Nalay-off ako recently sa trabaho ko last April. I have 12 years BPO experience at 8 years non is with financial accounts. 3 years na ako sa company na to and when I started, 42k package with allowance ang offer sakin. May yearly annual increase na performance based. Lowkey performer ako at as of 2024, 51k na package (salary + allowance) na kinikita ko monthly agent level. Ang sarap tingnan ng payslip na nakikita ko ang taas ng sweldo ko kumpara sa previous bpo ko before.
Sobrang lungkot ko nung makita ko name ko sa lists ng malalayoff pero I told myself, “Ah, di bale na. Shit happens. I am a BPO veteran, madali ako makakahanap ng panibagong work. Maganda ang work history ko and my skills as an agent are above industry standard na. Recruiters will always want me.”
ABSOLUTE WRONG.
Yes, recruiters want me. But thing is, sobrang hirap maghanap ng company na magaaccomodate ng salary that will match my last employer’s salary pay sakin. Kaya ako narereject kasi daw I was “demanding an outrageous amount for an agent-level role.” Hanggang ngayon wala parin akong mahanap. The most I was offered was 43k (37k plus 6k allowance). Sinabi pa nung recruiter na un na daw talaga ang max agent level standard kahit san ako magpunta. This was my pay 3-4 years ago. I worked so hard para maachive ang 51k na package ko ngayon. Sobrang nakakalungkot. Kahit pa may separation pay ako, I am scared for my life for the long term. Like pano na ung 4 na insurance na binabayaran ko? Pano na ung lupang hinihulugan ko, ung bills ko sa bahay, mga basic necessities para mabuhay? I am so scared for my life na I could no longer afford to pay my credit card bills in full and most importantly, I am scared for my life na I could no longer afford to give myself and my little family a comfortable life. :(
So looks like I’m back to being paid the basic agent level salary na sabi nila.
Ang point ng post ko is hindi para sabihin na “pucha oo ang malas ko, ganda sana ng swelduhan mo kaso minalas ako.” Ang point ko is if you’re earning more than 40k monthly salary as an first level agent, magisip isip ka na at magstrive magpapromote to TL, Coach, QA, SME, whatever basta magpapromote ka na. Minindset ko na magccalls ako at ok nako don, logout at uwi ako agad after, walang additional work. As long as bayad ako, may HMO ako at ng pamilya ko, may pangkain at panghospital kami, di ko kailangan ng promotion ok na ko. Sakit lang sa ulo un pulitika pa minsan. Maling mindset pala to. Sa BPO, hindi ka welcome sa mataas na pay pag agent level hanap mo. So magpapromote ka para if ever comes a time na magresign ka or malayoff ka gaya ko, may leadership history ka sa resume mo.
Un lang. sana wag mangyari senyo nangyare sakin.

Finding the right office space for rent can be a daunting task, especially when you're working with a limited budget. With so many options available, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the choices and end up signing a lease that doesn't meet your needs. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to find affordable office space for rent that fits your business needs and budget.

Understanding Your Needs and Budget

Before you start searching for office space, it's essential to understand your business needs and budget. Start by identifying the number of employees you'll need to accommodate, the type of work you'll be doing, and the level of amenities you require. Consider factors such as parking, storage, and internet access.
Next, set a budget for rent and other expenses. Be sure to factor in additional costs such as utilities, insurance, and maintenance. A general rule of thumb is to allocate 10-15% of your revenue towards office space expenses.
Researching Options
Once you have a clear understanding of your needs and budget, it's time to start researching office space options. Here are some tips to get you started:
Online research: Websites like LoopNet, Zillow, and Craigslist offer a wide range of office spaces for rent. You can filter your search by location, price range, and amenities.
Networking: Ask colleagues, friends, and industry contacts for recommendations. They may have insights into the best office spaces in the area or know someone who does.
Drive-by searches: Visit potential locations in person to get a sense of the space and neighborhood. Pay attention to factors such as parking, accessibility, and noise levels.
Contacting local real estate agents or brokers: They often have access to exclusive listings and can help you negotiate the best deal.
Finding the right office space for rent can be a daunting task, especially when you're working with a limited budget. With so many options available, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the choices and end up signing a lease that doesn't meet your needs. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to find affordable office space for rent that fits your business needs and budget.

Evaluating Pros and Cons

When evaluating potential office spaces, consider the following factors:
Rent and operating costs: Make sure you understand all the costs associated with renting the space, including utilities, insurance, and maintenance.
Location and accessibility: Consider how easily your employees can get to the space and whether it's convenient for clients.
Amenities and services: Think about what amenities are important to your business, such as parking, storage, or on-site IT support.
Lease duration and flexibility: Consider whether you need a short-term or long-term lease and whether the landlord is willing to negotiate flexible terms.
Condition and maintenance of the space: Evaluate the condition of the space and whether it requires any significant repairs or renovations.

