. This seems to be a win win situation for consumers and businesses.

Leadpile Lead Exchange wants to help consumers and businesses to be connected with regards to any financial matter. This new FICO score will most likely promote more consumers to want to take a deeper look at their scores and how they can maybe get them higher. Credit repair companies are probably a really good option to look at to help do that.

Payday Loans: Whose Responsibility Is It?

Mari Holt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:17:13 +0000

The new year is here and there still is a credit crisis that Americans are trying to figure out how they are going to get through. Many of my other posts talk about credit and ways to know your financial situation, therefore you know what you are getting into with any “new” loans etc. One way some get through these problems is with a payday loan/cash advance. Payday loans get a lot of negative publicity because many feel they are not an “appropriate” way to get out of a temporary situation. Each consumer has their own way of fixing their financial situation, but I thought this quote was pretty interesting in regards to payday loans (Payday Pundit).

How much debt a person has does not determine whether a payday loan is a good idea for them. If the loan enables them to repair their car so they don’t lose their job or saves them from eviction, then it’s a good idea even if they owe a million bucks. And it’s also a good idea even if it just saves them a few dollars in alternative fees that they would otherwise have to pay. People know their individual circumstances and are in a better position to know if a loan is good for them than the lender or any government formula put together by activists and politicians who want to pride themselves on how they are protecting us from ourselves.

Every loan is a gamble on the part of both lender and borrower, and nobody can ever guarantee that any loan can ever be repaid. If both the lender and the borrower mutually agree that the transaction is likely to further their interests, then who are you or any government agency to tell them that they can’t engage in it? If the lenders are tricking people into expecting one thing but delivering another that of course is deception which should be stopped, but apart from that, BUTT OUT, MAN!

If lenders have a responsibility to investigate the finances of people who apply for loans to make sure they can afford them then so do all other merchants and service providers. Is that the kind of society you want to live in? When you are the one who has to get government permission to purchase a product or service then you may feel differently about making politicians our parents instead of our servants.

Buried In Debt: What’s The Best Way to Deal With It?

Mari Holt — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:12:14 +0000

The holidays are here and more and more of us are getting more and more in debt trying to prepare. The unfortunate thing is many consumers were already in a bad situation with their debt, and now the holidays are going to add to the mess. There are various options out there to help consumers with their debt situation. Debt consolidation, debt settlement and credit repair are a few services that help consumers with resolving their debt situation.

Debt Consolidation: Working with a company that helps you consolidate all your credit cards into one payment. A lot of companies can even work with the creditors to pause any future late charges or excess fees from being added to the current balance.

Debt Settlement: Working with a company that works with the creditors to get balance settlements. A certain percentage of the total debt amount is paid, versus the whole amount and the balances continuing to get larger.

Credit Repair: Working with a company to help educate and direct you in the right direction regarding your credit. There is a lot of information to know about your credit report and how to really optimize getting the most of your credit report.

According to Consumers Affairs, here are some things that determine if you need help with your debt:

•	Your credit card balances are rising while your income is decreasing.
•	You are only paying the minimum amounts required on your accounts, or maybe less than the minimums.
•	You’re juggling bills. For example, you apply for another credit card and use cash advances from it to pay an existing card.
•	You have more credit cards than a smart gambler has poker chips.
•	You are at or perilously near the limit on each of your credit cards.
•	You consistently charge more each month than you make in payments.
•	You are working overtime to keep up with your credit card payments.
•	You don’t know how much you owe and really don’t want to find out.
•	You have received calls or letters about delinquent bill payments.
•	You are using your credit card to buy necessities like food or gasoline.
•	Your credit cards are no longer used for the sake of convenience, but because you don’t have money.
•	You are dipping into savings or your IRA to pay your monthly bills.
•	You are hiding the true cost of your purchases from your spouse.
•	You’re playing the card game by signing up for every credit card that sends you an unsolicited offer.
•	You have just lost your job or are fearful that you are about to and are concerned about how you will pay all your bills. Leadpile Lead Exchange deals with all these lead types and knows there are a lot of people struggling with trying to get some sort of help. Getting more knowledge regarding your “credit” is key to any of these services. Come out with something learned if you seek out any of these services, so this sort of thing does not happen again (if avoidable of course).

WANTED: Car Czar

Mari Holt — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:59:30 +0000

Here is the latest news on what is going on with the struggling auto industry. Automakers are trying to get congress to approve a bailout for them, yet FORD has announced it does not need any help. However, congress wants to add a stipluation in with this potential “deal”… that is a “car czar”. This car czar would potentially be there to monitor every aspect of the money, evaluate the business relationships they have, and oversee everything else related to the industry.

So, what is a car czar and what is congress wanting this “person” to do? According to NPR news, a few traits that is recommended is someone who knows industrial companies and can follow the money. Another person states the car czar must have financial smarts who is going to make decisions that are going to benefit Americans. However, is this something one person can truely take on? How about a committee that governs these future decisions that are made?
Leadpile Lead Exchange is definitely interested in this industry because we work a lot with the auto finance lead type. What happens in the automakers “world” affects our marketplace. We will be keeping an eye on what happens with the automakers and if they really decide to hire a car czar.