tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post4777541624810423693..comments2024-03-27T07:01:13.725+02:00Comments on The Muqata: JoeSettler’s Guide for a Safe Financial AliyahJameel @ The Muqatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15890095633246557332noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-90002669701038945132010-03-14T21:43:25.401+02:002010-03-14T21:43:25.401+02:00We got out of commercial banking a few years ago -...We got out of commercial banking a few years ago - we moved over to the Post office.<br /><br />We have been able to eliminate all Hora'ot Keva except for our one child's school. The other schools accepted post-dated checks.<br /><br />We do NOT have a credit card - just the Visa-cal debit card offered by the Post office.<br /><br />The Hora'at Keva is just one symptom of how people lose control over their money in Israel.<br /><br />The other big way to lose control is to start living on your overdraft. This is how commercial banks make their money - by extending automatic line of credit when you dip below zero. <br /><br />This rapidly becomes a habit.<br /><br />So does purchasing items in multiple credit-card payments - which is much more heavily promoted/socially acceptable than in the US.<br /><br />So the ABSOLUTE BEST advice for new olim is to bypass the commercial banks entirely.<br /><br />Open a post-office account. It carries NO line of credit - there are no numbers below zero. <br /><br />The debit card offers all the convenience of a credit card, without the temptation to buy in costly payments.<br /><br />Limit the hora'ot keva - and you retain control over your finances.Ben-Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-30654489725565292862010-03-14T19:35:26.603+02:002010-03-14T19:35:26.603+02:00Joe, it seems you did a good thing to warn people....Joe, it seems you did a good thing to warn people. Obviously from the replies, not everyone's experience is the same, which means that there REALLY ARE discrepancies, and everyone should be vigilant. Complaining right away keeps them on their toes, especially if they get the message that they are being WATCHED closely.<br />I very much like the 'practical' issues being written about.Neshamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06326762185596512130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-71483876620886885002010-03-14T14:15:55.850+02:002010-03-14T14:15:55.850+02:00I personally find the trip to the P.O rather tires...I personally find the trip to the P.O rather tiresome - with some half brained nitwits maning the posts. I usually end up waiting at least 30 mins - just to get a parcel delivered. I would avoid the P.O at any oppertunityrealRightWingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-15301169813866794582010-03-14T14:11:16.171+02:002010-03-14T14:11:16.171+02:00My experience with the electric company has been f...My experience with the electric company has been favorab;e. When their estmated bill was way off base and I called/emailed them the actual reading they issued a corrected bill and returned the difference.Gee a Moronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00049652650047347640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-40551540591020320662010-03-14T13:08:45.703+02:002010-03-14T13:08:45.703+02:00That is the same problem, as if they send you a bi...That is the same problem, as if they send you a bill, and you have to argue before you pay, and if you do not pay, you will be charged interest etc, threatened with cut off electricity.<br />Standing orders through Visa are easlier to deal with and prevent me forgetting to pay.<br />In addition, we will not be able to register our daughter for Gan if we do not have a standing order, and I still did not do this.<br />I do however, agree with you about the problems, as the council never tell me how much money they are taking and why.kerennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-4646792758807187732010-03-14T12:31:36.317+02:002010-03-14T12:31:36.317+02:00Jameel,
The Electric Company quite often estimate...Jameel,<br /><br />The Electric Company quite often estimates your bill instead of going and checking your meter.<br /><br />In your case, your estimates have been lower than the meter, but we've had estimates that are much higher that the actual usage.<br /><br />Should they be allowed to pull out whatever amount they want based on an estimate?JoeSettlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232647820807408898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-28013515257994360382010-03-14T12:20:22.056+02:002010-03-14T12:20:22.056+02:00Jameel,
You can disagree about the Hora'at Ke...Jameel,<br /><br />You can disagree about the Hora'at Keva, but since I (and other friends) have experienced this abuse of the banking system more than once (including Israeli friends), I am putting more value in my experience.<br /><br />I'm glad Visa has been helpful in canceling all those spurious charges. <br /><br />Any particular reason you've had so many that they were decent with?JoeSettlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232647820807408898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-82132980792536342382010-03-14T12:13:20.855+02:002010-03-14T12:13:20.855+02:00I hereby disagree with this post.
We use hora'...I hereby disagree with this post.<br /><br />We use hora'at keva for a multitude of things: School, Electric Co, KVish 6, Gas Co, Bezeq...<br /><br />We review our VISA statements monthly for spurious charges, and VISA has been decent about canceling those that were wrong.Jameel @ The Muqatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15890095633246557332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-81223252274300153472010-03-14T11:56:47.251+02:002010-03-14T11:56:47.251+02:00The Post Office seems to offer the most advanced b...The Post Office seems to offer the most advanced banking services!JoeSettlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232647820807408898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-53507626752856964872010-03-14T11:51:19.296+02:002010-03-14T11:51:19.296+02:00our visa cal card that is linked to our bank hadoa...our visa cal card that is linked to our bank hadoar account is a debit card. we can only charge what we have in the bank. we can not do tashlumim with it.tzipnoreply@blogger.com