Howard takes a look back at the best and worst that Help Me Howard took on this year.

The past finally catches up to Mr. Schnepf

Although nobody steps up to the plate, dribbles down the court or hops on a bike with the idea of intentionally endangering his or her smile, over a quarter of dental-related injuries occur while playing sports.

Since there is rarely a dentist on the field, Dear Doctor magazine, the nation's leading consumer dentistry publication, created a pocket-sized guide to dental injuries, available for download at www.deardoctor.com/pocketguide with step-by-step, tooth-saving tips for kids and adults alike.

The following is advice from Dr. Mario Vilardi, the president and publisher of Dear Doctor magazine:

What do I do if my teammate's mouth is injured? How quickly should I react?

" A tooth is completely knocked out - A tooth that is no longer in its socket requires immediate attention. You need to react within 5 minutes to have any chance of saving the tooth long term.

" A tooth is still in the mouth - A tooth that has been moved, either inwards, outwards or to the side is considered an acute injury and should be dealt with urgently, within a six hour timeframe.

" A tooth is broken but not moved - Injuries in which teeth are broken or chipped but not bodily moved from their original position are less urgent and can be addressed within 12 hours.

Are my children more prone to sports injury if they have "buck teeth," or teeth that protrude from their mouths? How can I fix this?

" Yes, but there are actions you can take to reduce risk.

" The first line of defense is to wear a mouth guard when there is an associated risk of injury with any activity.

" The more long-term consideration is orthodontic treatment, like braces, to move the teeth into a better position and potentially out of harm's way. Orthodontic treatment also results in both better biting function and improved appearance, all-around "wins" in the long run.

Will treatment hurt my child?

" This is often among the first questions asked when an injured person finally gets to the dentist's office.

" As a general rule, the first obligation of any health professional is to relieve pain. This can often be accomplished immediately with topical anesthetics followed by local anesthesia, which will give several hours of relief, followed by taking pain killing and anti inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Once comfortable, your dentist should discuss all treatment options together with their risks, benefits and alternatives including costs.

Dr. Mario Vilardi is the president and publisher of Dear Doctor magazine.

For more information: www.deardoctor.com or www.deardoctor.com/pocketguide

Some investors believe the record price of gold is flashing a giant warning sign that inflation is directly ahead.

Another warning? Global monetary policy is now the loosest since the 1970s and money supply is growing almost three times faster in emerging countries than in the developed world. That's the direct cause of inflation.

So in an environment when the dollar may possibly be only able to buy half as much as it does today, what you want is something that maintains it's value notwithstanding the value of the dollar. Gold has done that.

Tom Winmill, of Midas Funds, believes gold is a good hedge against inflation.

" It's done that for over three thousand years since the time of the Sumerians and we don't expect that to go out of fashion any time soon. Gold maintains it's value.

" What we suggest," said Winmill, "is for investors to look at their overall portfolio's, their IRA or their 401K and consider making some investment, 5 or 10% in a hard asset, such as a gold fund. His fund is a hard asset fund, meaning they invest primarily in gold mining stocks, gold bullion, silvermining. These types of investments tend to keep their value in an inflationary environment."

So how much risk should you take on?

" Our time frame for investing is three to seven years. If you're older, in your 50's or 60's and looking for income down the road, put only 5% in a fund such as Midas. It's volatile. If you're younger, with a longer horizon, 10% might be appropriate."

So what about people taking advantage of the high price of gold by cashing in any valuables lying around?

" If one can find money in the closet to reduce credit card bills or other high interest expenses," said Winmill, "I think that's a good thing to do. Cashing your gold in to reduce current expenses, interest expenses, I think is a very wise thing to do. But it doesn't substitute for a long-term strategy. The cash for gold world is not a good world, I think, for investors to preserve value."

For more information:

http://financialpost.com/story.html?id

search for author jchevreau

http://midasfunds.com

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/inflation

http://goldbureau.com

http://money.com

http://goldline.com

Harlem Building Takes People's Money, But Doesn't Let Them Move In.

Disney Parks is launching a program that celebrates the spirit of volunteer service with a simple proposition: “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

Disney hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during 2010 through this first-of-its-kind program. One million people who perform volunteer service for a participating organization will receive a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.

While the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program kicks off Jan. 1, right now guests can learn more about the program and how to get their free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park by visiting www.DisneyParks.com (for the United States and Puerto Rico) or www.DisneyParks.ca (for Canada).

To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network. Part of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies that need their help.

“Wherever we live, our communities need our hands-on help to thrive,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. “We are thrilled at this unprecedented effort by Disney Parks to help mobilize 1 million volunteers into action. ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ has the potential to reach so many families and instill the volunteer spirit in a new generation.”

Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ fits perfectly with our long history of supporting and participating in volunteer efforts. It’s a great way to honor guests who are making a positive contribution to their communities.”
Starting Jan. 1, 2010, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com for the United States and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca for Canada to search for volunteer opportunities available in those areas through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects that entire families can participate in together.

New Yorkers can great ideas on how to volunteer by taking advantage of www.nycservice.org There are many exciting opportunities to choose from.

HOWARD TIP FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22ND

FLY RIGHT

If you are booking really, really last minute, you'll want to be able to recognize what a good fare is.
Bill Miller of CheapOair.com advises signing up for fare alerts so you know what prices have been running in the markets you're interested in.
Cheapo.air.com also offers the following to keep in mind when traveling during the holidays:
It's the start of unpredictable winter storms, so buy travel insurance that can help you in various ways should you experience delays due to weather.
Arrive at the airport early, there will inevitably be long lines.
Store your travel agency and airline phone numbers in your cell phone so you have them handy in the event you need it.
Be prepared to check your bag if necessary; overhead bin space is valuable these days with airlines charging for checked bags and during the winter all those coats have to go somewhere. If you are one of the last ones on an airplane, you stand the chance of your bag having to be checked.
Check www.tsa.gov if you are unsure about what you can and can not carry onboard an airplane.
If traveling with kids and your flight is longer than 2 hours, plan ahead of time with snacks - beforehand and to bring on board. You can buy food from the airlines onboard in most cases, but it can be expensive and not always the best selection, better to pack your own snacks ahead of time.

