LOUISVILLE, MS (prfriend) August 26, 2009 – Hudson’s Dirt Cheap is at it again. The discount retailer known for their extreme bargains and Dirt Cheap Chicken are opening a brand new store in Louisville, MS on Thursday August 27, 2009. This will be store number 39 for Dirt Cheap, while Hudson’s Treasure Hunt has 7 stores of its own. The launch of a new location and two more in the wings have Hudson’s Dirt Cheap making headlines again.

“We continue to look for new opportunities and new ways to serve our customers. We get emails from customers all the time, telling us that they drive hours just to shop our stores, and asking us to open a new location that’s closer to where they live,” says Randy Burge, Dirt Cheap Development Director. “We take all of our customer suggestions seriously and sometimes if it’s a good fit, we do it.”

Hudson’s Dirt Cheap has added 13 new stores in the past two years and 20 since Rob Roberts joined the company in 2003. Some of Dirt Cheap’s newest locations include:

• Amory, MS
• Forrest, MS
• Mobile, AL
• Prentiss, MS
• West Pointe, MS
• Atmore, AL
• Brewton, AL
• Collins, MS
• Newton, MS
• Waynesboro, MS
• Long Beach, MS
• Wiggins, MS

“Dirt Cheap is an expanding company because we are meeting a need in the marketplace right now. People are looking for bargains and that’s what we give them. We want to be able to give our customers quality merchandise at cheaper prices than any of our competitors. And so far, we’ve done a good job of that,” says Burge.

Hudson’s Dirt Cheap is one of the nation’s leading purchasers of bankruptcy, closeout, and liquidation merchandise. When retailers are faced with problem inventory that won’t sell through traditional channels of distribution, Hudson’s Dirt Cheap helps by purchasing that merchandise and selling it at a deep discount to its own customers.

Because of their unique business model, Dirt Cheap can carry everything from shoes, clothing, and hard goods, to bedding and home furnishings. Their prices are typically lower than even their discount competitors and people flock from miles around to “hunt for bargains” that can range from 50 to 80% off regular retail prices.

Ross Roberts, Dirt Cheap’s Chief Operating Officer had this to say, “We try to find value where others don’t. As long as we have an opportunity to buy merchandise at a discounted price, we can continue to serve our customers with extreme bargains.”
For more information on Hudson’s Dirt Cheap or their new store in Louisville, MS you can go to http://www.shophudsons.com.

Unwitting consumers face confiscation and potential criminal charges

Wallingford, CT – April 14, 2009 – BBB is warning Connecticut consumers in the market for a new vehicle to ensure that their new dream car or truck has not been cloned.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) defines car cloning as stealing the identity of a legitimately owned vehicle and transferring it to a stolen car. Law enforcement officials across the nation are working together to break major car cloning rings.

Here is how the scheme works: It begins with a stolen vehicle, typically a high-end vehicle or fully-loaded SUV. The Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) installed in several places in vehicles by the manufacturer, is pried off and replaced with a legitimate one from the same make, model, year and color vehicle. These “new” VINs are sometimes harvested from cars at salvage yards.

Falsified ownership documents complete the cloning and the vehicle is then registered anew and sold. Cloned vehicles have been sold in 20 states and other countries.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says consumers who unwittingly buy cloned cars can be held responsible for a variety of crimes.

“Owners of cloned vehicles can have their cars confiscated, left to pay balances of the car’s loan, and may be accused of a variety of traffic infractions and even participation in organized crime. Since it is an uphill battle to correct the problems and clear their names, it is best to be aware of this scheme.”

Connecticut State Police say state authorities are cooperating with law enforcement agencies across the country to break up car cloning rings.

The good news is that a new national database may help stop car cloning. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 73 percent of the U.S. vehicle population is registered in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, (NMVTIS). A majority of states, 37, are either part of or in the process of joining the system. Connecticut however, is among the more than a dozen states that are not participating in the program.