Negotiating the Lease

When negotiating the lease, remember that you have leverage. Here are some tips to help you get the best deal:
Be prepared to walk away: If the terms aren't right, be willing to walk away from the deal. This shows that you're willing to negotiate and can help you get a better deal.
Be flexible on lease duration: Consider signing a shorter-term lease if it means getting a better rent or more favorable terms.
Share office space with other companies: Look for opportunities to share office space with other companies in your industry. This can help reduce costs and create a sense of community.
Look for additional amenities or services: Negotiate for additional amenities or services that can benefit your business, such as on-site IT support or access to a shared conference room.

Additional Tips and Considerations

When searching for affordable office space for rent, don't forget to consider these additional tips:

Alternative office arrangements: Consider coworking spaces or shared offices as an alternative to traditional office space rentals.
Securing funding or financing: If you're having trouble securing funding or financing for your office space rental, consider seeking out alternative lenders or investors.
Handling unexpected expenses: Make sure you have a plan in place for unexpected expenses or issues with the landlord.

Conclusion

Finding affordable office space for rent requires careful planning, research, and negotiation. By understanding your business needs and budget, researching options, evaluating pros and cons, negotiating the lease, and considering additional tips and considerations, you can find an office space that meets your needs without breaking the bank. Remember to stay flexible and persistent in your search, and don't be afraid to walk away from a deal if it doesn't feel right. With patience and persistence, you can find an affordable office space that helps your business thrive.

Hey all, I'm currently a few weeks from settlement and our lender has requested a certificate of currency or proof of building insurance. I have forwarded the insurance from our solicitor that contains the details to our broker, but our broker is saying the banks won't accept the insurance policy as the "Situation Address" is listing the wrong address.
I went back to the solicitor who's gone to the conveyancing manager and the latter is saying its all correct and the contract is not incomplete. I've advised we just need the address updated to the correct one, but its been weeks since the conveyancing manager has replied to our solicitor. I then spoke with my Real Estate Agent regarding the issue so he called the conveyancer and he was saying that it's correct, its the address of the body corporate, the solicitor and banks should know this.
I spoke with my broker and he says that the banks will want it in writing that the property address I am purchasing is indeed covered. So either I go follow it up with the conveyancer or get a new building insurance to finalize the settlement.
It's been a massive headache trying to sort this out. Ideally if the house is indeed covered by the body corporate insurance I don't want to pay for two separate insurances if I get a new insurance just to finalize the settlement deal. (I can remove it later, but I won't know if it is legally covered)
The home is in Victoria, and it's a house in a neighborhood with about 70 other homes under the corp.
Any help would be appreciated, to give me advice on what to do. I mostly want to know whether the listed address being the body corporate one is indeed correct, even if the home I'm purchasing isn't technically listed the property address. And if it is correct as the way it is, should the banks know this - and can approve it?

I bought a townhome at the beginning of August 2023 and am dealing with 2 major issues with the HOA.

1. During inspection there was mold found in the attic that required removal of the insulation and installation of new insulation. This request was made and approved in July as part of conditions to close, the mold was removed the day I moved in but never replaced. I have documentation from the community manager stating it will be done at the expense of the HOA, but since she has left the new community manager and her director are trying to refuse to cover their end of reinsulating the attic. I am now 8 months without it and it definitely affects livability in the house.
   
2. There was a big hail storm in May 2023 that resulted in roofing damage across the complex. The inspection was done and the claim made in October of 2023 but no notice of the loss assessment or amount owed by each unit was sent out until the end of April 2024 with an expectation of payment on June 1, 2024 essentially giving people 1 month notice. While I have loss assessment coverage, my insurance agent is telling me that they won’t cover it since the date of the storm happened before I bought and should be covered by the previous policy.
   

How do I navigate either of these situations? So far the HOA has been next to useless getting me information or straight answers about either of these issues and with the time constraint I’m not sure what legal options I have.

In a RAG application with any vector databases connected. How can I deal with ambiguity in the user query? What kind of tool/ prompt can I define so that my agent asks the user for further questions when a query is not very clear or not enough information is given to give a solid correct answer. I have a 4 tools with a ReAct agent ( create_ReAct_agent ), one for using the vector databases as a retriever, one for handling irrelevant queries, one for handling generic user greetings and one for handling ambiguity. The other tools work well but the tool for ambiguity looks like it's never used as the agent always retrieves docs even if the context is relevant yet ambiguous.
One good product that can handle this is Perplexity which prompts the user for further clarification when an ambiguous question is asked.
I want to handle ambiguous nature related to my documents in the vector store without the LLM assuming anything on its own. As an example, if I am creating a medical chatbot that can help people know about different health insurances, doctors in their areas and which insurances those hospitals/doctors accept and user asks "Which doctor should I visit?". The agent should ideally be asking the user what problems they're facing or any other relevant information to give a proper answer, rather than just saying here are 10 most important kinds of doctors you have to visit.....
It should ask about patient's age, medical issues, medical history, the more clearer it can be on what the user really wants the better answer or can generate rather than giving some generic response based on the documents in the vector store.

