Shoppers need to check terms before buying gift cards
Gift cards have become an increasingly popular holiday treat, but those who purchase them, and those who receive them, need to beware -- especially this year.
Keep an eye on your long-term care insurance policies
Buying long-term care insurance to cover you for care in your golden years is a substantial investment that -- in these uncertain times -- requires policy holders and potential buyers to keep an eye on the companies they are dealing with. One major insurer has already run into trouble. READ MORE
"Vile, egregious, and outrageous!"
San Diego Six News: As the cash crunch worsens, credit card companies are charging ahead with mean-spirited Scrooge-like fees this holiday season. UCAN's Fraud Squad wants your complaints if you have been the victim of unfair finance charges on your credit card bills. Full Story.
Over half of all stores in San Diego guilty of overcharging customers at checkout
North County Times - We've said it before and we'll say it again - fraud increases exponentially during tough economic times - especially overcharges and overbilling. Now, an estimated 50% of the stores in San Diego County are guilty of scanner overcharge violations. UCAN's Executive Director calls the trend "deeply disturbing." Get the full story and learn where to complain.
Listing of civil suits filed and administrative penalties levied by San Diego County against stores
Health insurers offer to drop pre-existing conditions if all Americans covered
As a new president and Congress prepare to take office, representatives of the nation's health insurance industry seem ready to play "Let's Make a Deal."
Black Friday Blues - Can you save money by sleeping in?
NBC Los Angeles - UCAN's Executive Director (AKA the "World's Greatest Consumer") says it is a safe bet that shopping bargains will be cheaper after Black Friday, and you might as well sleep in. He also warns that giving a store gift card might be a purchase you'll regret. MORE.
Fraud Squad Helps Praudigy Hearing Clinic Senior Get $3800 Refund
UCAN member Frank enlisted UCAN's help to finally get a $3800 refund from Praudigy Hearing Clinics that he had been promised repeatedly over several months.
States Get in Line for Fed Loans
The financial industry has its bailout. Now the states, led by California and Massachusetts, want low interest loans from the Federal government? Who's next?
Medicare fraud drains billions from health care program
Two stories are in the news about Medicare -- the federal health care system that serves so many elderly and disabled in this country -- and there is an interesting connection.
The Fraud Squad Network
Need help resolving a dispute with a company? Get individualized help with your dispute from the Fraud Squad by using our Online Complaint Forms. Once you've filled out a complaint, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
UCAN's Money Saving Tips Forum
Share your favorite tips and see some of the UCAN Staff's money saving secrets
Michael Gets All Wet & Fishy.....But Creates an Aquaponic Miracle
Miracles don't happen often enough in our world. But when Michael starts growing his own fish and food in his garage, then you know that there's some divine intervention because Michael doesn't fish and he's got a brown thumb that makes all leafy things tremble. So how did Advocate Michael become Farmer Michael? One word: AQUAPONICS.
DUH-REGULATION: How regulatory recklessness led to the 21st Century's first economic meltdown
Consider this fact. Any child under the age of 18 is prohibited from gambling in a casino in most states. Yet, that same 17 year old can trade in derivative securities with absolutely no prohibitions. What is the difference between casino gambling and derivative training? Well, for one, gambling risks are more readily calculable. Secondly, gambling is regulated by individual states. But derivative trading is exclusively controlled by federal regulators. And those regulators have very little interest in regulating. Why is this important? Because history will likely show that these disinterested regulators contributed mightily to the financial market freezeout that is pushing the world economy into the most serious economic recession in generations.
It is important that Americans know what really caused the financial cataclysm. Decisions will be made in 2009 based upon what policy makers decide are the root causes of the financial crises that plague our economy. Knowing the causes are critical to determining the correct fixes. As will be explained below, the credit markets' unfettered efforts to keep Americans spending will likely prove to be the primary culprit behind the current credit collapse.
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