Rao bulletin 15 January 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles
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- 15. Information on the Internet
- ******************************** Insulting Fees ► What to do to Work Around Them
- Airlines 1. Checked baggage fees
- Rental cars 4. Collision Damage Waiver
- Banks 5. Credit card rates
- Foreign transaction fees
- Checking, loan, and other banking fees
- Hotels 9. Resort fees
- Car Insurance Update 09 ► Getting the Most for a Totaled Vehicle
- 5 ways to get the most for your vehicle What the insurer does
- Saving Money ► Champagne Affordable Alternatives
13. Directory assistance - Remember when you used to pick up the phone, dial “0” and ask the operator to connect you to a number? You can still do that by dialing 411 or 555-1212. However, while the service used to be free, most companies now charge. For example, AT&T says directory assistance costs $1.79, while U.S. Cellular charges $1.99 per call plus standard rates. 14. School sports - Back when we were in middle and high school, school sports typically didn’t cost families a penny. Those schools that did toy with the idea of a “pay-for-play” model were met with outrage from both the community and parents. Today, it’s not unusual for schools, both public and private, to charge those who want to participate in sports. According to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, more than 60 percent of children who play sports today pay for the privilege. In the state of Michigan, schools responding to a survey conducted by the Michigan High School Athletic Association charge a median participation fee of $85 per sport. 15. Information on the Internet - In the early days of the Internet, almost everything online was free. Now granted, it wasn’t exactly the same caliber of content you’ll find nowadays, but you couldn’t beat the price. Today, membership sites aren’t uncommon. You may have to join to post on a message board or view content or download reports. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Maryalene LaPonsie | Dec. 24, 2014 ++] ******************************** Insulting Fees ► What to do to Work Around Them You give me something I want, we agree on a price, I pay for it. It’s the way the world has worked for thousands of years. These days? Not so much. Today, with an increasing number of businesses, it goes more like this: You provide something I want, we agree on a price, I pay, and then you tack on fees to fatten your bottom line. Unreasonable fees are more than just a drain on your finances. They’re insulting; the financial equivalent of a cold slap in the face. Check out this TV news story for some examples http://www.moneytalksnews.com/10-the-worlds-most-insulting-fees-and-how-beat-them/?all=1. Now, in no particular order, here are 10 of the world’s most insulting fees. They made my list for one of three reasons: They’re unreasonable, you’re getting little or nothing in return, or they’re ridiculously overpriced. Airlines 1. Checked baggage fees: Most major carriers charge $25 to check one suitcase, a lot more if it’s oversized, overweight or both. This fee didn’t exist until recent years, and for good reason: The price of a plane ticket should obviously include luggage. Isn’t that an integral part of traveling long distance? No other travel-related services — buses, trains, hotels, cabs or rental cars — charge for luggage. This isn’t a fee, it’s a sophomoric attempt to disguise a higher price. Workaround: There are two major airlines that don’t charge this insulting fee: Southwest and JetBlue, although it allows only one free checked bag. Fly them if you can. If you can’t, check this chart or one like it to see how much your airline is charging and use that as an incentive to pack light. Some airlines also allow you to avoid baggage fees by using their branded credit cards. For more ideas, see 10 Tips to Save on Baggage Fees at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/10-ultimate-tips-to-save-money-on-baggage-fees 2. Carry-on baggage fees: At least when you pay to check a bag, there’s a service involved. Someone has to load it, unload it, and make sure it gets safely back into your hands. Charging for a carry-on bag is charging for nothing whatsoever. Nobody is touching your bag but you, making this fee indefensible. Spirit and Allegiant are two airlines that do it. Workaround: Avoid flying Spirit, Allegiant, or any airline that charges for doing nothing. If they’re the only airlines available, drive. If that’s impossible, check with UPS or another freight carrier about shipping bags. 3. Lap fees, pet fees: If you have a child younger than 2, it’s typically free to carry them on your lap for a domestic flight. Leave the country, however, and you might pay a “lap fee” of 10 percent of the ticket cost. And not the cost of your ticket, the cost of a full-fare ticket, the most expensive available. Delta, United, US Airways and American all have some form of this policy, and for what? The airline is performing no service, giving no extra room and no assistance, nothing. Ditto when you’re flying with Fido If you have to ship your pet in the baggage compartment, you’d expect a handling fee. But