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A not-so-charitable organization

| April 2, 2020 1:00 AM

A Coeur d’Alene reader emailed to ask about an organization called Children’s Emergency Food Vouchers. Her mother had received a phone solicitation asking her to help this organization feed hungry children and then she received a mailer with more detailed information.

The charity gave the impression it was helping out locally because its mailer included this passage. “Local educators know the neediest of kids, ones that go to bed many nights hungry. Our charity coordinates and provides food vouchers to feed these children at the moment the need is recognized.”

While telling us that local educators know the neediest of kids could be accurate, it doesn’t really tell us where the money is going.

The charity further tries to portray a local presence by using a local address at 2900 N. Government Way. But in reality the address is just a UPS drop box.

After consulting with Charity Reimagined and the BBB, it turns out the organization is registered as a nonprofit corporation and does have business licenses in at least five Pacific Northwest states, including Idaho.

The entity name is Children’s Humanitarian Services but its registered trade names include Children’s Bank to School Fund, Children’s Emergency Food Vouchers, and Children’s Holiday Helpers. The location appears to be in Tacoma, and the only state Children’s Emergency Food Vouchers is registered in is Washington.

The mailer further states its tax ID number is 84-2233938 but fails to state that its 501c3 status is pending, which according to the BBB gives the false impression that this donation would be tax deductible. Upon searching the IRS database, this tax ID did not show up, also an indication that any solicitation should have clearly stated that its application was pending.

The conclusion is there appears to be a number of red flags with this particular organization which makes it seem suspicious.

If you’d like to help out families in need and want your donations to remain in our community, Charity Reimagined suggested Love INC Kootenai County, Lake City Community Food Bank and Post Falls Food Bank.

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CORONAVIRUS TEXT ALERT: Seems scammers are working in overdrive by promising coronavirus relief to people via text messages. I’ve received a few calls from readers asking if text messages they’re receiving saying they are entitled to monetary relief from the U.S. Government are real.

As always, do not click on any links. If you’re entitled to any relief offered in the stimulus package, it will be mailed to you through snail mail from the U.S. Government or direct deposited in your account. The government does not notify us through text messages. It’s a scam.

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CAR PAYMENT PROBLEM: Since we have a lot of service jobs locally, our area is being hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Some consumers wonder how they’re going to make their car payments since they aren’t able to work right now.

The first thing to do is open up the lines of communication with your lender and see what options are available. Several lenders are stepping up efforts to help customers through this difficult time.

For example, Wells Fargo is working on options that would include alternative arrangements, deferring a payment or extending the maturity date of your loan. If your auto loan is with Chase Bank, it says to give its customer service line a call if you’re unable to make your car payment. It says it’ll work with you.

Also, if you’ve recently made a new car purchase and financed that purchase through an automaker, several automakers have special programs to assist should you lose your job because of the virus. Get in touch with them to ask about payment assistance if you need it.

The bottom line is your lender really wants and needs to find a way to work with you at this difficult time. Repossessing vehicles is not in the lender’s best interest either, because repossessed vehicles are sold at a discount.

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POSSIBLE MORTGAGE RELIEF: Banks are looking for ways to help out strapped homeowners whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19. Some options are payment deferral plans that would allow borrowers to skip up to three or four payments and add the payments on the back end of the loan.

Because loans are often sold to other institutions after closing, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, this can cause confusion to customers. Look at your closing paperwork to see who your lender was at the time of closing and start there.

If you aren’t sure who owns your loan, you can use the Freddie Mac look-up tool: https://ww3.freddiemac.com/loanlookup/

Or try the Fannie Mae look-up tool:

https://www.knowyouroptions.com/loanlookup

Don’t panic. Call your lender to see what assistance it’s offering.

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Remember: I’m on your side.

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If you have encountered a consumer issue that you have questions about or think our readers should know about, please send me an email at terridickersonadvocate@gmail.com or call me at 208-274-4458. As The CDA Press Consumer Gal, I’m here to help. I’m a full-time copywriter working with businesses on marketing strategy, a columnist and a consumer advocate living in Coeur d’Alene.