10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF

Here at CHEAPIOSITY, we like Smart Money Magazine and website. We put together a series of links to information that will both save you money and make you an informed consumer. Take a look:

10 Things your Airline won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=may2008-airline-secrets&pgnum=1

10 Things the DMV won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-the-dmv-wont-tell-you/20071029114909990001

10 Things your Exterminator won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-exterminator-wont-tell/20070801135309990001

10 Things your Wedding Planner won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-wedding-planner-wont-tell/20070518105209990001

10 Things your Bartender won’t tell you:
http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-bartender-wont-tell-you/20070712090609990001

10 Things your Plastic Surgeon won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/insurance/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-plastic-surgeon-wont-tell/20070430124809990001

10 Things your Restaurant won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-restaurant-wont-tell-you/20070320212909990001

10 Things your Fitness Club won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/smoney/insurance/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-fitness-club-wont-tell/20061226122809990001

10 Things your Hospital won’t tell you:
http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/10-things-your-hospital-wont-tell-you/20060915111109990001

10 Things your Gas Station won’t tell you:
http://money.aol.com/smoney/general/canvas3/_a/what-gas-stations-wont-tell-you/20060712123309990001

10 Things your 401K Provider won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=december2006

10 Things your Credit Card Company won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=january2006

10 Things your Dentist won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=april2006

10 Things your Vet won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=september2005

10 Things your Plumber won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=october2005

10 Things your iPod won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=june2006

10 Things your Car Rental Company won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=july2006

10 Things your Local News won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=may2006

10 Things your Butcher won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

10 Things your Cruise Line won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=december2005

10 Things your Florist won’t tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=february2007

10 Things your Tax Preparer won’t tell you: http://money.aol.com/tax/article/smart-money/_a/10-things-your-tax-preparer-doesnt-want/20080331142909990001

10 Things your Moving Company won't tell you: http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/10-things-your-moving-company-wont-tell-you-14291/

10 Things your Home Builder won't tell you:

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/for-the-home/10-things-your-home-builder-wont-tell-you/?page=all

10 Things your Lawyer won't tell you:

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/10-things-your-lawyer-wont-tell-you-14764/
10 Things your Auto Insurer won't tell you:

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/autos/10-Things-Your-Auto-Insurer-Wont-Tell-You/?hpadref=1
10 Things your Estate Planner won't tell you:
http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/estate-planning/10-things-your-estate-planner-wont-tell-you-10171/
10 Things your Home Security won't tell you:
http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/real-estate/10-things-home-security-firms-wont-tell-you/
10 Things your Home Inspector won't say:
http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/rip-offs/10-things-home-inspectors-wont-tell-you/
10 Things your Plumber won't tell you:

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/rip-offs/10-things-your-plumber-wont-tell-you-18259/?cid=sm_pfspend_rss&mod=smartmoney

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THE BEST FREE SOFTWARE OF 2010

PC World has an article on software freebies we thought you should know about. Take a look:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361876,00.asp

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TRAVEL RIP-OFFS

Airlines have become the worst offenders in the competitive field of travel rip-offs, but let's not forget hotels, car rentals and even banks, with their foreign purchase transaction charges. Everybody has their hands in your pockets.

Here's an article from Smarter Travel that exposes some of the worst offenders:

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/the-10-worst-travel-rip-offs.html?id=4793204&source=dealalert&value=2010-05-01+00%3A00%3A00&u=375332DDF9

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FREE SAMPLE WEBSITES

We all know the old saw -- you can't get something for nothing. Now, what if we told you that there are plenty of websites offering free samples of just about everything from shampoo to airline frequent flier miles to jewelry?

These companies are just trying to get you to switch brands. Take advantage of their marketing strategy. Here's how.

StartSampling.com - These guys offer samples from quit smoking to skin lotion samples.

pgeverydaysolutions.com - This site offers Proctor & Gamble samples.

silverjewelryclub.com - If you're willing to pay the shipping of $6.99, you can select a piece of free jewelry.

freebies4mom.com - Samples are geared toward mothers. Items include everything from diapers to popcorn.

freestufftimes.com

freemania.net

coupons.com

thunderfap.com

A lot of these sites ask personal questions and want your email address; if you're unwilling to divulge that information, free stuff may not be your thing. But hey, it's a free country. Do whatever floats your boat.

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HOW TO COMPLAIN

Here at Team CHEAPIOSITY, we constantly wonder what's happened to Customer Service. We're old enough to remember the good old days...before so many jobs were outsourced to foreign countries, when customer representatives spoke American English as their native language, and when common courtesy was common.

Oh sure, someone somewhere still answers your phone call identifying themselves as Customer Service, but they've long forgotten the meaning of the words. It sometimes seems that the voice on the other end of the phone no longer cares that you are the CUSTOMER and you're asking for SERVICE. We don't want an unpleasant exchange and we don't enjoy repeating ourselves over and over again and still feeling misunderstood. Whatever happened to customer service reps being nice and helpful? Whatever happened to the faceless voice on the other end of your call genuinely and politely trying to help you resolve your issue?

