The Orlando Sentinel, Fla., Greg Dawson column: Financial advice isn't cheap

Nov 04, 2008 (The Orlando Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SHLD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Dear Greg: I should know better than to listen to telemarketers, but they called me at a low point. The credit cards were maxed out, and we'd just found a leak under the kitchen floor. So I signed up with Dynamic Financial for "financial advice" with a guarantee they would save me $2,500 in 90 days or my money back. After many calls and e-mails, they finally called me and made an appointment for a debt counselor to speak with me. After missing the first appointment, he called and had me stay on the line while he dialed my two credit cards and asked them to lower the interest rate. One agreed, one refused. I asked for a refund, but by this time it was past 90 days. They refused. All they did was make one phone call for $990.

ROBIN BERRIE

ORLANDO

Dear Robin: You might want to call Joe the Plumber about that leak after the election (once he's licensed again). Meanwhile, I have great news from Joe the Spokesman for Dynamic Financial. "It appears we were able to help Robin negotiate a much lower interest rate that will result in savings well over $2,500," Joe said. "However, client satisfaction for us is key, and if I can't get her to be as happy as possible -- so happy she would endorse our company -- I will definitely give her a refund." Update: Robin is happy. "I got a call from them and an offer of lifetime financial advice plus half my money back!" That's what you call a Dynamic Duo-ver.

Dear Greg: I see your segments all the time on The Daily Buzz and was hoping you could help me. In November 2005, I purchased a Sears Kenmore Elite Side by Side refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser in the door. In December 2006, only a month after the one-year warranty ran out, the water-arm paddle broke off when I pushed a glass against it to dispense water. I was highly disappointed with the quality of the material used to make this piece, a plastic paddle attached to a lever with thin contact points. Since the warranty had expired, I had to pay $236 for parts and labor to have it fixed. I thought, OK, this was a fluke, but it should be good for 15 or 20 years. But nnnooooo. In July this year, the same water arm paddle snapped off while someone was pressing against it with a glass. This design must be defective. Once in a while parts do break, but the same part twice? Sears' only response is to have me pay for another replacement.

KIM ADAMCZYK

AKRON, OHIO

Dear Kim: With apologies to Regis . . . that is not Sears' final answer. Shirley the Spokeswoman for Sears agrees that unless you have World Federation wrestlers slamming glasses into the water dispenser, you shouldn't have to replace the paddle arm every year. Shirley has arranged for Sears to reimburse you for the first repair and to replace the paddle arm again at no cost to you. That should last you awhile. Just don't invite the Undertaker to dinner.

Dear Greg: It's been two years since we filed a complaint against Peter Hercules and Brandi, who claimed they owned a business called Alpha & Omega Investors Group that assisted poor credit holders with purchasing a home. They had two Web sites, advertised and held orientation classes. Once an application was approved, the scam was on. After taking our money, signing papers and setting up a closing date, these people closed up shop. They no longer can be reached by phone. We still can't get the authorities to do anything. Our complaint has changed hands between detectives two or three times. No wonder people can get away with crime.

SUE STATEN

ORLANDO

Dear Sue: I had no better luck than you did finding Hercules -- or his dad Zeus. I guess sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree. Maybe someone has seen this bad apple and will come forward.

Getting the runaround? E-mail Greg at gdawson@orlandosentinel.com; or call 407-420-5618; or write to Greg Dawson, Orlando Sentinel, 633 N. Orange Ave., MP-218, Orlando FL 32801. Greg doesn't mean to be rude, but due to volume he can't respond to most calls and letters. See Greg on The Daily Buzz at 10:20 a.m. Mondays on WRDQ-Channel 27 and read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/ consumerfile.

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