CONSUMERS EMPOWERED.ORG

The website for Massachusetts Consumers

The Consumers Exchange

mailbox with @ sign The goal of Consumers Empowered is to provide information, news and resources to Massachusetts consumers. We also want to give you the opportunity to tell us your success stories, suggestions for newsworthy articles, and tips you think others would find useful. Topics could include general consumer concerns, issues you have had with businesses, identity theft or Internet security. Contact us! The Consumers Exchange is your page to share information and make us all Empowered Consumers!

(Emails/letters may be edited for clarity and brevity and your email address will not appear.)

Name	Town	Comments
C.R. 10:00PM 6/19/13	Westwood	I agree with EB, prepaid cards can be a big pain. I needed to purchase a toaster at one of the large department stores, which cost $50. I knew I had $44.32 on a prepaid card that I wanted to use. According to the saleswoman, the only way I could do it was to convert the $44.32 to the store’s gift card. Then the gift card could be applied to the cost of the toaster and I could add the additional cash necessary to make the purchase. It took an extra 10 minutes to convert the card. As they say, nothing is easy!
K.T. 4:50PM 06/19/13	Wellesley	I don't buy cold cuts very often, but I do buy fresh fish. I always say "under is OK." That works, too!
F.B. 9:20PM 06/18/13	Hanover	Every time I order cold cuts at a deli I always get more than I ask for and with food so expensive these days, the cost really adds up. So here’s my tip. If you want a ½ pound of sliced turkey breast, ask for “just under a ½ pound.” For a pound, ask for “just under a pound.” Somehow, the clerks behind the counter get the message. I’ve been quite successful getting exactly what I want without any waste and extra cost.
E.G. 7:00PM 06/18/13	Brookline	It seems everything is on a prepaid card these days, but how do you know how much is left on the card without jumping through hoops? I took my in-laws to lunch the other day. I had a $25 card from the restaurant and my mother-law gave me a $25 card she had found on her desk. When the bill came, I left the two cards, which included the tip. Thinking we were all set, we started to leave when the waiter came flying over to us and told us one of the cards only had $4 on it. Of course I paid the difference, but was very uncomfortable. Am I alone in thinking that these prepaid cards can be a pain in the neck?
K.B. 9:30PM 05/31/13	Wellesley	My husband just got off the phone with one of those solicitors. I could not believe that he had no qualms about giving his card number to the person who said they were looking for donations to his college. Even if I think I might want to donate, I always ask that they to send me something in the mail. You just don't know who is on the other end of the phone. Don't give them your credit card!
C.T. 5:35PM 05/02/13	Scituate	My sister took my mother and her girlfriend out to lunch to celebrate my mother's 93rd birthday. It was a happy occasion and my sister proudly told the waitress why she had brought the two older ladies out to lunch on such a rainy day. At the end of the meal the waitress brought a big piece of chocolate cake with a candle and three forks and plates for them to all share the complimentary dessert. It was such a nice way to end the meal. That is until my sister got home and realized that the restaurant had charged her for the "complimentary dessert!! It definitely left a bad taste in her mouth!
A.S. 11:00AM 04/05/13	Worcester	My friend's mother passed away a month ago. She made the mistake of putting her mother’s birth-date and maiden name in the obituary. Crooks stole her mother’s identity by making up a social security number, and opening all kinds of credit card accounts. I believe it’s called “ghosting.” Apparently the crooks knew they would have 6 months before different financial institutions, the credit reporting bureaus and the social security office would actually register the death certificate. My friend now realizes that she should have notified social security and credit bureaus immediately after her mother’s passing. Probably not a good idea to put too much information in a loved one’s obituary.
M C. 8:45PM 04/06/13	Dedham	I can't stress enough how important it is to check all your financial billing statements. A few weeks ago my husband and I had a lovely lunch at a charming bistro. I paid by credit card. Everything went just the way it was supposed to until I got my credit card statement and saw I was charged twice for the same lunch! I immediately called my credit card company. They sent a form to the café and eventually the charge was removed.
