Dear Consumer Ed:
My unemployment insurance is about to run out. I keep seeing these on-line job offers where you can make a lot of money working from home. They ask you to pay a fee for training and certification. How can I make sure I am not wasting my time and money?
Consumer Ed says:
You’re wise to be wary of these offers. Many of the work-from-home jobs advertised are scams. First off, do not send money! Legitimate employers won’t ask you to pay them for the promise of a job, and it’s against the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for employers to charge employees for training. If you are interested in working from home, make sure you research the position very carefully to make sure it’s on the up-and-up:
- Find out specifically what you will be doing – ask about every step.
- How will you be paid? Will you make a salary or will they provide a commission?
- Who will pay you and when will you get paid?
- Be very suspicious of guarantees of wealth, especially when the ads say “no experience required” or “will train”. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
- Get references and ask those people if they have been pleased with the company.
- See if the Better Business Bureau has received complaints about the company, but be aware that a lack of complaints doesn’t guarantee that a company is legitimate. You may also want to do an Internet search for the company name with the word complaints.
While some work-at-home jobs are legitimate, you’re probably better off networking with business acquaintances and friends and exploring traditional job listings in newspapers and reputable online employment sites.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I paid a roofer to repair some damage to my roof. Now, several months later, I’m being contacted by one of his workers who is threatening to place a lien against my home because the roofer never paid him. Can he do this?
Consumer Ed says:
Unfortunately, he probably can. Under Georgia law, people who contribute labor or materials to improve a new or existing home are allowed to file a claim of lien against the homeowner if they do not get paid, even if the homeowner actually paid the contractor.Lien claims like these are limited in their effect:they do not show up on your personal credit report and expire by law within 12 months unless the subcontractor actually files a lawsuit to collect the money.
If a lien has been filed against your property, there are many potential defenses available to you. You can demand a cancellation if the lien itself is defective. For instance, the person filing the lien may have signed a lien waiver, incorrectly identified the property, or even filed the lien in the wrong county. It may be helpful to have an attorney check the lien for defects. Alternatively, if you’re not planning on a move, you can simply wait twelve months until the lien expires and take your chances that the lien filer will not want to incur the expense of a lawsuit.
If you will be moving, you may want to bond off the lien claim. This discharges your home from the lien and instead puts the claim against the bond. This clears the title quickly and easily, without waiving the dispute. The person still has twelve months from the time the claim became due to sue for recovery.
You can also file a Notice of Contest, which gives the lien filer sixty days to file a lawsuit; if he fails to do so, the lien expires.
You may have additional defenses based on the work performed or the amount claimed in the lien. However, this requires showing that payments were properly disbursed to all persons providing labor, materials and services. Only your contractor may have this information.
Please see the Home Improvement section of our website for more information. If you are concerned about a claim of lien filed against you, you should also consult with an attorney.
Dear Consumer Ed:
My Grandmother dropped her car off for repairs at an automobile repair shop. She was hospitalized for two months following an accident and when she went to pick up the car she learned they sold it! Can they do that?
Consumer Ed says:
It depends. Under Georgia law, a car is considered “abandoned” if it was left at a repair shop and not picked up within 30 days after the repairs are completed. The repair shop has the right to sell an abandoned vehicle to collect money that the owner owes for repairs and storage. However, the car cannot be sold before the shop makes legally required efforts to notify the owner that the car is considered abandoned and might be sold unless it is picked up within a specified time frame.
Even if a shop sends the required notice, it cannot sell the car immediately. Instead, it has to follow other steps required by law, including sending a demand to the owner for the storage fees and cost of notification. The owner has 10 days to respond to the demand and the right to a hearing before the car is sold.
If the shop followed all of the steps it was supposed to follow, then it probably had the legal right to sell the car. If not, your grandmother may have remedies available to her, and should consult with an attorney to see what those remedies may be.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I was approached after church by a friend to join a network marketing program. I’m told I can make a lot of money if I work hard at it. My only concern is that I have to pay $75.00 up front to join. Is this legitimate?
