B.T. Ballenger
Filing 1 Homeowners Insurance Claim Can Jack Your Premium 9 Percent
B.T. Ballenger on October 23, 2013
If you’re going to file a claim, it had better be worth it.
Why Office Supply Stores May Be on Their Way Out
B.T. Ballenger on October 23, 2013
Is the Office Depot and OfficeMax merger a sign of the end?
Amazon Raises Minimum Purchase for Free Shipping
B.T. Ballenger on October 22, 2013
Customers who don’t have Amazon Prime will have to spend more to save on shipping. Free shipping is now easier to get at competitors such as Best Buy and Barnes & Noble.
Business Credit Cards Often Have Big Fees, High Interest
B.T. Ballenger on October 22, 2013
They may come with business-oriented perks, but aren’t required to have the same protections consumer cards do. Rates can be higher and terms can change in a blink.
Consumer Reports: Robotic Vacuums Aren’t as Good
B.T. Ballenger on October 22, 2013
Robotic vacuums aren’t ready to replace traditional ones, though a $450 model does a respectable job.
Consumer Watchdog: Student Loan Servicers Are Triggering Unnecessary Fees
B.T. Ballenger on October 21, 2013
A new report cites a variety of consumer complaints about the way servicers communicate and process payments.
Drive-Through Grocery Stores?
B.T. Ballenger on October 21, 2013
Some businesses let you order groceries online and then pick them up from nearby gas stations or delivery trucks the next day. Does that sound convenient, or weird?
Beware These Area Codes: 809, 284, 649 and 876
B.T. Ballenger on October 21, 2013
Reports of being charged thousands of dollars are overblown, but there are some risks.
Bank of America May Offer a No-Overdraft Checking Account
B.T. Ballenger on October 18, 2013
The bank is considering a plan to offer a new checking account that won’t allow overdrafts of any kind. It would be optional for bank customers.
Leave Your Dog at the Airport
B.T. Ballenger on October 18, 2013
Some major airports now feature pet hotels — with all kinds of a la carte amenities you would expect at a hotel for two-legged guests.
Touch Screen of the Future: The Ability to Feel Things On-Screen
B.T. Ballenger on October 18, 2013
Imagine being able to feel what you see on a tablet or smartphone screen instead of smooth glass. Disney’s working on it.
More Boomer Men Are Getting Botox
B.T. Ballenger on October 17, 2013
It’s harder for older workers to find work when they lose it, and some think looking younger improves their odds. It’s not a cheap solution.
New Rules: No Robocalls, Texts Without Your Written Consent
B.T. Ballenger on October 17, 2013
More restrictions were placed this week on businesses that use automated dialing techniques. It’s not an end to telemarketing, but it does require clearer consent.
What the Government Shutdown Cost Us
B.T. Ballenger on October 17, 2013
Nothing good came out of the federal government shutdown, and there was plenty of bad.
Want to Support Breast Cancer Research? Give to Charity, Not the NFL
B.T. Ballenger on October 16, 2013
Just 8 percent of the money spent on NFL Pink merchandise actually goes toward breast cancer research and programs. You can do a lot better.
North Carolina is First State to Cut Welfare During Federal Shutdown
B.T. Ballenger on October 16, 2013
Covering the program would take less than 1 percent of the state’s rainy-day fund, and those expenses would be reimbursed by the federal government. But North Carolina said no.
Report: Taxpayers Spend $7B a Year Helping Fast-Food Workers Survive
B.T. Ballenger on October 16, 2013
Through federal programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, taxpayers help fast-food workers get by despite their low wages.
Netflix: Coming to a Cable Box Near You?
B.T. Ballenger on October 15, 2013
The streaming service is in talks with cable companies to put itself on their boxes. That would mean cable customers could use Netflix without any additional device or an Internet-connected TV.
Airlines Want to Get You On and Off the Plane More Quickly
B.T. Ballenger on October 15, 2013
From boarding at both ends of the plane to penalizing customers with carry-ons, airlines are trying lots of tricks to get passengers to speed it up.
Walmart Food Stamp Stampede: Who Should Pay?
B.T. Ballenger on March 4, 2021
Some Louisiana residents on food stamps went on a shopping spree at Walmart last weekend when a glitch removed the spending limit from their accounts.
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