Search Results

By Line search: By ANITA WILSON

By ANITA WILSON

A local man signed up for cellphone service but, his phone calls kept dropping at home and he missed many incoming calls. He tried canceling the service, but every month he continued to receive a bill.Finally, he filed a consumer complaint with the...

By ANITA WILSON

One consumer matter the Northwestern District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit worked on last year involved a local man who purchased a new vacuum cleaner that did not work.He complained to the manufacturer, who promised to replace the machine....

By ANITA WILSON

Do you know your credit score? Equally important, do you know how that score is calculated? This is important information to have because it impacts your standing when you go to apply for a car loan, mortgage or credit card. Yes, a person’s score...

By ANITA WILSON

In recent months, millions of current and former AT&T customers received notices that their personal data had been stolen and then published on the dark web.Generally speaking, personal data refers to personal information such as names, email and...

By ANITA WILSON

The deadline to file state and federal income taxes is right around the corner. But in Massachusetts, filers have a two-day reprieve thanks to a state holiday.With Patriots’ Day on April 15 this year, state residents have until 11:59 p.m. on April 17...

By ANITA WILSON

Just like crocuses and daffodils, new scams emerge around this time of year.Warmer weather brings out individuals who knock on your door with offers to make repairs to your home, driveway or yard. They might say that they have materials such as...

By ANITA WILSON

You may have received gift cards as presents this holiday season, or you may have some tucked away in a drawer or in your wallet for safe keeping. They are so prevalent that almost half of all adults have at least one gift card, and the combined total...

By ANITA WILSON

This summer, our Consumer Protection Unit answered several calls from residents reporting problems with social media platforms. Two callers said someone had hijacked their accounts, leaving them unable to log in or regain control of the account. In...

By ANITA WILSON

You may have seen advertisements about going solar or maybe you’ve seen fields of solar panels popping up along the highway. I have some tips if you are considering solar.Before you speak to any company, determine your electricity usage. This...

By ANITA WILSON

You receive a notice in the mail saying that your personal information was exposed in a data breach. You are not alone. You may remember the Equifax breach in 2017 where hackers got into their computer systems and stole personal information belonging...

By ANITA WILSON

Whenever I make presentations on consumer issues, I advise people to be wary of requests for payment with cryptocurrency. Inevitably, the question comes back: “What’s cryptocurrency?” Cryptocurrency is a form of money. But you can’t hold it in your...

By ANITA WILSON

Presidents Day weekend is often the first big sales event of the year for car dealerships, and many consumers show up in search of deals. Here are some tips to consider before you start looking for a new or used vehicle.First, decide how much you can...

By ANITA WILSON

At the start of a new year, many people resolve to eat healthier or to get more exercise. As a consumer advocate, I suggest resolving to be better consumers. By doing so, you may be able to save money and avoid fraud. Here are my suggestions for...