Comments for Just Ask Asa Aarons

Comment on Bugs in Your Food: Some Things Just Make You Sick by That's nothing...

That's nothing... — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:00:20 +0000

That’s nothing… I was at a Japanese restaurant and I was enjoying my clear soup when the next spoonful I looked at had a beetle of some sort in it. Let’s throw some beetle in that broth! I flagged the waitress over, showed her the soup, and she said “Oh, that’s not good…” She took the soup and went back into the kitchen. I was served another bowl of the same soup about a minute later. It still makes me feel sick to think about it.

Comment on An Overbooked Flight Can Save You Money by cris

cris — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:46:27 +0000

Seldom do my wife and I travel by plane, but our experience with American Airlines not only was satisfying but it led to the newfound “treasure” of voluntary bumping.

Perhaps we were just lucky since this was our first time volunteering or the exceptional customer skills of the gate agent made this seem simple.

This article was helpful to me but also leads me to more questions…

Are particular destinations more likely to have overbooked flights?

Are particular airlines more likely to have overbooked flights?

What is the most outrageous compensation that someone has gotten?

We are looking forward to our next plane trip and will build in extra extra time for the possibility of getting bumped (with an eye on flights to our destination that same day.)

Under the right circumstances I think that this may be useful to many people.

Cris S.

Comment on Postmarks Usually Mean Little When You Pay Bills by Brian Stiles

Brian Stiles — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:48:20 +0000

In response to Matt (last comment). Yes Matt. The one with the most money wins. Didn’t you know that (and it sucks)?! Individual rights have been erroding in this country for a long long time due to greed and selfishness. The me first mentality is destroying this great nation and there seems to be very little we can do about it. Regarding payments, another example is the fees being charged for paying bills online. I went to the Dell website today to pay my bill which is due TODAY! However, I had to pay a $9.95 same day processing fee because their system won’t apply the payment to my account until Monday the 11th of Jan. Now I know their system records that I initiated the payment today and it is exremely unfair and GREEDY for this company to charge me that fee but they get to do it anyway cause I am the little guy and they are not! My only recourse is to pay off and close that account (which I am going to do) and they are going to lose a once loyal customer (but apparently they don’t care)!!!

Comment on How to Cool Down Without Heating Up Your Budget (Too Much) by Mike

Mike — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:49:41 +0000

I love the article…

Comment on How to Cool Down Without Heating Up Your Budget (Too Much) by Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:47:56 +0000

Great post! Keep coming!

Comment on You Never Have to Pay To Collect a Sweepstakes Prize by Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:25:39 +0000

Well, they are still at at. My husband talked me into sending them $25 check for a lay-away-plan for winning a $400 voucher (discount) on a new Dell computer. I just received the letter telling me what to do and how to do it but the name was not Publisher’s Clearing house. So how did they get me name, etc. Does PBC sell your name to these fraudulent companies? They should be ashamed of themselves. I am putting my husband’s name and address for no more stupid mail like this.

Mrs. Robert Scammed Williams

Comment on Scam Sweeps Blow Money Up the Chimney by SK

SK — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:21:09 +0000

Excellent advice!!

Comment on Credit Card Issuers Penalize 1/3 of Consumers by mario frangella

mario frangella — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:37:58 +0000

Hi, Asa. I enjoy your TV spots. My aunt Teresa today received a notice from Citibank increasing her interest rate from 14% to 29.99%. They did not state a reason, and when I called them, they stated that they do this randomly to a percentage of all cardholders. I am still in shock.

My aunt Teresa has been a cardholder for 25 years, and never been delinquent with any payments. Is this the way they treat a good customer. They should be ashamed of themselves, targeting a senior citizen on a fixed income. My aunt feels terribly about this. Is this being done so that Citibank CEO can get a big bonus?

The only option the Manager on the phone gave us was to opt-out. That is, not use her card, pay the balance prior to the account expiration date, next March, and close her account.

I know my aunt can get another card with another bank, but I feel strongly that this is unfair, and other people should know about Citibank’s callous practices towards their good customers. Therefore, I felt compelled to write to you. Thanks. (If you want details, please write back.)

Comment on Trees Make Enemies of Neighbors by Kristen

Kristen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:32:51 +0000

In California, the law is such that a neighbor is allowed to cut the other neighbor’s tree limbs that extend over his fence AND he is allowed to throw them back over to the tree owner’s property. (without causing damage while doing so). My neighbor picks up every twig and leaf from my tree and throws them over constantly. I even find some of his own tree trimmings on my side–he tries to pretend that they’re my tree’s.

