Avoid Gift Card Glitches

In my junk drawer, I just found an old gift card from a bookstore that I received last year. I was surprised when I read the small print on the back of it, which said if not used within 18 months, $1.50 a month would be deducted from the card's value. According to Gail Hillebrand, a senior attorney with Consumers Union, this will be illegal next year when nearly all service fees for retailer gift cards will be banned in California.

The exception applies to rechargeable cards unused for 2 years, which have a balance of $5 or less. A dollar a month fee may be charged. Be aware that this Christmas shopping season you still have to watch out for fees because the law takes effect January 1, 2004. And remember, you are already protected when it comes to cards expiring. Stores cannot specify an expiration date on gift cards or gift certificates.

Inspect Your Gutters Before It Starts Raining!

Now is the time to check out what’s accumulated in your gutters and drainpipes, and on your roof too. If you’re brave enough to climb up on your roof, you will be amazed at what you may find. He suggests wearing rubber gloves to remove all debris, birds’ nests, and especially your kids’ lost balls. Some balls are just the perfect size to block the drainpipes. Run some water to make sure it flows easily through the downspouts. If drains are plugged, the overflow may leak inside walls, causing major damage. Unless you have a lot of trees, inspecting the roof once a year will suffice. Roofing companies will do inspections and gutter and drain cleaning for $150 to $500, depending on the size of the house.

A Warning for Job Seekers

Online job scams are prevalent, and the primary targets are job seekers posting resumes. That warning is from Elizabeth Owen, Acting Director of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators. She says, besides receiving spam e-mail for bogus work-at-home schemes, job hunters may also be an easy mark for identity thieves. People make the mistake of including too much personal information on resumes registered on the web. Do not ever put your Social Security number, birth date, home address and phone number on a resume posted publicly.

It's preferable to use only an e-mail address as a contact point and personal identifier. Ms. Owen thinks job seekers rely too heavily on on-line services for employment. She believes that making contacts through people you know is still the best way to find a good job. When you go for an interview, take along a fresh copy of your resume in a folder, along with your references' contact information.

Auto Financing Secret Revealed

Most of us know that dealers mark-up prices of new cars. But did you know that the interest rate for a car loan might be marked up too? Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Safety and Reliability, a non-profit advocacy group, says this is a common practice among car dealers nationwide. The interest you qualify for, based on your credit rating, is called the "buy rate." The dealer might add a couple of percentage points to that for arranging the loan. The income from the extra interest you accept over the "buy rate" is split between the dealer and the lender. This could amount to hundreds of dollars on a new car.

To protect yourself, you can check your own credit score for less than $50 by going to myfico.com. And you can find out the going interest rates for car loans at bankrate.com or eloan.com. Compare rates at your local bank or credit union before signing any new car-financing contract.

Cleanliness is…Try This at Home!

Most of us don't want to spend all day cleaning house. The idea is to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, right? Professionals like the owner of a Diamond Certified house cleaning company, know how to minimize cleaning time with maximum results. Mr. Sunnen says the best way is to start in a corner of a room, usually by a door, and work from top to bottom. Take out the cobwebs, dust, vacuum and then mop.

It's also a good idea to start at the back end of the house and work forward. Wearing an apron with pockets stocked with cleaning tool and products saves time and extra steps too. The "must-haves" include a poly-wool duster for lampshades, a sponge with an abrasive side, 4 to 5 cloth towels, a grout brush and your favorite furniture polish. And, don't forget the elbow grease!

How to Avoid the 3 Biggest Problems with Kitchen Remodelers

If you're thinking of remodeling your kitchen, you've probably heard horror stories from friends about endless delays (who wants to eat fast food forever?), custom cabinets that don't fit, and outrageous hidden fees tacked onto the initial quote. Jon Cortez, President of Compleat Kitchen and Bath Center in Newark, says that the three concerns most people have before doing a remodel are:

1. not getting the job done right;
2. not completing the project on time as promised; and
3. getting charged more than originally quoted.

The best approach is to start with a detailed design by a professional who asks the right questions (one design does not fit all), insist on a written project completion schedule, then demand a guaranteed, itemized project price. For more tips on what to know before beginning any remodeling project, e-mail us at info@diamondcertified.org or call (800) 738-1138.

A Word of Caution About Kids and Cords

The window covering industry is making a national push this month to urge parents with young children and grandparents to repair or replace their older corded blinds and shades with safer products. Keeping kids safe is the number one priority. Since 1994, the Window Covering Safety Council has worked with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to address child strangulation concerns.

Ms. Lloyd recommends that cords made before 2001 be replaced with new updated products with safety features like permanently attached tie-downs. Many older blinds and shades have cords you can retrofit to reduce strangulation hazards.

Pre-Plan But Don't Pre-Pay for Your Funeral

The owners of California's oldest funeral firm caution against pre-paying for funerals, but they do advocate pre-planning as a family matter. The Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy O'Hara Company, founded in 1850, is a Diamond Certified company. Owners Daniel and Richard O'Hara say that unless one is qualifying for benefits such as Medical or purchasing a new interment space, pre-paying for a funeral or memorial simply isn't necessary. Unchangeable prepaid instructions may deny family members meaningful involvement. The funeral director may interpret your choices rather than the family. Preplans are often inflexible and lack portability.

The O'Hara's recommend having an informed relative or close friend help make key decisions for an uncomplicated plan. Write a clear, concise and detailed explanation of your wishes, and then share it with your potential funeral director if you wish. Also check with your attorney about including appropriate terms or references in your will or Health Care Power of Attorney.

Two Ways to Save Money on Pet Drugs

Most of us know to ask our pharmacists for generic drugs whenever possible in order to save money.  But have you ever thought about asking your veterinarian whether a generic version is available for the brand name drugs your dog or cat is taking? It never occurred to me, but I was delighted when my veterinarian’s office suggested a generic form of heartworm medication that was almost 50% cheaper than the brand name prescription I had been buying from another vet.  A second way to save money on pet drugs is by buying drugs from online pet catalogues and pharmacies. These companies sell both prescription and non-prescription medications at a savings. Written prescriptions have to be faxed to the on-line company. Some vets might charge you for writing the prescription, and others might even refuse. If the doctor refuses, you might want to find a more customer-friendly practice.

Why Your Wool Area Rugs Need Special Care

One of the reasons wool area rugs look so beautiful and last so long is that the wool fibers contain lanolin. The lanolin repels dirt and prevents spots and stains from setting, thereby making it easier to clean. While many carpet-cleaning companies tend to use the same machine on wool area rugs as wall-to-wall carpets, it is not a good practice. It's much better to hand-wash them, according to Masoud Mossabeh, owner of Marin Oriental Rug House, Inc., a Diamond Certified company.

Mr. Mossabeh says the hot water and/or steam, and chemicals used in these machines strip the lanolin from the wool fibers, leaving them dry and brittle. This will cause premature wear in wool rugs and make them more susceptible to stains. Professional area rug hand-washing begins with completely submerging rugs in pools of cold water where the pile, foundation and the back of the rug are thoroughly soaked and cleaned.

Opening Stuck Windows

If you've ever tried to pry open a stuck window, you know how difficult it can be. Windows are sometimes painted shut. They can become swollen from accumulated moisture, or maybe they just haven't been opened in a long time. For the painted windows, An owner of a Diamond Certified glass company recommends first, carefully cutting through the paint with a knife. You may have to work on both the inside and the outside of the window.

Once the frame starts moving, use some silicone spray or a spray product containing Teflon to further loosen things up. Most products will work on vinyl, wood or aluminum. He does not recommend using WD-40 on stubborn windows. The problem is that it dries too fast. You might get the windows moving for a little while, but you won't get the same lasting results as you do with a silicone spray.

Which Shampoo is Best for You?

If your shampoo is drying out your hair, stripping out the color, or irritating your scalp, it’s time to talk to the professionals. Diamond Certified beauty experts say you may get better results with a professional quality shampoo made with better ingredients. While you may at first balk at paying $10 or more for a bottle of shampoo, you have to look at the cost per use. You need a lot less shampoo when you’re washing your hair with a higher quality product. When shopping for a new shampoo, you’ll find the ingredient labeling listing the chemicals isn’t all that helpful. Instead, talk to the experts. Mr. Walker’s staff recommends avoiding all-in-one shampoos, saying they’re not good for your hair, and if you have color-treated hair, look for a shampoo made specifically for that kind of hair.

Confusing E-Mail Making Another Go-Round

Someone is sending around a misleading e-mail again that is confusing thousands of us. The message warns that as of July 2003, major credit bureaus will be allowed to release your credit information to anyone who asks for it. This is not correct, according to Beth Givens at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. However, the message is partially correct when it suggests you can call a toll free number, 888-567-8688, to opt out of having your credit information sold for marketing solicitations.

Two federal laws are being confused here. A 2001 law requires financial institutions to notify you of their privacy policies and offer you the chance to refuse to let them share your credit information with third parties. No toll free number exists for that. The other law does require credit bureaus to provide an opt-out opportunity to consumers who specifically don't want to receive pre-approved credit card offers. To add your name to that list, call 1 (888) 567-8688. The July deadline mentioned in the misleading e-mails does not apply.