FREE SPEECH ZONE | BBB Advice on the Layaway Process

By |

The current economy has left many shoppers on a budget and searching for more affordable methods of paying for big-ticket items and holiday gifts. This holiday season, many families will be turning to alternate forms of payment to make ends meet. With many stores offering layaway services, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is offering advice on how to use this payment plan in lieu of credit cards.Once considered a dated, old-fashioned method of payment, layaway services are back in vogue, with many businesses now dusting off their layaway plans for today’s beleaguered consumers. Buying items on layaway is different from putting them on a credit card because the buyer isn’t charged interest on the purchase and can’t take the item home until it is paid off. When purchasing items on layaway, the buyer must typically make a down payment of 10 to 20 percent and pay any service or plan fees for the store to hold the item for them. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | How to Stretch Your Gas Dollars

By |

For months, gasoline prices have been hovering around $4.00 a gallon in most areas of the country. According to a study by Sperling’s BestPlace, the average U.S. family with two drivers is now paying nearly $1,000 more annually for gas than they were just two years ago. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) warns consumers to be wary of gas-saving claims that empty your wallet instead of keeping your tank full.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Many websites make unbelievable claims for various aftermarket automotive devices (such as fuel-line magnets, air bleed devices and retrofit gadgets) and oil and gasoline additives which supposedly increase gas mileage for automobiles. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Securing Your Child’s Identity: Advice Every Parent Needs to Know

By |

Online scammers are finding inactive Social Security numbers online – most of which are assigned to children under the age of 18 who have not started using them yet – and selling them under different names to help people establish fake credit. The scheme may lead to significant debts for children that might be almost impossible to pay off.  The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is warning parents to be on the lookout for the signs that point to their child’s identity being compromised or stolen. According to a 2011 report from Javelin Strategy and Research, 8.1 million American adults became victims of ID theft last year alone, resulting in the loss of $37 billion. While this number is shockingly high, NBC TODAY reports that it’s harder to know how many children are actually affected by identity theft because of the fact most cases go undiscovered for years. However, one study by Debix, an identity theft monitoring company, found that out of 40,000 children, 4,000 identities had been compromised.  “This is a newer problem, and it’s frightening for any parent to think that their child’s identity is at risk of being stolen,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | BBB Provides Tips to Storm Damage Victims

By |

The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is offering guidance to area residents who suffered damage to their homes during recent severe weather in and around the metro, and reminds people to take precautions when cleaning up and making repair decisions. Though most contractors have your best interests in mind, there are those few that are only interested in making a fast dollar. To avoid those bad actors, the BBB provides the following tips to homeowners who have experienced property damage: Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Contact your insurance company immediately to inquire about policy coverage and specific filing requirements.  This gets the ball rolling on the claim process. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | BBB Advises Internet Surfers to Use Caution When Using Wi-Fi Networks

By |

Protecting your identity is important and with Wi-Fi networks popping up nearly everywhere, many consumers don’t realize the dangers that come with using a Wi-Fi connection that is not their own. According to a recent poll conducted by Wakefield Research and Wi-Fi Alliance, 32 percent of respondents said they have tried to get on a Wi-Fi network that was not their own, a startling 18 percent more than a December 2008 poll. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB), along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urges consumers to think ahead before surfing the Web on a Wi-Fi hotspot. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading

Tips on finding a tax preparer

By |

The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) encourages taxpayers to do their research before selecting tax preparation help or they may get hit with fines and fees if the return isn’t correct or filed late. The BBB also cautions against tax preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other tax preparers. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Give Back in 2011; Five Tips for Volunteering

By |

Donating your time to a charity is in many ways similar to deciding to make a cash donation. You want to know that the charity you’re considering is accountable and will use your time and talent effectively.  If you’ve made giving back part of your New Year’s resolutions, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) recommends taking five steps to make sure your volunteering has a big impact.  Much of the great work that charities perform is made possible because of volunteers and the number of people giving their time continues to grow. According to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 63.4 million people volunteered for an organization in 2009, or 26.4 percent of the US population.  “Charities are always looking for volunteers to help the community and those in need,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Giving wisely during the holidays

By |

No Matter How You Give, Give Wisely with Advice from the BBB  Because of technology and the creativity of charities, there are many different ways that donors can give to a worthy cause. Whether you’re giving money, canned goods, used items or your time, the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance reminds donors that how you give is just as important as what you give. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, charitable donations to the largest charities were down 11 percent last year. Despite the tough economy and the overall decline in giving, donors are still looking for ways to help the less fortunate particularly around the holidays. The Salvation Army reported that red kettle donations in November and December of 2009 actually increased by $9 million over the previous year. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | BBB offers seven tips for college-bound students to fight identity theft

By |

College students have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life, and fighting fraud often doesn’t make the list of priorities. Because college students are so susceptible to identity theft, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) recommends that they take simple steps to protect themselves on campus.  According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than 11 million people became victims of identity theft in 2009. Young adults aged 18-24 took the longest to detect identity theft-132 days on average-when compared to other age groups. Subsequently the average cost ($1,156) was roughly five times more than amount lost by other age groups. “Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name; sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. Continue Reading