Sunday, November 25, 2012
If you're in the market for a used car, make sure it's not one of the thousands of vehicles damaged during Superstorm Sandy .
The National Insurance Crime Bureau and Amica Insurance warn against inadvertantly purchasing vehicles that were declared total losses as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Amica Insurance released a press release last week, offering tips to help consumers identify and avoid water-damaged cars, which were declared a loss by insurance, then potentially fraudulently resold to new buyers. "Salvage operators and dealers may try to conceal the fact that a car has been damaged," said Shannon O'Brien, an Amica Insurance assistant vice president, "leaving potential buyers as potential victims of a bad deal." The NCIB offers VINCheck, a free consumer protection service to help potential car buyers identify cars which may have sustained flood or other …
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Know what to do in the aftermath of the epic storm.
The historic Hurricane Sandy has blown through the northeast U.S., with flooding rains and devastating winds, leaving a wide swath of destruction in her wake. In the days following the epic storm, we're assessing the damage and beginning clean-up efforts. If you live in one of the harder-hit areas, you may be feeling overwhelmed and not know where to start. And you may need some guidance on picking up the pieces safely. First and foremost, in your haste to return to life as "normal," don't forget to be cautious and careful. If you were forced to evacuate and return to find your home damaged, don't go inside before determining that the structure is safe and sound. You should also have the property checked by a professional, to look for gas …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Here are some tips to avoid getting ripped off by someone posing as a contractor.
Many people in this area suffered roof and home damage following the storm earlier this week. Sadly, there are people who will come to damaged areas and try to take advantage of the situation. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry - Building Industries Exchange (NARI-BIE), con artists will often show up in neighborhoods affected by disasters and solicit business, offering "great deals" and usually asking for a large down payment. NARI-BIE says that often, they offer you a discount because the materials are "left over" from a local job. Spotting these con artists is sometimes difficult, but there are things you can look for and ways to check them out. NARI-BIE says, "Frequently, these fly-by-night operators …
Dotterer Auto Body
9:32 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
What is not mentioned in the article is the amount of onboard computer modules located throughout the vehicle. Some modules control the SRS or airbag system. These modules are usually located on the floor of the vehicle either under the front seats or under the center console. These of course would be the first to see any water damage. Any damage or corrosion of the wire terminals could affect … more ›