Three for Thursday 08.25.2022
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Be warned, the "information creep" has become a sprint. Take Facebook's recent move to require your cell phone number for "security" purposes. No, Facebook wants your cell phone number so they can make more money. How? According to one major news source, "the big-picture answer is that Facebook wants to be, like Google, a personalized center of the internet -- the hub that other websites must branch off from." The upside would be simply providing your Facebook profile with one click when downloading a new app. The downside is, being turned down for a job because the potential employer knows your family is susceptible to an illness or mental health issue. Our government is in the dark ages when it comes to protecting our interests. Every time I can, I supply a pseudonym, fake dob, and junk-collecting email address as opposed to my factual information. It frightens me where this is going, and I'm not easily frightened.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation = Storage Wars. Juanita just wants her furniture back. Watch because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Gay, who is sick of getting unsolicited texts. Can she stop them?
Click the link below to find out:
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on staying safe in emergency situations.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Full or significant payment to a company you haven't checked out is a bad idea.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Contractors might hide the truth about true costs just to get you to sign. It's especially important to vet the company before you commit.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Tension caused by emergencies prompt irrational decisions. Stay rational!
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. It's difficult to do this in an emergency. It's best to have done your roofing, plumbing, electric, automobile repair homework long before problems appear.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Again, hard to do under time sensitive situations. If possible, get a second estimate.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. You should be able to check reviews. Absence of any reviews is a red flag.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Insist on receiving a liability insurance certificate naming you as a covered party.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS