A new alert has been posted over on the Allconnect Scam Advisory.  This time, we’re shedding light on how consumers lose millions of dollars a year as victims of ATM card skimming.

It’s not exactly a new scam, but it has gotten much more sophisticated.  It’s often times hard to tell there’s anything wrong with the machine.  And ATM’s aren’t the only hot spots.  Scammers will also set up their card skimmers on pay at the pump gas pumps.  Really, anywhere you can insert a card could be a skimmer trap, so what can you do?

Check out the Allconnect Scam Advisory page to learn a few solid tips on how to avoid being scammed.

In an effort to keep you, the consumer, from falling victim to unscrupulous companies and scams, we’ve just launched the Allconnect Scam Advisory page.

The idea behind the Allconnect Scam Advisory page is to keep tabs on scams that could potentially harm you, your families, or your homes.  We’ve started the page with a scam that, in our current economic state, many of us could believe.  It’s a sad fact that home foreclosures have been on the rise for years now.  Unemployment is high and many folks simply can’t make their mortgage payments.

However, the government started a program to help those of us who need it.  A partnership between the Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Making Home Affordable Program “includes opportunities to modify or refinance your mortgage to make your monthly payments more affordable. It also includes the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program for homeowners who are interested in a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.”

The current Allconnect Scam Advisory page warns you about potential mortgage fraud scams.  If you are considering looking into “loan modification assistance”, you should be aware that the service should be FREE!  There is no need to pay upfront costs for assistance and the companies asking you for payment upfront are likely scam artists.

Get the full story over on the Allconnect Scam Advisory page.

The true value of home warranties is something that many people struggle with each day. While the cost of fixing appliances can add up quickly, it can also be difficult to justify paying money each month when your appliances are working perfectly. For that reason, the question of whether or not to get a Home Warranty can be a tricky one to answer.
Do Most People Get a Home Warranty?
A recent survey conducted by Allconnect found that the majority of people find their home warranties to be a good investment, while 42% found them to be a waste or said it was something they do begrudgingly. If you are thinking about getting a home warranty here are a few things that you should consider:
What is a Home Warranty?
The first thing you should be familiar with is what a home warranty is. A home warranty is a policy that helps you covers the costs of repairing major appliances such as you gas line, heating system or central air. Home warranties can also cover items such as dishwasher and refrigerators. These appliances can be expensive to fix when they break, the average repair costs for an HVAC system can be between $3,000 and $5,000 dollars, so a home warranty is targeted at easing those surprise costs Like car insurance policies different packages cover different items in your home.

Often home warranties come into play during the sale of a house. Sometimes a seller will pay for the home warranty to give the buyer peace of mind about the appliances in the house they are purchasing. Other times it is up to the buyer to secure the home warranty on his or her own.
When Would I Use My Home Warranty?
Home warranties come into play when an appliance in the house, which is covered by your policy, breaks or stops working. At that point the homeowner calls the home warranty company who will get in touch with the provider. The provider then calls to make an appointment to service the machine. Homeowners will pay a service charge for the appointment that is typically less than $100.
What is the Cost of a Home Warranty?
Home warranties usually range from $250 to $400 dollars based on the level of coverage. Additionally homeowners will need to pay a service fee each time a provider comes to their home to address an issue.
What are the Drawbacks of a Home Warranty?
Home warranties can be an excellent protection policy for homeowners, however it is possible for providers to deny a claim, leaving you stuck with the entire service bill. If you are purchasing a home warranty you should make sure to understand exactly what is covered including which appliances and any of the contingencies that would allow providers to deny your claim. These can include:

• Normal wear and tear
• Improper installation
• Improper maintenance by the owner

If your claim is denied you may find yourself paying for the repairs yourself.
So, A Good Investment or A Waste?
With the majority of people agreeing that home warranties are a good investment, it would appear that they are more of helpful than they are a nuisance. Especially for individuals who are buying a home that is not a new construction and who are not looking to immediately upgrade things such as heating systems.

For those who are purchasing new construction homes, they may be able to wait on the home warranty. However you may want to ask yourself the question if you would be willing to wait on purchasing car insurance simply because you are buying a brand new car.

Either way, with the low annual cost, compared to the potential cost of repairs, home warranties should be a definite consideration when you are buying a home. Allconnect offers a selection of home warranties to chose from and makes it easy to compare the prices available in your area.

People only think about switching their utilities during a move?

People don’t need to be unhappy with their Phone, Internet and Cable Packages for long to Switch.

People are mostly concerned with price when they are looking for a new Phone, Internet and Cable Package?

People find price comparisons the most difficult part about switching their Phone, Internet or Cable Package.

In today’s economy, we’re all cutting back and spending less – at least we’re trying to.  The odds that you know someone who has lost a job recently are pretty good.  You may have even lost a job yourself.  Regardless, there is renewed interest in sticking to a budget and making every dollar go further.  Whether you’re planning for a worst case scenario or simply trying to save more, it pays to be frugal and the stats agree.

According to a recent survey from The Hartford, an insurance and wealth management company, one in four consumers said they have just enough money to meet basic living expenses.  In fact, thirty-seven percent of consumers reported feeling “‘severe’ financial impact due to the recession.”  Sixty-one percent said they would have to make significant lifestyle changes if they lost their income for three to six months.

It seems obvious, but not everyone realizes just how much it costs to keep a house running.  The essentials, food and shelter, have morphed into food, shelter, cable TV and high speed Internet.  You could even justify the expense as a job hunting tool.  But why wait until you lose your income to save money on cable TV and high speed Internet service?  Our recently released Home Services Advisor was built to help you save money on utilities .   There’s no need to wait until it’s a true necessity.  Start saving now.

Just the other day, cnet news posted an article on the Google PowerMeter.  If you’re not familiar with it, PowerMeter is an online tool that allows you to monitor and manage your home electricity usage.  According to Google’s PowerMeter site, the tool works by communicating with “utility smart meters and energy monitoring devices . . . [allowing] users to view their home’s energy consumption from anywhere online.”

If you notice a spike, you can investigate your home electricity usage to see what appliance is wasting your energy, your money.  It’s still in its early stages, but it certainly appears to be headed in the right direction to help consumers save money and energy.  Likewise, Allconnect recently launched the beta version of its new consumer money saving tool the Home Services Advisor.

After entering some basic usage and pricing statistics, the Home Services Advisor recommends how you could save on your monthly bills by optimizing your current plans or switching providers altogether.  Moving forward, the Home Services Advisor will even email you to let you when a better deal has popped up or when your current contract is expiring.  That way you you can look into locking in a lower price.

In recent years, we’ve all become keenly aware of budgets and spending.  It’s nice to see companies recognizing the need for saving money and energy.