Avoid those overdraft fees

Dear Readers: Back at it after the holidays … did Americans stay financially within their means? Some may not have. In 2019, the big banks charged c onsumers a whopping $11.5 BILLION in overdraft fees! And 84% of these fees were paid by just 9% of bank customers.

Experts advise getting to know the personnel at your financial institution.

These fees are reversible. Ask for help. Ask for a reversal of at least some of the fees, and also do not feel ashamed to say, “Please help me.” More than likely, a personal banker will sit down with you and help you formulate a budget so your money lasts as long as the month. — Heloise

Don’t Do It

Dear Readers: Watch out for this new scam alert: people selling stolen cars online. Here are some big red flags to watch out for:

■ A deal that’s too good to be true. The asking price is way below the car’s value.

■ The seller wants payment in cash.

■ The seller is in a neighboring city.

How can you protect yourself?

■ Ask the seller for the vehicle identification number (VIN) and check it with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (https://www.nicb.org/).

■ Inspect the car’s title carefully. The paper should have a cottony feel to it, almost like money, and it should have a watermark seal on it too.

■ Meet the seller in a safe place, like a police substation.

If you get a funny or weird feeling, walk away. — Heloise