Here's a few helpful websites worth referencing before you drop off your car at a local auto repair shop. You seriously have to do your homework...I have an acquaintance who recently got shafted by Jiffy Lube...he's now out the money for a new transmission...bad situation.
Avoid getting ripped off on repairs and maintenance for your car or pickup.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/maintenance/articles/103634/article.html
Another useful link...(5 tips to avoid getting ripped off)
http://www.savingtoinvest.com/2008/11/car-repairs-5-tips-to-avoid-getting.html
Here's an interesting story I found on YouTube...undercover investigation into California chain..EZ Lube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE8aLaoj5n0
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
NBA Playoffs make it difficult to concentrate...
Afternoon ladies and gents...hope everyone is having a fantastic 'Thunder Up' Tuesday. My day has been productive...just wrapped up tonight's IYC report...although my focus is dwindling as the day progresses...NBA Playoffs...Game 5...Thunder...Lakers...need I say more!?! I can't believe we're tied 2-2 with the Kobe and his aging LA crew...wow...feels good to be an Okie...who's with me?? With that said...there's still a bit of work to be done before I head home for the evening...including finishing this post:) I've included a few useful tips to keep in mind when shopping online ((info. courtesy of www.msnbc.com)). Read up Please!
1. Understand how PayPal works. When you open a PayPal account, you authorize PayPal to take money out of your bank account or charge online purchases to your credit card. This can be a nice service if you feel uneasy about sharing your credit-card information with a wide variety of online merchants. Merchants never see your personal information; they just receive money from PayPal, an eBay company.
2. Decide how you want to pay. PayPal’s default maneuver is to withdraw money straight from your bank account rather than charge purchases to your credit card. If you want to pay with your credit card, you must remember to adjust the payment setting by clicking the “More Funding Options” link before you pay.
3. It’s better to use your credit card. That way you’ll be able to dispute charges and potentially get them reversed if anything goes awry. Such disputes will be much harder to resolve if the money has already been taken out of your account.
4. Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mails. Did you ever get an e-mail message that appears to be from PayPal or another legitimate-looking outfit, asking you to click on a Web link and update your account information? Never, ever do that! This is one of the biggest online scams around. (Don’t respond to unsolicited phone calls of this nature, either.)
5. Take the initiative. If you’re concerned that PayPal or another institution might really need to reach you, go ahead and contact them directly – but not via the e-mail message you received. Since PayPal’s toll-free number can be hard to find, here it is: 1-800-854-1366. Its non-toll-free customer-service number is (402) 935-2050.
6. Type in Web site addresses yourself. By doing this instead of simply clicking on a link that gets sent to you, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of reaching a legitimate site.
7. Look for signs of security. When you reach the point of payment or of sharing your personal information, the Web site should be secure. The address of a secure site contains an “s” after the “http:”, like so: “https:”. Internet browsers also display an icon such as a gold padlock to verify that the site is secure.
8. Don’t pay outside the system. Fraudulent sellers will ask you to ignore the regular online-shopping-cart method of payment and wire them money instead. Or, they may want you to place money in what will turn out to be a phony escrow account. Never deviate from the regular payment process in this way.
9. Check the seller’s reputation. Whether you’re shopping on eBay, Amazon.com or another site that connects you with independent sellers, opt for a seller who has sold at least 10 items and who has a high satisfaction rating. Also, take a minute to read past customers’ feedback about the seller.
10. Know where to complain. If you feel you have been a victim of fraudulent activity or have received a fraudulent solicitation, report the matter to the retailer or company that’s been “spoofed".
1. Understand how PayPal works. When you open a PayPal account, you authorize PayPal to take money out of your bank account or charge online purchases to your credit card. This can be a nice service if you feel uneasy about sharing your credit-card information with a wide variety of online merchants. Merchants never see your personal information; they just receive money from PayPal, an eBay company.
2. Decide how you want to pay. PayPal’s default maneuver is to withdraw money straight from your bank account rather than charge purchases to your credit card. If you want to pay with your credit card, you must remember to adjust the payment setting by clicking the “More Funding Options” link before you pay.
3. It’s better to use your credit card. That way you’ll be able to dispute charges and potentially get them reversed if anything goes awry. Such disputes will be much harder to resolve if the money has already been taken out of your account.
4. Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mails. Did you ever get an e-mail message that appears to be from PayPal or another legitimate-looking outfit, asking you to click on a Web link and update your account information? Never, ever do that! This is one of the biggest online scams around. (Don’t respond to unsolicited phone calls of this nature, either.)