Handling ambiguity inAgents
In a RAG application with any vector databases connected. How can I deal with ambiguity in the user query? What kind of tool/ prompt can I define so that my agent asks the user for further questions when a query is not very clear or not enough information is given to give a solid correct answer. I have a 4 tools with a ReAct agent ( create_ReAct_agent ), one for using the vector databases as a retriever, one for handling irrelevant queries, one for handling generic user greetings and one for handling ambiguity. The other tools work well but the tool for ambiguity looks like it's never used as the agent always retrieves docs even if the context is relevant yet ambiguous.
One good product that can handle this is Perplexity which prompts the user for further clarification when an ambiguous question is asked.
I want to handle ambiguous nature related to my documents in the vector store without the LLM assuming anything on its own. As an example, if I am creating a medical chatbot that can help people know about different health insurances, doctors in their areas and which insurances those hospitals/doctors accept and user asks "Which doctor should I visit?". The agent should ideally be asking the user what problems they're facing or any other relevant information to give a proper answer, rather than just saying here are 10 most important kinds of doctors you have to visit.....
It should ask about patient's age, medical issues, medical history, the more clearer it can be on what the user really wants the better answer or can generate rather than giving some generic response based on the documents in the vector store.

In a RAG application with any vector databases connected. How can I deal with ambiguity in the user query? What kind of tool/ prompt can I define so that my agent asks the user for further questions when a query is not very clear or not enough information is given to give a solid correct answer. I have a 4 tools with a ReAct agent ( create_ReAct_agent ), one for using the vector databases as a retriever, one for handling irrelevant queries, one for handling generic user greetings and one for handling ambiguity. The other tools work well but the tool for ambiguity looks like it's never used as the agent always retrieves docs even if the context is relevant yet ambiguous.
One good product that can handle this is Perplexity which prompts the user for further clarification when an ambiguous question is asked.
I want to handle ambiguous nature related to my documents in the vector store without the LLM assuming anything on its own. As an example, if I am creating a medical chatbot that can help people know about different health insurances, doctors in their areas and which insurances those hospitals/doctors accept and user asks "Which doctor should I visit?". The agent should ideally be asking the user what problems they're facing or any other relevant information to give a proper answer, rather than just saying here are 10 most important kinds of doctors you have to visit.....
It should ask about patient's age, medical issues, medical history, the more clearer it can be on what the user really wants the better answer or can generate rather than giving some generic response based on the documents in the vector store.

26 female, 200 pounds, 5 months postpartum, diagnosed hypertension, vape, no alcohol.
Currently taking: Labetelol 100mg twice daily, and a water pill (cannot think of name and have a sleeping baby)
So since about 8 weeks gestation I started itching.I have been itching since. It’s mostly at night, and it’s worse on my feet. My other symptoms are dizziness, runny nose, sneezing, headache, brain fog, faintness, feeling my heartbeat, skin crawling, blackness creeping at corner of eyes, shaking, joint pain that comes and goes, frequent UTI, heightened anxiety, overall weakness in joints/muscles.
I have cut out detergent with dyes and fragrance, I have took my BP medicine and water pills, I’ve cut down salt intake, I shower regularly, I’m getting enough sleep when I’m not itching. However I am still ill feeling. I am going to the hospital to take more blood work done as my thyroid hormone is low. However I’ve been going to the clinic over these symptoms for almost 10 months and I cannot live like this anymore as well as my insurance runs out soon. I care for a baby primarily all day feeling like I might faint, and itchy constantly at night causing a loss of sleep sometimes.
I recently had blood work done: (I had my gallbladder removed 2 months ago but all of these symptoms were present before.)
White Blood Count 7.53 x10^3/uL (3.98-10.04)
Red Blood Count 4.60 x10^6/uL (3.93-5.22)
Hemoglobin 12.6 g/dL (11.8-15.3)
Hematocrit 39.2 % (36.9-46.9)
Mean Corpuscular Volume 85.2 fL (79.4-94.8)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin 27.4 pg (25.6-32.2)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concent 32.1 g/dL (32.2-35.5) Low
RDW Standard Deviation 43.7 fL (36.4-46.3)
RDW Coefficient of Variation 13.9 % (11.7-14.4)
Platelet Count 417 x10^3/uL (182-369) High
Mean Platelet Volume 9.3 fL (9.4-12.3) Low
Neutrophils (%) (Auto) 65.1 % (34.0-71.1)
Lymphocytes (%) (Auto) 24.6 % (19.3-51.7)
Monocytes (%) (Auto) 8.8 % (4.7-12.5)
Eosinophils (%) (Auto) 1.1 % (0.7-5.8)
Basophils (%) (Auto) 0.3 % (0.1-1.2)
Neutrophils # (Auto) 4.91 x10^3/uL (1.56-6.13)
Lymphocytes # (Auto) 1.85 x10^3/uL (1.18-3.74)
Monocytes # (Auto) 0.66 x10^3/uL (0.24-0.86)
Eosinophils # (Auto) 0.08 x10^3/uL (0.04-0.36)
Basophils # (Auto) 0.02 x10^3/uL (0.01-0.08)
Absolute Immature Granulocyte (auto 0.0100 X10^3/uL (0-0.0310)
Nucleated Red Blood Cells % (auto) 0.0 /100 WBC (0-0.2)
Immature/Total Granulocytes (auto) 0.100 % (0-0.429)
Nucleated Red Blood Cells # 0.000 x10^3/uL (0-0.012)
Sodium Level 140 mmol/L (136-145)
Potassium Level 4.1 mmol/L (3.5-5.1)
Chloride Level 104 mmol/L (98-107)
Carbon Dioxide Level 28.4 mmol/L (21.0-32)
Anion Gap 7.6 mmol/L (5.0-15.0)
Blood Urea Nitrogen 17 mg/dL (7.0-18.0)
Creatinine 0.51 mg/dL (0.55-1.02) Low
Estimat Glomerular Filtration Rate > 60.0
Estimated GFR (African American) > 60.0 BUN/Creatinine Ratio 33.3 Ratio (6.0-20.0) High
Glucose Level 94 mg/dL (70-99)
Hemoglobin A1c 5.6 % (0-5.6)
Estimated Average Glucose (eAG) 114 mg/dL (70-99) High
Calcium Level 9.2 mg/dL (8.5-10.1)
Magnesium Level 1.9 mg/dL
Total Bilirubin 0.46 mg/dL
Aspartate Amino Transf (AST/SGOT) 105 U/L High
Alanine Aminotransferase 151 U/L High
Alkaline Phosphatase 331 U/L High
Total Protein 7.5g/dL
Albumin 3.4 g/dL
Albumin/Globulin Ratio 0.8 Ratio Low
Triglycerides Level 47mg/dL
Cholesterol Level 157 mg/dL
LDL Cholesterol, Calculated 91 mg/dL
VLDL Cholesterol 9 mg/dL
HDL Cholesterol 57 mg/dL
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio 3 Ratio Low
Vitamin B12 Level 496 pg/mL
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Total 14.5 ng/mL Low
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) < 0.007 mIU/ Low Urine Color Yellow
Urine Clarity Hazy Abnormal Urine pH 6.0
Urine Specific Gravity > 1.030 High
Urine Protein 1+ Abnormal
Urine Glucose (UA) Negative mg/dL
Urine Ketones Negative
Urine Blood Negative
Urine Nitrite Negative
Urine Bilirubin Negative
Urine Urobilinogen Normal mg/dL
Urine Leukocyte Esterase 1+ Abnormal
Urine RBC None seen grad/HPF
Urine WBC 6-10 grad/HPF Abnormal
Urine Squamous Epithelial Cells 1+ grad/HPF (None/1+)
Urine Bacteria 1+

