More Consumer Alerts
Independent ATMs pose more risk than you think
If you’ve ever wondered about those ATMs you see in bars and neighborhood stores that aren’t affiliated with a bank, what Robert Siciliano demonstrated probably won’t inspire much confidence. Siciliano, a Boston-based security expert for Intelius, an identity theft protection company, decided earlier this fall to buy one of those ATMs.
Despite 16 phone calls, she got no help from Verizon
Q. On Aug. 31, I began to receive calls from a collection firm for a Verizon bill. Since I had no past-due bills, I called Verizon to ask for the bill’s date and contents, but was told Verizon purged its records once the bill went to collection. The collection firm placed the bill in dispute and requested copies of all my records, which I sent in late September.
Complaints about Dell coupons are common
Q. I bought a Dell Inspiron 15 in August. A few weeks later, I received a pamphlet from Dell with a coupon for $250 off a $799 or larger purchase of a Dell Inspiron.
Scanning ID at purchase legitimate only in a few cases
Q. When I went to pay cash for a six-pack of beer at a liquor store in Grafton, the clerk asked to see my driver’s license. I am over 60 years old and look every day of it. I thought the request odd, but showed him my license. He took it, read it slowly, then flipped it over and, using a scan gun, scanned the barcode on the license. Data clearly registered on the clerk’s computer screen, and he examined those data carefully.
Why some items never go on sale, and why that's legal - for now
Q. There are some brands of goods that absolutely never are discounted or on sale. Even when there is a storewide sale, these products are excluded by the fine print in the sale ad. Presumably the manufacturer is orchestrating this. I thought there were fair trade laws that make this practice illegal. What am I missing?
Cruise lines' airfare deals may contain hidden costs
Q. Eight of us are going on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale. We made all arrangements through Princess Cruise Lines. The bill had to be paid in full by the end of July. We paid, and then they sent us our flight arrangements. We were told “every effort is made to obtain the best air schedule.’’
Extended warranties often not worth it because of loopholes
Q. I bought a four-piece leather living room set from Jennifer Convertibles in 2006. It consisted of a love seat, couch, a chair, and an ottoman. I also purchased the extended warranty to protect my investment. In early 2008 the chair started to discolor. ...
If a company is dragging things out, it’s best to raise a stink
Q. I have a service contract on a GE washer. The contract is for four years ending in 2012. The washing machine covered under this contract was included with the sale of our house in Dedham in June. The General Electric Co. service contract states: “You may cancel your Contract at any time for any reason. ...
Policy on gluten-free meals a hassle for this passenger
Q. I will be traveling with my husband for vacation on an airline. This is my first major trip since being diagnosed with celiac disease and hypoglycemia. We used frequent-flier miles and are going first class. We did this so that I would be able to eat adequately on such a long ...
Giving credit to a friend is dangerous
Q. In 2007, my wife was trying to do a favor for a friend who was down on her luck financially. I strongly advised her against it, but she signed up for a credit card with a second user being this woman. My wife told Chase that she wanted a strict cap on the credit limit of this card set at $1,000.
At the fair, carnival tricks of entirely different sort
I was enjoying a gloriously sunny day last week at the Spencer Fair - a pretty big deal event in central Massachusetts - when I saw something familiar - in a not-so-good, suspicious way, that is. Hidden among the many cattle, food vendors, racing pigs, and the trapeze act was an enticement. It probably didn’t look so scary to most people.
Retailer says it's crucial to learn from blunders
Q. I went to the Lane Bryant website to buy a gift card for my daughter-in-law’s birthday. It would not accept my greeting message for the card, but then the transaction seemed to go through. A few days later, I got another message saying the order was canceled because of credit card refusal.
Canceling PayPal account won’t resolve mix-up
Q. Recently I bought a guitar amplifier on eBay at a price agreed to by the seller. However, by the time the seller saw the payment, someone else used “Buy it Now.’’ The seller refunded my money, but because he chose the wrong option, PayPal fees were deducted. After a couple hours on the phone with PayPal, he got them to refund the fees to me. Unfortunately, they ...
Customer hesitant to complain about microwave woes, again
Q. I have a microwave, which is still under warranty, and has previously broken three times. General Electric did not resolve my issues when I called to complain. Then they did not answer my letters. I have already paid more than $500 for repairs since the warranty only covered part replacement. There is obviously something wrong with this microwave, and GE refuses ...
