Three for Thursday 11.26.2020
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It's not mine. That's the conclusion I reached after considering every excuse imaginable. Several months ago, I bought a set of tires for my car. The energetic young tech offered me the opportunity to get a $50 rebate, IF I shared tons of personal information on a mail in form. I bit, knowing that the email and phone number I shared were real, but created just for these data mining offers like this. I was assured the rebate would arrive within four weeks. Eight weeks later, they had my personal information, but I had no rebate. I wondered how many people let it go - because following up was a pain, but that's what I do. I followed up, spent more than $50 worth of my time on the phone trying to find out what happened to my rebate. Ultimately, I got an apology, and my gift card arrived a few days later. Then, four weeks after that, I received a second gift card for $50. Hummm... Obviously a mistake. Was it mine? Had I earned it because of my investment of time? No, it wasn't mine, so I clipped it up. Someone once said, "character is what you do when you think no one is looking." My parents taught me someone is always looking. TrustDALE believes in "win-win" consumer vendor relationships. Thank you for believing in TrustDALE!
Watch this Investigation
Holiday lockout: It's the time of the year our distraction can result in locking our keys in our car. Who should you call for help? Watch, because This Could Happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Real Consumer Question is from me! One I get all the time... "Are there real deals to be had on Black Friday?"
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson on handling emergency situations:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Paying for service before the service is rendered is a slippery slope. I recommend never paying more than 30% in advance in an unexpected situation.
Funds - - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? If not, it's likely too good to be true. Be wary of prices too good to be true - as much as you are wary of prices that appear to be outrageous.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. A person rendering assistance when an unexpected need arises should be able to give you proper identification and a real address. Demand it.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract and an Effective Guarantee.I'm working on a story about a person who was hit with an unexpected plumbing bill. No matter the origin of the need, slow down, consider the offer and don't hesitate to ask a trusted friend for their perspective.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking Reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Emergency situations often don't lend themselves to thorough evaluation. If the amount of money required will give you heartburn for failing to check the three "r's," take the time to check the three "r's!" (References, reviews and reports).
Legitimize your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. It's very tempting to accept shortcuts when an unexpected situation arises. Again, losing $15 might not hurt, but losing $1,500 most likely will. If it will hurt, ask to see a license!
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS