Winter storms bring freezing rain, ice, snow, high winds – all making roadways very dangerous. Each year, hundreds of Americans are injured or killed by vehicle accidents on wintry roads. Drivers that become stranded risk suffering from frostbite or hypothermia, and unfortunately can even die from exposure. Planning and preparing can help you manage the impact […]
Archive | Consumer Tips
TIP: Proposed Changes to Net Neutrality
This Thursday, December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission is slated to vote on a proposal that would repeal net neutrality. I wanted to make sure you understand what is at risk, and the action I have taken in response to this. Net neutrality is the idea that all traffic on the Internet should be […]
TIP: Space Heater Safety
In order to save money in the colder months, many people opt to use a space heater to heat one room rather than heat the entire structure. Regardless of your plan, it is important to be cautious. Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat for your home in cold weather. Unfortunately, […]
TIP: Gift Card Scams
With the holiday’s coming up, it’s the season to protect yourself from the various scams you could become victim to. Recently, scam artists have discovered a way to steal money from these gift cards without even having them in hand. They usually walk into stores with unmonitored gift card sections, then either write or photograph […]
TIP: Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping
An estimated 164 million people planned to shop during Thanksgiving weekend, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That includes Cyber Monday, when online shoppers are estimated at 48 percent of all shoppers, or 78.4 million. Here are some tips on popular scams to be aware of this […]
TIP: Jury Duty Scam
Recently throughout New Jersey, there have been a variety of scam calls claiming failure to show up for Jury Duty. After deceiving the victim, the scammers demand money in exchange for their failure to show up insisting they are with the FBI. The scammers will call and insist that the victim failed to show up […]
TIP: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Saturday, October 28, 2017 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This initiative provide single-day opportunities to drop off unused medications at pre-identified, secure locations. Addiction often starts when patients are prescribed powerful opioids for pain. Studies show that most people who abuse opioids obtained them from a friend or family member, and prescription drug users […]
TIP: How to Prepare Wireless Devices During an Emergency
Over 98% of Americans own a mobile device and more than 70% of 911 calls are made on a mobile device, yet in the case of an emergency, what do you do? Wireless access can help save lives during an emergency, yet you never know when the next catastrophe will strike. Here are a few […]
TIP: Homestead Rebate
The Homestead Rebate program provides some amount of property tax relief to almost all homeowners, with only those living in a co-op, in a senior living community, or those who sold their home after applying being ineligible. New Jersey homeowners should’ve received their 2015 Homestead Act application packets either through mail or email. Read the […]
TIP: Equifax Data Breach
Recently, one of the most popular credit reporting agencies, Equifax, had a data breach leaving its 143 million consumers at risk of their personal information being exposed. The incident occurred between May and June, and hackers were able to get a hold of valuable information such as social security number, birthdates and addresses. In addition, […]