Three for Thursday 10.17.19
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Ten years. Wow! I started TrustDALE ten years ago along with my wife Angie, brother Bruce and son Adam. I felt strongly that people wanted to live in a community of trust, but to achieve that, there had to be a framework. That framework was a seven—point investigative process to vet companies, products and services - and a Make It Right Guarantee that really is a guarantee. We've served more than one million consumers who trusted our platform to find great companies, and we've helped hundreds of consumers settle disagreements with companies we never recommended in the first place.
If you like this content, you can see more at https://www.trustdale.com/media/on-demand
We'd love to hear what you think, write us at info@trustdale.comand thank you for being part of our community!
Dale Cardwell
You can order my new consumer handbook "Don't Get Scammed Get Smart" by clicking here.
Watch this Investigation
Here's an example of how we do what we do. Patricia and John Daniel couldn't get their insurance company to do the right thing following a storm. They turned to TrustDALE, and we went to work. Watch the story we call Shingle Shifter, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
On our anniversary, let's answer one of the most often asked questions: Dana asks, Dale, what's your advice on buying a car?
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's lesson on how to be a savvy consumer
Let's apply the seven-point process to buying a car:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW?NEVER buy a car without doing research and if it's used, having it checked by an independent mechanic
Funds - Is the amount of investment far smaller than the promised pay-off? That's a formula for too good to be true! Cars advertised on Craig's list and other places offering savings of 25% or more are almost always scams.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Buying from a private individual opens the door to someone selling a car they don't own. Demand to see ID, and if they give you a check, ask them to go to the bank with you to cash it.
Define - Your deal by comparing Products, Offers and Prices. Test drive friends' cars to determine what make and model you want before you ever begin negotiation.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract and an Effective Guarantee. Ethical negotiation NEVER includes surprises at the end of the negotiation. I recommend you avoid extended warranties. They are often "timed" to expire just before the part covered fails.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking Reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Dealership reputation is easy to measure. Do an internet search of the dealership paired with the word "complaint." Hit return. High volume dealers will have complaints. Look for patterns. If you don't see patterns, proceed with caution.
Legitimize - Your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Most dealers will meet this standard. If buying from an individual, run a check on his or her name in the county they reside to see if they have been sued in an automobile transaction. If they have, chances are they're simply posing as a private owner but he or she is likely a broker. This is a red flag you should seriously consider.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS