Consumer Alert

Auto Dealer’s Tips for Used Cars

Monday, July 16th, 2007

1. Examine the car’s exterior thoroughly.  Look for    rust, dents and evidence that portions of the car have    rusted out and been repaired with body putty.

2. Look under car for breaks in the frame and signs that    frame has been welded.

3. Check for excessive rusting of frame

Franchise Buying Questions

Saturday, July 14th, 2007

Franchise businesses such as Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Jack-In-The-Box are booming. The people setting up franchise ideas and businesses know a good thing, and are really promoting this idea. Franchises for just about every conceivable kind of business are being sold in ever increasing numbers.

Fats Guide

Friday, July 13th, 2007

 Once upon a time, we didn’t know anything about fat exceptthat it made foods tastier. We cooked our food in lard orshortening. We spread butter on our breakfast toast and ploppedsour cream on our baked potatoes. Farmers bred their animals toproduce milk with high butterfat content and meat “marbled” withfat because that was what most people wanted to eat.

Analyze Rip-Offs

Friday, July 13th, 2007

This review is taken DIRECTLY from a piece of “junk mail.” It isor the program that starts out with the heading: “Before YouDecide To Throw This Away, Please Read The Enclosed At Least Once - Then Decide. This is Not a Chain Letter! I Threw TheProgram in The Trash.”

Buying Software

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

Select your software carefully. One easy way to do that is to purchase SHAREWARE and FREEWARE before investing the big bucks. WordPerfect software for instance retails for around $300, but you can purchase PC Write, a shareware word processing software for $5 from S Software (800) 243-1515.

Online Services

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

These services are supported by users.  Users pay an access fee to use the service.  You can pay either a one-time access fee, a fee per minute/houryou are on-line, or some require you to pay a monthly access fee.  Anyhow,the charge usually includes an instruction manual, as well as some on-linecredit.

Sweepstakes Bonanza

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

You go to your mailbox today and find an official document from an Awards Committee claiming that you’ve JUST WON $5,000! All you have to do is run in the house and call them to claim your prize! What joy! You can’t believe it! You were wondering how you would pay the rent this month and now all your troubles are over. You call all your friends and relatives to tell them you’ve just won a sweepstakes. Everyone is happy for you and willing to help you spend your money correctly (to their benefit, of course.)

Beware Free Credit

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

They arrive in your mail - a conspicuous looking mail piece from some “official looking” bank claiming that you have been Pre-Approved for a Mastercard or VISA credit card.

Credit Card Fees

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

Some banks are eliminating the standard 25 or 30-day grace period within which you may pay your bill within being charged interest. This is the normal grace period before interest kicks in. But this is slowly changing. For example, some banks are offering extremely low fixed rates, but without a grace period. These cards will charge you interest from the date it processes your credit card charge.

Women and Credit

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

Many women complain about not having any credit.  Those complaining are those who REALIZE that they do not have credit, single women or divorced women, specifically.  However, there are many married women who have no credit because financial matters are handled by their husbands, and they are not even aware that they are without any type of credit rating.  This is a large problem in America today.