Ask the Watchdog
Watchdog columnist Dave Lieber helps you stand up for yourself against the system.
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 41 - 60 of 167 (Page 3 of 9)Submitted by Jan LaPine from Grapevine,Tx
Q: Can businesses legally charge a service fee, when a customer pays with a credit card?
Answered 06/02/09 23:37:54 by Dave Lieber
A: That's actually a story I want to do. You're not the first person that asked me this. I don't know the answer yet. I even have a file open on the question. I hope to get to it this summer.Submitted by Marianne Kline from Arlington TX
Q: I thought I did everything right to get a sprinkler system installed at our home. I asked the lawn service (Kelly Green Law) I had started using for recommendations and got two bids. Hired the company with the lower bid that had been in business for 18 years, made a down payment of $1000 in April and then it rained and rained and rained. He came out and did some things in between, then I didn't hear from him and kept leaving VMs. I finally received a check for $700 with a letter indicating that he couldn't complete the install because the state comptroller had shut down his business. Now I need to find someone to come in behind the work he did (I hope so I don't loose the $300 already paid) to install and I am scared to death to make a choice. My husband would normally take care of these type of things, but he's a Vietnam Veteran who is now in a hospital bed at our home. Do you had any suggestions, I have placed a couple of phone calls from the ads in the Star Telegram, but I am scared of getting burned again or not being able to get this done since it's starting to be busy season and prices are probably going up. I retired early from SBC to take care of Bill so money is also an issue. Thank you. Marianne Kline
Answered 06/01/09 18:50:48 by Dave Lieber
A: First, if you send an email to me at watchdog@star-telegram.com, please ask for me to send you the attachment about your rights when a business closes. I can't capture your email address here. Secondly, I am sorry to hear about your husband, but I want to tell you that it is not as difficult as you think. You sound like you have strong instincts. Now you have t listen to them. Pick out five irrigation companies. Check their ratings on the Better Business Bureau Web site. Run their company names and the word "scam" and "ripoff" next to their names and see what happens. When they come over to give you bids, get it in writing. Only give a $100 deposit. Tell them that's all and you're just going to have to do the job. If they balk, steer clear. Also, tell them that you want to show the contract to your lawyer first and tell them to call you the next day. If they balk, steer clear. You can do this.Submitted by Fe from Arlington, Texas
Q: fredlenderfirm09@goolemail.com and unitedb_office@sify.com; are these online lenders scam or legitimate, sir, I would like to ask???? Respecfully yours, Fe
Answered 06/01/09 00:45:54 by Dave Lieber
A: My philosophy is simple: If your gut instinct causes you to ask the question, the answer most likely is always the same: Yes, it's a scam.Submitted by John from Bedford, TX
Q: electricity column
Answered 05/27/09 22:55:29 by Dave Lieber
A: please send your email to watchdog@star-telegram.com. this doesn't capture them.Submitted by Elizabeth Choate from Arl. Tx
Q: Please send me a copy of Electricty column on how-to-switch Thanks, Libby Choate
Answered 05/26/09 12:13:12 by Dave Lieber
A: please send an email request to watchdog@star-telegram.com for that.Submitted by Earnest Morgan from Haltom City Tx.
Q: Electricity column
Answered 05/25/09 20:26:30 by Dave Lieber
A: Please send your email to watchdog@star-telegram.com. This doesn't show me your email address ... for the electricity column.Submitted by J. A. Stier from fort worth, texas
Q: Re: your art. of 5-24-09, concerning Hobsons hvac sales methods. We may have a similar situation with the same co. We bought a new furnace from Hobsons because Two of their techs supposedly found a faulty heat exchanger leaking co2. I still have the old furnace and would like to have another company inspect it. Could you recommend someone. I can't seem to find anyone willing to do that. Also, can you explain the small claims court proceedures.
Answered 05/25/09 20:25:40 by Dave Lieber
A: Small claims court? You don't need a lawyer. It costs less than $100. You should visit the small claims court in your precinct area and get brochures to fill in all the legal questions. I can't recommend anyone, but if you keep calling around, someone will charge you the price of a service call to come and inspect.Submitted by Chuck Wilks from Keller, Texas
Q: Electricity Column
Answered 05/22/09 21:47:32 by Dave Lieber
A: Chuck, Please send an email to watchdog@star-telegram.com. This site disguises your email address until i get a verification message at the end, but only if you select "chose to hear" option. ~ daveSubmitted by Jim Reinarz from Grand Prairie, TX
Q: We are having a fight with Dell computers trying to get our 8 month old laptop repaired. We have spent hours on the phone and on line with tech service and the techs have been to our house to replace the motherboard twice. The computer still does not work right. Who can we call to get this taken care of? Do you have Michael Dells' phone number?
Answered 05/19/09 22:38:44 by Dave Lieber
A: I would give you Michael Dell's email address, but I heard that his laptop broke and he can't get decent customer service from Dell. OK, I made that up. I do have a contact at Dell, but right now I am writing something for Friday's paper about how a Tarrant County judge can't get her check from them even though they promised it to her. (And I wrote about it in the newspaper!) What I'm saying is that I have had not such good luck getting real action from that company. That being said, I do have a contact there, and if you are patient and hopeful and pray a lot, something could come out of this. Eventually. One day. In this century. Please send me your story to watchdog@star-telegram.com and I will forward it to my contact. Include all your contact information, etc. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for Jim of Grand Prairie. Miracles do happen!Submitted by Todd from Saginaw
Q: I believe Tarrant County Appraisal District is artificially inflating property values as a back door method of raising tax revenue. I purchased my home in the fourth quarter for $155,500. According to TAD, my home's value (which had remained level for 3 years) is now $169,500. That contradicts the 4.5% decrease in home values in DFW and the 3.7% decrease for Saginaw that I found on city-data.com. I did some research and I found two homes that are similar to mine that sold within the last year. One sold for $111,300, the other sold for $133,500. When I asked TAD why they valued my home more than every other home in the area they told me it was because the data suggest that my home is worth more. I have a "cookie cutter" home. There are no upgrades and there are 15 or more homes exactly like mine with in a half mile.
Answered 05/15/09 18:48:47 by Dave Lieber
A: Now is the time for you to study and get involved in the appeal process.Submitted by Don Birdwell from Benbrook, Texas 76116
Q: I have contacted the Tex. Public Comm. about TXU, as they cancelled my account on Dec.17, 2008 and reopened it at the same address under another name. Where can I send you a letted with all the details. I think you would be really instrested in this situation. I have had the account changed back to my name, but they have been unable to explain the charges. Please contact me at the E-mail above.
Answered 05/08/09 18:09:33 by Dave Lieber
A: You can send your information and your story to Dave Lieber, The Watchdog, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, PO Box 1870, Fort Worth, TX 76101 or by e-mail to watchdog@star-telegram.com. I periodically send my TXU contact a compilation of complaints and congrats.Submitted by Elvira Galvan from fort worth texas
Q: I had email you with a question on 4/30/09 i got back a response back from you. Will it be on the star telegram and when, I sure hope you will put my story in the paper
Answered 05/05/09 13:42:59 by Dave Lieber
A: Elvira, I get several hundred requests for story ideas from readers every month. (It's an amazing thing. In 30 years as a newspaperman, I have never had such strong contact with readers every day, 24/7!) I am only able to do 8 - two columns per week. We review them carefully and pick those that will work best as a Watchdog column in the paper. If your story is chosen, you will be contacted. Thanks for checking in.Submitted by Elvira Galvan from Fort worth texas
Q: I was employed by citigroup for almost 2 years in which I left my position of customer service rep. due to a bad review in 1 year i wasn't inform that i that my performance was bad,everything on that review was negative toward me, i feel i was being threatened with my job, also my review was being compared with a previous employee and was put on a 30 day probation didn't understand why it took him a whole year to finally let me know. My supervisor made a comment that maybe this enviornment is not suited for me. In 3 different occasions i went to him about alot of noise,cursing where i couldn't help my customer,they would ask me if we were having a party, thats why i think he said the comment was made., also he admitted it was his fault that if i was doing something incorrect he should have confronted me., I took it to Human resources manager she said she would investigate it and get back with me, which she did she had meeting with my supervisor and his superiors in which they discussed my review and everything was negative,also per HR mgr. & call center mgr. they will have one on one with employees every 60 days. Next day there were comments made which i feel were directed to me,now i feel i was harassed,i filed for unemployment and my employer is fighting against it. what do you think should i take it further or what do you about all of it...