bring them with you in the cabin, and you’ll pay up to $125 each way, and the pet carrier counts as a carry-on. Again, the airline is doing nothing but collecting a hefty fee. Workaround: Check with the airline before you book the ticket to see what fees, if any, you can expect. If they’re high, shop around: Some airlines charge less than others. Check this article for more specific strategies on lap fees (http://www.moneytalksnews.com/the-worst-airline-fee-and-how-to-avoid-it) and this one for flying with pets. (http://www.moneytalksnews.com/how-to-fly-with-your-pet-without-the-hassle). Rental cars 4. Collision Damage Waiver: This is the pricey insurance replacement you’re hammered with whenever you rent a car. If you’re not fully insured in rental cars, some type of protection is absolutely necessary. But this waiver makes the list of insulting fees because it’s overpriced: It can cost $25 a day. Add extra liability coverage, and you could be paying $40. That’s the equivalent of a car policy that costs $14,600 a year, with lousy coverage. For example, CDW often refuses to pay if there’s an unauthorized driver, you’re intoxicated or in other situations. Workaround: If you have full-coverage insurance on your personal car, you’re probably covered in rentals. There’s also coverage available through some credit cards as well. Check both sources to see if you can skip this overpriced coverage at the rental counter. Be aware, however, that even if you have insurance on your car, you could still be on the hook for “loss of use” claims by the rental car company if you have an accident that takes the car out of service. If you’re using a credit card protection plan, be aware that not all rentals are covered. For example, pickups and vans are often specifically excluded. The devil is in the details; don’t leave home without them. And don’t buy any coverage at the rental car counter without fully understanding the exclusions. Banks 5. Credit card rates: While technically not a fee, the interest rates charged by many credit cards is outrageous. Big banks borrow from the Federal Reserve at close to zero percent, then lend money to credit card users at 15 percent. Nice work, if you can get it. Workaround: The obvious solution is to avoid interest by avoiding a balance. But if you’re going to pay interest, shop for a card with a lower rate (http://www.moneytalksnews.com/credit-cards). Another idea? Simply call your card company and ask for a better deal. Tell them you’re being solicited by other cards offering lower rates, because you probably are. 6. Foreign transaction fees: This is a fee charged on credit card purchases processed outside the United States; for example, when you use your card in Europe, or to buy something from a non-U.S. company. Banks that charge them typically collect 3 percent of every transaction. The implication of this insulting fee is that it’s related to the intricacies of currency conversion. But lawsuits have revealed these fees are nearly pure profit: money for nothing. Workaround: If there’s any chance you’ll be making purchases outside the United States, use a card that doesn’t charge this fee. There are plenty to choose from. Check out Overseas With No Credit Card Fees. http://www.moneytalksnews.com/ask-an-expert-going-overseas-with-no-fees 7. Overdraft fees: If you overdraw your account and the bank uses its money to cover your negative balance, it deserves to be compensated. But how much? According to CNBC (www.cnbc.com/id/49521617?slide=2) overdraft fees average from $30 to $34 nationwide. Charging $34 for a one-week loan on the average overdraft of $36 equates to an annual rate of 5,000 percent. http://www.cnbc.com/id/49521617?slide=2 Workaround: Link your savings to your checking account for overdraft protection. This might result in a transfer fee, but it will be lower than an overdraft fee. 8. Checking, loan, and other banking fees: Not paying interest on your checking account is bad enough. But now banks want you to pay, often upward of $100 a year, just to have an account. Want a paper statement? Not long ago that was your only choice. Now it will cost you. Why should you pay to use an ATM, even another bank’s? You’re saving the bank money, not costing them. When you use the automated checkout at the grocery, they don’t charge a fee. Banks shouldn’t either. Workaround: There’s no reason to get slapped around by any bank. If you hate yours, ditch it. Credit unions typically charge lower interest on loans and credit cards, pay more interest on savings, and have lower overall fees than banks. Think they don’t have enough branches? You’re probably wrong. Many credit unions belong to a shared branch network of nearly 5,000 locations that allows members of one credit union to conduct business at any other member credit union anywhere in the country, even overseas. And when it comes to finding the nearest participating credit union? Yes, there’s an app for that (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id357607352?mt=8) . Hotels 9. Resort fees: The concept of paying to stay at a hotel, then paying more to use on-site amenities is ridiculous. The Federal Trade Commission recently sent a warning letter to 22 hotels, accusing them of potentially violating the law by bumping up the prices listed on their online reservation sites with hidden fees. From their press release: One common complaint consumers raised involved mandatory fees hotels charge for amenities such as newspapers, use of onsite exercise or pool facilities, or Internet access, sometimes referred to as ‘resort fees.’ These mandatory fees can be as high as $30 per night, a sum that could certainly affect consumer purchasing decisions. The warning letters also state that consumers often did not know they would be required to pay resort fees in addition to the quoted hotel rate. Workaround: Before you book a reservation, find out in advance what fees you’ll be expected to pay, and if you hear something you don’t like, just say no. In 8 Tips to Save at Any Hotel – Even the Nation’s Trendiest, ( http://www.moneytalksnews.com/8-ways-save-trendiest-hotels) I suggested a tactic I’ve been using to get better hotel pricing for decades: negotiate. Explain that you’re a good customer, don’t find the fees fair, and would like a lower price. Just make sure you’re talking to a front-desk decision-maker, not an 800-number. 10. Internet service: When the Internet and Wi-Fi were new, perhaps it was justifiable to charge a fee to access it. These days, charging for Internet access makes as much sense as charging for the in-room TV or air conditioning. $15 a day? Workaround: If you can’t find a hotel with free Wi-Fi, ask to have the fee waived when you check in. If that’s not an option, find it free elsewhere, either in the lobby or a nearby hotspot. Free apps like WeFi, available for iPhone and Android, will help you find one. Check out https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wefi.wefi&hl=en & https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id303513289?mt=8. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Stacy Johnson | Dec. 25, 2014 ++] ********************************* Car Insurance Update 09 ► Getting the Most for a Totaled Vehicle If your car is totaled, the first thing to remember is that the insurance company is not your friend. There’s a tendency among those of us who have had a car deemed a total loss to consider the insurance company’s payout as a gift of sorts. That attitude, say auto insurance and repairs experts, is a mistake. You should view the payout as negotiable, just as you would if you were selling the car without damage. The insurance company won’t be offended if you negotiate, says Scott Benavidez of Mr. B’s Paint & Body Shop in Albuquerque, N.M. But the first step is to evaluate your own insurance policy. That means reading the fine print. Gone are the days when insurance companies were in lockstep about how they would determine a car a total loss, that rule of thumb was damage equal to 70 percent of the car’s value, and what they would pay. Today, total-loss thresholds vary by state (you can check the basics at www.carinsurance.com/Articles/total-loss-thresholds.aspx). Also, insurers often have internal, more generous guidelines, says CarInsurance.com consumer analyst Penny Gusner. “There is no need to routinely check with your car insurance company to see how it determines if a car is totaled out or not. The threshold for a car being declared a total loss doesn’t change that often,” says Gusner. “However, when consumers first obtain a policy, they should find out when their insurer considers a vehicle to be a total loss. Ask what the threshold is and how the car insurance provider calculates actual cash value, since that plays a part in the total-loss situation.” Once you’re satisfied that you understand your policy, you’ll be in better shape to negotiate a fair settlement for your car. Still, facing a totaled car settlement is unnerving at best. Keep these reminders handy to make sure you understand what you need to do to obtain a fair value for your car. 5 ways to get the most for your vehicle What the insurer does: The first order of business is for the insurer to scout out five vehicles that are comparable to yours and compare their values. The insurance representative disregards the highest valued car, the lowest valued car, and pays you based on the average of the middle three. The problem: Sometimes insurance companies don’t choose vehicles that are comparable to yours. “Make sure the cars are the same, the mileage is the same,” says Kevin Parsons of ARA Collision Carstar in Everett, Wash., and a former adjuster with Allstate Insurance. He cites a time when cars powered with turbo diesels were rare. A Volkswagen Jetta with such an engine was seriously undervalued by the insurance company because the adjuster did not find comparable models. In another instance, an adjuster used a lower-end model Toyota Camry as a comparable for a high-end Camry. It pays for you to ask and understand what cars the insurer is using as comparable. “Accessories on vehicles are very, very important, and mileage can make a big difference, too,” he says. “Make sure the vehicles they compare don’t have 100,000 or more miles on them” if yours has half that, for example. The solution: Besides asking what specific cars the insurer has deemed comparable to yours, do your own