R.T. 9:30PM 03/29/13	Wellesley	I had seen my name in the Unclaimed Property list that the MA State Treasurer has printed in the newspaper peiodically. It was 4 years ago, but I only got around to calling last week. Glad I did. I will be getting a nice sum of money back! It is worth your while to check for your name by going to the website or just call the Treasurer's Office at 1-800-647-2300 (toll free) or 617-367-0400. There are even evening and Saturday hours posted on the website.
R. M. 8:15PM 03/05/13	Needham	When did buying tires become such a hassle? I needed to replace 2 tires on my car and couldn’t believe the high prices. I went to a couple of tire dealers and found their prices competitive, but there were little extras tacked on like a tire recycling charge. I then went to the dealer who services my car. After showing him the quote from the tire dealers, he discounted their price by $20, met their price to mount and balance the tires and waived the recycling charge. When I looked online, I found the same tires were discounted significantly and would be delivered to their recommended service stations. But when I added up the delivery charge and the price to install the tires, I wasn’t saving all that much. I ended going with the dealer because I had been satisfied with my past service.
K.T. 11:30AM 3/6/13	Boston	I recently bought a used car and instead of just relying on CARFAX, decided to pay extra and have a pre-purchase inspection done by a mobile inspection company called AiM whose website is www.aimmobileinspections.com. It wasn’t cheap, but I felt it was worth the peace of mind.
A. L 9:20AM 2/18/13	Hopkinton	I just wanted to report that I had a good experience returning a snowblower that I bought before the first big storm we just had. The brand new snowblower did the top half of the driveway, just fine, although it wasn't easy. When I came back out after taking a break, it started smoking and then died. When I called the big chain store where I bought it, I expected a hassle, but they said since it was within the 30 days, just drain the gas and bring it in for a refund or credit. I had to call a snowplow guy, but at least I'm getting my money back for the snowblower.
S.C. 8:20PM 12/30/12	Quincy	We're flying to Florida for a couple of weeks so I called my local auto club to inquire about renting a car. The travel agent checked the rates and reported that their premier rental company could rent us a mid-sized car for $867, which included airport fees and taxes. When I expressed shock, I was told that they also deal with another company, which would charge $309 for the same car, including all extra fees. However, this company was not recommended due to the number of consumer complaints. When I asked if they would ask the premier company to match the other company’s price, they said they’d give it a try. The result? I will be renting a mid-size car from the premier company for the exact price quoted from the second company. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
A.W. 9:05PM 12/28/12	W. Newton	I definitely agree with M.R. of Needham. There are some good players out there. Last week I visited an upscale grocery store and purchased chicken thighs which were on sale @ $1.69 per pound. I decided to buy 2 packages, since it was such a good deal. When I got home, I discover that on one package I was charged the sale price and on the other, I was charged $2.49 per pound. When I called the store, they told me to save the receipt and go to any of their stores for a refund. Not only did the store refund the difference, they paid me back for the entire package saying they were sorry for the inconvenience! Count me in as a loyal customer!
M.R. 10:00AM 12/26/12	Needham	I sent a lovely cookbook to my brother and sister-in-law from a national kitchen supply store as a holiday gift. They were delighted to receive it only to find that several of the recipes had been ripped out. Good news, though. When I called the store they were horrified and are sending a new copy. They even credited my account and apologized for not checking the order before it was sent. Some retailers really do come through with good service.
R.K. 7:30PM 11/23/12	Boston	I noticed on Amazon.com that prices can change! I was shopping for candy and saw 3 different prices for the same brand of candy at various times on the same day.
A.T. 9:00PM 10/14/12	Falmouth	My GE dishwasher was just recalled. The last time this happened I used the rebate towards another GE dishwasher; but after this happening a second time, I going with a different brand!
R. W. 2:15PM 08/24/12	Watertown	My husband and I have three joint accounts at a local bank with deposits well above the minimum to qualify for “free checking.” When I was looking at my balance on the bank’s secure website I was shocked to see a $20.00 service fee listed. I went to the bank and was told that the accounts must have somehow gotten “unlinked.” They removed the fee, but what if I hadn’t noticed it! Word to the wise! Keep your eye out for fees!
