Friday, August 2, 2019

8.2.19 Should you eat expired food?; Clark Stinks

Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can

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Food company CEO Scott Nash spent a year eating food past its expiration date, tortillas a year past, yogurt months past and heavy cream 2.5 months past its expiration date. Truth: Most expirations dates on medicine and food don't mean ingestion will be dangerous past that date. Meds can be fine years out of date, perhaps less effective but most are not harmful. Expirations dates should be honored on certain foods, including deli meats, unpasteurized cheeses & milk. And tossing picnic foods that have been unrefrigerated too long is still the best advice. Implementing a voluntary system, 2 years ago the food industry came up with a compromise of 2 labels: Best if Used By and Use By - to reduce confusion. Nearly 90% of us toss expired foods. But that's not necessary with most food items. Scott Nash was just fine!Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

6 things to know about Costco’s return policy

When it comes to being able to take back something you’ve bought, it doesn’t get much better in the world of retail than the Costco return policy.

The warehouse club has a near-legendary return policy that is so generous it is sometimes abused by customers.

(Ever tried returning a dead Christmas tree in January? Costco will apparently take it.)

We know you’ve got questions, particularly about the Costco electronics return policy for TVs, laptops and more. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the store with your merchandise in hand…

Costco return policy: Know before you go

The ground rules when it comes to Costco’s refund policy is you can basically return anything, at any time, no questions asked — with some limited exceptions.

That extends to both merchandise like computers, mattresses, TVs and your membership. So, yes, in theory you could cancel your membership and get a full refund on your annual dues if you’re not happy at any time.

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into Costco’s return policy.

1. What if I don’t have my receipt?

Costco’s refund policy is very lenient when it comes to this common scenario.

“It helps if you have the receipt or original product packaging, but it may not be necessary to process your return,” the warehouse club says online.

2. A special 90-day policy applies to electronics and appliances

In order to keep offering its great refund policy, Costco has to put some limits in somewhere — and it’s mainly in these two product categories.

Here’s a list of electronics and appliances that you can only return within 90 days after purchasing the item:

Televisions
Tuner-free displays
Projectors
Computers
Tablets
Smart watches
Cameras
Aerial cameras (drones)
Camcorders
MP3 players
Cellular phones
Refrigerators above 10 cu. ft.
Freezers
Ranges
Cooktops
Over-the-range microwaves
Dishwashers
Washers and dryers

3. Returning a diamond? Check the weight first

There are some extra hoops to jump through if you’re returning a diamond that is 1.00 carat or larger.

“Members returning a diamond over 1.00ct must also present all original paperwork (IGI and/or GIA certificates),” Costco notes online.

Diamond solitaire rings and jewelry items that weigh more than 1.00 carat have to go through Costco’s fulfillment center for verification before you can get a refund. This process can take up to five business days.

Can’t make it out to the store to return your diamond? No worries. Costco also has a procedure to do it from home via UPS pickup.

4. Can I return cigarettes and alcohol?

The ability to return wine, beer and spirits varies by state law. Ditto for cigarettes. So be sure to check with your local club for specifics.

5. Special considerations for tires and batteries

Some items you buy with the understanding they won’t last forever. Case in point: Tires and batteries.

Items like these “may be sold with a product-specific limited warranty,” according to Costco.

So does that mean you can’t return them? Not necessarily, but things get a little gray here.

It may depend on how persuasive you are face-to-face. As with all returns, it’s up to the manager to make a final decision about whether or not to accept your return.

This is particularly true with tires.

“If you’re not completely satisfied with your order, please speak with the staff at your local Costco Tire Center,” the company says online.

Now let’s be perfectly clear: We’re not advocating that you buy tires from Costco, use them up and then return them to get your money back. Nor should you do that with batteries.

But the nice thing is that Costco has a consumer-friendly safeguard in place so it doesn’t have to come to that. Their five-year Road Hazard Warranty protects your wallet from tread wear damage and tire failure for 60 months after purchase.

Read more about buying tires at Costco here.

6. Custom products can’t be returned

As a general rule, items purchased through special order kiosks or that are customized in some way can’t be returned.

For example, Costco Photo Center offers a wide range of photo gifts. Beyond just custom cards, there are things like mugs, banners, calendars, throw rugs and more that you can put a picture on to personalize them.

Items like this can’t be returned. The only exception would for warranty repair/replacement due to failure to meet specifications.

You can read more about Costco Photo services here.

Final thought

Costco has an extremely generous return policy, notwithstanding the exceptions outlined above.

So whatever it is you’ve got — food, clothing, even a mattress — can probably be returned without the receipt or original packaging.

Should a dispute arise when you try to return something, remember that all returns are processed at the manager’s discretion — and returning things too often could lead to your membership being cancelled!

YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now: 7 things to consider before you sign up

If you’re feeling stuck with a $100 a month cable package, YouTube TV and DirecTV Now are two streaming services that can cut your bill in half.

For $50 a month, the cable and satellite TV alternatives offer local news, sports and dozens of the most popular networks like ESPN, Disney, TBS, USA, CNN and more.

But before you sign up for either service, you need to know about some key differences…

RELATED: How to cut the cord and never pay for cable TV again

YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now: Which live TV streaming service is best?

Clark.com has reviewed all of the leading live TV streaming services for cord-cutters right now. Through our research, we’ve identified seven deciding factors to help you choose between DirecTV Now and YouTube TV:

1. Monthly price

YouTube TV increased the price of its 70+ channel streaming TV bundle to $50/month in April 2019.

After revising its plans in March 2019, DirecTV Now’s most affordable plan has more than 40 channels for $50 a month. However, its bundles now come with HBO included.

Both of the providers offer free trials and there are no contracts or cancellation penalties.

Monthly price: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

$50/month for 70+ channels

DirecTV Now Plus: $50/month for 40+ channels
DirecTV Now Max: $70/month for 50+ channels

2. Channel lineup

Before DirecTV Now changed up its plans, many people thought it had the best channel lineup of the major streaming TV services.

The new $50 per month DirecTV Now Plus package has only 40+ channels, including local stations. Many popular entertainment networks that were in its previous bundles are no longer available.

The addition of HBO is really what makes DirecTV Now different from its streaming competitors.

Meanwhile, the strength in YouTube TV’s channel lineup is with sports networks like ESPN, Fox Sports 1 & 2, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, MLB Network, NBCSN, SEC Network, NBA TV and more.

DirecTV Now Plus has only a few of those networks, but you can get more of them with its $70/month Max plan.

Channel lineups: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now Plus

YouTube TV: $50/monthDirecTV Now: "Plus" plan, $50/month ABCABC AccuWeather AMC Animal Planet Audience BBC America BBC World News BET Big Ten Network (BTN) Boomerang BravoBravo Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network CBSCBS CBS Sports Network CheddarCheddar Cheddar Big News CNBCCNBC CNBC World CNBC World CNNCNN Comedy Central Comet Cozi TV CWCW Discovery Channel Disney ChannelDisney Channel Disney JuniorDisney Junior Disney XDDisney XD E!E! ESPNESPN ESPN2ESPN2 ESPNews ESPNU Food Network FOXFOX Fox Business NetworkFox Business Network Fox News ChannelFox News Channel Fox Sports 1 (FS1)Fox Sports 1 (FS1) Fox Sports 2 (FS2) FreeformFreeform FXFX FXMFXM FXXFXX Golf Channel Hallmark Channel HBO
HBO Family
HBO Latino HGTV HLNHLN IFC Investigation Discovery (ID) Local Now MLB Network MotorTrend MSNBCMSNBC MTV National GeographicNational Geographic Nat Geo WildNat Geo Wild NBA TV NBCNBC NBCSNNBCSN Newsy Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Olympic Channel Ovation OxygenOxygen Pop Revolt SEC Network Smithsonian Channel Start TV Sundance TV SYFYSYFY Tastemade TBSTBS TCM (Turner Classic Movies)TCM (Turner Classic Movies) TelemundoTelemundo Tennis Channel TLC TNTTNT Travel Channel truTVtruTV Universal KidsUniversal Kids Universo USAUSA WE tv

3. Cloud DVR

DirecTV Now only recently added 20 hours of free cloud DVR storage to its plans, while YouTube TV has offered unlimited cloud DVR storage from the very start.

Cloud DVR: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Unlimited cloud DVR storage
Recordings kept for 9 months

20 free hours of cloud DVR storage
Recordings kept for 30 days

In October 2018, YouTube TV addressed one of the biggest complaints about its service, which involves the DVR.