Answered 04/30/09 21:41:46 by Dave Lieber
A: Well, you must fight for your unemployment. Having been through one of those hearings myself many years ago, you have to bring all physical evidence and documentation to support your side cause the other side is going to be loaded down with files, memos, records that portray you in a bad light. For good measure, they will have live witnesses, your former bosses, who will also testify. You will need a big pile of evidence on your side to hold your own on this.Submitted by Pauline from Crowley, Texas
Q: Dear Dave, I have a MAJOR problem and need some help! In December 2004 my husband & I filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I will not get into how it all came about, but the jest of it is that bills were not being paid and we had to do something to keep from losing our house. During the bankruptcy, I made every payment to the trustee and to our mortgage company on time.Things have continued to get better since then. We have paid off over $42K to the trustee and have made every house payment on time. Here's the problem... about a month ago, a lawyer from Wells Fargo contacted my husband offering us a refinancing plan that would drop our interest rate. He said we would save alot of money, but it would take our 30-year note back up to 20 years (not a bad deal we thought, we are only 11 years into the loan). When the papers finally arrived, the loan had not gone back up to 20 years... they had added an ADDITIONAL 20 years!!! We thought it must be a typo...that would bring us to a total of a 51-year note! We called the lawyer & sent the papers back to be corrected. That was a couple of weeks ago and we had heard nothing from them. Saturday the postman delivered 2 registered letters from Wells Fargo stating that our home is in forclosure and is scheduled for sale on the courthouse steps on MAY 5!!!! How can this be? In a time when so many people are losing their homes for non-payment, why would a mortgage company treat a paying customer in this manner? They even sent back my April payment because it wasn't in certified funds. We have contacted our bankruptcy lawyer and a real estate lawyer and are waiting for their reply. Obviously I want to stop the sale of my home, but I would like to know if I have any recourse against Wells Fargo for their dishonesty, trickery, and my mental suffering. Thanks!
Answered 04/30/09 10:37:25 by Dave Lieber
A: Yes, you have recourse against Wells Fargo. They are regulated by one of the four main federal regulatory agencies that oversee banks. You have to find out which one. Call the Texas Banking Dept for help on that. Then go file a complaint with the federal agency against the bank. Copy that letter to your two U.S. senators and also to your congressman. And send one to Rep. Kenny Marchant, too, since he is on the House Financial Services committee and he sometimes takes an interest in bank abuses.Submitted by Judith Tong-Allcock from Fort Worth, Texas
Q: I am a consumer and have been discriminated against by a national known checking service that is used by many established businesses. This company declined two of my checks for two different establishments from two different checking accounts on two different days. The first issue was fianlly resolved after two hours with the bank manager and the checking service. The error laid on the checking service's part. I then requested a written apology and the representative stated that she would send one, which as of today I never have received. The checking service said that I had insufficient funds and the bank assured me that my account was in Good Standing. The second check was declined for the reason of a security matter. I called the another bank and they too assured me that the error was on the behalf of the checking service. I called the checking service and the supervisor stated that paper checks were not being used as much and there was a greater risk and that I needed to use some other means of payment such as a debit card, credit card or cash. He stated that my checks would be declined at any establishment using their services, regardless of how much my funds were. He said that I could become a Gold Member and that might help me be able to not have my checks declined. I went on a web site, www.complaintsboard.com, and noticed that there were many consumers such as myself. I reported this company to the FTC and BBB of Florida. I have written letters to the company to seek a resolution to this issue. The name of the company is Certegy Checking Service and they do business with the top businesses of today such as Kmart, Walmart, Lowes, Big Lots, 7-11 and many more. I am now seeking legal help but I am hoping I can afford the cost. I have been embarassed and have been cause a lot of grief because of this situation. Is there any hope that something can be done? I would appreciate your help. Thank you.
Answered 04/30/09 10:34:55 by Dave Lieber
A: I would find out who regulates Certegy Checking. They must need a license to operate in their home state. Then I would complain to the regulatory agency that oversees them. That will get their attention.Submitted by Richard Cook from 1606 W Tucker Blvd.
