The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Watch out for Memorial Day schemes that target members of the military and their families and supporters

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who serve and remember those who have died in war. But, it’s also become a time for scammers to target those who are serving or have served their nation, especially elderly veterans.

The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers and donors to be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true and for disreputable charities.

“Military personnel are targeted for a few reasons: they get a steady paycheck, they tend to be young, they move around a lot, if they’re deployed they may not be watching their finances/personal info closely, everything in the military revolves around their social security number, so it’s easy for them to have their identity stolen,” Coleen Smith, executive director of the BBB Education Foundation, said in a statement.

To avoid problems, visit www.give.org to verify a charity before donating and be on the lookout for these common scams:

Scams that target military personnel:

• Fraudulent investors try to convince veterans to transfer their assets into an irrevocable trust.
• Callers pose as the Veterans Administration and request military personnel to update credit card, bank, or other financial records with the VA.
• Scammers pose as government contractors recruiting veterans and ask for a copy of the job applicants’ passport.
• Companies specifically target military for services they could get for free or less expensively elsewhere.
• Ads offer “instant approval” military loans – “no credit check,” “all ranks approved” – that can have high interest rates and hidden fees.
• Ads offer military discounts and incentives online on housing and then cheat service personnel out of their security deposit.

Scams that target military supporters

• Scammers try to sell services such as security systems to spouses of deployed military personnel by saying the service member ordered it to protect his or her family.
• People sell stolen vehicles at a low price and claim to be soldiers who need to sell quickly because they’ve been deployed.
• Individuals pose on online dating services as a lonely service member in a remote part of Iraq or Afghanistan, and ask for money to be wired to a third party for some emergency.

The BBB advises service members, veterans, and all consumers never to give personal identification information – Social Security, bank account, military identification, or credit card numbers – to anyone who contacts you by phone or e-mail, and to be wary of any solicitations that involve purchasing something or transferring money.

Consumers can check out businesses and charities at www.bbb.org.

For more information, visit www.bbb.org/us/military-line.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What does May Day mean to you?

By Rita R. Robison

On May Day, when we were kids, we used to make wildflower bouquets with cone-shaped, construction paper holders. We’d place them on door steps, knock on the door, then run.

I also remember some maypoles that were done at school or by other organizations.

In many countries, May Day is a day to celebrate workers and workers rights. This holiday has its origins in the struggle by American workers to win the eight-hour work day in the 1880s.

When I worked for state government, I belonged to a union. I participated in its activities, including rallies. The union helped me when I had problems as an injured worker.

I believe workers need to unite and take action to improve working conditions.

Conditions for American workers and workers through the world have declined significantly since the Great Recession of 2008. While the economic fortunes of many companies are improving, the situation for workers remains bleak.

Younger and older workers are having great difficulty finding jobs. Benefits are being slashed for most workers, including government workers, teachers, fire fighters, and police officers.

Economies in Europe are teetering on the edge of economic collapse. The Chinese economy is cooling down, while economic growth in the United States continues slowly.

The situation for workers is dire. Poverty rates are increasing, while the richest few are making even more money.

Today, many rallies are being organized by Occupy Movements throughout the U. S. Some events are peaceful. In others, police are using various kinds of force to stop the demonstrators.

For details on May Day celebrations, see The Huffington Post’s “May Day: How the International Day of Protest Is Celebrated Throughout the World.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Baby boomers need to fight internalized agism

In the popular culture and throughout society, the message is loud and clear: Young is good, old is bad.

Although baby boomers experienced women's liberation and gay rights, they have anti-aging messages ingrained into their psyches, says Carol Orsborn, CEO, FierceWithAge, Spirituality for Grownups. These messages are economically, socially, and politically damaging for boomers and all age groups.

Boomers are allowing stereotypes of aging to take over their thinking about who they are as they age, Orsborn says.

She suggests boomers start or join a Fierce with Age Consciousness Group.

Find between two and 10 boomers and set a time to meet regularly. Discuss whatever you want, but when the following five flags come up, catch yourself and catch others.

1. Comments, satire, or jokes, including asides, that revile, infantilize, or marginalize aging and old people.

2. Youth-centric language, as in "young at heart" or "youthful." Replace it with age-neutral words such as "vital" and "passionate."

3. Separating one out from peers, as in: "Can you believe I'm 60 years old?"

4. Definitions of successful aging that are based solely or primarily on your having attributes normally associated with individuals younger than your own age.

5. Romanticizing or sanitizing images of aging.

For details, see Orsborn’s Huffington Post article “Aging With Pride: The Call for Boomer Consciousness.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Fewer older adults apply for Social Security benefits last year, but disability benefit requests still up

Fewer workers age 62 and older applied for Social Security retirement benefits in 2011, mainly because more and better jobs were available.

Only 27 percent of older workers began collecting retirement benefits last year, the lowest rate since 1976, according to the Urban Institute’s Program on Retirement Policy.

