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11/03/09:
Cash for Appliances is the New Cash for Clunkers
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Following the success of the Cash for Clunkers program, the federal government recently announced the creation of a similar rebate program for consumers looking to purchase new energy-efficient appliances. While many of the details of the program are...
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11/01/09:
Make Money From Home with Google? Not so Fast, Warns BBB
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Better Business Bureau has received more than 1,500 complaints about several dozen Web sites that are trading on the Google name to scam people who want to learn about making money from home. Because the sites often use the Google name and prominentl...
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11/01/09:
Five questions to ask before donating to a charity
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Most charities rely heavily on the goodwill of individual donors during the holiday season to fund their activities throughout the coming year. Last year, charity contributions totaled $307.65 billion: 75 percent of this total came from individuals, ...
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11/01/09:
BBB Advice on How to Spread the Spirit of Giving Around the Office
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The holidays are a time for giving, but many charities are feeling the squeeze of the recession and donations are down. Promoting philanthropy with employees is a great way to spread the holiday spirit and promote camaraderie around the office. The B...
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11/01/09:
Mail-In Rebates: Now Available in Paper or Plastic
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Once the excitement of the holidays wears off, it's time to start reaping the promised rewards of mail-in rebates. Retailers and manufacturers are changing the way they issue rebates and Better Business Bureau of the Southland advises that it's more ...
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11/01/09:
BBB Advice on Using Layaway for Holiday Purchases
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As more families struggle in the tough economy, retailers are trying to make paying for holiday gifts more flexible by offering layaway options. With layaway experiencing a comeback, your Better Business Bureau offers the following guidance on how to...
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10/01/09:
Defend Your Business Against the H1N1 Virus This Winter
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According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the H1N1 virus — the so-called "Swine Flu" — isn't any more deadly than a seasonal flu, but it is transmitted more easily. Employers play a vital role in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus and Bett...
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10/01/09:
Act Now to Take Advantage of the First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit
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Time is running out for first-time home buyers to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit set aside for them this year as part of the economic recovery effort. Barring a time extension, people looking to cash in must purchase a home by November 30. C...
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10/01/09:
Five Questions for Determining if Direct Selling is for You
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Millions of people have found a way to be their own boss and make money on a flexible schedule through direct selling. Being successful at direct selling doesn't require any special education or experience but it isn't for everyone. Better Business B...
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09/08/09:
Better Business Bureau Warns about iJango, Possible Pyramid Scheme
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A new money making opportunity that claims to “Multi-level market the Internet” could be nothing more than a pyramid scheme warns the Better Business Bureau. An investigation by BBB shows that iJango - a new self-described multi-level marketing compa...
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09/08/09:
BBB Small Business Advice on Fighting Friendly Fraud
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Businesses are increasingly becoming victims of “friendly fraud” - fraud carried out by customers to get items free of charge. Better Business Bureau warns small business owners to be on the lookout for friendly fraud and offers advice on how to prot...
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09/08/09:
Behind on Car Payments? BBB Advice on How to Avoid the Repo Man
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As the economic slump continues, many people are struggling to make ends meet, and unfortunately, vehicle repossessions are now on the rise. Having a car repossessed hinders more than just a car owner’s mobility; it has a severe impact on credit scor...
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09/08/09:
BBB Warns Renters to Beware of Bogus Home Rentals
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Better Business Bureau is warning renters to be on the lookout for scammers on Craigslist and other online classifieds when searching for a home. Phony ads for rental properties across the country are cropping up, and are specifically aimed at steali...
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08/12/09:
BBB Advice on How to Respond to Online Customer Complaints
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The old adage is that a satisfied customer will tell three people and an unsatisfied customer will tell ten. However, with the advent of blogs, Twitter, and YouTube, disgruntled customers can now share their rant about a company for the whole world t...
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08/12/09:
BBB Advice on the Basics of Creating an Estate Plan
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Estate planning isn’t only for the wealthy, nor is it a topic people enjoy thinking about. However, the Better Business Bureau of the Southland advises consumers that if they own something of value they would like to pass on to family or loved ones a...
