Got an Insurance Company Complaint?
Resolve Insurance Company Complaints
If you have a complaint with the way that your insurer settled your claim, I would like to suggest the steps you should take to try to resolve it. These steps can be very effective, and you should not just shrug off a problem with your insurance company. After all, you are paying your premiums every month to be covered. Even if you do not end up getting every claim paid the way you think it should be paid, at least you will understand why your insurer handled it the way they did.
- Call your insurer or insurance agent first! I cannot tell you how many problems are resolved by a simple call to your insurance company representative or insurance agent. Many proplems are caused by clerical errors or mistakes in filling out forms. This may take a bit of patience, but it is absolutely the first thing you should do. Even if it does not fix the problem, this step will help you understand why your company handled the claim the way they did.
- Call your state insurance department. You state regulates insurers who do business in your state, and the insurance department is there to protect consumers. They will look into your complaint,, and give you direction to take further action. Go here: All 50 State Insurance Departments
- Contact a lawyer. many lawyers will give you a free initial consultation. They will tell you if you have a legitimate case, and if it is worth it to pursue the matter more.
If you are not happy with your current insurer, you are free to shop around. Compare insurance quotes with a fast, safe, and free online insurance quote form! You may also be eligable for cheaper insurance, and here is a good way to find discount insurers.
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How To Get Started as an EBay Seller
If you asked me what the most popular home internet business is, I would probably guess EBay Seller. Compared to other home businesses, online auctions - especially very popular ones like EBay - have some real advantages.
Why Sell On EBay
- It is easy and cheap to get started on EBay - EBay’s tools allow novices to post auctions, and many people started by selling things they had around the house before they moved up to finding wholesale sources. Compared to starting a brick and mortar store, your costs are tiny. You can post your first auction of used books or a brand new jacket you never wore for pennies.
- EBay already attracts shoppers - An auction or EBay store is like being located in a busy mall. Most website owners spend a huge chunk of their time attracting visitors. With EBay, the visitors could already be looking for your products.
How Do You Find Things to Sell On EBay?
Caution: When you have cleaned out your closets, and all of your friend’s closets, you will need to start looking for wholesale sources. Beware because their are many scammy lists and expensive middle men who pose as wholesalers. If you really want to start an EBay business, please consider the right way to: find products to sell on EBay.
Worldwide Brands - EBay Certified Wholesale and Dropshippers Service.
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No Frills Affordable Cell Phones For Cheapskates, Seniors, and More….
When is a Phone just a Phone?
It is so easy to get caught up in all of the technology available on cell phones today. When some people look for a phone, they are also looking for a handheld computer, camera, music player, text messaging device, handheld game systems and GPS! There are two big problems with all of this functionality though. First, it makes the phone complex to use. The other big problem for us frugal people is that all of that stuff comes with a price.
The Jitterbug phone is often promoted as a Cell Phone For Seniors, because of these features:
- Larger Numbers and Bright Screen
- Personalized Customer Service
- Inexpensive Monthly Fee
- No Contract
- Just a Phone, so it is simple to use
However, many younger people, especially us frugal types, are attracted to having an inexpensive and simple phone that was designed to do one thing. That one thing is to make and receive phone calls so it is available in case of an urgent need. Other people who could benefit from a phone like this are children, disabled people, and anybody who just wants a phone, and not a portable computer!
If you want a simple phone, friendly service, and an affordable price, learn more about the Jitterbug cell phone for seniors (and cheapskates).
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Americans Are Cutting Debt - But Why?
While I was hanging around on Yahoo Finance watching my stock portfolio bottom out, I did notice an article that looked encouraging at first glance. It said that US consumer debt has dropped a bit for the first time on record. i.e. for the first time, since they started tracking consumer debt, it has dropped. Now this should be good news that Americans are finally realizing that the future pain that debt gives them is not worth the quick satisfaction of a 50 inch TV set or something.
Is Declining US Debt Always Good News?
However, are Americans cutting debt by choice. It is hard to believe right now, especially in the holiday season. Actually, credit card companies are putting the squeeze on consumers, and falling debt levels may not be the consumer’s choice, but the fact that their credit limits have been sharply dropped.
And even though consumer debt has gone down by less than 1 percentage point, Americans net worth has declined by over 4 percent. Mortgage debt has also decreased, but it may be because many Americans have given up on their mortgages, and others cannot get a loan in this tight credit market.
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How To Unclog Your Toilet
Do You Have One Of Those Toilets?
Well, toilets are one thing we would rather not discuss too much, and I have already posted a quick tip about unclogging a toilet with no commercial product. And while I have had some fairly positive feedback for that tip, apparently it does not do the job 100% of the time. And we really need to aim for success!
OK, so you walk in the the bathroom, and you see that one of your kids, your signifigant other, or of course the mysterious “somebody else”, have left a nasty mess. What do you do?
- If the bowl is not really full, you try to flush it once, and only once.
