Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Readers get the 411 on consumer issues
Like me, people are sick of dogs in stores and restaurants. I received many responses to a recent column on my Top 10 retail pet peeves. Readers overwhelmingly agreed with my No. 1 complaint about people bringing their doggone pets into grocery stores and restaurants. They also asked consumer questions.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: Other people’s allergies aren’t as important as Scruffy seeing the inside of a Macy’s. Your dog can stay home. — E.L., via Facebook
Dear Doreen’s Deals: On long community check-out lines: If I walk in and it looks like a Soviet bread line, I just turn around and walk out. Pets in stores: I will take a Yorkie over a kid any day! The other night at Walmart, I thought I was in Purgatory .... so many screaming kids. — P.B., via Facebook
Dear Doreen’s Deals: I, too, have absolutely no objection to true service dogs, but all these “emotional support” animals in restaurants and grocery stores, well, it’s just plain disgusting. The topper was a recent trip to Publix where someone not only put their little pooch in the cart, but also the filthy dog bed! I like the sign at Trader Joe’s about welcoming service dogs, but not pets. — K.M., via email
Dear Readers: Well-said. I haven’t noticed the Trader Joe’s signs, but applaud the idea. Here’s a new one: At Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, a teenage girl had a cat zipped into her babyblue hoodie. The animal was so petrified it was hissing.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: Are there any governmental agencies that one can contact for websites that do not allow you to unsubscribe? I try to unsubscribe from one particular site, but I keep getting unwanted emails from them to the point it is harassment. I sent them emails and letters to unsubscribe to no avail. Any suggestions? — D.L., via email
Dear D.L.: The CAN-SPAM Act, a law overseen by the Federal Trade Commission, sets strict rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, and gives recipients the right to have companies stop emailing them. There are tough penalties for violations. Companies must honor opt-out requests within 10 business days. I suggest you make a complaint to the FTC at ftccomplaintassistant.gov and forward the unwanted emails to the agency at spam@uce.gov.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: When is it OK to use a coupon on a date? Asking for a friend. — S.B., via Facebook
Dear S.B.: Always and anytime. Coupons are sexy and so
are the people who use them!
Dear Doreen’s Deals: How do I buy Enjoy the City coupon books? I can’t find them online. — J.B., via Facebook
Dear J.B.: The company changed its name to SaveAround. I highly recommend purchasing the coupon books, which contain hundreds of savings offers from local and national retailers and restaurants. The National and Florida editions serving Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties cost $25 and include $5-off coupons at The Fresh Market and Whole Foods, as well as offers from Office Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Macy’s, Panera Bread, Dunkin’ Donuts, among others. Preview and purchase books at SaveAround.com.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: I want to cancel my expensive cable. How do I get started? — D.D, via email.
Dear D.D.: We cut the cord in late 2015 and haven’t looked back. Go to SunSentinel.com/CutTheCord to watch a video and learn other tips on how to get started with a cheap antenna, streaming media player and subscriptions to online services such as Netflix, Amazon, Sling TV and DirecTV Now.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: Thanks for all your tips. Are we literally allowed to cut the cable cord? We got rid of our landline phone service and are thinking of getting rid of cable. Are we allowed to remove the cable cord and telephone line that connect to our house? They are eye-sores and get tangled in our trees. If we call the phone or cable company to remove them, they will charge us. — A.B., via email
Dear A.B.: For safety’s sake, do not cut or disconnect outside lines running from your house to a power pole. Coming into contact with power lines can be deadly, and trees can conduct electric current, according to Florida Power and Light Company. Those lines also may serve neighboring houses with phone, cable and broadband internet services. Consult the companies about removing them, and if they agree to do it, pay up to play it safe.
Dear Doreen’s Deals: I’m thinking about buying a home warranty to cover repairs for my aging appliances. Can you recommend a good company? — R.S., via email
Dear R.S.: I don’t have any recommendations. Generally, service contracts and extended warranties are not worth the money. Instead, I suggest putting what you’d spend on the yearly contract into a home repair fund and use that to fix problems when they arise. Get recommendations by checking with the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org to see ratings, which are based on complaint histories. The nonprofit consumer organization also is a terrific resource on scams and identity theft.