5. Take the initiative. If you’re concerned that PayPal or another institution might really need to reach you, go ahead and contact them directly – but not via the e-mail message you received. Since PayPal’s toll-free number can be hard to find, here it is: 1-800-854-1366. Its non-toll-free customer-service number is (402) 935-2050.
6. Type in Web site addresses yourself. By doing this instead of simply clicking on a link that gets sent to you, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of reaching a legitimate site.
7. Look for signs of security. When you reach the point of payment or of sharing your personal information, the Web site should be secure. The address of a secure site contains an “s” after the “http:”, like so: “https:”. Internet browsers also display an icon such as a gold padlock to verify that the site is secure.
8. Don’t pay outside the system. Fraudulent sellers will ask you to ignore the regular online-shopping-cart method of payment and wire them money instead. Or, they may want you to place money in what will turn out to be a phony escrow account. Never deviate from the regular payment process in this way.
9. Check the seller’s reputation. Whether you’re shopping on eBay, Amazon.com or another site that connects you with independent sellers, opt for a seller who has sold at least 10 items and who has a high satisfaction rating. Also, take a minute to read past customers’ feedback about the seller.
10. Know where to complain. If you feel you have been a victim of fraudulent activity or have received a fraudulent solicitation, report the matter to the retailer or company that’s been “spoofed".
Monday, April 26, 2010
Before you travel abroad...
Interested in renewing or applying for your passport...here's a link to the U.S. State Department's website...http://travel.state.gov
Right now it's a 4 to 6 week wait for passport requests ($75 per application)...an additional $60 for those who wish to expedite their application (2-3 week wait).
Here's a quick tip....if you can't wait a couple of weeks...drop off your application in person at your nearest passport agency. Our nearest one happens to be in Dallas, Texas. As long as you can prove your situation is urgent...the State Department will issue a passport to you within a couple of hours (make sure to call ahead and make an appointment))...again, that's only in an emergency. Another option involves expediting companies (www.uspassportnow.com) ...they charge a couple hundred dollars to do the work for you...should you go this route...you could be waiting for your passport anywhere between 24 hours and 2 weeks.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Right now it's a 4 to 6 week wait for passport requests ($75 per application)...an additional $60 for those who wish to expedite their application (2-3 week wait).
Here's a quick tip....if you can't wait a couple of weeks...drop off your application in person at your nearest passport agency. Our nearest one happens to be in Dallas, Texas. As long as you can prove your situation is urgent...the State Department will issue a passport to you within a couple of hours (make sure to call ahead and make an appointment))...again, that's only in an emergency. Another option involves expediting companies (www.uspassportnow.com) ...they charge a couple hundred dollars to do the work for you...should you go this route...you could be waiting for your passport anywhere between 24 hours and 2 weeks.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Lead paint regulation presents new problems...
Contractors will soon be required to be EPA certified before making renovations to a home or building built prior to 1978 (that's the year lead based paint was outlawed). The new rules are aimed at reducing lead poisoning in children. So what exactly does that mean for contractors?? Well, starting April 22nd...no remodeling, no replacement of windows...unless one of the leaders on the work crew that's doing the work has been specifically trained in how to abate lead based paint. What that means for homeowners?? The extra testing and precautionary measures will force contractors to pass the additional cost onto their customers. If a contractor is caught working on a home built prior to 1978 WITHOUT the proper training...they could be fined almost $40,000 per violation, per day...the EPA is not playing around. The problem is there's not enough EPA certified instructors to go around...(there's maybe one or two in Oklahoma period)...which means most contractors WILL NOT be certified once the new rules go into effect this Thursday, April 22nd (that's earth day). Trade groups like the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association want the federal government to push back the deadline...not likely though.
Word is Metro Tech will soon be offering classes 6 days a week (although they're still waiting on approval from the EPA) ...you can call them at 405-424-TECH(8324)...they're located at 1900 Springlake Drive.
Useful links below...
http://www.epa.gov/lead/
Possible training in Oklahoma...
http://www.oshba.org/html/courses.php (Oklahoma State Home Builders Association)
Metro Tech...
www.metrotech.org
Word is Metro Tech will soon be offering classes 6 days a week (although they're still waiting on approval from the EPA) ...you can call them at 405-424-TECH(8324)...they're located at 1900 Springlake Drive.