Consumer Ed says:
You should take a close look before paying any money. Network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing, is a marketing strategy where a company will recruit individuals to act as promoters for the company and its products. The promoters are responsible not only for selling the company’s products themselves, but also for recruiting new individuals who will also act as promoters for the company. The goal of network marketing is to create a large marketing and sales force, where individual promoters are paid commissions based on their own sales and the sales of those they recruited into the network. Mary Kay Cosmetics and Amway are popular examples of companies that use network marketing.
Obviously, each system is different, but companies that use network marketing are often the subject of much controversy. Before joining a network marketing program, you should gather as much information as possible about the company and its compensation structure. First, find out where in the organization you would start, and request a breakdown of the average commission and bonus payout to individuals at each level of the organization. If the company will not provide this crucial information, it may be a signal that they are concealing high loss rates. Second, find out generally how much time and money you would have to spend, in addition to the introductory fee, in order to sell enough products and recruit enough new promoters to turn a profit. Again, companies should provide information on this subject, and if they are unwilling to do so, it should be another red flag.
You should also consider where you will go to recruit new promoters for the company. If you hope to recruit among your fellow church members, consider that you will already be competing with the person who recruited you and anyone else he or she may have recruited at church. Similarly, you might run into similar competition at your child’s school, your local community center, or even among your friends and neighbors. Furthermore, the smaller your community, the more difficult it will be to keep coming up with new, untapped sources. In fact, even if you are initially successful in finding new recruits, consider that each person you recruit today will be competing with you for new recruits tomorrow. The basic point is that recruiting new promoters into the organization will only get more and more difficult as your community becomes “saturated” with other promoters. This is why the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly warned against network marketing systems that provide greater incentives for recruitment than for selling products. These recruitment-focused programs comprise a majority of all network marketing systems, and in most cases, you will only begin to see returns on your initial investment after a long, aggressive recruiting campaign. As recruitment becomes more and more difficult, the company typically does not have enough revenue to pay commissions to its many members. If that happens, those who have not had enough time to recruit enough new promoters will typically lose their investment.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I ran up some debt a few years ago when I was out of work and couldn’t pay my bills. This has hurt my credit rating, and I’m having a hard time getting approved for a loan as a result. Is there anything I can do to improve my credit score?
Consumer Ed says:
Other than bankruptcy, few actions can have a larger impact on your credit score than non-payment or late payment of bills. Most negative activity will affect your credit score for up to seven years, and bankruptcy will impact it for 10 years. Low credit scores mean lenders will consider you a “high-risk” borrower, which can translate into higher interest rates, lower credit limits or being turned down for credit altogether.
One of the best ways to improve your credit score is to establish new accounts and build a history of on-time payments. In addition, keep debt to a minimum by paying credit card balances in full each month, or at least paying more than the minimum.
If no one will give you a credit card because of your poor credit history, you can apply for a secured credit card. This is where you give a lender a cash deposit and they issue you a card with a credit limit in that amount. If you don’t pay the bill, they just keep your deposit. The fees and interest rates on a secured credit card are usually high, but it is a great way to rebuild your credit if you don’t have other options. As your credit score improves, you should be able to obtain regular credit cards with more favorable interest rates and fees.
Finally, pull copies of your credit reports so you can correct any errors that might be contributing to your low credit score.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I have a mortgage and a checking account with the same bank. The mortgage payments are up- to-date and have never been late. If I decide to change my checking account to another financial institution, can the bank rescind my mortgage loan?
Consumer Ed says:
That depends on the terms of your mortgage agreement. Some loans require the borrower to maintain an account (with a minimum balance) at the lending institution as a condition of the loan. If you have agreed to maintain an account at the bank, and you close it, you could be in default of your obligations under the loan agreement. I would encourage you to contact your Lender to discuss the specifics of your loan requirements. If you are required to maintain a checking account with the financial institution, ask your bank to show you the specific provision in your mortgage contract. Verify whether failure to maintain a checking account alone is sufficient cause for the bank to cancel your mortgage. Discuss whether, given your excellent payment history, the bank would consider amending your mortgage contract to say that you are not required to maintain a checking account with their institution. If your bank will not remove this provision, find out the minimum amount you can keep in the checking account, and withdraw the rest to another bank. Then, as long as you maintain the minimum checking balance with your current bank, you can safely build up your savings elsewhere.