When users went to view the content they recorded, they were sometimes forced to watch a video on-demand (VOD) version with unskippable advertisements — not the DVR version that lets you fast-forward through the ads.

In a tweet, YouTube TV announced a deal that makes a lot more content immediately available for DVR playback:

You asked, we listened. Enjoy more of your favorite recorded shows with full control to pause, rewind, & fast forward anytime during playback. Thanks to our partners @AMC_TV, @Disney, @FOXTV, @NBCUniversal & @Turner for making their content immediately available for DVR playback!

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) October 4, 2018

4. Multiple streams

With most live TV streaming services, you can use the same account to stream on multiple devices at the same time.

For example, a service that allows two simultaneous streams would let you watch your favorite show on the living room TV and the kids can watch something else in the basement.

You can stream on two screens at once with DirecTV Now and three with YouTube TV.

Multiple streams: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Stream on up to three devices at the same time

Stream on up to two devices at the same time
$5/month for a third stream

5. Minimum internet speed

Like other live TV streaming services, a high-speed internet connection is required for YouTube TV and DirecTV Now. To avoid any buffering issues, most services recommend a minimum internet download speed of more than 10 Mbps.

If you don’t know your download speed, you can test it for free at SpeedTest.net or SpeedOf.Me.

Not getting what you’re paying for? When I called my internet service provider and gave them the results from SpeedTest.net, a technician came out to troubleshoot my internet problems free of charge.

Here’s a list of the minimum internet speeds for YouTube TV, DirecTV Now, Sling TV and more!

Minimum internet download speed: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

13 Mbps or more: Reliably stream HD video, even with other devices using the same network
7 Mbps: Stream one HD video; may experience buffering issues if using multiple devices
3 Mbps: Stream standard definition video
Under 3 Mbps: YouTube TV may load slowly or rebuffer

12 Mbps: Minimum recommended download speed for broadband connections to the home

6. Supported devices

You can stream on your phone, computer or to your TV using a supported device. YouTube TV and DirecTV Now both support popular affordable streaming devices like Google Chromecast and Roku Express.

However, you should know that Amazon Fire TV is NOT an option if you decide to go with YouTube TV.

Supported devices: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Google Chromecast
Roku
Apple TV
Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X
Select smart TVs

Google Chromecast
Roku
Apple TV
Amazon Fire TV
Samsung Smart TV (2017 and 2018 models)

7. Overall performance and reliability

Several members of Team Clark have extensively tested DirecTV Now and YouTube TV since the services first launched.

YouTube TV has a stronger performance track record overall because DirecTV Now got off to a rough start, though it has made significant improvements to reduce buffering and error messages.

Money expert Clark Howard says that if YouTube TV’s channel lineup meets your needs, the choice is clear:

“My favorite of all the streaming products is YouTube TV. It has a pretty wide array of television programming, but what’s really neat is that multiple people could be watching different things at the same time and everybody has an unlimited DVR,” Clark says.

Of course, YouTube TV and DirecTV Now aren’t your only options to consider. Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV and PlayStation Vue also have streaming plans for about $50 a month.

More Clark.com stories you may like:

The best live TV streaming services for NFL and college football season

If you want to give up traditional cable or satellite TV, you don’t have to wait until football season is over to cut the cord.

I’ve been reviewing live TV streaming plans and deals for a while and have a few suggestions for NFL and college football fans that may help cut your pay-TV bill in half.

Let’s start with five ways NFL fans can save money for the 2018-2019 football season:

How to watch NFL football on YouTube TV, DirecTV Now and Sling TV for the 2018-2019 season

1. You can pick up lots of Sunday games with an antenna!

It may seem obvious, but most NFL games don’t require a subscription to a live TV streaming service at all. Games broadcast on CBS, FOX and NBC can be picked up with a $20 to $40 digital antenna.

AntennaWeb.org is a great resource to help you find the best antenna for your needs based on location.

2. Monday Night Football

If your team is playing on Monday Night Football this season, you’ll need to get ESPN. YouTube TV, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV all include the network in their base packages.

The cheapest way to get ESPN is with Sling TV’s Orange bundle, which costs $25 per month. See our review here.

3. Thursday Night Football

NFL Network, FOX and Amazon Prime Video are three ways to watch all the Thursday night action for the 2018-2019 season, according to an NFL news release:

Amazon Prime will stream the 11 Thursday Night Football games broadcast by FOX, which will also be simulcast on NFL Network and distributed in Spanish on FOX Deportes, once again securing the league’s “Tri-Cast” model of broadcast (FOX), cable (NFL Network, FOX Deportes), and digital (Amazon Prime Video) distribution.

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, the TNF games will also be available to Twitch viewers.

Most live TV streaming services don’t include NFL Network with their cheapest plans, but the Sling TV’s Orange + Blue bundle has the channel included for $40 a month.

4. NFL Sunday Ticket

Don’t want to miss those out-of-market games? NFL Sunday Ticket isn’t cheap, but there’s a deal for students that will lower the cost to about $100 for the season — roughly $200 off.

Click here for a coupon code from our Clark Deals team that makes the student deal even better!

5. Take advantage of the free trials

Once you’ve identified the networks that your team is playing on (see this list), you can use our channel comparison chart below to see which streaming service is the best fit.

If it’s just a game or two that you can’t get with an antenna, remember they all have free trial periods — usually a week.

Unlike traditional cable and satellite TV, streaming services don’t have contracts. You can try one for a month and switch to another one. Try them all if you want!

A note for college football fans…

Like the NFL, many NCAA college football games air on broadcast networks that you can pick up with an antenna.

ESPN, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network and SEC Network are just a handful of the cable channels that will carry other games, so it’s best to find your team’s schedule and make a plan based on that information.

Regional sports networks may be available with your live TV streaming service. Here’s how to learn more:

Team Clark pulled the channel lineups for popular live TV streaming services that cost around $40 a month. You may be able to get more of the networks you want for a higher monthly price.

These cable networks are among those airing football games, highlights and analysis for the 2018-2019 season:

Football channels by streaming service

YouTube TV: $40/month DirecTV Now “Live a Little” plan: $40/month PlayStation Vue “Access” plan: $44.99/month Hulu with Live TV: $39.99/month Sling TV “Orange + Blue” plan: $40/month ACC Network Extra Big Ten Network (BTN) Big Ten Network (BTN) CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPNU ESPNU ESPNews ESPNews ESPN Goal Line Fox Sports Fox Sports Fox Sports (select markets) FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS2 FS2 FS2 FS2 NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN NESN NFL Network SEC Network SEC Network SportsTime Ohio SNY

These streaming services offer plenty of other channels besides networks that carry NFL and college football. Click here to see our full channel comparison and read about Clark’s #1 favorite streaming service.

More Clark.com stories you may like:

Sling TV just added 9 new channels to its lineup: See the list!

If you’re a fan of channels like Discovery, Investigation Discovery and TLC, you can now stream them on Sling TV.
The popular live TV streaming service has launched nine Discovery networks on its domestic and Spanish-language services without raising prices.
Here’s a breakdown of the new Sling TV channels by package…
“We are thrilled to add Discovery networks to Sling TV’s lineup as they bring highly-requested channels that offer immersive programs for any age group,” said Warren Schlichting, president of Sling TV. “With the addition of some Discovery channels in our base service and others in our genre-based add-on Extras, we continue to deliver on our consumer promise of providing the most choice and flexibility in programming options.”

DirecTV Now, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue are raising prices on streaming bundles

Ditching cable or satellite TV service for an internet-based streaming bundle can save you a lot of money, but you may not be able to avoid these price hikes!

Programming fees are on the way up, so DirecTV Now, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue are passing those costs along to consumers.

DirecTV Now, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue are raising prices on their streaming plans

RELATED: Which live TV streaming service has the best channel lineup?

Last week, Sling TV announced that its Sling Orange plan was increasing from $20 to $25 a month. The package includes more than 30 live TV channels like ESPN, CNN, HGTV, AMC, Comedy Central and the History Channel.

Even with the price hike, $25 is still the cheapest way to switch to a live TV streaming service and get ESPN.

This is the only rate change that Sling TV has made. Its Sling Blue package remains $25 a month and you can still get Sling Orange + Sling Blue for $40 a month.

The new $25 price for Sling Orange takes effect immediately for new customers and in August for existing ones.

On the same day that Sling TV made its announcement, AT&T launched a skinny streaming bundle called AT&T WatchTV. It features many of the Turner networks that the company acquired after merging with Time Warner.

AT&T WatchTV costs $15 as a standalone service, but it’s free if you have an unlimited wireless plan with AT&T.