Older Americans were more likely to claim Social Security retirement benefits in 2009 than in previous years as the economy weakened, and the unemployment rate for workers age 55 to 64 rose to 6.6 percent, more than double the 2007 rate.

 In 2009, the retirement benefit take-up rate reached 30.8 percent, up from 28.8 percent in 2008 and 27.1 percent in 2007.

“Claiming Social Security benefits early sometimes jeopardizes future economic security, because early claimants receive permanently reduced benefits,” Richard Johnson, director of program, said in a policy brief. For example, Social Security reduces monthly payments by 25 percent when beneficiaries begin collecting at age 62 instead of 66.

While the number of Social Security applications has declined, more people are continuing to apply for Social Security disability benefits.

In 2011, 18.9 insured workers per 1,000 applied for Social Security disability benefits, more than any year since 1957except 2010. The disability program was launched in 1957.

The weak labor market caused the surge in disability applications.

“Workers with health problems are more likely to turn to disability benefits when jobs are scarce,” Johnson said. However, disability applications had been rising before the recession.

Population aging accounted for about two-thirds of the growth between 2000 and 2007, as many boomers entered their fifties and sixties when disability is relatively common.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Banks, telecoms, electronics, retailers among companies requiring forced arbitration

If your bank, cell phone provider, employer, or other company that you conduct business with violated your rights or cheated you, would you want to be able to take them to court?

Many companies are now using fine print to stop consumers from taking legal action, according to Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.

Below is Public Citizen’s listing of some of the largest corporations that have placed “forced arbitration” clauses in their terms of service. Forced arbitration blocks consumers and employees from holding companies accountable in court because they must take their claims to private, secretive tribunals that often favor the companies, the consumer group said in a statement.

Telecommunications: DirectTV, Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Sprint, T-Mobile, Clearwire, Time Warner Cable, Tacfone.

Consumer banking and credit: Wells Fargo, US Bank, Regions Banks, BB&T, Discover, PNC Bank, Chase.

Student loans: Sallie Mae, Citibank, Chase, Discover.

Consumer electronics: Sony, Dell, Gateway, Electronic Arts, XBox Live.

Nursing homes: Candansk, Covenant Dove, Driftwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Kindred Nursing Center, Manor Care of Florida, OP Winter Haven, SA-PG Sun City Center, Triad Health Management of Georgia.

Home builders: D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, Centex Corp., Lennar, KB Home, Hovnanian Enterprises, NVR (Ryan), The Ryland Group, Beazer Homes.

Gift cards: Starbucks, Pep Boys, Gold’s Gym, Ticketmaster, Crocs, In-N-Out Burger, Red Mango, Patagonia, Discover.

Ecommerce and entertainment: amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Netflix, Hulu.

Employment: Hooters of America, Forever 21, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus Group, Macy’s West Stores, Yahoo! Inc.

Miscellaneous: New Leaf Academy, Orkin.

Public Citizen asks consumers to add more companies that are taking away their rights with forced arbitration by sending an e-mail to action@citizen.org.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Obama did a better job this year of addressing consumer needs in his State of the Union speech

By Rita R. Robison

Maybe it was Occupy Wall Street or just the fact that he’s finally getting the message that consumers are suffering, but President Obama’s State of the Union address contained more for consumers this year than his 2011 speech.

Obama talked about the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its role in keeping an eye on credit card, payday loan, and mortgage companies.

He also said he will set up a unit in the Justice Department, which will work with leading state attorneys general, to investigate the business practices that led to the housing crisis. This action is long overdue, but at least it’s happening.

On income equality, Obama suggested that millionaires pay more in taxes, at least the same percentage that average Americans pay. He suggested a rate of 30 percent.

Obama also talked about creating jobs, in clean energy and through public works projects, and the importance of keeping the slowly growing economy moving in a positive direction.

While Obama received lots of applause when he talked about cutting government programs and spending, it’s not an easy task to figure out how to make government leaner and work better.

Not so positive for consumers was Obama’s support of offshore drilling for oil and his willingness to work with Congress to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits.    

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Seeing the Occupy Wall Street movement in my community

When I went over to TCTV, I heard from one of the producers that people were gathering in Sylvester Park in solidarity of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

On my way home, I stopped by. I saw about 40 people crowded around two members of the Washington State Patrol. The park is owned by the state of Washington so the state patrol provides law enforcement there.

The group broke up, and an announcement was made about their agreement. People would be allowed to spend the night without a 14-day permit. The power would be left on in the gazebo. The Food and First Aid tents would be allowed to remain. No more tents could be put up, but people could sleep under tarps on the lawn or in the gazebo.

People then began a process to govern the protest. Facilitators and a timekeeper were chosen. People took turns saying what they’d like to see on an agenda. Many of those that spoke had issues they wanted covered such as health care, corporate greed, and jobs.