Dear Consumer Ed:
My landlord is having financial problems, and I am worried that the house I am renting may go into foreclosure. As a tenant, what are my rights? Will I be forced to leave immediately?
Consumer Ed says:
No, you will not have to leave immediately if the house is foreclosed on. Under the “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009”, which was signed into law on May 20, 2009, tenants have the right to stay in a foreclosed property through the end of their lease, unless the new owner is planning to make the foreclosed property his primary residence. In that case, the owner may terminate your lease, but you must be given 90 days’ notice to vacate the premises. If you don’t have a written lease, if your lease is month-to-month, or if there are fewer than 90 days left on your lease, you are also entitled to 90 days’ notice.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I lost my wallet last week. I have cancelled all of my credit cards and got a new driver’s license, but I am still worried about the possibility of someone stealing my identity. Someone suggested that I should file a fraud alert or do a credit freeze. What exactly are they, and which one should I use?
A fraud alert and a credit freeze are both ways of preventing an identity thief from opening up a new credit account in your name. Fraud alerts are generally used in situations like yours – loss of a wallet or a credit card – or when someone has noticed suspicious activity on their credit card bills or credit report. A fraud alert is free and will remain on your credit report for 90 days. With an initial fraud alert in place, potential creditors are supposed to take steps to verify that any request for new credit in your name was authorized by you. However, those steps may not always alert them that you are not, in fact, the applicant, and new credit may be extended despite the fact that you filed the initial alert.
If you have actually been a victim of identity theft, you can go one step further and file an extended fraud alert. Extended fraud alerts, (which are also free of charge), stay on your credit report for seven years. If you have filed an extended fraud alert, a potential creditor must actually talk with you or meet with you before extending new credit.
To place an initial or extended fraud alert on your credit report, contact ONE of the three credit reporting agencies listed below. That credit bureau is required by law to contact the other two bureaus, which will in turn place the alert on their versions of your credit report.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888- 397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
A credit freeze is considered more fool-proof than a fraud alert. When you freeze your credit, potential creditors will not even be able to see your credit report unless you grant them access by temporarily lifting the freeze. For Georgians, there is a $3 charge per credit bureau to freeze or unfreeze your credit. However, if you have been the victim of identity theft or are 65 years or older there is no charge for freezing your credit. You must contact all three of the credit-reporting agencies listed above to effectively freeze access to your credit.
If you discover that you are a victim of identity theft, there are five things that you should do immediately:
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports;
- Get copies of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies, and review them carefully;
- Close any accounts that were opened fraudulently or that have been tampered with;
- File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft occurred; and
- File an identity theft report with each of the three credit reporting agencies.
Dear Consumer Ed:
My parents own a time share. They rarely go there, and I have no interest in buying it from them. But the monthly maintenance fees are killing them. They want to get out, but they don’t know how. They got a letter from a company that says they will take the timeshare off their hands if they pay $2000 and sign over the deed. Do you think they should accept this offer?
Consumer Ed says:
Use extreme caution when confronted with offers such as these. Some time share “resellers” are actually scammers who accept large payments from time share owners, but never file the deed or pay any maintenance fees. The time share owner may not discover he has been scammed until he is sued for past due maintenance fees.
Your parents should consider the following alternatives:
- Ask the resort’s developer, resort manager or owner’s association if they have a newsletter, website or bulletin board where owners can advertise their timeshare for resale.
- Avoid paying money to a reseller upfront. If possible, find a reseller that takes its fee after the timeshare is sold. If you must pay a fee in advance, ask about refunds. Get refund policies and promises in writing.
- Ask if the reseller’s agents are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify it with the Real Estate Commission. Deal only with licensed real estate brokers and agents, and ask for references from satisfied clients.
- Read the contract thoroughly and make sure you understand everything before you sign.