NMVTIS can provide detailed information about title data, latest odometer readings, theft history (if any), branding information, which is a notation on the certificate of ownership or vehicle registration certificate that records a special circumstance or condition involving a vehicle, and salvage history, including designations as a “total loss,” if any. This information allows state titling agencies to verify ownership documents before issuing new titles. A pilot study revealed the program could reduce insurance payoffs by $20 million a year and prevent title washing of approximately 60,000 brands a year.

Better Business Bureau and F.B. I. offer the following advice to car-buying consumers to avoid getting snared into buying a cloned vehicle, and determine if a vehicle is cloned:

-Get a copy of the car’s vehicle history report.

-Always check under the hood to ensure V.I.N. numbers match, and check for signs of tampering such as scratches.

-If you are car shopping, beware of a car being sold for substantially less than comparable makes and models.

-Look for incorrect spellings on paperwork, like vehicle titles.

-If you think your car was cloned (for instance, you receive notice of unpaid parking tickets that aren’t yours), contact your local police.

-Trust your intuition—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

For more helpful consumer information visit www.bbb.org

Bloggers sometimes anonymous and misleading

Wallingford, CT – April 3, 2009 – When is what you read in a blog fact, opinion or fiction? Perhaps it is best summed up by President Obama in a New York Times interview, when he said he rarely reads blogs because they can be misleading.
The word “blog,” a contraction of “web log,” is like an online public diary that often reflects the personality of its author, whether a reporter, or a corporate public relations specialist aiming to promote a positive or negative image of a given company and its products. The problem for consumers is that the blog’s authors and people who add their comments to a blog entry are sometimes anonymous and, depending on their agenda, misleading.

In Obama’s interview with the Times, the Internet-savvy President explained why he rarely reads blogs, saying part of the reason is “…if you haven’t looked at it carefully then you may be under the impression that somehow there’s a clean answer one way or another.”

This affects consumers when they research a product or company on blogs, and may end up reading reviews posted by corporate insiders who are trying to pump-up sales and public perception, make negative comments about competitors’ products or counter legitimate consumer comments in other blogs or the news media.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau Communications Director, Howard Schwartz, cautions consumers who are searching for objective information not to be duped by bloggers.

“A blog offers an outlet for the writer that is not subject to journalistic ethics. The danger for consumers looking for information about a product or company,” adds Schwartz, “is that bloggers may not be who they appear to be, and sometimes hide behind the anonymity of a ‘screen name’ which does not provide information about exactly who is composing the blog or, more commonly, responding to it. It is one way bloggers can disseminate inflammatory and misleading information and opinions.”

In some cases, a product review or comment may be placed by a public relations firm, self-styled journalist or corporate communications department for damage prevention or containment, or to counter public complaints about their products, retail outlets or organizations.

While many legitimate journalists’ blogs are designed to help readers understand complex stories, other blogs allow the writer to circumvent the checks and balances of journalism: objectivity and editorial review, and gives them a free hand to advance their own agenda and beliefs.

So, where can consumers find accurate reviews on companies, their products and services, consumer feedback and opinions? There are many well-respected consumer-oriented magazines and online sites to which they may turn for unbiased reviews written by legitimate reporters and reviewers.

Another way to find out about a company’s reputation with consumers is to use one of the popular search engines, type in the name of the company, followed by the word “complaints.”

Consumers also can see a company’s track record of consumer experience and marketplace behavior by pulling up a free BBB Reliability Report at www.bbb.org.

Consumers told to be on alert as scam making its way across the nation

Wallingford, CT – March 31, 2009 – Connecticut Better Business Bureau is warning the public to beware of letters supposedly from Publishers Clearing House which claim that they have won a grand prize drawing of $1 million. Despite official-looking letters, recipients are the target of a widespread scam that is seeing a sudden resurgence across the country.

The fake letters have shown up in mailboxes in 19 states since early March, on the heels of a legitimate Publishers Clearing House award to a woman who will receive $5000 a week for life. Not only are letters popping-up in mailboxes, but some people report receiving phone calls from scammers pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House as well.

The con artists send letters supposedly from Publishers Clearing House claiming the recipient has won $1 million as the second place winner of a drawing sponsored by Reader’s Digest Magazine. The letters also include a check for as much as $5,900 and instructions to call a representative named in the fake letter.

