It's January, and here's our monthly look at scams, concerns and websites you need to know about this month. Get these monthly in your inbox, by signing up for our newsletter on the front Let Joe Know page.
1. GOVERNMENT LETTERS: Most are fake. The government doesn't blindly offer grants or threaten prison time. BUT, some letters from the feds ARE legit. Many of you got one from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This one IS REAL. If you worked for the government, applied for a job or had other connections, your personal information could have been hacked. They're offering credit monitoring. The key is checking these out with the legitimate agency first.
See theLet Joe Know story.
2. HEALTH CLUBS: A new year. A new you. Hang on. Before you sign gym papers, remember some gyms close and money is lost. So, give little of it upfront and try to go month to month. If you have to auto pay, use a credit, not debit card. And get in writing all of the cancelation and termination policies. You don't want to be sweating for the wrong reasons.
See the Let Joe Know story.
3. HOSPITAL BILLS: You're physically healed. Then the emotional stress builds when you get a hospital bill you didn't expect. That's because you already paid your part, or the insurance was to pay fully. I've seen more of these. And in all cases, the people who win, are the people who keep fighting. If you're right, appeal, appeal and then appeal again.
See theLet Joe Know story.
JOE LET'S YOU KNOW: I know you have gift cards. It's the go to holiday gift. Now you NEED to use them! Stores go out of business. You don't want to be stuck with a piece of plastic. And check into the fees so you're not giving most of the value back to the bank.
(PRODUCER) COURTNEY'S CORNER: Want your home to have new look in the new year? Before hiring a contractor, make sure you check them out with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. But if you do happen to get taken, make sure to report it! Stealing your money is a crime and reporting it helps law enforcement track down the scammers and helps prevent them from victimizing others.
WEBSITE YOU NEED TO SEE: Your kids are starting a new school semester. This is a pretty cool app. It rounds up amounts from purchases, takes that change and invests it. And it's free for anyone under 24 or students with an .edu email address.
STORY OF THE MONTH: Wetested call blockers to stop telemarketing calls on your landlines.