Christmas Day and New Years Day have usually produced really good airfares; sometimes Christmas Eve depending on what day of the week it falls.
You might end up paying a holiday surcharges, however. It could be anywhere from $10 to $50 per ticket for flying on heavy demand days.
Because airlines have reduced their domestic capacity so much over the last year they have the ability to keep airfares at good levels for them; not so good for consumers though.

For more information:
www.cheapoair.com
www.travelocity.com
www.kayak.com
www.aarp.org
www.expedia.com
www.smartfares.com
www.cheapestfares.com

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

In conjunction with the organizers of the World Cup, the Federal Trade Commission is warning soccer fans that they could become victims of scams. In some cases, Web sites that offer tickets for sale are run by con artists who don’t really have tickets. In other cases, consumers buy “tickets” and travel to the World Soccer Cup site only to learn that the tickets they purchased are counterfeit. Other Web sites may offer packages that provide hotels, transportation and tickets - but they don’t actually have the tickets, at all.

According to the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), a group of consumer protection agencies from around the world including the FTC, consumers can take several steps to avoid ticket sales scams for major sports events. They should:

Check with the event organizer, promoter, or venue where the event will be held to learn how and when tickets are being sold. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, has specific procedures for distributing and validating tickets to the 2010 World Cup. More information about those procedures is at fifa.com.

Be aware that the official logo and trademarks (or look-a-likes) of the event can be imitated to try to convince you that a bogus website, or ticket, is official.

Read what others say about the seller. Search the Internet to find out about other people's experiences.

Be skeptical of sites that say they "guarantee" tickets. Some companies sell package deals without having the tickets in hand. Even if the seller intends to get the tickets later, they may not be able to.

Always print a copy of your order for your files.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available for more than 1700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

As the holidays draw to a close, and younger family members quickly return to their regular, busy lives, the elderly often don't have as much to keep them busy, and could get depressed being alone after all of the holiday togetherness. Doctor Marion, elder care expert and the creator of a new suite of eldercare iPhone apps (Elder 411 and Elder 911) offers four ways to help your elder combat loneliness after the holidays:

" Stay in Touch: Getting in touch with your elder immediately after the holidays via phone, letter or email will go a long way towards helping them feel loved and remembered, long after the decorations are taken down.

" Make a Date: If you're close, set up a time to visit your elder in person after the holidays. It will give them something new to look forward to and help them combat feelings of depression and loneliness, knowing that they will be seeing a loved one soon.

" Send a Gift: Don't reserve the gift-giving just for the holiday season! Send your elder a small gift like flowers that require little care, or even a magazine subscription. Anything that shows you're thinking about your elder can work wonders.

" Write a Note: Mail a hand-written "Thank You" note that tells your elder how much you appreciated their involvement in your holiday experience. Consider including photos taken at the holiday event, and be sure to write out the date, names and ages of each person on the back of the photo to help jog their memory.

More about Dr. Marion's recently launched 2 elder care "apps" for the iPhone. They offer quick access to tons of tips for those with older people in their lives.

· The apps -

o Built with the help of Presto, which makes technology for seniors

o Practical tips and advice gleaned from Dr. Marion's nearly 40 years of experience working with the elderly and those who care for them

o Elder 411: rich resource of care-giving information, for anytime use or planning ahead which is so important

o Elder 911: specifically for emergencies, if a parent falls or suddenly falls ill - just the info you need at the hospital, with the doctor, etc.

For more information:

" Elder Care Made Easier" Dr. Marion Somers, Ph.D

www.drmarion.com

The Federal Trade Commission has issued the following warning:

Be skeptical of anyone trying to sell test kits, inspections, or quick fixes for problems caused by imported drywall that has turned out to be contaminated.

Some owners of homes that were built between 2003 and 2008 using imported drywall have reported a sulfur smell like rotten eggs; deterioration or corrosion of metal components; and health issues such as irritated, itchy eyes and skin, a persistent cough, and headaches. Although the Consumer Product Safety Commission is studying tests and remediation methods for affected homes, no federal agency has approved any of them.

The drywall, referred to in press reports as “Chinese drywall,” is under investigation by the safety commission and various other government agencies. For more information, read the FTC’s Consumer Alert, “Defective Imported Drywall: Don’t Get Nailed by Bogus Tests and Treatments” at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt164.shtm.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law

Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, urges taxpayers to consider filing early. The following are some of his helpful tips as you prepare your tax returns or get ready to meet with your tax preparer.

How can taxpayers get started?

Start planning now. The IRS starts to accept e-filed returns this Friday, January 15, and all Form W-2’s are required to be mailed by January 31, so now is the right time to start gathering all tax-related documents and preparing to file. Many taxpayers can also electronically download their W-2’s now – with no need to wait – so check with your tax preparer to see if this is an option.

What tax documents are needed for filing a tax return:

One easy resource for pulling items together can be found on the Jackson Hewitt Web site at www.jacksonhewitt.com. Click on the ‘Get Your Taxes Done’ tab and you can find the ‘What to Bring Checklist’ that notes all of the documents needed to prepare and file a tax return, such as:

- Form W-2’s for any jobs worked
- Copy of last year’s return
- Medical and dental expenses
- Cash and non-cash charitable donations
- A valid driver’s license
- Social Security numbers and dates of birth for all dependents

Remember that planning for tax season is a year-round job. Designating one place – a drawer, or even a shoe box – to file relevant tax documents can save time and help you stay organized when it comes time to meet with your tax preparer.

For more information:

www.jacksonhewitt.com

www.irs.gov

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes, the leading causes of death for people with diabetes. Edwidge Thomas, DrNP, the Director of Clinical Practice Affairs at New York University College of Nursing and a certified Adult Nurse Practitioner discusses the following ways to avoid devastating complications from diabetes.

" Number one," said Thomas, "You have to know your numbers.

" That means knowing what your blood glucose level is, not just knowing what your blood glucose level is, but the hemoglobin A1C, that is a test that is done once or twice a year that gives you an average number of your glucose,

" The recommendation is for that number to be below 7%. When that number is above 7.5% it increases the risk of having all sorts of complications. Number one is heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and also loss of limbs, fingers, toes.

" The second number really important to the woman who is diabetic,is knowing your blood pressure. When you're going into your visit with your health care provider it's absolutely important that you know what that number is. Understand what normal is. Normal for a diabetic is less than 130 over 80. If that number remains consistently above 130 over 80 there needs to be an intervention of diet therapy, a low sodium diet or starting medication.

