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When a 30-year roof lasts only 7.5 years
The story behind one homeowner's fight when her roofing shingles failed. When Lynn Stahl decided to replace her home's roof, she wanted something that would last. That's not what she got. She hired...
View ArticleTax season means scam season. Here are the IRS' 'Dirty Dozen' schemes
Tax scams happen all year long, but they're always more common during the tax filing season. See what the IRS says are the most common tax scams.
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This airline cancellation policy is unfair and unclear, lawsuit says
Cancellation policies don't always make sense, one customer says. Here's what you need to know to make sure your flight isn't cancelled. It's an annual tradition. Gerry Resnick, 64, and his son...
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It's not an urban myth. Officials say thieves are stealing checks from mailboxes
Why you should be cautious if you use blue postal mailboxes. Arlene Mangino keeps a close eye on her checking account. When a $382.61 check she wrote for a Bank of America bill wasn't cashed, she...
View ArticleWhy millennials are softer scam targets than older seniors
The Federal Trade Commission has released its annual fraud complaint statistics. See why your age matters, and see how New Jersey fared.
View Article'He should be punished.' Outraged scam victims get their day in court
After years of looking for justice - and restitution - scam victims are finally getting their due. Getting scammed is awful. Some victims blame themselves. Others are embarrassed they fell for a con...
View ArticleTax day is coming. Can't pay your taxes? Here's what you can do
Don't despair. If you can't pay your taxes, we've got a plan.
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Facebook just told me it gave away my personal information. What do I do?
How to see what Facebook knows about you, and how to make sure your Facebook privacy settings are solid. The notification posted at about 6 am. It was the message I was expecting. Facebook said it...
View ArticleIt's home improvement season. Here's how to avoid getting scammed by a...
Don't get scammed by a disreputable contractor. Here's what to do before you hire someone.
View ArticleDriver stuck with two loans after car dealer excuse-a-thon
After four-and-a-half months, a car dealer didn't pay a customer's trade-in loan. The driver said she's been lied to and given the runaround.
View ArticleGetting married? Don't make these money mistakes
Couples fight about money more than they fight about sex. Here's how to avoid the battles.
View ArticleDone with taxes? Nope. Here's what you need to know now for your 2018 tax return
Changes coming to your 2018 tax return may sneak up on you. Be prepared and keep up to date with important factors affecting state and local tax deduction, alternative minimum tax, the 'kiddie tax,'...
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Can Comcast change package mid-contract? It's an issue for this Disney fan
The fine print makes a difference, but so does customer service. Parents of young children know television can be a lifesaver. The right show can give you time to do the laundry, make dinner, or just...
View ArticleIs $1 million enough to retire? You're asking the wrong question.
When you plan for retirement, it's what you spend, not what you have saved.
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Nursing home says daughter is responsible for dad's bills. Here's how she...
How one lawsuit against the daughter of a nursing home patient is a lesson for all families. A few years ago, Tracey Mitchell's dad needed to go into a nursing home. Mitchell had no complaints about...
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He finished his alimony payments 8 years ago. Now the state wants him to pay...
David Thomson thought he was done with his alimony payments. Not yet, the state said. He's fighting. When David Thomson divorced in 1995, he was ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife. The monthly...
View Article10 easy ways to save money and still have fun this summer
Your AC bills are rising. Your entertainment costs are, too. Here are some ways to save some money.
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They scammed consumers. Some owe millions. Why can't the state get them to pay?
Taxpayers are out $76.6 million because Consumer Affairs can't collect on every judgment and settlement. Here's why. The list is goes on and on. Contractors who bilked customers for thousands of...
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Have you checked your utility bill? This couple was told they owe more than $8K
Estimated readings can cause surprises in your electricity bill. Joyce and Al Andreola receive electricity from PSE&G for their Edison home. The couple has lived in the home for 26 years, Joyce...
View ArticleThese 9 companies paid nearly $70 million in fines to Consumer Affairs
See which companies honored their court orders and paid the state what they owe.
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49 days to fix an air conditioner? Home warranty customer is steaming
Home warranties promise to save you time and money, but one customer got the runaround. Len Torine said it took 49 days and more than 45 hours of phone calls with 32 customer service representatives...
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Come on, Gov. Murphy. Sign this bill to help N.J. seniors
Hundreds of thousands of refundable dollars will be withheld unless this bill is signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. After years of wrangling, lawmakers in Trenton have approved legislation that would ban...