Despite hassles, Mass. has some of best gift card laws
Gift cards have proven to be quite a problem for a lot of readers. Letter writers regularly ask what happens if you’re left holding a gift card from an establishment that has gone out of business.
Customer service problems mar dealings with Verizon
Q. I would like to get some help to find out why Verizon kept refusing to provide DSL high-speed Internet service to my phone line. Quite a few of my neighbors have DSL service. I have called Verizon numerous times and can never get beyond the person from their customer service number. Every time ...
Rescuing car, insurance money from the shop after an accident
Q. Over a month ago, my year-old BMW was hit while parked on Beacon Street in Boston. It was towed on that day to Herb Chambers Collision Center in Braintree on advice from Herb Chambers BMW, where I had purchased the car.
Government not held to same rules on credit cards
Readers have been peppering me with questions and comments over the past couple of weeks - particularly on two subjects, so it’s time to address them wholesale.
Can sub shop really impose unappetizing credit card fee?
Q. For years, I have eaten lunch daily at a local sub shop with co-workers. We spend an average of $30 to $40 dollars per week. The other day, I went in there by myself and ordered a salad and cold drink and put the charges on my Visa card. I then questioned the owner about a 30-cent extra charge that was placed on my Visa. His policy is that any credit card order under $10 dollars gets charged the extra 30 cents. ...
Theater’s closing leaves ticket holders in the lurch
Q. North Shore Music Theatre requested subscriptions for the 2009 season earlier than usual. I used my American Express card to pay for the subscription (about $700) in October. Early this year, the theater said it was canceling the 2009 season unless it raised $5 million.
Can auto repair shops charge for ‘environmental’ services?
Q. I brought my 1990 Acura Integra to Prime Acura in Walpole for some adjustments and repairs. I was charged $283.50 for labor, $42.62 for parts, and $24.88 for environmental charges. My problem is with the environmental charges. A manager told me the state allows auto dealers to charge a percentage of the bill for that. To top it off, the dealer then charged sales tax on the environmental charges.
Sick over after-hours charge for emergency room visit
Q. I went to the emergency room of the Milton Hospital at 6 a.m. on a Sunday. When I got the bill from the physician it stated “$30 additional for after-hours.’’ Is it legal to charge extra like that in an emergency setting?
Breaking up with DirecTV can be hard if service is bundled
Q. Recently, we received an offer from Verizon: Three services - phone, cable TV, and high-speed Internet - bundled together in one package. So we agreed to switch from Comcast. Verizon was quick to switch the phone over, and later the same day, DirecTV installed a dish on our roof. But no Internet service. After several days without any Internet service, I told Verizon to cancel everything - that we'd go back to Comcast.
Sometimes, a hit to your credit score is unavoidable
Q. I have good credit, but a lot of debt. I'm managing it, I'm paying it down, but it's going to take time. The balance on one of my credit cards is all from a balance transfer, and the interest is very low and fixed. Until this past week, my credit limit on this card was more than double the ...
Product warranty remains even if retailer goes away
Q. In October 2008, I purchased a Black & Decker 12-cup SmartBrew coffee maker (DCM2500) at Linens 'n' Things. The coffee maker started to leak from the bottom of the brewing unit and did some sparking as well. I called Black & Decker to see what they could do as the unit was only six months old and had less ...
Advertising sale items
When a product is advertised, particularly at a deeply discounted price, it would be good form to have the product available for purchase. Generally, the law requires such form.
It's easy to find abandoned property in state records
Q. My question is concerning lost property (stocks, bonds, bank accounts, etc.). My mother-in-law, a retired schoolteacher, passed away over 12 years ago. She left a very complicated, diverse estate, and because of family issues at the time, many of her properties ended up in transfer companies or Massachusetts Abandoned Property. My husband and I worked hard to find everything ...
Answers from GM
A GM bankruptcy could curb any credit card incentives consumers may have earned.
Rebate limbo
When a retail promotion doesn't pan out, raise a ruckus and raise it fast.
Invitation to trouble
Leaving a signed check to fend for itself is an invitation for trouble.
Rebate checks from a bankrupt firm unlikely
It's hard to be optimistic when a company you made a deal with files for bankruptcy protection, shuts down every store, and liquidates its assets.
Consumers can get results by taking a problem up the chain
When dealing with big institutions, flying your complaints up the flagpole can get results.
As economy worsens, Internet scams increase
When times get tough, the temptation to seek deals on the Web rises, the ability to filter them declines, and the number of online crooks usually swells.
