The group gets complaints every year about tax preparers who  made errors, resulting in fines and fees for the taxpayer.

Steve Bernas is president of the Better Business Bureau serving  Chicago and Northern Illinois.

He says taxpayer are ultimately responsible for their return’s accuracy and if it’s filed on time.

Consumers should get referrals from friends and family and check the BBB Reliability Report on tax preparation services online.

A tax preparer should either be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney or an enrolled agent. It’s a good sign if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization with a code of ethics.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Better Business Bureau offers taxpayers tips when selecting tax preparer | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

However, it is important to pay attention to the return policies at the stores where you are making purchases. Doing so will help ensure your thoughtfulness continues even if the original item needs to be returned.

The Better Business Bureau reminds consumers that too many people assume anything can be returned. This is not always the case.

“Even though this is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, consumers should always ask what a store’s return policy is,” said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois.

“Asking before you buy is always a good idea to avoid the problems and embarrassment of a nonreturnable gift.”

Bernas noted that some stores give refunds; some issue store credits only; some consider all, or some,
sales to be final.

He added that a store is not legally required to accept items for refund, exchange, or credit unless the merchandise is defective or was misrepresented.

The following are some hints from the Better Business Bureau on how to help make this Christmas merry and worry free.

• Ask what specific return policy applies to the item you are purchasing. Do not assume the regular return policy applies to sales or clearance items. Some merchants consider sales items to be final.
• Save your receipts. They are usually needed for returns.
• Ask for a gift receipt and enclose it with the present.
• Don’t remove electronics or similar products from their boxes before wrapping as the original packaging may be required for a return.
• If you are shopping online, read the posted return policy before buying. If returns are permitted, be sure to print a copy of what procedures and timeframe need to be followed, along with complete contact information for the business from which you are ordering.
• You don’t have to brave the crowds the day after Christmas, but don’t wait too long to return the item. Pick a time when the store is not likely to be crowded and be polite when talking to customer service. If you are a regular customer, or have a store credit account, mention that fact as you discuss your return options. Merchants are usually willing to accommodate loyal customers.
• If you are the gift-recipient, do not assume you have the right to return or exchange an unwanted present. Like the shopper, you are bound by the merchant’s return policy.
• Health regulations, which can prohibit the return of certain items like hats and intimate apparel.

About the Better Business Bureau

As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace.

BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations.

BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.

Better Business Bureau Tips on Returning Gifts after Christmas | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Online consumers and businesses want to be confident they are doing business with a company they can trust; however, according to a BBB/Gallup poll commissioned in 2007, for the past two years consumer confidence, in general, has been on the decline.

Those businesses are not just retail but cover all aspects of the marketplace.

The two million plus figure points specifically to internet inquiries which means consumers and businesses are doing their homework before they sign a contract to hire a company, or make an online purchase.

“Last month alone businesses accredited by the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois had more than 362 thousand clicks on their online seals,” said Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

“Half way through the last quarter of 2009 and for the second straight year the economy and waning confidence have combined to put our numbers on pace for another record breaking year.”

Consumers and businesses are aided in their efforts by the BBB’s Online Accreditation Seal program, the largest trust seal program on the internet today, which allows consumers the opportunity to research a business by simply clicking on the accreditation seal on the Web site and getting the businesses complete BBB business profile.

Additional information is also provided on who owns the company, how long they’ve been in business, their complaint history is, and the very important BBB letter grade A+ through F.

Bernas says, “With the economy being as it is and during this holiday shopping season consumers are expected to be online, also in record numbers, searching for the best deal; because consumers will try to avoid becoming victim of one of the internet horror stories we expect the numbers of online inquires for November and December to keep pace with October.”

He adds, “The decline in consumer trust plus the economy can have really negative consequences for businesses.

But interestingly, it presents a clear opportunity for competitive advantage for businesses that embrace consumer demand for trust especially on the internet.”

In addition to checking out a business while visiting that company’s Web site consumers can also visit the BBB’s safe shopping site to find businesses who are participating in the BBBOnline program – businesses they can trust.

Along with getting a company’s business profile consumers can also learn what’s required of a company that has the accreditation seal and what they must do to maintain our standards.

Consumers can find Accredited Businesses participating in the BBBOnline program by visiting bbb.org

Chicago Consumer Confidence Down: Better Business Bureau Online Numbers Hit Record Two Million Hits | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Winners are:

• The Inland Real Estate Group
• Packer Engineering, Inc
• Tasty Catering
• Assurance Agency, Ltd
• and Integrated Project Management Co. Inc.

