Consumer Realm

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- These days, a lot of people are purchasing extended

warranties when buying a home computer system, a flat-screen TV, DVD

player, or hand-held electronic organizer. "Americans' ever-increasing

reliance on high-tech products has made today's service and support

plans valuable tools to enhance the use of, and protect an investment

in, personal technology," said Lansdon Robbins, CEO of Service Net Inc.

which administers service and support plans for some of the country's

largest computer, electronics and appliance resellers and manufacturers

"In the past, poorly managed and underinsured service contracts left

consumers holding worthless extended warranties," he said. Robbins

offers some tips for what to look for before purchasing an extended

-- Insurance. The warranty should be backed by a qualified insurance

-- Convenient customer support. You should have access to telephone

-- Qualified technicians. Make sure needed service would be performed

by factory-authorized or certified technicians who are familiar with

-- A step up from the manufacturer's warranty. Extended warranties

can often "wrap around" the manufacturer's warranty to provide

additional benefits even during the original warranty period.

-- In-home repairs. Depending on the product and the cost of repair,

-- Repair or replace "no lemon" guarantee. Let's face it, some high

-tech products have a glitch. Make sure the warranty you buy has a

"no lemon" clause that states if your product does not perform proper-

-- Don't go out of your way for service. If you live beyond reasonable

driving distance of a service technician, the warranty should provide

for your product to be shipped to the nearest service provider free of

-- Cover the unexpected. Products damaged by power surges or brownouts

should be covered under the warranty. (However, misuse, abuse and acts

of God, are often not covered. Some acts of God may be covered under a

-- Beware of hidden costs. Don't fall for added charges, such as trip

fees, deductibles, parts costs or any other charges normally associat-

-- Transferable coverage. If the owner of the equipment changes, the

extended warranty should be transferable to the new owner, and cover-

age should be independent of product location (for example, the cover-

age for a computer bought for home but taken to school by a son/

The following free information is brought to you from the pages of the 2001 Consumer Action Handbook.

How to Reduce Unwanted Mail, Telephone, or Online Soliciations

- Tell telemarketers who call you to put you on their "Do Not Call" lists and note the call. If the telemarketer calls again, note the date and report it to the proper authorities.

- Contact the Direct Marketing Association, which operates three free services to remove consumers from DMA members' telemarketing lists, mail lists and email lists.

- Tell companies you do business with, even those online, to remove your name from customer lists they may sell or rent to marketers.

- Look for information about how to opt out of marketing lists on the company's sales materials, order forms, or web sites.

<a href="http://leader.linkexchange.com/1/X1498440/clickle" target="_top"><img width=468 height=60 border=0 ismap alt="" src="http://leader.linkexchange.com/1/X1498440/showle?"></a>

Deceptive or fraudulent sales pitches for investments often misrepresent or leave out facts in order to promote fantastic profits with little risk. No financial investment is risk-free and a high rate of return means greater risk. Beware if a salesperson:

- Tells you to borrow money on a credit card, take out a mortgage on your home, or cash in your IRA to invest in commodities

- Pressures you to invest immediately, and then sends an overnight courier service to pick up your check and give you forms to sign

- Downplays the risk disclosure documents and statement, which are required by Federal law, as just a formality

- Tells you to write false information on your account form, for exanple, to overstate your income

- Sends information that is not printed on letterhead stationery or has typographical errors

- Does not send your money promptly when you order the broker to close a trade and send you your balance

- Uses words like "guarantee," " High return," "limited offer," or "as safe as a C.D."

- Sign card when they arrive, so no one can forge your signature on the cards and use them.

- Keep a record of your card numbers and expiration dates and the phone number of the card issuer in a safe place. If your card is stolen or missing, notify the card company immediately.

- Don't give your credit card number over the phone to unfamiliar companies or to people who say they need it to "verify" your identity in order to give you a prize.

- Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips. Do not sign a blank charge slip.

- Keep copies of all sales slips. Open credit card bills promptly and compare the sales slips with the charges on your bill.

- Report billing errors and unauthorized charges to your credit card company right away.

How Financial Serice Companies Share Your Personal Information

Under Federal law banks, insurnace companies and stockbrokers may now combine businesses. This means they can share your information with each other. They are also allowed to share your information with third parties that provide marketing services for them or for joint ventures with other financial institutions. You can:

- "Opt out," or ask that your personal information not be shared with unaffiliated third parties. Even if you don't opt out, the actual account numbers for bank or cerdit card accounts may not be shared with unaffiliated third parties for marketing.


	Liquid Network \| home The FREE stuff! \| The Fun Page \| Consumer Realm \| The General Store \| Unusual Q & A \| E-MAIL Login \| Money Making Opportunities \| Contact Us \| Strange & Bizarre Consumer Realm National Consumer Organizations Trade and Professional Associations Select Federal Agencies Corporate Consumer Contacts A-B Isn't it about time? Do you have something that's been Recalled? NEW CONSUMER INFORMATION FOR YOU! LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- These days, a lot of people are purchasing extended warranties when buying a home computer system, a flat-screen TV, DVD player, or hand-held electronic organizer. "Americans' ever-increasing reliance on high-tech products has made today's service and support plans valuable tools to enhance the use of, and protect an investment in, personal technology," said Lansdon Robbins, CEO of Service Net Inc. which administers service and support plans for some of the country's largest computer, electronics and appliance resellers and manufacturers "In the past, poorly managed and underinsured service contracts left consumers holding worthless extended warranties," he said. Robbins offers some tips for what to look for before purchasing an extended warranty: -- Insurance. The warranty should be backed by a qualified insurance group, rated "A" or better by AM Best. -- Convenient customer support. You should have access to telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. -- Qualified technicians. Make sure needed service would be performed by factory-authorized or certified technicians who are familiar with your brand of product. -- A step up from the manufacturer's warranty. Extended warranties can often "wrap around" the manufacturer's warranty to provide additional benefits even during the original warranty period. -- In-home repairs. Depending on the product and the cost of repair, an in-home repair option should be available. -- Repair or replace "no lemon" guarantee. Let's face it, some high -tech products have a glitch. Make sure the warranty you buy has a "no lemon" clause that states if your product does not perform proper- ly after a set number of repairs, it will be replaced. -- Don't go out of your way for service. If you live beyond reasonable driving distance of a service technician, the warranty should provide for your product to be shipped to the nearest service provider free of charge. -- Cover the unexpected. Products damaged by power surges or brownouts should be covered under the warranty. (However, misuse, abuse and acts of God, are often not covered. Some acts of God may be covered under a homeowner's policy.) -- Beware of hidden costs. Don't fall for added charges, such as trip fees, deductibles, parts costs or any other charges normally associat- ed with repairs. -- Transferable coverage. If the owner of the equipment changes, the extended warranty should be transferable to the new owner, and cover- age should be independent of product location (for example, the cover- age for a computer bought for home but taken to school by a son/ daughter should be good at either location). The following free information is brought to you from the pages of the 2001 Consumer Action Handbook. How to Reduce Unwanted Mail, Telephone, or Online Soliciations - Tell telemarketers who call you to put you on their "Do Not Call" lists and note the call. If the telemarketer calls again, note the date and report it to the proper authorities. - Contact the Direct Marketing Association, which operates three free services to remove consumers from DMA members' telemarketing lists, mail lists and email lists. - Tell companies you do business with, even those online, to remove your name from customer lists they may sell or rent to marketers. - Look for information about how to opt out of marketing lists on the company's sales materials, order forms, or web sites. - Tell all marketers not to contact you again. Contact Direct Marketing Association (DMA) at: Consumer Affairs 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20036 202-955-5030 Fax: 202-955-0085 email: [email protected] www.the-dma.org <a href="http://leader.linkexchange.com/1/X1498440/clickle" target="_top"><img width=468 height=60 border=0 ismap alt="" src="http://leader.linkexchange.com/1/X1498440/showle?"></a> Avoiding Investment Fraud Deceptive or fraudulent sales pitches for investments often misrepresent or leave out facts in order to promote fantastic profits with little risk. No financial investment is risk-free and a high rate of return means greater risk. Beware if a salesperson: - Tells you to borrow money on a credit card, take out a mortgage on your home, or cash in your IRA to invest in commodities - Pressures you to invest immediately, and then sends an overnight courier service to pick up your check and give you forms to sign - Promises quick profits - Downplays the risk disclosure documents and statement, which are required by Federal law, as just a formality - Tells you to write false information on your account form, for exanple, to overstate your income - Sends information that is not printed on letterhead stationery or has typographical errors - Does not send your money promptly when you order the broker to close a trade and send you your balance - Offers to share inside information - Uses words like "guarantee," " High return," "limited offer," or "as safe as a C.D." Preventing Credit and Debit/Check Card Fraud - Sign card when they arrive, so no one can forge your signature on the cards and use them. - Keep a record of your card numbers and expiration dates and the phone number of the card issuer in a safe place. If your card is stolen or missing, notify the card company immediately. - Don't give your credit card number over the phone to unfamiliar companies or to people who say they need it to "verify" your identity in order to give you a prize. - Destroy carbons and incorrect charge slips. - Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips. Do not sign a blank charge slip. - Keep copies of all sales slips. Open credit card bills promptly and compare the sales slips with the charges on your bill. - Report billing errors and unauthorized charges to your credit card company right away. How Financial Serice Companies Share Your Personal Information Under Federal law banks, insurnace companies and stockbrokers may now combine businesses. This means they can share your information with each other. They are also allowed to share your information with third parties that provide marketing services for them or for joint ventures with other financial institutions. You can: - "Opt out," or ask that your personal information not be shared with unaffiliated third parties. Even if you don't opt out, the actual account numbers for bank or cerdit card accounts may not be shared with unaffiliated third parties for marketing.