- Contact the Better Business Bureau to check the company’s reputation. Ask if any complaints are on file.
- If you sell your deed, let the resort know who now owns your timeshare and who to bill for the maintenance fees and taxes.
- Check public records to verify that the deed has been filed in the new owner’s name.
Dear Consumer Ed
:
I received a call from a company that said it could guarantee me a government grant within 3 months. They asked for an up-front fee of $2500 for writing the grant applications. I paid the money and now I am worried that I might have been scammed. What do you think?
Consumer Ed says:
This is most likely a scam, since no one can “guarantee” that an applicant will receive a grant. Government grants are usually aimed at the needy, educational institutions, or specialists who can provide assistance to the government. A list of information about government grants and how to apply can be found at www.grants.gov, a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Whenever paying anyone for information or services relating to grant assistance, always research the company. You can check out a company’s reputation through the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org. In addition, ask the company in question for a copy of its business license, a list of its grant writers, a list of past successful grant applications, the names of the agencies that awarded grants, and a list of references. Keep in mind that legitimate grant-writing companies almost never telemarket, send unsolicited fax advertisements, or advertise by bulk mail to the general public.
Never give out personal information to people you don’t know, especially unsolicited telemarketers. And never pay money to get money.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I hired a contractor to do some work on my home. He took forever to do the work. Now, after having paid him in full, I have found a lot of things that he did wrong. I don’t want to deal with him any more. Can I hire someone else to fix the problems and make him pay to have it done?
Consumer Ed says:
Before you take any action in connection with repairs, you need to do several things. First, review both your contract and any warranty that you received from the contractor. See if they contain any provisions relating to repair issues and how they should be handled. If they do, you need to follow the procedures outlined for the completion of repairs.
You also have to comply with Georgia’s Right to Repair Act before you can sue a contractor in connection with construction defects. The Act requires that the contractor be given an opportunity to try and correct any problems. It contains specific provisions relating to notice, inspections, timelines and other procedures. If you do not follow all of the Act’s requirements, it could have a negative impact on your claim. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit the Home Improvement section of the ConsumerEd.com website.
In your situation, we recommend that you consult with an attorney. To find a lawyer in your area, contact your local bar association. A list of the bar associations in Georgia can be found on the State Bar of Georgia’s website: www.gabar.org.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I heard I have to replace my home air conditioner because of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Is that true?
Consumer Ed says:
No, EPA regulations do not require homeowners to replace their existing home air conditioners, even if the air conditioner needs major repairs.
The EPA is banning R-22, the refrigerant used in nearly all home air conditioners made before January 1, 2010. Because R-22 depletes the Earth’s protective ozone layer, EPA is gradually reducing amounts of that chemical that can be produced. In fact, EPA’s regulations ban manufacturers from making new air conditioners that use R-22.
However, to preserve the useful life of R-22 equipment consumers have already purchased, the EPA allows R-22 to be used to service existing air conditioners. You are not required to switch to a more efficient air conditioner nor one that uses a different refrigerant. But you will eventually need to replace your equipment, since the EPA will continue to reduce the amounts of R-22 available, reaching a level near zero in 2020.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I have had repeated problems with my car since I bought it. Do I have recourse under Georgia’s Lemon Law?
Consumer Ed says:
Georgia’s Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles purchased, leased or registered in Georgia. It does not cover used vehicles. To be potentially eligible, you must have a documented (e.g., dealer repair order) problem that has not been corrected after a reasonable number of attempts. If your vehicle qualifies as a “lemon,” the manufacturer is required to repurchase or replace your vehicle. The law has a time period within which a reasonable number of attempts must occur and steps to follow if you need to file a claim for state-operated arbitration. You can obtain information about the specific requirements of the law by going to consumer.ga.gov/lemonlaw or by calling 404-651-9397.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I received a flyer in the mail guaranteeing a loan to people with credit problems. The flyer said that there was an up-front fee of a pretty sizable amount. If I need the money, should I consider such a loan?