A diuretic is one medication we start with or an ace inhibitor.

" An ace inhibitor has been shown to decrease chronic or complications related to diabetes for kidney failure.

" The third number that's really important to know is your cholesterol. More importantly it's the LDL cholesterol, that number should be less than 100 and if it is not, again, have a conversation with your health care provider about possibly starting on an anti lipid medication such as a statin. There's been a lot of evidence, most of the studies show being on a statin decreases the risk of having a cardiac event, heart attack or stroke. It really is quite preventive, because as far as diabetics are concerned, it takes up to ten years for a patient to be diagnosed. Generally they're not symptomatic. Or the symptoms are mild. People first come in complaining of increased thirst, weight loss, blurry vision, having a wound that doesn't heal. In many cases that's when they're tested.

" In some cases patients are diagnosed because they're having a heart attack and it's after the heart attack that they're diagnosed with diabetes.

" It's important to understand that as a diabetic we presume that you already have what we consider to be cardiovascular changes, that could lead to a heart attack or stroke, elevated blood pressure. That's a form of cardiac disease, because years of untreated elevated blood pressure, could lead to all sorts of changes in the heart wall, leading to heart failure and all sorts of other problems.

What are the signs of a heart attack?

" The signs that everybody thinks of, crushing chest pain, feeling like you have an elephant on your chest, that is not the typical presentation that we see in women. Sometimes the symptoms are minute, or as benign as shortness of breath, or having pain, not necessarily in the chest, but toward the shoulder, neck, back area. You may feel like you have heartburn. It's not just typical chest pain, crushing.

" If you're diabetic, those are the symproms that you do not ignore.

" It's the type 2 diabetes that beings with too much circulating glucose. The insulin receptors are not working very well. You develop insulin resistance where the glucose is not getting thru the cell wall. That's a longer, insidious, type of physiologic change, that's occuring with diabetes.

" The average person may not see or feel any changes early on. But seeing their doctors on a regular basis or nurse practitioner, having their tests, going over their symptoms, they will then be classified in a way where we will look further in terms of what the symptom profile will lead to.

" People with a family history of diabetes? We're looking at them and making sure they're not showing signs.

" We presume those with type 2 diabetes; we automatically presume they have some changes, some heart disease changes. They present not only with the diabetes but they already have either hypertension or their obese.

"It's not uncommon to diagnose somebody with diabetese and they already have hypertension,

or they're obese or their cholestorel count is already elevated.

" We consider fasting blood sugar on more than one occasion, of 126 or greater as diagnostic for diabetes. Pre diabetics are those folks whose blood glucose levels measure between 100 and 125.

" For those folks we begin intensive intervention, getting them to lose weight, that's the number one thing, changing their lifestyle, increasing exercise, intense exercise, 30 minutes to 45 minutes a day as much as five to six times a week. It's reversible at that point. So if you're prediabetic? Losing weight, monitoring the fats in your diet. Once you're diagnosed with diabetes, at that point it is no longer reversible. We can delay the complications, we can prevent the complications by making sure that we keep the blood glucose levels within normal ranges. Blood pressureshould be kept below 130 or 80. You must keep that number there, whether it's by diet or medication.

"Exercise helps that quite a bit, then of course the cholesterol panel, that's also important. The total cholesterol should be less than 190 and theLDL cholesterol which we hear about, should be less than a hundred. The HDL, that's the good cholesterol, we like to see that above 50 for males, above 40 for females, but always the higher the better.

" I wish there was a quick way for people to lose weight. Unfortunately there isn't. It has to be a lifestyle change, it absolutely has to be..it's the increased vegetables, it's looking at your carbohydrates, making sure you're getting your fiber, lots of fluids, minimizing your refined sugars, trying to decrease all of the juices, people are really fooled by the concept of natural, and I can't tell you how many patients say to me how many cups of juices they have a day, and they think that's natural. Sugar is sugar and the body recognizes it, and if you're diabetic it's circulating in your blood levels and it's causing all the damages so water is still best.

For more information:

www.CCMDweb.org

www.cdc.gov/diabetes

In the wintertime there are a lot of hazards out there when it comes time to take the little guy out to tinkle. Most of us aren't thrilled about the cold and it presents special problems for our older furry friends as well.

Some breeds, like Yorkies, don't have undercoats or they have short coats. Whenever it's colder than fifty degrees you need to dress them. Older dogs have arthritis. They're going to be more sensitive this time of year. Definitely put clothes on them when it's this cold.

When there's snow and ice on the ground pieces of it can get embedded between your dog's toes and be very uncomfortable for the dog. Besides the snow and ice there's salt that's been thrown on the sidewalk to melt. The salt can really impact the paws by drying them out. That can lead to crackage. That's very painful to the dog. If there's any cuts on the paws, it actually makes it very painful. How will you know? You can actually see dogs doing almost kind of a dance it's so painful for them to walk. They might be whining as well.

Either start dressing the dog in booties or make sure you wash their paws off once they're back inside. Also, when the dog comes back indoors make sure you clean their paws. Use a washcloth with warm water to get that off as soon as possible.

Another very big concern, sometimes cars leak antifreeze. This is very toxic to dogs. Dogs are attracted to it, which makes it worse. If you see a car leaking a liquid, keep your dog away from it. Even just a tiny bit of antifreeze licked up by a dog can be extremely dangerous for them and result in death. If you see your dog has licked antifreeze, get to a vet immediately.

There is an alternative to going out into the cold, snow and ice just so your dog can pee.

You can buy a Potty Patch. They're sold at Petco. It's just like a wee wee pad except the product is reusable.

Get them trained to pee on it. After they've peed, you can rinse out the urine. There's actually three layers and the urine soaks down to the bottom layer and that's what you rinse out.

You can also spray it down with a product that breaks down the odor. So long as you rinse it out once a day, odor shouldn't be a problem.

For more information on the Potty Patch:

www.petco.com

A man, who's part of roll and roll history, asks for Help Me Howard's assistance.

Today New York Congressman Anthony Weiner blasted the Cash4Gold company as a scam, Accusing them of taking advantage of difficult economic times by encouraging people, who are struggling, to cash in their gold for money.

