Owning a small consulting business myself, I know CBT (Community Bank and Trust)….recently seized by the FDIC and turned over to SCBT (South Carolina Bank and Trust), is not making SBA backed loans even. Nor is my other bank, which I just closed all accounts with, Chase Bank.

I’ve done contract work for Regions Bank twice, and thought I’d have to kidnap Bank Managers to get paid. They are infamous with contractors for not paying their bills in a timely manner….but I’ve overheard other businessmen stomp out cursing after being turned down by Regions for small business loans.

Today is Feb. 22nd, the day new banking regulations take effect, particularly for credit card issuers. This is the reason I closed my Chase Bank Visa credit accounts. They sent me the new “Card Members” agreement that basically stated: “Your interest rate and service fees will remain the same on existing balances, but we reserve the right to set any APR or Fees at our discretion and may or may not notify you”.

Although I’ve had mostly a good relationship with them, I did get raped in fees by this bank. When the feds seized CBT in NE Georgia recently, I had issued electronic payments from CBT to Chase to pay off my credit card balance. The delays caused in transmitting the funds from CBT made my payment to Chase late by several days.

Chase in their wisdom, Charged me $39 late fee…..which also push my balance about my credit limit, then charged a second $39 “Overage Fee”.

They claimed they would waive it after I provided proof of the transaction being late due the FDIC. It never happened and I had to pay it.

I see the credit card companies getting worse now toward their customers. This was my last option for small business loans via credit.

Now you may think, SO WHAT? Well even for me when I’m working a project for a client, I will sub contract to other IT engineers or security personnel for Jobs I need help with.

Most want to be paid after the job is finished, or weekly or bi-monthly if something long term. I can’t make payroll if the client hasn’t paid me…..back to Regions Bank that always takes 6-7 months to pay contractors.

Often times, and that includes me, I can’t hold off my creditors and other bills for months at a time while waiting to be paid, nor can the average working man or woman unless they dip into a hidden nest egg of money.

So when the banks don’t loan, I don’t hire extra help, and they cause harm to the economy further. It doesn’t matter to them that your credit is spotless, you’ve always paid on time, and rarely to never missed any payment. They just don’t loan.

So I see no reason to continuing putting my money in a bank that refuses the needs of it’s customers. Now it’s cash upfront with me or Money Orders. I’ve become reluctant to accept checks. Cashing a Commercial Check at Bank of America (or is it Bank of China now?), if you don’t have an account with them, even checks on their bank, you will pay $6 per transaction on each check.

This is true with most banks. So I will not accept checks from most commercial businesses that do not direct deposit. They must pay me in cash, Money Order, or LOCAL issued Cashier’s Check.

In my primary profession in Computer Hardware Repair, and also in Stand Up comedy…..absolutely no jobs of any kind related to my professions in NE Georgia.

Between the Bible Belt Click and the Good Old Boy Network in this end of backwoods Georgia, no jobs exist beyond Deboning Chickens or Working at Walmart for poverty wages, and then only if you speak Spanish.

I stopped wasting my time on most NE Georgia projects. Of the few I have taken in the last 13 years, ALL contract jobs were booked through my out of town clients. My clients I work with are in NJ, NY, Washington State, and Phoenix (Which was the last project in Conelia, GA).

There is not a Single Comedy club North of Roswell, GA. I don’t count the Loft in Athens since they only host Open Mic comedy after 10pm on Monday nights. I don’t waste my time and travel expenses when there is no audience available.

The Punchline in Atlanta is the only Comedy Club I’ll consider Mondays. Mainly because they often sell out and have enough patrons that will come out at 8pm on a Monday Night. If they started after 10pm like the Loft, I wouldn’t be as receptive as a performer.

Granted if you are a musician, many clubs are responsive in this area, but cold toward professional comedians or other artists.

Job Hunting, especially in Gainesville, continues to be a total waste of time. The same is true in most of NE Georgia.

The wages are at poverty level, usually only part time, and at least 20 years behind Atlanta and other cities on pay scale and technology.

My biggest business mistake that caused financial hardship for me, was thinking it was a good idea to move to Gainesville. Of the few people I’ve work for locally and come to know over many years, This area of Georgia has the largest number of crooked and dishonest businessmen I’ve ever dealt with.

I thought the Dixie Mafia in control in this area was a myth, until I met some of them that bragged about their involvement. A few were my neighbors.

On the other side of the coin, then the Bible Belt Click that only hires people they go to church with that grew up here.

My tip is to avoid working in NE Georgia, unless you take your jobs from out of town clients not influenced by the crooks here.

There are occasionally good paying jobs in NE Georgia, but none from the local businesses in control.

So far, despite what is stated above, I NEVER ONCE SECURED any job through Social Networking sights. But I am aware potential employers and clients check them on current or future employee’s. So be careful what you post online be it comments or photos, chances are it will come back and bite you.

At my age and running my own business for over 20 years from home, I answer to only one man. ME!

But, with the poor economy with both IT consulting and entertainment being weak in recent years…..I may be forced to take some awful job to make ends meet. But, I will NEVER close my business or give up comedy that brings me stress relief….not to mention the money I save on Therapy.

This area of Georgia, and I know this statement is Politically incorrect, but we all know it’s accurate:

If you are an illegal Mexican, especially Bi-lingual, you will always have work, free benefits, and some lobbyist in Washington convincing our politicians you should have rights here. I’m only referring to Illegal Mexicans, many that came here legally, work circles around us, often for low wages, and have good family values…..I welcome them.

But Gainesville has some of the most dangerous Mexican Gangs in the World. MS-13 and Los Reyos just to name a couple.

Gainesville and Hall county since I’ve moved here, now has Multi Agency Nacortics (MAN) task force and Gang Units. These aren’t just local cops, we have GBI, FBI, ICE, DEA, and other federal agents here with letters in their names.

On that comment, I’d guarantee you can find work in Law Enforcement. I’ve done it myself, but burned out from risking my life to watch wimps of judges slap killers on the wrist and turn them loose on parole or with light sentences.

Great List!
Annette

Annette

You are right – it’s all of us that allow these little spoiled brats to do what they want – whether they are the high school quarterback or the greatest golfer of all time.

I have to go now — TMZ is coming on.