RELATED: AT&T WatchTV Review: The $15/month live TV streaming service

The news doesn’t stop there! AT&T has confirmed to Clark.com that it’s increasing the price of DirecTV Now by $5 on all base packages, so the $35 a month plan for 60+ channels will be $40 a month.

“In the 18 months since our launch, we have continued to evolve our DIRECTV NOW products to serve our new customer set and compare favorably with our competitors. To continue delivering the best possible streaming experience for both new and existing customers, we’re bringing the cost of this service in line with the market — which starts at a $40 price point.”

AT&T says the change is effective July 26 for new customers and will vary for existing customers based on their billing date.

Finally, PlayStation Vue is also going to be charging customers more. In a blog post, the company said all plans will increase by $5 a month starting on July 24.

Some of the price hikes…

Streaming TV bundle Old price New price Sling Orange $20/month $25/month DirecTV Now Live a Little $35/month $40/month PlayStation Vue Access $39.99/month $44.99/month

Final thought

The price changes from Sling TV, DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue come after YouTube TV increased the price of its bundle from $35 to $40 a month after adding several additional networks. That was back in March.

If you’re a current customer and don’t want to pay more, just cancel! There are no contracts with streaming services.

To find out which live TV streaming service is best for you, consult our channel lineup comparison chart. It will help you choose between DirecTV Now, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV and others.

The chart isolates streaming plans that cost around $40 or less, though most providers have more expensive bundles.

One final tip: Since you’re going to need to pay for internet service (Ask Clark: How do I get the cheapest internet service?) with any of these streaming plans, try to avoid expensive add-on channels and features.

More Clark.com stories you may like:

Chase Ink Business Preferred Card review

In 2016 Chase made quite a few updates to their credit card lineup. They introduced the extremely popular Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards during the first eight months of the year. Then to wrap things up, they released a new small business card, the Chase Ink Business Preferred card.

There are a lot of small business credit cards available to choose from, but Chase has done a good job making this card stand out. Between having a generous signup bonus and bonus category rewards, this quickly became one of the most sought after cards on the market.

Within this Chase Ink Business Preferred review we are going to dig into the features and costs. This will help you determine if this rewards credit card has a place in your wallet.

Chase Ink Business Preferred rewards

One of the best parts of the Chase Ink Business Preferred card is the massive signup bonus. You’re going to receive 80,000 Chase Ultimate Reward points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

You will then earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, cable and phone services, internet and on advertising made on select social media and search engine websites.

Being able to earn bonus reward points for social media and search engine advertising is a game-changer for many small business owners. This has given them the ability to scale their business through digital marketing and earn up to 450,000 points per year doing so.

All other purchases made with the card that don’t fall within one of the bonus categories will earn 1 point per $1 spent.

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Reward points

So what are all these Chase Ultimate Reward points worth? It depends on how you want to redeem them. The baseline value is one cent per point. However, you have the choice to use them to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. This will give you a 25% bonus, making each point worth 1.25 cents.

Another option is to transfer your points to one of the many transfer partners. These include the following:

Aer Lingus AerClub
British Airways Executive Club
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
Iberia Plus
Korean Air SkyPass
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
United MileagePlus
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
IHG Rewards Club
Marriott Rewards
Ritz-Carlton Rewards
World of Hyatt

The value you get from your points when you transfer to a loyalty program will depend on the itinerary itself. It’s not uncommon to book a really expensive hotel or flight and receive anywhere from five to 10 cents per point in value.

Chase Ink Business Preferred Card perks

If the earning potential of the Chase Ink Business Preferred isn’t enough for you, there are several perks you can take advantage of:

Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance – One of them is trip cancellation/Interruption insurance. If your trip is cancelled or cut short because of a covered reason, you could receive compensation of up to $5,000 for any non-refundable expenses you might have.

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver – If you are renting a car for business purposes, you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance. With the Chase Ink Business Preferred card, you will receive primary car insurance. This means if you are in an accident, you would file a claim through Chase without being required to notify your primary insurance company.

Cell Phone Insurance – If you or your employees’ cell phones are stolen or damaged and you pay your bill with a Chase Ink Business Preferred card, you can receive up to $600 in compensation per claim. There is a $100 deductible and you can only file three claims per 12 month period.

Extended Warranty Protection – This will extend any manufacturers warranty of three years or less by an additional year.

Purchase Protection – If an eligible purchase is damaged or stolen within the first 120 days, you will receive compensation of up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 per credit card account).

Chase Ink Business Preferred pricing

The Chase Ink Business Preferred card comes with a $95 annual fee, which is pretty minimal considering the earning potential. Plus, if you are planning to travel outside the United States, this card can make the trip with you. With no foreign transaction fees, you won’t need to worry about purchases costing you more than they should.

Chase Ink Business Preferred: Does it make sense for you?

If you’re a small business owner, then the Chase Ink Business Preferred card is tough to pass up. Not only does it offer a very generous sign up bonus, but you also have the ability to earn 3x points on business purchases, including social media and search engine advertising.

However, just like any other credit card, you need to be able to pay your credit card balance in full each month. If not, the interest accrued will wipe out the value of the rewards you earn.

More Clark.com Credit Card stories you might enjoy:

This new tool shows the states with the most spam calls

A new interactive web page from the Federal Trade Commission aims to shed a little light on what’s become a huge problem in the United States: unwanted robocalls.

New FTC robocall tool shows who gets the most spam calls

The page, which the FTC says will be updated quarterly, let’s users see spam call statistics at the state and even county level. It also includes information on calls by type, by date and whether those calls were made by a machine or a live person. The statistics are based on complaints made from October 2016 to June 2019 to the National Do Not Call Registry about unwanted calls.

The Do Not Call Registry accepts numbers from both cell phones and landlines.

FTC robocalls map

The page is interactive, so it’s worth spending some time poking around on it to see what you can discover. Here are some of the most interesting things Team Clark found:

New Jersey had the most complaints per capita, with 7,609 complaints registered per 100,000 residents
At the other end of the spectrum was Alaska with just 1,380 complaints per 100,000 residents
States with the most complaints were concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West
Calls about reducing debt received the most complaints — nearly twice as many as the next category, medical and prescription calls
Even though it may appear that the robocall problem is getting worse and worse, it appears that they may have peaked in the middle of 2017. Complaints were at their lowest point over the last few years in January of 2019

That may be in part because phone carriers appear to finally be getting serious about reducing the number of spam calls their customers are getting. The U.S. government has announced that it is working on measures to do the same.

If you want to prevent robocalls in your life, check out Team Clark’s guide to stop robocalls for good!

More stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:

Big change coming to Chase credit cards: Should you opt out?

EDITOR’S NOTE: The deadline for mailing your opt-out letter to JPMorgan Chase is August 7. If you want to opt out, make sure your letter (a sample letter is below) is postmarked by that date.

Tens of millions of Americans who carry Chase credit cards in their wallets have been notified in recent weeks of a big change to the terms of their accounts with card issuer JPMorgan Chase Bank.

That change is a “binding arbitration provision” that essential means that cardholders no longer have the option of suing JPMorgan Chase or joining a class-action lawsuit if anything were to go wrong. Instead, any grievances would go before an arbitrator.

What does this arbitration provision from Chase mean, and how do I opt out?

First of all, here’s what the email notice looked like. If you’re a Chase cardholder, you might want to check your inbox again if you missed it:

Chase arbitration email

Money expert Clark Howard says that Chase actually has trailed most of the rest of of the financial industry in taking away legal access that you have if your bank or other financial organization has cheated you.

“They’re kind of a laggard on this, where they’ve continued to allow people to use their constitutional rights to go after the financial institution if they do something rotten or criminal or illegal like in the case of Wells Fargo,” Clark says.

“Now, unless you tell Chase otherwise, they’re going to take away your right under the U.S. Constitution to access the U.S. court system or state court systems.”

“The whole idea is they’re just taking advantage of the idea that the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that financial institutions are free to impose these arbitrations on consumers,” Clark says.

“The horrible thing is the banks choose the arbitrators and they win just a hair under 100% of the time in these arbitrations because the arbitrators only keep working if they find for the banks. It’s a terrible, terrible system.”

But, as a cardholder, you do have an option: You can send Chase a letter (like the old days) to preserve your right to have access to the courts.

“The reality — and Chase knows this — is that nobody is going to do that, except maybe a few hundred or a few thousand people, even thought they’re such a huge financial organization,” Clark says.

