November - CSA Fraternal Life

Business Buzz“Avoiding Home Repair Fraud”7. Contractors who demand cash paymentfor a job, or ask you to make acheck payable to a person other than theowner or company name.8. Offers from a contractor to drive youto the bank to withdraw funds to pay forthe work.be decided on the spot. You are the consumer.You have the power to say NO!Source:www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.govNow that it is the season of Fall, youmay be solicited by phone, mail, or atyour door for furnace inspections, roofinspections, gutter inspections, and thelike. Be wary and aware of scare tactics.Know your residence and keep alist of repairs, including dates, companyused, and what was done. Below aretips from the Illinois Attorney General’sOffice; every state has an attorney generalyou can contact if you have anydoubts or concerns about work you areconsidering having done to your home.Please use extreme caution when confrontedwith the following warningsigns of a potential scam:1. Door-to-door salespersons with NOlocal connections.2. An offer to do home repair work forsubstantially less than the market price.3. Solicitations for repair work from acompany that lists ONLY a telephonenumber or a P. O. Box to contact, especiallyif it is an out-of-state company.4. Contractors who fail to provide referenceswhen requested.5. Persons who offer to inspect yourhome for free.6. DO NOT let anyone into your homewho cannot provide authentic identificationof their employment with a companyor business. You can call the worker’semployer to verify his or her identity.They will wait.Remember: Scammers act like nicepeople who are very interested in yourcomfort and safety. They are attractiveand good speakers. Nothing ever has toStarting a New TraditionThanksgiving is a perfect time to continue all the wonderful traditions your familyhas shared over the years. It can also be a great time to start a new tradition. Theseideas can help your family have fun in a unique way while still preserving yourcherished traditions.Have fun with breakfast.Everyone focuses on the main event, the Thanksgiving dinner, but having a ritualfor breakfast can be nice, too. Whether it is eating donuts while watching a parade,having a potluck breakfast buffet, or even dropping off homemade cinnamon rollsto all your neighbors, adding in some traditions for the start of the day can make itspecial.Dress up your table with neglected items.If you have linens you’ve never pulled out or servingware you received as a weddinggift, but never used, this is the time to put them all to good use. If you have letnice pieces languish because you did not know the best time to use them, use themfor your Thanksgiving table. Then, each year, you can pull those special pieces out,knowing they have a tradition attached to them.Get out of the house.Volunteering on Thanksgiving is a special tradition for many families. If you’veonly stayed at home on Thanksgiving in the past, consider giving of your family’stime to help those in need. There are many opportunities to help your communitywhile still spending most of the day with your family. Check with charitable organizationsin your community to find out how to participate.Consider downsizing.While it is lovely to have lots of people around your Thanksgiving table, you canenjoy a simpler, less stressful day by breaking up your socializing. If you havefound that your holiday has gotten too busy, consider eating your meal with justyour nearest and dearest. Then, open up your home for a dessert open-house.Friends and extended family can drop in at their convenience and enjoy somedessert, making for simpler and more intimate social interactions.Read the Journal online at: www.csafraternallife.orgNOVEMBER 2013 — CSA JOURNAL — 9