For one thing, says Weiner, "people are not getting their money's worth. They send in something that's been appraised at a very high value and in return they're getting as little as 11% of what it's worth."

"The policies are deceptive," he said, " You send off jewelry in an envelope and they say you have time to decide to accept their offer and very often by the time you respond, the gold's already been melted down before you have a chance to reject their offer.

Weienr says "Often your gold disappears in the mail and they fail to insure it for the same value. The postal service has over 1,300 loss claims for this one company. I can understand one or two times, but 1,300 times?

Weiner believes "Cash4Gold should give you a fair valuation, you should be able to trust them to be honest, not to steal your gold and not to lie about having sent it back."

Weiner is appealing to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and is introducing legislation to issue fines to companies that melt down consumer's gold without permission, before the return policy has ended and require companies to give consumers ample time to request a refund and to mandate that companies insure returned jewelry with the post office at the same monetary value as the consumer originally insured it.

There are many cash for gold schemes all over TV and the internet. You've probably seen the TV ads: :Send us your gold jewelry and we will send you cash."

Weiner says, "Don't fall for this. You can do much better selling to a local gold dealer."

When you melt down jewelry for gold, this is called scrap gold. The price for scrap gold has always been much lower than the spot gold price, because of the work involved in surveying, melting, recasting and storage and distribution. Today most gold dealers will give you about 50%.

According to Weiner, some companies that advertise on TV, they'll send you an envelope, you mail in the gold and they send you cash, some of those companies are giving consumers as little as 5% of the spot value. And don't trust their so called guarantees. Many companies claim you have 10 days to return the money and get your gold back, but when you read the fine print, it reads "10 days from the date on your check."

Weiner says "If you want to sell your gold, shop around at local pawn shops and gold coin dealers, who often buy gold. They test and weigh the gold in your presence, then the dealer makes you an offer. If you don't like their offer, say no thank you, take your gold and leave.

We called Cash 4 Gold in Florida and they had this to say:

"Cash 4 Gold is extremely proud to have worked closely with Florida officials to create and implement the first law of its kind regulating the mail-in gold buying industry and we welcome the opportunity to work with lawmakers in Washington on a similar bill that is national in scope".

"Cash 4 Gold is devoted to providing top-notch customer service and we provide our customers with 12 days in which they can either accept our offer or request their items back, which we send immediately, free of charge and insured at no cost to the customer"

If you would like to know what your gold is worth, you first have to know how many karats it is. Fourteen karat gold is about 50% pure, whereas 18K gold is about 73% pure. You can weigh your gold on a digital postage scale to get the approximate weight, then go to the Scrap Gold Calculator at Mid-States Refining website at http://www.midstatesrecycling.com/karatpro.php. Select Troy Oz. on the pull down at the bottom of the page and then put in how many ounces of each karat of gold that you have and it will calculate the value. Notice that there is a $100 refining charge. So if you only had a 1 oz, 18K ring you would get $323 for it. But if you had 5 oz of 18K gold, you would get $2,901, which is about $580 per ounce. Even at the lower price of $323, that is about $300 more than most of the cash for gold places would give you.

For more information:

http://www.gold.org

The New York Attorney General

The Mystery of the Missing Mink!

Still tempted to buy an apartment in Manhattan? Just remember, buying means 20% down and that's a big chunk of cash. How secure is your job? Why not hang on to your cash and continue to rent? Only, reach out to your landlord and try negotiating a new deal..for a much lower rent.

Wall Street Journal personal finance reporter Mary Pilon, recently wrote a blog about her attempts to get the rent for her apartment lowered:

Mary Pilon wrote:

I live in a modest three-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In May 2008, my two roommates and I tensely elbowed our way to a "bargain" lease of $2,650 a month. We were ecstatic - even though we did have a roach scare a few weeks later.

We were less ecstatic recently, when a renewal lease slid under our door. Our building manager wanted to hike the rent up from $2,650 to $2,750, to "be consistent with the market".

Even if you don't work at or read The Wall Street Journal, it's obvious that the economy is in the tank, even in the desirable neighborhoods of Manhattan. Covering the financial crisis made me realize that the Lower Manhattan I've lived in for the past four years, with rodents, rent hikes and tiny closets, all at exorbitant prices, has changed. There's a glut of "zombie condos" and unemployed New Yorkers trying to extricate themselves from their leases. Even the hot dog vendors know we're in a deep recession.

While we've been in our apartment, the unit identical to ours across the hall went vacant for several months. Some nice neighbors moved in recently, and I learned they're paying $300 less than we do. I also learned that my roommates and I had higher credit scores and higher incomes on our lease applications than they did. (If your neighbors won't tell you, look for listings of similar apartments on Craigslist to get a feel for the going rates.)

After I scraped my jaw off the ground, I called my building manager's office. (To my knowledge, they don't know I'm a reporter here.) She countered with a weak offer of $2,600, only $50 off what we were paying. I asked to speak to a higher up. She told me to write a letter. I did, and the supervisor agreed to shave $300 off our rent - saving us $3,600 this year.

Here's the letter I wrote. You have my blessing to use it with your own information to haggle for more reasonable rates. (Let us know how it goes.)

To Whom It May Concern:

We're writing in regards to the renewal of our lease at [insert your address here].

On [date you moved in], we [names of tenants] moved into a unit in the aforementioned property. Since then, property values in Manhattan [replace with your city or neighborhood] have declined by 5.6% for two-bedrooms units, much more steeply than the nationwide drop of 0.4%. Further, apartment vacancies overall rose to 6.6% in the quarter from 5.7% a year earlier. [I used footnotes here to cite the WSJ story. I suggest also putting in data about your local market from local papers, etc..] Economists and real estate experts predict the decline to continue through 2009-2010.

In our building, that has meant facing an empty unit for several months. Units similar to ours have been rented in recent months to tenants with credit scores and incomes lower than ours at even cheaper rates than what we've paid. A rent hike seems inconsistent with recent market conditions and unfair to paying tenants like us with flawless records.

We've confirmed that a unit nearly identical to ours is renting at $2,350 a month for a one-year lease. We ask that our lease, at the least, should match that. This would satisfy your interest in keeping our unit occupied and our interest in staying in our apartment at a reasonable rate. Ideally, a discount would be lowering our rent to $2,100 a month for a one-year lease. [At first, I thought this was too bold, but I'm glad I started low.]

