Thursday, August 16, 2012

Items in Collection

Modeling scams prey on vanity and desperation
Many people fall for ads that promise to make them the next big acting or modeling star. Unfortunately, the offers are just too good to be true.

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Prescription for handling complaints about your doctor
A Maryland man wrote to the Consumer Action Complaint Hotline that his doctor would not respond to requests for a prescription refill. Learn what our hotline counselors had to prescribe.

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Watch out for government grant scams
A woman from Missouri gets conned into sending money to secure a “grant.” Turns out she fell for a widespread scam.

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Don’t make the wrong call on prepaid phone cards
Don’t fall for the wrong calling card. Know that the vast majority of prepaid phone cards may carry more unpleasant surprises than calls.

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Disputing an insurance company’s ‘total loss’ value
A consumer’s beloved car is declared a total loss and the insurance company payment seemed like a low-ball offer.

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Killing ‘card services’ robocalls is a challenge
Have you had a pre-recorded call from “Rachel” or “Stacy” from “card services” offering to reduce your credit card loans—even though your phone number is on the National Do Not…

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Couple’s health insurance excludes maternity care
To the surprise of many, individual health insurance coverage in many states doesn’t have to cover maternity care. That’s expected to change under the Affordable Care Act.

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Payphone credit card fees can hurt!
In the age of cell phones, pay phones have dropped off our radar. They seem like harmless anachronisms—but they can take quite a bite out of your wallet if you’re…

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‘Work at home’ is no telecommuting gig
Many people dream of working from home and many companies are finding it cost effective to hire staff that “telecommute” via computer and phone. Unfortunately, the vast majority of “work…

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New wireless phone? New contract!
Often, making changes to your service plan or accepting a free or discounted replacement phone will also automatically extend your wireless service contract, but there are other options.

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Booking hotels online
The Internet has made it a lot easier to book room at the inn, but doing some homework can help ensure you’ll be just as pleased when you get there.

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Foreclosure rescue scams
The foreclosure crisis has brought scams that prey on the desperation of homeowners who can’t pay their mortgages.

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Don’t buy a used car with a lien on it
One consumer’s story is a painful illustration of why you should never buy a used car without first doing your homework.

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‘Free trials’ can be very expensive
Yet one more reminder of how the old adage holds true: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Learn how to protect yourself from similar deceptive practices.

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Phony debt collectors
Scammers don the guise of debt collectors to steal money and personal information from consumers.

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Pay the minimum or face late fees
A Florida man learns the hard way to check the amount due before sending his credit card payment.

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Heartless treatment on Valentine’s Day
A Valentine's Day dinner leaves a bad taste in a Wisconsin woman's mouth when the restaurant added its own tip to the check, despite her cash tip. We advised her…

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Movers hold couple’s goods for ransom
A couple’s belongings were high-jacked by a moving company that wanted more money than originally agreed to.

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Auto warranty about to expire—really?
What to do when you get telemarketing calls, even though you added your number to the Do Not Call Registry.

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Enter your cell number to join!
Premium messaging services can cost you money. Consumer Action’s counselors were surprised by how easy it was to trigger ongoing subscription charges from a cell phone.

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Moving with a Section 8 housing voucher
What you need to know if you live in Section 8 housing and need to move to a different state.

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Hurricane Irene mucks up travel plans
What do hotel cancellation agreements say about refunds and credits if weather disasters have different ideas about your travel plans?

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Hey, didn’t I ‘opt out’ of that email?
What are your rights if you "opt out" of emails from a company, but emails keep coming? How to complain about non-reponsive companies, as well as tips for keeping email…

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