Here is an example of what the letter should look like, courtesy of Military Money Manual:

Chase Customer Service

P.O. Box 15298

Wilmington, DE 19850-5298

Your First name Last name

Street address

City, State, Zip code

Regarding: Rejecting Chase Binding Arbitration Agreement

To Whom It May Concern:

Please note that I REJECT the Chase Binding Arbitration Agreement effective August 11, 2019. Please confirm receipt of this rejection and annotate my account(s) appropriately.

Name: First name Last name

Account Number(s): 4147-2222-3333-4444, 1234-5678-9012-2342

Billing Address: 124 Address Street, City, State ZIPCODE
Signature: (Actually sign here)

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

First name Last name

8.1.19 How to buy a home; Do you need cell phone insurance?; Working while in college

Clark's 13-year-old son was all over getting a cell phone protection plan. We're so connected to our devices that when in a cell phone store, we're susceptible to the pitch to buy their junk insurance product. Don't do it. Cell phone insurance is horrible, trashy junk. Don't do it. It's overpriced, and you have a big deductible for what's usually a refurbished replacement phone. Have wide insurance in your life disability. Use a credit card hat provides free cell phone insurance when you use it to pay your monthly cell bill.

There's one thing higher and trade education students can do to boost their chances of good-paying jobs after school - work while in school. ?Working in college makes for higher paid grads. Northeastern University grads tend to easily get good jobs after school because working is built into the curriculum. Students alternate semesters with working full-time. The degree takes an extra year, going year-round. New grads have years of experience in their field of study. Having work experience provides maturity so valuable to employers. Clark was a full-time working night student in college and grad school. That work experience served him well, allowing him to retire (the 1st time) at age 31.

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People have issues with financing, builders, selling, and buying used homes. There are many confusing moving parts. Clark discusses 9 steps to buying a home involving credit, qualifying and shopping for loans, shopping homes, negotiating etc. Local communities have design rules that have crushed affordability for first time home buyers. In dense urban areas, the value of land drives the cost of homes. So out-of-date rules on land use create many inefficiencies, including affordability. The next wave of urban planning should take into account creating efficiencies that will allow more affordable, smaller single-family housing in metro corridors.Clark's 13-year-old son was all over getting a cell phone protection plan. We're so connected to our devices that when in a cell phone store, we're susceptible to the pitch to buy their junk insurance product. Don't do it. Cell phone insurance is horrible, trashy junk. Don't do it. It's overpriced, and you have a big deductible for what's usually a refurbished replacement phone. Have wide insurance in your life disability. Use a credit card hat provides free cell phone insurance when you use it to pay your monthly cell bill.There's one thing higher and trade education students can do to boost their chances of good-paying jobs after school - work while in school. ?Working in college makes for higher paid grads. Northeastern University grads tend to easily get good jobs after school because working is built into the curriculum. Students alternate semesters with working full-time. The degree takes an extra year, going year-round. New grads have years of experience in their field of study. Having work experience provides maturity so valuable to employers. Clark was a full-time working night student in college and grad school. That work experience served him well, allowing him to retire (the 1st time) at age 31.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

7.31.19 Back to school sales; Medical bill shock; Free fitness classes

Yet another medical bill shock. In mid and large size communities hospital systems are expanding to gain market control, with generally 3 such systems dominating a metro. In addition to 'roll-ups' - the buying out of smaller independent hospitals, large hospital systems buy up individual doctor practices. If the doctors choose not to sell-out, they get no referrals. When your doctor's practice is purchased by a hospital, know that is a landmine for your wallet.

Clark is not an athlete but is a self-motivated fitness nut. In order to sustain an exercise program, many find they do much better as part of organized group activities. That's a hot trend right now. Many traditional fitness centers are failing (so don't pay big money upfront for a gym membership). Experiential facilities offering group classes are the rage now. This is labor-intensive for a facility and therefore expensive for consumers. If you know you need group motivation, consider your local YMCA as an affordable alternative, where classes are offered for less. Also, all over the country, there are free exercise group activities to be found. Search a site like

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Back to school sales have begun in much of the country. Overwhelmingly, schools have migrated to Chromebooks as the computer of choice. Chromebooks are easier to manage and maintain and are less vulnerable to viruses. No frills Chromebooks are under $100. If your child is going to a Chromebook based school, your cost will for a really capable one will be around $150. If your child is going to a Windows school - a good Windows laptop will cost around $199.Yet another medical bill shock. In mid and large size communities hospital systems are expanding to gain market control, with generally 3 such systems dominating a metro. In addition to 'roll-ups' - the buying out of smaller independent hospitals, large hospital systems buy up individual doctor practices. If the doctors choose not to sell-out, they get no referrals. When your doctor's practice is purchased by a hospital, know that is a landmine for your wallet.Clark is not an athlete but is a self-motivated fitness nut. In order to sustain an exercise program, many find they do much better as part of organized group activities. That's a hot trend right now. Many traditional fitness centers are failing (so don't pay big money upfront for a gym membership). Experiential facilities offering group classes are the rage now. This is labor-intensive for a facility and therefore expensive for consumers. If you know you need group motivation, consider your local YMCA as an affordable alternative, where classes are offered for less. Also, all over the country, there are free exercise group activities to be found. Search a site like MeetUp.com to locate a free local meetup group.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

7.30.19 Buying term life insurance; Clark shares an inspiring story; Rules for financial freedom

In the midst of seaside nuptials, a distress call occurs. A teen surfer is being dragged out to sea, as 2 others attempt a rescue. Groom Zack Edwards, a Coast Guard member, springs into action. All make it safely back to shore. Link to the video at Clark.com. Often we only get the bad news. Zack Edwards made the decision to risk his life for others.

What do you want to achieve? What's important to you?

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There's much confusion surrounding life insurance - Who needs it? How much? How do you go about buying it? Only ultra-high income earners might be candidates for whole life. Avoid universal life and variable universal life - those are recipes for disaster. Most people should have level term life, wherein the premiums do not change for the term of the insurance. The purpose is the replacement of income to provide for loved ones. Term life only pays in case of death and is easy to comparison shop for and buy.In the midst of seaside nuptials, a distress call occurs. A teen surfer is being dragged out to sea, as 2 others attempt a rescue. Groom Zack Edwards, a Coast Guard member, springs into action. All make it safely back to shore. Link to the video at Clark.com. Often we only get the bad news. Zack Edwards made the decision to risk his life for others.What do you want to achieve? What's important to you? The FIRE movement is getting backlash today against people who've set the goal to retire early by saving maximum money to do what they want in early retirement. Have the goal. Track your spending. Paying with cash makes for more mindful spending. For those who can't get spending under control, living on a cash basis only drastically reduces spending. Make sure to automate savings into your retirement accounts.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

Capital One data breach affects more than 100 million customers

A massive data breach at Capital One Financial Corporation is impacting more than 100 million people in the U.S. and Canada, the company said in a press release.

That would make it one of the 10 largest data breaches ever, according to data from security and risk management watchdog CSO.

Capital One data breach: Who’s affected and what to do if you’re a victim

Capital One says in the release that “there was unauthorized access by an outside individual who obtained certain types of personal information relating to people who had applied for its credit card products and to Capital One credit card customers.”

Based on analysis by the company, that includes around 100 million people in the U.S. and 6 million in Canada.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington State said Monday that Paige A. Thompson, a 33-year-old former technology company software engineer, was arrested for the data theft.

Capital One said it is “unlikely that the information was used for fraud or disseminated by this individual,” but the investigation is ongoing.

According to Capital One, the majority of customers affected were consumers and small business owners who applied for the company’s credit cards between 2005 and early 2019.

“This information included personal information Capital One routinely collects at the time it receives credit card applications, including names, addresses, zip codes/postal codes, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and self-reported income,” the company said.

Even more disturbing, the information accessed included 140,000 Social Security numbers of U.S. customers and 1 million Social Insurance numbers of Canadian customers, along with 80,000 linked bank accounts of secured credit card customers.

Capital One says it is alerting affected customers “through a variety of channels” and making free credit monitoring and identity protection available to those people.

The company has set up a Frequently Asked Questions page regarding the incident here.

What to do if you were affected by the Capital One breach

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first massive breach of a financial services company in recent years and it almost certainly won’t be the last. Team Clark’s advice on what to do in these situations is multi-pronged:

With so many criminals out there eager to take advantage of people, there will be more data breaches in the future. But by taking these steps, you can at least protect yourself to some degree.