The meeting started with announcements. One woman brought musical instruments, so she wanted to know which instruments others had with them. The state patrol had indicated all music needed to stop at 9:30 p.m.

All in all, it was an orderly process.

Around 45 degrees, it was really cold. Some people brought their children. One was crying.

I agree with those in the United States and around the world who are protesting against the greed of Wall Street. I applaud the thousands of people who are gathering in a peaceful manner to make their voices heard.

My worst: Low-quality customer service at a medical supply store

When I went to a medical supply store to make a purchase, the clerk who helped me didn’t do a good job. She looked up my insurance and said I’d have to pay for the items because I hadn’t met the $2,000 deductible yet.

I about had a heart attack. Had my insurance suddenly changed so that my deductible had been increased to $2,000?

Fortunately, it was 4:50 p.m. I called my insurance company. I found out that the $2,000 the clerk saw in the computer was another number. It tracks how much I have paid out of pocket. When I’ve spent $2,000, then my insurance company pays 100 percent of my medical bills instead of 85 percent.

I went inside and made the purchase. I only had to pay the co-pay, not the full amount.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Occupy Wall Street: Americans are furious, and they're right to be, says consumer group

Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, is supporting the Occupy Wall Street protest.

Robert Weissman, Public Citizen president, offered the following comments in a statement:

It’s no mystery why the Occupy Wall Street and related protests are capturing the country’s attention. Americans are furious about the state of our nation, and they’re right to be. Millions of people are out of work because of Wall Street’s recklessness. Millions more have been thrown out of their homes for the same reason. Meanwhile, the federal government fails to take obvious steps to address these problems because of the outsized influence of the very Wall Street firms and giant corporations that caused our economic problems. The country is past due for a mass protest movement demanding justice.

Occupy Wall Street has been criticized for not offering a clear set of demands. In fact, the protesters have been eloquent in rejecting the idea that they produce 'one demand,' and also in articulating in broad terms what they want. More to the point, it’s not for a lack of ideas that the country is in crisis.

Put the unemployed to work retrofitting energy-inefficient buildings, teaching children, and meeting other unmet needs. Invest in a green energy revolution. Impose a financial speculation tax, and increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations - and make them pay. Put in place a single-payer, Medicare-for-All health care system. Undo NAFTA-style corporate trade agreements – and don’t enter in any new ones. Force banks to renegotiate mortgage terms, and let foreclosed-upon families stay in their homes as renters. Overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission with a constitutional amendment and reestablish the principle that corporations exist to serve the people, not the other way around.

The country’s problem is not the lack of a policy agenda. It’s not even winning strong public support for the policy agenda – the public does support these ideas. The problem is translating the popular anger about the nation’s state of affairs into a political movement strong enough to overcome the corporate opposition. We can only hope that Occupy Wall Street serves as a spark to that political movement.

Public Citizen stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. We thank the protesters in New York and at Occupy protests around the country and world for their courage, commitment, creativity, and leadership.

Yes, let's move the country forward instead of fighting. So much needs to be done to help consumers who are struggling.

2012 retirement guide on how to live well on less offers tips for baby boomers to explore

By Rita R. Robison

While I don’t think I’d want to live in Boise, Idaho, one of the cities recommended by Money magazine’s article “Five Great Low-Cost Places to Retire,” the retirement guide has numerous tips worth considering.

In addition to this article, Money’s October issue includes these suggestions for a scaled-back retirement:

• Fine-tune your budget to cut expenses.

• Turn time into money by comparison shopping and cooking more at home.

• Live smaller by downsizing your home.

• Move to a low-cost area such as Marquette, Mich., Cape Coral, Fla., or Danville, Ken.

• Work part time.

• Become debt free.

For more information, look for copies of Money magazine’s October issue at newsstands or your local library.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Consumer coalition applauds Obama’s jobs plan, but says what country needs is large-scale mortgage modifications

By Rita R. Robison

Americans for Financial Reform, a coalition of more than 250 national and state organizations working for Wall Street reform, said it applauds President Obama for focusing on measures to create jobs and the problem of unemployment.

However, the coalition says what consumers and the economy need are large-scale mortgage modifications:

The unresolved housing crisis – including the millions of families facing foreclosure and the millions who owe much more than their homes are worth – remain another persistent drag on the economy. We support ways to make it easier for families to refinance, but we continue to believe that much more needs to be done. The country needs large-scale mortgage modifications, including deep principal reductions, to resolve the problem and to help spur consumer demand.

The coalition also believes that fair rules are needed for financial markets so that similar crisises can be averted. 

In its statement, the coalition said it’s troubling that Republican leaders in the Senate this week renewed their pledge to refuse to implement the consumer protection law passed last year by refusing to consider a nominee to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

“This may work well for Wall Street banks, and financial industry special interests, but it leaves the public at risk, the coalition said. “As families navigate hard times, it is especially important to prevent financial tricks and traps that leave them poorer.”

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist