Getting Bill Collectors and Telemarketers to Hang Up on You

Stock Photo by Sanja Gjenero/RGBStock

Steve Dibert of MFI-Miami is one of my most favorite people in the world. He investigates and reports on some of the sleaziest things that banks and mortgage brokers have ever done.

Last week, he posted some advice for people who continuously received annoying phone calls from bill collectors. It also works for telemarketers, which I can attest to after having received more than a dozen phone calls from DTE Energy trying to sell me their worthless "protection plan." I told them to stop calling me after the fist call, but they kept calling again and again. Thanks to Steve's advice, I was able to get them to stop.

Therefore, I recommend that everyone read "I Don't Hang Up on Bill Collectors, They Hang Up on Me" over on Steve's web site. It is your Warrendale Tip of the Week.

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Air Force

Happy 65th birthday to the men and women of the United States Air Force.

On behalf of everyone in Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood, and all Americans that you proudly serve, thank you for your willingness to fly, fight, and win.

12 Year Old Boy Missing in Detroit's Warrendale Neighborhood

Joshua Morgan, age 12, is Missing

The Detroit Police Department is asking for the public's help to locate 12 year old Joshua Morgan who went missing from the Christ Child House (15751 Joy Rd.) in the northeastern part of Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood. The boy is described as being 5’9”, 120 lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a white T-shirt, blue jean shorts, and black and red tennis shoes.

The boy’s family is particularly concerned because he has not taken the medicine he needs. He reportedly is emotionally impaired with a bipolar disorder and is borderline autistic.

Anyone who sees this boy, or who has information on where he might be, is urged to contact the Detroit police at (313) 596-5600.

Update @ 4:09 p.m. - Fox 2 Detroit reports that Joshua Morgan was found safe this afternoon.

6437 Plainview Ave - Featured Place to Live

6437 Plainview Ave. - Featured Place to Live

6437 Plainview Ave. is a 3-bedroom bungalow in Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood with a little more than 1,000 square feet of living space. It is a professionally landscaped property with a newly renovated kitchen, finished large, upstairs bedroom,  and updated lower bath. It also has recent carpeting throughout the home as well as a newer roof, siding and driveway.

In addition to all of that and a partially finished basement this home also has a security system. There is also a 1-car garage at the rear of the property.

This home is represented by Century 21 Town & Country in Northville. Addition information about this home is available here.

Murders Cost Detroit $1.2 Billion This Year Alone

Stock Photo by Brian Lary

The RAND Corporation published a report recently that chronicles the true cost of crime on a given community. From the cost of investigating it to the economic impact on businesses and residents that flee as a result of crime and everything in between, they factored it all in. Their results were published in a study entitled Hidden in Plain Sight: What Cost-of-Crime Research Tells Us About Investing in Police.

They estimate that each murder ultimately costs a given community between $5 - $8 million. Since Detroit has experienced a total of 240 murders as of August 26, this means that this crime has costs us as a community someone between $1.2 - $1.9 billion.

There is a lot that the police can do to reduce the levels of murders and other crimes that happen. All too often, though, discussions about those things get sidetracked by an institutional desire to maintain the status quo for those in senior leadership positions as the City of Detroit navigates its way through the latest budget crisis. Too many people in positions of power would rather keep the 12 assistant and deputy chiefs on the payroll - and with their sizable personal staff - than redirect resources to the street level activities that have proven to reduce the murder rates in other cities.

Of course, one would think that the $1.2 billion (and counting) in economic impact would prompt them to reassess their priorities. So far, it hasn't but there's is always hope.

Happy Labor Day, Detroit

Stock Photo by the Horton Group

I want to take a moment to wish a happy Labor Day to everyone in Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood and beyond.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday. There's a lot of wonderful things happening in the Detroit area this weekend - from the Detroit Jazz Festival to Arts, Beats, and Eats in Royal Oak as well as the Labor Day Festival in Hamtramck. Please enjoy them safely.

Beware of Flying Plants Near Detroit

A woman from Costa Rica died early Saturday morning when the small airplane that she was travelling in crashed near Brighton, Michigan, which is approximately forty miles west of Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood. Unfortunately, when The Detroit News ran the story this morning, they referred to it as a plant crash.

Screen image from DetNews.com. Emphasis add to their typo.

Yes, one really does need to be careful around those flying plants. Those things can be very, very dangerous.

For some reason, I simply cannot help but chuckle when I see mistakes like these.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day weekend.