Press & News:
What to Do When You Can't Resolve a Consumer Complaint
Learn how to get results with these expert-backed tricks.
(NOVEMBER 30, 2018 U.S. News and World Report)
WITH THE holiday shopping season in full swing, odds are, sooner or later in the gift-giving process, something will go awry. Maybe a product is faulty, a service is poor or an online shipment doesn't arrive in time for the holidays. That's when you'll want to file a consumer complaint.
But as anyone who's spent mind-numbing hours on a call with a customer service representative can attest, sometimes that strategy doesn't help you achieve your intended outcome. Maybe your money isn't refunded or you can't get your issue resolved. That's when you need to consider additional steps you can take to get a response – and a solution – for a legitimate complaint.
With that in mind, here are pain-free and effective strategies for fixing a READ MORE...
"One of the best tools that is always overlooked is the use of the Uniform Commercial Code," Zivic says, adding that every state has enacted it as law. The UCC refers to a set of laws that provide legal rules and regulations that businesses are supposed to abide by.
"The UCC has implied warranties of merchantability and fitness that give the consumer a lot of power, even after the supposed warranty period has expired. This tool, along with a mix of using our tax dollars to work for us by involving the attorney general of the state the consumer lives in is a very potent combination," Zivic says.
A Guide to Social Security Disability
Gather the right information before applying for disability benefits if you are unable to work.
(May 22, 2019 US News and World Report)
ONE OUT OF FOUR Americans will become disabled by age 67, according to the Social Security Administration. “That means you could lose your greatest asset – your ability to earn an income,” says Steve Azoury, a financial advisor and owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Michigan. Social Security disability insurance is designed to replace some of this lost income if you have a medical condition and can no longer work. READ MORE
Before filling out an application, you’ll need to determine what you are now unable to do as a result of your disability. “You have to prove you are not able to do any kind of work,” says Jerry Zivic, a retired Social Security disability lawyer. “It is not whether somebody will hire you or not.” If you can perform work, even if it isn’t related to your previous profession, you may not be eligible. For example, a surgeon might suffer a hand injury and no longer be able to carry out duties in the medical field. But if the injury isn’t severe, and the person can do other tasks such as answer the phone or walk dogs, Social Security disability benefits might not be an option.
Print out a list of the medications you take, along with their side effects, to send in with your application. You can also have your doctor list information about your condition. “It would be helpful if your medical provider can provide a statement that you are not able to do any type of work,” Zivic says. Put your medical records together, including doctor visits, diagnoses and any other information that helps explain your disability.
Ways to Increase Social Security Disability Checks
Think through your condition and life circumstances to find support for your disability.
(Aug 21, 2019 US News and World Report)
APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 4, or 61 million, adults in the United States report a disability, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your daily activities, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. This financial assistance is available through the federal government and is designed to help individuals who READ MORE
The Social Security Administration periodically reviews disability cases and determines who is still eligible for benefits. Even if you have been receiving benefits for several years, your eligibility could change if it is determined that you are no longer disabled. “Benefits are not guaranteed for life,” says Jerry Zivic, a recently retired attorney in Sarasota, Florida, who practiced Social Security Disability law for more than 30 years.