Consumer Ed says:
For the answer to this question, we went to the Georgia Banking and Finance Department. Here is their response…
Advance fee (up-front fee) loan scams are victimizing consumers across the county. These scam artists are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for the promise of a loan or credit. Many advance fee loans are promoted in the classified sections of the newspapers. Often, the ads feature toll-free 800, 866, or 877 numbers, or area codes from Canada, such as 416, 647, 905, or 705. The loans are promoted through direct mail, radio, and cable TV. The fact that an ad is in a legitimate media outlet does not guarantee that the company placing it is trustworthy!
Consumers who respond to phone calls or ads that purportedly guarantee loans to those with poor credit instead lose hundreds of dollars or more in fees demanded by the suspected scammers. These frauds follow a typical pattern. Consumers call a toll-free number and are told to submit credit information over the phone or fill out paperwork to be mailed later. In exchange for a $5,000 to $100,000 loan, they are told to wire or mail a money order for $500 or more to pay processing fees or other charges. The applicants never get the loan, and they lose what they paid in fees. The consumer also risks having their identity stolen if they provided a Social Security number or other personal data to the scammers.
Legitimate offers of credit generally do not require an up-front payment. Although legitimate lenders may charge application, appraisal, or credit report fees, the fees are generally taken from the amount borrowed. And the fees usually are paid to the lender after the loan is approved. Legitimate lenders may guarantee firm offers of credit to “credit-worthy” consumers, but first, they evaluate the consumer’s creditworthiness and confirm the information in the application. Remember . . . If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Dear Consumer Ed:
The gym I want to join is asking me to sign a two-year contract. I’ve heard bad things about gym contracts. Should I sign it?
Consumer Ed says:
In Georgia, health clubs are required by law to have contracts with their members. However, the individual gym can choose how long its contract lasts – from one month up to 36 months. When you are deciding which health club to join, keep in mind that a shorter contract puts you at less risk in the event that you lose interest in your exercise regime or the health club goes out of business.
You should also make sure you get a written copy of the contract at the time you sign it, and read it thoroughly. Under Georgia law, health clubs are required to include certain provisions in their membership contracts. A list of those provisions can be found on the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection's website. If a contract you have signed does not comply with the provisions required by law, you may legally cancel the agreement.
Dear Consumer Ed:
How do I know whether the money I am donating to a charity actually goes to the people I want to help?
Consumer Ed says:
First, make sure that the charity that is soliciting for donations is a registered charity with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can do this by visiting www.sos.georgia.gov, selecting “Securities,” and searching for the particular charity under “Charities and Paid Solicitors.” Be cautious about giving to any entity that is not registered to solicit donations within the state.
You can research a charity’s donation history by visiting
www.charitynavigator.org or
www.give.org
Dear Consumer Ed:
I received a postcard saying that my car warranty is about to expire with an offer to have it renewed. How do I know if this is legitimate?
Consumer Ed says:
Don’t take these postcards at face value. Despite the impression they may give, these solicitations are usually not offers to extend your existing warranty, and they usually don’t come from the vehicle manufacturer. Instead, what you likely received is a solicitation for a vehicle service contract from a warranty company or its marketing partner. Many of these companies use high pressure tactics to try to convince consumers to buy an overpriced warranty. So, how can you be sure whether the offer is legitimate or not?
* First, check your files. If your records indicate that your warranty is not actually due to expire soon, that’s a red flag.
* Review the postcard carefully to see if it lists the name of the company selling the warranty. If you are still uncertain, place a call directly to the vehicle manufacturer or the dealership from which you purchased your car and see if the offer came from them.
* Keep in mind that only the manufacturer can extend its original warranty. A separate company can provide you with a vehicle service contract, which they may refer to as an “extended warranty,” but it is not a continuation of the warranty you had from the vehicle manufacturer. If a company tells you otherwise, walk away.
* Finally, never give out your financial information, social security number, driver’s license number, or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) unless you know who you are dealing with.
Dear Consumer Ed:
How can I stop the amount of junk mail I get?
Consumer Ed says:
There are several things that you can do to reduce the amount of unwanted “junk mail” being sent to your house.
