Consumer Ed

Dear Consumer Ed: I live in Atlanta and recently purchased a vehicle from a dealership. The car showed a valid emissions sticker, but a week after buying the car, it started having issues. When my mechanic inspected the vehicle, he discovered that there was an override device placed on the oxygen sensor that allowed the…

Dear Consumer Ed: I bought a very expensive watch (over $15,000) that turned out to be defective. The store manager refused to issue an exchange or a refund, only offering to repair it under the store’s five-year warranty, a process that would take approximately eight weeks. This product was defective from day one. Shouldn’t a…

Dear Consumer Ed: I received a call from a roofer today saying he was doing a drive-by and noticed we had roof damage. How do I know if this is legit or a scam? Consumer Ed says: You are wise to be suspicious of an individual who claims he just happened to be driving by…

Dear Consumer Ed: I live in South Carolina. If I buy a used car in Georgia and drive it back to my home state, would I have to pay any taxes or fees in Georgia? Consumer Ed says: Nonresidents of Georgia are not required to pay Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) or Georgia sales tax…

Dear Consumer Ed: I am considering pre-purchasing funeral arrangements for myself and my wife. However, there is a possibility that we may move in the next few years. If I prepurchase and later decide to cancel, is the funeral home required to give me my money back? Consumer Ed says: Yes. Georgia law provides protections…

Dear Consumer Ed: Can a healthcare provider charge patients a surcharge for using an FSA or HSA card? Consumer Ed says: While healthcare providers cannot charge a surcharge for using a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) card, they may be able to charge a convenience fee if certain conditions are met.…

Dear Consumer Ed: I want to know what we can do about a car dealer who has added a $799 dealer fee to the cost of a car that we are in the process of buying. Can we demand that they drop this charge since it wasn’t included in the advertised price? Consumer Ed says:…

Dear Consumer Ed: I hired an auto broker to find a vehicle for me and paid him $9,800 upfront, as we had agreed. The broker cashed my check, but when it came time to finalize the deal and get my car, the broker informed me that he no longer had the money I had paid…

Dear Consumer Ed: A lien was placed on my condo, which I believe is invalid. How do I make sure this lien is removed and never shows up on my credit report? Consumer Ed says: A lien is a legal claim to secure a debt, and it may encumber real property, such as a house…

Dear Consumer Ed: Is a merchant allowed to charge a credit card surcharge in an amount that is greater than the fee it is paying for processing, thus making it a profit center? Consumer Ed says: No. For credit card transactions, merchants are permitted to charge customers a surcharge to recover the cost of the…