As one property manager recently told The Wall Street Journal: "If they're good payers, we will give them a discount." Here we are, good payers, asking for a reasonable discount. The $50 off our current rate [original manager] and Ms. Pilon spoke about is inconsistent with other rates in our building and current market activity and projections.

We look forward to continuing the conversation and hearing from you shortly.

Sincerely,

[Names and contact information of tenants here]

Within hours, the top dog manager called me up and offered to renew our lease at $2,350 a month. "It's a special deal. The building is hot right now," he told me.

"If it's so hot," I politely countered, "why was the apartment across the hall vacant for several months?"

He paused. "I'll send you the renewal form shortly."

Part of me wonders if I couldn't have struck up a better deal. But for now, my roommates and I are grateful for the extra $3,600 a year that will stay in our pockets. (Hey, there's always next year!) If I could pull of savings in Manhattan, imagine what's out there in hard-hit markets like California and Florida.

And my neighbors across the way can expect a cookie delivery in the near future. It's the least we can do.

Wallet readers, are you thinking about renegotiating your leases right now? Let us know whether you're considering anything - and how things went. How much did you save?

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

" Flu is always worse in children with asthma," said Dr. Anatoly Belilovsky, a pediatrician at Belilovsky Pediatrics in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.

" Children with asthma tend to have a harder time with a lot of illnesses and what happens with asthma is the immune system overreacts to infections. Children with asthma usually do get sicker. Now the two things we can do for them, is one, be very aggressive and be very diligent in controlling their asthma. That means not just treating the occasional asthma attack; it means giving maintenance medications and monitoring that they are taking maintenance medications during long periods of time when your child feels absolutely fine.

" These are the children you worry less about," said Belilovsky. "If their asthma is under control, it they're diligent about controlling it, then their immune systems is not going to overreact to the influence of virus to the same extent that it would in somebody with uncontrolled asthma.

" Go ahead and get the two flu shots, this year's flu shot and the flu shot for H1N1.

Both are recommended for asthmatics. Not the nasal ones, though."

But the maintenance of asthma is key.

For more information:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/asthma

http://righthealth.com

http://healthline.com

FATE OF HAITI ORPHANS A PRESSING CONCERN. THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEYS SENATORS:

SENATORS MENENDEZ AND GILLIBRAND, CONGRESSWOMAN CLARKE, COUNCILWOMAN LETITIA JAMES URGE FEDS TO PROTECT THOUSANDS OF ORPHANED HAITIAN CHILDREN IN AFTERMATH OF DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE

Unveil 3-Part Plan to Speed Adoptions, Prioritize Assistance for Haiti Orphanages, and Keep Families Together

Prior To Earthquake, Approximately 20,000 Children Lived In Haiti’s Licensed Orphanages

Senators: Children Are Already Among The Most Vulnerable And, In Circumstances Like These, Are At Even Greater Risk

New York, NY -- In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti which has left hundreds of thousands of children as orphans, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) and Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) urged the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help orphaned children in Haiti by clearing the legal adoption process logjam for all children who have been vetted for inter-country adoption to the United States. The lawmakers called for giving priority and safety to Haitian orphanages and ensuring that Haitian Americans families do not have to choose among their children in evacuating the island. The lawmakers gathered at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the city’s non-profit organizations dedicated to helping the Haitian American community.

Senator Menendez said, “As we work with emergency aid officials to first and foremost ensure that all Americans in Haiti are located, there is also another population of earthquake victims who deserve special attention: the Haitian orphans who were due to be united with American families and are now facing extreme danger. In the face of the horrific, unimaginable suffering amid the ruins in Haiti, we must take the necessary steps, in the name of all that is human and decent, to help families save the orphans of Haiti who have been waiting for their adoptive parents. These parents, waiting and worrying here in the United States, can think of nothing else right now but making sure these children are safe and can be united with their new families immediately.”

“The extreme loss of life in Haiti is heartbreaking and tragic,” Senator Gillibrand said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the New York families who have lost loved ones. Many of these families have experienced far too much anguish already. We must do everything we can to help Haiti’s most vulnerable, clearing bureaucratic hurdles for orphaned children already in the legal adoption process while reuniting family members with children orphaned by the quake.”

Council Member Letitia James said, “My office has received many calls from people who are so moved by Haiti's tragedy that they want to adopt an orphaned child. My understanding is that a number of orphanages have been damaged, and sadly numerous children are now sleeping outside and going without food and water. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support the U.S. government in fast-tracking hundreds of visas for children whose adoptions are already being processed. I want to stress that adoption is a lifetime commitment, and for those families who are certain they want to adopt a Haitian child, we will do all we can to help make this happen.”

Adoption of Previously Orphaned Children

New York parents who have adopted orphaned children in Haiti are filled with worry, not knowing whether or not their children are safe. The widespread loss of important documents has caused delays for many of the estimated 900 pending adoption applications.

The lawmakers praised the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for offering humanitarian parole to children who have been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for inter-country adoption and are being adopted by U.S. citizens or have been matched to prospective adoptive parents.

Among the children who are confirmed as eligible orphans, there is a group of orphaned children who are not as far along in the inter-country adoption and vetting process. The loss of evidence of their eligibility in the devastation following the earthquake should not keep families apart. The elected officials called on DHS and the State Department to work with the families and the licensed adoption agencies in Haiti and the U.S. to complete all of the appropriate vetting as quickly as possible in order to unite Haitian orphans with prospective American families, while ensuring that children with existing Haitian families are not mistakenly taken from Haiti.

Keeping Haitian Families Together

Many families in the large Haitian community in New York City have family members in Haiti. The lawmakers urged DHS Secretary Napolitano to address alarming press reports that Haitian-American families leaving the county are forced to choose which of their children can leave Haiti with them. Haitian-American families have a high degree of mixed citizenship within immediate families, and many families have several children, only some of whom have U.S. citizenship. To the extent Haitian-Americans are seeking to leave for the U.S. with children, spouses or other immediate family members who do not have status in the U.S., the elected officials urged DHS to allow these families to return to the U.S. together.

Prioritizing Children

Prior to last week’s first devastating quake, there were approximately 20,000 children living in Haiti’s 187 licensed orphanages, and the U.N. estimates there was a total of 380,000 orphans.

