Three for Thursday 03.24.2022
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
It was the most frightening moment of my life. I was in my basement, hugging a foundation pole while an F-2 tornado slammed through my house. For maybe 30 seconds, I felt a sensation that everything around me was going to implode or be snapped away. I feel the same emotion watching the destruction in Ukraine. I ache for the families who are losing their homes and leaving a community to which they may never return. My family made a voluntary move in 1976 from Alabama to Kentucky. Obviously, pre-internet, for a 13-year-old, it felt like moving to a different country. In the end, it made me stronger, and created empathy in me for people who find themselves involuntarily displaced. Please continue to pray for Ukrainians and Russians who are being coerced to be in Ukraine.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation = Plumbing Payout. Your neighbor's plumbing fails, but the plumber they hired wants to charge you for the repair! Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Carolyn, who wants to know if she should purchase a water line protection policy.
Click the video for the answer.
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is how to judge whether you're responsible for a bill when someone says you are.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Demanding immediate payment feels like a fine. If it is a result of an action you didn't take, be skeptical.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Someone "letting you off" for a lesser payment for a debt you were unaware of is a sign you don't owe the debt in the first place.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. If the person demanding the toll doesn't have a booth or a gate, chances are strong they're a fraud.
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. Ask neighbors, friends, and relatives if they are aware of the validity of the request. For example, companies sell homestead fee reduction when you can file yourself for free.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Anyone who says you owe a debt should be able to explain it, show evidence of it, and share the benefit you receive by following their request.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. No valid party demanding payment for an unknown debt can operate legally without these safeguards.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS