Don't Be Fooled This April Fool's Day: Good Housekeeping Reveals The Top Five Mistakes Consumers Make

NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- April Fool's pranks are fun, but feeling like a company's customer service department is taking advantage of you isn't a joke.  Too many people are getting the run-around.  

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Good Housekeeping reveals the "Top Five Mistakes" consumers make and provides tips for what people can do to protect themselves in the future:

1. You Don't Know Who You're Dealing With:

You wouldn't buy a watch from the sketchy guy on the corner so why entrust your credit card to a questionable website? The same is true for flyers you receive in the mail for discount services, or an unsolicited e-mail offer.

Before you are wooed by a low price:

• Google the name of the company or site plus the word "complaint" or "scam" and see what you get.
• Look up the company's standing on the Better Business Bureau website (bbb.org).
• For unfamiliar online stores, check that the site offers a way to reach customer service by phone (not just by e-mail)--and check that you can actually speak to a person. Read the website privacy policy, so you know how they may use any information you give them.
• Carefully scrutinize any "free introductory offer" you receive. (Tip: If they require a credit card number, you should be wary of how "free" it really is.)

2. You Forget To Save Receipts:

No receipt means no proof of purchase. Without it, you'll only receive store credit if you need to return unused, still-sealed and still-tagged items.

• Keep receipts for minor purchases in a file for at least one month, particularly for those on your credit card (so you can compare them to your monthly statement).
• For items with warranties, staple the receipt to the owner's manual or keep in a separate "warranty" file. If you're sending the receipt off to claim a rebate, make a copy of it first for your records.

3. You Don't Use a Product Immediately After Purchase:

Return policies and warranties start from the date of purchase. Even if it's July and you bought a snow blower on clearance, remember to start it to make sure it's working. It's also smart to check products you buy and plan to give as gifts at a later date: Do they work properly, and are all the parts in the box?

4. You Don't Read Contracts Carefully:

When you sign up for a cell phone plan, cable or satellite TV service, gym membership, or diet program, you are most likely agreeing to pay a monthly fee for a specified length of time--and to owe a cancellation fee if you decide not to fulfill the terms of your contract.

• Read all the fine print before signing anything (yes, really), and make sure anything the salesperson tells you is also listed in writing.
• Ask plenty of questions. Are any additional charges such as taxes or "service fees" above the quoted price? Can you freeze your plan if you go on vacation? Is there a pay-per-month plan at a slightly higher rate? It may be worth considering, if you're not sure you're in for the long haul.
• Remember to keep track of contract dates. Some services, such as cable TV and phone companies, offer "introductory" deals of a flat rate for the first year or two--and then significantly increase the price when the term is over.

5. You Don't Examine Warranty Policies:

Right after buying a product, check the length of time of your warranty coverage and exactly what the warranty covers: Parts only? Repairs? Replacement?

If you save your receipt, you usually don't need to send in the Warranty Card.  Companies typically just use these to collect customer data; the main consumer benefit is that you'll be alerted if the item is recalled.

When making a warranty claim:

• Gather all paperwork before you call or e-mail, including your sales receipt, the model number of the malfunctioning item, and a detailed description of what went wrong.
• Take careful notes on your phone call, including date, time, and full name or customer-service ID number of anyone you speak with (or print out any e-mail correspondence).
• Get concrete instructions, including expected dates or time frames, and follow up if they don't follow through.

About Good Housekeeping

Founded in 1885, Good Housekeeping (www.goodhousekeeping.com) magazine reaches 25 million readers each month.  The Good Housekeeping Research Institute, the consumer product evaluation laboratory of the magazine founded in 1900, is dedicated to improving the lives of consumers and their families through education and product evaluation.  Before any advertisement appears in the magazine, it must first pass the Good Housekeeping Research Institute's evaluations, and thereby become eligible to display the Good Housekeeping Seal.  Products that have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal carry a limited warranty: if the product proves to be defective within two years of purchase, Good Housekeeping will replace the item or refund the consumer.  Readers can also interact with the brand with Good Housekeeping mobile (m.goodhousekeeping.com). In addition to its U.S. flagship, Good Housekeeping publishes 15 editions around the world.  Hearst Magazines is a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) and is one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with nearly 200 editions around the world, including 15 U.S. titles and 20 magazines in the United Kingdom, published through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The National Magazine Company Limited.  Hearst reaches more adults than any other publisher of monthly magazines (73.8 million total adults, according to MRI, Fall 2009).

SOURCE Hearst Corporation