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Divorced man wins fight against making alimony payment a second time
Here's a lesson in why you should always save proof you've made court-ordered payments, no matter how much time passes. A divorced man who challenged the Morris County Probation Service over a claim...
View ArticleBroken promises: These 10 deadbeats owe $67 million to Consumer Affairs
Here's a look at the biggest non-payers of Consumer Affairs settlements from 2012 to 2017.
View ArticleIf you're not planning on living forever, here's what to put in your 'When...
A "When I'm Dead" file will tell your heirs everything they need to know about your financial affairs.
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He deposited $550 in an ATM and it vanished. Here's what he had to do to get...
Even with proof an ATM transaction was made, Wells Fargo and Financial Resources denied a customer's claim. Early on May 30, Robert Chambers tried to make a payment on his car loan. It was 6:50 a.m....
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Mystery bills - and an invitation for sex - haunt woman's inbox. Is it a scam?
One woman's quest to stop fake bills from coming into her email box. Email scams can cause all kinds of disruption. If you click on a link or download an attachment, you could inadvertently allow a...
View ArticleHow the senior year of high school could cost more than $10K
It's not just the prom. Standardized test fees, high school memorabilia, the yearbook - it all adds up.
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Caring for a sick or disabled person? Here's what you need to know about...
One man's journey to find out how to get a state ID for his father who has Alzheimer's disease. When someone you love can't take care of themselves, dealing with details we usually take for granted...
View ArticleDon't let your kid go to college without these 10 things
Before your child starts college, make sure he has everything he needs.
View ArticleDealership or repair shop? If you need a car serviced or repaired, don't get...
You may pay more at a dealership than at a local repair shop. Is it worth it?
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'My Lowe's contractor doesn't care, and Lowe's doesn't either,' homeowner claims
One family's battle to get the kitchen they paid for. Watch video When CherylAnne and Mike Amendola decided to expand and renovate the kitchen in their Lincoln Park home, they knew it would be a big...
View ArticleWhat you need to do to maximize your Social Security benefits
Heres' what you need to know when it comes time to collect.
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Man terminates car lease under special promotion. Then a collection agency...
After participating in a special promotion that would eliminate early termination fees on a lease, a Hyundai customer gets an unexpected bill. It's common for car dealerships and manufacturers to...
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State says plumbing giant A.J. Perri remains under scrutiny, citing rash of...
The state says it is investigating 29 complaints filed in 2018 against A.J. Perri. Earlier this year, A.J. Perri was hit with the largest fine ever levied by New Jersey's plumbing board. The state...
View ArticleYankees fan fumes over ticket exchange policy. Team makes it right, but what...
What a Yankees fan did when he learned he could only exchange tickets at the box office in the Bronx.
View ArticleWant to control your Facebook news feed? Good luck with that
Facebook says users can decide what and who will appear in their news feeds, but it's really a mystery.
View ArticleBasement flood causes $21K in damage, mold, after faulty appliance install....
Homeowner fights for Sears to pay for damage to his finished basement after he said an installer didn't close a water pipe.
View ArticleHow to fill out the FAFSA form. A step-by-step guide to this crucial...
Here's how to avoid common mistakes on this important financial aid form.
View ArticleDo you have lost money out there? Don't fall for this 'unclaimed funds' scheme
You don't have to pay anyone to reclaim funds held by state governments.
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Looking for more college financial aid? Here's a guide to the CSS Profile
Don't lose out on chunky institutional aid offered by colleges that accept the CSS Profile financial aid form. Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Karin Price Mueller | NJ Advance Media...
View ArticleHow we cut our homeowners insurance premium in half. Will it work for you?
We knew the typical strategies, but our agent surprised us with a real solution.
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Should Verizon charge a fee to cancel service after senior moves into a...
When a woman was charged a $215 early termination fee from Verizon, common sense prevailed. When you sign a contract for a service, there's usually important fine print to read and remember. Not every...
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ER patient keeps getting bills for covered treatment. Why was this so hard to...
How one consumer's attempts to solve a simple billing issue went nowhere. When this consumer affairs column was born, it had a simple mandate: to help consumers who believed they were being wronged by...
View ArticleSales pitch or free information? What seniors need to know about a 'charity'...
An unregistered charity has offered N.J. seniors a free publication. But is it really free?
View ArticleThe dreaded New Jersey inheritance tax: How it works, who pays and how to...
Even though New Jersey repealed the estate tax, the inheritance tax is still here. And it's probably here to stay.
View ArticleHomeowner says company ignored $18k judgment. Here's how she got paid.
A homeowner had to fight to get the money she was awarded in court.
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