- Try the cold bucket or water. You need to strike a balance between pouring it in quickly, and not overflowing the top.
- Try a plunger. We find that those larger plungers you can find these days work better than the really small ones. We even named ours… Big Bob… like he was part of the family. Make sure that Big Bob covers he hole, and that you are pushing water down, and not just air.
- If this doesn’t work, you may have an obstruction that should not be there. Is it possible that somebody in your house put a “non-flushible” item in your potty? Well, it happens. You can either use a “snake” if you have one, or an untwisted wire coat hanger. I really like those inexpensive plastic snakes you can buy, and then discard after a use.
- Note: You may need to wait awhile between every step. Even when a toilet is clogged, the water usually drains, it is just very slow. This gives you an opportunity to step out for a breath of fresh air every few minutes.
- If the blockage is organic, or even paper, a chemical may help. You can even find green friendly products that are not harsh (go ask at the hardware store), or of course use our favorite: dishwashing soap.
- If all else fails, it is just time to call the plumber. In my experience, if you have already called a plumber a few weeks ago, and the clog is back, you are looking at a larger and deeper issue. Your blockage may be in the sewage system beyond your home.
I do have a friend who just gave up after several embarassing situations with her own lav, and she went out and bought one of those “12 golf ball” models at the local hardware store. I know that some of the earliest “low flow” models are not very effective, but the technology of flushing more with less has improved.
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ShamWow! Green & Clean! As Seen on TV.
It’s a Towel. It’s a Sponge. It’s ShamWow!
Do you know how many trees get cut down every year to provide Americans with paper towels? Well, honestly, neither do I, but I’ll bet it is alot. Beyond the loss of trees, we spend a lot of money on throwaways like paper towels, but going back to rags doesn’t seem like a good solution either.
If you’ve seen the ShamWow on TV, you already know that it works like a chamois, towel, or a sponge. Plus, you can throw it in the washing machine and dryer. You can use it around the house, and outside on the car. They can even be bleached! Plus, they come with a 10 year warranty.
BUY SHAMWOW ONLINE FOR THE BEST OFFER
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Surviving Holiday Gift Giving Without Going Broke
It Isn’t Your Father’s Thrift Store Anymore!
I have to admit that I had a pretty negative view of second hand stores, of the sort run by various charities. I probably got the idea from a childhood memory of riding with my parents to dump off a lot of my old clothes and toys at the back door of a dusty old building. However, I got dragged into my local Salvation Army thrift shop recently, and let me tell you what I found!
Tons Of Cheap Gifts at The Thrift Store!
Bingo! I found a pair of silver (yes, silver) candlesticks for $3! Now, I’m a bit of a silverbug, and I know the shiny stuff is only about $10 an ounce now. Still, these tarnished darlings were marked, heavy, and the pair is worth at least $100. Once I took them home and polished them up they were beautiful, and made a very appropriate present for the biggest snob on my holiday list. Now that was a really lucky find, and I actually told the clerk about the silver content imprint, but she shrugged. I did stick a $5 in the donation jar, and bought a lot more stuff.
I was pleased and surprised to find some really nice clothes for all ages. Now clothes don’t usually make a great present, but wool scarves and mittens do! I was packing those babies away for $3 to $5! And I also found wool blankets for $15 - $20. I did decide that I deserved a present, and found a like-new leather jacket for $25 which I purchased without feeling a bit of guilt.
My son had been asking for a larger chest of drawers, and instead of buying him a crummy pressed wood piece of furniture at a discount store for $100, I paid half that for real wood. That did mean I’d have to arrange to pick it up later, so it was a bit of trouble, but in my mind, it was worth it. This wasn’t really a holiday gift, but something our family needed, and I just decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
I didn’t complete my holiday shopping, and did intend to get the kids a few new things like a video game to share. If my kids were younger they probably wouldn’t have noticed that the box a toy came in was a bit worn and dented, but they are a bit beyond that, while not old enough to appreciate getting something to wear for a present. But I covered the adults, and even endulged myself in the leather jacket, plus I bought a nice piece of actual furniture.
My bill was just a bit over $100! I felt good about buying practical gifts for the adults in my family, staying under budget, and also contributing to charity through the organization that runs the thrift store!
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Free Fun E Cards For The Holidays
Holiday E Cards are The New Black!
Let’s face it. We all really think that commercial greeting cards are a waste of money. I mean, c’mon! How do they expect us to justify spending $3.99 or more on a cardboard sheet and an envelope just so we don’t have to actually think of something to write. And don’t forget that after you buy the cards, you will have to stick on postage.
More and more people are sending invitations and holiday greetings with online greeting cards, and I thought I’d point out a free online e card website that can satisfy you if you celebrate Kwanza, Christmas, Chanukah, or something I haven’t thought of.
The tools to build your own custom holiday greetings are simple to use, and you do not need to be technical at all. In fact, you can have a lot of fun with this, and I’m sure you’ll get great complements for your creativity and thoughtfulness.
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