Many of us know of someone who has lost money and possibly their personal information to tax scams. The most important thing to share is that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not initiate contact with a taxpayer by email, text message, social media channels, or phone call to request personal or financial information. Here are a few telltale signs of tax scams: A phone call demanding immediate Read More
Tips to Keep Your Banking and Financial Information Safe When Online
This month’s article offers a few tips on precautions for internet financial transactions. Tip 1: Take extra precautions for logging into banks and other financial accounts. Create “strong” user IDs and passwords by choosing combinations of upper-and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols that are hard for a hacker to guess. Your birth date, address, or other publicly available information can be easily Read More
Consumers and Small Business Owners Beware of Fake Lender Loans!
Arizona law limits interest rates to protect its residents from predatory lending. By way of example, the maximum annual percentage rate (APR) including fees is 41% for a $2,000, two-year installment loan. In 2008, 60% of Arizona voters rejected a payday lender ballot initiative that would have overturned the state’s interest rate maxima. To get around the interest rate cap, high-cost online lenders have evaded Read More
Car Warranties: What You Should Know
You may be a victim of unfair and deceptive practices if you weren’t offered a refund or replacement vehicle when you were sold a lemon. You should know that federal and state laws protect consumers from cars that require constant repairs, even if the repairs are made for free under a warranty. If the dealer or manufacturer will not honor the warranty and comply with the law, you should seek the help of an Read More
How can we create a better contract?
Contracts are used to control conduct, usually with incentives and penalties to ensure the desired outcome. Penalties and incentives place the focus on the desired outcomes, rather than what might make the best practical sense to serve the best interests and circumstances of those involved. For example, contracts that provide incentives for volume or higher prices, rather than quality or value, may lead to Read More
New Car Warranties
Generally speaking, automotive manufacturer warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN). The warranty will transfer even if the vehicle is sold to another owner. Of course, you should check the written warranty terms for some components. the warranty period may be reduced when the vehicle is sold. Always check the small print if you are buying a car with a manufacturer’s warranty. Another Read More
Home Warranties
Home warranties are intended to be insurance policies to protect against home system breakdowns. Prior to purchasing a home warranty, obtain a copy of the warranty to review and ask questions about coverage. Consider the following: Just like every insurance policy, warranties have exclusions. Determine what exclusions apply. For example, bathroom plumbing may be warranted, but the steam room or jacuzzi may be Read More
Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Warranties
Prior to buying a new system, read the warranty, so there are no surprises when you need to use it! As with any warranty, ask questions about coverage of specific parts and the labor associated with repairing or replacing parts/components. An HVAC warranty should clearly explain coverage for labor and all service call charges included and excluded, including any minimum charges for labor to replace a Read More
50 Ways to Deny a Warranty
Just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. You don't need to be coy, Roy - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon, singer-songwriter I hope with this post to help educate those of you that take the time to read it (Thank you!), avoid warranty coverage denials and misunderstandings. It is often quite difficult after a sale to hold Goliath merchants responsible when products fail Read More
Understanding Taxes
Taxes! Even smarty pants Albert Einstein recognized the challenge of income tax when he claimed they were “the hardest thing in the world to understand.” Life events like marriage, retirement, selling and inheriting property whether foreseen or not, can make tax obligations more complicated and create a large financial burden that was avoidable with proper guidance. That said, changes in the federal and state tax Read More