7.29.19 More people are ditching home internet; Watch out for these fake charges; You might actually need flood insurance

The simple scam hitting millions of us is an easy rip-off to watch out for. Consumer warning: What you don't notice on your monthly bills can cost you. While a big bank looked the other way, criminals stole untold hundreds of millions from consumers. The bank had sold all the credit card numbers in their portfolio to crooks who put fake charges through monthly for 3 years. The bank played dumb and 93% of consumers never noticed fake charges hitting them every single month. The worst part is that the criminals are heavily targeting debit card users. If you don't notice immediately a fraudulent debit, you don't have the rights that come with credit cards. The money is gone forever even if your bank acknowledges the fraud. You're out the money. It's up to you every month to look through credit and debit charges. If something doesn't look right - dispute it.

Much of the country has seen devastating flooding. Even outside federally designated flood zones there is risk. Facing that risk is vital. By FEMA's own admission, current flood maps are out of date and incomplete around the country. 3 additional factors: rising sea levels, development replacing ground cover with asphalt and increasingly severe weather patterns - are putting more properties at risk of flooding. The Midwest is suffering mightily from extreme flooding, devastating the lives and finances of many. The terms "1000, 500 and 100 year floods' refer to specific math formulas and are not to be taken literally. Be realistic. If you can see development above you, you could be a sitting duck for flooding, which regular insurance does not cover. Check prices at

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The cost of home broadband has gotten so expensive and more consumers are disconnecting home internet in favor of cell phone Wi-Fi. USA Today reports 40% are using cell phone internet exclusively now for service. They're finding that it works out fine. On cell phones, people don't have to worry about data overages. Some carriers may impose network management for those who've used a lot of data that month and find themselves in congested areas, by crawling service till the next billing cycle. But there's no overage. This is a great alternative to paying huge money to a cable monopoly for home internet service.The simple scam hitting millions of us is an easy rip-off to watch out for. Consumer warning: What you don't notice on your monthly bills can cost you. While a big bank looked the other way, criminals stole untold hundreds of millions from consumers. The bank had sold all the credit card numbers in their portfolio to crooks who put fake charges through monthly for 3 years. The bank played dumb and 93% of consumers never noticed fake charges hitting them every single month. The worst part is that the criminals are heavily targeting debit card users. If you don't notice immediately a fraudulent debit, you don't have the rights that come with credit cards. The money is gone forever even if your bank acknowledges the fraud. You're out the money. It's up to you every month to look through credit and debit charges. If something doesn't look right - dispute it.Much of the country has seen devastating flooding. Even outside federally designated flood zones there is risk. Facing that risk is vital. By FEMA's own admission, current flood maps are out of date and incomplete around the country. 3 additional factors: rising sea levels, development replacing ground cover with asphalt and increasingly severe weather patterns - are putting more properties at risk of flooding. The Midwest is suffering mightily from extreme flooding, devastating the lives and finances of many. The terms "1000, 500 and 100 year floods' refer to specific math formulas and are not to be taken literally. Be realistic. If you can see development above you, you could be a sitting duck for flooding, which regular insurance does not cover. Check prices at Floodsmart.gov . If you're in a low risk area, the premiums vs the coverage are reasonable - a few hundred a year in a low risk area for around $250,000 in coverage.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

7.26.19 The app stores are ripping people off; Clark Stinks

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The app Tinder has changed the way you pay for its services because Google Play charges apps a WAY too much money; Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advice this week. If you have a "Clark Stinks" to share you can leave it here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

New study: This is a big distraction for drivers over 55

If you’re one of those drivers who has a hard time working your radio and keeping your eyes on the road at the same time, a recent study says you’re not alone.

New in-vehicle technology — also known as an “infotainment” system — is increasingly making it difficult for older drivers to concentrate behind the wheel, according to AAA.

AAA: Infotainment systems are distracting older drivers

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that older drivers (ages 55-75) “removed their eyes and attention from the road for more than eight seconds longer than younger drivers (ages 21-36).”

The distractions were centered on simple tasks you may take for granted, like setting up the navigation system or using the radio.

Completion Time by Task Type
Audio Entertainment Calling and Dialing Text Messaging Navigation Entry Younger (21-36 yrs) 18.0 sec 17.7 sec 27.7 sec 31.4 sec Older (55-75 yrs) 25.4 sec 22.4 sec 33.8 sec 40.0 sec

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and University of Utah researchers looked into how drivers respond to commands from infotainment systems in six 2018 vehicles.

Participants performed several functions while driving, including using touch screens and interactive technologies to call and send a text to someone, as well as adjust the radio and navigation tool.

The study found that all drivers who use infotainment systems are distracted, but that is especially the case for older drivers.

In fact, the senior drivers in the study “took longer (4.7-8.6 seconds) to complete tasks, experienced slower response times, and increased visual distractions.”

The research concludes that design improvements may be the key to safer technology in cars.

“This is a design problem, not an age problem,” said Jake Nelson, AAA director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Designing systems to meet the safety and comfort needs of aging drivers would benefit all of us today, and for years to come.”

Even if your current vehicle doesn’t have an infotainment system, you may come across the new technology in a rental car. To stay safe, AAA recommends the following steps:

Limit use of infotainment systems while driving as much as possible.
Learn how to use your voice command systems and touch-screen technology before you drive the vehicle.
Avoid using center console controllers. These systems are even more distracting, making them potentially dangerous.

More Clark.com articles that you may enjoy:

Costco app changes: How to access your new digital membership card

Good news for Costco shoppers! The Costco app now allows you to create a digital membership card right on your phone.

With this digital membership, you can get into the warehouse club, shop as you normally would and checkout at the register — all while leaving your real physical card at home!

What you need to know about Costco’s new digital membership card option

In late July 2019, Costco announced the arrival of this option for both Android and iPhone users. Here are the requirements to access your digital membership card:

A Costco membership
An active Costco.com or Costco.ca account
A verified membership (learn more here)
The newest version of Costco’s app installed on your device
A mobile device that operates on iOS (version 11 or above) or Android (version 6 or above)

In addition to allowing warehouse entry and checkout capability, you can also use your digital membership card in the following departments:

Returns
Pharmacy
Hearing Aid
Photo
Optical
Tire Center

Meanwhile, the Costco apps also allows you to renew your membership on your phone and view your 2% reward balance there, if applicable.

Physical membership cards will still be accepted at all locations. This just gives you another option if you want to go digital with your membership.

Finally, we should note a couple of things you still can’t do with the Costco app:

Actually pay at the register using the app
Pay for gasoline when filling up at the pump outside Costco

On that last point, Costco notes that “[the digital membership card] can’t be used at pumps because they don’t read the digital cards yet.”

You can get further details about the digital membership card in the official FAQs here.

T-Mobile and Sprint are merging: Here’s what it means for you

A deal approved Friday by the Department of Justice would merge T-Mobile and Sprint into one wireless carrier.

“There’s tentative approval with some very unusual conditions that shockingly turn out great for you and me as consumers,” says money expert Clark Howard.

According to Clark, the T-Mobile/Sprint merger is beneficial for consumers because it’s going to mean that people have more choices.

T-Mobile-Sprint merger: How consumers can benefit

The deal has been in the works for more than a year, but hit some snags and roadblocks over antitrust concerns.

A main sticking point throughout the process has been the Justice Department’s insistence on maintaining four major carriers in the marketplace for the sake of competition.

The negotiations led the government to insist that Dish, a satellite TV company, join the ranks of mobile carriers with a hand from T-Mobile and Sprint.

As part of the settlement, T-Mobile and Sprint would:

Sell assets, including wireless spectrum, to Dish Network, according to Bloomberg
Position Sprint’s prepaid service Boost Mobile as a fourth major wireless carrier
Allow the new wireless service to run on T-Mobile’s network for seven years, the Wall Street Journal reports

After all is said and done, the four major U.S. wireless carriers would be Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile (combined with Sprint) and Boost Mobile.

Clark says that the T-Mobile-Sprint merger is actually a win-win for consumers.

“This crazy curve ball with us being able to stay at four cell phone providers — with the Dish Network folks coming in and creating a fourth competitor — is going to be great,” he says.

“It means we as consumers win both ways: We keep the competition in the cell phone space AND it creates meaningful, real, wonderful competition to break the choke hold of massively high prices for home and small-business internet.”

What’s next?

An antitrust lawsuit from several states, including New York and California, intended to block the T-Mobile-Sprint merger still needs to be sorted out.

As the merger details cascade through the wireless industry, consumers looking for great deals won’t have to wait too long. In fact, you can expect AT&T, Verizon and even some of the smaller wireless providers to counter with more money-saving cell phone deals.

Team Clark actively checks for new and current cell phone deals across the industry so you can save more money on your bill. Check out Team Clark’s guide to the best cell phone plans and deals right now!

