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Contact: Annette FitzGerald, consumer and family economics specialist
Headquartered in Taney County
Tel: (417) 546-4431
E-mail: fitzgeralda@missouri.edu

The consumer who is to trusting, who does not ask detailed questions, who does not check references and information for accuracy, and who make decisions without careful consideration is vulnerable to con artists.

Annette FitzGerald, consumer and family economics specialist, University of Missouri Extension, offers these guidelines to help area families from being conned.

· Realize first that nothing is free. It is almost impossible to get something for nothing.

· Avoid putting yourself in situations where you are setting yourself up to be deceived. Don't listen to sales pitches on the telephone or go to motel rooms to hear sales pitches. Don't let unknown door-to-door salespeople into your home.

· Try not to be overly sympathetic to sales representatives. This will help you avoid becoming a victim of a hard-luck-story types of sales tactic.

· Be careful about buying things over the telephone. A useful guideline is not to buy anything over the phone unless you initiated the call or know the caller. Ask telephone solicitors to mail information rather than discussing it over the phone. You can call back if you're interested after reviewing the information.

· Never give credit card, checking account, or social security numbers for identification or verification purposes.

· Never send cash. Don't send money orders or checks to a post office box unless you are sure about the company's reputation, have its street address, and know about the product.

· Don't send money by a courier service that picks up at your home or work place.

· Be aware that high-pressure sales tactics are a warning. Some sellers push hard because they earn commission or want to win a contest. Even if not dishonest, they do not have your best interests in mind.

· Do not make quick decisions about buying or investing. Read the fine print. Get help from an important third person.

· Don't assume you always have three days to cancel a transaction or that you can always get out of a contract.

· Watch out for planted people posing as real users. When you check references you can use on-line forums, news groups, etc. to talk to other customers about the product and company.

"Remember, to avoid being conned, you need to ask questions and take time in making a decision about a product," said FitzGerald.

To report fraud, contact the Missouri Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

For more information or publications on disaster related topics dealing with issues important to the home, family or farm, contact the University of Missouri Extension Center nearest you, visit extension's diaster information online at http://outreach.missouri.edu or go online to http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore to search available extension guide sheets.

Contact: Annette FitzGerald, consumer and family economics specialist
Headquartered in Taney County
Tel: (417) 546-4431
E-mail: fitzgeralda@missouri.edu

Could you put together an insurance claim if you suffered losses from the recent tornados that hit southwest Missouri? Do you know where your homeowner's insurance policy is? Could you prove what you own and the value of your property?

The task of putting lives back together after a natural disaster can be overwhelming when families try to repair and replace their homes and personal possessions according to Annette FitzGerald, consumer and family economics specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

"For some, careful planning and recordkeeping may save them lots of frustration when it comes to insurance claims. For others the lack of records may not only hinder their recovery, but may shortchange them when it comes to being compensated for their losses," said FitzGerald.

Planning ahead is the key in the event an insurance claim must be filed. Whether your claim is large or small, the process of household recordkeeping is the same.

If you don't already have a household inventory, now is the time to compile one. University of Missouri Extension has a publication, Our Valuable Papers, that is a comprehensive tool for recording important financial information, property inventories and professional advisors.

To order Our Valuable Papers, call 1-800-292-0969 and request EC705 or visit your local County Extension Office for a copy.

Record keeping books are also available at local bookstores or from your insurance agent.

"Make a section for each room in your home and list all the property in those rooms. Don't forget to include the attic, basement and garage. Attach receipts or bills of sale to the pages, if you have them. Remember that some items may require appraisals, as well," said FitzGerald.

FitzGerald also recommends using a camera when compiling your household inventory.

"Photograph items throughout the rooms and list each item's value and other pertinent information on the back before putting them in your inventory book," said FitzGerald.

Another alternative would be using a video camera to go from room to room documenting possessions.

"Talk your way through your home describing the item, date of purchase and it's cost. Don't forget to video the outside of your home, including the landscaping and outdoor furniture," said FitzGerald.