Investing in precious metals like gold and silver has been a reliable way to diversify your portfolio and protect your wealth against market volatility. One of the standout companies in this field is Augusta Precious Metals. In this comprehensive review, I'll cover everything you need to know about Augusta Precious Metals, from their services and fees to their customer service and overall reputation.

What is Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals is a leading provider of gold and silver IRAs, catering primarily to those looking to diversify their retirement savings. Established in 2012, the company has quickly built a reputation for transparency, customer service, and educational resources aimed at helping investors make informed decisions.

Key Services and Products

Gold and Silver IRAs
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping customers set up self-directed IRAs that include physical gold and silver. Unlike traditional IRAs, these self-directed accounts allow you to invest in physical precious metals, providing a tangible asset that can hedge against economic downturns and inflation.
Physical Gold and Silver
In addition to IRAs, Augusta offers direct sales of gold and silver for personal investment. They provide a range of products, including bullion coins, bars, and premium coins. This allows investors to diversify their holdings outside of a retirement account.

Fees and Pricing

Understanding the fee structure is crucial for any investor. Here's a breakdown of the fees you can expect when working with Augusta Precious Metals:
Account Setup and Annual Fees

• One-time setup fee: $50
• Annual custodian fee: $100
• Annual storage fee: $100

In total, you'll pay $250 for your first year. From the second year onwards, the annual fee is a flat $200 as the setup fee is a one-time expense.
Additional Costs

• Shipping fee: $0
• Transit insurance fee: $0

There are no setup costs for non-IRA accounts. Furthermore, depending on the size of your precious metals investment, you could have all fees waived for up to 10 years.

Customer Service and Support

Augusta Precious Metals prides itself on offering exceptional customer service. Each customer is assigned a dedicated agent to guide them through the process of setting up an IRA or purchasing precious metals. This personalized approach ensures that all your questions are answered and you feel confident in your investment decisions.
Account Lifetime Service
One of the standout features of Augusta Precious Metals is their "account lifetime service." This means you can count on ongoing support from their helpful staff for as long as you hold an account with them. This level of service is rare in the industry and underscores Augusta's commitment to customer satisfaction.
Educational Resources
Augusta goes above and beyond in educating its customers. They offer a free gold IRA guide that explains the benefits and potential risks of investing in precious metals. Additionally, they host educational webinars and have an on-staff Harvard-trained economist, Devlyn Steele, who provides insights into market trends and economic forecasts.

Security and Storage

When you invest in physical gold or silver, secure storage is essential. Augusta Precious Metals partners with the Delaware Depository, a highly secure facility that provides segregated storage for your assets. This means your precious metals are stored separately from those of other investors, ensuring that you receive exactly what you invested in when you choose to withdraw your holdings.