Honorable Mentions will be awarded to:

• Shell Vacations, LLC
• Champion Windows
• and Cray, Kaiser LTD

“As the headlines have portrayed, ethical business practices have taken a beating on Wall Street, the banking industry, housing and other marketplaces,” says Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

“The Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics honors companies that make a demonstrable effort to promote ethical business practices, and we are pleased to see the number of businesses who, in the eyes of their customers and other associates, meet that threshold.”

Winners will receive their honors at an awards luncheon ceremony at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza on Thursday, Dec. 3.

The awards recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges each year.

Bernas went on to say, “This year’s participants and winners have reaped many rewards as a result of their commitment to achieving and maintaining high ethical standards including stronger customer loyalty, enhanced reputation, and greater employee commitment.”

The 2009 competition had the largest number of nominations and entries with more than 1,800 nominations from a wide variety of businesses, explained Bernas.

“This variety in entries and the subsequent winners and honorable mentions reflect an increasing interest by more and more companies to use ethical business practices in their operations as the primary method of self-regulation,” Bernas said.

“This belief is the cornerstone of the BBB system.”

Companies are judged in five categories based on their number of employees. Bernas noted that the presentation of awards is just the tip of the iceberg for companies that do it right by working with their customers, suppliers and other organizations in a professional manner.

It remains important for people to inform the BBB when they have done business with a company that did an exemplary job.

Many of the over 1,800 nominees for this award were the result of consumers alerting the BBB to companies who ‘do it right’.

This year’s event has been made possible through the generosity of the following sponsors:

AAA Chicago, Abt Electronics & Appliances, Access One, Inc., Alberto-Culver Company, Apple Vacations, Assurance Agency, Ltd., Bridgestone Retail and Commercial Operations, CDW, Champion Windows, Charter One, Chicago Tribune, ComEd – An Exelon Company, Combined Insurance Co. of America, Delaware Place Bank, DeVry, Discover Financial Services, Empire Today LLC, Grant’s Appliances Electronics & More, Hallberg Commercial Insuror’s Inc., Hilton Chicago, Inland Real Estate Group, Inc, Integrated Document Technologies, Inc, Integrated Project Management Co. Inc, Lehigh Hanson, Life Care Innovations Inc, Luna Carpets & Blinds, Inc, Medley Moving & Self Storage, Midas, Pampered Chef, Ltd, Plumbing Council of Chicagoland, PromoWorks, R H Donnelley, Sundance Vacations, Tiffany & Co., Total Merchant Systems, Urban Imaging Group, Inc, U S Waterproofing & Construction Co., Walgreens.

Consumers can nominate an ethical business on our Web site at bbb.org/chicago under the “For Consumers” section.

Top Ethical Businesses in Chicago Honored by BBB as Torch Award Winners | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Most recently, companies like Google, Twitter and the New York Times have been exploited by hackers as part of massive scareware attacks.

The Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how to protect personal and business information from the threat of scareware.

When a scareware attack occurs, a message pops up that looks like it comes from one’s own computer warning that their computer had been infected with a virus. The user was then told to visit another site to purchase and download anti-virus software that would fix the problem.

The supposed antivirus software actually installed even more viruses and malware onto the computer — and the user’s credit card number was now in the hands of computer hackers.

“The recent scareware attacks are popping up everywhere and can be found on even the most trusted websites online,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

According to Computer World Magazine, hackers are not only using pop up ads, they are also “poisoning Google search results.”

Hackers monitor the news and hot topics online — such as the death of Patrick Swayze and the US Open — and through search engine optimization techniques are able to ensure that their Web sites are the top results. Victims who click on the fake search results receive a scareware pop up.

“The threat of scareware undermines consumer trust in compromised Web sites, and on the internet in general, but there are steps computer users can take to protect themselves,” added Bernas.

The following are helpful tips for protecting your computer from a scareware attack:

Never let your guard down. A scareware attack can happen on trusted news sites like the New York Times, in search engines results from Google, and even now on Twitter.

Protect your computer. Install updates to your operating system, purchase antivirus software from a name you trust and keep that software up to date.

Also make sure that all security patches and updates are installed for your Web browser and programs like Adobe Flash Player.

