Three for Thursday 06.18.2020
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
A few thoughts on jogging. I'm a runner, and come rain or shine, I run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, often before sun-up. When a female colleague recently told me she was having trouble making time for exercise, I suggested she too run before sunrise. She looked at me and said, "there's no way as a woman I'm going to take that chance." I thought - take that chance? Then I realized. As a white male, that concern never crosses my mind. It does now. Not for me, but for others who don't look like me, and have to take such variables in to consideration. Let's take the time to think about other people's concerns and work together to make this world a place where those concerns less concerning.
Watch this Investigation
I'll pay you more than you're asking... just cash my check. Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Jerry asks, "Dale, I signed an agreement to buy a house and had to put down $1,000 in earnest money. The deal fell through and I want my money back. But since I signed the agreement electronically, I'm not sure what the agreement required. Can you help?
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson on signing electronic or e contracts:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Never pay money up front at the time of signing a contract you don't understand - whether it's on paper or tablet.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? If not, it's likely too good to be true. E or electronic contracts are really risky when you have a persuasive salesperson and an unclear lengthy agreement that APPEARS to promise more than you would expect.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Electronic signatures can obligate you to pay a person who doesn't provide you a real address and doesn't intend to be found. Be carefull!
Define - Products, Offers and Prices. The agreement should spell out exactly what you should expect from the product. It's so easy to gloss over mice type on a tablet. Don't do it! Take your time and read every word. If it's more than three pages, ask a friend in the industry to review it with you, or take it to an attorney.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract and an Effective Guarantee. This is your greatest risk with e-contracts. It's so so easy to take the charming salesperson's word and ignore the fine print. Don't ignore the fine print!
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking Reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Companies that use deceptive electronic contracts are exposed through social media and consumer reporting platforms. Make certain you look for these red flags before signing!
Legitimize - Your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Companies that meet these standards are far less likely to use misleading language disguised in electronic agreements. The more established the company, the less likely they're trying to trick you in their agreement.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS