Tips to stay warm; LIHEAP help available
January 5, 2010
Hopefully you’re reading this from an area of the country that is at least a little on the warm side. However, if you’re in
The frigid temperatures make it very difficult to keep heating costs low while you keep your home a comfortable temperature.
There are still some easy steps you can take to keep the warm air in your home and the cold air out. Here are some tips:
· If a playing card fits in the crevice of an outside door or window, you need to caulk or weather strip around the door or window to stop air leaks.
· Use draft guards at the bottom of outside doors, and close radiators in rooms you don’t use.
· Lower your thermostat at night or when no one is home.
· If the cost of installing storm windows is too much, make your own storm windows by stretching 6-mil plastic sheets as tightly as you can over the window.
· Insulate attic space using loose fill or insulation rolls. High-efficiency building code standards recommend “R” values of 30 in ceilings, 16 in walls and 19 over crawl spaces. The “R” value is a measure of how well insulation traps heat.
· Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
· Run your garbage disposal with cold water.
· Cook several dishes in the oven at one time, and prepare double recipes that you can freeze for future use and reheat in the microwave.
If you find that you cannot stay warm and pay your gas bill, there is also energy assistance for those who meet the required income guidelines, such as LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).
If you are struggling to pay your heating bills, don’t wait to call for help. You can apply for LIHEAP assistance online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by calling (866) 857-7095 or for the hearing impaired (800) 451-5886. You can also visit your local county assistance office for an application.
Here’s what you need to apply:
· Names of people in your household
· Dates of birth for all household members
· Social Security Numbers for all household members
· Proof of income for members of your household
· A recent heating bill
Find reputable mortgage assistance
November 14, 2009
This is a topic I’ve addressed before, but it bears repeating.
If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, or if you know someone who is, please remember that there is reputable, free help out there.
It has come to light that many of the same mortgage brokers who peddled sub-prime home loans have quit the business of making loans and have started new businesses to “help” homeowners who are facing foreclosure to modify their loans.
Yes, that’s right. The same guy who sold you a home loan he knew you couldn’t afford is now offering to help you make the loan affordable.
What? That doesn’t sound right? That’s because it’s not. According to this New York Times article, these same companies are now continuing to harm homeowners who are having difficulty paying their mortgages.
If you can’t make your mortgage payment, or you fear you may not be able to make a future payment, please make sure you get real help.
Start by contacting your lender directly and ask to speak to someone in the “loss mitigation” department. You can also find a list of approved, non-profit housing counselors by visiting the web site for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If you are a resident of Pennsylvania and have received a foreclosure notice, or Act 91 notice, you can find approved housing counselors in your area by going to the web site for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
The most important thing is to look for this reputable help immediately. Do not ignore a foreclosure notice or simply assume that there is no relief for your situation.
Be aware of your rights when dealing with debt collectors
August 19, 2009
For most people a call from a debt collector is not a pleasant experience. But, when debt collectors violate federal laws and use threats and insults in an attempt to get you to pay a debt — possibly even a debt you don’t actually owe — the experience gets much worse.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act clearly defines what debt collectors are and are not allowed in do in an attempt to collect money. That doesn’t mean that all debt collectors follow those laws.
The Associated Press had this story today about a debt collection company using downright awful tactics in an attempt to get people to pay their debt. In one case the woman being threatened and harassed didn’t even owe the money. After reading that story, I saw a second story about a debt collection company getting sued over for trying to scam people.
While debt collectors are allowed to make attempts to collect money you legitimately owe, they cannot threaten or harass you. If you think a debt collector has violated these collection laws, it’s very important that you report the company to the Federal Trade Commission.
If you are contact by a debt collector:
· Get the name, address and phone number of the collection agency.
· Get the name of the person who has contacted you.
· Keep a record of the phone calls you receive including the date, time and what was said during the conversation.
· Ask the collector to send you written confirmation of the debt.
· If you think that you do not owe the debt, send a letter to the collection agency that clearly states that you don’t believe you owe the debt and why. Keep a copy of the letter for your records. This might be one time where it would be worth it to send the letter registered mail, so that someone at the collection agency must sign for it.
Find reputable foreclosure help to keep your home
July 23, 2009
This is a topic I’ve addressed before, but it bears repeating.
If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, or if you know someone who is, please remember that there is reputable, free help out there.
It has come to light that many of the same mortgage brokers who peddled sub-prime home loans have quit the business of making loans and have started new businesses to “help” homeowners who are facing foreclosure to modify their loans. Take a couple of minutes to read this New York Times story about the new mortgage modification businesses that are popping up.
Yes, that’s right. The same guy who sold you a home loan he knew you couldn’t afford is now offering to help you make the loan affordable.
What? That doesn’t sound right? That’s because it’s not.
There is help available for homeowners who are having trouble making their mortgage payments, and it’s reputable and free help.
Advantage CCS has certified housing counselors who will work with you to see what options are available to help you. There is no cost for this service. Our counselors will offer practical advice and educate you regarding your options.
You should avoid any company that charges upfront fees, will not disclose the terms of their contract in writing, and does not have housing counselors who are certified through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You can find a list of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies at www.hud.gov.
Cash for Clunkers sites could be scams
July 2, 2009
It’s been awhile since I’ve issued a scam alert here on the blog, but I have one today.
You may have heard about a new government program called “Cash for Clunkers.” Its technical name is the “Car Allowance Rebate System.” The program is designed to offer an incentive for people driving old cars that aren’t fuel efficient to buy a new, more eco-friendly vehicle.
Like so many other programs out there, plenty of web sites have popped up that look official and claim to be the way to access this program. Some of these sites say they are a place to pre-register for the program and then ask for personal information. You can read more about it here.
There is only one official government site for the Car Allowance Rebate System. That site is run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NSTSA). The web address for that site is CARS.gov.
That CARS.gov site is the only web site you can rely on for the government-backed program. Do not go to any other web site because it could be a scam.
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