Buyback Policy

Augusta Precious Metals offers a buyback policy, although it does not guarantee repurchase. Historically, they have made buyback offers for the products they sell, providing liquidity for investors who decide to sell their holdings. This policy adds an extra layer of security, knowing that there is a potential buyer for your assets if needed.

Payment Methods

To open an account with Augusta Precious Metals, you can use the following payment methods: bank wire transfers, personal checks, and bank checks.
Payments by check are capped at $50,000, while bank wire transfers have no cap. It's important to note that Augusta does not accept payments via PayPal, Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies.

Refund Policy

For first-time customers, Augusta offers a 7-day money-back guarantee for premium gold and silver coin transactions. This policy allows new investors to make their initial purchases with peace of mind, knowing they have the option to cancel their order if they change their minds. However, subsequent orders are final upon completion of the recorded confirmation call unless state laws provide for a longer cancellation period.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Augusta Precious Metals has received numerous accolades and positive reviews from both customers and industry experts. They hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA). Additionally, they have been named "Best Overall Gold IRA Company" by Money magazine for multiple years and "Most Transparent Pricing" by Investopedia.
Testimonials
Many customers have praised Augusta for their transparency, customer service, and educational resources. Here are a few testimonials:

• John D.: "Augusta Precious Metals made the process of setting up a gold IRA straightforward and stress-free. Their team was always available to answer my questions and provide guidance."
• Sarah K.: "I appreciate Augusta's commitment to educating their customers. Their webinars and guides gave me the confidence to diversify my retirement savings with gold and silver."
• Michael R.: "The account lifetime service is a game-changer. It's reassuring to know that I have ongoing support for my investments."

Ethical Practices

Augusta Precious Metals prides itself on ethical business practices. They educate consumers on how to avoid common scams in the precious metals industry and are transparent about their pricing and fees. Unlike some competitors, they do not use high-pressure sales tactics or scare tactics to push customers into making purchases.

Special Promotions and Perks

While Augusta Precious Metals does not offer traditional promo codes or discounts, they do have special promotions. For instance, depending on the size of your investment, you could have your fees waived for up to 10 years. Additionally, when you open a gold IRA account, you'll receive a complimentary gold coin as a gift.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Transparency: Clear and upfront about fees and policies.
• Customer Service: Personalized and ongoing support with the account lifetime service.
• Educational Resources: Extensive materials to help investors make informed decisions.
• Storage: Secure and segregated storage options are available through the Delaware Depository.
• Buyback Policy: Offers liquidity for your investments.

Cons

• High Minimum Investment: A minimum of $50,000 may be prohibitive for some investors.
• Limited Online Transactions: You cannot complete transactions online, which may be inconvenient for some customers.

Conclusion

Augusta Precious Metals stands out as a top choice for those looking to invest in gold and silver IRAs. Their commitment to transparency, customer service, and education makes them a reliable partner in your investment journey. While the high minimum investment might be a barrier for some, the benefits and security offered by Augusta make it a compelling option for serious investors.
Whether you're new to investing in precious metals or looking to diversify your retirement portfolio, Augusta Precious Metals provides the tools, support, and expertise you need to make informed decisions. With their solid reputation and customer-focused approach, you can feel confident entrusting your precious metals investments to Augusta.
For more information or to get started with your gold IRA, visit Augusta Precious Metals' website and download their free gold IRA guide.

Hopefully there's some FL insurance brokers in here that can help answer a weird situation for me. I don't want to ask my broker because I don't want to find out afterward that I put him in a position of having to report something.
We have some family members living with us that just came from another country and got their green card. They've only been here a short time and are still going through the integration process, including hopefully getting FL drivers licenses in the next couple weeks.
In mid-June my immediate family will be going away for a month, leaving just the recently arrived relatives in our house. Ideally (I think), we would like to add them to our car insurance policy while we're out of town; then after we get back, sign the documentation stating that even though they live with us, they will not drive our cars anymore, so we can remove them from the policy. FWIW, this would be the truth. The plan is that once they have jobs for a bit they'll be getting their own car and policy, and we'll drive them until that's feasible.
So, is that a thing that can be done? Or once they're on our policy, are we unable to remove them before they move out?

Hopefully there's some FL insurance brokers in here that can help answer a weird situation for me. I don't want to ask my broker because I don't want to find out afterward that I put him in a position of having to report something.
We have some family members living with us that just came from another country and got their green card. They've only been here a short time and are still going through the integration process, including hopefully getting FL drivers licenses in the next couple weeks.
In mid-June my immediate family will be going away for a month, leaving just the recently arrived relatives in our house. Ideally (I think), we would like to add them to our car insurance policy while we're out of town; then after we get back, sign the documentation stating that even though they live with us, they will not drive our cars anymore, so we can remove them from the policy. FWIW, this would be the truth. The plan is that once they have jobs for a bit they'll be getting their own car and policy, and we'll drive them until that's feasible.
So, is that a thing that can be done? Or once they're on our policy, are we unable to remove them before they move out?

