Energy Tips To Help Cool Your Power Bill This Summer

• As thermometers across the state continue to rise closer to 100 degrees, it’s obvious the dog days of summer have set in. The heat, however, isn’t the only thing making people uncomfortable, as power bills are also on the rise.

To combat the effects of rising energy costs, the Department of Consumer Affairs, as well as SCE&G, have compiled a helpful list of energy cost cutters.

Practice a few of these tips and you will notice an immediate difference in your bill:

• Block exterior heat. Plant trees and shrubs to shade outside windows and walls.
• Turn your thermostat up in the summertime. Every degree you turn your thermostat higher, you can reduce your cooling costs by up to eight percent. ( A 78 degrees setting typically uses 35 percent less energy than a 70 degrees setting.)
• Keep doors and windows closed to protect the cooled, comfortable air in your home. Before you open doors and windows to take advantage of the free comfort, be sure the temperature and humidity outside have dropped.
• Don’t remove storm windows or doors in the summer if air conditioning is used often. These windows and doors help insulate the home and keep the air inside cooler longer.
• If you have central air conditioning, direct the registers up in the summer because cold air does not rise. Also, make sure that your furniture and drapes are not blocking air conditioning registers or window units.
• Try to cook early in the day or late in the evening when it is cooler, and cook outdoors when possible. Use the exhaust fan sparingly to get rid of unwanted heat in the kitchen.
• Fans use only about 1/10th of the energy that air conditioning does. So use fans to make people feel cooler. However, if no one is in the room to enjoy the air movement, the fans may be adding heat to the room. In reality, fans do not lower the room temperature. And don’t forget to turn fans off when no one is using them. Also, turn off all lights, televisions, radios, computers, and other appliances not in use.
• Use low wattage light bulbs and replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones whenever possible. You might want to consider changing to energy-efficient light bulbs, which put off the same light while using less energy.
• Dust or vacuum ducts, registers, raditors and refrigerator coils regularly and bleed air from hot water radiators periodically.
• Also, keep your appliances free of dirt and grease, which can reduce operating efficiency.

Scam Alert: Grant Scams Targeting Individuals and Small Business Owners

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs warns consumers and business owners to be cautious when dealing with any company that promises government grants or information on how to receive such grants. Many of these offers are cleverly-disguised scams that convince unsuspecting victims to pay a fee for a grant they will never receive or for information they could otherwise obtain for free.

One widespread grant scam asks small business owners to sign-up for a seminar that provides valuable information on starting and maintaining businesses as well as contact information for organizations that provide small business grants. After paying $300 to $1000 for the seminar, the participant receives a binder with information on a number of government websites that can actually be accessed for free. Additionally, the information inaccurately lists a number of organizations that do not have available grants or even offer grants in the first place.

An organization erroneously listed in these materials is the Governor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance. Director Margaret Woodson says their organization never gave permission for their name to be used and certainly would not charge individuals for information that they provide for free. Furthermore, the organization would not promise grants that were not available.

Other grant scammers operate through the telephone. The scammer calls an individual to let them know that part of their requested grant has been approved, but a processing fee of several hundred dollars is necessary to receive the remainder of the grant money. The individuals are asked for sensitive financial information and then required to pay the fee. These phone calls, however, are not coming from legitimate government grant organizations but fraudulent activity.

Individuals, particularly small business owners, need to be aware of these scams. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs advises that before sending money for a grant or grant information, consider the following tips:

• Do not accept grant money for which you did not apply.
• Grant applications do not require a processing or application fee.
• Information on grants and small business matters is available online for free.
• The Federal Trade Commission has important tips and information on a number of grant scams. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt134.shtm

For more information, contact the Public Information Division at (803) 734-4190 or online at www.scconsumer.gov & click on Live Chat.

How Can A Business Legally Charge Over 18% ?

The South Carolina Consumer Protection Code requires a business making credit sales and/or consumer loans in excess of 18% APR to file a Maximum Rate Schedule (MRS) each year. The business is also required to post the Schedule in a conspicuous place in the business where the terms are negotiated.

If a Maximum Rate Schedule is not filed with the Department the business cannot charge over 18% APR. If a business does not file a MRS but charges in excess of 18%, the business must:

• Recalculate the contract back to 18% APR for the period of time when the MRS was not filed or posted and refund the consumer the difference between 18% APR and the rate the consumer actually paid. The remainder of the contract must be recalculated to reflect an APR of 18%.

OR

• In lieu of reducing the APR of 18% a business may pay a fine, if it is proven that the failure to file or post the MRS was the result of inadvertence or excusable neglect and no other failure to file or post has be brought to the Department’s attention within 48 months. The maximum fine for failure to file or post the MRS is $5,000.00.

Facts About SCDCA (Part 9)

Did You Know That We Have A Teletips Line?

You can reach our Teletips line by dialing (803) 734-4215 or 1-888-734-4215 (toll-free in S C ) Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Teletips line has pre-recorded consumer information.

