NewsChannel5 Troubleshooter Joe Pagonakis' blog, "Joe Talkin' Trouble," will focus on the problems that the Troubleshooter unit is tackling. Joe will provide updates on Troubleshooter investigations. Read his latest entry here., Thursday, July 2, 2009

In the past two weeks I have received nearly 20 Troubleshooter cases that could have been avoided if the consumer would have given less up-front money.

You should never "pay-in-full" up-front for goods or services of any kind, especially in this economic climate. I see far too many cases where consumers are left hanging because the company they were dealing with went out of business.

I recommend never giving more than 50% up-front or less. If a company asks for more, this is a red flag.

Have a safe July 4th holiday weekend and keep fighting back against trouble. :)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

If your looking for a job, or your hoping to upgrade the one you have, then you should check out our "Troubleshooter Job Team" web page right here on Newsnet5.com.

Just click on the "big red tool box" that is located on the right hand margin on our Troubleshooter home page. On our Job Team site you'll find current job openings, advice from career experts, and testimonials from job seekers who share their job search success stories.

Also posted are a host of links to top career service agencies, and the latest news and information on career fairs, and job seminars.

It's the News Channel 5 Troubleshooter Job Team web page, a job search tool box! Check it out, and best wishes in your job search.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

I'm trying to help a consumer who bought a set of DVD's from a company that uses a Chinese suppplier. The DVD's contained the entire first season the original Mission Impossible television series. Unforetunately the DVD's where of such poor quality, they were unwatchable.

The consumer found the DVD distributor through Amazon on-line, but the actual manufacture is located in China. As you might guess it's very difficult to get a 100 dollar refund from a company that is loacted in that country. I'm trying to work the case but I have some advice.

1) Just because your buying through Amazon doesn't give the transaction instant creditability.

2) Before you buy, find out where the product is being shipped from. If it's overseas, or from China, keep in mind that you taking a risk.

3) And finally use a credit card that has fraud protection, just in case the deal goes bad. Many times the fraud protection will cover your refund.

Stay aware and do your homework before buying on-line :)

Wedenesday, June 24, 2009

Do you have a home improvement project scheduled this summer that will require some digging on your property? If you do, make sure you take out the proper building permits. Perhaps even more importantly, call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service before you start to dig!

Currently I'm working with an electrical contractor who hit a gas line while he was attempting to install driveway lighting. Be sure to call before you dig so you can be sure there are no utility lines underground. This could be a life threatening situation! So please contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 1-800-362-2764. The people there will send out a "locator" to take a look at the job site and mark where the buried utility lines are located before you start your project.

Keep it safe, and have a wonderful summer.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Just a quick word about lawn service contracts. Complaints have been coming into the troubleshooter office about lawn companies, who fertilize your yard, but when consumers try to cancell the service over the phone, the company still comes out and puts down material and then sends the bill.

Remember, if you have a written contract with the company, it will likely take something in writing to cancell the agreement. If you want your service stopped, look at your contract, it should have a cancellation proceedure listed in writing. Follow the guidelines in the contract. If your allowed to stop service by phone, then follow-up that cancellation with a regsitered letter, so you have something in writing if they try to bill you for an application you didn't ask for.

Have you thought about fertilizing your own lawn? Keep it green, and get it in writing!

Monday, June 22, 2009

NewsChannel 5 Troubleshooter viewers, I want to hear from you! Share your job loss sorrows and your success stories. We'll be profiling consumers in need of work and profiling companies who are hiring. Call us at 216-431-4357. Leave your name and number. We'll give you a call back. And be sure to log onto newsnet5.com/jobteam for employment resources and posted job openings.