The ABC News Fixer's 10 New Year's Resolutions for the Savvy Consumer (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAriohlPCM-LDRkayb-hVRNzBpJwi4LJ0k1LLlIhar_ez6Ll7rDimYph0yYeVTmb4iP2-H_7ViMfhBKX4HZvweOKKmtXgn42L7GNeVnnNMGlC6cGd3-uUjEi1LhOc9AMzwxivl0gt9qY/s1600/RT_new_years_nyc_4_140101_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAriohlPCM-LDRkayb-hVRNzBpJwi4LJ0k1LLlIhar_ez6Ll7rDimYph0yYeVTmb4iP2-H_7ViMfhBKX4HZvweOKKmtXgn42L7GNeVnnNMGlC6cGd3-uUjEi1LhOc9AMzwxivl0gt9qY/s1600/RT_new_years_nyc_4_140101_16x9_992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="first" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; padding: 0px;">The only thing the ABC News Fixer loves more than fixing your problems is helping prevent new ones. In that spirit, please enjoy our resolutions for 2014:</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />If I see an online promo for a "free trial" that requires a credit card for shipping and handling, I resolve to keep moving. First, it's not free – and second, the terms and conditions probably allow them to keep charging me each month.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />Before I shop for a car, I resolve to check with my bank or credit union to see what sort of loan I can afford. If it's a used car, I'll bring along the <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/buy-car/story?id=18511703" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ABC News Fixer's consumer tips</a> and check out the car thoroughly. And I won't be pressured to drive the car home until the financing is complete because I know about the dreaded <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/critics-car-dealer-yo-yo-practices-affect-vulnerable/story?id=20095363" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">yo-yo trick</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />When I travel, I resolve to never stow cash, electronics or other valuables in my checked luggage. If it should disappear, the airline won't be required to reimburse me.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />Are you a phony debt collector calling with a debt I'm sure I do not owe? Well, I resolve to hang up on you. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />And if you're emailing me out of the blue with a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dear-abc-news-fixer-secret-shopper-sneaky-swindle/story?id=19749198" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"mystery shopping" job</a>, I'm not biting on that scam, either.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />If I get into trouble and can't pay my mortgage, I resolve to seek help from my bank or from www.HUD.gov – not from charlatans posing as "mortgage rescue" companies. (<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/investigation-mortgage-rip-off-20161022" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">WATCH: Mortgage Help Really a 'Rip Off'?</a>)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />I resolve to check my credit report every year at www.annualcreditreport.com, the official site for consumers to get one free report each year from all three credit reporting bureaus.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />If I need to move to a new home, I resolve to check www.ProtectYourMove.gov for consumer tips and to fully vet the mover. I won't accept an estimate over the phone because it's more likely to be inaccurate. And I'll remember that the mover must release my stuff after I pay the amount on the written binding estimate.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />If something bad happens, I will raise the alarm – with my state attorney general, other consumer agencies and the ABC News Fixer. I'll send my problem to The ABC News Fixer (by <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/mailform?id=18359188" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE</a>) and will alert state and federal consumer contacts (by <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/places-/story?id=18359757" style="color: #005490; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE</a>).</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;"><br />And finally, I resolve to use those new gift cards I got for the holidays ASAP. They won't do me any good sitting in a drawer, and if the business goes out of business I'll be out the money.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Wishing you all a new year that's happy, healthy, productive and fun -- and free of annoying rip-offs!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.464000701904297px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">- The ABC News Fixer</div></div>

The ABC News Fixer's 10 New Year's Resolutions for the Savvy Consumer (BLOG)

The only thing the ABC News Fixer loves more than fixing your problems is helping prevent new ones. In that spirit, please enjoy our resolut...

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