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08/12/09:
BBB Warning on Three Scams Targeting Job Hunters
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As the unemployment rate rises, so does the threat of scams targeting job seekers. The Better Business Bureau of the Southland warns job hunters to be extremely cautious in their search for work because scammers are out to take advantage of them and ...
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07/01/09:
BBB Warns Against Three Common Check Scams
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Experts estimate that billions of dollars have been lost as the result of fake check scams. Scams involving fake checks come in many different forms and can be very hard to identify as the printing technology used by scammers improves. The Better Bus...
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07/01/09:
BBB Warns Against Twitter Money-Making Schemes
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Through Tweets, e-mail and Web sites, job hunters are being told that they can make lots of money from the comfort of home using Twitter. The Better Business Bureau of the Southland warns that the large print for such offers may promise big returns b...
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06/04/09:
BBB Advice on What to do if Your Local Car Dealer Closes
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Both General Motors and Chrysler have announced that they are effectively closing nearly a total of 2,000 dealerships across the country by not renewing their franchising contracts. In the wake of the announcement, millions of vehicle owners are conc...
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06/04/09:
Take Advantage of Energy-Saving Tax Credits for Your Home
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Home improvement season is here and Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how to take advantage of tax credits being offered by the Federal government while increasing home energy efficiency and helping the environment at the same time.
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06/02/09:
New Message to GM Customers
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General Motors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Under Chapter 11 a company reorganizes itself under court supervision with the intention of staying in business....
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05/05/09:
BBB Warns Against a Summer Scam Going Door-to-Door Nationwide
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Better Business Bureau warns that deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are hitting the pavement and looking to earn a quick buck this summer. In the last 12 months alone, BBB has received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the Di...
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05/05/09:
BBB Small Business Advice: Save Money by Bartering
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The concept of bartering predates currency, however currency isn’t as easy to come by these days and some business owners are seeing the benefit in trading their goods or services, instead of dealing in cold hard cash. The Better Business Bureau of t...
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05/05/09:
BBB Money-Saving Advice: Tips for Clipping Coupons Online
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A tried and true way to save money in a tough economy is clipping coupons. Because of the Internet, however, a savvy consumer no longer has to wield a pair of scissors in order to reap rewards. The popularity of online coupons is on the rise and the ...
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04/28/09:
BBB Warns Against Swine Flu Scams
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Relying on reports from online security experts, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent e-mails and Web sites trying to take advantage of the current swine flu outbreak.
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04/13/09:
BBB says Buyer Beware when Clicking on Facebook Ads
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Better Business Bureau is advising social networkers to read the fine print when responding to ads on Facebook or other social networking sites because the large print doesn't always tell the whole story. Ubiquitous ads for weight loss products, work...
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02/05/09:
Needy Non-Profits: Beware the Grant-Finding Trap
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As the economy's downward spiral continues, more and more individuals, businesses, and industries are finding themselves in financial trouble. In the nonprofit segment, even churches are facing financial famine as their congregations have to cut bac...
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02/03/09:
BBB says Buyer Beware When Shopping Going-Out-Of-Business Sales
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Retailers across the country are being hit by the declining economy and some big brand names such as Circuit City are closing doors and liquidating assets in order to pay debtors. To customers' ears, a going-out-of-business sale means huge discounts,...
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02/01/09:
Mystery Shoppers
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Many who have lost jobs because of the economic downturn or just need more income because of increased expenses--and especially those who have few job skills, reasons they can’t get to a job site, or the need to be at home
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01/02/09:
MEMBERS: WE WANT TO SHOW YOU OFF
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We need photos of our members on the job to be rotated on our website's splash page. What we need is a good photo of you that gives the feeling that you've just stopped for a moment in your normal day of business.
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01/02/09:
CHECK RUSE IS STILL BAD NEWS
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The $9.25 check Bureau President Bill Mitchell received in the mail last week was nothing new. The amount may have been different from others of its kind, it was sent out by a different company, and the product he’d be buying when he cashed it was d...
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01/02/09:
KIM'S CATCH OF THE DAY: MAAK ENTERPRISES
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Here's the catch: Pet owners buy MAAK Enterprise's cat and dog products online. But when they receive nothing, whether nothing comes or whether it comes in a box, they realize they've got a bone to pick and a reason to growl.