Hi legaladvice,
I (28M) think this is more for relationships but this is really more pressing.
Some key points before you read; I moved to Orlando, FL from Washington state in February of 2023. It was closer to family and I had a lot of friends here. I truly love it here. I’m convinced there is something mentally not-okay with my mother and we’ve had a hot/cold relationship for years. My dad divorced her and got re-married to her and these days just puts up with it. We used to have a significantly better relationship but this has frankly tarnished all of that and he just puts up with it. My parents are real-estate investors in the Orlando area and generally buy some of terrible homes in even worse areas and somehow find renters. They act like they’re mansions but they truly are terrible. I’m 28 years old.
When I initially moved here, I got my own apartment in a great suburb of Orlando. My parents helped me move and were really excited for me to get back on this coast. At some point during my residency, my parents brought up a notion to attempt to “help” me by buying me a house. My credit is shot and there is no way I qualify for a conventional mortgage. Maybe before the big short but certainly not in today’s housing climate. I didn’t actively reach out to them for this sort of assistance but I toyed with the idea.
Given the fact that they are real-estate investors, their interest rate was going to be somewhere in the realm of 7%. That left me with a max value of about a $400,000 house in order to be comfortable with the payment. Daily my mom would send me listings to some of the shittiest homes I’ve ever seen and get upset when I say I don’t like it. That would generally be when I would cut off the conversation after I’m told I’m “ungrateful”. Mind you they haven’t even done anything yet.
Months pass and I find a decent townhome in a location that I’ve always wanted to live in. It’s a townhome that has 2beds, 2baths and was about $380K. In an effort to make my parents happy and not be so “ungrateful” I agreed that they can put an offer on it. Mind you this house is one that I would likely never buy with my own money, but given the interest rate I sort of had to stick with it.
The agreement was that they would put down $100K for the house, I pay the full escrow (mortgage payment, PMI, taxes and HOA dues) and, when it comes time to sell, I would get every dollar above the selling price. It was an enticing deal to get some equity that I otherwise wouldn’t get living in an apartment complex. This was all something that was verbally discussed and I can’t find any physical copy of this being said either over text or another medium.
I broke my least and move in came in October of 2023 which also happened to be when I met my beautiful and loving girlfriend who I am extremely happy with. My parents came over in December for Christmas and I actually had my girlfriend stay in my house while my parents were in town so we can all do stuff together. I thought it went well. My parents met her family, my friends and we generally had a great time.
That apparently wasn’t their idea of the week and they are super upset that my girlfriend basically lives here. Text exchanges with my mother generally result in me being called a disgrace, ungrateful, disrespectful, etc. I would bore you with the text threads but I’ll probably share that when I post this to relationships.
I’m not looking for advice on the relationship piece, but at the end of the day this is all stemming from the fact that I got a girlfriend, they apparently don’t like her, are losing control of me and now we’re both suffering navigating business and family. It’s taking a huge toll on me to the point where I woke up today and cried after receiving another demeaning text from my mother. That same person they hate was there to comfort me.
This is where y’all come in. I’m really worried about the integrity of this “deal”. At this point I don’t think I will get any equity and my parents will just cut ties. When I brought up that I’m concerned about this, my mother always skirts the conversation over text, starts attacking me and they scoff when I bring up the idea of signing some sort of agreement. This house is riddled with issues because the inspector, the real-estate agents friend, missed so many things. I would love to get them fixed but not if I never have the opportunity to see the money again. The dishwasher is loose, the fridge is broken, the breaker panel is buzzing, the toilets are leaking and the air conditioning sounds like a car from the 1930s. I’m paying $2800/month for this house and while my payment at this stage goes almost all to interest, the property value did rise.
What I’m also more and more concerned about is my rights as a “tenant”. I have no formal lease agreement and just have electricity bills and other documentation to show that I live here but I could just as easily be kicked out on the street, correct? What should I be doing here to protect myself?
Your guidance is so appreciated.

