The parable of the Monkeys ....or....a very understandable explanation of BITCOIN

Thanx to Paul Kruger from Moonstone I now also understand how Bitcoin works..........

A lot of monkeys lived near a village.

One day a merchant came to the village to buy these monkeys.

He announced that he will buy the monkeys @ $100 each.

The villagers thought that the man was mad.

How can somebody buy stray monkeys at $100 each?

Still, some people caught some monkeys and gave it to this merchant and he gave $100 for each monkey.

This news spread like wildfire and people caught monkeys and sold it to the merchant.

After a few days, the merchant announced that he will buy monkeys @ $200 each.

The lazy villagers also ran around to catch the remaining monkeys!

They sold the remaining monkeys @ $200 each.

Then the merchant announced that he will buy monkeys @ $500 each!

The villagers start to lose sleep! They caught six or seven monkeys, which was all that was left and got $500 each.

The villagers were waiting anxiously for the next announcement.

Then the merchant announced that he is going home for a week. And when he returns, he will buy monkeys @ $1000 each!

He asked his employee to take care of the monkeys he bought. He alone was taking care of all the monkeys in a cage.

The merchant went home.

The villagers were very sad as there were no more monkeys left for them to sell it at $1000 each.

Then the employee told them that he will sell some monkeys @ $700 each - secretly.

This news spread like fire. Since the merchant buys monkey @$1000 each, there is a $300 profit for each monkey.

The next day, villagers formed a queue near the monkey cage.

The employee sold all the monkeys at $700 each. The rich bought monkeys in big lots. The poor borrowed money from money lenders and also bought monkeys!

The villagers took care of their monkeys and waited for the merchant to return.

But nobody came! Then they ran to the employee, but he had already left too!

The villagers then realized that they have bought the useless stray monkeys @ $700 each and were unable to sell them!

Bitcoin will be the next monkey business. It will make a lot of people bankrupt and a few people filthy rich.

School fees and single parents exemptions

SCA ruling regarding single parents and school fees


School fees and exemptions are always a sensitive issue and this landmark ruling of the SCA makes it a bit easier for single parents when it comes to exemptions

Here is a link to the article I wrote in 2015 about school fees and and the law :

School fees and the law


And also how to handle school fee debt collectors :

Handling school fee debt collectors

The issue of historical debt


The municipalities of (especially but not limited to) EKHURULENI AND TSWANE are the main culprits and are now making their backs stuff and declaring "We will not pay refunds"  

Thinking they are untouchable I have a surprise for them :  Nobody or no entity is bigger than Concourt!. Their actions were illegal and amounts to theft !

Major class actions can be expected !

The Sharks and Bullies in the Debt scene

As most of the over 52000 readers of my blog know by now I am on the warpath with Debt collectors and especially the Banks about their unethical methods when it comes to debt and debt collecting - This video so correctly reflects my feelings on this -  Watch it to the end and you will understand and probably echo my feelings !

Court orders - Fake or not ?

So your local sheriff pitches up at your door with a COURT ORDER.  Is it genuine or not? Here is the Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the Truth:

2 February 2017

Media Statement
FRAUDULENT COURT ORDERS

The Office of the Chief Justice has noted with concern media reports alleging the use of fraudulent eviction orders in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. We also note that the use of fraudulent court orders extends beyond just eviction orders and that court orders have been falsified to achieve many other criminal ends. When confronted with an alleged court order, members of the public are urged always to verify its authenticity with the court from which it is allegedly issued. Should any individual be unsure about the legitimacy of any court order they should contact the Chief Registrar or Registrar’s office of the particular court where the order is said to have been issued.
However, there are a number of things that an individual can look out for that can help ascertain the authenticity of a court order.
  The order will have the emblem of the office of the Chief Justice affixed to the top of it, older orders will have the Coat of Arms emblem affixed to it;  ( A PICTURE OF THE EMBLEM IS AT THE TOP OF THIS POST
  It will state in which Division the order was made e.g. “In the High Court of South Africa, North West Division, Mafikeng”;
 It will have the date it was issued;  It will state the name of the Judge as per the following example: “Before the Honourable Mr. Justice Mamogale”;
 It will state the names of the Plaintiff and Defendant
 It will state the order given;
 The date stamp of the court will be affixed;
 The order will be signed by the Registrar; and
 The court seal will be affixed to the order.