Recently, a member of Team CHEAPIOSITY endured a four night hospital stay. After the insurance company reduced his $39,000 bill to $6,000 for him to pay, he got a bill from the hospital, with just a total, no details. Apparently our increasingly impatient patient was supposed to trust that this bill was accurate. (Perfectly acceptable because hospitals don't have a reputation for overcharging or charging for things that were never administered? Yeah, right.) He called and asked for a detailed bill and got back some gobblety gook replete with undecipherable abbreviations. When he asked for an English translation, he was told to fill out forms and request his medical records. On the medical records site, he was informed that they charge per page for copies. Now he's waiting for that phone call, fully loaded for bear. They charge you $39,000 and they expect you to pay to see your medical records by the page???? Get serious. Obviously, the game here is to wear him down. Not gonna happen this time. They're messing with the wrong guy.

Our motto is: We're Mad As Hell And We're Not Gonna Take It Any More.....and why should we? Don't these Corporations realize that by outsourcing overseas and giving customers a hard time, they are losing business? Apparently not. What happened to 'The Customer Is Always Right?'

We all know the obvious places to go: your local Consumer Protection Agency, the Better Business Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission and hopefully, the new federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency. However, before you go there and get caught up in more red tape, here are some tips we hope you'll find useful.

According to The New York Times, one very successful method is to a write a letter to the CEO or other higher-ups in the company with your complaints. You should write with a civil tone, but don’t be afraid to imply threats, like noting that “you’ve sent a copy of the letter to a government agency, like the Federal Trade Commission.” Alternatively, you can try talking it over with a representative on the phone. In this case, the Times has two tips: Ask the person what they would do in your shoes in order to get real substantive help, and ride out the clock, since the representative isn’t permitted to hang up on you and will feel more compelled to resolve your issue. In a previous post we advised you on how to get a human on the phone (http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2009/01/talking-to-human.html).

If you're still unsuccessful, go to the web and check out these sites:

RipoffReport.com is the place to complain about and uncover scams across the country, and to do so without holding back. According to the site, law firms often use the information entered on Rip Off Report to help with lawsuits against particular businesses. So not only do you get the satisfaction of complaining and having people read your complaints, but you may also help to change the way companies operate down the road.

ComplaintsBoard.com is a good forum for venting at companies, plus it features stories about recalls and companies in the news and even offers useful tips for consumers and businesses alike. Also, for better or worse, users on this site

PissedConsumer.com offers several incredibly useful features. Like ComplaintsBoard, they provide a good outlet to vent and a long list of consumer tips. The site also offers its own Customer Satisfaction Index, which tallies up all the complaints PissedConsumer receives by company and industry to illustrate which businesses are the most reviled.

PlanetFeedback.com is one of the more civil places for consumers to turn to when they feel like complaining. The site refers to all complaints as “letters” and features company responses to many of the complaints. In that way, the site really seems to be trying to foster a dialogue between the consumer and the company, rather than just a ranting session.

MeasuredUp.com essentially acts as an intermediary between you and the companies you hate. Big name business like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Orbitz and Best Buy have signed up with MeasuredUp to respond to consumer complaints on the site. Consider it a way to get around talking to representatives on the phone.

Bottom line. Don't take 'NO' for an answer. Get Satisfaction.

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SAVING ON MEDICAL BILLS

As you must already know, Team CHEAPIOSITY's motto is: EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE, and medical bills are no exception. With more and more of us still uninsured, this remains a big issue to say the least. For those fortunate enough to be insured, when you receive your EOB (explanation of benefits) you see that your insurance company discounts all of your charges -- Doctor, Lab, Radiology, Hospital, etc.

As an example, a member of Team CHEAPIOSITY was recently hospitalized for 4 days. (He's mostly fine now; thank you for asking. Or at least he was until he saw the bill!) He entered through an Emergency Room visit billed at $770; after the insurance discount, the amount was reduced to $200! For his 4 day hospital stay, the bill was $37,200, and after the discount, it came to $16,000. (Just as an aside, this covered only the hospital stay - no surgery, no procedures, no nothing. That's some luxury hotel. And the food wasn't even that great.) The point is, even if you are uninsured, there is room to negotiate .....a whole lot of room!

Here are some websites to help:

1. The Access Project (http://www.accessproject.org/new/pages/index.php)

2. My Money website (http://www.mymoney.gov/index.html)

3. Healthcare Survival Guide (http://www.healthcaresurvivalguide.com/)

4. The Healthcare Blue Book is a guide to 'fair' medical pricing(http://healthcarebluebook.com/page_Default.aspx)

5. FairCare MD is a website listing doctors in your area who are willing to negotiate their fee (http://www.faircaremd.com/)

Lastly, there are medical care advocates who will negotiate for you; you will pay them a fee based on how much they save you. These fees can run 25-35% or hourly. (http://www.medicalcostadvocate.com/) and (http://www.healthadvocate.com/)

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MAXIMIZING FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE

You and your son/daughter have survived high school. Sunrise, sunset. How quickly fly the years. Yadda yadda yadda. Now the Kid's been accepted to college, and Reality starts to set in. How the hell are we going to pay for it? you ask yourself. Must your Empty Nest = Empty Pockets?

Despair not. The Wall Street Journal comes to the rescue.
Take a look:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703612804575222303415618316.html?mod=WSJ_PersonalFinance_PF2

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