Take immediate action during an attack. If you receive a scareware pop up window, experts recommend forcing the window to close through your task manager.

To do this, hold down ctrl, alt, and delete at the same time, open your task manager, find the browser in the list of running programs and click “end task.”

Finally, run an antivirus scan with legitimate, trusted software. For more advice on fighting off hackers and staying safe online, visit bbb.org.

Chicago BBB Warns as Halloween Trick-or-Treating Approaches, Don’t Let Scareware Trick Your Computer | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Having a diploma or an advanced degree is one way to stand out from the crowd, in these tough economic times when millions struggle to find a job. But some students have found out the hard way that the diploma they thought they earned online isn’t worth the paper it was printed on.

Unfortunately, not all institutions offering online diplomas or degrees are legitimate, and individuals looking to get ahead are being duped by diploma mills. Attempting to expose this, the BBB of Central Georgia has revealed that a two-year-old tuxedo cat named Oreo has received a diploma from Jefferson High School Online following a test and a $200 fee paid for by her owner.

Distance learning and online-based classes have become an increasingly popular option for students of all ages. According to a 2008 survey from the Sloan Consortium and Babson Survey Research Group, 3.9 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in 2007, a 12 percent increase over the previous year. More than 20 percent of higher education students were taking at least one online course.

“Education is one of the keys to advancing in life and having a diploma or advanced degree can certainly make a difference when it comes to getting into college or landing a higher-paying job,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “While the Internet facilitates learning through online curriculum, it also makes it easier for scammers to shill their phony high school diplomas and college degrees.”

BBB is warning consumers to be wary of two online diploma mills in particular:

Belford High School and Belford University

The BBB serving Houston has received 117 complaints from students in more than 40 states who paid for high school diplomas and advanced degrees from BelfordHighschool.com and BelfordUniversity.org.

Students were led to believe that Belford High School was accredited and that more than 99 percent of colleges would accept its diploma. Students paid as much as $674 and earned their high school diploma by taking an online test or by qualifying through “life experience.”

Belford University offers associate, bachelors and advanced degrees based on “life experience” including degrees in nursing, accounting, and even a Doctorate of Medicine degree which cost one complainant $1,400. In addition to receiving a diploma, students also received a phony transcript that claims they took classes such as Aromatherapy and Introduction to Aerosol Science.

Most people learned that their Belford diplomas and degrees were worthless from college admissions offices or military recruiters and several received the bad news during a job interview.

Jefferson High School Online and Vencer High School Online

BBB has received complaints from consumers who say they passed Jefferson High School Online’s test and paid more than $200 to receive a high school diploma. When the students tried to enroll in college using the diploma they were told that it was not valid.

A local victim Crystal Petrungaro from Chicago enrolled in Vencer High School Online, also known as Jefferson High School Online, according to her mother Patricia. “My daughter Crystal is handicapped and in a wheelchair. She wanted a high school diploma so that she could go to college and then work with handicapped kids. She registered online and took a brief test but no online coursework. They sent her a “diploma” but it turns out that they were not accredited so it is worthless and she still can’t go to college,” she said.

Jefferson High School Online is owned by MMDS Ltd., based out of St. Kitts, a small country in the eastern Caribbean. MMDS Ltd. also operates a Web site called Vencer High School Online. Aside from using a different name, the site is an exact replica of Jefferson High School, and offers the same services.

BBB cites the following red flags to help identify diploma mills:

• Degrees or diplomas are awarded based on “life experience” and require very little or no work.
• The institution guarantees you will receive a degree or diploma within a few days, weeks or months.
• The institution offers deals if you sign up to receive more than one degree at a time, such as a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree for one low price.
• Addresses for administration buildings include P.O. boxes or suite numbers.
• Prices are stated per degree instead of per credit hour.

Always check the organization out with your BBB online at bbb.org and make sure the college or university you are enrolling in is accredited from one of the six regional accreditation boards.

The U.S. Department of Education has a searchable database of accredited post-secondary schools at: ope.ed.gov/accreditation.

The Better Business Bureau of Chicago Warns Your Online Diploma Could be a Worthless Piece of Paper | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

This list will be updated as time goes by with new scams as they come to our attention. Where possible, each listing will link to a corresponding BBB reliability report where consumers may view further information where available.

It is of critical importance that consumers understand the following: Most of the names on the list are made up. They are names of non-existent companies created for the purpose of lending legitimacy to an otherwise fraudulent offer.