The Office of the Chief Justice is exploring a number of further options aimed at improving the security of court orders. These will be communicated once implemented. If it is determined that the court order in an individual’s possession is not a legitimate, the fraudulent court order must be reported to the Registrar’s office at the court of the issue and the matter must be reported to the nearest South African Police Service station for further investigation. It is a criminal offense for anyone to issue a document that purports to be a court order if it was not issued at court by a judge.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Mr Nathi Mncube
Chief Director: Court Administration Spokesperson of the RSA Judiciary
T: 0104932500 C: 0848148364 E:
NMncube@judiciary.org.za
Ends. Issued by the Office of the Chief Justice

Financial survival of the fittest

Being physically fit helps one survive all sorts of situations. But there are other things that go with it. Eating correctly, staying away from junk food and drinks, making sure of your environment in terms of security, having a support system, doing regular medical checkups etc, etc, helps in creating your physical environment to survive and thrive.

The exact same is true about Financially surviving in tough times.  You have to be financially fit and know when to duck and how to dive to survive the present uneasy future.

Here are my own 10 most important rules and take on this.
This is not the end of it - just the beginnin - add onto this once you are getting in to the habit of applying these basics.  

Before reading on the two most important things to do to survive is to make changes

One:   Take stock of your Habits   And change them  
Two:   Take stock of your Discipline.  And apply it

"If you do not chance course you will end up where you are headed"

About food and Groceries

1.  Buy Food and groceries from a list.   One of the biggest money spending problems is the frequency of visiting a supermarket. Probably 90% of people go there at least 3-5 times per week with no idea what they really want.    The economy is also going to hit the supermarkets square between the eyes and SPECIALS are going to abound.    Spending some time on compiling a list of purchases with all the latest specials at hand can easily save you 20-30% on your monthly grocery purchase.   Make a fun day of buying groceries and only with a list.  All the well-known supermarkets have websites and all their specials are on there!

2  Buy your basics in Bulk.   -  Going to the shop frequently are normally to just"buy bread and milk"   Bread and milk and a lot of consumables can be frozen - cutting out the need to visit the stores so frequently.

3.  Stop buying pre-packed veggies and the likes - This has been packed for your convenience but it is also the foodstuffs with the highest markup.  Be lazy at your peril.

About debt  

3.  Debt IS A FOUR LETTER SWEAR word.  Accept that - The ones you have you will have to manage.  Do not make NEW ONES.   If you absolutely have to make new debt see my previous sentence. And believe me, you can live without it.  Renewing a cell phone contract is DEBT. You do not need the latest new Phone.  The latest ones cost in excess of R10 000 whilst you can get a very good one brand new for around 20% of that price - Cash.  And you cannot run up big cellphone bills on a pre-paid phone.  You do not need a new car - not in the next 2 years anyway. Accept that the disaster that was created by the downgrading of the country's finances is going to hit you between the eyes.

4. You absolutely have to have a debt payment plan.  And this can only be achieved if you have a Budget.   You have to know exactly how much goes into your bank account and how much goes out.  AND you have to know where on your budget you are at any given time in the month.  There is no sense in having a budget for the sake of one and you do not know how it is used.

5.  The buying of a new car should have at least a 12-month planning period.  You have to do a budget with the new payment featured in it and you must be able to survive normal living with this payment shown as an expense for at least 6-12 months.  Just ask yourself exactly WHY YOU THINK YOU NEED A NEW CAR

6.  The same goes for buying smaller items like a tv, a new laptop etc.  If you cannot buy it cash do not buy it.  Buying any household item on debt is lunacy.  Interest rates on these things easily go to 30% and then there is a handling fee, admin fee, all sorts of other "compulsory items" - like insurance etc.  At the en, your R5000 tv will cost you in excess of  R10.000

Day to day living

7.  Car expenses - do you really have to drive your car to work every day - consider a drive share club.    Do you really have to do that Sunday outing - Try doing some fun stuff with the family at home at least twice a month when you normally "went out"    Do you know how many kilometers you drive every month.  Try cutting out at least 20% of that per month and suddenly you have cut your petrol price effectively by 20% - eliminating the last 20% price hikes of fuel!