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01/02/09:
NEW LAWS FOR 2009
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Here are some of the laws that become effective this year:
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06/16/08:
The Great Wu-Yi Weight-Loss Tea Trial
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It's not really a question of tea's guilt or innocence. After all, what might a tea be guilty of? Bad taste in the first degree? Libel...
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01/11/08:
SHOE ORDERS KICK CUSTOMERS AROUND
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Customers who ordered shoes online from Kickstime.com aren't getting any kick out of what they've gotten for their money.
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05/03/06:
What's In a Name?
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Do you find the name "Credit Protection Association" (CPA) threatening? Whether or not you do can depend...
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05/02/06:
KIM'S CATCH OF THE DAY: EHOSTPROS
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Here's the catch: Customers respond to EHostPros' invitations to affordable web hosting with no setup fee. Later they find their host won't cancel...
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04/26/06:
Used Car Buyer's Bill of Rights Takes Effect
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With enactment of the Car Buyer's Bill of Rights, effective July 1, consumers have a few more legal rights when they buy or lease a used car. This new Bill of Rights applies to used cars purchased from a dealer with a purchase price of less than $40,...
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03/02/06:
What's the Good Word?
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Consumers whose complaints were resolved through the Better Business Bureau write: ...
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01/31/06:
BBB Announces 2005 Pluto Awards Recipients
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The Better Business Bureau of the Southland has announced the 10 southland businesses chosen to receive its not-so-coveted annual Pluto Awards. Appropriately named for the mythological Roman god of the underworld, the Pluto Awards recognize ...
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11/01/05:
Holiday Wishes
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As we begin the season of thankfulness, goodwill, and high hopes
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11/01/05:
Oceancity Worldwide
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If there's any one topic that's close to the top of everyone's list of attention-getters, it's probably the price of gasoline
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11/01/05:
Our Readers Write
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Thank you, Kim [Burge], for your article on the National Small Business Alliance.
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07/01/05:
Kim's Catch of the Day: NSBA
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Small businesses welcome the services National Small Business Alliance offers them. They agree to bank account debits so they can get loans, lines of credit, and more.
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07/01/05:
Ad Review: Your Travel Biz
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One of the BBB's most recent reviews was of the advertising of Your Travel Biz, also known as yourtravelbiznet.com and YTB Net.com, as well as various other names of individuals who are representatives of the company.
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05/01/05:
Spring Wise Giving Guide Now Available
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The latest quarterly issue of the Wise Giving Guide is available. This issue contains in-depth information about charity auctions, in which you can participate in person, online, or both.
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05/01/05:
Fox Rent A Car Deals
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What the quick brown fox jumps over is not necessarily a dog and not necessarily lazy.
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05/01/05:
Click-to-Check Icon Gets New Look
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Members whose website gives visitors the opportunity to click to check their reliability report with the Better Business Bureau...
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03/01/05:
Checks for Charities
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What's the easiest way to contribute to a charitable cause? Hand over cash and get a receipt for it? Use a credit card? Write a check?
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03/01/05:
BPA Seeks Judges
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BPA is looking for business professionals to volunteer to serve as judges for one or more events at BPA's National Leadership Conference 2005...
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03/01/05:
Music Promoter Strikes Sour Notes
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Ronald Turner thought he had what it took to go somewhere in the music world. The 59-year-old FAA computer technician worked nights and weekends for two-and-a-half years writing and recording...
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03/01/05:
Kim's Catch of the Day: Together
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Clients pay no small fee to Together's matchmakers to meet someone that matches their criteria for a partner. But the clients find they're as incompatible...
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01/01/05:
Annual Free Credit Report
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Residents of western states may now request a free copy of their credit report. The recently revised Fair Credit Reporting Act provides for free annual reports,...
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01/01/05:
Kim's Catch of the Day: Buyer's Union
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Customers pay Buyer's Union a pittance for gas and other coupons. Then they learn that the price is not so puny and that they've been trapped by the telemarketer.
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01/01/05:
Corporate Compliance Recorder
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Corporate Compliance Recorder has been the subject of 14 complaints in 2004. None of the complainants lost any money, and CCR has responded to 75 percent of the complaints, so why do we give it failing marks...
