Smart Consumer Archives - Page 2 of 11

During the coronavirus crisis, failure is not an option

March 17, 2020March 17, 2020

As the coronavirus crisis spreads, pushing the stock market off a cliff and dragging companies into bankruptcy, one thing is certain: Failure is not an option. The advocacy work that you support will continue here, despite everything.

How do I know?

Yesterday, on the first day of our spring fundraiser, you donated a record $4,500 to this consumer advocacy organization. We’re raising $30,000 to keep the site running through the summer.
Read more “During the coronavirus crisis, failure is not an option”

This is how to choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation

February 14, 2020February 13, 2020

It’s shaping up to be a big year for travel insurance. The coronavirus outbreak and global uncertainties are seeing to that. But how do you choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation?

“The right insurance policy will protect you from unexpected issues that may arise,” says Justin Tysdal, travel insurance expert and CEO of Seven Corners. “Something as simple as twisting an ankle in a foreign country may not be covered by your medical insurance and could result in expensive medical bills.”

To find the right policy, you have to know what kind of travel insurance is out there. The rest – knowing where to shop and buy the policy – is easier. But whatever you do, don’t skip the insurance.

Not this year.
Read more “This is how to choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation”

Yes, you do need insurance for your rental car. Here’s why

January 30, 2020January 31, 2020

When Brian Novak rented a car in Anchorage, Alaska, a stray pebble smashed his vehicle’s windshield. It left him with a $400 repair bill. Too bad he declined the insurance for his rental car.

His story repeats itself every day on my consumer advocacy site and is about to become even more common. At the car rental counter, when asked if they want insurance for their rental car, many travelers say “no.” That’s usually because the optional collision damage waiver can double the cost of the vehicle. So they have to make a bet that they’ll drive safely and return the car in working order.

Sometimes they don’t.
Read more “Yes, you do need insurance for your rental car. Here’s why”

Are mandatory resort fees about to disappear?

January 24, 2020January 23, 2020

Mandatory resort fees, which can surprise hotel guests by adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of their hotel stay, could soon disappear.

Two lawsuits by the state attorney generals in Washington D.C. and Nebraska, and a proposed Congressional bill, aim to kill the hated fees. And not a moment too soon.
Read more “Are mandatory resort fees about to disappear?”

How to avoid a surprise roaming charge on your phone

January 10, 2020January 9, 2020

Want to avoid a surprise roaming charge on your phone? Then listen to SuryaPrateek Surampalli’s story. He recently ran up more than $710 in roaming fees on a trip to India.
Read more “How to avoid a surprise roaming charge on your phone”

Don't Miss A Single Story