People, Places & Events

Fireworks holiday safety tips
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Fire Marshal’s Office in Kaufman offers fireworks safety tips with the Fourth of July holiday approaching.
If celebrating with fireworks is legal in your area, follow these safety tips:
• Do not let children buy fireworks without adult supervision.
• Only buy from reliable fireworks sellers
• Don’t experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Find a smooth, flat surface, away from the house and other buildings, dry leaves and grass.
• Have water handy in case of malfunction or fire.
• Always have adult supervision.
When ready to shoot.
• Don’t allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow label directions, warnings and instructions.
• Be considerate of neighbors.
• Ignite fireworks outdoors and away from houses and buildings.
• Be sure people are out of range before igniting.
• Light only one fire cracker at a time.
• Don’t try to relight fire crackers that have malfunctioned.
• Don’t give fireworks to small children. Even sparklers can cause serious burns.
• Don’t throw fireworks at another person, animal or vehicle.
• Don’t carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Don’t shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
• Dispose of spent fireworks properly.
 

BBB warns against scam magazine subscriptions
Special to The Monitor
DALLAS–Trying to help a good cause could get you ripped off by fraudulent magazine salespeople.
The Better Business Bureau warns that deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are hitting the pavement and looking to earn a quick buck this summer.
In the last 12 months alone, the BBB system has received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the District of Columbia against more than 50 companies that are selling magazines door-to-door.
Two of those businesses are in the Dallas area. Lone Star Subscriptions and RLA, Inc., both in Aubrey.
Complaints on these businesses allege misleading sales pitches, non-delivery of magazines, and difficulties with refunds.
Many door-to-door magazine sales companies employ crews of high school and college-age people who are trying to earn money over the summer.
These crews are sent to communities to knock on doors and sell magazines, sometimes without appropriate licensing.
In the sales pitch, the representative might explain they are working to help get their lives back on track, raising money on behalf of a charity or for a school trip or even selling subscriptions to support troops in Iraq.
“Because sales representatives are typically high school or college-age, victims readily believe the potentially fictitious sales pitch and often pay several hundred dollars for the subscriptions by personal check given directly to the sales reps,” spokesperson for the BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas Jeannette Kopko said.
“Most complaints against such companies allege that sales reps took their check and the magazines never arrived, however, some complainants also allege being subjected to high-pressure and misleading sales tactics,” she added.
In the last year the BBB system has received complaints on more than 50 companies conducting door-to-door magazines sales and following are a few examples:
Lone Star Subscriptions, Aubrey, has been the subject of 139 complaints to the BBB in the last 12 months.
A woman in College Station said “I ordered a magazine from a sales representative who entered my home claiming to sell magazines to win a trip for a school organization.”
A complaint from an Illinois consumer says: “A young woman said she was trying to earn money for a high school trip (like a fund-raiser).”
Complaints allege non-receipt of magazines or promised refunds, and difficulties getting in touch with the company.
There have been 47 complaints in the last 12 months on RLA Inc., Aubrey.
Complaints also are concerning the sales pitch and non-delivery of magazines.
One complaint from Buffalo, NY, states, “She said she was selling the magazine subscriptions in order to earn ‘points’ toward a trip.
“She was a young lady in high school, so I thought it was legitimate. I have yet to receive the magazine.”
A Tennessee customer says, “A young man knocked on my door and said he was selling magazines for a school trip. I would never pay $44 for a magazine subscription, but I thought I was helping this very nice, personable young man. My mistake!”
The BBB serving Charlotte, N.C. has received 286 complaints against two magazine companies owned by the same couple, Trinity Public Relations in N.C. and Seedtime Publications in S.C.
Complainants report not receiving the subscriptions they paid for and some allege sales reps used high pressure sales tactics.
In one example, a woman called the police after feeling threatened by a sales rep who became angry when she wouldn’t buy a magazine.
Some sales reps have also allegedly told prospective customers that they would not be able to eat that day if they didn’t buy their magazines.
Trinity Public Relations was closed down by the Attorney General in N.C. and Seedtime Publications has also closed in S.C.
The BBB serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona has received 33 complaints from 12 states regarding Prestige Sales, LLC.
In addition to not receiving magazines they paid for, complainants allege sales reps lied about being neighborhood youth who were trying to earn money for a school trip to Europe, while other customers were led to believe they were purchasing magazines subscriptions for troops deployed to Iraq.
Other door-to-door magazine companies with F ratings from BBB include:
• Michigan City, IN-based Omni Horizons Inc., which has received 122 complaints from consumers in 17 states according to the BBB Serving Northern Indiana;
• Chesapeake, VA-based True Visions Inc., which has received 82 complaints from 13 states according to the BBB of Greater Hampton Roads;
• Memphis-based Greater Image, Inc.,which has received 71 complaints from 16 states according to the BBB serving the Mid-South; and,
• Seattle-based Fresh Start Opportunities, which has received 66 complaints from seven states according to the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington.
“Experience tells us that customers aren’t the only victims of this scam; the young salespeople are also potentially being taken advantage of by their employers and forced to work long hours, endure substandard living conditions and have their wages withheld from them,” Kokpo said.
BBB offers the following advice to avoid getting scammed by a door-to-door magazine sales rep:
Always research the company with your Better Business Bureau for free at www.bbb.org before filling out a check for a magazine subscription.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business.
Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.
Victims of fraudulent magazine sales can file a complaint with their Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, local law enforcement, and state Attorney General offices.