If you’ve ever had a chimney flu fire you probably have your chimney inspected once a year BEFORE fireplace season. Flu fires are one of the most terrifying fire events a homeowner can experience. Chimney fires account for more than 26,000 fires per year in the U.S. Be sure to contact an inspector who is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Ask to see their certification, and for a copy of their liability insurance policy. Let’s have a warm holiday season — but not too warm.

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BILL PAY EXPLAINED: “Bill Pay” is usually set up by the merchant or provider of a service to pay the amount due on your account. You, as the consumer, agree that the merchant may withdraw the amount they say you owe, DIRECTLY from your bank account — NO MIDDLE MAN.

“Bill Pay” is very convenient as long as there’s no dispute. Unfortunately, when a dispute arises, your money is gone and you are at the tender mercy of the merchant and the clerks you have to deal with. In the case of a payment made to a merchant accepting a credit card for purchase, the merchant must deal with the credit card company regarding the erroneous payment.

In any event, in the case of credit card payments, there are many very stringent laws and time frames requiring responses from merchants. If the time frames are not strictly adhered to, the charge is dismissed and you are not charged. Rules regarding credit card payments are federal laws, and they are enforced. LESSON: Always use a credit card, not a debit card or “Bill Pay.”

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SCAMMERS CALLING AGAIN — DISH TV: They’re at it again! I received several calls this week from consumers in our area who had been contacted by individuals allegedly representing Dish TV. The spiel is that Dish TV is moving its satellite to a different orbit, so for the consumer to continue to receive satellite programming, the fake Dish representative needs to collect ALL your personal information, name, address, Social Security number, credit card number, bank account number, and blood type! You get it — it’s BOGUS! The problem is that by the time you realize they’re fishing for information, it’s too late. HINT: Hang up the phone! At most, tell them to send you any information, and remember, they ALREADY have all your information — if they’re legitimate.

DIRECTV: Slow to pay refunds — get NAMES, DATES and POSITIONS of people you talked to, and WHAT they said. Write them down. Referring to “some guy” who you talked with last week is NOT going to get your problem solved. A consumer made a mistake. When paying online, she mistakenly added one extra zero, $900 instead of $90. DirecTV took $900 out of her account instead of her usual $90 per month payment. This is an older lady, and DirecTV just keeps putting her off, something about “the check is in the mail.” As she said, “I know BS when I hear it.” The problem is, she still doesn’t have her refund and she lives on Social Security. Ouch!

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VETERANS ADMINISTRATION: The VA is getting better — at least in our area, in some ways. Two callers contacted me with the same problem last week — they were denied timely appointments locally and it was suggested that they “take advantage” of the Veterans Choice Program. It sounds good on the face of it, but in practice, a number of bad things happen;

1. The veteran is immediately shunted off into this “band aid” program the VA has conjured up to reduce its patient load;

2. Often times, vets still wait weeks or months to get treatment. YOU DON’T get to pick your doctors — the VA has a list of “approved” providers, some good, some bad, some here, and some quite a distance away;

3. In the event that the VA doesn’t pay the bill on time, the veteran is still responsible for the bill, and if not paid, the doctors can and do turn you over to collections — hurting your all-important credit rating.

In addition to all this, if you choose the Choice Program, it is VERY difficult to get back into the regular VA health care system — VERY difficult. Before you agree to enter the CHOICE program, make sure you ask a lot of questions. The VA is getting better — but slowly. Luckily we have some great people in the VA, locally, on our side. Give them a chance.

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VA SCAM CALLS: Many vets have called me reporting callers representing themselves as Veterans Administration employees, calling and asking for detailed personal information including full Social Security number, VA ID card numbers, addresses and even bank account and credit card numbers. THEY ARE SCAMMERS! Don’t give them ANY information. Hang up and tell a friend or relative, then call the Veterans Administration.

PS: Did you know that unless you are a certified VA representative, it is illegal to help vets with benefits or to apply for assistance — even if you offer the service for free? This law needs to change.

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REVERSE MORTGAGES: Heads up — some good, some bad. An attorney is always needed on your side. Be very careful about taking the bait. Sometimes “reverse mortgages” are great — sometimes they’re a disaster. The fine print can be overwhelming. BOTTOM LINE: It’s a contract, and is virtually impossible to change the terms once you’ve signed.

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BILL’S COMPLAINT — I’M NO PATSY: I won’t be set up. I’ve been fielding consumer complaints for 43 years. Due to the nature of the service I provide, I record all calls. Sometimes the “facts” of a consumer’s complaint change. This isn’t fair to the merchant, business or me. It also destroys my credibility with the merchant when the “facts” suddenly and radically change.

If a company has not been found guilty of illegal behavior, I have no right to tell a consumer that a merchant is a “bad” company. Recently, a consumer called me, and egged me on to say “bad things” about a local company. She repeatedly and adamantly refused to name the company, but hinted and hinted who the company was, while continuing to disparage the unnamed company. At the same time, she continued to press me to name the “bad companies” in our area.

Unless a business has had its “day in court,” I cannot and will not name companies, even if I think they are less than honest or engaged in less-than-perfect business practices. I don’t know if this consumer was trying to set me up for a lawsuit, or whether she just didn’t understand that we don’t convict people, even in the media, without evidence. Perhaps she was just inarticulate — perhaps she was trying to set me up. I finally hung up on her — no apologies.

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REMEMBER: I’m in your corner.

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I have many more tips and interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me at 208-699-0506, or email me at BillBrooksRealEstate@gmail.com or fax me at 866-362-9266. Please include your name and a phone number. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.

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Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy and the Broker and Owner of Bill Brooks Real Estate in Coeur d’Alene.