When not to call 911- when they are out of McNuggets

911 is meant to be the universal phine number for emergencies. Unfortunately, not everyone uses 911 for it's intended purpose.

There is 911 misuse and 911 abuse.
911 misuse and abuse is divided into two categories: unintentional and intentional calls.Unintentional calls occur when a person or phone inadvertently dials 911. This category includes phantom wireless calls, misdials and hang-upss. Callers sometimes deliberately, but inappropriately, dial 911. Such intentional calls fall under several distinct categories.
Nonemergency 911 Calls

Nonemergency calls often constitute a large portion of all 911 calls.† Callers sometimes phone about an incident—albeit not an emergency—that requires police attention .

And then there are the non emergency calls that are just stupid and take resources away from the real emergencies.

Authorities say a Florida woman called 911 three times after McDonald's employees told her they were out of McNuggets. A police report said that the Fort Pierce resident told authorities she paid for a 10-piece last week but was later informed the restaurant had run out.

She says she was refused a refund and told all sales were final. A cashier told police she offered the woman a larger portion of different food for the same price, but the woman became irate.



Stumble It!

National Consumer Protection Week

The 11th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 1-7. NCPW 2009.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which highlights consumer protection and education efforts across the country, is proud to announce NCPW 2009 – Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy. Whether consumers are trying to stretch their paychecks, improve their credit history, or tell the difference between a real deal and a potentially fraudulent product or service, information is one tool that can always help them get the most for their money.

The NCPW website has the nuts and bolts consumers need to make informed decisions in today’s marketplace. Partner organizations have tips on a wide range of topics, from getting a free credit report to spotting a telemarketing scam, from dealing with debt to deterring and detecting identity theft, from avoiding home and auto repair scams to reporting credit repair scams.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, scam artists, fraudsters and four flushers follow the headlines, and are likely to be using the economic downturn to take advantage of consumers who may be underwater financially. The NCPW website has tools people can use to recognize a ripoff, sniff out a scam, and make smart choices for today’s market.

National organizers of this year’s NCPW include AARP, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Consumer Federation of America, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Federal Citizen’s Information Center, the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Attorneys General, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the National Consumers League, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Postal Service.
For more information about NCPW, visit www.consumer.gov/ncpw.

HelpWithMyBank.gov
HelpWithMyBank.gov provides answers and assistance to customers of national banks. It assists consumers in filing complaints online by telling them what to provide and what to expect. Customer Assistance Specialists are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern, Monday – Friday, at 1-800-613-6743 or by email at Customer.Assistance@OCC.Treas.Gov. The site also includes answers to common questions on a variety of consumer topics and helps walk people through the process of contacting the OCC for additional assistance.

Visit HelpWithMyBank.gov, a website from the OCC.

Free Annual Credit Reports
annualcreditreport.com is the ONLY authorized online source for you to get a free credit report under federal law. You can get a free report from each of the three national credit reporting companies every 12 months. Some other sites claim to offer "free" credit reports, but may charge you for another product if you accept a "free" report.

Visit annualcreditreport.com

ConsumerAction.gov features tips on many different consumer topics and information about how to solve consumer problems, as well as addresses, telephone numbers, and websites where you can file consumer complaints.

View the site from the FCIC.

Order your copy of the 2009 Consumer Action Handbook.

Stumble It!

Tax Season....

Free Tax Help

There are lots of free tax help programs out there for people who need it. The IRS offers a guide of tax services. Some highlights:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

VITA offers free tax help for low-to-moderate income earners ($42,000 and below) who cannot prepare their own returns. To locate the nearest VITA site, call (800) 829-1040.

Tax Counseling for Seniors

According to the IRS, 90 million people filed their taxes electronically in 2008. There are many advantages to e-filing your taxes – it’s easier, it reduces the risk of error and you’ll receive your refund faster (especially if you use direct deposit to receive your refund electronically). According to the IRS, e-filing is “virtually error-proof with an error rate of less than one percent.” There are three ways to e-file:

Go to a Tax Professional

See an authorized e-file provider who can electronically file e-files your taxes for you, usually at a fee. Fees may vary depending on the tax professional you choose and the specific services requested.

Do it Yourself on your Computer

Use purchased / free software on your home computer.

Free File (IRS)

If you made less than $56,000 in 2008, you can e-file your taxes directly with the IRS through their Free File program. It offers:

• Free service
• Services in English / Spanish
• Automatic accuracy checks
• Quick refunds (sometimes less than 10 days)

Note: Free File only works with your Federal taxes – you still need to file your state taxes.

Free tax help for senior citizens from trained volunteers. Call (888) 227-7669 to locate an AARP Tax-Aide site in your neighborhood.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs)

LITCs provide help to low income taxpayers, either free or at nominal cost. Some non-English assistance provided. The IRS has more information on low income tax clinics in your area.

Military Personnel Resources

The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) offers free tax help for members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and their families. Visit this IRS page for general information about notifying the IRS on overseas deployment, and learn about combat zone tax benefits and other items.

Stumble It!

Paul Harvey...That's the end of the story

March Madness begins today and the topic for Sunday is to mention something that happened over the weekend. While I'd rather be mentioning something good, I am going to mention the death of a popular figure.



Paul Harvey, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio Networks. He was 90.

Harvey died surrounded by family at a hospital in Phoenix, where he had a winter home, said Louis Adams, a spokesman for ABC Radio Networks, where Harvey worked for more than 50 years. No cause of death was immediately available.

Harvey had been based in Chicago and was still active as he passed his 90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer, Lynne.



Statement by Former President George W. Bush on the Death of Paul Harvey:

"Laura and I are saddened by the death of Paul Harvey. Paul was a friendly and familiar voice in the lives of millions of Americans. His commentary entertained, enlightened, and informed. Laura and I are pleased to have known this fine man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

- Former President George W. Bush

A statement from Paul Harvey Jr.

"

My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news. So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend." - Paul Harvey Jr.

A statement from ABC Radio Networks President James Robinson.

"Paul Harvey was one of the most gifted and beloved broadcasters in our nation’s history. As he delivered the news each day with his own unique style and commentary, his voice became a trusted friend in American households. His career in radio spanned more than seven decades, during which time countless millions of listeners were both informed and entertained by his “News & Comment” and “Rest of the Story” features. Even after the passing of his loving wife Angel in May 2008, Paul would not slip quietly into retirement as he continued to take the microphone and reach out to his audience. We will miss our dear friend tremendously and are grateful for the many years we were so fortunate to have known him. Our thoughts and prayers are now with his son Paul Jr. and the rest of the Harvey family. "

- Jim Robinson
President, ABC Radio Networks

Stumble It!