In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton with 20 of her Senate colleagues in Congress, Senator Gillibrand wrote, “As you begin to construct the next phase of the United States’ and international response, we urge you to consider the needs of orphan children. As you well know, these children are already among the most vulnerable and in circumstances like these, are at even greater risk. Our experience has been that a natural disaster of this magnitude can not only have serious effects on children previously orphaned, but sadly, also be the cause for additional children to find themselves displaced or orphaned.”

With this in mind, the elected officials requested that the State Department:

· Ensure these children are a high priority in all U.S. evacuation and relief plans.

· Coordinate with U.S. faith-based and private relief partners to help channel appropriate levels of relief to orphan children.

· Identify opportunities for temporary care and shelter within Haiti or Haiti’s border countries where these children could be safely evacuated.

· Develop a coordinated exit strategy that guarantees a safe, timely removal of these Haitian orphans and delivery to their adoptive families in the U.S. Specifically, leadership is needed to authorize and lead this effort, ensure that security and support is provided for these children and the entire coordinated effort.

· Identify opportunities for orphan children to receive temporary care and shelter within the U.S.

Brooklyn home owner battles insurance agent over structural mistakes to his house.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, (D) New York is introducing the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act which would expand federal regulation of tanning beds with the aim of limiting the amount of UV rays emitted by tanning beds and the time consumers may be exposed to harmful radiation.

In July the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs Working Group raised the classification of the use of UV-emitting tanning devices to Group 1, “carcinogenic to humans.” This new carcinogen classification lists tanning beds alongside tobacco, asbestos, and uranium as a definite cause of cancer.

The following is information put out by the National Cancer Institute:

TOPIC: Artificial Tanning Booths and Cancer

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Long-term exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet rays like tanning beds (or to the sun's natural rays) increases both men and women's risk of developing skin cancer. In addition, exposure to tanning salon rays increases damage caused by sunlight because ultraviolet light actually thins the skin, making it less able to heal. Women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than one million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States every year. In fact, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the country. Forty to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have this form of skin cancer at least once. These are startling statistics for a cancer that can, for the most part, be prevented.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Almost everyone who frequents a tanning salon or exposes themselves to the sun is putting themselves at risk for skin cancer. The risk is greatest for people with fair skin; blonde, red, or light hair; and blue, green, or gray eyes. Artificial tanning can also be more dangerous for those who burn easily, have already been treated for skin cancer, or have a family member who has had skin cancer. In addition, women have a higher risk of contracting skin cancer on their legs, and men have a higher risk of getting it on their backs.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

There are various things than one can do to prevent their exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet rays:

· Avoid tanning beds and booths

· Instead of going to a tanning salon, try tanning sprays. In fact, some salons now provide only tanning spray services.

· Regardless of your exposure to natural or artificial UV rays, conduct a monthly skin self-exam looking for any abnormalities (like bumps or sores that don't heal) or moles that have changed size, color or shape. Be sure to check all areas. Have a friend or family member check your back.

· Visit your physician or a dermatologist to get annual exams. If caught early skin cancer is now almost 100 percent curable.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Long-term exposure to artificial (or natural) sources of ultraviolet rays increases one's risk of developing skin cancer. However there are alternatives one can take to minimize the risk associated with artificial rays such as using sunless tanning lotions or sprays in concert with regular skin checks by your physician or dermatologist.

CASE EXAMPLES

Jake likes having a tan, but he tends to burn easily when he's in the sun or visits tanning beds and doesn't want to get skin cancer. Then a guy at his gym tells him about salons that offer spray-on tans. At the salon, he steps into a shower that covers him head to toe. In a few hours, he is evenly bronzed and no one could tell that it's not a natural tan.

Heather, now in her mid 20s, grew up spending a lot of time outdoors. She played golf and swam on her school's swim team. She no longer has as much time for her outdoor activities, and she misses the glow she used to get from being in the sun. So before big events, Heather visits the tanning salon to get some color. But the sun damage she got when she was younger, coupled with the damage from the tanning salons, results in skin cancer on her forehead. She has to undergo surgery to have the lesion removed and winds up with a noticeable scar. After that, Heather remembers to apply SPF 30 every morning and stays away from tanning salons.

Sherry grew up in Florida and is used to having a tan all year round. So, when she moves north, she has a tanning bed installed in her basement. But when she goes to get a mole checked, her dermatologist finds a couple of pre-cancerous skin spots on her left leg. He tells her that tanning beds are dangerous to her health. They not only increase risk of skin cancer but could cause eye injuries, premature wrinkling and skin rashes. Sherry sells her tanning bed and decides that getting her tan out of a bottle is a good alternative.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Cancer Information Service
1-800-4-CANCER
www.cancer.gov

The following is important information issued by the Federal Trade Commission to help safeguard your medical identity:

Could identity thieves be using your personal and health insurance information to get medical treatment, prescription drugs or surgery? Could dishonest people working in a medical setting be using your information to submit false bills to insurance companies? Medical identity theft is a twist on traditional identity theft, which happens when someone steals your personal information. Like traditional identity theft, medical ID theft can affect your finances; but it also can take a toll on your health.

The Ill Effects of Medical Identity Theft

How would you know if your personal, health, or health insurance information has been compromised? According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, you may be a victim of medical identity theft if:

• you get a bill for medical services you didn’t receive;
a debt collector contacts you about medical debt you don’t owe;
• you order a copy of your credit report and see medical collection notices you don’t recognize;
• you try to make a legitimate insurance claim and your health plan says you’ve reached your limit on benefits; or
• you are denied insurance because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.

Medical identity theft may change your medical and health insurance records: Every time a thief uses your identity to get care, a record is created with the imposter’s medical information that could be mistaken for your medical information – say, a different blood type, an inaccurate history of drug or alcohol abuse, test results that aren’t yours, or a diagnosis of an illness, allergy or condition you don’t have. Any of these could lead to improper treatment, which in turn, could lead to injury, illness or worse.

An Ounce of Prevention

While there’s no fool-proof way to avoid medical identity theft, the FTC says you can take a few steps to minimize your risk.