7.25.19 Solar power becoming a slam dunk decision; Kids with credit cards? Oh no; Ditch your big bank for a better online one

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5.1.19 Getting a mortgage if you are self-employed; New-style payday lenders; Robot baristas are on the way

Getting a mortgage is getting easier for self-employed… Read more

7.24.19 T-Mobile merger details; Don't trust anonymous surveys; When should you call customer service?

7.24.19 T-Mobile merger details; Don’t trust anonymous surveys; When should you call customer service?

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The T-Mobile merger is likely to be approved very soon. And it's not all that bad as it turns out; Don't take "anonymous" surveys that your work sends you. You aren't really anonymous; Clark tells you when to call customer service to avoid waiting forever for help.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

How to spot a fake online store in 5 easy steps

One of the most prevalent scams on the internet is fake online stores. If you’re an online shopper, you need to be especially careful. Luckily, you can spot a fake online store if you know what to look for.

In this article, we’re going to over some easy steps to confirm that the site you’re visiting is real — before you click “Buy now.”

Can you tell a fake online store from a real one?

One reason fake websites continue to trick countless numbers of people is because of a cybercrime known as “phishing” or “spoofing.” In this context, it’s when a crook sets up a website that looks identical to a reputable institution.

The damage can seldom be undone if you enter your personal information onto a bogus site. You could have your bank account drained or even have your identity stolen.

It used to be that you could tell a legit website from the “HTTPS,” in the address bar. But research from cybersecurity firm Phishlabs indicates that more than half of phishing sites use HTTPS. The truth, they say, is:

Just because a site has HTTPS doesn’t mean you can trust it unequivocally.

Given the state of internet security, you may be wondering what can an ordinary online shopper do to feel safe before a purchase?

Here are 5 steps to spot a fake online store

1. Scrutinize the URL

How to spot a fake online store in 4 easy steps

Some fraudulent sites have URLS that look just like those of legit websites — at first glance. Before giving any of your personal information like your credit card number, study the URL.

If you used a search engine to get to the site, always look in the address bar to confirm that you are on the correct place.

2. Use a website checker

You can check the legitimacy of any website by using online verification services. Here are two sites that do just that:

Go to UrlVoid.com and enter the website’s URL into the bar. After that, you can see all kinds of details about the site. UrlVoid.com generates a threat analysis, a safety report and runs the suspicious website through multiple blacklists to see if any warning signs pop up.
Go to Google Transparency Report, which can tell you how safe a website is. Once you’re on the homepage, just click “Site Status” and enter the URL in the search bar.

For a deep dive on site security, explore the Transparency Report’s research on phishing, content delisting and safe browsing.

3. Hover over the address bar

How to spot a fake online store in 4 easy steps

In addition to studying the URL you’ll want to look for a green address bar or padlock. This signifies that the site has been verified.

How to spot a fake online store in 4 easy steps

It’s true, some phishing sites have been able to replicate the padlock icon in the address bar. But clicking the padlock can still tell you some valuable information about a site.

Chrome, Firebox and other major browsers have security checks in place to tell you whether a site can be trusted. Chrome, for example, tells you how many cookies the site has, the status of its certificate and more.

4. Rely on your browser

How to spot a fake online store in 4 easy steps

If you keep your browser updated and have antivirus software on your computer, it should tell you when you’ve run across an unsafe site. Listen to it!

If you see a “Not Secure” warning on your screen, back out of the site or close the page immediately.

5. Look for a trust seal

How to spot a fake online store in 4 easy steps

Trust seals or trust badges aren’t just for decoration. Whether it’s from the Better Business Bureau, PayPal or Google, trust seals are what tell online shoppers and other users that they can make secure transactions.

Here’s the thing: If an e-commerce site doesn’t have a trust seal, be leery of it.

In summary

Hackers and scammers are constantly coming up with ways to trick even the most capable browsers these days.

Using the internet safely involves a focused effort on your part to be aware of phishing sites and other scams. Some other telltale signs that a website may be fake are:

Bad grammar
No contact page
No refund policy

If you run across a fake website or malware, you can report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, send an email to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency as well as tell these internet companies:

When shopping online, remember to always heed cybersecurity warnings, be smart and be cautious when you sense something isn’t right.

Want to learn more about how to safeguard yourself online? Check out Clark’s Free Virus, Spyware & Malware Protection Guide.

Walmart vs. Target back-to-school prices: Which is cheaper?

It’s that time of year when back-to-school sales abound. If you’re looking for school supplies, it’s time to do some shopping.

Two of America’s favorite stores — Walmart and Target — are competing for your back-to-school dollar. But who’s cheaper?

Back to School supplies: Walmart vs. Target

Since the stores offer many of the same items, I decided to conduct a price comparison to find out which one is friendlier to your wallet.

Team Clark’s price comparison between Walmart and Target looked at more than 50 items, but we narrowed it down to 12 items that were exact matches only.

Take a look at the findings…

Target vs. Walmart Back to School price comparison — July 2019

Item

Target price

Walmart price

Avery D-Ring Dura-Hinge Binder $4.69 $4.74 Elmer’s Glue Re-Stick, 6 Count $4.99 $4.48 Elmer’s Giant Sticks – 3 Count $3.19 $4.97 Crayola Jumbo Crayons, 8 Count $2.99 $5.44 Elmer’s Glue, 1 Gallon $13.89 $10.88 Elmer’s Glue, 7.6 Oz. $0.50 $1.44 Composition Book, Wide Ruled $0.50 $0.50

Sharpie Black Permanent Marker, 10 Count

$7.99 $5.97 Ticonderoga Pencils, 30 Count $5.99 $5.97 Typing Paper, 500 Sheets $3.99 $4.47 Crayola Marker, 10 Count $2.39 $2.97 Crayola Construction Paper, 240 Sheets $4.99 $4.96 Total $56.10 $56.79 Price comparison conducted week of July 23, 2019

Key takeaway

One main theme in this price war between the retailers is that they are very keen on offering the same or similar products packaged in totally different ways. For the best deal, you have to read the labels carefully.

For example: Target has a five-pack of Expo markers labeled as “4 + 1” for $4.49. Meanwhile, Walmart offers a 4-count with two extra markers in it for $4.46. That’s six markers labeled as four!

In many other cases, prices between the two stores are just a few pennies different.

Of course, other things that could affect the total price — like rebate apps, coupons and cash back credit cards — were not accounted for in this price comparison.

Want to save money on back-to-school supplies? Make a list of items that you’ll most likely need and do your own price comparison. Don’t hesitate to use Google Shopping and other online tools to help you find great prices.

Do you prefer to shop at Walmart or Target? Let us know why in the comments below!

More Clark.com stories you may like:

7.23.19 Could fake grass save you money?; The CFPB sides with business over consumers; Cheap contact lenses

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Putting in fake grass could be better for the environment and for your wallet; The CFPB has created a co-branded card with H&R Block. The CFPB is siding with businesses now instead of consumers; It's really hard to find cheap contact lenses. Clark tells you where to shop.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Read more

How to use Google Shopping to get a great deal

Do you know whether the item you want to buy is a good deal? You can find out by comparison shopping with Google Shopping, formerly called Froogle.

Our ClarkDeals.com team uses Google Shopping with other comparison pricing methods to find and post the best bargains from around the web.

How Google Shopping works

To use Google Shopping, all you need is a general category you want to research or the name of an item you want to buy. It’s much easier to price compare when you have a precise item in mind.

To search for a specific item, use the name of the item or an identifying number, like a model number.

The model number will be in different places on different websites, but you’ll often find it in the fine print.

You won’t want to use a retailer’s SKU number because the SKU is used by an individual store to organize the item in their system.

Keep in mind that Google Shopping may also show you related items when you’re searching. Typically, the first item will be an exact match for your search term, but further down the screen, you might see other things like older models or other relevant products.

You can customize your search with different filters including price and seller.

How to spot scams and fakes

Some retailers that show up on Google Shopping are scammers who are trying to take your hard-earned money.

To identify fake sellers:

Read for misspellings
Test the website’s customer service contact info
Look for the company’s social media presence — especially on Facebook
Check for a security seal (pictured below)

You can also go to the Better Business Bureau to help you to determine whether the site is reputable and to see if they have customer complaints.

How to know if you’re getting the best deal

So how do you know if you’re getting a great price? Well, you’ll only know if you do your research.

One thing to keep in mind: Google Shopping is not going to show you the price of an item after a coupon is applied.

Retailers often have coupons that may make the price even cheaper than the lowest-priced item found using this tool.

You may also find extra discounts by using a Google Chrome extension like Honey that applies coupons it finds to your shopping cart. You can also use website-specific trackers like the Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel.

