On
behalf of the Credit Slab and NuLife programs, I would like to welcome you to
our website and programs. In the public interest, I am posting this information
so that people can decide for themselves and form their own conclusions
regarding the articles published by David Bruser, Kevin Donovan and the Toronto
Star. As opposed to solely listening to my words, I am providing links for the
purpose of helping you determine your own truth.
The
Toronto Star, Kevin Donovan and David Bruser mis-characterized the Credit Slab
and NuLife programs this week, focusing on a few dissatisfied customers rather
than the many thousands of people and families that we have helped.
The
Toronto Star, Kevin Donovan and David Bruser have personally criticized me,
Sheldon Wolf, for being a successful businessman, having a nice home, driving
nice cars, and taking the occasional holiday.
For
an example of a previous case, Grant vs Torstar, the Toronto Star was dragged
into the Supreme Court of Canada in a defamation lawsuit.
In
another example, an apology issued by the Public Editor in yet another Toronto
Star reporting blunder involving Liberal MP Margaret Bess.
Do
you believe everything you read? Do you trust everything you see on TV? It is
important for all of us to read between the lines, and to think critically for
ourselves, as opposed to thinking that: “Everything is true because I read it
in the Toronto Star!”
The
Toronto Star is a large well known media outlet, but it also has many high
profile investigative failures, resulting in apologies, retractions and
lawsuits. One example is their inaccurate portrayal of the Gardasil HPV
Vaccine, which may have resulted in many children not receiving the vaccine,
and perhaps eventually transmitting the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) or getting
cervical cancer.
This
is an example of the work which David Bruser has brought to the table recently,
where he portrays the anecdotal stories of a few people, and shifts much of the
focus away from actual medical evidence which is readily available.
In
the Toronto Star story “A Wonder Drug’s Dark Side”, it appears that David
Bruser may have less regard for the consequences for young children, as opposed
to putting out a catchy but misleading story. I am curious if David Bruser
vaccinates his own children.
In
the Gardisil HPV Vaccine story he originally published, David Bruser infers a
potential risk for using the vaccine. In a similar style of reporting, David
Bruser interviews a few of our disgruntled customers and appears to slant the
story to suggest that I am placing people into debt and providing no results or
value. What David Bruser ignores is the fact that while he may have spoken with
four or five disgruntled customers, we have many thousands of customers who
have improved their credit and reached their fiscal goals.
In
fairness to David Bruser, he did ask me for customer contact information from
happy customers, a task which he knows that I cannot undertake. David Bruser
was made aware that we must honor customer privacy. In our case, even our
happiest of customers do not want anyone to know that they may have encountered
credit or debt problems.
Further,
David Bruser has posted pictures of my home and states that the Toronto Star
has been by my home and viewed my Jaguar. The car has been off the road since
mid-November of 2015. The car is covered, secured and only visible if you have
unlawfully entered the property, the possibility of which is of great concern
to me and my family.
While
I do understand that David Bruser is a reporter and should be able to do his
job, he clearly pushes his investigative strategy beyond a reasonable point.
David Bruser is sending me emails inferring that he “knows where I live and
knows what I drive”, and leading me to suspect that he may possibly be viewing
my children’s social media postings and photos. In my view, which is likely
shared by many parents, this possibility is alarming and disturbing.
Since
I have acquired the websites, I have been bombarded with emails by Kevin
Donovan of the Toronto Star with concerns that I may have pictures of David
Bruser’s home and access to his family’s online photos. It appears that the
Toronto Star may believe that that harassing and intimidating families is only
acceptable if done by them.
The
Toronto Star has recently announced layoffs and fourth quarter losses in the
hundreds of millions; and one can only assume that each and every reporter is
looking to show their worth and value.
With
that being said, Credit Slab is still hiring and growing at a healthy rate. We
look so forward to continuing with the same level of success as we have in the
past. We will also continue to offer many of our pro bono services to the
military and veterans. As well, we will also continue to invest in our Credit
Slab Cares charitable and volunteer programs.