To stop pre-approved credit and insurance offers for five years, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com.
In addition, the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service at www.dmachoice.org allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from national companies for five years. They also have an option to reduce unsolicited commercial e-mails.
Finally, you should write to the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – notifying them that you do not want your personal information shared for promotional purposes. This will limit access to your information, which will keep you off mailing lists.
Dear Consumer Ed:
Aren’t I entitled to a free credit report every year? And if so, how do I get it?”
Consumer Ed says:
Yes, federal law entitles you to a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. To access your free credit report, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Please be aware that this is the ONLY authorized source for your free annual credit report, so don’t get fooled! There are many TV ads, web sites and email offers that tout “free” credit reports, but these offers typically come with hidden fees or require you to pay for another service in order to receive your “free” report.
As a Georgia citizen, you are also entitled to an additional free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus. To get these additional free credit reports, you must contact the credit bureaus directly.
Dear Consumer Ed:
I purchased a vehicle from a used car dealership. The day after I bought it, the car wouldn’t start. I immediately contacted the dealer and asked for my money back, but they said the purchase was “as-is”, and the sale was final. Don’t I have a 3-day right to cancel?
Consumer Ed says:
Unfortunately, no. While you may have some recourse under other laws, the Door-to-Door Sales Rule, commonly known as the “three-day right to cancel”, does not apply to car purchases. Generally, any rights you may have with respect to the purchase of a used vehicle are limited to the terms in the sales contract; if the contract specifies that the car is being sold “As Is”, and makes no provision for cancellation or repairs, you will most likely end up having to keep and pay for the repairs of your defective automobile.
Don’t rely on verbal agreements, as they can be very difficult to prove. If a dealer makes promises, particularly concerning repairs or warranties, be sure to get them in writing before you buy the car.
A used car may look great on the outside but have serious mechanical problems that only a professional can detect. So it is essential to check out the vehicle thoroughly before you buy it. Don’t sign anything before having the car inspected by a reputable mechanic, (who is not affiliated with the seller). The cost for a pre-purchase inspection is typically between $50-$100, but can save you thousands down the line.
Finally, you can uncover important information about the vehicle’s condition by running a vehicle history report through autocheck.com or carfax.com. These reports can reveal odometer discrepancies, accident history, and whether the car was salvaged or flood-damaged.
Dear Consumer Ed:
The gas station on the corner is charging 30 cents more per gallon than other places in the area. Isn’t that price gouging?
Consumer Ed says:
Not unless there’s been a state of emergency declared by the Governor. And even then, maybe not. Georgia’s price-gouging law only applies during a declared state of emergency. While the price gouging statute is in effect, gas stations may raise their prices, but only by the amount that their cost goes up when they receive a new shipment. For example, if a station’s overall costs for its fuel increases by thirty cents a gallon, then the station can raise its retail fuel prices thirty cents—but no more, or the station will be violating the Fair Business Practices Act.
Remember – during a state of emergency, you may see a station charging more than other stations in the area, but that does not necessarily mean that the station is price-gouging. The amount stations pay to buy gasoline can vary greatly.
Call the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection at 1-800-869-1123 if you are unsure of whether the price-gouging statute is currently in effect. If it is, report any incidences that seem out of the ordinary (e.g., prices-per-gallon that rise by more than a third within a short period of time).
Dear Consumer Ed:
I bought a shirt last week and it doesn’t fit. I brought it back to the store with my receipt, but they will only give me a store credit. Since I have my receipt and it’s been less than 7 days since the purchase, aren’t they required to give me a refund?
Consumer Ed says:
In Georgia, retail businesses are not required by law to offer refunds or exchange merchandise. Stores can set their own refund policies, so your best protection is to ask the store about its policy before you purchase an item. Find out if the store will issue a cash refund, store credit or exchange for the full amount of the purchase price. Find out if there is a time limit for refunds, and what that limit is. Ask whether discounted or clearance items can be returned. Remember, stores may have different policies for different types of merchandise, so also ask what the policy is for the specific item you are purchasing.
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