• Verify a source before sharing information. Don’t give out personal or medical information on the phone or through the mail unless you’ve initiated the contact and you’re sure you know who you’re dealing with. Be wary of offers of “free” health services or products from providers who require you to give them your health plan ID number. Medical identity thieves may pose as employees of insurance companies, doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies, and even government agencies to get people to reveal their personal information. Then, they use it to commit fraud, like submitting false claims for Medicare reimbursement.
• Safeguard your medical and health insurance information. If you keep copies of your medical or health insurance records, make sure they’re secure, whether they’re on paper in a desk drawer or electronic in a file online. Be on guard when you use the Internet, especially to access accounts or records related to your medical care or insurance. If you are asked to share sensitive personal information like your Social Security number, insurance account information or any details of your health or medical conditions on the Internet, ask why it’s needed, how it will be kept safe, and whether it will be shared. Look for website privacy policies and read them: They should specify how site operators maintain the accuracy of the personal information they collect, as well as how they secure it, who has access to it, how they will use the information you provide, and whether they will share it with third parties. If you decide to share your information online, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL that begins “https:” (the “s” is for secure). Remember that email is not secure.
• Treat your trash carefully. To thwart a medical identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal and medical information, shred your health insurance forms and prescription and physician statements. It’s also a good idea to destroy the labels on your prescription bottles and packages before you throw them out.

Detecting Medical Identity Theft

Paying close attention to your medical, insurance and financial records can help you spot discrepancies and possible fraud.

• Read the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement that your health plan sends you after treatment. Make sure the claims paid match the care you received. Look for the name of the provider, the date of service, and the service provided. If there’s a discrepancy, contact your health plan to report the problem.
Order a copy of your credit reports, and review them carefully. Credit reports are full of information about you, including what accounts you have and whether you pay your bills in a timely way. The law requires each of three major nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to order your free credit reports each year, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can download the form at www.ftc.gov/freereports.

Once you have your reports, look for inquiries from companies you didn’t contact, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that your Social Security number, your address(es), name or initials, and your employers are listed correctly. If you find inaccurate or fraudulent information, get it fixed or removed. Visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft to learn how.

• Ask for a copy of your medical records. If you believe you’ve already been a victim of medical identity theft, review your medical and health insurance records regularly. The thief may have used your name to see a doctor, get prescription drugs with your health ID number, file claims with your insurance provider, or done other things that leave a trail in your medical records. Try to review your health records for inaccuracies before you seek additional medical care. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule gives you the right to copies of your records that are maintained by health plans and medical providers covered by that law. Health care providers and health plans generally are required to give you your files within 30 days after you ask for them. Unlike credit reports, there is no central source for your medical records. You need to contact each provider you do business with – including doctors, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and health plans – that is relevant to your experience. For example, if a thief got a prescription in your name, you may want the record from the pharmacy that filled the prescription and the health care provider who wrote the prescription. Or if you’ve been using the same hospital for 20 years and you think that the identity theft is recent, you may want to limit your request to records of the last few years or months.

It’s likely that you have to complete a form and pay a fee to get a copy of your records. Keep track of your communications with your health plan and providers, including copies of postal and email correspondence, and a log of your phone calls, conversations and activities. Be patient: Health plans and providers, particularly small ones, may not have handled a claim of medical identity theft before, and may not be sure how to respond.

In most instances, a provider who denies you access to your records must give you the reason in writing. Some providers may refuse to give you copies of your medical or billing records for fear that they’re violating the identity thief’s HIPAA privacy rights. These providers are mistaken: You have the right to know what’s in your file. If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal. Contact the person identified in the provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices or the patient representative or ombudsman, explain the situation and request your file. If a provider still refuses to give you access to your records within 30 days of your written request, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, at www.hhs.gov/ocr.

You also should get a copy of the accounting of disclosures for your medical record from your health plan and providers. It will help you follow the trail of your information and identify who has incorrect information about you. The law allows you to order one free copy of the accounting from each of your providers every 12 months. The accounting is a record of:

• the date of the disclosure;
• the name of the person or entity who received the information;
• a brief description of the information disclosed;
• a brief statement of the purpose of the disclosure or a copy of the request for it.

Certain disclosures that occur often or as a matter of routine – like each time a doctor’s office sends treatment information to another health care provider, or sends payment information to an insurer for reimbursement – may not be included in the accounting.

For more information about your rights under HIPAA, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/ocr, or the World Privacy Forum at www.worldprivacyforum.org/FAQ_medicalrecordprivacy.html.

Bouncing Back from Medical Identity Theft

If you are a victim of medical identity theft, here are several steps to take immediately. Keep detailed records of your conversations and copies of your correspondence.

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
• File a report with your local police, and send copies of the report to your health plan’s fraud department, your health care provider(s), and the three nationwide credit reporting companies. Information on how to file a police report is at www.ftc.gov/idtheft/consumers/defend.html.
• Exercise your right under HIPAA to correct errors in your medical and billing records. Write to your health plan or provider detailing the information that seems inaccurate. Include copies (keep the originals) of any document that supports your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should identify each item in your record that you dispute, state the facts and your reasons for disputing the information, and request that each error be corrected or deleted. You may want to enclose a copy of your medical record with the items in question circled. Send your letter by certified mail, and ask for a “return receipt,” so you can document what the plan or provider received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.
Generally, your health plan or medical provider must respond: The creator of the information is obligated to amend the inaccurate or incomplete information. It also should notify other parties, like labs or other health care providers, that may have received incorrect information. If an investigation doesn’t resolve your dispute with your plan or provider, you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your record.

Other Steps to Consider

A fraud alert can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Contact only one of the three companies to place an alert. The one you call is required to contact the others that, in turn, place an alert on their versions of your report, too.

• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim • Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, is a warning sign to businesses or others who may use your credit file. It locks down your credit file and blocks access by potential creditors. In short, it makes it less likely that an identity thief can open new accounts. Most states have laws that allow consumers to place a credit freeze with credit reporting companies. In many of these states, any consumer can freeze their credit file; in others, only identity theft victims can freeze their files.

Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score, keep you from getting your free annual credit report, or keep you from buying your credit report or score. It doesn’t prevent you from opening a new account, applying for a job, renting an apartment, or buying insurance, either. In these situations, the business usually needs to review your credit report. You can ask the credit reporting company to lift your credit freeze temporarily, or remove it altogether.

