Hold on, there: Vacation hold could be a scam
Here’s a nasty and dangerous one. I received an email from a reader detailing a scam I hadn’t heard of. It seems that someone had put a “vacation hold” on her mail, using the name of the homeowner. After a week or so, the homeowner noticed that she wasn’t getting any mail. Upon checking with the post office, she was informed that a “vacation hold” had been placed on all mail. The problem was, she had not put a hold on her mail.
She went down to the post office, and they gave her all her stored mail. She discovered that the person (or persons) who had put a hold on her mail had applied for, and been approved, all manner of credit cards and lines of credit. Luckily the homeowner short-circuited the scammer’s plan by picking up her mail. The post office has initiated a formal investigation by the local postal inspector. Hopefully they will track down these miscreants.
While we’re on the subject of mail — DO NOT leave your outgoing mail, especially bill payments with your check in the envelope, in your unsecured mailbox. Crooks are driving around during the day, before the mail is picked up by the mail carrier and taking your checks out of the envelopes. Once they have your check, they “wash” the check using common chemicals and rewrite the check so that they can cash it — sometimes for thousands of dollars. Do yourself a favor and buy a secure mailbox. You can purchase one at most local hardware stores, or instead, use a good old fashion mailbox at the post office or at a location around town.
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BILL’S RANT: Automatically renewing contracts. It has become a common term in many contracts, buried in the very fine print, that unless you specifically cancel your contract, often times, in writing, your existing contract renews, and you are obligated for another complete contract period, usually one year, sometimes for as long as five years! This is particularly troubling with contracts that call for automatic payments from your checking account or your credit card.
MY ADVICE: NEVER sign up for auto-renewal — EVER! You can always renew if you want. Once they get into your bank account or credit card account, some merchants are very difficult to get out. If you have problems with this one, call me.
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EQUIFAX BREACH: Bad News — Good News. Equifax, one of the big three credit reporting agencies, has admitted that their database (read: your personal information) MAY have been stolen. That’s the bad news. The good news is they are offering one-year FREE credit file monitoring to everyone who signs up for it. Here’s their statement and the offer details:
“Equifax has established a dedicated website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine if their information has been potentially impacted and to sign up for credit file monitoring and identity theft protection. The offering, called TrustedID Premier, includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for Social Security numbers — all complimentary to U.S. consumers for one year. The website also provides additional information on steps consumers can take to protect their personal information. Equifax recommends consumers with additional questions visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com or contact a dedicated call center at 866-447-7559, which the company set up to assist consumers. The call center is open every day (including weekends) from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern time.”
MY ADVICE: Sign up!
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MY PERSONAL STORY: Dish, the satellite TV company, a few months ago, installed a Hopper and six Joeys in my home. They have never worked properly or consistently. My contract with Dish is very simple — they provide me television services and I pay them money each month. Fair enough. They’re not providing service and I’m not sending them any more money.
(P.S. Why is it that when you’re ready to disconnect, companies offer you free stuff and discounts you weren’t offered before?)
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ALL SCHOOLS ARE NOT EQUAL: A recent call brought to light a major problem that can easily be avoided. The consumer was earnestly working to improve her lot in life by becoming certified as a med tech (medical technician). These positions pay between $10 and $14 an hour, In other words, between $20K and $30K per year. Working conditions are pretty good and usually positions are available. We are fortunate in North Idaho to have North Idaho College, which offers many great courses.
Instead of using NIC because the course she wanted wasn’t being offered until the next term, the would-be student enrolled in a private institution offering an immediate start date, financing and assistance with job placement after graduation. The catch is this — the private educational institution charges about four times what NIC charges, and the interest rate on the financing they offer approaches 30 percent!
After completing the course, and with her shiny new diploma in hand, she went to her first job interview, only to find that she was competing for one available position with over 20 applicants. She didn’t get the job. Nor did she even get a second interview for the next eight jobs she applied for. In addition to no job, the private financial aid company (used by the educational institution) started sending monthly demands for payment, none of which she could afford to pay — having no job and no income. They then turned the debt over to a very aggressive collection agency.
LESSONS: Read your contract carefully. Don’t be in a hurry; if you wait a little bit, you’ll get a much better deal, and the same diploma without expensive financing.
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I have many more interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me at (208) 699-0506, 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.
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Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy and an active Associate Real Estate Associate Broker for Tomlinson-Sotheby’s International Realty in Coeur d’Alene.