Podcasts about my3cents

In this episode, I talk about my slogan, “Bring a Sistah With You!” Find out how life-long lessons about accountability, compassion, loyalty, and how to protect one another should be stages of our "life cycle" of sisterhood. As the light went off for me, I hope it goes off for you too. Jump in! (S1 - E13)

In this "My3cents" episode, I visit a taboo subject that most women, or even men want to discuss. This week, I take the time to discuss it and get a few things off my chest. Once I did, I came to the conclusion, Eve is to blame. (S1 - E7)

In this week's episode, I share my3cents on examples of how women have allowed past mistakes to define who you are. Words have power. They can build you up. They can tear you down. We will discover together how to rebuild and overcome the past and move forward. (S1-E2)

Intro: Minutes 0 to 4:15 We intended on taking the entire month of January off from the podcast but due to Sussexit we’ve changed our plans. We’ll have two episodes in January and two in February instead. I’m moving in February and will need a little time off for that and the Oscars. We will have another podcast for you next week and are planning on coming back on February 3rd and February 24th. Please check out our revised calendar. Note that this episode was released on Sunday due to the Critics Choice Awards coming out that night. We’ll also release on Sunday next week but should return to our regular Monday morning release time for our two episodes in February. My gym has been really crowded due to the new people at the beginning of the year. Both Chandra and I try to avoid the most crowded times at the gym and store. Sussexit intro: Minutes 4:15 to 5:20 Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced in the afternoon US time last Wednesday that they’re stepping down as senior royals. We think the timing was designed to give preference to the US outlets as it was already evening in the UK and the British press had to play catch up. At the same time, they launched their new website SussexRoyal.com, with a detailed outline of their plans. We talk more about that a little later. Harry and Meghan’s timing: Minutes 5:20 to 8:00 The Sussexes took six weeks off over the holidays and we didn’t know where they were at first but then heard they were in Canada. Chandra believes the stories that William exposed their location because his go-to reporter, Rebecca English, broke the news. We didn’t see them but did get a new photo of Archie and Harry which they released in an end of year video. They were seen by photographers for the first time in six weeks outside Canada house in London on January 7th, the day before their announcement. Meghan and Harry looked so happy and united, and Meghan was glowing! That was the look of a woman who was winning. Chandra said that this was their going away photoshoot and that they knew everyone would use them with the news stories which were about to break. I bring up the last photos of Katie Holmes with Tom Cruise looking triumphant right before she divorced him when she had seemed really depressed right before that. Chandra remembers how often Katie was photographed alone prior to that and how over the marriage Nicole Kidman looked in her final months with Tom. I’ve included all those photos below, I had fun looking them up! I was wrong about the timeline on the Katie Holmes photos though. She looked amazing at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in February and filed for divorce in June. It’s likely her plan was underway at that time though. Meghan is a superb planner: Minutes 8:00 to 11:00 Chandra explains what a next-level planner and game theorist Meghan is, especially in light of how expertly she mapped out that letter to her father, knowing he would sell it to the media and she could eventually sue. She used a similar strategy here. It’s possible that Harry and Meghan weren’t ready to make the announcement but that they did it knowing that it was about to leak. They had it all set up expertly. We heard that the Queen was caught off guard and William was “incandescent with rage,” but then additional stories revealed that Harry and Meghan were trying to work out the details with the royal family behind the scenes and were given the runaround. By making their plans public, the Sussexes have outplayed the Queen, who will look awful if she takes away their royal titles, especially since her Prince Andrew retains his. The “Royal Rota” and the press: Minutes 11:00 to 15:30 We didn’t know that the Royal Rota was an official thing and just assumed that all outlets in the press corps have equal access, but the Sussexes lay this out on their new website. It’s official that certain publications get first access to the royals. These are the same outlets which have been trashing Meghan and Harry. By exposing them, they’re implying that the leaks and smears are coming from royal sources. Chandra thinks it’s quite obvious payback. The Queen and senior royals are scrambling to come up with a solution now that all of this is public. The Sussexes’ finances: Minutes 15:30 to 23 The financial section of SussexRoyal is confusing. They said they get 95% of their funding from The Duchy of Cornwall or Prince Charles and 5% of their funding from the Sovereign Grant, or The Queen. They will be giving up the Sovereign Grant and Chandra explains that whether they’ll keep their funding from Charles depends on a few factors which are yet to be determined. It likely won’t matter if they’re senior royals, but it will be matter if they’re still designated working royals, if they get to keep their HRH designation and whether they keep their titles. They have so many options to make money, like Netflix and book deals. They have a lot of support here in the US. Chandra mentions the “good sis Meghan” tweets and I read tweets by Elizabeth Kidd and Eve Ettinger. Comments of the Week: Minutes 23 to 23 My comments of the week were from smcollins and My3cents on the post with Gwyneth Paltrow’s awful dress at the Golden Globes. Chandra’s comment of the week was from Zapp Brannigan on the post about Kensington Palace’s happy birthday message to Duchess Kate. Thanks for listening bitches! You can text or leave us a voicemail at 434-218-3219. 

The Met Gala: Minutes 1 to 12:30 This was our first episode after the royal baby was born! We talk about the Met Gala, which celebrities nailed the camp theme and whose looks we liked the most. We loved Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Elle Fanning, Kacey Musgraves, Lupita Nyong’o and Lizzo. We especially liked Lady Gaga’s opening performance, which delighted Anna Wintour. We were disappointed in Serena Williams and Gisele Bundchen. We also talk about Gigi Hadid and our favorite men at the event including Benedict Cumberbatch, Ezra Miller and Harry Styles. The Royal Baby: Minutes 12:30 to 22:45 Last Monday we heard Meghan went into labor and about an hour later the news came out she gave birth. Prince Harry spoke to the press and he was so giddy and cute! On Wednesday Harry and Meghan came out with their new baby and spoke to reporters. We analyze why we relate so much more to Meghan and Harry than to William and Kate. As for the name Archie, at least it’s unique. We also talk about the story from January that Prince George introduced himself to a stranger as Archie and whether he overheard that name or if it could be his security name. Game of Thrones Misogyny: Minutes 22:45 to 31:30 Spoilers to Episode 4 The Last of The Starks Chandra mentions that the misogyny started early in the fourth episode of Game of Thrones, particularly when everyone was giving Jon credit instead of Daenerys. I disliked the two redundant scenes between Tyrion and Varys and Chandra points out that producers never showed Jon telling Sansa and Arya about his parentage. Chandra brings up criticism about the writers making Daenerys into the mad queen. We also talk about the controversy over producers turning Sansa’s rape into a transformation for her character. This was highlighted by a tweet by Jessica Chastain. Chandra has a great point about Daenerys’ character arc. User Questions: Minutes 31:30 to 39:30 Tampabay asked if we’re concerned that the royal gossip and Game of Thrones are dominating lately. We talk about the cyclical nature of gossip and about how Game of Thrones gets so many comments because people care. The royal stories are big as the royal gossip is at a fever pitch lately. We hope to get some good scandals this summer like a good breakup or cheating story. We also talk about reality stars and why we don’t often cover stories about them. Comments of The Week: Minutes 39:30 to 44 I mention our two readers who have dogs they’ve put in Wonder Woman costumes, including pottymouthpup and Not So Social butterfly, who had a photo of her sheltie in it! My comment of the week is from My3Cents about Lori Loughlin. Chandra’s comment of the week is from Evil Owl about Katy Perry’s burger costume. She also loves Harry G’s comment on Bebe Rexha’s interview about being a Virgo. You can see the photos and links to stories we talk about at celebitchy.com/podcast and here: https://www.celebitchy.com/?p=620897

Disclaimer: The views and opinions stated in this podcast are just that, one person’s views and opinions shared freely on the internet while exercising the freedom of speech guaranteed in the United States Constitution. Visit the Effective Complaints WebsiteHello, my name is Kindra Cotton, and I don’t like to complain.  I like when things are done right the first time, and when they aren’t, I’d like to see a swift and effective resolution to the issue.  A complaint is merely an expression of an unmet expectation.  I am a reasonable person and so are my expectations.  I wish in my heart of hearts that people would do the right things, for no other reason than the fact that it simply is the right thing to do.  I wish people would start treating others the way they want to be treated, for if they did, we’d not only have happier people, but the world would be a better place.There’s a cliché about “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”, but I'm not sure if that’s still the case.  I have reluctantly become a "squeaky wheel", because for me, enough became enough!Paying for products and services who QUICKLY process payments, and are even quicker to initiate collection proceedings, but who move at a snails pace when they are in the wrong, has encouraged me to spring into action!  I've learned that there is strength in numbers, plus I just know that all these crazy injustices and daily indignities aren’t just happening to me.  There have to be others out there like me, and now is the time that we should band together!Most people don’t complain.  Ever!  Lots of people have complaints, but very few of them do anything about it.  I’ve read statistics on this that say only 10-15% of people who have complaints actually do something about them, and for those that don’t, the reasons are cited as followed: Concern that the process is too time consuming, Thinking that nothing will ever change, The issue at hand is considered to be too trivial to be bothered with, Feeling that whatever went wrong is ultimately their own fault, and Not knowing how to complain or how to do so effectively.Many people will complain among themselves or their family members and friends, but rarely take their complaint to the source or the entity most likely to be able to correct it!In the introductory podcast that you can listen to by clicking the player below, or by downloading it from iTunes, I talk about my experience with writing effective complaints and getting results and how I hope that the EffectiveComplaints.com community can work together to build and grow the community, and its resources by actively participating and adding content.There’s a generally accepted rule in business that says “If you make 1 person happy, they’ll tell 5 people, but if you make 1 person unhappy, they’ll tell 20”.  I imagine in the age of the internet that number can be astronomically higher, bumped up to 200, maybe even 2000 or more!In the world we live in now, where advertising is becoming more and more ineffective, we’re seeing a “Trend Towards Trust”, where people are far more likely to trust the recommendations of a friend or family member, over a sales pitch or random ad campaign.  This is a day and age where opinions matters, and more importantly the internet is working to make the opinions of just about ANYONE relevant to SOMEONE!If only one person complains to a huge entity, that person can be dismissed as "crazy", but if you find others to join with you, your voice and your mission become that much stronger!  With that in mind, I’m looking for like-minded people to join me and help resurrect a consumer advocacy movement that works to put the power back into the hands of the people, and hopefully, wrench some of it from the grasp of the big greedy corporations who take our money, with reckless abandon, and feel that they have no responsibility to us when they have wronged us!Please visit the EffectiveComplaints.com website, as well as its Facebook Fan Page and make a note that you LIKE it. I encourage you to visit other websites and communities that deal with complaints, like ComplaintBoards.com, My3Cents.com, and PissedConsumer.com, but remember EffectiveComplaints.com as your Solution-Oriented Consumer Advocacy Home Base.  The site is called “Effective Complaints”, where the emphasis is on “efficiency”, because my goal here is to help people that want to help themselves.  If there’s something I can do to help, I’ll try, and at the same time, I invite anyone within the community who can offer assistance, or chime in when necessary, to do so.Finally, I want to point out that the EffectiveComplaints.com site isn’t about writing letters for you.  We don't write complaint letters for you, nor do we claim to be legal experts. We're just regular people trying to do what we can to help our fellow consumers.I would like for the EffectiveComplaints.com website and this blog to be a resource for people seeking complaint resolution, thus I invite everyone to join in and become active in the community, and reach out to me in the following ways: Visit EffectiveComplaints.com and send a message through the Contact Us page, Continue to visit this blog, blog.EffectiveComplaints.com, and comment on our blog posts and subscribe to our RSS feed, Become a Fan on Facebook at the Effective Complaints Fan Page, Follow us on Twitter (@complaint_help), or Give us a Call on our Google Voice line at 920-543-HELP (4357). Let me know how we can help.

Okay, here it is, the information you've waited years for:- How bank fees got so prevalent, what they are- How to avoid them- How to complain about them, escalating to top management (contact info)- How to report banks to regulators over fees- How to file lawsuits against them. Show Audio Here.Here are all the links / sources used in the podcast by timestamp when they are heard in the show and some useful information in between:We start our aftercast with some outraged people who tell of their experiences with Bank of America, Wells Fargo (chanting from the protest on Wall Street - Wells Fargo this sucks! Where's our $25 million bucks!), Citibank, and Chase bank.  Can you relate to these people?  Are you mad as heck and don't want to take it anymore?  Protesters walk Broadway in Manhattan, NY, they walked in Chicago, and other cities!  Are you mad enough to want to join them if and when there is another protest?Scott's pet peeve is FEES and specifically, in this aftercast, he takes on bank fees (credit card fees will be featured in another podcast).  In this discussion, free checking (is there such a thing?), small print on bank notices, and other bank fees.  Scott will take us through the fees and how to report these outrageous fees to many different agencies.7:45: Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depository_Institutions_Deregulation_and_Monetary_Control_Act8:45: First National Bank of Chicago Teller Fee in 1995http://redtape.msnbc.com/2008/04/paying-cash-at.html In 1995, First National Bank of Chicago started charging a $3 teller fee which forced people to use the ATM and profits doubled for 28%.  Banking customers have become nickeled and dimed ever since.10:15: Financial Times August 2009 on Bank Fees:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/43d18c68-851d-11de-9a64-00144feabdc0.htmlBanks make $38 billion from fees yearly.  Fees have nearly doubled since 2000 - Financial Times, August 2009. Banks made 75% of their money from fees, not interest. 13:20: PocketMoney checking account register software for Iphone:http://www.catamount.com/iPhoneApps/PocketMoney.html17:37: Coverage on the courtesy overdraft scam where fees and interest are charged to move funds to cover itemshttp://www.billshrink.com/blog/7898/bank-of-america-overdraft/19:15: Usury references in the Bible:http://www.tentmaker.org/lists/UsuryScriptureList.html20:00: Usury defined:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury20:15: Fed Moves to Limit Overdraft Fees:http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/federal-reserve-issues-new-rules-restricting-overdraft-fees-on-d/19235338/22:00: Banks move to limit Overdraft Fees:http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=43&item=8538http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/09/24/wells-fargo-to-eliminate-overdraft-charges/24:15: Red Tape Chronicles MSNBC Reporter Bob Sullivan Reveals BOA's ATM Denial Fee:http://redtape.msnbc.com/2005/10/now_even_atm_de.htmlThank you to Bob Sullivan, Red Tape Cronicles, for revealing an ATM denial fee of $1.50 from Bank of America when he was over his DAILY withdrawl limit. 24:50: One Consumer (of millions) gets stung with the daily spending limit when shopping:http://consumerist.com/2008/02/bank-of-america-wont-let-you-access-your-money.htmlEven worse: Stranded when they cut you off when you are abroad:http://consumerist.com/2008/06/bank-of-america-tries-to-ruin-your-vacation-for-your-own-protection.html25:30: History of ATM's - They started out Free (Thanks to K.D. Weinert) http://www.stopatmfees.com/newpage3.htm  29:45: The Wells Fargo Rewards Debit Card program Elaine describes:https://www.wellsfargo.com/checkcard/rewardsThe Wells Fargo Rewards Program is free if you ONLY register your credit card, but of course, when you try to register your Debit/Visa Logo card to that, there is a yearly fee of $12.  This information comes directly from a customer service representative who I spoke with in the Rewards Dept.  Even though you will get $1 reward for each $1 you put on your credit card, the debit card with visa logo is less than that. 30:15: Chase Leisure Rewards Program referred to in Short Show:https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/assets/page/leisure_rewards_faq30:30: How Points and Loyalty programs work:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_program31:15: TCF Bank $50 bonus promotion:http://www.tcfbank.com/PersonalBanking/pb_checking_free_cash_50.jsp33:52: Wells Fargo Coin Counting Program:  CORRECTION: Elaine stated there is a program to only count coins on certain days and only for WF members. It was information given to her by her local branch of Wells Fargo. Although, when calling to check on this I was advised WF will count coins for no fee for either customers or non-customers IF they have a coin counting machine in the branch, but if they do not, then the tellers will not take the coins (they should) and will refer the customers to another branch.  WF was unable to tell me if they have a policy spelled out on their website, and I could not find one. 34:15:  WF and others charing non account holders $5 fee to cash checks drawn on their bank:http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2005/09/05/daily12.html35:20: Regulations D Savings Fee Info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_D39:00: Bob Sullivan's book "Gotcha Capitalism"http://www.gotchacapitalism.com/44:22: http://www.moveyourmoney.info  is the site helping you find other smaller more local banks to bank with instead of these big 4 banks the fee you to death and took your tax bailout money, yet won't pay you decent interest or loan you money. Huffington Post coverage: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/move-your-money-a-new-yea_b_406022.html45:45: How banks play games with waiting to credit your deposit to your account:http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/chk/19991102.aspThis article also has 6 great tips to avoid this affecting you or making your account go negative. 46:09: Check 21: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Check_2146:25: The Expedited Funds Availability Act: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedited_Funds_Availability_Act46:45: Here is some good strategy for getting the fees waived:http://money.blogs.time.com/2010/02/23/the-customer-service-confrontation-what-to-say-to-get-fees-waived/Escalation Resources:47:41: Federal Reserve Bank: Consumer Complaint Form: http://www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/consumercomplaint.cfmContact Info listed on that same page as well. 49:00: Office of Comptroller of the Currency:Complaint Form: https://appsec.helpwithmybank.gov/olcc_form/Contact Info Here:http://www.helpwithmybank.gov/contactus/index.html50:00: Complain about a Credit Union:http://www.ncua.gov/Resources/ConsumerInformation/Complaints/index.aspxPick the right category of Credit Union, then pick your state, and the contact info for the correct regulator will be revealed.50:47: Karney Hatch's Video "Overdrawn" featured his successful suit against Wells Fargo fighting outrageous overdraft fees. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXRBehEuH0Overdrawn homepage: http://www.overdrawnmovie.net51:45: Consumerist.com article link to web page for small claims court process in all 50 states:http://consumerist.com/2008/01/suing-big-companies-in-small-claims-court-is-fun-and-easy.htmlDirect link to the resource: http://law.freeadvice.com/resources/smallclaimscourts.htm52:30 Kopelowitz & Ostrow law firm is another possible legal option:  See if there is a class action suit and join it, or start a new one: http://www.bankoverdraftlawyers.com/how-to-avoid-bank-overdraft-fees.phpSocial Media Sites to Publicize your story and complain at:53:15:  Consumerist.com:  http://www.consumerist.com (Email your story to them, if they cover it, seen by thousands of people, but note, they redact the story so the actual location of the business isn't revealed.)The rest of these sites do NOT redact stuff, which I feel is better.Rip Off Report: http://www.ripoffreport.com My3Cents.com: http://www.my3cents.comPlanetFeedback: http://www.planetfeedback.comComplaints.com: http://www.complaints.comEpinions.com: http://www.epinions.comThese sites are geographically oriented.  When other consumers search for that business, they just might see your review and not shop there! :)Yelp.com: http://www.yelp.comGoogle.com: http://www.google.com.  (Look up the business and then you should see link for reviews, write a review, many others will see it.)CitySearch.com: http://www.citysearch.comYahoo Local: http://local.yahoo.com/Insider Pages: http://www.insiderpages.comThink Local: http://www.thinklocal.comMetromix: http://www.metromix.comZiphip: http://www.ziphip.comKudzu: http://www.kudzu.comBank Executive Contact and Salary Info:55:00:  John Stumpf, CEO of Wells Fargo:Contact Info: http://consumerist.com/2008/09/contact-info-for-wells-fargo-ceo-john-stumpf-and-friends.htmlSalary Info: http://people.forbes.com/profile/john-g-stumpf/85891(Sarah is his personal assistant as per Elaine.)57:00: Jamie Dimon, CEO of Chase Bank:Heather Joyner, Resolution Specialist: http://consumerist.com/2010/03/having-a-problem-with-chase-bank-heres-where-to-turn.htmlCEO Contact Info: http://consumerist.com/2008/05/contact-information-for-chase-ceos.htmlSalary Info: http://people.forbes.com/profile/james-s-dimon/4663059:50: Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America:BofA is a finalist in Consumerist.com's Worst Company in America Contest:http://consumerist.com/2010/04/worst-company-in-america-overtime-rules.htmlCEO Contact Info: http://consumerist.com/2010/04/reach-bank-of-americas-ceo.htmlSalary Info: http://people.forbes.com/profile/brian-t-moynihan/1005960:48: Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citibank:CEO Contact Info:: http://consumerist.com/2008/10/reach-citibank-executive-customer-service.htmlSalary Info: http://people.forbes.com/profile/vikram-s-pandit/19716Also: 27 Citibank executive emails! :)  http://consumerist.com/2009/03/27-citibank-executive-emails.html62:07: Correction: I had stated that Vikram's share of Old Lane netted him $79 million, but two articles say he actually made around $162.5 million on it:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikram_Pandithttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ausa1oLaMjBs&refer=home67:05: Chase Bank Unemployment Card Fee Scandal:http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/unemployement.debit.cards.2.1531314.htmlExtra Resource Not Mentioned in the Episode:Big 4 banks fee disclosures:Chase: https://apply.chase.com/oao/DisclosureRetriever.aspx?DI=aHR0cDovL2FwcGNvbnRlbnQuYmFua29uZS5uZXQvUlNJL0RlcG9zaXQvUEVSU19DT19BQlNGX0VOR19WMzEuZmRmWells Fargo:https://www.wellsfargo.com/wfonline/deposit_acct_feesBank of America:http://factsaboutfees.bankofamerica.com/manage-banking-fees/Citibank:http://www.citigroup.com/uae/gcb/info/docs/fin_charges.pdf