Useful links below...
http://www.epa.gov/lead/
Possible training in Oklahoma...
http://www.oshba.org/html/courses.php (Oklahoma State Home Builders Association)
Metro Tech...
www.metrotech.org
Monday, April 19, 2010
Scam Alert: 206-801-5300
If you receive a phone call from 206-801-5300...hang up immediately and report the fraudulent call to your local authorities! The person or persons calling from this number is a scam artist and all they're after is your money. Here's how the scheme works...the fraudster calls unsuspecting consumers...then tries to convince them they're wanted for a handful of federal charges (i.e. electronic bank fraud...etc.). In most cases...at least from what we've been able to gather online...the scam artist claims to be working for some investigative unit within the Federal Government. He uses a host of fake names (i.e. William Jones, Max Green, Justin Ruso) and threatens his potential victims with jail time unless they wire him cash or give him their bank information. The scary part is the bad guy typically has a bunch of your personal information...including SS#, home address, employer's name, and contact information for a handful of your family and friends.
If you receive a similar phone call...contact your local authorities immediately. Another good idea is to give a heads up to the 3 BIG Credit Bureaus (www.annualcreditreport.com)
You should also contact your utilities...as well as the Social Security Administration (http://www.ssa.gov/) and Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).
One more thing....if you're unsure about a call...run the phone number using a simple google search. When I did one for 206-831-5300...it turned up pages of complaints.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
If you receive a similar phone call...contact your local authorities immediately. Another good idea is to give a heads up to the 3 BIG Credit Bureaus (www.annualcreditreport.com)
You should also contact your utilities...as well as the Social Security Administration (http://www.ssa.gov/) and Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).
One more thing....if you're unsure about a call...run the phone number using a simple google search. When I did one for 206-831-5300...it turned up pages of complaints.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Friday, April 16, 2010
It's Friday in the corner...
Afternoon ladies and gents...so it's a crummy day in the Real OC....I spent much of the morning at the Oklahoma County Courthouse in Judge Gregory Ryan's courtroom. We were chasing down Mark Whitney...he's a shady contractor we've been after for awhile now. He's been on our radar for awhile...complaints against him started coming in years ago...ever since I've been at K4. The story should air next week sometime....I'll keep you posted. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I had planned on moving some furniture tonight from Tulsa to Oklahoma City...but Huck (he's my jack russell/boston terrier mix) got sick...the Vet says he has a parasite...not pretty...take my word for it....so I think we'll take it easy tonight...try to stay home with the lil' guy. Let me leave you with a final thought for the week...well, maybe not such much a final thought...but something to keep in mind...
(www.smartconsumertips.com)
Four Very Healthy Attitudes
1. Become a Lifelong Learner.
Gain up to 2.5 years. People who maintain a healthy intellectual curiosity throughout their lives can improve their RealAge by up to 2.5 years.
2. Be Active.
Gain about 5 years. Even minor exercise -- two 20-minute walks per day -- can make you nearly 5 years more youthful.
3. Laugh a Lot.
Gain up to 8 years. Laughter reduces stress, strengthens your immune system, and can make improve your effective RealAge by up to 8 years.
4. Reduce Stress.
Gain up to 32 years! High stress makes you vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes, effectively making you as much as 32 years older than your calendar age. All you need is a strong social support network coupled with the stress-reduction strategies.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
(www.smartconsumertips.com)
Four Very Healthy Attitudes
1. Become a Lifelong Learner.
Gain up to 2.5 years. People who maintain a healthy intellectual curiosity throughout their lives can improve their RealAge by up to 2.5 years.
2. Be Active.
Gain about 5 years. Even minor exercise -- two 20-minute walks per day -- can make you nearly 5 years more youthful.
3. Laugh a Lot.
Gain up to 8 years. Laughter reduces stress, strengthens your immune system, and can make improve your effective RealAge by up to 8 years.
4. Reduce Stress.
Gain up to 32 years! High stress makes you vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes, effectively making you as much as 32 years older than your calendar age. All you need is a strong social support network coupled with the stress-reduction strategies.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Your IYC 411 of the day...
Hope everyone is having a fantastic week. My late news producer decided to hold my IYC report for tonight...but you should still tune in at 10 for Kevin Ogle's special on the McVeigh Tapes...interesting stuff. In the meantime...I found some quick consumer tips online... check out this useful consumer driven website...www.consumeraction.gov
1.) A deal that sounds too good to be true usually is! Be wary of promises to fix your credit problems, low-interest credit cards, deals that let you skip credit card payments, business/job opportunities, risk-free investments, and free travel.