One
more point which the public would most likely not know is that David Bruser has
strategically edited the phone calls that he made to my office and sculpted
them to suit his needs as he scrunches his face with dramatic concern while he
makes unannounced calls, pretending to be a fake customer. In many case, ethical
investigative reporters announce that they are doing an investigation and
require specific information; and, furthermore, they contact the designated
corporate media contact or legal department. David Bruser's phone calls are
edited and spliced together to create an illusion of improper service from our
staff. In one call, he aggressively agitates one of my customer service
representatives and refuses to answer the questions we addressed to him, so
that could serve him as if he was a real customer.
The
fact is that a customer cannot order our products without going through our
transparent process. As almost all business is referred to us, the customer is
assigned a credit specialist whom can determine what the customer's credit
issues are, and if we can help meet their needs. In every case, we require
income confirmation so that we know that our customer can afford the products
and services which we offer. If you browse our websites, you will also note
that each and every page contains the annual percentage rate and other
information relevant to our programs. You will also see that while you are
completing your order, each and every page clearly and prominently displays the
reoccurring payments, as well as the set up fee. In fact, we rely on the
customer selecting the programs, payments and frequencies that suit them best.
Additionally, copies of our agreements are available inclusive of the financial
disclosures at any point prior to and after signing up. It is virtually
impossible to go through our approval process without knowing virtually
everything one needed prior to joining.
What
is also not mentioned in the Toronto Star articles is that David Bruser spent a
great deal of time with me on the phone, and that I specifically walked him
through the process of signing up with us. We reviewed our education center
that we call Credit 101, which helps us determine if we would be a good fit for
our customer's situation. It appears that David Bruser in his news story has
omitted almost everything that we discussed for the signup process. David
Bruser also seems to think that all of our customers are in debt and destitute,
when that is simply not the case. Our customers are people just like anyone
else; however they may may have suffered financial hardship, and are looking
for a second chance to get back on their feet in a responsible manner. We help
those that are in need, and who are prepared demonstrate commitment to
improvement of their credit.
Here
is whom we help the best and most. Many of our customers have encountered
financial hardship as a result of events outside of their own control. Often we
assist consumers post-bankruptcy, or where they are victims of accidents,
injuries, serious health emergencies and many other unforeseen circumstances.
Our typical customer often can not even get credit, and so have very little
debt, if any. While it might be the view of David Bruser that people are
"out of luck" if they have poor credit; it is our view that, in
almost all circumstances, people should have the right to prove themselves and
the opportunity to rebuild their credit responsibly.
Most
importantly, almost anyone knows how credit rebuilding works. If you obtain
credit and take care of it over a period of time, your credit should improve.
This is precisely the method that we use to help our customers become viable
consumers once again.
We
hope that you can see past the Toronto Star and David Bruser’s apparent need to
sensationalize a not very interesting story by portraying myself as a so-called
“Loan Wolf”. Those that know me well, and even not so well, know that 90% of my
day is spent giving and sharing. Those that know me well also know that I
dedicate countless hours to needs and causes that support the community at
large.
On
behalf of the Credit Slab and NuLife programs, I want to let you know how
touched I have been this past week by your positive and supportive emails and
phone calls, particularly from satisfied customers that have been helped by the
Credit Slab and NuLife programs. Customers and the public have provided
testimonials and comments including:
“Well
I am a very happy customer but in any case I am more than willing to give you a
glowing endorsement cause your staff really helped me a lot in a) understanding
how credit bureaus work and b) worked tirelessly to raise my score from about
450 to about 750!!!. “ - Blaise T
“It
certainly seemed like slander to me. That's why I wanted to make sure you had
seen it. Made it sound like you were living high off people who couldn't even
afford food. I'm sure you'd be very upset. His facts were wrong - he obviously
didn't check anything. What's up with him using your Facebook posts?
Anyway...there's my rant. Hope it all works out for you Sheldon.” - Donna G
“Good
for you for fighting back” - Jose R
David
Bruser also seems to think that all of our customers are in debt and cash
strapped, when that is simply not the fact. Our customers are people just like
anyone else; however, they typically have suffered a financial set back. Our
customers are people looking for a second chance to get back on their feet in a
responsible manner. We help those that are in need and are prepared to
demonstrate commitment to improvement of their credit.
We
are very thankful for those customers whom have come forward to extend their
appreciation and support since the Toronto Star released their over
sensationalized story.
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