April 22, 2005
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| Your Credit FIle | |
Well, my credit file is most interesting.
People have been sniffing around! Time Newspapers, a private investigator back in 1998, Diners Club. Sheesh, I have never even applied for a diners club card.
My advise to you all, check your credit file every year. There is some stuff on mine that needs to come off and a credit file with more than a single page of enquiries is a bad credit file!
38 entries! Sheesh!
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 7:04 am | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
April 21, 2005
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| Banks, Credit Agencies And Arseholes | |
Today I discovered, while trying to open a business bank account, that ASB Bank, the bunch of yobbos, have put a default on my credit file for a credit card I closed back in 2003.
Now, the funny thing is, it never went to collection, I have not recieved any statements, nor have I had any other communication from ASB Bank.
Of course, the credit agency Baycorp Advantage are just as bad. Will they take off the notice while I am sorting this out? Nope. Can I get my file? Yes, but it will cost if I want it now, or it will be free if I wait 10 business days.
So, ASB Bank alledge a debt I knew nothing about, Baycorp Advantage are happy to put the default there, but I have to go through hoops to get it removed.
What a fucken rort!
If I am accused of something, they should have to a) prove I am at fault, b) ensure they have made every effort to contact me and c) allow the issue to be resolved without detriment to an otherwise clean credit record.
Baycorp Advantage and ASB Bank are a buch of arseholes.
Both get invoiced from tomorrow for wasting my time.
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 1:27 pm | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
April 9, 2005
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| Credit Card Debt | |
For most of us, credit cards are a constant pain.
An article on www.killyourdebt.info covers how you can get control on your nasty, evil credit card.
You can read it at Get Control Of The Card - Part One
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 7:01 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
March 14, 2005
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| Does NZ Need 401(k) Equivalent | |
As part of my interest in both budgeting and financial independence, I recently started looking at 401(k) legislation in the USA.
Although I have only done a cursory investigation, I believe there are merits in the legislation that align very well with New Zealand's tax policy.
For instance, an employee should be able to invest in their retirement without becoming liable for high taxation. I don't think the 100% deferred taxation associated with the 401(k) is a safe or fair option.
The dollar for dollar matching is an excellent idea, but how many New Zealand employers are going to do that?
The proposal I would put forward is that an employee should be able to put aside up to 10 cents on the dollar as a retirement contribution, matched dollar for dollar by their employer or the government in the case of self employed people.
No tax should be payable, as long as the funds are never drawn upon before retirement. The funds should be put into medium risk investments, and underwritten by the government to ensure a financial disaster does not leave the employee at a disadvantage.
I don't believe people should be able to borrow against their retirement fund. Debt is evil.
10% is a good level of savings. For the average person, putting this into a fund means they will retire with minimal degration of their lifestyle. It also matches "The Richest Man In Babylon" philosophy.
If anyone has more information on 401(k) and it's implication and perhaps some laymen terms of reference, please do let me know. |
Posted by Karl Rohde at 2:19 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
March 11, 2005
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| Surplus grows and grows | |
$5.27 billion surplus in just seven months. Obscene!
As of April 1, 2005 all petrol goes up 5 cents plus GST per litre.
For me, that amounts to $2.75 each week. Or $143 a year.
Now - if you include my wife - that works out at $250 per year for our household. Thats nappies for two months, or our household utilities bills for a month.
I don't know about you, but I am getting sick to death of being taxed without seeing ANY benefit. I just found out that if, on the off chance, I get a hernia (or my wife does) which is more common in new parents above 35, it is not covered by ACC or public health. What the fuck are my taxes paying for?
You might find Rodney Hide's take on this interesting.
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 6:22 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
February 15, 2005
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| BLOODY TAXATION | |
Now I get YET ANOTHER damn bill for ACC levies from over a year ago!! Nearly $500 to pay on total earnings of $23,000 - that's 2.5% on top of the tax already paid!
Absolutely friggen ridiculous!
Why work? Why try to get ahead? |
Posted by Karl Rohde at 6:49 pm | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (1) | Money |
| Say No To Agents | |
No, I don't mean spys and suchlike. Real Estate Agents, and Brokers that sell boats - and maybe even car folk.!
NoAgents has bee around for a while now, but after moving to a non-windows server, I had to rewrite it in PHP. Still am actually.
Anyway, the Private Sale Real estate portal is up, and so get over there and take a look. http://www.noagents.biz
There is also a really cool boat for sale at http://www.noagents.biz/marine/ called Bambino. I recommend a quick gander. |
Posted by Karl Rohde at 6:11 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
December 20, 2004
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| Finally! | |
As we approach Christmas, I can say that the IRD thing is now over for a while. Yes, I have to pay a small fortune for the next four years, but it is managable, and there is an end in sight!
As for this time of year. Bah Humbug, I really wish I was not stuck in a city this time of year!
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 8:22 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
October 25, 2004
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| IRD - The Saga Continues | |
I.R.D. continue to hound me.
They want MORE!
The banks say I can't afford it. I say I can't afford it. But they want more!
Budget for glasses, teeth, healthcare, life insurance.
All non-essential according to I.R.D.
So, I am going to do something I never thought I would. ASK FOR HELP FROM YOU.
If you have, or know someone that has had tax trouble, and want to help me out,
then please send a donantion. The paypal account is paypal@karlrohde.com
You know what. I don't expect anyone to really help. But my options are now
limited. My wife and I expect our first child in the New Year, and have to
admit, I don't know what I am going to do when my wife gives up work in a few
months.
So. If you can help. Great. If you think I am a wanker for asking. That's your
opinion.
The total amount of debt is NZ$24,000 - original Tax debt is about $15,000 with
nearly $8,000 paid already. SO the rest is penalties and interest.
UNFAIR I SAY!
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 1:06 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
September 20, 2004
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| The Big Guns | |
IRD Have No Power.
I used guerilla tactics - just like when marketing a small business, or trying
to bid for a job against corporate entities. Low blows and tenacity.
Get an MP involved. Simply as that. My issue has gone to the Commissioner of
Inland Revenue after being across the Associate Minister of Revenue's desk.
Oh, and to ensure everything is above board, notify a couple of media people
along the way.
Now, I am not saying I don't owe the tax - I do. I am saying I should be able
to pay it off at a level that I can afford without having to sell my firstborn
child.
So, will keep you posted.
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 10:01 pm | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
September 5, 2004
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| Tax | |
Well, here it is. I am in a well paid job, tried business on my own a few years back, and owe tax. I have gone from around $20,000 owed to about $37,000 with the penalties they add. What is worse, they wont accept the payment I say I can afford, and would rather bankrupt me. Now here is the funny bit - I don't own anything. Had to sell it all when the business went under. So that means instead of getting something every month, they get NOTHING.
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Posted by Karl Rohde at 9:33 am | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Money |