I just wanted to share an experience I felt was strange. I’ve been insured with GEICO for 2 years now and enrolled in their DriveEasy program to save money on my policy while in college. I just graduated and have been watching my DriveEasy score drop from good to average over the years and not fully understanding why (I’m a pretty sane and chill driver, and tried to follow the tips suggested to no avail). So I started looking into how this could impact my GEICO policy, and after reading unfavorable experiences, I thought I’d rather unenroll from their program now and lose my discount.
After chatting with an agent who said my policy would be updated within 10-15 minutes, I received this message! I just think it’s completely wild that I’m locked in to providing them with all my driving data. I guess it’s time to shop around. I wish I never enrolled in the DriveEasy program in the first place.
“Thank you for contacting GEICO.
We received your request to unenroll in the DriveEasy program. I sincerely apologize, upon review the participation in the DriveEasy program is required as a condition of your policy. We would be unfortunately unable to offer you a policy that did not require the DriveEasy program. If you would like to cancel the current policy simply reply to this email with the date you would like the coverage to end and we would be happy to close out the policy on your behalf.
I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Hi everyone! 😁
I will preface by saying that it took me many years to find my Dentist and there is no way on Earth that I will go to anyone else. My experiences with dentists have been enough to fill up the Reddit servers and make them crash if I even started to touch upon my experiences of blatant lies and essentially, thievery, most notably perpetrated by their hygienists who are quite OBVIOUSLY financially motivated. I have the best dentist on planet Earth and I have no interest in deviating from him.
I apologize in advance that my post is rather long because I'm blowing off some steam as well. Please don't be angry about that. I'm just upset at the dental insurance world and, particularly, my Dentist's idiot office manager. The bottom line is I need some help figuring out dental insurance companies.
I have had a Humana PPO for quite a few years and my annual maximum cap is $6,000. The premium is a bit ridiculous at about $75 a month but they have historically have paid for most everything so I didn't really blink TOO much about it. HOWEVER, my Dentist stopped accepting/being "in network" of it at the beginning of the year. Most likely because his office manager is something of an idiot who even stopped the office from using CareCredit. I assume that he's trying to shave down his paperwork.
In any event, after having some work done recently I got a bill from my Dentist's office along with the handwritten note from that dingbat office manager stating that, "you are completely responsible for the entirety of this bill as Humana won't pay for anything".
I called Humana immediately and they told me that they DID pay for two of the charges and were never billed for the others and that they paid precisely what they would have been paying if he was in network but I am responsible for the rest. I wrote the dingbat office manager and told him exactly what they paid and what dates and to submit the remaining bills to Humana. He got all defensive. Knowing full well that I'm deaf and cannot handle speaking on the phone (we've discussed the issue of my having gone deaf from cancer treatment a number of times) he told me that I need to call him to discuss it. I once again reiterated that I am deaf in one ear and cannot utilize the phone well because of the reverberations. He wouldn't respond there after. THAT is a complaint that I will take up with my dentist when I see him next. My Dentist nor any of the other people around the Dentist like that office manager but the office manager has been there for 18 years so cannot essentially be let go. The point is that he never resolved anything nor submitted the bills to Humana as I requested. I am spitting nails angry about that.
In the interim I decided that I might want to look at other insurance companies that my Dentist DOES participate in. I cannot understand, unless I've actually grown quite old and senile since the last time I tried to read anything, that they mostly say that they pay a maximum of $1,500 to $2,000 per year. That is total, not per occurrence. I know I'm reading something wrong, RIGHT?
Anyway, to avoid being without any insurance at all while I'm busy canceling my Humana plan, I signed up for the BCBS A1 policy. It's capped at $2,000 per year. In February I simply had a cleaning and a couple of teeth refinished/resurfaced as they had minor erosion and the bill was $978. Humana said that they would covering all but $400 some odd dollars of it but only if their office manager actually submits the damn bills to them. It appears that I have to retrieve the bills myself and submit them because it seems that the office manager is quite adamant about excluding my insurance company as well as CareCredit from his list of daily chores. I wish I had some daily chores to do because I have been out of work due to cancer treatment for over 3 years now and I would LOVE to deal with the miniscule burden of what might be a difficult insurance company or the likes of Synchrony Bank's Carecredit for the sake of my employer's devoted patients.
I am trying to figure out if I have made a good decision by going with BCBS's A1 policy. I have read through the various posts here on Reddit and everybody raves about GEHA. Nobody busy raving about GEHA has ever bothered to respond to anybody inquiring about how to get it so I looked it up for myself and found out that you have to be a postal worker or a military retiree so please don't talk about GEHA. While internet searching for insurance, I made the miserable mistake of typing in my personal information with phone number BUT I back spaced out before pressing the "accept" key which allows agents to contact. Even though I never pressed the "accept" button and back spaced out when I realized that I was submitting information for massive lead share, at 8:01 this morning the freaking phone started ringing and by 9:00 I was so pissed off that I could have bitten somebody's head off if they looked at me wrong. One idiot told me that I had to completely revise my entire health care plan because I have an HMO that includes a dental plan even though no dentist within 400 miles of me participate in it and even if they did I am not leaving my dentist. She told me that I had to completely redo my whole plan anyway in order to get coverage with my dentist and that I could not purchase a standalone plan if I kept my health insurance. She was the biggest idiot I encountered all morning telling me that I can be arrested for having a standalone insurance policy for dental. 🙄 Talk about idiots that really shouldn't have jobs 🙄². I researched and found that I absolutely can purchase my own plan but you cannot comingle plans and benefits. Fine by me because there's not a dentist on the planet that accepts HMO that is worth going to. I asked the stupid idiot just why she thinks I've been paying $74 a month for a separate plan to start with FROM the same company that has my Medicare policy to start with and I've not been arrested in all these years nor is there an APB out for me. I finally got pissed off and told her to have a nice day and hung up on her. She had a whiny 1960s sort of commercial voice to start with that was irritating as hell. As you can tell, she put me in a raunchy mood for the whole rest of the day and I apologize to you that it's coming out in my text. Please accept my very sincere apology.
I know that the very second that I would be without insurance that some big horrible thing would happen so I cannot be without.
Please be kind enough to share your experience in researching and procuring standalone dental plans. I've already signed up for BCBS A1 but I have not remitted the first check yet because I haven't gotten the hard policy in the mail. Other contenders would be Aetna and Cigna.
Thank you VERY MUCH! 🌻 I truly appreciate your help! 🌷

I have my level 1 general insurance agent licence as well as CIP and CRM. In order to obtain your level 2 you need either:

• Level 1 licensing course (GIE), C130 and C131, or
• C11, C130 and C131

I don’t have C131 & don’t really want to go back and do it. Does anyone have an experience challenging the requirements? Or successfully arguing equivalency?

