TrustDALE Blog

Insights on Companies and Trust

Rubber Ruse: When Your Trusted Shop Betrays Your Trust
Automotive Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Rubber Ruse: When Your Trusted Shop Betrays Your Trust

After paying $850 for new tires, one woman discovered her old ones were never replaced. Learn how to protect yourself from service scams hiding in plain sight.

Cross-Country Car Trouble: When the Mechanic Makes It Worse
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Cross-Country Car Trouble: When the Mechanic Makes It Worse

A road trip turns into an engine failure disaster just days after a routine maintenance visit. Here’s what happened, and how the driver got justice without paying a dime.

The Used Car Playbook: Buy Smart, Drive Happy
Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Used Car Playbook: Buy Smart, Drive Happy

Looking to buy a used car? This guide reveals smart tactics for saving money, avoiding scams, and staying in control at the dealership, all from a seasoned consumer advocate.

Highway Hustle: How to Ship Your Car Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Highway Hustle: How to Ship Your Car Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)

Need to ship a car across the country? Discover how to do it safely and affordably, and why timing and due diligence matter more than you think.

Behind the Fence: When Car Repossession Crosses the Line
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Behind the Fence: When Car Repossession Crosses the Line

When car repossession crosses legal lines, consumers can fight back. Learn what repo agents can and can’t do, and how to protect your rights.

The Dump Truck Disclaimer Dilemma: What Drivers Should Know
Automotive Safety & Security
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Dump Truck Disclaimer Dilemma: What Drivers Should Know

A sign on a dump truck saying "not responsible for broken windshields" doesn’t always protect them from liability. Here's what drivers need to know and how to protect themselves on the road.

Ask Dale: Did I do the right thing by walking away from a car deal?
Finance & Tips Automotive

Laura Lovejoy

Ask Dale: Did I do the right thing by walking away from a car deal?

Will walked away from a car deal after realizing a lower interest rate would actually cost more. Dale reassures him that trusting his instincts was smart. This story highlights the importance of understanding contracts and being ready to walk away.

Driving Nowhere: How Your Car Loan Could Stall Your Credit Goals
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Driving Nowhere: How Your Car Loan Could Stall Your Credit Goals

If your in-house car loan isn't boosting your credit score, you're not alone. Here's why – and what smart steps you can take today to build better credit.

Driven Into Danger: The Stolen Car a Dealer Never Should've Sold
Automotive Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Driven Into Danger: The Stolen Car a Dealer Never Should've Sold

A Georgia dealership sold a stolen car to a young buyer, trapping him in a dangerous and costly situation. Here’s how it happened, and how you can protect yourself.

Rental Car Roulette: When the Car Breaks, Do You Pay?
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Rental Car Roulette: When the Car Breaks, Do You Pay?

Locked out of your rental car? Learn how one traveler fought back against unfair fees, and how you can protect yourself when rental car companies shift the blame.

The Car Loan Catch: How Dealership Financing Could Be Costing You More
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Car Loan Catch: How Dealership Financing Could Be Costing You More

Dealerships often mark up car loan interest rates without telling you. Learn how to avoid hidden financing costs and get the best rate when buying your next vehicle.

$7,500 for a Car He Didn’t Keep? How a Rental Turned Into a Financial Nightmare
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

$7,500 for a Car He Didn’t Keep? How a Rental Turned Into a Financial Nightmare

A Georgia man was charged $7,500 for a rental car he had already returned. When customer service failed, he fought back—and won. Here’s how persistence (and a little backup) helped him beat a corporate billing disaster.

Warranty Woes: How a Georgia Woman Fought Back Against a Denied Car Repair Claim
Finance & Tips Automotive
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Warranty Woes: How a Georgia Woman Fought Back Against a Denied Car Repair Claim

A Georgia woman fought back after her extended warranty denied a major transmission repair. Learn how her recordings made the difference—and what every car owner should know before buying coverage.

Wrecked Twice: The Scam That Hit Her After the Crash
Automotive Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Wrecked Twice: The Scam That Hit Her After the Crash

After a car crash in Georgia, one woman thought the worst was over — until a fake appraiser took her money and disappeared. Learn how diminished value scams work, warning signs to watch for, and how to protect yourself from getting ripped off twice.

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Three for Thursday is a weekly email and Dale's Do's and Don'ts is a monthly newsletter from Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell. Each week in Three for Thursday you will see a video of one of our investigations, hear Dale answer real consumer questions and learn the steps to becoming a savvy consumer. Each month in Dale's Do's and Don'ts Dale provides information valuable to homeowners.

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