Unfortunately in some cases, scammers will find the name of a legitimate company and act as if they are that legitimate business, for the sole purpose of creating a false sense of credibility.

All who view this list should be specifically aware that the below names and phone numbers are pieces of information that have been found on checks sent to consumers, or paperwork accompanying these checks or other scams.

Check Scams

The check scam attempts to defraud a consumer out of their own funds from a bank account to which they have access. This is accomplished by sending a consumer a check of some sort, which the consumer is asked to deposit in their bank account. There can be any number of justifications for this action.

Some examples are:

• Consumers are told that they have won a lottery, and the check is to cover fees of some sort.
• Consumers are asked to “mystery shop” a money wiring service, using the check funds for the process and for payment.
• Often seen at online auction and classified sites, consumers may be sent a check to pay for an item being sold, but for (usually convoluted) various reasons, the buyer needs to send the seller more money than the item actually costs. Also referred to sometimes as an “overpayment scam”.

Once the consumer has deposited this check in their bank account, they are asked to wire funds onward to another person, for various reasons related to the above points, such as mystery shopping, payment of taxes or fees, or to pay “shipping” in an online auction/classifieds overpayment scam.

The catch here is that due to various banking practices, it is possible for a check to appear to have “cleared” the bank anywhere from immediately to 10 days later, when in reality the bank is still investigating the check.

The end result is that when the bank discovers that the check has no funds behind it, or is a fraudulent check, any funds from that check will be removed from the victim’s bank account, leaving the victim responsible for any funds spent, including those sent by wire.

This is true even if as a result, the victim’s account must become overdrawn by hundreds of dollars.

To summarize, the key “red flags” for this scam are:

1. being sent a counterfeit check for any number of reasons,
2. being asked to deposit this check and send a portion of the funds onward by wire transfer.

For more information on this and other similar scams, please visit chicago.bbb.org.

Advance Fee Loans

The advance fee loan scam is a simple one. In the United States, per Federal law it is illegal for any business to request up front fees for loans. These fees are often referred to by a host of different names, such as taxes, processing fees, insurance, or collateral.

Regardless of what they are called, these fees are illegal. The Chicago BBB is aware of many victims of this scam paying their requested advance fee to the scammer.

However to date the Chicago and Northern Illinois BBB does now know of a single circumstance where

1. consumers have received their loan, or
2. consumers received their advance fee refunded back to them.

The List

The following is the ongoing list of currently active scams by name. This list will be updated to add new found entities and names, and to remove older inactive entries.

Where possible, the name entries link back to the relevant BBB Reliability Report. After the list of names is a list of reported phone numbers.

Consumers browsing this list should be advised they can hit Control + F on their PC Keyboard to search this page. This can be used to search for a specific name or phone number for which a consumer may be looking.

• Alcoa Consumer Survey **Not Affiliated with Alcoa, Inc., the producer of Aluminum**
• Apex Consulting allegedly at 4250 N Sheridan in Chicago
• Ardent Services Inc. in Granite City IL – **No apparent affiliation to Ardent Services Inc. located in Denver Colorado.** Audacious Research, Inc.
• Barrister Group LLC – barristergroupllc.com
• Baypoint Lending Group
• Beaumont Investment Group – beaumontinvestmentgroup.com
• Capital Choice Management
• Clarkson Financial
• Cloverfield Lending Group – cloverfieldlg.com
• Coylehos Steels Co
• D&R Technology
• Dermon Investment Group
• DRT Financials
• Euro Financial Consultants
• Excel Marketing Inc.
• First Business Financial Solutions – fbfsolutions.com
• Freedom Exchange Lending Group – freedomexchangelg.com
• Fresh Start Lending Group
• Grove Enterprises LLC
• Hoppe Marketing Group
• Hyson Market Response
• I.G.C. Services or I.G.C. Survey & Management Services
• Info-Grant Inc.
• Innerworkings Inc.
• Lock Up Evergreen Agency
• M.F.G. Management Inc.
• Medtack Secret Survey
• Mega City Loans
• Merite Holdings
• MidTack Secret Survey
• Mizkan Americas **Not Affiliated with Mizkan Americas, Inc., the producer of condiments, vinegars, etc.**
• Money & Shopping or Money and Shopping
• Nationwide Marketing & Consumer Research
• New Heritage Financial Solutions
• North America Shoppers
• Northwest Shoppers Forum
• Parkview Financial Group – parkviewfinancial.net
• PDS Properties
• Quick Fact Consumer Research
• Remax Financial – remaxf.com – **Not Affiliated with RE/Max International, Inc. the Real Estate Brokerage company**
• Rex Gauge, Inc.
• Rightdata Research Group
• Special Loans
• Wildwood Consumer Surveys