2.) Extended warranties and service contracts are rarely worth what you pay for them.
3.) Say no to credit insurance offers. Often offered with credit cards, car loans and home mortgages, it is almost always better to purchase regular property, life or disability insurance.
4.) There is no universal three-day cooling-off period. Don't be misled into thinking that you have an automatic three days to cancel a purchase. Only a few types of contracts give you a right to cancel.
5.) Beware of payday and tax refund loans. Interest rates on these loans are usually excessive. Even a cash advance on a credit card could be a better option.
6.) Home improvement and auto repairs are the subject of frequent complaints. Getting a second opinion can help prevent costly mistakes and enable you to make better decisions.
7.) Think twice before you rent-to-own. Interest rates on rent-to-own purchases can be very high. If you miss a payment, you could end up with nothing. Consider buying second-hand at a thrift shop or through ads in your local newspaper.
8.) Don't buy under stress. Avoid making big-ticket purchases during times of duress (e.g. coping with a death or debt).
9.) Work-at-home ads usually don't pay off. Be especially wary of ads that promise huge annual salaries; they often require expensive upfront fees with no guarantee. You risk losing your money and wasting a lot of time and energy.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
1.) A deal that sounds too good to be true usually is! Be wary of promises to fix your credit problems, low-interest credit cards, deals that let you skip credit card payments, business/job opportunities, risk-free investments, and free travel.
2.) Extended warranties and service contracts are rarely worth what you pay for them.
3.) Say no to credit insurance offers. Often offered with credit cards, car loans and home mortgages, it is almost always better to purchase regular property, life or disability insurance.
4.) There is no universal three-day cooling-off period. Don't be misled into thinking that you have an automatic three days to cancel a purchase. Only a few types of contracts give you a right to cancel.
5.) Beware of payday and tax refund loans. Interest rates on these loans are usually excessive. Even a cash advance on a credit card could be a better option.
6.) Home improvement and auto repairs are the subject of frequent complaints. Getting a second opinion can help prevent costly mistakes and enable you to make better decisions.
7.) Think twice before you rent-to-own. Interest rates on rent-to-own purchases can be very high. If you miss a payment, you could end up with nothing. Consider buying second-hand at a thrift shop or through ads in your local newspaper.
8.) Don't buy under stress. Avoid making big-ticket purchases during times of duress (e.g. coping with a death or debt).
9.) Work-at-home ads usually don't pay off. Be especially wary of ads that promise huge annual salaries; they often require expensive upfront fees with no guarantee. You risk losing your money and wasting a lot of time and energy.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
New mouth...new start.
D-Dent is a local non-profit that provides dental work for the elderly and disabled who otherwise couldn't afford it. They're an amazing organization...hundreds, if not thousands of success stories over the past 24 years. Of course...not everyone qualifies for assistance. Head to their website (http://d-dentok.org/) for more information like how to apply...an online application is available....or you can call their office directly at 405-424-8092...toll free at 1-800-522-9510.
One more thing...D-Dent has their largest fundraiser of the year coming up June 11th at Silverhorn Golf Club...a celebrity golf tournament in memory of Sgt. J. Brandon "Boomer" Harris. If you'd like to take part in the tourney...call D-Dent at the numbers above or email d-dent@coxinet.net
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
One more thing...D-Dent has their largest fundraiser of the year coming up June 11th at Silverhorn Golf Club...a celebrity golf tournament in memory of Sgt. J. Brandon "Boomer" Harris. If you'd like to take part in the tourney...call D-Dent at the numbers above or email d-dent@coxinet.net
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
In the market for a reputable contractor or roofer??? I got the the man for the job...
Thursday night we featured a woman from Edmond who was recently diagnosed with 4 stage Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (her second bout with cancer in less than 5 yeas...so sad). She's an awesome lady and right now she's in remission. The reason she contacted us wasn't about the cancer however...it's because an out of state roofing company (National Roof Systems) took her money, but never started the job. We knew exactly who to call...Larry McCaslin of McCaslin Construction. He's the ticket...a stand up family man...who seriously cares about the quality of his work and the customer...I even went to college with his son Zac. Larry did the cancer survivor's roof for free...keep your fingers crossed National Roof Systems sends our homeowner a refund check in the mail...it's allegedly on the way. Say a little prayer for her...and if you ever need a roofer or contractor (McCaslin works as a general contractor as well)...look up Larry...his number is 405-570-8361.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
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