Michael Finney's Consumer Blog

Free doggie bags

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff on Thursday (Holiday tomorrow): Free doggie bag.  Walking a dog these days includes removal of what your dog leaves behind.  Here’s a helpful product you can try out: It is natural, organic and free!

Flush Doggy: Biodegradable flushable dog poop bags

This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

Before handing a gift card to a clerk write your name on it

Gift cards are a multi-billion dollar business, and yet consumers don't treat the cards like the cash they represent. We would never hand an unknown amount of money to a store clerk and say, “Please take the right amount and give me back the rest.” Yet, that is exactly what many do with their gift cards.

Received as presents, some do not have their cash value displayed, so consumers don't know if they have a card worth $10 or $100. What's to keep the clerk from replacing your card with one worth less or nothing at all?  There are reports of that happening. Consumers hand a card to a clerk, only to be told the card has already been used and is worthless. So before handing using a card, know what it is worth. Go online and check the balance by registering the card.

Also, write your name on the card, that way you will know if a dishonest clerk has replaced your card with one that has already been used.

Make those new clothes last longer and look better

Your clothes take a real beating when being washed and dried, so to make your clothes last longer wash and dry them more gently. Consider hand washing, at home dry cleaning, and just airing out gently worn clothes. Those clothes that do get the washing machine treatment will do better if you skip the dryer and just let the clothes air dry.

What retailers don’t want you to know about returns

If you are lead astray by a salesperson you can return the merchandise you bought for a full refund no matter the store’s policy. It gets a bit tricky but it comes down to you relying on the sales professional’s advice. For instance, if you are buying a camera to take telephoto shots of your kid’s soccer games and are advised a particular model can get those close-ups, but it can’t, then you can return the product because you relied on the salesperson’s expertise. The same could be said of a dress for a formal occasion. If the sales clerk says it is proper attire and yet you are turned away at the door, you can return the dress for a full refund. 

When returning merchandise, your credit card can be your best friend

Returns and exchanges may not go so smoothly this year. Retailers battered by a tough economy aren’t in the mood to “stretch the rules” to make consumers happy. So be ready to fight and use your credit card rights.  You have 60 days from purchase to complain about a product or service. Return policies and rights are included in the official reasons credit card companies can decline to pay the charge and refund the customer their purchase price. If the store isn’t treating you fairly, complain first to the manager, then to your credit card company.  If the item was a gift, the giver will need to complain to their credit card company.  

3 tricks credit card companies will use against you

Credit card companies are under fire in Washington and they are fighting back. Much of the action is taking place on your monthly statement. Here’s what you need to look for every time you open your bill.

1. Annual Fees. Credit card companies are adding fees on cards that never had them till now.
2. Monthly Minimum Payment Increase. It’s now common for credit card minimums to jump from 2% to 5% of the balance.
3. Late Pay Penalties. It used to be enough to charge you more interest and a late fee. Now credit card companies are upping interest rates as well. Late payers are seeing their interest rates rise to 30% and more.

Your best defense is to keep your credit card bill manageable, so you can switch to another card if unfair rules, rates or fees are applied to your account.

Losing those holiday pounds

It doesn‘t take rocket science to figure out what you need to do to lose weight. Eat less, exercise more, right?  But how much less and how much more?  Here is a simple formula to help you maintain -- or decrease -- your current weight.

1. Take your weight and multiply it by 10 calories.  (For instance: 200lbs x 10cal = 2000 calories) That figure is how much you can eat per day and neither gain nor lose weight with your current physical activity.
2. To lose weight you can a) eat less b) exercise more c) a combination of the two.
3. 1 pound is 3,500 calories.
4. Eat 3,500 extra calories and you will gain a pound.
5. Eat 3,500 fewer calories and you will lose a pound.
6. Exercise enough to burn an extra 3,500 calories you will lose a pound.
7. This applies over time, eat an extra 1,200 calories a week over three weeks and you will gain –on average- a third of a pound a week.  This is why we gain weight as we age... it can be a slow process.

Simple, huh? Not really, the problem of course is finding the motivation, time and follow-through. Remember too, always talk with your health care provider before attempting to lose any weight. You could have hidden issues or problems that should be addressed before changing your eating or exercise habits.

How to check your cell phone's radiation level

Your cell phone emits radiation, that is a fact. But how much and is it safe?

Here is a list of the best and the worst cell phones for radiation. 

Last minute Christmas cards and gifts

You can still get a card or gift there on time for Christmas. E-mail a card or a gift.

Hallmark has holiday E-Cards

eBay offers gift certificates

Amazon has customizable gift cards

The perfect present for your pet

Forget the leather bone or rubber mouse, want to get your pet a gift this holiday season, consider insurance.

There is a lot to consider and many policies to buy.

Here's how to get started:
www.petinsurancereview.com
www.petinsuranceguideus.com