Phone Numbers allegedly associated with the above names:

438-880-0576, 438-882-2300, 438-885-5000, 647-886-9381, 438-880-5500, 231-946-3425, 514-638-5631, 450-350-0294, 514-585-8663, 647-892-4315, 450-350-0310, 514-815-9781, 450-350-0307, 514-803-4619, 450-350-0291, 647-892-5763, 647-885-8282, 647-832-5361, 206-666-6314, 877-304-9880, 647-878-2635, 450-350-0293, 438-777-1016, 888-813-5676, 514-583-8481, 450-675-6854, 800-778-5584, 866-398-3670, 514-806-9544, 908-497-6758, 905-781-2600, 866-956-1987, 888-416-5115, 514-625-5387, 514-569-5883, 514-625-5392, 559-664-3979, 888-360-9509, 612-808-0000, 905-598-0017, 647-869-3934, 450-675-3624, 514-651-3692, 450-369-0598, 450-369-0117, 450-675-1478, 702-973-8964, 866-861-7229, 514-638-5439, 514-570-9234, 866-834-5343 , 866-287-6608, 514-652-8147, 868-306-3523, 514-315-6405, 877-260-0755, 877-420-1505, 515-690-3620,

If you have sent money to any of the above entities, please contact the IC3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, at ic3.gov, as well as Phonebusters, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, at phonebusters.com.

The Chicago and Northern Illinois BBB Releases Its List of Reported Check Scams and Advance Fee Lenders | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

According to the Wall Street Journal, many companies – for example, the travel site Expedia – are currently seeing up to a 50 percent spike in “friendly” fraud since October 2008. The most common types of “friendly” fraud involve cases in which a customer falsely claims they:

• Never received an item ordered online;
• Received the wrong item ordered online; or
• Had their credit card stolen and were charged for items they didn’t order.

The customer then demands a refund from the business or issues a chargeback on their credit card.

“There is nothing sweet and nice about ‘friendly’ fraud. The negative impact on businesses is doubly painful, because not only do businesses lose the merchandise, but they also are out what they should have made on the sale,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.

When “friendly” fraudsters are unable to coax reimbursements from a business directly, many then issue chargebacks to their credit card companies. Creditors will investigate the situation, asking for the business owner’s side of the story before deciding whether or not the business is at fault.

Defending a business against “friendly” fraud is no easy task, but there are steps to take.

The BBB offers the following advice to small business owners:

• Verify the buyer’s billing address before sending merchandise. Some retailers require that the billing and shipping address match before fulfilling an order. However, some businesses have found that simply paying for an Address Verification Service, which confirms that the billing address matches the address associated with the credit card, is sufficient.

• Use a shipper that tracks delivery. Some shipping firms provide tracking information and signature confirmation. Such information can help shed light on whether or not the customer really didn’t receive the goods.

• Deactivate or deny access to products. For retailers that do not ship tangible items, but rather items such as downloads or access to sites, a plan for denying access is both prudent and practical.

• Clearly state your return policy on your Web site. This includes any product guarantees, time restrictions, condition requirements or fees—such as for restocking.

• Be prepared to make your case to the credit card company. Staying organized and presenting a solid case—including records of delivery or reimbursement and your return policy—in the face of a chargeback will assist the credit card company, and increase your chances for a favorable resolution.

• Analyze sales records. This can help you identify consumers who charge back items on a regular basis, enabling you to decide whether or not to stop doing business with them.

For more advice on defending your small business from fraud, visit bbb.org.

The Chicago Office of the Better Business Bureau Offers Small Business Advice on Fighting “Friendly” Fraud | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Better Business Bureau is issuing an alert about phony debt collectors that are calling consumers nationwide and claiming that they have defaulted on a payday loan and will be arrested if they don’t pay immediately. Claiming to be lawyers, the scammers say they are with the “Financial Accountability Association” or the “Federal Legislation of Unsecured Loans” and are equipped with a disconcerting amount of personal information about their potential victims.