J. K 2:00PM 08/18/12	Holland	I received a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft who told me that there were errors on my computer. I was then directed to a website to purchase and download a product which they said would fix the errors. I went to the website and it looked legitimate, but when I checked it out, I discovered that this is a scam. Be Careful. Do not go to this website! Hang up if you get a call like this.
S. A 8:00PM 08/08/12	Worcester	If you are going to do some tax-free shopping this weekend (August 11 and 12 - MA Sales Tax Holiday Weekend), you might want to check out ahead of time the availability of the items you are hoping to purchase. The large stores post availablity online or just give them a call. That way you can save gas, too, along with not wasting your time!!
C.B. 10:00AM 08/08/12	Falmouth	I just purchased a cute pair of shorts from a popular mail order company. I was shocked when I put them on and found a tube of lip gloss in the pocket! They will be going back and you can bet that I won't be the one paying for the return shipping!!
J.C. 7:45PM 07/23/12	Needham	OK, so I went car shopping for an SUV on Saturday. I had about 2 hours and planned to visit 7 dealerships. Everything was going great until I went into one of the dealerships. I was greeted by a salesman just waiting for me to walk through the door. When I asked to see their line of SUVs, I was told that one of their models was the hottest selling SUV on the market. Only problem was, there were none in sight. After giving basic info, I was told to wait for 5 minutes, and Mr. Salesman would bring one down from storage. After 15 minutes, and no salesman in sight, I left. Am I missing something?
A. W. 5:30PM 05/30/12	Somerville	Ouch! I couldn't believe it when I booked a trip online to Chicago for a family wedding. Not only had the prices jumped, but now I’m being charged an extra $25 to sit in a window seat or an aisle seat. My young daughter and my wife will be traveling with me. If we want to sit together, it will cost me an additional $50 each way!
T.S. 7:10PM 05/23/12	Marlboro	I work as a laborer and get paid every two weeks. I live out of town, so I often have to cash my check at the bank where it was drawn because I don't have a choice. They charge me $6.00 to cash my check! This is an outrage! I've filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but I know change never happens overnight.
K.S 3:35PM 04/24/12	Wellesley	Be careful the next time you buy a " half gallon" of orange juice. Some of the cartons look like half gallons, but they actually contain less orange juice than other, real half gallons! Compare the ounces listed on the cartons before you make a choice and you put one in your cart!
M. D. 9:05AM 04/13/12	Hyannis	I just wanted to let everyone know that they can submit questions and get answers on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's website. Topics include credit, debt, mortgages, loans and credit reports. They also have seperate categories for the military, seniors and student. I had a question on my student loan and they were fantastic.
T.S. 4:50PM 03/25/12	Malden	Beware of used car dealers advertising that they will pay off your existing car loan. I had $3,000 left on the loan on my truck. The dealer took my truck and paid off the old loan just as he promised, but then added the $3000 to my new loan and added a higher interest rate. It just didn’t seem right and I complained to the FTC who told me they were investigating this practice. If I had to do it over again, my advice would be never roll debt from a trade-in into a new car loan. It can spell trouble.
A.H. 7:50PM 03/28/12	Wayland	A word to the wise! Read your bank statement very carefully! I have a basic checking account with a large bank. I have to maintain a minimum balance or use my debit card 5 times per month to avoid a penalty. Previously I was charged $4.99 if I didn’t meet the requirements. The bank has now notified me that on April 23 the penalty will increase to $9.99. My wife has a personal checking account with the bank. If she falls below the minimum balance, her penalty will increase from $9.99 to $11.99. Trust me, this stuff adds up!
S. B. 7:30PM 02/23/12	Famouth	Hi Everyone. I had a complaint against an appliance company and followed all the usual recommended suggestions. First I complained to customer service, then I asked to speak to a supervisor, and finally I contacted the corporate office, to no avail. It was only when I when I contacted the company’s social media manager that I got results. Something to think about...
