What's the life expectancy of my car?

Isn't it true that even after you “disconnect” your landline that 911 service will still operate?  In my mind it is possible to disconnect the landline and keep your landline phone in case of a 911 emergency.
Greg D.

A number of people asked me that question after reading last week’s article “Should I Ditch My Land-Based Phone?” In some parts of the country, if you disconnect your phone service you will still get a dial tone. According to Bob Oenning, vice president of the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators, this “soft dial tone” will let you dial 911.

“But because your phone service has been disconnected,” Oenning explains, “the dispatch center won’t automatically get your address.” In some cases, such as when your old phone number is reassigned, the emergency operator may even get an incorrect address.

In a situation where you can’t speak or pass out, Oenning says, “that could mean the difference between life and death.” He also points out that if you make a 911 call using a “soft dial tone” then get disconnected, the dispatch center won’t be able to call you back.

I bought some items online for a bit over $300. I paid with a cashier’s check.  The check was cashed right away, but I haven’t gotten my order yet. It’s been about 30 days. My repeated e-mails to the merchant have gone unanswered. Do I have any recourse?
Dave J, Germantown, MD

Thank goodness you didn’t order something more expensive! A cashier’s check is not a safe way to buy things online, over-the-phone, or through the mail. It’s like sending an envelope filled with money.

Let’s hope your merchandise is on its way. Remember, federal rules say a merchant has at least 30 days to ship the order, longer if that is stated upfront. So there’s no need to panic quite yet.

Read the Federal Mail Order Rule: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buying/mail.htm

Here’s what you should do. Write the company a letter. Ask what’s up with your order and state that if you don’t have the goods or hear back within two weeks, you are going to file complaints with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), the Federal Trade Commission (which enforces the Mail Order Rule) (www.ftc.gov) and your state Attorney General. Send your letter certified. Be sure to keep a copy. If you don’t hear back or nothing arrives, make those complaints.

I hope this story has a happy ending, but it might not. If you’re dealing with a con artist or disreputable company, you may never see your goods or get your money back. That’s why I always use a credit card for making online purchases. A credit card has built-in fraud protection. If you had charged this purchase, you could contact your bank and challenge the charge.

Some people are leery about using a credit card to buy things online; they worry what might happen if their card number gets into the wrong hands. The fact is using your credit card is probably the safest way to shop on the Web. If you charge it, you’re protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges to $50. If you report the loss quickly, you normally would not be responsible for anything.

You can read more about the Fair Credit Billing Act on the FTC's Web site.

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