“Because the scammers have so much information about potential victims, the BBB is concerned that this may be the result of a data breach,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Thousands of people may have had their personal information compromised, and given the scammers’ tactics, it appears that those who have previously used payday loan services could be particularly at risk.”

According to reports received by the BBB and posted online, the scammers accuse the victim of defaulting on a payday loan and claim they are being sued. The phony debt collector threatens that, if the victim doesn’t pay as much as $1,000 immediately via wire or by providing bank account or credit card numbers, he or she will be arrested and extradited to California within the hour to stand trial. The scammers often may have the victim’s Social Security, old bank account numbers or driver’s license numbers as well as home addresses, employer information and even the names of personal friends and professional references.

The BBB offers the following advice to consumers if they receive a suspicious telephone call about an outstanding debt:

• Ask the debt collector to provide official documentation in writing which substantiates the debt.
• Do not provide or confirm any bank account, credit card or other personal information over the phone until you have confirmed the legitimacy of the call.
• Review recent copies of your credit reports to ensure that the alleged debt is not affecting your credit. Consumers can do this for free once every 12 months, and can find more information here: ftc.gov/freereports
• Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse any person while attempting to collect a debt.
• A debtor may be contacted between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. only and can be contacted at work unless instructed not to.
• File a complaint with the FTC online if the caller is abusive, uses threats or otherwise violates federal telemarketing laws.
• File a complaint with BBB online at bbb.org if you believe a debt collector is trying to scam you.

According to complaints online, phone numbers that the scammers are calling from include: 949-468-5107, 415-200-0274, 213-784-5745, 408-715-1614 and many others.

To learn more about payday loans and debt collection services go to bbb.org.

Widespread Harassment from Phony Debt Collectors Raises Concerns of Mass Data Breach, Warns BBB | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

A will is one component of estate planning that indicates the distribution of your assets and who will receive them.  Without a will, state laws and probate court may determine how your estate is distributed.   According to a survey by FindLaw.com, 58 percent of American adults have not written a will.  This gives them little control or input into issues such as what will happen to their assets and any minor children after they die.

Some of the main reasons for why they didn’t have a will included not wanting to think about dying, not knowing where to start or who to talk to about setting up an estate plan and not believing they had enough assets to need one.

“Those who don’t have a will are leaving it up to the state to decide where their money and children should go if they should pass away,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “While no one enjoys thinking about their death, it’s important to create an estate plan so that assets go to the people you want and your children are taken care of.”

An estate plan can be as simple as drafting a will or as complex as setting up a trust and a living will. BBB offers the following guidance on the basic components of an estate plan and advice on choosing what is necessary for different situations.

Will

At the very least, anyone who has assets that they would like to pass on to specific individuals should create a will.  A will can allocate assets as well as establish guardianship of children. Most wills have to go through probate after the individual’s death. In probate, a court oversees the payment of any debts and distributes inheritances—the process can last several months.

Living Trust

While a trust might sound like something only wealthy people need, it’s actually a tool for anyone who would like to set conditions on how and when their assets are distributed. A trust can also help reduce the amount of taxes paid on the inheritance and does not have to go through probate—unlike a will. Examples for creating a trust include wanting to give a child their inheritance over time, rather than in a lump sum, and restrict how the money can be spent.

Living Will

A living will provides a way for an individual to communicate in advance their desire for life-saving measures in case they are incapacitated.  In addition to a living will, individuals can also assign medical power of attorney to someone they trust who can further ensure that their wishes are fulfilled.

For simple estates, many Web sites offer an inexpensive do-it-yourself approach to creating a will; for more involved estates, it’s best to enlist the help of a lawyer. BBB advises researching any estate planning companies or lawyers first at bbb.org before paying for assistance.

After creating an estate plan, the BBB recommends communicating the terms of the plan with the family members and loved ones it impacts. An estate plan needs to be revised every time the individual moves, changes marital status or is affected by major financial changes, such as investments or buying or selling a business. An estate plan will also need to be reviewed if anyone the estate plan affects undergoes major life changes such as marriage or death.

For more advice you can trust from the BBB on managing personal finances visit bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Advice on the Basics of Creating an Estate Plan | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“The cause of Michael Jackson’s untimely death still needs to be determined, and already people are seeing suspicious and awkwardly written e-mails appear in their inboxes offering supposedly authentic items from the pop singer’s life,” says Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Great care should be taken by anyone who wants to buy Michael Jackson memorabilia at this time.”