8.   Holidays    Again take stock of your habits.   Get rid of timeshare - Yes you can. You have to accept that you have to be brutal to yourself to get eventual benefits of discipline. Plan you holiday - no impulse decisions - they come and bite you in the arse in two month's time - or sooner

9.   Beware the Specials Trap.  You must be able to distinguish between needs and wants.  Buying something you need on special is brilliant.  Buying something you want on special is stupidity.  This goes for everything.  Restaurant specials are great - once a month - not weekly.   Coffee shops are disasters.  Paying R19.50 for a coffee and then the same for a refill whilst you can get a bottomless one around the corner for R3 more?  

10.  I am going to stop here for now with the last  two but most important  of all : 

One:   Take stock of your Habits   And change them    Two:   Take stock of your Discipline.  And apply it 

Bought debt and a template that can be used

Most if not all debt that was bought by Attorneys or Debt collectors has prescribed and is thus illegal.

Here is a template that can be copied and used by consumers whenever you receive a call or SMS from any debt collector - Make sure you get the correct email address and make sure you get a read receipt.

CALL THEIR BLUFF

DO NOT BE BULLIED !

HERE IS THE TEMPLATE:

Please confirm receipt hereof 

Dear sir/Madam,

I refer to your recent SMS regarding an alleged bought (fill in bank) account with your reference nr (Fill in reference number on SMS ) apparently now owed to yourself.

In terms of the amendment of the National credit act that came into force on the 13^th day of March 2015 the following now applies:

(Whether you act on behalf of the original creditor or as the new owner of the debt in terms of a purchase agreement with the original creditor)

“The following section is hereby inserted in the principal Act after section 126A:
‘‘Application of prescription of debt - 126B. (1) (a)

"No person may sell a debt under a credit agreement to which this Act applies and that has been extinguished by prescription under the Prescription Act, 1969 (Act No. 68 of 1969).
(b) No person may continue the collection of, or re-activate a debt under a credit agreement to which this Act applies— (i) which debt has been extinguished by prescription under the Prescription Act, 1969 (Act No. 68 of 1969); and (ii) where the consumer raises the defence of prescription, or would reasonably have raised the defence of prescription had the consumer been aware of such a defence, in response to a demand, whether as part of legal proceedings or otherwise.’’.

You are hereby formally informed that the alleged debt (if it existed) has prescribed and any attempt at collecting on this is thus illegal. Point b – Highlighted for your attention- is very clear on this point –

No person (that will include your good selves) may continue the collection of a credit agreement to which this act applies which debt has been extinguished by prescription under the Prescription act 68 of 1969

. In terms of (b1) above I hereby raise the defense of prescription as per my right in terms of the prescription act.

If you allege that a judgment has been taken on this debt please supply me with a copy of the judgment.

If you allege that you are now the owners of this alleged debt and that it has not prescribed please supply me with the following:

      Your legal standing in this. If you allege that it was an (Insert bank name) account and you are now the owners of this alleged debt please supply me with documentary proof of this ownership.

1.         A copy of the original signed application for the alleged debt.
2.         A complete and up to date statement of the account from inception to date hereof.
3.        This in terms of NCA 65(4)a & b

    Once I have received your answer and proof of everything I have asked for I or my legal advisors will respond to that.

   In the mean time I would appreciate you stop contacting me in this regard, as it  

   constitutes harassment in terms of the  Protection from Harassment Act, 2010.

    Yours faithfully,

   (your name)

   This message is sent without prejudice and with all rights reserved in as far as

   might be applicable:  

   Nothing contained in this message constitutes an offer,  warranty or representation

   from me.