Cars: Auto Repair

Cars - Auto Repair
Whenever you take a vehicle to the shop:
***Choose a reliable repair shop. Family, friends or an independent consumer rating organization should be able to help you. Look for shops that display various certifications that are current. You should also check out the shop's record with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.
***Describe the symptoms. Don't try to diagnose the problem.
***Make it clear that work cannot begin until you have a written estimate and you give your okay. . Never sign a blank repair order. If the problem can't be diagnosed on the spot, insist that the shop contact you for authorization once the trouble has been found.
***Ask the shop to keep the old parts for you.
***If a repair is covered under warranty, follow the warranty instructions..
***Get all repair warranties in writing..
***Keep copies of all paperwork.. Some states, cities and counties have special laws that deal with auto repairs.
For information on the laws in your state, contact your local consumer protection office. In addition, the FTC provides a complete consumer guide to auto repair.
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Shopping From Home: 3-Day Cooling Off Rule

Shopping From Home - 3-Day Cooling Off Rule
When you buy something at a store and later change your mind, your ability to return the merchandise depends upon store policy. If you buy an item in your home you might have three days to cancel.
This Cooling-Off Rule also applies to purchases of $25 or more at your workplace and places rented by a seller on a temporary basis, such as hotel or motel rooms, convention centers, fairgrounds and restaurants. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, the Cooling-Off Rule requires sellers to tell you that you have three business days after the sale to change your mind. At the time of the sale, the seller must give you two dated copies of a cancellation form (one to keep and one to send) and a copy of your contract or a receipt showing the salesperson's name and address and explaining your right to cancel. The contract or receipt must be in the same language that's used in the sales presentation.
To cancel a purchase, sign and date one of the cancellation notices and send it by certified mail postmarked before midnight of the third business day following the sale. Saturday is considered a business day, but Sunday and legally recognized holidays are not. Keep the other notice of cancellation for your records. If you were not provided with this form at the time of the sale, your three-day period doesn't start until you receive it from the seller. You can also write your own letter to cancel the order.
Once you have canceled, you must be given a refund within 10 days. The seller must notify you of the date for product pick up, and return of any trade-ins you gave as a down payment. Within 20 days, the seller must either pick up the items, or reimburse you for mailing expenses.
Be aware that there are situations in which the Cooling-Off Rule does not apply:
***You made the purchase entirely by mail or telephone.
***The sale was the result of prior contact you had at the seller's permanent business location.
***You signed a document waiving your right to cancel.
***Your purchase is not primarily for personal, family or household use.
***You were buying real estate, insurance, securities, or a motor vehicle.
***You can't return the item in a condition similar to how it was when you got it.
***You bought arts or crafts at a fair, shopping mall, civic center, or school.
Remember that if you paid by credit card and are having difficulty getting your refund, you may also be able to dispute the charge with your credit card company under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
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Shopping From Home: Your Rights

Shopping From Home - Your Rights
When you order something by mail, phone, fax or computer, the Federal Trade Commission requires the company to:
***Ship the merchandise within the time promised, or if no specific delivery time was stated, within 30 days of receiving your order
***Notify you if the shipment cannot be made on time and give you the choice of waiting longer or getting a refund.
***Cancel your order and return your payment if the new shipping date cannot be met, unless you agree to another delay If you cancel, your money must be refunded within 7 days (or your account must be credited within one billing cycle if you charged the order). The company can't substitute a store credit. If you applied for a charge account with the merchant at the same time that you placed your order, the company has an extra 20 days to ship the merchandise to allow time for processing your application.
These FTC rules only apply to the first shipment of magazine subscriptions or other merchandise that you receive repeatedly. Orders for services (for example, photo finishing), sale of seeds and growing plants, collect-on-delivery (C.O.D.) orders, and transactions such as books and music clubs are covered by a different FTC rule. There could also be laws or regulations in your state that apply. Report suspected violations to your state or local consumer protection agency and to the FTC.
Beware: Youth Peddling
Some for-profit companies use young salespersons to sell magazines and other items door-to-door. They trick consumers into believing they are collecting money for legitimate charities because consumers tend to support young persons and youth programs.
If a young person solicits you, ask for identification verifying the organization's name, address and purpose. If the representative can't provide this information, ask him or her to leave. Report suspicious people to your local police department and/or contact the child labor division of your state labor department listed in the phone book.
Even if you are satisfied with the information provided, don't feel pressured to make a purchase or contribute.
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Banking: Resolving Problems

Banking - Resolving Problems
Beware: Fake Check Scams Fake checks, including cashiers checks, can look so real even bank tellers can be fooled. However, just because you can withdraw the money, doesn't mean the check is good. Forgeries can take weeks to discover.
YOU are responsible for the checks you deposit. If a check bounces, you owe the bank any money you withdrew. If someone wants to send you a check, insist on a cashier's check for the exact amount, preferably from a local bank or one with a branch in your area. Never accept a check and then agree to send a portion of the money back to the sender. For information or to report a scam, visit http://www.fakecheck.org/ or call toll-free 1-800-876-7060.
Unsolicited Checks And Credit Offers If you cash an unsolicited check you've received in the mail, you could be agreeing to pay for products or services you don't want or need, such as Internet access or membership in a web directory. In addition, those "guarantees" for credit cards or loans, regardless of credit history, are probably a scam. Legitimate lenders never guarantee credit. For information on how to identify fraudulent solicitations, visit http://www.ftc.gov/.
If You Have a Banking Problem A number of federal, state and local agencies regulate financial institutions.
***State chartered banks and trust companies that are members of the Federal Reserve System are covered by the Federal Reserve System.
***State chartered banks that are NOT members of the Federal Reserve System are regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
***State chartered banks are also regulated by state banking authorities.
***Banks with National in the name or N.A. after the name are regulated by the Comptroller of Currency, U.S. Department of the Treasury.
***Federal savings and loans and federal savings banks are regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision, Department of the Treasury.
***Federally chartered credit unions are regulated by the National Credit Union Administration
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