Supervision Equals Safety This Winter Season

The first day of winter—are you enjoying the beautiful snow outside? From sledding to skiing, snowmobiling to ice skating, children find lots to do when the snow starts to fall. Be sure that this is a wonderful, active and fun time with your kids—check these tips to make sure it’s a safe one as well:

Holiday Shopping

Tis the Season—Holiday shopping is about showing someone you care about them by shopping for that perfect gift for them. While you won’t have problems with most purchases, there are some important thinks you need to know before heading out.

Choosing a Travel Agency

Are you traveling this holiday season? Confused about all the different online resources? Maybe you want to have a travel agent do all the work for you? While most travel agencies are reputable and guide consumers honestly and competently, there have been cases where consumers have paid for tickets which were never received. Consumers should follow the following steps before selecting a travel agency:

Find out how long the agency or tour operator has been in business and whether there are any complaints or legal action against the merchant.
Check to see if the agency is a member of these trade associations:

• The American Society of Travel Agents at http://www.asta.org/
• The United States Tour Operators Association at http://www.ustoa.com/
• The Association of Retail Travel Agents at www.artaonline.com

When paying for travel, pay with a credit card rather than by check or cash. Certain “chargeback” protections apply to credit card purchases. For more information on choosing a travel agency see the Federal Trade Commission’s website:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/shop/travel.shtm

Regular Chimney Inspections Help Avoid Chimney Fires and Clogged Flues

Chimney fires and clogged flues can take their toll in lives and property damage, but these tragedies can be prevented by regular chimney inspections and cleanings.

o Contact a licensed/certified chimney sweep to have your chimney inspected. Signs of a dangerous chimney include cracks in masonry, poor updraft, broken flue sections, and creosote accumulation. Cracks can lead to chimney fires and further chimney damage. Clogged flues and poor updraft can increase the threat of carbon monoxide buildup in the home. Annual inspections are recommended, particularly for older chimneys.
• Check to see if the chimney sweep is licensed. In Maryland, chimney sweeps who perform repairs are required to be licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. Make sure the sweep is licensed before agreeing to any repairs. Ask neighbors for referrals to chimney sweeping services. Check the company’s complaint record. Check local consumer protection agency's complaint records along with local Better Business Bureau’s records. Also, ask the company for references, and find out how long it has been in business as well as how many years of experience the technician has.
• Have the chimney cleaned on a regular schedule. This will vary from several times a year to once every several years, depending on how often the fireplace is used and what kind of wood is burned. Fireplaces used three times a week during the heating season will probably need to be cleaned at least once a year. Schedule an annual inspection, and the chimney sweep can advise on whether the chimney needs to be cleaned.
• Don't make choices based on price alone. Some companies may offer a low price, but will only perform a cursory sweep of the chimney and no inspection, leaving you to clean up the dirt and with possible dangerous cracks that have not been discovered. Ask for specific details of the cleaning and inspection. Find out if the company is going to seal off the fireplace so that dirt and soot stay out of the home; if the technician will also inspect the furnace flue; and if the technician is going to vacuum the smoke shelf, the damper and the firebox. Make sure the company provides a written report, stating what was done and detailing any repairs needed.
• Only burn dry, seasoned hardwood in the fireplace. This will cut down on creosote buildup so that less frequent chimney cleaning is required.
• Consider installing a chimney cap. Caps can help prevent water damage and will keep animals out of the flue. Caps also reduce the danger of flying sparks.
• Check the draft before lighting a fire, and make sure the damper is open. Don't start a fire while an exhaust fan is running, as this can create a downdraft.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Always remove ashes to a metal container and put them outside.

Buying Furniture for the Holidays?

Having family and friends over for the Holidays and thinking of buying new furniture to spruce up your home? Furniture is one of those products that can be very difficult to shop knowledgeably for—how can you really tell what the frame looks like on a sofa? Do some research online and then head out to the stores to sit on and inspect the furniture. Choose your store carefully—if they go out of business before you get your furniture, you may be out of luck for the deposit. Check local consumer protection agencies and Better Business Bureaus for complaints on the store. Put the smallest amount possible down and use a credit card for the down payment (if the furniture is not delivered, you have dispute procedures with your credit card company). If the store calls and tell you the furniture is delayed, call the manufacturer to confirm that they have received the payment for your order. It’s very common for a struggling store to use your money to pay for a previous order and wait until another consumer orders to pay for your furniture. Upon delivery of new furniture to your home, inspect all pieces for damage, content and quality. If there is a problem, do not accept the pieces in question and make a notation of the reason for refusal on the delivery inspection sheet. Be sure to obtain a copy of this sheet and follow up with the merchant on the unsatisfactory items.
For more information,

Bank rate.com article:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20000523b.asp

Maryland Attorney General Consumer Protection Division:
http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/edge115.htm

Helping Your Teen be Financially Fit

If you have a typical teenager or young adult in your house…they probably think they know all that they need to know to be independent. But do they know all they need to know to manage their finances successfully? Chances are they do not since the fastest growing group of individuals filing for bankruptcy is 18-25 year olds and Maryland colleges are having more students drop out due to credit card debt than failing grades.