Former Members of Boiling Springs Fitness Club

If you are a former member of Boiling Springs Fitness Club, 3565 Boilings Springs Highway, Boiling Springs, SC 29316, please be advised of the following:

 Consumers who joined Boiling Springs Fitness Club and signed an agreement for either an installmet or pre-paid membership may cancel their contracts, if they do not wish to attend any alternate facilities that may be offered.

You are not required to, but may at your option, attend an alternate facility offered by your former gym for which you did not sign an agreement. Should you choose not to attend an alternate facility, a cancellation notice should be directed immediately to the address listed in the “right to cancel” provisions of your contract. In addition, if your contract has an automatic draft provision your financial institution should be notified to stop the draft. Consumers who paid in full and are unable to obtain a refund of the unearned pre-paid amount should file a complaint on-line with the S C Department of Consumer Affairs at www.scconsumer.gov or by calling 1-800-922-1594 (toll-free in SC) and having a complaint form mailed to them or filing online, if necessary.

For more information, contact the Public Information Division at (803) 734-4296 or 1-800-922-1594 (toll free in SC) or online at www.scconsumer.gov and click on Live Chat.

South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Was Recognized Nationally For Consumer Publication

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs was recently awarded the ACE Award for its monthly publication, Consumer Alert. The award was presented at the annual National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators,(NACAA), conference held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 17-20, 2007. The NACAA Achievement in Consumer Education (ACE) Awards recognizes the achievements of consumer protection and advocacy initiatives across the country.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has been publishing the Consumer Alert for seven years and it has been valuable not only to consumers, but to businesses and other government agencies as well. “It’s a great honor to have a staff of talented individuals produce a quality publication that has a huge impact on its readers and is so well-received,” said Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, SCDCA Administrator. “The Consumer Alert provides critical and relevant information to assist consumers in making good decisions.”

Charles Ellison, Consumer Alert editor said, “We recently expanded the Consumer Alert to accommodate the ever-growing array of consumer news. We believe this allows us to best serve South Carolina consumers, and I am honored to have our efforts recognized.”

SCDCA’s Consumer Alert was selected as an award recipient for outstanding print publication at the annual ACE Awards luncheon, which honored accomplishments in the following categories: broadcast/television, print and consumer programs. Entries were evaluated on the following criteria: quality of text and design, effectiveness of methods, usefulness, creativity, value to the community and program results. Pinkston also said,”This marks the fourth time the Department has been honored by NACAA, including its highest tribute, the “National Consumer Agency of the Year” award in 2005.”

If you would like to receive a free copy of the Consumer Alert and other SCDCA publications, contact the Public Information Divison at (803) 734-4190, 1-800-922-1594 (toll-free in SC), or online at www.scconsumer.gov .

Facts About SCDCA (Part 8)

Did You Know We Have A Live Chat Line?

Got Questions???   Ask Consumer Affairs

Think you have been a victim of a scam or just need general information about fraud protection?

 Want an immediate answer?

Then log onto SCDCA’s website at :  www.scconsumer.gov  and on the home page to the left click on: Ask Consumer Affairs – Live Chat button.  A communication specialist is there to help you with any questions you may have. The Live Chat Line is available Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. If it shows unavailable you can still click on it and type in your question and it will come to the communication specialist as an email and she will respond back to you right away. �

Facts About SCDCA (Part 7)

Did You Know That Many Of Our Publications Are Online?

Many of our brochures are on our website.

Topics are as follows:

• Automobiles- Lemon Law, Insurance, Insurance Terms
• Credit- Credit Terms, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, FAQs on Credit, Sources of Credit, As of June 1, 2005 South Carolina Citizens Can Receive Free Annual Credit Reports https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
• Miscellaneous- Choosing a Health Club
• Fast Facts- South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, How To File A Complaint, Understanding Your Phone Bill, Prepaid Legal Services, Nigerian Scam, How to Remove Your Name from Solicitation Lists, Predatory Lending (The South Carolina High Cost and Consumer Home Loan Act), Consumer Credit Counseling for Consumers, Consumer Credit Counseling for Licensees, Credit Counseling, Credit Repair
• Fraud- Types of Fraud, Frauds, Schemes and Rip-offs, Questions to Ask the Telephone Charity Solicitor, Rules for Health Skepticism
• Flyers- Id Theft, Flood Damaged Vehicles, Cosmetic Contact Lens, Debt Collection
• The Savvy Consumer’s Guide- Beware of Unlicensed Health Plans, Taming Telemarketers, Energy Conservation Tips That Save Money, The Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Insurance Scoring, Understanding Your Telephone Bill
• Consumer Alert- Current and Past Issues
• Fraud Alerts- Current and Past Issues
• 30th Anniversary- Commemorative Journal
• Accountability Reports- 2005-2006, 2004-2005, 2003-2004
• Available Brochures- Additional brochures can be ordered online at: http://www.scconsumer.gov/publications/brochure_order_form.pdf