BILLING PROBLEMS

Q: What is the best way to dispute an erroneous or fraudulent charge?
A: You need to complain right away and you need to do it in writing. Tell the company that you dispute the charge, why you dispute it and provide any supporting documentation. This letter should never be enclosed with the bill. You need to find out where the company accepts correspondence about billing problems; it is probably a different address than where you send your payment.

CREDIT/CREDIT REPORTS

Q: How long does negative information stay on my credit report?
A: Negative information that is accurate can stay on your credit report for seven years. A bankruptcy can stay for 10 years.

Click here for more information on your credit rights.

Q: When I use my credit card, can the card number be printed on the receipt?
A: Washington state law says merchants using an automated processing machine or register cannot print more than the last five digits of the credit card on the receipt given to you, the consumer. The full number is allowed to be printed on the copy that the merchant keeps. Federal law requires the same thing for all merchants in the U.S. starting in 2007. This doesn’t make much sense to me, since the merchant doesn’t need my card number once the transaction is electronically processed, but that’s the way the law reads.

Q: Is there anything I can do to stop getting those ‘’pre-approved’ credit card offers in the mail?
A: The credit reporting industry has established a toll-free hotline at 1-888-567-8688 that you can call to opt out of pre-approved credit card mailings. One call does it all! You can opt out for two years or permanently, so listen to all the options on the message before you make your choice. You can also do this online at www.optoutprescreen.com.

NOTE: Because the credit bureau identifies you by your Social Security number, to opt out, you will have to provide this information. In this case, that’s nothing to worry about, because you made the call and you know who you are dealing with.

Q: Where do I contact the 3 big credit reporting agencies?

Experian
PO Box 919
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742

Equifax Options
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111

Trans Union Corporation
P.O. Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288
1-800-916-8800

CAR REPAIR

Q: How do I pick a good repair shop?
A: The best time to look for an auto repair facility is before you need one, when you have the time to shop around. In looking for an auto repair facility, ask for recommendations. The best referrals are from family and friends who have had positive experiences with a repair facility. Look for a shop that is a member of AAA or the Better Business Bureau.

	Click here for the tips on auto repair.
	The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has a brochure on how to choose a good mechanic, click here for the brochure. To find the best mechanic in your area, click here and check the national database for ASE “blue shield” certified mechanics.
	Click here for your rights in Washington State.

DEBT COLLECTION

Q: Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t owe them money?
A: Federal regulations say a collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. Collection activities can begin again if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed.

Q: What is a debt collector prohibited from doing?
A: According to the Federal Trade Commission a debt collector may not “harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact.” That means they cannot: use threats of violence, use obscene or profane language, or “repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.” They are also prohibited from making “false or misleading statements.” For instance, they cannot: say you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt, use a false name, or send you something that looks like an official government document when it is not.

Click here for more information on your debt collection rights.

FOOD SAFETY

Q: Where can I report a complaint about a food product I bought at the store or a meal I had at a restaurant?
A: In Washington state, you can call the Food Safety Complaint Hotline at 1-800-843-7890. The hotline is run by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and is staffed Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. After hours, you can leave a voicemail message. If your problem deals with something the WSDA regulates, they will deal with it. If not, they'll pass along your information to the proper agency. Complaints can be about food you purchased at the grocery store or ate in a restaurant, or about a food processor or warehouse facility.

JUNK MAIL & FAXES

Q: Is there any way to reduce the amount of solicitations I get mailed?
A: You can reduce the amount of unsolicited national advertising mail you receive at home by sending a written request including your name, complete home address, and signature to:

MAIL PREFERENCE SERVICE
DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION
PO BOX 643
CARMEL, NY 10512

Click here to find out more about this service and the online registration option ($5 fee).

Q: Are companies allowed to send you ads via fax?
A: No. In Washington State is it illegal to send an unsolicited fax “promoting goods or services for purchase by the recipient” unless there is a prior contractual or business relationship between the sender and the recipient. Federal regulations prohibit “any material advertising the commercial; availability or quality of any property, goods or services.”

	Click here for more information on junk faxes, including instructions on how to file a private lawsuit.
	Click here for more information on regulations prohibiting junk faxes.

TELEPHONE/TELEMARKETING

Q: There are so many cellular and long distance phone plans. Is there an easy way to comparison shop?
A: The following web sites make it easy to comparison shop.

	SaveOnPhone
	10-10PhoneRates
	ABTolls
	Getconnected

Q: Can telemarketers call me anytime they want?
A: No. According to federal regulation, a telephone salesperson cannot call you before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM in your time zone.

Click here for more information about your telemarketing rights.

Q: Are computerized or pre-recorded sales calls to my home legal?
A: In most cases they are not allowed, unless you have given prior consent to such calls, or you have an established business relationship with that company. Tax-exempt non-profits, charities, polling companies and political groups are allowed to use computerized calls. Emergency calls are also exempt from this rule.

Q: Can I put my cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry?
A: Yes. Residential or cell phone numbers are accepted; business numbers are not.

Click here to register a phone number.

Q: Will putting my number on the National Do Not Call registry stop all telemarketing calls?
A: No. It should stop most calls designed to sell something, but not all. Calls for charities, political organizations and telephone surveys are still allowed. Companies that have an existing business relationship with you are also allowed to call for up to 18 months. Of course, you always have the right to tell any caller that you want to be put on that company’s own do not call list.

Click here for more about the National Do Not Call Registry.

UNCLAIMED FUNDS

Q: How do I find out if there’s “lost money” waiting for me?
Every state has millions of dollars in unclaimed funds that are there for the asking, if you are the rightful owner.

	Click here for Washington State’s web site.
	If you’ve lived in any other state, you might want to check there, too. Click here for the national database at NAUPA (National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators).

Q: I got a mailing from a company that says they’ve located funds that belong to me, but they want money upfront. What should I do?
There are lots of offers like this. There are people who make a living matching up unclaimed funds with their rightful owners, but many of these offers are scams. Here’s any easy way to spot the fraudulent ones—do they ask you for money up front? Legitimate unclaimed funds locators don’t work this way; they collect their fee after you get your loot.