Frequent fliers may lose out if they don't keep up on the rules
While it would be refreshing for companies to work with consumers to help them solve their problems, such a happy outcome is rarely the case.
Before plunking down cash, ask about the return policy
Q. In October 2005, I went to New York and did some shopping. However, after returning home I decided to return some merchandise, which was done promptly. I was told that I would only get a store credit. Is there any way I could get the $1,640 in cash that is owed to me? Anonymous, Belmont
You should never shell out money to claim a prize
If you get a check in the mail claiming you have won a contest you never entered - with instructions about sending money first - rip up the check.
Sometimes customers have to get a little pushy to get a refund
Being an aggressive advocate for oneself shouldn't be necessary, but unfortunately is when trying to get a refund.
Scam artists already using the stimulus plan as bait
Scammers being who they are - those with a business plan built around conning others out of their money - are now seeing the federal economic stimulus plan as a hook to rip you off. It is an ideal setup: everyone knows the government is putting gobs of money out there, but most people aren't too sure about where it's coming from and how to get it.
What to do about sudden deluge of unsolicited 'trial' packages
You may receive unsolicited mail for a variety of reasons. but you should never have to pay for it.
Prison inmate wonders what to do about digital TV conversion
Q. I am a Massachusetts prisoner who currently receives analog broadcasts, and I would like to use/receive the $40 government coupon for a digital converter box.
Defending your credit score requires more vigilance now
It used to be so much easier to just run up debt on your own terms. But now the rules of the game are changing, and consumers are the last to know: Credit lines are getting cut, interest rates and fees are rising, and credit cards are being canceled by banks.
Tiny charges on bank cards could presage bigger problems
Fraud experts are concerned about these charges - from 21 cents to 48 cents - that have appeared on cardholders' accounts in at least 46 states. The fear is someone is trying to find usable card numbers so that they can use the cards to make bigger charges at some future date.
Lengthy rebate waiting periods may be a sign something's shady
Q. We bought a piano with a $3,000 rebate promise from CashBack America. The instructions were long and complicated, but we managed to meet all the requirements (including a waiting period of 35 months - or longer - and a 30-day filing window). When we mailed our application for the rebate, it was returned to us marked "Moved, no forwarding ... (Globe Correspondent, 1/25/09)
Mysterious credit card charge may have hit millions of users
Several Internet complaint boards are filled with comments from credit card customers from coast to coast who have noticed a mysterious charge for about 25 cents on their statements. (Globe Correspondent, 1/11/09)
Store bankruptcy complicates problem with new furniture
Q. We have had an ongoing issue for 1 1/2 years. We purchased furniture in May 2007; no payments for one year, interest deferred. First delivery: structural defect. Replacement delivery: nonmatching color issues. Last delivery: imperfections on fabric. A repair person came out in January 2008 to try and address our issues. The imperfections could not be repaired to our ... (Globe Correspondent, 11/30/08)
Extended product warranties are rife with potential pitfalls
Q. I purchased a computer three years ago with an extended warranty plan. It expires this month. I started having problems with the computer and called for help. Another company had taken over the warranty. They sent a technician from a different company to repair the computer. After three visits from the same technician they resolved the problem by replacing ... (Globe Correspondent, 11/23/08)
Weighing the costs of oil heat against electric and gas heat
Q. I have electric heat and hot-air heat in my home. I have not used the electric heat for many years but have heard that at this time it is cheaper than oil - is this right? Over the years I have removed some of the baseboards, but some remain so I am thinking of using a combination of oil ... (Globe Correspondent, 11/16/08)
What, if any, protection can be expected with annuities?
Q. In April 2008, I rolled over my 457 group single annuity deferred certificate (IRA annuity). I am aware that 457s are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000. Is the annuity covered by any similar insurance? Where can I find out? (Globe Correspondent, 11/9/08)
Credit card companies should abide by rules about grace periods
Q. My husband and I have an American Express Clear credit card account. We do not incur late fees or finance charges and I pay the balance in full each month. Our AMEX "Clear" account billing cycle consistently ends the eighth or ninth of the month, which AMEX customer service states is the day it is mailed. Usually, the bill ... (Globe Correspondent, 11/2/08)
Have a question for Consumer Alert?
Have you ever felt wronged by a company selling you a product? Confused about a new policy at one of your service providers? Consumer Alert tries to find the answers to readers' questions. E-mail your question to consumernews@aol.com.