Be smart with this emergency phone app

While we often consider cell phones a pain in the butt, they have the potential of saving your derriere when you need it most.

Both Apple and Android phones have apps (applications) that when used properly, allow the user to push one button to summon help. Some non-smartphones have this feature. The ones that do are limited and the procedure for activating the “emergency” call is usually more than one quick button push.

In the case of a smartphone, this feature is able — if set up properly — to be activated with one quick, obvious button push. I carry an iPhone. It is easy to use but most any store that sells cell phones, including smartphones, will help you set up the “emergency” call feature. This feature is not just for medical emergencies; it also will call 911 or summon law enforcement, depending on the nature of your emergency. Most of the phones will also simultaneously send automated text messages to one or more of your friends and families.

REMEMBER: Set it up now. The moment you need it is not the time to be thinking about setting up the service.

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DON’T BE LATE — IT COULD COST YOU THOUSANDS: You will lose your homeowner’s tax exemption if it is filed one second after the deadline. That’s the bad news. This is a legal matter and there has to be a firm deadline.

The good news is we have a very responsive Assessor’s Office. The staff there is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. If one person can’t help you, they will find someone with an answer to your question.

The deadline this year is April 16 because April 15 falls on a Sunday. The website for the Assessor’s Office is: http://www.kcgov.us/departments/assessor/

Our elected assessor is Mike McDowell. The telephone number of Mike’s office is (208) 446-1500. The website states that a homeowner MUST apply for the exemption allowance in person the first time that exemption is sought. When I spoke to Mike, he stressed that if a person has a special problem, making it difficult or impossible to get into his office, they should call the office and Mike and his staff will find a way to accommodate the homeowner’s special needs. The only thing you can’t be is LATE! NO EXCEPTIONS! If you don’t understand, call them or call me.

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NATIONAL PUBLISHERS GROUP: In all my work on scams and crooks I have never, until Friday, run across a company with a solid “F” rating from the BBB.

If these people send you anything, throw it in the shredder. If they call you — Hang UP! They will take your order for your favorite publication and offer you a fantastically low, multi-year rate. Keywords here are: “take your order (and money).” MY ADVICE: Avoid them.

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A BAD EGG IN THE NEST: Diminished capacity covers a lot of territory and conditions, especially those that tend to affect us as we grow older. As the population ages, we are seeing more and more generational theft and fraud.

Most adult children make it their business to take care of their parents. Unfortunately, some adult children steal from their parents by taking over their assets and using those assets to satisfy their own selfish desires. Siblings should keep an eye out for any suspicious depletion of their parents’ money or property. Legally it’s called elder abuse and is against the law. Unfortunately, it’s seldom prosecuted because it opens old family wounds and is a particularly ugly crime.

Adult children should always remember, their parents’ money and possessions belong to their parents — not the adult kids. It’s not “your inheritance” until your parents are gone and they have legally left it to you. (If your kids are losers, maybe you should leave it all to your cocker spaniel.)

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CHALK ONE UP FOR CONSUMER SMARTS: A woman called me and made me very happy. It seems she lost her small coin purse with her three credit cards in it, a debit card and her Social Security card. She immediately called each of her credit card companies and the debit card issuer, and informed them about the loss. She then called Lifelock and told them about the Social Security card.

She protected herself — all without my help, but rather because of the information we share in this column. Now she gets a good night’s sleep and doesn’t worry. (She may find her cat knocked the wallet under a sofa!)

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AN AARP WARNING WORTH HEEDING: I usually don’t send my readers to outside articles for information, but this is a particularly good and timely warning. Here’s a quote from the AARP article:

“When it’s time to write the notice, give the deceased’s age but leave out the birth date, middle name, home address, birthplace and mother’s maiden name. Don’t even include the names of family survivors. This last advice will be hard to follow, but otherwise you put family members at risk...”

Too much personal information makes an attractive target for crooks and scammers to prey on a deceased person’s loved ones. An obituary is a fitting and beautiful tribute to your loved one. Publishing it in the newspaper and posting it on social media can be appropriate ways of honoring your loved one. Tell their life story but don’t list personal information that only benefits those who want to do damage. The complete article can be found at: http://bit.ly/2GA9TiV

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HERE WE ARE AGAIN: Last Thursday, I received 41 phone calls from readers of this column. Anyone who asked for a return phone call got one. At least 12 people had great topics for the column. Unfortunately, space to publish is limited.

Once the “silly season” (elections) is over, I may start doing a call-in show on a local radio station. If the newspaper will allow it and consumers want it, we’ll call it the CDA Press Consumer Show. The more we can share information, the stronger our community becomes.

Here’s a good example: A woman called me alerting me to a scam I hadn’t heard about. She seemed almost apologetic in bringing it to my attention. She said it probably wasn’t that important. I explained to her that by bringing it my attention she made it possible to warn thousands of readers and probably save them tens or thousands of dollars. NEVER underestimate what your contribution to our effort may be worth.

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REMEMBER BILL BROOKS: “He’s On Your Side”

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I have many more tips and interesting cases that I’m working on. Call me at (208) 699-0506, or email me at BillBrooksAdvocate@gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. (#GoGetEmBillBrooks) You can follow me at www.billbrooksconsumeradvocate.com. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups. Bill Brooks is a consumer advocate and the Broker and Owner of Bill Brooks Real Estate in Coeur d’Alene.