A ThinkGlink reader received 6 acres of land from her grandmother. Ilyce explains why it would be much better for the grandmother to leave the property to her in her will.

I thought I had 9 vacation days remaining and, according to the HR system I have -2?? meaning I have taken 2 days MORE than I was entitled to??…NO!…so, I wrote to them to try to clarify it….I mean, I want to be PAID for those 9 days -as per local law!

just a reminder

By Liz Morris

Home loan company Countrywide Financial announced today the launch of a new credit card that will essentially double your points when points are used toward Countrywide mortgage payments.  The Countrywide Rewards Platinum Visa offers one point per dollar, making it on par with most rewards cards that offer the equivalent of 1% cash back or penny-per-point redemption value when put toward merchandise rewards.  However, when points are used toward payments on Countrywide loans, the points essentially double, as every 2,500 points equals a $50 credit against a cardholder’s Countrywide loan.

The new Countrywide credit card is being issued through a partnership with First USA, a division of credit card giant Chase.

By Liz Morris

Online shoe buyers must be rejoicing today as popular retailer Zappos.com last week announced the launch of the Zappos Rewards Visa, which will reward cardholders with points toward future Zappos purchases.  Cardholders will earn two points per dollar for purchases from Zappos and one point per dollar for purchases elsewhere.  Every time 2500 points are accumulated, cardholders will get a $25 gift certificate for Zappos merchandise, which includes mostly shoes but also accessories such as handbags.

The Zappos Rewards Visa has no annual fee, and new cardholders will get a $25 statement credits after their first card purchases. The card also offers interest-free purchases for the first six months for most card customers. The Zappos credit card is being issued through a partnership with Chase.

Zappos.com was launched in 1999 and has become one of the success stories from a dot-com boom that went bust for the vast majority of early online retailers.

By Seth Harbison

Angry over a recent law that forces them to accept credit cards and pay the transaction fees related to these payments, taxi drivers in Philadelphia last week threatened to randomly “strike” by refusing to take passengers who wished to pay by credit card.  The Pennsylvania Parking Authority said that drivers who refuse credit card passengers would be cited and could eventually lose their driver’s certificates for repeat offenses.

Philadelphia equipped its roughly 1600 cabs with credit card processing equipment and mandated that drivers accept credit cards as payment beginning this past January. But the drivers say it’s unfair to ask them to take on transaction fees of up to 5% when they are already struggling.  They also say that it can take weeks to get the money from credit card payments deposited into their bank accounts, causing serious cash flow crunches.

Unfortunately for the drivers, it doesn’t appear they have much leverage in the situation. The city’s parking authority says the machines will stay and the drivers must decide if they will comply or give up their rights to taxi passengers to and from the airport.

Ilyce visits the Housewares Show and comes up with a few things you might enjoy.

Ilyce revisits a question about different types of property insurance needed if you rent out a home or it is vacant. A ThinkGlink reader contributes some follow up questions for the insurance company.

Ilyce revisits a questions regarding assuming a mortgage. A reader comments that there is a difference between assuming a mortgage, and buying a house “subject to” the existing mortgage.

An elderly person is almost out of resources and needs to pay her assisted living facility’s bill. Ilyce suggests the facility operator, resident and the resident’s children sit down with a good attorney.