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01/01/05:
President's Message 2005
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As you read this, all of the year-end and New Year's holidays will have passed. Until we near the end of 2005...
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11/01/04:
Yellow Pages' New Bait Hooks Unwary
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Yellow Pages companies have long enriched themselves by mailing statements that appear to be invoices but are really only solicitations for yellow-page ads.
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11/01/04:
Holiday Greetings
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As we near the end of 2004, we at the Better Business Bureau of the Southland wish you the very best for the holiday season and the coming new year.
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11/01/04:
BBB Reporting System Revamp Nears Completion
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The Better Business Bureau's reporting system has been undergoing substantial revision and should be in place this month. Revised in part because consumers surveyed nationally expressed the need for more company information, the new reports will give...
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11/01/04:
Kim's Catch of the Day: Teleten Marketing
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Mortgage lenders pay for leads, but the leads they receive lead to dead ends and their recovery attempts lead nowhere. The only real lead Teleten provides, it seems, is to lead them on.
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09/01/04:
The Immigrant Education Extortion Racket
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Maybe it seems like a warm welcome to Hispanic immigrants when FGH International calls to tell them that the U.S. government wants to foot most of the bill for them to learn English or how to do automotive repairs.
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09/01/04:
'Girls Gone Wild' Purchasers To Get Refund
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Customers who ordered "Girls Gone Wild" videos [Business Link May 2003, July 2003] and later discovered that they had unwittingly enrolled in a negative option program.
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07/01/04:
What About That Great Buy In The Sky?
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Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? Maybe you can't quite do either, but entrepreneurs are making it easier to come closer or perhaps to reach something better.
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07/01/04:
Kim's Catch: eChurchNetwork.Com
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eChurchNetwork.com sells its services and bills customers for what it says they agreed to buy. But customers said no, they say...
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05/01/04:
A Solution To The Affordable Health Care Problem
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At a glance it would seem that success in what Congress, presidents, AARP, and others have failed dismally to accomplish so far is summed up in about 16 words that precede a toll-free number.
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03/01/04:
New Business Arbitration Clause
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The Better Business Bureau's Uniform Rules for Binding Arbitration have recently been revised, and businesses that participate in the Bureau's Business Arbitration program should revise the arbitration clause they presently use.
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01/01/04:
Kudos From Complainants
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Here's what some of the consumers who have complained to the Better Business Bureau have to say about the service they received.
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01/01/04:
BBB Aids In Mail Fraud Convictions
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The Better Business Bureau receives complaint after complaint from people who accept an offer for a credit card and pay a substantial fee for it.
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11/01/03:
A Word Of Appreciation To Our Members
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As we enter the season of holidays, our thanks to our members and our wishes for good cheer and a bright coming year carry elements of both bitter and sweet.
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09/01/03:
Swiss Directory Snares Malibu Business
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When Michelle Lee sent information off to Tourist Directory about her restaurant, Neptune's Net Seafood, in Malibu, she didn't realize she was committing herself to a payment of over a thousand dollars.
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09/01/03:
Fast White Teeth Whitener
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Telemarketers charge consumers for a free sample of teeth whitener, then make ongoing charges to their credit card. Victims, who see red, think Fast White turns off-white in a hurry.
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07/01/03:
Dogg Digital Audio
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Buyers bite into a huge markdown on speakers but learn later that the Dogg bites back.
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07/01/03:
Kim's Catch Of Yesterday: A Sequel
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Using the same catch as Girls Gone Wild another website throws customers off track by offering a "totally uncensored and uncut video review of the hottest and sexiest celebrity video clips in the history of film."
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05/01/03:
Debt Collectors Haunt Survivors
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How do you collect a debt from a deceased person? Exodus Collection Services, who seems to have some skill in collecting debts they attribute to those who have emigrated to the other side, may have an answer for you.
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05/01/03:
Girls Gone Wild
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Internet video buyers order a cheap video, but when more videos pour in to their mailbox and charges rack up, they begin to go a little wild themselves.
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05/01/03:
Magical Stone From The Amazon
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Maybe the most fortunate of us have a so-called guardian angel who holds all the cards, and is willing to deal some out to us.