These and other browser extensions are a great way to keep track of items you’re interested in buying or may purchase multiple times.

Final thought

Comparison shopping can add up to big savings over time, so always make sure to take the extra step.

Even though Google Shopping won’t always show you the whole picture, it’s a great tool for price comparisons. Of course, you can also find the best deals by visiting ClarkDeals.com and signing up for our deal alerts.

Do you use Google Shopping or another price comparison tool? Let us know about it in the comments below!

How I saved my father $283/month in one afternoon

During a morning coffee with my father, he mentioned that he would like my assistance with looking over a few bills to see if I could help him save a little more money every month.

At 62, he’s mostly preoccupied running his own small business and doesn’t have the time to track down the best deals or shop for cheaper services. Luckily, he has a daughter who is a member of Team Clark and spends her entire day helping others save more and spend less!

How I saved my father $283/month in less than one day

It took less than two hours to save my father more than $280 every month. Want to know my secret? Read on to see exactly how I did it…

Step 1: Review bank statements

I looked back at his bank statements from the last three months and pulled out the most expensive recurring charges:

Cable
Internet
Cell phone

Step 2: Negotiate bills

Pay TV

First, I called the cable company. I explained that I was calling on behalf of my father who was present and wanted to explore opportunities to reduce his bill.

After some discussion, I realized there was no better deal they could offer than the streaming options I found in the Team Clark streaming guide.

We canceled the cable service and looked at the channel lineups offered by the top streaming services. My dad decided that YouTube TV was the best option, so he’s now paying just $49.99/month!

(I have this service and I love it so I was confident my father would be happy with it, too.)

Old cable bill New streaming TV bill $158.24/month $50/month Monthly savings: $108.24

Resources to save money on your pay TV bill:

Internet

Before I called the internet company to negotiate the rate, I asked my father how much he used his landline. We came to the conclusion it really was just something that was familiar — not an item that served a useful purpose (especially since it was really just a target for robocalls and scammers).

Once I knew we could eliminate that as a requirement, I searched for promotional offers in his area and found he could get 300 Mbps speed on fiber for $50/month. That is more than the minimum speed he needs to stream TV and do his work — sold!

Old internet and landline bill New internet bill $171.50/month $50/month Monthly savings: $121.50

Resources to save money on your internet bill:

If you’re not keeping track, that’s already $229.74 in monthly savings so far!

Cell phone service

My father takes care of his elderly mother and her mobile line is also included in his plan. I called his cell phone provider to learn about the extra charges on his bill. I discovered that he was paying for cell phone protection even though one of his credit cards provided coverage!

In addition, he was paying for Verizon Call Filter as an added blocking tool for scams and robocalls. I requested the company to remove the filter. To ensure they are still protected from robocalls, I downloaded Hiya — a free robocall-blocking service — to both of their phones.

Looking over the bill, I noticed that there was a vehicle diagnostic and tracking device added to their account that was under a two-year contract. I was able to have it removed without an early cancellation fee because it was sold to my 84-year-old grandmother who had no understanding of what it was or how to use the product.

Finally, I negotiated my dad and grandmother into a prepaid plan with unlimited talk and text and 6GB of data for only $68/month.

Old cell phone bill New cell phone bill $121.37/month $68/month Monthly savings: $53.37

Resources to save money on your cell phone bill:

Final thought

While the idea of negotiating your cable, internet or cell phone bill with a company can seem complex, it’s not as hard as you may think when you have the right tools.

In fact, I spent one afternoon making a few calls and saved my father $283 every month — that’s $3,396 a year!

Old bills New bills Pay TV: $158.24/month Streaming TV: $50/month Internet and landline: $171.50/month Internet: $50/month Cell phone: $121.37/month Cell phone: $68/month

Total monthly savings: $283.11

Have you lowered a bill recently? Let us know in the comments below! We also invite you to sign up for our Clark’s Money Challenge newsletter for more ways to save money every month.

More Clark.com resources to manage your budget:

7.22.19 Equifax settlement reached; School lunch madness; Best payment apps

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5.1.19 Getting a mortgage if you are self-employed; New-style payday lenders; Robot baristas are on the way

Getting a mortgage is getting easier for self-employed… Read more

Equifax data breach settlement: How to make a claim

Equifax says it will pay nearly $700 million for its role in a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of 148 million consumers.

When Equifax disclosed in September 2017 that hackers had exploited its website to steal consumer data, money expert Clark Howard was one of the most vocal proponents of reform. He also offered steps to take to protect yourself.

Equifax data breach settlement: How to claim your money

The agreement still has to be approved in court, but Equifax has set up a claims website at EquifaxBreachSettlement.com for consumers to use. File a claim online here.

If you are a class member, here’s what you’re entitled to:

In Money

In Services

Up to $20,000, including:
Up to 20 hours at $25 an hour for lost time
Reimbursement of money spent buying credit/ID monitoring services
Repayment for any costs associated with the data breach

10 years of free credit monitoring
At least 7 years of free ID restoration services
6 free copies of your Equifax credit report beginning Dec. 31, 2019 and up to 7 years onward

If you don’t want to submit a claim electronically, you can download a claim form here, fill it out and mail it to:

Equifax Data Breach Settlement Administrator
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91318
Seattle, WA 98111-9418

You can also contact the settlement administrator to have a claim form mailed to you here.

If you choose to decline the free 10-year credit monitoring from Equifax, the agency says you can opt for a $125 cash payment instead. Clark says you should take the cash — not the credit monitoring.

Clark’s take: How do you prove identity theft via Equifax data breach?

As he looks back at the massive hack nearly two years ago, Clark says he has some key questions about the settlement:

“You’ll…be able to seek direct economic compensation from Equifax, but here’s the problem in the process: How do you prove that the identity theft problems you’re having are because of the Equifax data breach?”

“A lot of times there’s a lot of fuzziness, a lot of fog that surrounds identity theft,” he says. “I don’t know if you as an individual are going to be able to prove beyond hope that the actual data breach you’ve suffered is because of the Equifax data breach.”

The Atlanta-based credit bureau says the $671 million settlement will resolve multiple federal and state investigations, including those by the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus, and attorneys general in 48 states.

More importantly, it could give millions of Americans a payoff for the stress and trouble the data breach caused.

Equifax also says it will fork over a quarter of the price consumers paid for credit and identity monitoring services up to a year before the data breach was announced.

As Clark always says: Freeze your credit

Clark says freezing your credit is the #1 way to protect your identity and financial information.

Before you freeze your credit, you should set up a way for you to monitor your credit. This is what he wants you to do:

Sign up for a Credit Karma or Credit Sesame account to get free credit monitoring and be notified when anyone tries to access your personal info. Here’s a step-by-step rundown of how to do it.

Ready to protect yourself? See Clark’s Credit Freeze Guide here!

Cable vs. Streaming: Does cutting the cord really save you money?

When I started reviewing live TV streaming services for Clark.com, Sling TV’s cheapest monthly plan was $20, DirecTV Now was giving away Apple TV’s if you bought a few months of service and YouTube TV was only $35 per month.

Fast forward a couple of years and the main streaming TV companies have all raised prices, citing higher programming costs.

Cable vs. Streaming: Which is a better deal?

Every time I update my streaming TV articles with news about a price hike, I hear from readers who say they’re better off sticking with traditional cable or satellite TV. But is that really the case?

In this article, I’ll address some of the arguments for and against streaming. Let’s get started with some numbers…

According to the Leichtman Research Group, 78% of households subscribe to a pay-TV service. They pay an average of $107 per month, which is up 1% in the past year.

If you switch to a base streaming TV plan, you can cut that bill in half. Take a look:

Based on that $107 monthly average, you can sign up for any of the base streaming TV services above and save $50 a month or more. But there’s more to know before deciding whether cable or streaming is right for you.

Next, let me address three specific questions and concerns that I get from Clark.com readers.

1. Internet cost

I receive emails all the time from people who say the numbers I provide are misleading because I don’t include the monthly cost of internet service, which is required to stream.

Here’s why: More than 80% of households get internet service at home, according to Leichtman Research Group.

If someone in your household works from home or goes to school, chances are you’d be paying for internet service anyway. That’s why I treat internet as a separate monthly bill.

After all, the $107 monthly average is for pay-TV alone, not a TV and high-speed internet bundle.

Key takeaway: If you’re someone who doesn’t need internet at home and already has a competitive rate with the cable company, switching to streaming may not save you $50 a month or much at all.

RELATED: How to find the best deal on cheap internet service

2. Additional fees

While we’re talking about rates, there’s something else you should know when comparing cable and streaming prices.

