Dear Savvy Consumer,

I remember hearing a story about my grandfather when I was a little girl that I simply can’t forget. When he arrived from Sweden poor, and I mean dirt poor, he needed a pair of shoes. He bought some from a street vendor. When the first rains came, the soles disintegrated! They were made of flimsy cardboard. He had been scammed, ripped off, taken advantage of, and had no recourse because he didn’t speak English and couldn't stick up for himself.

For many years now, I have worked to protect all consumers, people like you and people like my grandfather, from fraud, scams and deceptive practices. We have to be vigilant because the schemes are always changing. This is why I’m adding a new feature in this newsletter called FraudBuster. Every month we’ll report on the latest rip-offs. That’s in addition to another new feature, Ask Chris, where I answer a question from one of our readers every month. Send me yours at chrisbjorklund@diamondcertified.org.

My consumer advice extends well beyond this e-mail newsletter. For one thing, you can find consumer tips in weekly newspaper ads for Diamond Certified®. The tips are archived under “Consumer Advice” on the website www.diamondcertified.org. Another resource is Consumer NewsLink, where you can find consumer news and practical stuff too. And in case you didn’t know, I am now on Twitter with savvy consumer tips at www.twitter.com/asavvyconsumer.

Even though consumers today have a lot more protection than my grandfather could even dream of, there's a lot more ground to cover. We intend to show you the lay of the land...and keep you savvy.

Sincerely,

Chris Bjorklund
The Savvy Consumer

Census Scams Are Cropping Up

Every 10 years the U.S. government conducts a census, which is a count of everyone living in this country. Forms are mailed out and if you don’t respond, someone may come to your home to collect information about your household. They want to know about your age, gender, marital status, employment status, etc., and you are required by law to answer the questions.

According to Scambusters.org, scammers are already out in full swing, taking advantage of the opportunity to pose as census-takers. Using this guise, they will try to extract personal information about you so they can sell it to identity thieves.

How do you know if you’re dealing with a census-scammer by mail, phone or in person? They will ask for your Social Security number and personal financial information like bank account numbers and credit card numbers. The official census takers do not ask for this. The scammers might ask you for money, or say that you owe money.

The official Census does not collect data on-line through links, so don’t fall for that tactic. And official representatives have government issued IDs, confidentiality notice and use hand-held computers, according to Scambusters.org. To learn more about the 2010 census, go to the U.S.Census Bureau's website.

Dear Chris,
     My five-year-old stove just broke. The repairman estimates that, between parts and labor, it will cost me $400 to fix it. How do I determine whether it makes more sense to replace an appliance or to repair it?

Thanks,
Jan

Dear Jan,
I know from experience that making the decision to keep or repair an appliance can feel like a bit of a gamble. Here are a few guidelines that will make the decision-making process more informed.

First, the age of the appliance is important. According to Chris Hall of RepairClinic.com, if an appliance has used up half its lifespan, you should replace rather than repair it. Estimates range widely, but refrigerators and ovens have a longer lifespan of about 10-15 years, while a dishwasher has a shorter lifespan of about 8-10 years. Clothes washers and dryers generally fall somewhere in between.

The cost of the repair is, of course, also very important. A rule of thumb is to buy a new appliance if the repair bill will be more than 50% of the cost of replacement. Be sure to factor in removal of the old appliance and delivery and installation of the new one.

Your feelings about your old appliance should factor into the decision, too. An article published by the Digital Federal Credit Union recommends asking yourself if you love your old appliance (a reason to repair), or have you been looking forward to the fresh look or modern technology a new appliance would provide? Simply wanting a change—or not—is reason to choose to repair or replace.

A couple of other important considerations are energy efficiency and affordability.

Whether you choose to fix or repair your stove, I hope you’ll enjoy many years of perfect meals, Jan!
_____________________________________________________
Need advice on a consumer problem? Send your questions to me at ChrisBjorklund@diamondcertified.org. Due to the volume, I cannot respond to each question personally, but will answer one every month in this column.

Kudos from Diamond Certified^® Consumers

Dear Chris,

I would like to take this opportunity to say what excellent service I have received from MA4 Computers. Matsie is prompt, always on time. He is so personable. I have come to rely on his services for both myself and my father. It is so difficult these days to find someone of his caliber. He is totally honest and trustworthy. You cannot beat his prices either.

Thanks to your Diamond Certified® book I have found a true master in computer services and repair.

Yours truly
S.C., Clayton, CA

Companies Recently Earning Diamond Certified^®

Alameda County
Bacchus Jaguar/Land Rover Service, Dublin
Sonrise Roofing, Fremont

Contra Costa County
Bacchus Jaguar/Land Rover Service, Dublin
Blodgett's Abbey Carpet & Flooring, Lafayette

Monterey/San Benito Counties
Spas by the Bay, Seaside

San Francisco
Architect Mason Kirby Inc., San Francisco

San Mateo County
Cacci Construction, San Carlos

Santa Clara County
Precision Flooring, San Jose

Solano County
A Test Only, Vallejo
Town & Country Roofing, Brentwood
Trademark Roofing and Fencing, Sacramento