J.R. 1:10PM 02/20/12	Swampcott	Talking about extra charges! Be on the lookout for a $10 surcharge on airline tickets due to the high fuel costs.
C. R 1:05PM 02/11/12	Scituate	I agree with you about being extra careful. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the Internet is loaded with tempting offers for flowers, candy, candles, and you name it. Watch out when checking out! There may be extra charges for a simple card, a box, gift-wrap or basic delivery charges. When you add it all up, the tempting offer may not be the bargain you expected. Happy Valentine's Day!
R.M. 8:35P.M. 12/08/11	Needham	I recently booked round trip airline tickets to San Diego over the Internet. I compared the different travel websites and choose the site with the best price. When I went to check out, I was told that in order to get decent seats in the economy section, I had to pay $11.95 per seat for a “seat–specialist” to assist me. Otherwise, I would have to wait at least 48 hours with no guarantee where my wife and I would be sitting. I declined the $11.95 service and instead went directly to the airline’s website and easily got the seats we wanted. Word to the wise! Be very careful when making plane reservations over the Internet. Watch out for those little boxes with check marks! Scroll to the bottom of each page and read everything thoroughly. Make sure only those things you agree to are checked off!
S. B. 10:00P.M. 11/21/11	Arlington	Buyer Beware! I went to a large retail store to buy clothes for my grandson. A sign on a large display table said “Sale - Tee shirts – 2 for $14.” I rummaged through the shirts and picked out 4 in my grandson’s size. When I went to pay, I was told the shirts were not eligible because they were trademark tee shirts. So what were they doing on the display table? When I complained to the manger, I was told trademark shirts were excluded and shouldn’t have been on the table. Seems to me the store has an obligation to make sure the signage is correct and not misleading. I’m not real excited about shopping at this store anytime soon!
d.t. 9:50PM 10/25/11	Wellesley Hills	I recently applied online for a checking account with a fantastic rate offered by a Maine bank. To my surprise, I was told I was not eligible, since I did not live in Maine. I pointed out that neither their website nor their brochure (that they mailed to my MA address) mentioned this restriction, and asked that they put the rejection in writing in a letter to me. Later that day, I received a call from the bank -- they had changed their mind and I could now open the account! I think having to put it in writing made them rethink their position!
m.r. 5:04PM 8/10/11	Millis	I was given a check for my birthday and decided to cash it at the bank that issued the check, since it was near where I was going shopping. To my shock, the bank wouldn’t cash it unless I paid them a fee! Used to be banks would honor their own checks for free!
C.H. 9:53PM 7/21/11	Natick	I had a similar experience with a coupon. I spoke to a customer service rep who said it was a misprint and had another coupon sent to me for the difference. I guess speaking to a customer service person is the way to go.
F.T. 8:50PM 7/18/11	Framingham	What’s going on? I belong to a big warehouse club and receive coupons every month in the mail. This month I got a coupon for dishwasher detergent that said “buy one - get one free.” I figured I could save $13.99, the cost of one package. When I checked out with the coupon and my 2 packages, I was told the second one was not free, but only $7.00 off. The cashier pointed to tiny print at the bottom of the “buy one - get one free coupon” that said “value up to $7.” In my mind $7.00 off isn’t exactly “buy one get one free”. Has anyone had any similar experiences?
C.R. 1:09PM 6/26/11	Lee	Watch out when ordering flowers over the phone! I called a toll free number and ordered a dozen red roses for my Mom who was in the hospital in Vermont. $60.24 was charged to my credit card. I was told a confirmation number would be sent to me via email, but it wasn’t. Guess what? When I visited Mom over the weekend, only six roses had been delivered! I might not be the only one that this has happened to, so be sure to research out of state flower companies carefully and get a confirmation number. My credit card refused to help me because there was no confirmation number.
W. P. 11:04PM 6/15/11	Marion	If you use one of those e-coupons, be careful about being pressured. I used one for photos and was very pleased with the quality, but the saleswoman did try to sell me a package that would have cost me lots more than the original coupon amount.
