TrustDALE Blog

Insights on Companies and Trust

Dodging Rental Red Flags: Protect Your Wallet and Rights
Finance & Tips Safety & Security

Marnie Zambri

Dodging Rental Red Flags: Protect Your Wallet and Rights

If a leasing company promised to refund your apartment application fee and didn’t follow through, here’s how to respond, and what you can do to protect yourself in the future.

Irrigation Irritation: Who Pays When a Fix Fails?
Exterior & Landscaping Finance & Tips
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Irrigation Irritation: Who Pays When a Fix Fails?

If a landscaper charges again to fix an issue they didn’t resolve the first time, should you have to pay? Here’s how to determine if a follow-up service call is justified, and what to watch out for.

Is That Old Debt Even Legal? Know Your Rights
Finance & Tips

Marnie Zambri

Is That Old Debt Even Legal? Know Your Rights

A Georgia consumer receives a debt collection notice on a 15-year-old account. Here’s what you need to know about time-barred debts, your legal rights, and how to protect yourself from predatory or unlawful collection tactics.

Sales Tax Slip-Up? Here’s What to Do When It’s Added After the Fact
Finance & Tips

Marnie Zambri

Sales Tax Slip-Up? Here’s What to Do When It’s Added After the Fact

An Atlanta homeowner received a surprise $15 invoice after paying an HVAC bill in full. Here’s what to do when sales tax is missing from a receipt, and why you still might be on the hook.

How to Clear a Fraudulent Account from Your Credit Report
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

How to Clear a Fraudulent Account from Your Credit Report

A Georgia resident’s credit was damaged by a fraudulent DirecTV account. Here’s why companies make you fix their mistakes, and the steps you must take to repair your credit report.

Don’t Sign That iPad Yet: The Consumer’s Guide to Digital Agreements
Finance & Tips Safety & Security
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Don’t Sign That iPad Yet: The Consumer’s Guide to Digital Agreements

Digital contracts are everywhere, but signing without reading can lead to costly mistakes. Here's your guide to protecting yourself before tapping "Agree" on an iPad or screen.

Still Trusting “Pre-Approved”? The Credit Karma Case Is a Cautionary Tale
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Still Trusting “Pre-Approved”? The Credit Karma Case Is a Cautionary Tale

Credit Karma settled with the FTC over deceptive pre-approval claims. Here's what Georgia residents need to know in 2025 about the fallout, your rights, and how to avoid misleading credit offers.

How Much Should You Pay to Learn Airbnb Hosting?
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

How Much Should You Pay to Learn Airbnb Hosting?

Curious about becoming an Airbnb host and considering the BNB Formula course? Here’s what you need to know before spending thousands on promises of easy profits.

The Hidden Fine Print That Could Ruin Your Vacation
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

The Hidden Fine Print That Could Ruin Your Vacation

Online travel bookings may seem convenient, but the fine print often leaves consumers with little legal recourse when things go wrong. Here's what you need to know before you book.

Misleading Return Policies: How to Fight Back Like a Pro
Finance & Tips Scam Prevention
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Misleading Return Policies: How to Fight Back Like a Pro

Misled by a fake return policy after shopping online? Learn how to fight back using chargebacks, consumer rights tips, and smart shopping strategies that protect your wallet.

Lower Rates, Bigger Risks: Rethinking That 15-Year Mortgage
Finance & Tips
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Lower Rates, Bigger Risks: Rethinking That 15-Year Mortgage

Considering a 15-year mortgage? Learn how to take advantage of lower rates while protecting your financial flexibility, and discover why a 30-year loan with smart payments might be your best bet.

Cool-Off Confusion: Your Rights After a Purchase Outside the Store
Finance & Tips
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Cool-Off Confusion: Your Rights After a Purchase Outside the Store

Thinking of canceling a purchase made at a fair or pop-up market? Here's what the FTC's Cooling Off Rule actually covers, and what to do if you're stuck with something you don’t want.

Bought Tech Abroad? What to Know When It Breaks Back Home
Finance & Tips
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Bought Tech Abroad? What to Know When It Breaks Back Home

What happens when your laptop breaks and the warranty doesn't apply because you bought it abroad? Here's what consumers need to know, including credit card protections that could save the day.

Stranded by SmileDirectClub? Here Are the Options You Still Have
Finance & Tips Healthcare
Jessica Long

Jessica Long

Stranded by SmileDirectClub? Here Are the Options You Still Have

SmileDirectClub shut down in 2023, but many customers are still seeking refunds or treatment. Here's what you can still do, even now, to protect your health and finances.

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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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