Comment on State by State: Debt Collection Statute of Limitations by Joann Hollander

Joann Hollander — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:45:23 +0000

Thank you for your no hassle way of getting information. I was on the FTC website for 30 minutes before I gave up. I then did a search and there you were with just the information I was looking for. Thanks for your to the point information.

Comment on Postmarks Usually Mean Little When You Pay Bills by Matt Bertrand

Matt Bertrand — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:30:13 +0000

I have a comment pertaining to this article. I believe Federal lawmakers should introduce legislation and pass a law that requires the postmark date to be the legal date of payment for any and all bills.

Reason: It would eliminate an integrity issue. Meaning, hypothetically, someone has a credit card payment due date of 15 Sep. The credit card company receives it on 15 Sep but does not process it. The consumer has to rely on that company’s integrity to do the right thing. Because, hypothetically, the credit card company could say they did not receive it on 15 Sep but rather on 16 Sep and therefore, charge a late fee. The consumer has no way to prove otherwise. If the postmark date is the official date of payment, the consumer has a little more contol over the actions of the credit card companies and other lenders. In addition, I’m really disappointed that the Federal lawmakers could be swayed by the powers of BIG Business and not make a national law. Who is watching out for the “little guy”? Does “BIG Business” restrict the Federal lawmakers from doing the right thing because they have a bigger voice and more money then the “little guy”?

Comment on No More Robo-Calls: FTC Halts Prerecorded Sales Calls by Stan

Stan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:32:49 +0000

I agree with mike . There are a few services that everyone can benefit from but educating people about the services is some times very difficult and I have found most people will listen to a recorded message a lot longer than a live rep. on the phone.

Comment on No More Robo-Calls: FTC Halts Prerecorded Sales Calls by Ed

Ed — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:30:24 +0000

Mike, You are obviously a loser telemarketer. I am being bombarded by Capital One’s calls. You get a life!

Comment on Avoid Sharing Your Checking Account Number by Marie

Marie — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:53:59 +0000

I recently fell victim to a scam where a supposedly good samaritan convinced me to purchase a magazine subscription for a local children’s hospital (dumb, I know…it was a moment of weakness). Anyway, I gave the con artist a check. Once I discovered the scam after doing a little research, I stopped payment on the check. Do you think I also need to have my checking account number changed? Thanks for your advice!

Comment on No Credit for Paying Old Debts by belasario

belasario — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:14:17 +0000

you are so right. i tried to payoff a creditcard company that was getting government assitance. that was from the tax payers. all of my other creditors help me come up with a plan that satisfied all of my obligations. the one that i tried to pay outright sold my debt to other companies ,so i don’t know who to pay. the amount was so much higher than what i had incured, that i just gave up. i still don’t know how much i owe.

Comment on Senior Citizens Have New Worry Overspending by jonas

jonas — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:43:52 +0000

I am retired, and don’t use credit cards at all, when I was a young man of 21 I got caught up in credit card debt, at the time I thought it was a lot of money, $1200.00, tho not much by todays standards, I payed off the card, and have never ran a balance on a card again, and I hope in my senior life I will be smart enough to not start now.

Comment on Senior Citizens Have New Worry Overspending by lynda

lynda — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:05:12 +0000

I think a bunch of lazy young people see what their parents have and don’t want to work to get the same, they want their parents to just go die so they can step in and spend the money the way they think it should be spent. It’s rediculous. Even if the average senior had 5,000 in debt, that’s nothing. It’s certainly secure. The house and car are paid for and they know they could go any time. They also know if they get sick there’s not going to be anyone there to offer to care for them, just bury them!

Comment on About the Just Ask Asa! Website by Rita Hughes

Rita Hughes — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:26:20 +0000

Read your column in the Daily News every day.and wrote to you about an e-mail I received and yo u told me it was a scam..Thank you again. Will go on computer to keep in touch

Comment on Check Out A Charity Before You Send A Check by Ray

Ray — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:56:14 +0000

I used to work at this place, they’re not honest.

Comment on Only One Website Offers Truly Free Credit Reports by David Funke

David Funke — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:22:26 +0000

Asa. Credit sites are not including their credit score as part of the “free” credit report. Why?