I'm over 50 and have been unemployed since February 6, 2009. I've had two interviews since I was laid off. I email/fax my resume out for every job I'm qualified for and I see in the newspaper or on the Net. I don't get any responses, even when I do send in my resume. I have over twenty years experience in Office Management and Administration, yet I can't find a job. In the two interviews I went on, I was told that the company had gotten 300 resumes for their job posting.

I'm not only competing with other 50 year olds, but I'm competing with those out of college, high school graduates, and the hundreds of others who are laid off. A lot of the jobs pay just above minimum wage. A lot of companies ask that you put down a salary expectation in your cover letter. It use to be that you were hired on your experience, now it's who comes in at the lowest salary. When asked about a salary, I often put less than I am worth, just to get the interview.

My twenty years of experience means nothing in the job market. A college education means nothing. The only thing that matters, is your salary expectation.

As for trying to go into another line of work, companies don't want to train anyone. They expect you to know the job you are applying for. Even if it's software that you've never used before, you are expected to know it. It's too expensive and time consuming to go back to school, when there's no guarantee that you'll get a job.

There are also so many scams out there. I've sent in my resume for a job and have received emails that the employer wants to know my credit score and they'll suggest where to get it. Why does a company need to know your credit score? That's none of their business.

As for health insurance, I can't afford it. How can you pay for health insurance when you get less than $350/month for unemployment. You have a mortgage or rent to pay, utilities, maybe a car payment, car/house insurance, food, gas for your car, charges, etc. I was suppose to go to my doctor for a yearly checkup and bloodwork for my thyroid (had removed seven years ago)along with a refill of levoxyl, but I told the nurse I couldn't afford the checkup or bloodwork and asked her just for a refill of my prescription. Thank God I get the 30-day refill of levoxyl for $4.00 at Giant Eagle.

The president offered to cut the cost of COBRA, which costs individuals $144/Month, but they fail to mention that you have to pay from March 2009 on, even if you didn't get it for that month, because it's prorated.

I'm on a sinking ship right now. My unemployment will run out next month, I have no health insurance, and I have a mortgage to pay. I never expected to be in this situation at my age. I've been buying my own food, but am going to call a Food Bank this week. I've never done that in my life. Life has sure changed. I'm not living. I'm existing.

I feel violated. I noticed in my checking account a $19.95 debit from a company called Shopping Essentials. I didn't remember ever doing business with that company. I did some research on the net and discovered this company is a scam. First of all, companies such as Vitacost, sell them your account numbers. I had bought vitamins online for a few years now from Vitacost. Shouldn't selling individual's account numbers be against the law? This goes on all the time. How do you know if a company is safe to do business with?

Shopping Essentials, takes small amounts up to $29.95 out of your account, supposedly for a membership fee. Some people don't even check their accounts and aren't even aware that money is being taken out of their account.

I called Shopping Essentials. As usual, it was automated with them asking for even more information, but I opted to talk to an operator and told her that this was an unauthorized transaction. She said they would refund the money back into my account. I received an email from her a few hours later stating they would put the money back into my account. This hasn't been done yet. It's the weekend, so on Monday, I will check again.

I called my bank immediately, and they told me the best thing to do was to cancel by debit card, because that's what they used. It would take 7 - 10 days to get another card. Of course, if you want it early, you could pay $25 to get the new card in 3 days or so. Why is the consumer inconvenienced for what should be against the law?

Anyone can go into your bank account and empty it out. I've had it happen in my own family. Once they get the money, you have to go to the bank to sign papers, then the bank starts their process of trying to get your money back. In the meantime, you have to cancel all your accounts and open new ones. You can put fraud alerts on all your accounts, but that costs money.

Consumers shouldn't have to pay for protection on their own accounts. The Federal Government needs to put some regulations on those doing business on the Internet. They need to protect the consumer. There should be an updated database with all the scammers listed, so if a consumer has doubts about doing business with a company, they have a place to go for updated info.