Once a household inventory as been put together it needs to be stored it in a safe place, like a safe deposit box.

FitzGerald also recommends annually reviewing your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure you are adequately protected. Consider replacement value options, the extra cost may pay for itself in the event of a major loss.

"Documenting what you own can be a daunting job, but if you're unfortunate enough to need the information you'll be glad that you took the time to do it," said FitzGerald.

Contact: Brenda Proctor, consumer and family economics specialist
Tel: (573) 882-3820

Homeowners suffering losses from recent storms and tornadoes may have additional troubles as they attempt to rebuild their life, said a University of Missouri specialist.

“There are a lot of rumors circulating about individuals having their homeowner’s insurance canceled after the loss is covered,” said Brenda Procter, consumer and family economics specialist who has expertise in insurance areas. “There is no law preventing a company from canceling your insurance when it comes up for renewal after they cover the current loss.”

According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, Missouri law allows for companies to have differing rules for when a policy gets cancelled, Procter said. “The rules do not have to be specified in your policy, and the individual companies can cancel policies at their own discretion, though many of the companies we’re hearing from have said they aren’t canceling. Still, I contacted mine just to see if they were canceling policies. They were not.”

It’s more likely that premium costs could go up, especially if the loss was significant or if there have been previous claims against your homeowner’s insurance. “If your policy is canceled you will likely be able to buy insurance from another company,” Procter said. “Again, it’s likely you’ll pay more in premiums.”

The Missouri Department of Insurance can help if you feel you’re being unfairly treated by your insurer, such as if you have not had contact from the company 48 hours after the claim was reported, or if the company refuses coverage that is specified in your policy. For more information about MDI, call 1-800-726-7390 or check the agency Web site at http://insurance.mo.gov/consumer/info/springStorms.htm

“With all the storms in the past week, company representative are busy handling claims,” Procter said. “So don’t be surprised if it takes a couple of days for them to come out and review the damage. But you should get some contact from them.” In the meantime, she recommends documenting all damage, including finding documentation for the value of unusual items.

“Remember these losses are deductible on your tax return, if any uncovered losses exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income.”

Storm damage also creates a natural draw for unscrupulous repair companies and other scam artists. “It’s a strange phenomenon, but a real one. These folks travel the country preying on one storm area to the next.”

Consumers can avoid the scams with the same common sense approach used when hiring a contractor under any conditions. “Ask for local referrals, and check them out, before you hire someone to clean up or perform repair work. Try to get estimates from at least three contractors if possible. Check with your insurance agent, as well, before starting on repairs,” Procter said.

“If you haven’t had a loss, it still may be a good time to check with your insurance representative and ask about the company’s cancellation policy and go through an overall insurance check-up.” This can help ensure that you have adequate coverage for the value of the home as well as contents, both which may have changed since your current policy was written.

Mildew Prevention in the Home Important After Storm

Mildew grows when mold spores settle on a welcoming surface according to Donna Chilton, environmental design specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

Mildew commonly develops on areas that are damp, warm, poorly ventilated and dark. It thrives in warm, humid weather.

Mold can grow on organic materials, such as paper, dirt, wood and soap scum. It also grows on moist materials, so mold growth is likely in areas kept wet by water leaks, flooding, high humidity and condensation.

According to Chilton, bathrooms, closets, basements, and crawl spaces are prime sites and a musty odor often indicates mildew.

“Mildew is a greater problem when the weather is warm and the relative humidity is 60 percent or more for several days. It is also a problem when moisture is trapped in your home or furniture, like after our recent storms,” said Chilton.

Homeowners in Missouri should be taking special precautions to prevent mildew growth during this time of the year.

“The easiest way to prevent mildew is by keeping surfaces dry, clean, and well ventilated,” said Chilton, who offers these tips to prevent excessive moisture in the home.