Q: You have written several articles about choosing the proper electric supplier went to powertochoose.org lot tochoose from reliant quoted me 12.9 per kwh for 12 mounths some others a cheaper but how long will they be in bussiness ? Who do u use and what is a good rate and term? thanks Richard Cook
Answered 04/06/09 19:19:57 by Dave Lieber
A: Richard, I answer most of your questions on this Web site: http://watchdognation.com/blog/?page_id=130Submitted by Ruben Vijil from Crowley Texas
Q: I work for an Inventory service that has basically taken money away from employess by saying that it needed to in order to introduce a new type of wage/bonus plan. They told us to sign a form indicating that we understand the plan but by refusing to sign it we will not be put on a work schedule. Alot of the people that been affected this has worked for this company for many years and now their mony has been taken away not by poor work performance nor by the compamy needing to cut costs but by greed. I have lost 3.75 per hour and will be danger in losing my home soon. I have done everything this company has asked for as had many others. With the economy and job competition as it is we are pretty much powerless. I cant find an attorney who can advise me what rights I have. This company does have history of lawsuits against it for this type of behavior in other states.
Answered 04/05/09 23:09:19 by Dave Lieber
A: The kind of lawyer you need is one who specializes in employment law. Go to a search engine and type in "Fort Worth employment lawyer" and "Tarrant County employment lawyer" and "Dallas employment lawyer." That's the quickest way. Then if that doesn't pan out, called the State Bar of Texas in Austin and ask them how to find a specialist. I am very sorry this is happening to you. Many companies are using this time to take away all that we have earned in recent years. But when things get better, they darn well better give us back what we lost!Submitted by Jane Sharp from Saginaw, TX
Q: In regard to ONCOR charging the $2.21 for a new meter. Our home was built in 2005 with the new meter already. I feel we have already paid for this meter.....why am I having to pay again? Who can I contact and what can I do about being double billed? Thanks
Answered 04/05/09 23:07:02 by Dave Lieber
A: First, contact the PUC and complain, but that likely won't bring much relief. So then I would contact the offices of your state senator and state house members in Austin and complain to them. If you don't know who they are, go to www.votesmart.org and type in your zip code.Submitted by Dan Coleman from Grapevine
Q: I am getting lots of fraud e-mails. The government seems to only care if you got suckered. The form ask how much you lost, but has no e-mail address to forward the fraudulent attempts to get your money or personal info. Do you know an address to forward the e-mails to?
Answered 04/01/09 17:42:29 by Dave Lieber
A: You send info about these emails to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. You don't forward them there; that's a Web site. Rather you go to that site and look for where you can send them information about the email. But don't expect a white knight rushing to your defense. We ALL get lots of fraud emails. Every day. Hundreds. It's the price of email. And rather than get worked up about it, there are a few things you can do: 1) train yourself to read subject lines and who the mails are from in a split second and delete as fast as your fingers allow, 2) never sign up for stuff using your real email address if you can avoid it. What I mean is create a fictitious email with yahoo or msn.com or gmail and use that for your transactions, especially those that you don't care if you ever hear from them again. 3) create a new personal email address for your friends etc and make it hard to guess so a robot can't figure it out, something like Dan$%@az@blank.com, and 4) Learn how to work the spam filter on your email software and learn how to work the spam settings on your internet service provider. Earthlink, for example, has something where, if I were to send you an email, i would first get a notice that I had to fill out and send to you. It really cuts down. The main thing though is don't let it bother you. It's not worth it.Submitted by Catherine Ybarra from N Richland Hills, TX
Q: How can I stop harassing telemarketer that keeps calling my cell phone? I keep getting calls from a company that says the are "US Pharmacies". They call me no less than 2x's a day, every day. I have asked them nicely to stop calling, I have told them (not nicely) to stop, I have yelled at them, screamed at them, blown my whistle in their ear on the phone and still they persist. I have put my cell phone number on the DNC directory and reported them to the FCC, but still they persist. I received 3 calls just this morning in the span of no more than 15 minutes. Is there anything that can be done to stop this?
Answered 04/01/09 17:36:32 by Dave Lieber
A: Lawyers like these cases because with tape recordings, they can sue, you can win and they can collect a nice fee. There are lawyers in this area who like these cases and can give you true legal advice on how to pursue. You can find a lawyer interested in this at www.naca.net. Also, in my new book, Dave Lieber's Watchdog Nation: Bite Back When Businesses and Scammers Do You Wrong (available at http://www.WatchdogNation.com and at Amazon, I lay out some strategies for this. One thing I've told folks to do is to tell them you have contacted a lawyer, you are taping the calls and you are planning a lawsuit. Then you say, "It's to my advantage that you stay on the phone and keep calling me because the lawyer says I can make more money. I'm taping. But I am also asking you for the 100th time, and the tape will record this, to stop calling me. This is harassment under federal law and Texas law." Then put the phone down and walk away. I would think the calls will stop.