When you visit a cable TV provider’s website, the price you see isn’t the price you pay. Broadcast and sports fees can drive up your bill significantly, plus there are monthly equipment charges.

The promo rate you see may involve signing a one-year or two-year contract, with hefty early termination fees.

Meanwhile, live TV streaming services have no contracts, no equipment charges and no extra fees. I subscribe to Hulu + Live TV and pay $44.99 per month — the same rate that’s advertised on its website.

The chart below illustrates the differences between a typical cable TV and streaming TV package:

Typical cable TV package Typical streaming TV package Monthly cost $100 $50 Number of channels 150+ 60+ Cable box or equipment fees Yes No Streaming device No Yes Internet connection Not required Required Free DVR Sometimes Sometimes Premium networks (HBO, Cinemax, SHOWTIME) Extra monthly fee Extra monthly fee Watch anywhere from phone, computer or TV Less flexibility Greater flexibility Contract or cancellation fees Yes/Sometimes Generally no Broadcast TV and sports fees Yes No Free trial period No Yes

3. Content

Over the last year or so, skinny streaming TV bundles have fattened up and so have the prices. But for every person who says there are too many channels, another person will focus on the channels that are missing.

What I hear most often is that people would like to pick and choose networks, not be forced to pay for what they don’t watch.

Unfortunately, that’s not how cable and streaming TV plans are sold. But with a streaming service, you could get most of the channels you want and fewer of the ones you don’t — for a lower price.

To see if that’s possible, there are two easy steps to follow:

Open your cable TV guide and make a list of you must-have channels
Search for those networks using our streaming TV channel comparison chart

Important note: Not all streaming TV services will carry your local ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and independent stations. You may be able to pick them up with a digital antenna.

Read Team Clark’s 4 tips for first-time streamers here!

Final thought

If you want to cut your pay-TV bill in half by switching to streaming, it’s still possible. Stick to a base plan and avoid expensive add-ons and premium features that make the streaming vs. cable savings insignificant.

I’ve found that cutting the cable TV cord is easiest for those who really want to save money and make that a priority.

If you’re excited about getting that $50 a month back in your life, you’ll be more willing to give up some channels, learn a new interface or deal with occasional buffering.

But if you expect streaming to be exactly like cable or satellite, you may very well be setting yourself up for disappointment.

More Clark.com stories you may like:

6 ways a pressure washer can save you money

Whether or not you’ve personally used a pressure washer, you’re likely already aware of their cleaning ability. YouTube videos like this one boast over 4.3 million views. There are entire channels devoted to the pleasure of watching things go from utterly filth to pristinely clean with nothing more than a forceful blast of water.

John and Sherry Petersik of the blog Young House Love demonstrated some pressure washing projects on their Instagram, and before they knew it, their devoted followers began tagging the couple, which led to this awe inspiring collection of pressure washing videos that blow past the normal expectation of clean driveways and brick walls. This is all especially impressive since their recommended model costs around $100.

Seriously, just check out this doormat:

Before you start your own pressure washing project, it’s important to follow a few simple safety rules. Consumer Reports published this informative article, which includes the precaution to “Wear goggles, long pants, and sturdy footwear—never flip-flops—to protect yourself while using any pressure washer.”

You already know that pressure washers can work magic on driveways, sidewalks and brick patios, but there are so many other items that can be brought back to life through pressure washing.

Don’t replace these things — clean them with your pressure washer!

1. Outdoor cushions

Even if you’re disciplined about covering your outdoor furniture, chances are it’ll still get buggy and grubby eventually. However, a quick spray with a power washer can brighten colors and remove that inevitable green gunge that nature has to offer.

Tip: Make sure to start on the lowest setting and do a test spray on an inconspicuous area as to not rip into the fabric.

2. Plastic play equipment

If your backyard is home to a plastic play house or similar structure, you know how filthy these items can get. It can be tempting to toss these things and start over after a few seasons, but a pressure washer can get into all those nooks and crannies that a regular hose cannot.

Tip: Disassemble the equipment first so you’re not in the playhouse while using the pressure washer. Snap a photo first to remind yourself how it’s put together.

3. Outdoor (and even indoor) rugs

Outdoor rugs are great for creating cozy conversation areas. However, they’re notorious for their filth, as trapped moisture has nowhere to go, thus creating an inviting environment for moss, mildew and various creepy crawlies. Introduce the power of a pressure washer and rugs that may have been landfill bound can look as good as new.

Indoor rugs can also be rejuvenated using a pressure washer, although this suggestion is just for inexpensive mass-produced rugs, not hand knotted Persian masterpieces.

Tip: Start this project in a sunny spot on a hot day to give your rug the best chance to dry by day’s end.

4. Baseball pants

If you’re a little league parent, you’re already aware of how hard it is to remove those brown stains kids get from sliding into second base. A popular solution — and for good reason — is to use a pressure washer to drive the dirt from the fabric.

Tip: Don’t have easy access to a pressure washer? Use the washing wand at a self-serve car wash.

5. Plastic furniture

Those inexpensive stacking chairs and tables that once were so shiny and clean inevitably devolve into filthy pieces of junk. However, a few minutes with a pressure washer can transform them back to like-new condition.

Tip: This one is so easy and satisfyingly cathartic, you might want to increase your social capital and offer to clean your neighbor’s plastic furniture as well!

6. Wood furniture

That wooden bench or table may look ready for replacement, but a pressure washing session may be all it needs. This YouTube example of a greyed and lichen-encrusted bench is the perfect example of what may seem beyond redemption, but can actually be transformed back to a beautiful and practical piece.

Tip: Wood is a soft and porous material, so begin with the lowest setting and then inspect the wood afterward to determine if it requires a light sanding.

Final thought

Whatever it is that you choose to aim your pressure washer towards, just make sure to take safety precautions and to start with the lowest setting. And that thing you had budgeted to replace? You can put that money back into your pocket while avoiding a contribution to your local landfill — and that’s Clark Smart!

Friday, August 2, 2019

Costco return policy: Know before you go

Table of contents

1. What if I don’t have my receipt?

2. A special 90-day policy applies to electronics and appliances

3. Returning a diamond? Check the weight first

4. Can I return cigarettes and alcohol?

5. Special considerations for tires and batteries

6. Custom products can’t be returned

Final thought

More Costco stories on Clark.com:

YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now: Which live TV streaming service is best?

1. Monthly price

Monthly price: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

2. Channel lineup

Channel lineups: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now Plus

3. Cloud DVR

Cloud DVR: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

4. Multiple streams

Multiple streams: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

5. Minimum internet speed

Minimum internet download speed: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

6. Supported devices

Supported devices: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

7. Overall performance and reliability

More Clark.com stories you may like:

How to watch NFL football on YouTube TV, DirecTV Now and Sling TV for the 2018-2019 season

1. You can pick up lots of Sunday games with an antenna!

2. Monday Night Football

3. Thursday Night Football

4. NFL Sunday Ticket

5. Take advantage of the free trials

A note for college football fans…

Football channels by streaming service

More Clark.com stories you may like:

DirecTV Now, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue are raising prices on their streaming plans

Some of the price hikes…

Final thought

Chase Ink Business Preferred rewards

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Reward points

Chase Ink Business Preferred Card perks

Chase Ink Business Preferred pricing

Chase Ink Business Preferred: Does it make sense for you?

New FTC robocall tool shows who gets the most spam calls

If you want to prevent robocalls in your life, check out Team Clark’s guide to stop robocalls for good!

What does this arbitration provision from Chase mean, and how do I opt out?

More stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:

Capital One data breach: Who’s affected and what to do if you’re a victim

What to do if you were affected by the Capital One breach

More stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:

AAA: Infotainment systems are distracting older drivers

More Clark.com articles that you may enjoy:

What you need to know about Costco’s new digital membership card option

More Costco stories on Clark.com:

T-Mobile-Sprint merger: How consumers can benefit

What’s next?

Can you tell a fake online store from a real one?

Here are 5 steps to spot a fake online store

1. Scrutinize the URL

2. Use a website checker

3. Hover over the address bar

4. Rely on your browser

5. Look for a trust seal

In summary

Back to School supplies: Walmart vs. Target

Target vs. Walmart Back to School price comparison — July 2019

Item

Target price

Walmart price

Key takeaway

More Clark.com stories you may like:

How Google Shopping works

How to spot scams and fakes

How to know if you’re getting the best deal

Final thought

Do you use Google Shopping or another price comparison tool? Let us know about it in the comments below!

How I saved my father $283/month in less than one day

Step 1: Review bank statements

Step 2: Negotiate bills

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