In order to receive the prize, the consumer is then instructed to cash the check and wire approximately $4,000 to Publishers Clearing House to receive the rest of the winnings. The check is fraudulent and any money sent by wire transfer cannot be recovered. The check ends up bouncing and the victims also may have to pay penalties to their bank.

Connecticut BBB President, Paulette Scarpetti says it may just be a matter of time before victims are targeted in this state.

“The most obvious indication that this is a scam is that people are being given a check, and then asked to wire a portion of it to claim their prize. No legitimate company operates this way. Consumers should never wire money to an unknown individual or company in order to receive something in return. “

While this scam predominantly takes advantage of individuals, business owners also need to be aware that their company’s name could potentially be used by fraudsters to pull off this con. The fraudulent checks sent to the supposed prize winners with the letter are copies of checks from legitimate businesses which have been stolen by the scammers. Businesses located in Alabama, California, Kansas and West Virginia have discovered that their checks—which included their name, address and even account number—were reproduced as part of the fraud.

Wallingford, CT – March 20, 2009 – There is new help for consumers who are looking to re-finance their homes or secure other loans from financial institutions.
The Fair Isaac Corporation, creator of the FICO score has changed its model for determining credit ratings in what is called “FICO 08.”

The scores, range from 300 to 850 and indicate consumers’ risk as borrowers, for defaulting on loans. The higher the score, the better. The national average FICO score is around 650.

More than 90 percent of the largest banks in the country rely on these ratings to determine both who they will lend to and at what interest rate.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau president, Paulette Scarpetti, says the changes more accurately reflect a borrower’s risk of defaulting on a loan.

“As a result of the change to the FICO formula, the Fair Isaac Corporation predicts most consumers may see their credit scores increase, rather than decrease. This is of crucial importance given the current economic difficulties, as many American families struggle to stay afloat by trying to secure more credit.”

The fair Isaac Corp. explains that two people with the same credit score under the old formula may have completely different scores under FICO 08.

FICO 08 is more forgiving of minor slip-ups and designed to more accurately reflect a borrower’s risk. Fair Isaac also predicts the new system will help lenders reduce default rates on consumer credit in the order of five to 15 percent.

In calculating scores, FICO 08 will continue to take into account factors such as a consumer’s financial history, including debt load, length of credit history, the number of open lines of credit and how much of that credit is being used. The difference is the weight each of these factors will be given in determining the FICO score.

Your Better Business Bureau has advice on how you can maintain a healthy credit score, and how the new system can work in your favor:

Small slip-ups hurt less:
Debts of less than $100 will have less of a negative impact on your score.

Looking at the big picture:
FICO 08 will take a more comprehensive look at your credit history, so that one negative aspect in your credit history will not necessarily destroy your credit rating.

Less available credit and closing accounts will hurt more:
Until the changeover to FICO 08, a history of using most of available credit had a negative effect on a credit score. That impact will now be even greater. As well, too few open credit accounts, inactive accounts or closing accounts will have a more significant negative impact.

Varied lines of credit will help:
This means a credit score may be improved by having different lines of credit, such as a mortgage, car loan or school loans in addition to credit cards.

Consumers are entitled to a free report once every 12 months at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. This will provide a report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These give the consumer information on how many accounts are open, their credit balance and contact information to close old accounts. For a few dollars, credit reporting agencies will also provide the FICO score.

Paying to find out that all-important number is a good investment for consumers who are concerned about their credit score, and the cost is minimal compared to the cost of being rejected for a loan, paying higher interest rates or even being turned down for a new job.

More information on being a responsible borrower and advice on how to increase your FICO score are available at www.bbb.org.

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Email: [email protected]
Tel: 1800-846-o8o3

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Country:USA

Liquidation prices not always a good deal for consumers

Wallingford, CT – February 24, 2009 – Connecticut Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to check retail prices on goods before buying them at liquidation sales.