Here are some Questions and suggestions from the Better Business Bureau to ask yourself and anyone trying to sell you items:

ADVERTISING CLAIMS? Be careful of the contentions by a seller that a collectable item is a limited edition collectable. There still could have been thousands or millions made. If there is a large advertising campaign it may be too common an item to increase in value in the future.

IS THE SELLER TRUSTWORTHY? If the seller is a retail operation, look for the BBB seal or check the retailer’s rating at the www.bbb.org. If it is an individual selling through an online commerce Web site, look at the seller’s rating on that site and other people’s experience with materials purchased from that person. Look for the Better Business Bureau’s seal on Web sites and click on the seal to confirm its legitimacy. If there isn’t a BBB seal on the site, check a company out at bbb.org.

HOW RARE IS THE ITEM? Yes, there’s a lot of interest in Michael Jackson memorabilia right now. However, is the item truly unique and worthy of its price, or has the price simply been jacked up because of current interest? Look at prices of comparable items associated with other performers.

IS THE ITEM AUTHENTIC? If it appears to be a mass-produced item that you believe has some value, ask if it is licensed. Look for the license tag or other proof of licensing. If it is an autograph or other personal item, the seller should be willing to explain how he or she came in possession of it. Autographs can be verified by a professional third party organization.

SELLING A COLLECTABLE ITEM? The sentimental value the item holds for you could be more important than the actual prize you receive by selling it in the marketplace.

PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD? If the item isn’t authentic or what you expected, you can always dispute the charge with the credit card company and possibly obtain a refund.

BUYING FROM A DEALER? Check their reliability with your BBB at bbb.org

“Even though people may be emotional at this time,” explained the BBB’s Bernas, “we urge them to continue to be smart consumers. There are many unscrupulous people out there betting that emotion will trump sensible buying to make money from people’s sorrow at a time like this.”

BBB Warns: Don’t Let Sorrow Over Michael Jackson’s Death Open The Door To Being Cheated Out Of Your Money | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Most troubling is the lack of response from representatives of Burr Oak and other cemeteries,” says Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the BBB serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Burr Oak and four other cemeteries, including one for pets, all have an “F” rating which is the lowest possible.” He adds, “Responding to complaints is one of the most important factors that help determine a businesses rating.”

Burr Oak’s report shows five complaints filed in the last 36 months, which is our standard reporting period. One of the complaints filed this past May suggests that monies paid had been misappropriated or embezzled by an employee. The grave marker for the person’s son was in the holding area awaiting payment of the installation fee. The fee in fact was paid and the consumer had a receipt.

“As we know Burr Oak has some very serious allegations pending,” stated Bernas. “But we are equally concerned about the complaints filed against the other cemeteries. The most common complaints are service issues running the gamut from missing grave markers to being unprepared for memorial services.”

The time following the death of a loved one is a very difficult period but it is also a time when many decisions must be made.

The BBB offers the following suggestions when selecting a cemetery:

• Consider family preferences, but look for a reasonable price. Military cemeteries as well as some connected with a specific place of worship may restrict entry to people who meet specific criteria.
• Keep in mind that if certain family members want to be buried together, you may save money by purchasing enough plots for all in the same cemetery at one time.
• Familiarize yourself on the differences between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services.
• Tour the grounds and ask for a map of available plots. Find out what are the price differences. A mausoleum may cost less than a plot. Be sure to compare the prices of more scenic burial plots with those in less charming locations in the same cemetery. You can save money by forgoing the view.
• Add up the total cost of the plot. Are there opening and closing fees, and how much are they? How will payments be made? Are there any future maintenance fees?
• Find out what happens if you change your mind. Can you sell the plot or transfer ownership to someone else?
• Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.
• Learn about embalming rules which are governed by state law; embalming is not legally required for direct cremations.

“It is sad that there are some businesses that take advantage of people at a difficult time in their lives simply to make exorbitant profits,” stated Bernas. “As a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured by vendors into making purchases, signing contracts, or committing funds. These decisions are yours and yours alone.”

As with any business transaction, be sure to read all agreements, guarantees, and instructions before signing.  Make sure all oral promises are put in writing. Be wary of vaguely worded provisions, exclusions or limitations which could pose a problem later. Never sign a contract with sections left blank.

For more information on making funeral arrangements go to bbb.org.

For Over Two Years, Alsip’s Burr Oak Cemetery Received Lowest Possible Rating from Better Business Bureau | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.