Customer Rating: Summary: useless Comment: The book is outdated - - aside from that, it is more about the writings of the new testament then it is about the recovering from bankruptcy and how to move forward in a world that revolves around your credit history. Customer Rating: Summary: What about the Seminars? Comment: It's no big deal if you buy Mr. Snyder's book, but before you go further, and pay someone for credit repair services, check out Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of North Dakota vs. McCray, 2008 ND 162. It's available online.
Be aware, credit repair organizations can't do anything for you that you can't do yourself. They are not supposed to charge you before they do the work on your behalf. There's a whole laundry list of stuff they're supposed to tell you. Check out the Federal Trade Commission's website at ftc.gov for more information. If a credit bureau won't take off negative but inaccurate information after you've sent a written dispute, I suggest you obtain a referral to an attorney who is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Customer Rating: Summary: Sexist, out of touch and downright weird Comment: This is one of the most strange books I have read. The author is sexist and out of touch with modern society. He differentiates betweeen "men's work" and "women's work", pushes religion, and among his 32 ways to cut living expenses he recommends finding new homes for your pets and other strange suggestions (like not sending Christmas cards but writing more letters throughout the year). I also find it alarming how he touts leasing cars, and he apparently does it quite often as he speaks of his third car, his wife's fourth car, etc. Why not just buy a decent used car and pay for the upkeep? Really bizarre and a complete waste of time. Like another reviewer mentioned, there is much more complete and up to date information available all over the web. Also, try your local non-profit credit counseling office, they generally offer free classes and educational material. Customer Rating: Summary: Steven Snyder's system was very helpful for me Comment: I declared in 2002 and was devastated. I'm sure everyone is but my morale and my sense of security were rotten. I had just moved to a new city on the other coast and strolling through unusually small bookshops, I came across the first edition of this book. It was illuminating to me, someone who had no credit education at all. I wish I read it before and I'd never have needed it later. But the real clincher came when I went to his seminar, freely offered. I was somewhat suspicious but after going there I left with real hope. I signed up for his regular email bulletin and I've participated in 1 phone conference since then. He has dedicated himself to the postbankruptcy recovery period and keeps current. So even if his own bankruptcy was a long time ago, his information keeps being upgraded. His dynamic personality ensures that he has connections and so you will be able to find lenders to help you during the difficult period of no credit to bad credit to mediocre etc. He has contacts and they respect him, so that coming to them through Steven shows them you are a better risk, someone who is trying to do things properly. Knowing that I could get a car, while mine was rapidly falling apart, was a huge relief. The second edition of this book was not as exciting to me, since I've learned much more since then. It is not fair to evaluate it. I wish it had more of a directory, with names and numbers etc., which he gives you at the seminar. But since his seminars focus on specific geographic areas, it is easier than say keeping the entire USA in one place. I get the limitations. So, my 5 score rating is for the whole package. I don't know how someone new to the process would feel reading the book but it gives you hope, tips, and a simple plan to follow that will help you. Now if you can't or won't follow them, that is another story and discovering why will probably help you lots. The other thing is it presumes a drive that many people may not have. You have to have a certain personality to be willing to go out there and advocate for yourself and not just be feeble and submissive but to keep your head up, not give up when you hear "no", and keep on going till you get "yes". That isn't for everyone. In some cases, it may not be feasible if you live in a small town. Your options are limited. But in this day and age of internet, maybe it isn't so limiting. Anyway, there is no cookie cutter approach and you have to adapt these principles to fit your needs. And the religious stuff is so innoccuous. I hate when people preach to me but it is really inoffensive. Every spiritual tradition believes in the idea that if you give, you will get. And it is very true. The money we waste can turn into positive karma if we mindfully donate a portion of it to a worthy cause. And mindfulness about money can only be helpful for the recovering person. Customer Rating: Summary: The Book Is Actually An Ad For His $497 Course Comment: This book is FULL of commercials but void of any specific information you can apply to your life. His advice on everything from getting credit cards, auto loans, installment loans, mortgages, what ever, is to research everything out there and interview every loan officer, credit mangager etc out there, and find the best deal.
This book, his internet site, and his "free" seminar are all in effect teases to get you to buy his "Increase Your Credit Scores - Improve Your Lifestyle" course which costs $497. Presumably, some actually utilizable information is in that.
