Small Business Scam? Can A Cold Call Save My Small Business?
Debt overload or overboard? A small business owner is facing off with the recession. On one hand, he has to refinance his debt to stay afloat. On the other hand, navigating the complicated waters of small business loans has him confused. A miracle phone call seems to answer all of his needs and…
Debt Collectors Scams Spreading Says BBB
The latest scam warning from the BBB is about phony debt collectors. The scammers use personal information like social security numbers to get their victims to wire money under threat of going to jail. The BBB warns that just because they know your info and claim you owe money, doesn't make them…
Personal Finance Information Disclosed To Real Estate Agent: What's Required?
What kind of personal and finance information is a seller required to disclose to their real estate agent? A seller wants to file a complaint about a real estate agent who has not been returning her calls. The seller says she did not tell the real estate agent that she was getting a divorce, but…
How To Protect Yourself Against A Bad Lender
A homeowner has a new mortgage that has already been sold to a loan service company with a terrible reputation. There is no way, unfortunately, to change loan service companies unless you refinance your mortgage. You'll want to keep a close watch on the new loan service company to keep you and your…
Brightly decorated trees, freshly baked cookies, eggnog, giving and receiving. When it comes to the holiday season, vehicle donations are a way to help others less fortunate and get in some end of the year tax deductions. However, you should take some things into consideration to make sure that your…
Filing formal complaints against real estate agents
Know your rights if you have a complaint about your real estate agent. If your real estate agent has broken a law, you can file a complaint with your state's regulatory agency, the Better Business Bureau, and the National Association of Realtors. If your real estate agent has committed a criminal…
BBB Warns Senior Citizens About Telephone Scams
Grandparents across the country are receiving calls from their grandchildren who are in trouble. They've been in an accident, or arrested and they need cash wired ASAP through MoneyGram or WesternUnion.
Only..... It's a SCAM!
According to the Better Business Bureau, senior citizens must be on the…
College Students Should Develop Good Money Habits, Urges BBB
As students head off to college this fall many of them may be managing their own money for the first time. Chicago's Better Business Bureau offers these tips for how college students can better manage their money:
ID Thieves Carry Out Voter Registration Scams
As we get closer to the 2008 presidential election, a variety of organizations may be working to register more voters.
But be careful because identity thieves have started posing as voter registration campaigners, according to the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission.
These identity…
Beware Of Those Who Promise To Save Your Home From Foreclosure
The Department of Justice today announced that eight people were indicted for $35 million of mortgage fraud in Maryland.
You can likely find their names on other sites. I won't list them out here. What's more important is to understand what they allegedly did so that if you're facing foreclosure you…
Builder Won't Fix Problems In New Home
A buyer says his home has problems like a leaky roof. He says the builder will not fix the home problems. Who can he contact to help with these home problems?
How to Pick the Right Tax Preparer
More than half of the 120 million U.S. taxpayers hired a tax preparer last year, according to the Chicago Better Business Bureau. And not all of them were happy with the results.
About 19 percent of consumers complained about billing and another 19.5 percent complained that their tax preparer was…
Is Finding Love Online Too Good to Be True?
As a single woman, I'm thinking maybe it's time to go back to the old-fashioned dance. Where a guy could see which woman caught his eye and approach her. And where the women could excuse themselves and chat about prospective suitors in the ladies' room.
Online dating sites and matchmaking services…
Did you know it's illegal to ask borrowers to pay a fee before getting a loan?
Chicago's Better Business Bureau just warned consumers about a scam where borrowers are asked to wire fees ranging $900 to $5,000 before they can receive their loan proceeds. Needless to say, the loan money never arrives.
…
2007 Stats From Chicago's Better Business Bureau
The bureau closed more than 56,000 complaints in 2007, an 18 percent increase from 2006.
More than 77 percent of complaints were resolved.
The BBB fielded more than 2 million inquiries in 2007, the most in its 81 year history.
A majority of consumers rely on the Internet to find information before…
Better Business Bureau Launches New Ratings System
Better Business Bureaus in some of America's major cities are testing out a new ratings system for its Reliability Reports on businesses. The old system supplied a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" rating. The new system gives a greater range of ratings, similar to school grades - A to F.
It's hard…
I'm often asked how to figure out whether to go with one insurance company or another. I give the standard answer:
What is the best way to deal with your mortgage lender if you believe they have committed fraud against you? Mortgage lenders suspected of fraud should be reported to your state's attorney general's office and to your state's agency that commissions mortgage lenders. If you want to take the issue to…
Research Septic Problem Before Suing
When considering filing a lawsuit over a possible defective product or system used in your home, much research is required. You must research the product and its installation, in addition to talking with other owners, attorneys and the BBB before pointing any fingers. You should also talk to the…
Backing Out of Timeshare is Difficult
Timeshare seminars could be a way to get into an investment property. But they can also turn out to be a scam. In this case, after the buyers changed their mind, the timeshare company won't return the down payment. If you find yourself in a situation that seems like a scam, contact the Better…
Internet Scams Include Credit Cards And Investments
The Internet is full of scams that sound too good to be true. Learn about some common Internet scams involving credit cards, health care, investments, online auctions and more. Some Internet scams also involve fraudulent telephone charges. Learn how to discover an Internet scam and who to report it…
Reporting Problems With Online Auctions
If you have problems with an online auction transaction, you have several options for resolving them. First contact the auction site directly. If that is not successful, then you should contact the BBB or FTC commission to file a complaint about the auction site.
When Selling Your Home, Hire Your Own Inspector
Before you list your home for sale, it's a good idea to get a pre-listing home inspection. A pre-listing home inspection will alert you to items that may need repair in and around your home. Getting a pre-listing inspection will reduce the surprises that could appear during a home inspection…
If a lender won't provide you with a good faith estimate, or any other important information you ask for, they might be trying to do some shady dealings. After discovering closing costs are too high and canceling the loan, a borrower asks about where to file a complaint against a lender. To find a…
Research Water Damage Contractors Through BBB
When you get water damage on your roof and it begins to leak you'll need to hire a contractor to repair your roof. How can you find a reliable roofing contractor? Ask friends, family, colleagues, and local real estate agents to provide referrals. Contact the Better Business Bureau to check the…