There are two key differences between security freezes and fraud alerts:

The credit reporting companies are not required to share a request for a security freeze as they are with a fraud alert. If you want to freeze all your credit files completely, you have to contact each company with your request.
The credit reporting companies may charge you a fee to place a freeze or to lift it. The fees and lead times to freeze or “thaw” your credit file vary among states, so it’s wise to check with your state authorities or with a credit reporting company in advance if possible. In many states, security freezes are free for identity theft victims; in others, consumers must pay a fee – typically $10. It’s also important to know that each credit reporting company charges a fee for this. More information is at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
If you have a valid police or other investigative report about the theft, you usually can place or lift a freeze for free.

If you believe you are a victim of medical identity theft and are concerned that your identity could be compromised further – say, by credit accounts being opened in your name – you may want to consider a freeze as an additional layer of protection.

For More Information

For information about getting and correcting your medical records:

World Privacy Forum
2033 San Elijo Avenue, #402
Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007
www.worldprivacyforum.org
760-436-2489

Center on Medical Record Rights and Privacy
Health Policy Institute
Georgetown University
Box 57144
Washington DC 20057-1485
http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/privacy/records.html
202-687-0880

If you believe that a health plan or provider violated your rights under HIPAA, you may want to file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
www.hhs.gov/ocr

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The Embassy of Haiti and the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee and New York State Consumer Protection Board are offering this caution to Haitian Americans in this country concerned about loved ones in Haiti:

1. Haitians living in the United States are being targeted by a scam that convinces them to pay money with the promise of getting their relatives to this country, the Embassy of Haiti and the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee announced.

Potential victims are contacted by phone or with fliers passed around in Haitian communities. They are told that if they wire $500, in return they will receive a package of documents and a confirmation number permitting them to go to the devastated island nation and bring five relatives to the United States.

The committee and the embassy are also warning people to beware of any offer promising to fly people out of Haiti.

A spokesperson for the committee says the scam is nationwide and particularly prevalent in large Haitian American communities.

It is common for scams to develop around a tragedy. Con artists know people are ready to reach into their pockets to make donations or help loved ones.

If you are targeted by this scam, you are asked to contact the FBI's disaster fraud hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by e-mail disaster@leo.gov.

2. A new scam targeting Haitian Americans trying to bring their relatives from the earthquake-riddled country to the United States has surfaced, authorities warned today.

Haitian Americans contacted in the scheme are offered documents they supposedly need to bypass the official government process to bring family members from the devastated island to America, according to the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Victims in the scheme, who are reportedly handed fliers or reached by phone, are told to wire $500 in exchange for the documents and a confirmation number that will allegedly allow them to fly to Haiti and bring five relatives home.

But the promised documents and flight are phony, according to the Haitian Embassy in Washington and the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee. They said this scam is simply a new twist to the old advance fee scheme.

Haitian Americans who want to bring their relatives from the earthquake-ravaged country to the United States should contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at (800) 375-5283. They can also contact the agency online at www.uscis.gov.

Bad check freezes employee's bank account

If you own a pet and live in New York City housing, and half a million New Yorkers do; you have until Sunday to register them or give them up.

The following is information put out by the ASPCA. The ASPCA urges you to know your rights as public housing residents.

NEW YORK— The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) urges residents of public housing under the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to register their dogs prior to the January 31st registration extension deadline. NYCHA has extended the registration deadline under its previous pet policy, permitting residents to register dogs up to 40 pounds, regardless of breed. After January 31st, NYCHA will begin enforcing the revised pet policy, which reduces the permissible weight for full grown dogs from 40 pounds to 25 pounds, and prohibits purebred and mixed breed pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. The requirement that NYCHA residents may have only one dog or one cat remains unchanged.

The ASPCA, Animal Care & Control of NYC, and Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals have produced a Resident Rights’ Memo in order to inform NYCHA residents of the grounds on which they may register their dogs regardless of size or breed, as well as their other rights as dog owners in NYCHA housing. For example, residents may have a legal right to keep and register their dog, regardless of size or breed, if:

· The dog has lived in NYCHA housing for at least six years;

· The resident has a serious physical disability;

· The resident has been diagnosed with a mental or physical impairment and a doctor says the dog helps the resident cope with his or her condition; or

· The resident’s dog is registered with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a “service dog.”

If residents are asked to remove their dog, they may request a hearing at NYCHA headquarters, and they will have an opportunity to challenge any adverse decision in court. For more information on NYCHA residents’ rights, please visit the ASPCA’s website at www.aspca.org/nycha.

“The ASPCA is opposed to the revised pet policy and wants to be sure that NYCHA residents know to register their dogs by NYCHA’s deadline and also that they otherwise have rights that are protected,” said Debora Bresch, attorney and Senior Director for ASPCA Government Relations..

“The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals opposes any laws that discriminate against particular breeds or impose weight restrictions,” added Jane Hoffman, attorney and President of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. “This regulation unfairly discriminates against responsible dog owners and good dogs needing homes.”

Information on Pet Registration and Fee

Existing residents must submit the registration form to the NYCHA Housing Office by January 31st in order to register dogs up to 40 pounds, regardless of breed. After January 31st, existing residents may submit a registration form for dogs up to 25 pounds, except for purebred and mixed breed pit bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers. (Please see our Resident Rights’ Memo for discussion of the grounds on which dogs may be registered at any time, regardless of size or breed). After the registration form is submitted, residents will have a 90 day grace period to submit a veterinarian certification form verifying that their dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and, after January 31st, not one of the prohibited breeds.

New residents must submit the registration form to the NYCHA Housing Office during the rental interview for any dog, cat or service animal they wish to bring into the NYCHA apartment. Staff must explain the pet policy to prospective residents at the time of the rental interview.

Pet registration fee is $25 for all residents who do not reside at project-based Section 8 developments. Owners of service animals and animals that live in buildings designated exclusively for senior citizens are exempt from this fee.

For the purpose of filling out the registration form, you can immediately obtain a dog license number by purchasing the license online (see below for internet address).

To obtain a registration form, residents can visit their NYCHA management office between 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or call (212) 306-3000. The form is also available online: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/dogcatregistration.pdf

**Registration forms will be available at the ASPCA Adoption Center and Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital located at 424 East 92nd Street**

To obtain a dog/cat veterinarian certificate: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/dogcatvetcert.pdf

To obtain a NYC Dog License: https://a816-health21ssl.nyc.gov/DogLicense/Login.do

# # #

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?