H. L. 8:45PM 5/27/11	Brookline	Credit cards? Watch out! Recently, I was waiting for my plane at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris to return to the US and used my credit card to buy some food and souvenirs before boarding. I noticed a guy taking photos of his family and thought isn’t that nice. Well, I was wrong! What he was really doing was using a telescopic lens to take photos of my credit card. The charges from Paris appeared within the month. Heads up! You can’t be too careful.
J. M. 6:34PM 5/26/11	Newton	Hey, you won’t believe this, but I got a call from my credit card company that they were suspicious of some unusual charges. Someone had booked services from an escort service along with some extra charges for champagne using my card. The credit card company caught it within hours of the transaction. They immediately put a fraud alert of my credit reports. I was told to shred the card. I was pretty impressed.
Larry B. 10:30PM 5/12/11	Boston	Anyone feed up with their credit card company? I’m a college student who was lured into getting a credit card. Next thing I knew, I was getting charged all sorts of hidden fees. Once I figured out what the small print actually said, I paid all the fees and decided to get rid of the card. But, I’m now being told there’s a $50 deactivation fee. It really pays to read the fine print.
A. M. 9:35PM 5/12/11	Dedham	I agree with Happy Shopper. Speaking up makes a difference. I recently purchased strawberries on sale. When I got home, I discovered that 2 containers had creepy mold on some of the strawberries. Off I went back to the store to return the yucky berries. Well, the store told me to get 2 new containers which I did and then they gave me my money back. Count me in as a loyal customer.
Happy shopper 10:25AM 04/23/2011	Wellesley	Where’s the meat? That’s what I wondered as I was getting ready to eat the prepared entrée I had just purchased at my local supermarket. The checkout person hadn’t put it in my bag and I was furious. I called the supermarket and spoke to the manager. It probably helped that I remembered the checkout person’s name. I was firm that I was not driving back to the market since they had made the mistake, not me. Result was they delivered another prepared entrée to me --along with a bouquet of flowers!!
Andy F. 10:45 PM 4/13/2011	Auburn	Just a note to say thank you for listing GetHuman.com on your "Useful Consumer Websites" page. It helped me actually get to someone to talk to at an airline that had cancelled my flight because of bad weather. I had been going crazy trying to reschedule tickets and was getting nowhere with all those menus. Thanks!
S. C. 7:17 PM 4/13/2011	Wayland	We had damage to our roof & porch this winter & have been getting all sorts of estimates. One roofer promised to do the job next week, but wanted the money up front. Not a good idea! Just want to remind people that contractors should be registered with the state and can only ask for 1/3 of the contract before beginning the job. So nice to see flowers at my back door instead of snow!!
Barbara G. 4:19 PM 03/16/2011	North Adams	I just wanted to give everyone “heads-up” that text messages are not covered by the National “Do Not Call Registry.” Although my cell phone is registered, I started getting texts for payday loans and credit card offers. Under my plan, I’m charged 20 cents per text message. Steamed……. I called my cell phone provider to complain. They told me to solve the problem, simply text back “STOP.” Guess what? I received even more texts. My recommendation? Call the FTC @ 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) and file a complaint. They are interested in hearing from you and are currently trying to change the Do Not Call law to include text messaging. Does anyone else have suggestions?
A.B. 9:52 PM 03/12/2011	Osterville	I thought you might like to know that some sales clerks will sign you up for a credit card even though you say you are not interested. I told a sales clerk I did not want to sign up for the store credit card because I had one once and I cancelled it. She must have signed me up for one anyways, since a couple weeks later a new credit card from the store arrived in the mail. Just beware of this practice!
tom s 8:06 AM 03/05/2011	east boston	First I would like to thank you for all that you do. I am knot sure how to do this, but here goes. In my city there is a gas station that is a shell gas staion. This station is I bet the higest priced in the state. As of 10 pm 3-4-11 the price was 3.65.9 per gallon. I would like to let everyone know about this. Thank For All That You DO.