Consumer Guy is in your corner Mondays, too
If it’s the CDA Press Consumer Guy, it must be Thursday, right?
Well, as you know, it’s Monday. Because of reader demand, they say, the brilliant people at The Coeur d’Alene Press thought it might be a good idea for me to write a column on BOTH Monday and Thursday. So until further notice, you’ll find me here — and there.
•••
JOB WELL DONE goes to the city of Coeur d’Alene and specifically to the Utility Department. I had an email from a consumer whose metered water usage didn’t seem to jibe with the amount of water she thought she was using. I contacted Mr. Troy Tymesen, who works for the city (who presumably works for citizens — us consumers). This is the second time Troy has jumped on an issue and has been very responsive to an inquiry.
I don’t know if we’ve solved the consumer’s problem yet, but we’re hot on the trail of an explanation and hopefully a solution. Again, thanks Troy!
•••
FREE GOVERNMENT GRANT: I’ve received a $9,000 grant from the Federal Government! At least that’s what the caller from the Wahington, D.C., area code said. He went on and on about the $9,000 that I would be receiving shortly.
For the amusement of my readers, I recorded the call and have placed it on my blog. If you want a chuckle, go to cdapressconsumerguy.com and listen to the “$9,000 Grant Scam Call” post. As long as you know it’s a scam call, it can be funny. If you’re a vulnerable consumer, it can be tragic.
The scammers always end up by asking for credit/debit card numbers or bank account information so they can “process” your “grant.” Be careful of this one. As you can tell from the recording, they’re very aggressive.
•••
Merchants Aren’t Always The Villain: A very upset consumer called me with a complaint about a local merchant. It seems approximately three months ago, the consumer bought products for her home, which she was remodeling. It was understood the products would be ordered, they would be delivered to the merchant in approximately 30-45 days, and the merchant would hold them until the consumer was ready for installation. The merchant also was to coordinate the installation of the product with independent contractors, oversee and guarantee the product and installation.
After the product was delivered and the installation scheduled, the consumer decided to “go another direction” and insisted the merchant refund the entire 50 percent deposit.
The lesson here is this: Contracts are contracts. Most contracts have cancellation clauses. In this particular case, the contract could be canceled, by mutual consent, and the merchant was entitled to retain 25 percent of the full contract price for liquidated damages, i.e. shipping and restocking fees charged by the manufacturer of the product plus the hours invested in the project by the merchant and staff.
Just think: Would it be fair if the merchant “canceled” the contract at the last minute?
•••
If you’d like to take a look go to www.cdapressconsumerguy.com.
Remember, “I’m in your corner.”
•••
I have many more interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me at (208) 449-7222, email me at CDAPressConsumerGuy @gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. Also include your full name and a phone number. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.
•••
Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy. He is an active Associate Real Estate Broker for Tomlinson-Sotheby’s International Realty in Coeur d’Alene.