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05/01/03:
Taking The Fun Out Of Funding
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What Michael Butler didn't know, hurt him. It hurt him, in fact, to the extent of more than $4,000. That was the amount of the penalty the 33-year-old Indiana resident incurred for paying off his mortgage early.
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03/01/03:
Raising Funds For Telemarketers
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Are you the kind of person who steps forward to contribute to charities that purpose to help victims of disease, famine, war, or other scourges? Would you be so willing to pull out your wallet to help pay the rent and buy food, gas, insurance, enter.
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03/01/03:
CTS Marketing
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You're probably not any happier than anyone else about the price of gasoline. If you take CTS Marketing up on their offer, you should pay only 50 cents per gallon at any pump in the country.
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03/01/03:
Sales Job Or Snow Job?
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It sounds like an offer few people could resist, whether they've been laid off or whether they're holding down a pretty good job: become an independent contractor selling credit card processing equipment for DiamondCard Credit Card Processing Corpor.
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03/01/03:
The Word On VietNow
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If VietNow fundraisers had solicited your contribution and you'd checked out the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's website, here are some of the things you would have learned about the organization itself:
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01/01/03:
Topping The Tip
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If you've ever been rankled by the presence of a service charge of some 17 or 18 percent on top of banquet or hotel room charges and various room and sales taxes and still other fees, you may sympathize with the woman who sued over just such a servic...
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01/01/03:
What's The Good Word?
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Here are comments of a couple of consumers who took the time to let us know the good news about their use of our services:
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01/01/03:
The Dismal Side Of Disneyland
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Disneyland has lost sight of the service that brought it to the reputation it enjoys today. For one visitor, the Magic Kingdom is never-never land.
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11/01/02:
I Do Honeymoons
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Couples who book travel with I Do Honeymoons in anticipation of saying "I do" to each other are left standing at the altar when I Do says "I don't."
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11/01/02:
Should You Forget About Senior Moment?
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If you're a senior with any concerns at all about the direction your memory is taking, you've probably snapped to attention when you've seen, heard or read about Senior Moment, the "advanced memory enhancing dietary supplement."
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11/01/02:
The Week Before The Night Before Christmas
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Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town Everyone was promising "The best deal around!" The Yuletide merriment was marred by the sight
Of fast-dealing swindlers -- a perennial blight.
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11/01/02:
Winning The Costly Prize Game
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Lucky Lupe Robledo! First, the National Diabetes Fund wants to send him $2,500. But, they say, their records concerning him are incomplete.
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09/01/02:
These Collectibles Make Money A Memory
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Why do people buy collectibles? As an investment...for resale...or to complete a set? In every case these customers were promised a large profit in a short period of time.
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09/01/02:
How Reliable Are God And Country?
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If you are drawn to a business that displays the American Flag or sprinkles their advertising with Bible verses, don't feel guilty requesting a BBB Reliability Report.
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07/01/02:
A Tale Of A Cake And Ail
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When it came to planning her wedding, Maggie Yanez was a smart cookie. With her wedding cake, for example, she took no chances. Before she ordered it, she priced and tasted cakes at 15 to 20 different bakeries.
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07/01/02:
Salesco To Make Consumer Redress, Pay Fine
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Salesco, a San Dimas-based seller of automobile accessories through the mail, telephone and Internet, recently entered a consent agreement with the Federal Trade Commission.
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05/01/02:
Kim's Catch Of The Day: Travel Club International
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With air travel down, passenger bargains are scarce. Now, with travel agents' commissions cut further by major airlines, travelers can expect to have to raise the ante for their services.
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05/01/02:
The Other Side Of The Credit Coin
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There's no dispute that the total amount of credit card debt is staggering. The Wall Street Journal reports $1.23 trillion in credit card transactions a year, the figure obtained from a recent Federal Reserve System survey.
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03/01/02:
New Legislation
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A number of new laws went into effect in California at the beginning of 2002. A summary of some of those that affect employers is as follows:
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01/01/02:
The Job Mirages
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The economy is in a down turn. Unemployment is rising. Job opportunities are shrinking. How do you making a living when times are tough?
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01/01/02:
Advertising Your Bureau Membership
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Better Business Bureau members who have been in business at least a year may now include the Bureau's torch logo and the statement that they are a Bureau member in their advertising.
