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Entry bubble Car Repair Problems

By: Joanne | December 09, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

overheating car

Last week I told you the sad story about my car trouble. It’s going to take some effort to reach the happy ending.

The good news is that the Ford is happily rolling down the road with a shiny new water pump. The Subaru has not been so lucky. I mentioned last week that we mistakenly took the Subaru to an unfamiliar garage, and now we’re paying the price. We racked up $500 in charges for parts and labor and it appears that in the course of the repair (and I use the term loosely) the mechanic actually damaged the engine.

The Subaru was towed to a dealer. I didn’t think that I should have to pay for the ($200!) tow and calmly and politely told the garage the same. They said no.

This garage just doesn’t know that I work for the people that wrote the Consumer Action Handbook.

I let them know that I had already been in touch with the state Attorney General’s office and would file a consumer complaint. They immediately backed down and took care of the tow. One minor victory for the informed consumer.

The Subaru is with the dealer. I’ve given the service manager instructions to figure out what’s wrong with the car and if it’s the result of normal wear and tear or if it was damaged by the previous mechanic.

I’m prepared for the worst. If it was damaged by the mechanic, I’ll talk to the shop manager and ask them to pay for the repair. If that doesn’t work, I’m going to write a complaint letter to document the problem, and fill out the consumer complaint form that the Attorney General’s office sent me so we can begin mediation. Any other advice?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: car   complaint   consumer   garage   joanne   mechanic   repair   tow  

 

Entry bubble Creative Giving in Tough Times

By: Nancy | December 04, 2008 | Category: Money

Usually at the end of the year, people and businesses start thinking about last minute charitable contributions, driven by the holiday spirit or the need for tax deductions. Whatever the motivation, this is typically the biggest time for charities. But not this year. The financial hit that families and businesses have taken recently is translating into a financial hit for charities too. Some nonprofits, like a Boys and Girls Club near Washington, DC could close if things don't turn around. hand holding a quarter

I found a great link today on ConsumerAction.gov to a Better Business Bureau article on ways to give creatively when your heart's bigger than your wallet:

Open your closets and your cupboards: Unworn or gently used clothes, toys, household items and extra canned or packaged food are all welcome more than ever at your local thrift shop or food pantry since both places are seeing a lot more traffic during this tough economic time. I went to my local Goodwill last week to buy some books and was astounded by how unusually crowded the place was. Remember to double-check the dates on food packages and make sure the clothes and household items are clean and without holes. Donating stuff that's not in good condition ends up adding costs and wasting time for charities because they have to sort through and dispose of items that aren't in good shape.

Donate a vehicle: Reluctant to try to sell my beloved Jeep on my own and wanting more than anything for it to go to somebody else who really needed it, I donated it to my church a few months ago. In their car donation program, my church gives the vehicle directly to a family in need. The vehicle donor in turn gets to claim the car or truck's Blue Book value. Other car donation programs may sell your vehicle at auction. That auction price—usually much less than Blue Book value—is the amount you get to claim on your taxes. Make sure you know which route the charity you'll be donating your vehicle to will take, so you won't be surprised in the end.

Give the gift of time and talk: Stocking shelves at a food pantry, tutoring a kid, polishing up a jobless friend's resume, running or riding in a jog- or bike-a-thon—whatever your interests or talents, there are people and groups that would be grateful for your time. And if you're an avid blogger, emailer or part of an online community, chatting about your favorite nonprofit organizations is a great way to motivate others to support them. And it doesn't cost you a dime.

How do you support your favorite causes?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: car   charity   donation   nancy   volunteer  

 

Entry bubble Car Trouble

By: Joanne | December 02, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

overheating car

Our cars have had a bad week. First the Subaru broke down 40 miles away from our house while we were on our way to a funeral, and then the Ford broke down when we were on our way home from Thanksgiving at my mother’s house. The Ford at least had the decency to break down on the road directly in front of our house.

I try to do a good job of maintaining the cars and I’ve never had a car break down on the road. Until now.

Getting the Subaru repaired has been problematic. It broke down about 50 miles from our mechanic, and we saved money on the towing and had it repaired locally. The local mechanic had it for a week, and we’re now having it towed to a dealer. I think it would have been smarter to have it towed to our regular mechanic. Lesson learned: carefully select your repair shop and stick with the people you trust.