I do not have a good understanding of how an insurance company calculates replacement cost for structures. If you are insuring it so that if anything happens it will completely be replaced, how do they know the details of what was built into it?
For example, I'm buying a property with a large Morton barn that has (10) horse stalls and a connected 60x120 arena and 53' round pen. If it got destroyed, I'd want it replaced with a comparable Morton barn that was built by Morton. Well, the arena has a sprinkler system to wet the footing, so would that be included in the replacement barn? Do I somehow have to tell the agent all the specifics like that or are they just insuring it for whatever I tell them I want it insured for? I got one quote from my current agent and we went with the second level which was roughly $300k replacement for the barn. We went what we thought was high, just to be safe. I then asked another agent, who more deals with horse properties, and with the information in the listing, she quoted a replacement value of almost $600k. This seems like a not very precise process 🤔 I just don't want to be in a position to need to replace the barn and realize the payout is not enough. I mean, do I call Morton and ask how much it would cost to replace? Am I just totally over thinking this?

I hate to admit it, but 3 weeks into my first professional job, I was fired for being dishonest. I feel absolutely awful for it and will NOT do something that stupid again.
I worked for an insurance agent and had to take classes to get my license. My employer wanted this done by the end of March, and employment was dependent on me meeting the deadline. However, I told my boss and supervisors I was farther along in the class than I really was, and that I couldn’t take my license exam bc of technical difficulties (instead of incompletion of the class).
Now I’m applying to jobs where I know they’ll do a background check. I’m not against background checks and I want to be honest with future employers. At the same time, 3 weeks also isn’t that much experience to put on a resume. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Just a little background here. I'm 28 currently and i work for a beverage company that distrubutes it across various stores. Ive been doing this for close to 5 years now. It's a lot of phsycial labor. My co workers are a hit and miss and many people call out and the sales represenitives order to much product so we have a lot of extra work to do. Just company stanards. I make 22.95 an hour now after 5 years. Full benefeits and 401k which i don't contribute too as i invest on my own. I had an interview with a third party Geico office and i got offered 21 an hour starting pay plus bonuses and potential for more raises. They have a matching 401k and they pay for only half of benefeits. Would this be a good career to pursue for experience of getting into the industry or finding other customer service jobs? I'm a little nervous but really like the idea of being an insurance agent and helping people. This office doesn't do cold calling. They only call people that haven't finished their quote or taking care of already existing customers.
TL;DR Should i switch from being a grocery stocker to a insurance agent?

We are discussing letting our 18 year old have a car on campus next Fall. She attends a college in RI, we live in PA. Our agent (with Allstate) said today they couldn't insure a car garaged out of state like this, even a college student. They said we would have to get a policy (like with Progressive) where my husband and I are non drivers but she is insured. Our student was not on our policy last academic year because she didn't have access to the car, fyi, so there was a mention of not having prior insurance. It was super confusing, and even the agent admitted to being surprised by this. Would another car insurance company write a policy on a car for use in RI but is registered in PA even and driven by a PA licensed driver? Haven't college students taken parents to college before like, forever? I asked this and she for most tri-state students (like in NJ or DE) the kids are just commuting so home on the weekend and that's why the home address is the garaged address. That can't be the case for everyone! I would love to know if this information is accurate, and what is the most cost effective way of our student having a car on campus next Fall. Thank you!

We moved into a new house a couple of months ago. Closing date March 15th 2024. Our roof passed inspection but there were indications we'd need to replace it in the next 1-2 years.
Our insurance sent out their inspectors 2 weeks after close.
19 days LATER, on April 17th (to be clear, 19 days after the insurance company did their own inspection) we were informed by our agent that we'd need to get a new roof and be under contract by May 13th. I clarified "do we need a new roof by May 13th?" I was assured that no, we did not need a new roof by that date, just a plan in place.
Last week we were informed that agent is not with the company anymore, and that she was wrong. Our roof needed to be installed, inspected, and approved by underwriting prior to May 13th. We are scheduled to have our new roof installed this week.
Then late last week (Friday May 10th), we got a check in the mail. Our insurance company issued a refund check for our premium, dated April 16th, the day before we got the call from our insurance that we would need a new roof.
We NEVER received a notice in writing from our insurance company that our policy was being terminated. In our state (NC), I believe the law states notice must be given 15+ days prior to termination.
Our insurance company stated that they sent a letter, but I have USPS informed delivery, and we have had three pieces of mail from the insurance company since moving in, and I can account for all three of them. There is no written notice. They did not send it to our old address. I have an email from the insurance company stating they issued a notice in writing, to our new address, but the timeline does not work out. They sent our refund check the day before we got a call that we needed a new roof.
It seems like maybe the national and local office miscommunicated, and their representative who was working with us got the details wrong, but the worst part to me is that we did not receive written notice and I believe they are being dishonest in stating they sent written notice. That seems to be the most clear breach of the law, to me.
We do not have an attorney, but I think we need legal help for this matter. Thanks for any assistance.