· Turn on air conditioners when relative humidity is 50 percent or above. Air conditioning helps remove moisture from the air. Make sure the air conditioner condensation drains outside and away from the foundation of the house.

· Cover the ground under the house with six-mil plastic. Weigh the plastic down along the foundation wall.

· Ventilate the attic. Continuous soffit and ridge vents in combination are recommended.

· Use ventilating fans in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure the fans vent to the outdoors, not to the attic, crawl space or living spaces. Run the fans while cooking and bathing, and 15 to 20 minutes after bathing.

· Combustion appliances can contribute to excess moisture in the home. Vent a gas heater or gas logs to the outside using an approved flue.

· Use a dehumidifier. These are especially useful in basements and other naturally cool areas of the house during humid summer months, when you may need to run the unit continuously. Only use a dehumidifier with an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Seal.

· Trim shrubs growing close to the house. They often prevent good air circulation and hold dampness.

· Keep gutters clean and free of debris; position down spouts to drain away from the house. Make sure the area around the foundation has good drainage.

University of Missouri Extension improves people's lives with education and research from the four campuses of the University of Missouri System and Lincoln University that focuses on high-priority needs of people throughout the state. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to these unbiased resources.

Restoring Storm-Damaged Upholstered Furniture

Upholstered furniture that has been left in the open and soaked by recent rainstorms may be impossible to salvage. However, if the piece seems worth the effort, you will need to clean and oil the springs, replace stuffing and clean the frame.

University of Missouri Extension offers these tips for successfully restoring storm-damaged upholstered furniture.

Mildew, a gray-white mold that leaves stains and rots fabric, may develop on damp or wet furniture. To remove mildew or mildew spots:

There are a couple of reasons why objectionable odors can develop in refrigerators or freezers.

This happens when food is left too long or is improperly packaged, the drip pan near the condenser at the base of the refrigerator needs cleaning, or the power has been turned off or loss power due to a power outage. If equipment has been off due to a power outage or disruption of service, there are a couple of things that you need to do.”

If water has seeped into the insulation of an older model of freezer or refrigerator, it will probably have to be discarded. Appliances with ruined insulation run continuously, frost up on the inside and develop bad odors.

Newer models with foam insulation may be all right. Have the refrigerator or freezer checked by a service person to be certain the equipment is in safe, working order.

Your part starts with disposing of any spoiled or questionable food. Also, remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Next review the manufacturer’s instructions on care and use of the refrigerator or freezer. Then wash the outside of the unit with a mild detergent, hot water, and a disinfectant. If stains are difficult to remove, try a mild cleanser or spray cleaner, being careful not to damage the surface.

It is okay to wash the inside of most refrigerator cabinets with detergent and water. Rinse yours with a clean cloth and clear water; then wipe it dry.

The plastic gasket, which seals the door, is likely to hold odors. Wash it thoroughly and rinse and dry it carefully. Rinse and disinfect with a disinfectant solution, such as two tablespoons chlorine bleach for each gallon of water.

After cleaning, leave the door open for about 15 minutes to allow free air circulation. If any odor remains, place several pieces of activated charcoal in an open metal container, or use a commercial refrigerator deodorizer.

The activated charcoal soaks up persistent odors. Spread about three ounces of fine powdered charcoal on a sheet of aluminum foil or in a shallow pan. Place this on a shelf in the refrigerator or freezer.

Foods can remain in the refrigerator with the charcoal. After six to eight hours, put the pan in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 20 minutes. This reactivates the charcoal, so it can be re-used many times. Put the charcoal back in the unit and repeat the process until the odor disappears.

If odor still remains, wash with a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda for each quart of water.

If traces of odor remain after all your efforts, know that securely wrapped frozen foods will not be harmed and so the freezer can still be used. When you take foods from such a freezer, remove its wrappings and dispose of the wrapping immediately.

University of Missouri Extension improves people's lives with education and research from the four campuses of the University of Missouri System that focuses on high-priority needs of people throughout the state. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to these unbiased resources.