One thing that I didn’t mention is that both of my cars are pretty old. The Ford is a ’94 and we’d get rid of it, but we don’t drive that much and the darn thing won’t die (until now, at least). It’s been a perfect backup car. I know in the back of my mind that we’ll be buying a car soon. I usually don’t buy a new car, but opt for a used car that’s only been on the road for a year or so and has very low miles.

I haven’t been seriously in the auto market for 7 years now. What car do you recommend for an active mother of two who’s concerned about safety, reliability, fuel economy and price?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [12] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: car   garage   joanne   mechanic   new   repair   tow   used  

 

Entry bubble Do You Have Enough Insurance?

By: Nancy | June 19, 2008 | Category: Money

Two weeks ago, my neighborhood was torn up by an "unconfirmed" tornado. Roofs ripped off. Trees through homes. I got off easy, only losing power for three days and having to chuck most of the food in my fridge. But my neighbor two houses down also lost her deck, her new fence and the front of her car when a huge oak tree took them out—along with all the power lines. fallen tree

Two days ago, the back of my car was torn up in a parking lot by a very contrite lady who got her brake and gas pedal mixed up. My poor old car's bumper is smashed and hanging. The liftgate is dented. And I had to secure the tailpipe with a wire hanger to keep it from dragging. Again, I got off easy; the other car has a crushed hood, fender and headlight and a jammed-shut driver's side door.crushed bumper

The most important thing is that nobody got hurt in either event. People are infinitely more important than "stuff." But times like these are good reminders to review the insurance policies that protect your “stuff” and ask yourself some questions.

Does your homeowner’s policy cover the current cost of rebuilding your home? If your house is a total loss, will your insurance pay for complete rebuilding or only give you a limited amount of money toward it? Find out from a local realtor or builder how much rebuilding your home would cost and make sure your insurance coverage is in line with that estimate.

How about what’s inside? Your premium will be less if you're insured for only the depreciated value of your possessions. But then you'll have to make up the difference yourself when you shop for replacements. Consider getting insured for the full replacement value of what you own and be sure to keep your home inventory up-to-date.

What about flooding? Most homeowner’s policies don’t cover it, as so many people in the Midwest and South are tragically finding out. Consider separate coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program.

How high should your car insurance deductibles be? The higher your deductible on things like collision or comprehensive coverage, the more you save on premiums, but the more you'll have to pay out of pocket for repairs before insurance kicks in. How much coverage you want to get also depends on you car’s age, condition and value.

I’m glad the lady who crashed into my car was covered. Her insurance is paying for everything, including the rental car that will be waiting for me next week at the body shop when I take my baby in for a new bumper.

What have been some of your more memorable insurance claim stories?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [9] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: accident   car   home   insurance   nancy  

 

Entry bubble Avoid Toll Traffic

By: Colleen | June 18, 2008 | Category: Travel

If I'm forced to be on the road while gas prices are sky-high, few things bring me more joy than cruising tollright through toll plazas while lines of cars, each paying cash, sit in traffic and prolong their gas guzzling.

Suckers.

I can honestly say that my E-ZPass has changed my life—maybe not to the extent that my iPod has, but it has saved me much time and considerable road rage over the past three years.

With the help of a transponder mounted to your windshield, E-ZPass allows you to drive right through specifically marked toll lanes without stopping. Your transponder is linked to your personal checking account, and simply deducts the cost of the toll from your balance. No stopping. No reaching in the seat cushions hoping for exact change. No risking rolling up to the tollbooth with insufficient funds. (This MAY have happened to me, summer of '04 crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philadelphia.)

E-ZPass specifically works for toll roads in the Northeast, reaching into the Midwest, and the southern border of Virginia. Other regions of the country have their own E-ZPass equivalent systems. Check out your state's department of motor vehicles website to see what program they have to offer.

Hopefully, saving time not sitting in toll lines will get you to your summertime destination a little quicker, and you'll have to suffer from one less "are we there yet?" coming from the backseat.

Road trips not your thing? Here are some travel tips to expedite the airport security process.

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: car   colleen   e_zpass   toll   traffic   travel  

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