research. There are tools available from the National Automobile Dealers Association (most frequently used by insurance adjusters), Auto Trader, Kelley Blue Book and others. Then, use those resources to find cars comparable to yours, just as the insurance company did. What the insurer does: Considers your car without the extras. The problem: A car with leather seats and stability control is worth more than one without. The solution: Run the VIN of your car. Generally a dealer that sold the car originally will be willing to do so. The report will tell you all of the extras you bought from the dealer such as heated seats and mirrors. Also, don’t forget to gather the receipts for your radar detector, sound system, speakers and other aftermarket products installed on your car. Although maintenance doesn’t usually play a role in the process, it doesn’t hurt to show receipts for recent repairs and maintenance, too, says Robert Benavidez, Scott’s brother, of Auto Damage Consultants, Albuquerque, N.M. “That way you know if they did their homework because you have all of the information about your car. You can tell them what they missed,” says Parsons, noting that insurance companies aren’t offended by clients who have asserted their rights. “It’s fine to do that; they won’t complain.” What the insurer does: Arranges for you to drive a compact rental car when you drive a large SUV. The problem: You may be eligible for a larger car or even for a payout under loss-of-use provisions if you don’t need the rental car. Much depends on the specifics of the accident, such as if you were hit by an uninsured driver, your policy, and state laws. The solution: At the very least, read your automobile policy and ask the question. “Most people don’t know you can cash out the money for the rental car,” says Robert Benavidez. “That can really help pay for the deductible.” What the insurer does: Offers you what it considers fair market value, but that amount doesn’t cover your loan. The problem: You were told your car was worth a lot more money. The solution: Don’t overreach. Sometimes you may have overpaid for a vehicle or put the minimum down, which would leave you with a large balance after the settlement if you did not secure gap insurance. “Just because you didn’t make a good deal when you bought the vehicle doesn’t mean you will be compensated if your car is totaled,” says Parsons. What the insurer does: Submits an offer that does not account for all costs of buying an equivalent car. The problem: You will have to pay sales tax and registration fees to replace your car. The solution: Compensation for sales tax and fees is required under the law in 34 states, and it is the most common practice in total-loss settlements in all of them. But you’ll probably have to ask. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Nancy Dunham | October 29, 2014 ++] ******************************** Saving Money ► Champagne Affordable Alternatives Tradition tells us to celebrate various events by popping the cork on a bottle of Champagne. But the price of true Champagne can blow a hole in your budget. It runs between $25 and several hundred dollars a bottle, according to Epicurious’ primer on Champagne. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson wondered if most of us can tell the difference between real Champagne and a less-expensive sparkling wine. He conducted an informal test with a handful of volunteers. It wasn’t science, just fun. Their critics did a blind taste test on a $10 sparkling wine and a $50 Champagne. The result? Most liked the cheap stuff best. A few sophisticated wine connoisseurs on the panel did, however, prefer the real Champagne. They were in the minority, though. 
Many of us use “Champagne” to describe sparkling wine. But real Champagne is made in one particular region of France. “Champagne is made of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier and fermented in a labor-intensive procedure,” says USA Today. In your quest for affordable bubbly, avoid wines under $10 in order to sidestep the hangover for which super-cheap sparkling wines are famous. Today. Cheaper sparkling wines have plenty of added sugar, which, like alcohol, dehydrates you, crushing your skull the next day. For a drink festive and affordable, here are 10 excellent fizzy alternatives to Champagne: Directory: wp-content -> uploads -> 2015 2015 -> Police Militarization 2015 -> 2015 ihbb championships: hs history Bowl Round 4 – Prelims First Quarter 2015 -> Wrtp/big step · 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, wi 53208 2015 -> Rao bulletin 1 December 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2015 -> Darton College 2015 -> Training Workshop on Planning and Implementation of Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in Bihar Date : 6th 2015 -> Rao bulletin 15 June 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2015 -> Rao bulletin 1 September 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2015 -> Rao bulletin 1 August 2015 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2015 -> Science, and transportation united states senate Download 6.84 Mb. Share with your friends:
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