Three for Thursday 12.23.2021
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
My favorite carol is Oh Holy Night, and my favorite line is "Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, ‘till he appeared, and the soul felt it's worth." I can't imagine what it was like to live in the world before spirituality, which gave us a common bond that organized our beliefs about right and wrong, and more significantly, cemented the emotional pull we feel to treat others with kindness, dignity, and love. On this wonderful week, I want to thank God for his presence in our lives, and on a personal level for the gift of Jesus. This motivates me every day to connect value-driven companies with value seeking consumers; all who believe in "win-win" relationships. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation - Red Roof Refund. Tyler Caudle needed our help when a hotel chain mysteriously debited his bank account. Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Kenneth, who wants to know how to go about getting a refund from a third-party airline ticket broker.
Click the video for the answer.
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is how to deal with third party vendors:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? If you've never done business with the third party, thoroughly follow my seven steps before spending money up front.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Fly by night third parties will take any money you will give them, and often lead with an offer too good to be true.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. You will likely never "find" a disreputable third party who uses the internet to hustle you.
Define - Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. When possible, buy directly from the source of your product.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Third parties will often have agreements or terms of service that have nothing to do with the product their brokering. If you are uncomfortable about giving them access to your money, thoroughly review their terms and their reputations.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Third parties that defraud people may very well have run afoul with and have a report The Federal Trade Commission's website. Look and see!
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Credible third parties will meet this standard.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS