Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Review of Integrity Financial, is it a scam?

In a word, no. Dan Hollister of Integrity Financial (www.IntegrityFinancial.com) really pushes hard for you to buy his CD (audio, not a DVD) that explains his way that "your debts can set you free". It is titled "Break the Chains" "Your Debts can set you free" and "Blessings in Disguise". He uses a very lengthy web page to convince you that what he is offering is the real deal and truly is a way to have your debts set you free.

I am not one to buy into Internet Marketing, but I was VERY curious how he could make the claim "the more debts you have, the better this works!" because, c'mon, that makes no sense. I never buy 'get rich quick' schemes, on the Internet or otherwise, but he was not making the claim to get rich.. he was making the claim that you can pay down your debts faster than you think, and still live the life style you have now. This got my attention, because while I had several debts, I was paying all of them with at least their minimum, and was having fun with the rest of my money (of a few hundred dollars per month). He does emphasize this will not work for anyone barely scraping together enough to put food on the table, implying you do need "some" loose money, if even if just $50 dollars per month, to get this going.

So I figured that for $47, if he gave me an idea how to manipulate my debts that would save me at least $47, then I lost nothing. So I ordered it. What I didn't realize is that the $47 was payment for a one hour phone conversation with a financial expert as well as the audio CD that explained this 'debts will set you free' plan. I figured the "phone call with the financial expert" part is where he will try to sell me some investment package, or otherwise. I was pleased to find out that when the financial expert called me, and I told him I understood the whole system and what to do (it's simple), he seemed to be glad to let me go saying "you got it figured out, so if I can be of any help, let me know". I even told him I have extra money to play with (which was sort of a lie) and he said "Great, use that on your debts, but you're not ready for other investments yet" and pretty much, I think HE was the one trying to get off the phone with ME. Basically, his job was to make sure I knew how to use the system, and that was it. He did not try to sell me anything, even when I was letting him know I was 'comfortable' financially, but with lots of debts.

Let me outline what situation you HAVE to be in for this to work for you, and truly save you a lot of money (and it's fun to do, at that!). The discipline he refers to over and over in his sales pitch is actually more ominous sounding than it actually is. The discipline is a simple thing to do, which is this: you have to take whatever money you gain from this process and keep applying it to your debts (instead of falling into temptation and spending it). The discipline in that is that you just have to maintain resisting that temptation for the amount of years until you have all your debts paid off.

*So, what you need is at least 5 or more debts. The more the better, really. And a large debt like a car or mortgage is great too. You might ask, why would this HELP you to have more debts? Well, because part of the fun is watching the debts disintegrate very very quickly relative to how they would have if you kept doing status quo. So after you do this process for a while, eventually, your large debts (car, house) you will see HUGE payments being made to them.... again, without you having to change how you spend your money now AS LONG AS you do not fall into the temptation to spend the extra money you are getting.
*You need to be currently paying on those debts with at least the minimum payment.
*You must have at least a few dollars left over that you can play with.
*And here is the key: You must have places in your monthly spending habits to "release" $50 or more dollars per month to start off with applying to your debts. $150 is much better, but whatever you can use as your 'seed' money.
*And, again, the discipline to NOT spend the extra money you start getting after this gets rolling.

So if you want to know the rest, you have to buy his CD *or* if I see enough views/comments here, I'll email it to you. But I do feel Dan has done a service with this CD, even though it is a VERY simple thing to do, and deserves the $47 for the idea and the kick in the pants I needed to get my debts paid down quickly.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Brian Sapient and Greydon Square

What occurred over the last weekend at the AHA/SSA conference was that Greydon Square got into a verbal disagreement with Brain Sapient of the Rational Response Squad, and finally turned over a table and repeatedly punched Brian in the face causing severe bruising, lacerations and abrasions and hospitalization. The argument was because Brian was standing up for himself and was not backing down to Greydon's demands to stop selling his CD's, which Brain stated he had already paid for and felt it was ethical and fair for him to continue selling the CDs. Greydon then digressed into a threat of physical violence, and Brian did not wish to leave it at that. Brian requested they finish the issue there and then so as not to have to have it lingering. Greydon then flipped over the table throwing it into one of the "mediators" that Greydon requested and knocked Brian to the ground with a punch and continued to punch Brian in the face repeatedly.

In the past I have attended ,and will attend, various SSA/AHA events. I have met many people over the years and hope beyond hope that anyone I befriended at these events are not any of the individuals I see posting light hearted commentary about this event and ins many cases, justifying what Greydon Square did.

I am particularly interested in having dialog with Ishmael and anyone else who did not seem to take this event seriously and understand that Brian was in no way responsible for the atrocious behavior of Greydon any more than a girl is in no way responsible for her rape if she was wearing a short skirt. In other words, even *IF* all the allegations against Brian are true, it in no way justifies what Greydon did. Greydon is 100% responsible for his deplorable act, and should suffer the social interactions for what he did. It is a side-track to continue to refer to what an asshole Brian is because he was ripping people off, or what ever accusation one might have about his personality. I do not know Brian and agree that if he is involved in criminal behavior, he should be held accountable. But I withhold my "belief" (hint: as all good skeptic should pride themselves in doing) about those allegations against Brian until I have hard evidence for it.

My hard evidence for what Greydon did, and my recounting of some fo the facts about the conversations that were had with Greydon before the assault, and the assault itself, are from one of the two eye witnesses to the event with whom I am a close friend who relayed to me the particulars of the event. I am taking this on because I am shocked, absolutely dismayed at some of the posts on the Internet I have seen from supposed other rational mature atheists. I was naive in that area... I thought it was impossible for educated atheists to ever find such an act "deserved" or light-hearted and not taken very seriously.