Every week viewers who feel they have suffered injustices or been wronged contact Howard Thompson for assistance. Since its inception in 1995, CW11's "Help Me Howard" segment has aided hundreds of viewers who have benefited from Howard's intervention. His tenacious investigations have shut down an illegal eyeglass factory and helped recover $200,000 from a woman who stole from her daughter! In addition to resolving major conflicts, Howard also seeks to expose the average con artist. As a result of his most recent investigations, a mother was reimbursed by a bogus baby photo company and a web site that was claiming to solicit trainees as "salesreps for hire" was exposed as a hoax. Howard recently won his first Emmy Award for best Business/Consumer Program Series from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). If you would like to file a complaint against bluehippo.com, please contact the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. HELP ME HOWARD HOTLINE 212-210-2490 HELP ME HOWARD LINKS If you would like to make a donation or become a sponsor for the On Point Cyclones Basketball League, visit : The On Point Cyclones Basketball League website Howard's Online Safety Tips RESEARCH A COMPANY - Before doing business with an unknown company, find out who they are and what their record is. Access your Better Business Bureau, your Attorney General's office or local Consumer Affairs office for information. USE A CREDIT CARD - Credit cards protect their customers by allowing them to dispute errant charges and also create a paper trail, unlike cash. DON'T SEND CASH - Never send cash to a stranger via Moneygram or Western Union. Legitimate businesses have real addresses and will give you the name and address to send money to, which should always be in the form of a check or money order. CHECKS AREN'T ALWAYS SAFE EITHER - Never deposit a check sent to you from a stranger. If one does get deposited, you must wait at least 11 days to be sure that it is real. PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION - Never respond to strange e-mails requesting personal information like passwords, social security numbers or user names. If you are asked to call a phone number, verify it independently. USE PUBLIC COMPUTERS CAREFULLY - Do not use public computers at libraries, airports, or hotels for personal or financial business. The same goes for using your computer on a public wireless network. TURN IT OFF - Turn off your computer or disconnect the internet cable when it's not in use for a long time, this can reduce the chance of a remote computer from gaining access. TRUST YOUR GUT - If something doesn't look or sound right, trust your instinct. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. FILE A REPORT - If you are the victim of an online scam, file a report at your local police precinct, detective squad. They will investigate and forward it to the NYPD computer crime squad. What You Need To Know When Buying a Dog: · It's highly suggested those interested in buying a dog should reach out to reputable breeders, via the American Kennel Club. · Ask about signing a contract outlining care conditions for the dog, specifically if the breeder will reclaim the dog in the case that you won't be able to keep the dog. · DO your research online, but DO NOT buy a dog online. There are too many opportunities for potential scams like buying an unhealthy dog. · If you are buying a dog registered with the American Kennel Club, the breeder should have the papers proving the registration ready when you pick up the dog. Be weary of a breeder who doesn't have the appropriate papers, or applies an additional fee for paperwork. For more information visit the American Kennel Club website. If you'd like to make a donation or help in other ways, go to: www.operationjerseycares.org FOR HELP HANDLING A HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIM: Appealing a Decision - If your claim is denied and you believe this decision is in error, you may use the appeals process to initiate a review of the claim. Your plan will have a process for appealing a benefit decision with which you disagree. To find your plan's appeals process, including any time restrictions, visit your health plan's website or call the toll-free number on your ID card. FOR HELP WITH INSURANCE QUESTIONS IN NEW YORK, CALL THE NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AT: 1-800-342-3736 or 1-866-694-6743 or go to their website at: http://www.ins.state.ny.us/nyins.htm IN NEW JERSEY, CONTACT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE AT: 1-800-446-7467 or log onto: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/index.html If you would like to make a donation to help Olympia Feldman, go to her website at: http://olympiafeldman.tripod.com/ If you want to file a complaint against the Maquillage Make-Up company in Lodi, New Jersey, contact: Bergen County Division of Consumer Protection 1 Bergen County Plaza Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-336-6400 (Office) 201-336-6416 (Fax) If you would like to help the Newark Drum & Bugle Corps, log onto: www.spiritofnewark.org -or- call Executive Director Glenn Eng at (908) 868-4723 Here are some tips for the first time home buyer: Do not let yourself be pressured into signing anything. A legitimate business should always give you time to review a contract before signing. Have your own attorney review all contracts and loan documents before you sign. Be sure to ask your attorney about any provision you do not fully understand. It is not a good idea to use an attorney provided by the seller or the lender. One way to find an attorney in New York City is by calling the New York Bar Association referral line at (212) 626-7373. If you believe you have been a victim of predatory lending or real estate sales practices, and wish to file a complaint, call the New York State Attorney General's consumer helpline at (800) 771-7755 or visit their website at www.oag.state.ny.us. Before taking your items to a dry cleaner, be sure to protect yourself: Always, always get a receipt from your dry cleaner when leaving an item in their care. Before leaving an expensive item with the cleaners, you may want to take a picture of it and always hold onto original purchase receipts of expensive carpets, linens and garments. That way, if something happens you can prove the items worth. As time passes, most items depreciate in value, so you probably won't get the full value back for a missing coat that's 5 years old. And if you and your cleaner disagree, there's always small claims court. Thank you for your interest in helping the Cherif family. If you would like to send a donation, please send a check or money order made out to Debra Cherif. Do not send cash. Please put the payment in a stamped envelope, addressed to: Debra Cherif 27-29 21st Street Box 113 Astoria, NY 11102 Help Me Howard helped a Queens woman get her furniture back from a moving company which had taken it hostage. Here are some tips on hiring a qualified moving company. Moving company tips: Use only an insured mover, who is registered with the federal department of transportation and licensed to transport goods inter-state. Check for a mover's credentials at www.fmcsa.gov or call 202-366-9805 Don't hire a mover who gives you an estimate without visiting your home first, demands a large cash deposit or shows up on the day of the move with a rental truck instead of a company-owned and marked truck. Buy protection insurance from the moving company or buy moving insurance thru your regular agent. Unified Court System Dystonia Information: Dystonia-Parkinsons.org Help Injured Marine: Help Eddie Ryan