Here are some tips you should teach your teen:

1) How to create a budget and stick to it—Discuss needs vs. wants

2) The importance of saving—start young—and include savings in their budget

3) Beware of the numerous credit card offers they will receive. While building credit is an important step in managing their finances—they need to do their research before choosing a credit card—they need to know the interest rate, how long that rate will last, any fees associated with the card and most importantly they need to know that carrying a balance on a credit card can be a dangerous way to spend their money—it will take years to pay off this debt if they only pay the minimum balance due—and the amount repaid will well exceed the amount originally spent.

4) Beware of anyone asking for personal information—whether by phone or email—ID Theft is on the rise and we, as consumers, need to stop giving out our personal information

5) Credit reports are important and need to be checked at least once a year. If there are errors on it, take the time to dispute it and get the report corrected.

6) Be a smart consumer by doing research before buying, avoid impulse buying, comparison shop, keep documentation and read everything before signing on the dotted line.

By helping your teen be a smart consumer and manage their money wisely, you will help them on the road to be financially independent—keep in mind they may not thank you right away for this but when they are able to buy their own house later in life, know that you did the right thing.

For more information check: www.mdfinancialskills.org
www.mymoney.gov

Hiring An Unlicensed Contractor?

I worked for Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection for 19 years and it never ceased to amaze me that consumers consistently fell prey to unlicensed home improvement contractors. You would think that after the many consumer education campaigns we had to alert consumers about the dangers of contracting with an unlicensed contractor followed by the enforcement action taken against those contractors we found, that the problem would decrease. Never.

Having just finished a major renovation, I understand those consumers who find the amount of time it takes to research and hire a reputable, licensed contractor, who is also reasonably priced, daunting. It certainly is quicker and easier to use that person who knocked on your door. It’s even easier to use that unlicensed contractor who your neighbor referred to you. What it comes down to is: what amount of risk are you comfortable living with to avoid the time-consuming homework needed to hire that reputable, licensed contractor, who is also reasonably priced?

RISKS INVOLVED IN HIRING UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR

• Contractor gets a deposit and never returns (best case scenario)
• Contractor gets a deposit, starts work, opens your house to the elements and never returns
• Contractor gets a deposit, does the work, gets paid in full, but the work won’t pass inspection and contractor can’t be found
• Contractor does work, gets paid and then his “subs” sue you because he didn’t pay them
• Contractor or subs get hurt on your property and you find out that contractor does not have insurance. You get sued.
• Contractor gets deposit and key to your home to do work while you are at your job.
  
• Contractor steals jewelry, checkbook, cash among other items in your home and can’t be found.

These are just some of the complaints made by consumers who used unlicensed contractors. Years ago, your major risk was either poor workmanship or theft of your money. In the past few years there has been an alarming trend in that these unlicensed contractors have prior criminal convictions for theft, distribution of drugs, robbery and assault. Not exactly the kind of person you want having access to your home.

Maryland Law, as is similar in many other jurisdictions, requires home improvement contractors to be licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). This licensing requirement protects consumers by ensuring that contractors: have been screened for criminal activity; have financial solvency; have two years trade experience; and have passed a test on the home improvement law and general business competency. In addition, licensed contractors are required to make a bi-annual payment to the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. This is one of the most important reasons consumers should only do business with a licensed home improvement contractor. If a consumer has a dispute with a licensed contractor and the Commission finds in the consumer’s favor, the consumer can be reimbursed for their losses up to $15,000.

Choosing the right contractor will make or break your home improvement project. Carefully consider your options and your risk-taking threshold before hiring any contractor. For more tips on choosing a contractor:

FTC: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro20.shtm

This posting is dedicated to Investigator John Creel of the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection--who is a pit bull at investigating and prosecuting unlicensed contractors.

Kid's Fall Safety Tips

Kids are back in school and while they may think the hardest part about school is the tests—their parents need to know some important safety guidelines that will get their children back to school safely this fall.