On Your Side — Page 3

Is this a scam? Maybe I can’t imagine that vacation after all

November 10, 2011

Wayne is so embarrassed by his decision to pay $2,300 for a travel club that he asked me not to use his full name. I understand his reluctance. He’s a well-educated professional who was just looking for a way to save money when he traveled, and he feels scammed.

The smarter consumer: The three levels of a scam (and how to avoid all of ‘em)

November 8, 2011

How quickly we are to invoke the “S” word when things don’t go our way.

What’s your problem? A slippery component that destroyed my PC

November 7, 2011

While Andre Klass is installing a computer, the chassis malfunctions, damaging the custom PC. Neither the reseller nor the manufacturer will take responsibility. Where, exactly, does the buck stop?

The smarter consumer: Learning to speak corporate-ese

November 1, 2011

American businesses speak another language.

What’s your problem? Lost in a government maze, and I’d like a refund, please

October 31, 2011

Mary Ann Hoey thinks she’s applying for the government’s Global Entry program. Instead, she pays $50 for a similar program called Nexus. Now, the government is refusing to refund the fee. Can she get her money back?

Is this a scam? Hosted reviews on hotel site look bogus

October 27, 2011

Ellen Gonella is a guest at the Westin Kaanapali Resort in Lahaina, Maui, a gorgeous beachfront property with a little smoking problem.

The smarter consumer: Don’t get scammed by spam!

October 25, 2011

If you think the spam epidemic is under control, then I have a check from Nigeria with your name on it.
I’m kidding; I don’t.

What’s your problem? “The fridge makes these crazy sounds at night when it is forming the ice”

October 24, 2011

Rachel Huff’s refrigerator doesn’t work, and no one — not the manufacturer, not the distributor — will fix it. Is the out of luck?

Is this a scam? Help, I’ve been forced to rent a transponder

October 19, 2011

Here’s a question about a possible scam from reader Candice Sabatini. She’s noticed that an increasing number of toll roads and bridges no longer have toll booths — you either carry a transponder or pay a fine.

The smarter consumer: The 10 worst scams in America

October 18, 2011

We live in a world of schemes, swindles and shady deals. I know. I’ve been navigating its dark waters most of my career. The average consumer is slammed with fraudulent offers every day, from “You may already be a winner” sweepstakes to impostors trying to steal your hard-earned cash.

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