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Debit or Credit?
Myth: When you make a purchase, there's no difference between using a debit card and a credit card.
Fact: Debit cards have their benefits: Unless you overdraw, you can't spend more money than the amount in your bank account, and you don't have to worry about late fees or interest rates.
However, credit cards are still more reliable in a variety of ways. For starters, federal law affords credit-card consumers better protection. While credit users' obligations are capped at $50 if fraud occurs on a card, debit-card users can be on the hook for $500 if they don't report deceptive behavior within two days of learning about it. (Worse, they face unlimited liability if they wait more than 60 days.) A credit card should be used for online purchases and big-ticket items (furniture, vacations), since the credit-card company will refund your money if the item you purchase has been misrepresented. This is not the case with a debit card.
Additionally, when you use a debit card to buy gas, reserve a hotel room, or rent a car, the merchant can place a hold on your account without your knowledge. "In cases where the final purchase price is unknown at the exact moment of the swipe, the merchant can reserve more money for itself than you actually spend," says Linda Sherry, a spokesperson for Consumer Action, a San Francisco-based watchdog group. While a gas station might freeze $100 (even if you bought only $5 worth of gas), a hold at a car-rental counter could amount to hundreds of dollars, and at a hotel, it could be thousands. The hold can last a couple of days, says Sherry, and could result in your unknowingly overdrawing the account.
For more "best plastic practices", visit the original article on realsimple.com |
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English Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup pitted dates
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
Toffee Sauce:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch round or square baking dish. Sift the flour and baking powder onto a sheet of waxed paper. Chop the dates fine. Place in a small bowl and add the boiling water and baking soda; set aside. In a bowl of electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until blended. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the date mixture to the batter and fold until blended with a rubber spatula. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until pudding is set and firm on top, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven to a wire rack. Toffee Sauce: Combine the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar in a small heavy saucepan; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil gently over medium low heat until mixture is thickened, about 8 minutes. Preheat broiler. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the sauce over the pudding. Spread evenly on top. Place pudding under the broiler until the topping is bubbly, about 1 minute. Serve immediately spooned into dessert bowls. Drizzle with toffee sauce and top with a spoonful of whipped cream.
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January Referral Gift Card Winner
Congratulations to Nick & Tracy Ader, January winners of our $50 gas card drawing!
For every referral who calls for a quote and says they were referred by you, you'll get a $10 movie ticket or $10 coffee card. For every referral we receive from you in a month, you'll get one entry into the drawing for our monthly $50 gas card! That's it, whether they purchase from us or not. Just be sure they mention your name when they call. THANK YOU for sharing your friends with us! |
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Client Spotlight - Divine's Automotive Centers, Towing and Fasmarts
Divine's was started in 1954 by Jack and Ardith Divine.
Starting out with only a single gas station, Divine's provided fuel, automotive repair services and had a single tow truck. The family still owns and actively runs the business. Laura Redmon, Jack and Ardith's daughter, currently owns the business with her husband Jim. Debbie Cornell, another of Jack and Ardith's daughters, is the Convenience Stores manager and her brother John works in the shop at 3rd ave. Jim and Laura's daughter Alli Murrell is the office manager and their son Timothy does maintenance work for the company.
At Divine's we pride ourselves on offering the best possible customer service. Four of Divine's thirteen locations provide full service automotive repair and towing. Divine's offers free brake inspections and competitively prices all brands and types of tires. We sell Trick racing fuel, kerosene and propane. Divine's always gives discounted towing on repairs done at one of our shops. We have 24 hour emergency road side assistance and are affiliated with many car clubs and auto insurance companies. Divine's also hauls heavy equipment, containers and mobile offices. We deliver home heating oil seven days a week and offer on site fueling for diesel fleet vehicles. Ten of our thirteen locations are Conoco branded convenience stores located throughout the Spokane area. We also have an eleventh Conoco convenience store located in Addy, WA.
Divine's strives to serve our community. We sponsor several local schools and charitable events. Divine's is a huge corporate contributor to Hoopfest. Jim Redmon is the varsity Girls basketball coach for Lewis and Clark High school. He is also a board member for Spokane Youth Sports Association and has served as a board member for the Better Business Bureau.
Divine's currently employs ninety-two people from the Spokane area. Divine's makes every effort to buy local from convenience store goods to petroleum products and equipment. Divine's is a member of Washington Oil Marketers Association, the Better Business Bureau, and the Chamber of Commerce and is AAA approved. |
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Mobile Apps from our Insurance Carriers
Several of our carriers have introduced insurance apps for your mobile phone:
Travelers Auto Accident help on iPhone - When an accident happens, Travelers walks you through the steps to get back on the road. For Travelers customers, start your claim at the touch of a button. Create an accident report with step by step of instructions, take photos of the damage, record driver and police information, and email the report.
Travelers Quick Connect on BlackBerry - Connect with Travelers through your BlackBerry for important phone numbers, tips and help for when you've been in an accident. Find out what to do, what information you need and how to start a claim.
Travelers mobile web - compatible with any phone with web browsing capabilities: visit m.travelers.com from your phone to access contact information, get help for accidents on the road, or find a repair shop nearby.
Get Travelers mobile links here.
Safeco's app for iPhone is designed to make it easier to work with Safeco when filing a claim. Features include a claim submission toolkit; ability to view insurance ID cards and policy declarations pages right from your iPhone; check status of pending claims and adjuster's contact information; and help locating roadside assistance.
To get the Safeco app, visit the App Store on your iPhone and search for "Safeco".
Mutual of Enumclaw's app for iPhone gives customers a mobile toolkit to help whether they've been in an auto accident or simply have a question about their bill. With this app customers can: contact emergency services; start a claim; find a preferred repair facility; get a broken windshield fixed; and provide feedback on how Mutual of Enumclaw is doing.
Get Mutual of Enumclaw's iPhone app here.
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Employee Spotlight - Rick Harkins
Rick Harkins has been a Personal Lines Account Executive with Fidelity Associates since January 1996. Prior to coming to Fidelity Associates, he spent three years with SAFECO Insurance and seven and a half years with the United States Air Force. In December of 2010, Rick retired from the Washington Air National Guard at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Fidelity Associates was proud to support his service and was named a winner of the "Patriotic Employer Award" in 2008, when Rick was deployed for the entire year. Rick has been married to Brigitte since 1990 and their son C.J. and daughter Casey are a sophomore and senior at Ferris High School, where Rick is currently an active "Ham on Regal" performer. Rick enjoys skiing, camping, jogging, an occasional fine cigar, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox and Washington State Cougars.
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Testimonials From Clients
Read what a few of our customers had to say about us following their recent claims...
"Excellent service!!! Your staff was phenomenal! Thanks so much." - Lorrie Smyly
"Thank you for this survey because I wanted to make sure you were aware of the wonderful competent people who work for you!! I was apprehensive about submitting a claim, but everyone from my agent, to the insurance company to the adjuster were fabulous! Kudos to all!!" - Mary Perdue
"All I can say is THANKS for taking care of me as Fidelity and SAFECO made a bad situation much better to deal with. THANK YOU!!!" - Stacey Chatman
"Kim Krogh helped a lot. She made me feel well taken care of. I am very grateful for her help when I was shaken up and needed a calm helping hand. Kim is the best." - Yvonne Fisher
And from Fidelity Associates to our clients: Thank you for allowing us to serve you!
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