Clark Howard on Fighting Robocalls, Credit Card Strategies, and Consumer Scams

Clark Stinks! Listener Feedback

• 💡 Balance transfers are a superior method for managing high-interest debt compared to personal loans, offering 0% interest for extended periods with a small upfront fee, provided one has a credit score above 750.
• ✈️ A suggestion was made to pack food items in checked bags to avoid shipping costs, a valid point acknowledged by Clark due to his aversion to checking luggage.
• 🏠 Heat pumps are a type of HVAC system, and higher SEER models with longer compressor warranties are a worthwhile investment for long-term efficiency and savings.
• 💳 A listener pointed out that a drop in credit score could be due to being an authorized user on another person's card or a credit limit reduction, factors Clark had not initially considered.
• 💰 The Capital One Venture X card often includes a sign-up bonus, a detail that should be checked before applying, as these bonuses can be substantial.
• 🏥 Clark's comparison of Medicare Advantage plans to winning the lottery was deemed unfair by a listener who carefully selected their plan based on personal needs and research.
• ✈️ The annoyance of frequently opening and closing airplane window shades disrupts others' eye adjustment; leaving them open or closed is preferable.
• 👓 Costco's new policy of not replacing lenses in frames older than two years was criticized as wasteful and contrary to customer-first values, with a suggestion to contact the CEO.
• 🏈 Watching NFL games affordably is a challenge; Clark's current strategy involves watching official game summaries on YouTube after the game concludes, provided he doesn't know the outcome.

New Tools to Combat Robocalls

• 📱 Both Android and iPhone now offer features to automatically screen calls from unknown numbers, preventing unwanted interruptions.
• 📞 iPhones with the latest iOS can screen calls, hear voicemails live, and allow users to decide whether to pick up, while Android has had similar features for a while.
• 🚫 Clark advises never answering unknown calls, even if they appear to be from legitimate institutions, due to the prevalence of caller ID spoofing; instead, wait for a voicemail.

Consumer Issues and Scams

• 📺 Amazon's software update rendered older Fire TV devices obsolete, with the company offering only a minimal discount on a new device, highlighting a decline in customer service.
• 🇨🇳 Third-party sellers on Amazon, particularly from China, are using fake shipping labels to offset costs, leading to customers paying postage due, a scam that requires persistence to resolve.
• 💳 For small businesses, accepting payments via services like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal can be a low- or no-cost alternative to credit card processing fees, though customers comfortable with mailing checks can continue that method.
• 💸 The high merchant processing fees in the U.S. are a significant burden; offering a cash discount or using debit cards can mitigate these costs, with potential for future competition from Capital One's acquisition of Discover.