Retailers across the country are being hit by the declining economy. Due to sluggish sales in 2008, some big names, including Linens-N-Things and Circuit City were forced into bankruptcy and are liquidating stock to pay creditors.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, warns bargain-hunters to be on the alert for “false deals.”

“We are all looking for good deals and a liquidation sale sounds like the consumer will be paying rock-bottom prices. These liquidation sales however, are handled by third parties and consumers don’t realize they may be paying too much for an item when they should instead be getting a discounted price. Unfortunately, the real bargains are not always advertised at going-out-of-business sales.”

A 2008 ABC news report revealed that many items sold during Linens-n-Things’ liquidation sale were marked up as much as 14 percent. More recently, a mystery shopper investigation by Consumer Reports revealed Circuit City’s liquidation sale included “deals” such as a big screen TV that had been marked up by more than $400 and computer printers with prices boosted by as much as 100 percent.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to protect consumers from getting bad deals at liquidation sales:

Shop around

Liquidators attempt to sell assets as quickly as possible and at the highest profit so some items will actually be priced higher. Moreover, competitors may sometimes drop their prices to compete with a liquidation sale.

Use a credit card

Unlike personal checks or cash, credit cards include built-in protection if the liquidator does not deliver on promised goods.

Know the status on warranties

Warranties are often serviced by a manufacturer or third party. This means the warranty will still apply, even if the retailer goes out of business. Nonetheless, consumers should always confirm the status of a warranty before buying.

Use gift cards ASAP

Businesses undergoing liquidation won’t be around very long so BBB recommends that consumers holding gift cards use them as soon as possible to avoid getting stuck with a worthless piece of plastic.

Don’t expect extreme customer service. Floor staff may be limited. Finally, consumers should keep in mind that all liquidation sales are final and that they don’t have many options if they are not satisfied with a purchase.

For more information on being a savvy consumer, visit www.bbb.org.

Connecticut BBB warns about methods used by dishonest companies seeking to rip-off consumers

Wallingford, CT – February 9, 2009 – A New Haven man was suspicious when he received a cashier’s check for $2,900 in the mail as an incentive to become a “mystery shopper,” earning money by purchasing items at various stores and dining at different restaurants.

All he had to do was deposit the check and wire a total of $2,560 by Western Union and MoneyGram back to the company, Washington-based Extreme Secret Shopper.

Suspicious of the scheme, instead of depositing the check, he contacted Connecticut Better Business Bureau to report the scam.

The company operates www.extremesecretshsopper.com which, on its home page, explains secret shoppers get “…paid by well known companies to evaluate their establishments…to improve their customer service.” A testimonial on the same web page, states “I regularly eat at popular restaurants, shop at well known department stores, go to the movies, buy my groceries, and I have even taken my entire family to Disneyland…all for FREE!.”

CT Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, warns Connecticut consumers that similar complaints about “mystery shopper” schemes have been turning up across the country.

“There are legitimate mystery shopper jobs available, however in the case of a phony offer, typically the cashier’s checks are fake, the consumer loses any money wired to a sham company and ultimately the victim is also liable for bank charges when the fake checks bounce.”

So how can you tell if a secret shopper opportunity is legitimate?

Consumers should steer clear of any “guarantee” of a job as a mystery, investigative or secret shopper, as well as any company that demands a fee to obtain job information or apply for a position or requires the deposit of a check with an accompanying request to send money back by wire transfer.

Cashier’s Check Scams:

· Do not trust a cashier’s check from someone you don’t know

· There is no above-board reason for someone who is giving you a check to ask for money to be wired to a third party.

· Finally, the fact that your financial institution will accept a check for deposit from an unscrupulous company does not mean the check is legitimate. It may take a week or longer for a counterfeit check to bounce, and consumers are responsible for the money and any other bank charges.

If you are considering an offer to become a secret shopper, ensure the company is established nearby and not located in another country, and check the name of any mystery shopper companies at www.bbb.org.

Nationwide complaints allege false advertising and unauthorized repeat billing after “free” trial

Wallingford, CT – January 26, 2009 – Connecticut Better Business is warning consumers about misleading sales and marketing practices and a not-so-free “free trial” of acai (pronounced Ah-Sa-E) weight loss supplements.

BBB has received thousands of complaints nationwide about repeating credit card charges when consumers sign-up for a free trial.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says some acai berry vendors are relying on celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey to boost sales.

“Celebrity endorsements are a powerful marketing tool, but in this case, not only are the supplements’ benefits overstated, but consumers are being charged for what is supposed to be a free trial, which, in the final analysis, continues to cost them month after month.”

Acai berry marketing touts the products as capable of fighting cancer and aging, shortening the length of a cold, assisting white blood cells attack and destroy viruses, bacteria, and parasites, and promoting dietary health and weight loss.

The acai industry is big business. Sales of these products in the form of supplements, teas and juices approached $15 million last year alone. Companies selling them include FX Supplements, Central Coast Nutraceuticals, South Florida Nutrition, Inc., and GlobalNet. They are also being promoted on social networking web sites.

These are among dozens of companies hawking the products. These supplements however, have not been evaluated by the FDA and their efficacy is questionable.

Scarpetti says the majority of complaints involve problems with the so-called “free trial.”

“Many of the companies selling these products are using the same sales model for their acai products: They lure customers with celebrity endorsements and free trial offers, and then lock them in by making it extremely difficult to cancel the automatic monthly delivery of more acai products and recurring charges.

“These companies are abusing endorsements from well-known, trusted celebrities as a tacit endorsement of the products and their sellers.”

In the case of FX Supplements, the company offers a risk-free trial for the cost of shipping and handling. If consumers do not cancel within the trial period they are sent additional product every month and billed for $85.90.

Complainants said they had difficulty canceling their subscription; some tried reaching the sellers by telephone only to find out the number was out of service or continuously busy, or they were simply shunted to voicemail.

Attempts to stop the recurring charges by e-mail were equally fruitless: the e-mail address did not work or the consumer continued to be billed despite repeated e-mails. Several customers reported they were forced to close their bank accounts and cancel credit cards to stop the billing.

Before purchasing acai products, Connecticut Better Business Bureau recommends first checking out the seller’s reputation by requesting a free Reliability Report at www.bbb.org in the consumer section, under “Check out a business or charity.” Consumers shopping online should look for the BBB seal on distributors’ web sites and click on the seal to confirm its legitimacy.

Consumer education can prevent post-holiday headaches

Wallingford, CT – December 8, 2008– Connecticut Better Business Bureau is urging holiday shoppers to think before they buy.

According to Connecticut BBB President, Paulette Hotton Scarpetti, smart shopping is essential for all consumers, especially those on tight budgets.

“People should think before they buy, and arm themselves with all of the pertinent information they will need to prevent any unpleasant surprises when the holidays are over.”

Your Better Business Bureau has the following tips for holiday shoppers:

Budget:

Making a budget is essential. Ensuring it is realistic is even more important. Include the cost of holiday cards, stamps, entertaining and clothing, and keep a running total to help you stay within your budget.

Comparison shopping:

If an item is worth buying, it is also worth the time to look for the lowest price. Some ads claim the “lowest price,” but BBB investigations show many companies making this claim do not have the lowest price on every item every day.

Getting a real deal:

How do you know when a sale is really a sale?

If a company boasts “70 percent off,” the question for shoppers is 70 percent off what?

Don’t rely on lowest price claims from retailers that are going out business. Check the price of an item at another store before making a commitment to buy.

Return policies and refunds:

Companies are not required to give you your money back, so ask for stores’ return policies before you buy. These are often posted prominently at the cashier. Most stores require a receipt for a refund or exchange, so ask for gift receipts and keep them taped to the inside of gift boxes to make returns easier for family and friends.

Restocking fees:

Some stores charge a restocking fee if a product is returned, to cover the loss of revenue if they can no longer sell an item as new. After doing your comparison shopping, ask about the store’s restocking fees.

Start With Trust:

If you are shopping at a company for the first time, take a moment to check the company’s Reliability Report at www.bbb.org, or contact Connecticut BBB at 203-269-2700.