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01/01/02:
Broadcasting Training Company Generates Static
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It's not easy to tell just what American Radio Network's game is. The Hollywood company advertises in the New Times Los Angeles, a free paper, for radio announcers and talk show hosts, no experience necessary.
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09/01/01:
Our Readers Write
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"It was absolutely amazing to note the misinformation that was provided in this article. . . . [m]overs cannot and do not ever sell a product called 'insurance.' .
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09/01/01:
Watch For Phony Phone Bill Charges
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A Bureau member looked over his company's last phone bill and noticed, for the second time in a couple of months, a $6.00 charge for a collect call.
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09/01/01:
Orly The Matchmaker
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Orly Hadeda, who calls herself "the One and Only Matchmaker," charges thousands of dollars to arrange all the introductions you need over a one- or two-year period in your quest for the "perfect match."
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09/01/01:
The Problems With Debt Solutions
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Suppose there was a way for you to pay off a mortgage in much less time, pay off credit cards, pay rents and leases, phone and utility bills, student and business loans, child support, IRS and other liens, property taxes--all without filing bankruptc...
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07/01/01:
Bureau Assists First Senior Citizen In Court
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Wallace Kimmet didn't expect his investment in corn to make some alchemical transmutation to gold, nor did he expect it to end up as peanuts. Nevertheless, it did both.
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07/01/01:
Magnetic Therapy Mattress Pad Promotion
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Companies use a free meal to attract customers to seminars promoting magnetic mattress covers as a cure for a variety of ailments. Some are finding there's no free lunch.
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05/01/01:
All The Wrong Moves!
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Making a move, either locally or long-distance, often has some of the features of making a movie: anticipation, innuendo, suspense, surprise, threats, villains, hostages, ransom, victims, and an ending that may or may not be happy.
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05/01/01:
Consumerinfo.com
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Here's the catch: Consumers are signing on for a free credit report but ending up paying--sometimes for nothing.
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05/01/01:
How To Make A Smooth Move
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How does it happen that you find your personal possessions held hostage until and unless you pay much more than you were originally told to get them back?
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03/01/01:
Bureau Sues Carpet Cleaner
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The complaints, many from seniors, alleged bait-and-switch tactics in advertising carpet and upholstery cleaning at a cost of less than $20 (and sometimes less than $10) but charging as much as several hundred dollars more when the work was done.
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03/01/01:
Computers For Sale...Bit By Bit
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Very soon you'll realize that, besides targeting Hispanic people, Sabina has put a new twist on buying on the installment plan that also includes selling in installments.
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03/01/01:
New BBB Seniors' Program
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Consumers who are 65 years and older have a little more marketplace protection with the Better Business Bureau's new Senior Consumer Services program.
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03/01/01:
Southwest Leaves The Door Open To Identity Thieves
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Just past the gates and ringing slot machines was a temporary counter where free Southwest T-shirts were offered to anyone who signed up for Southwest's Rapid Rewards frequent-flyer program.
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01/01/01:
Subleasing Vehicles Yields Super Losses
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As an auto equity promoter, what Global Auto Escrow offers is to find lessees or sublessees for car buyers or lessees who can't or don't want to make any more payments.
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01/01/01:
Kim's Catch Of The Day: Order of the Holy Spirit
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Companies selling bogus merchandise or services relating to religion have an edge in victimizing customers because of the trust we automatically attribute to sellers of these items.
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01/01/01:
PMB Deadline Looms...Again
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Even before the U.S. Postal Service's PMB deadline last April, the USPS was in the process of changing its mind.
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01/01/01:
Prescriptions By Internet?
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You may have half a dozen reasons for wanting to get your prescriptions filled through an Internet pharmacy. Your biggest question, though, is probably whether it's safe to do that. Sometimes it's not.
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01/01/01:
Members: Use the Correct Arbitration Clause
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Members who participate in Business Arbitration risk an arbitrator's decisions' being overturned unless they use the correct arbitration clause in their contracts.
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01/01/99:
Matchmaker Strikes Out With Clients
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Why would anyone complain at all about a company that uses some 12-or-so pages of information about you in their efforts to find you a match?
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