The Savvy Consumer: How to Avoid Scams and Ripoffs That Cost You Time and Money (Capital Ideas) [Paperback]

Elisabeth Leamy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Capital Ideas | Publication Date: April 13, 2004

Every month Elisabeth Leamy gets hundreds of consumer calls on her tip line at the Washington DC affiliate of Fox News. Consumers call in after losing hundreds or thousands of dollars to car dealers, mechanics, contractors, movers--you name it! As an investigative reporter Elisabeth has delved into all the scams and now puts what she has learned into this invaluable resource. The Savvy Consumer shows readers how to spar with car salesmen, how to avoid paying crooked mechanics, and ways to bargain down closing costs when you buy a house. Elisabeth explains how to keep a mover from holding your belongings hostage and what your rights are if you’re a renter. She reveals the single step that makes collection agents go away and easy ways you can instantly improve your credit score. Want to find unclaimed money? Bid for bargains at a government auction? Want to make telemarketers stop calling and junk mail stop coming? What are the most common scams and how can you avoid them? It’s all in The Savvy Consumer, along with more than a hundred other topics. Elisabeth educates readers by sharing anecdotes about real consumers and their struggles. She explains the signs to look out for, the questions to ask, how to do your homework, and where to complain. There are hundreds of books about making money. This book is about keeping your hard-earned cash.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...its reams of advice on how to buy a car, get a mortgage, and avoid the old bank-examiner trick." -- Josh Levin, Washington City Paper, April 23–29, 2004

"Elisabeth Leamy's hard-hitting book...is packed with practical advice and insights, delivered in a lively style." -- Robert Krughoff, President, Consumers' Checkbook Magazine

"It could help readers protect themselves from scams in home repair, internet solicitations and credit debit." -- Darragh Doiron, Port Arthur News, April 10, 2004

"This book arms people with solid advice from a consumer advocate..." -- Don Oldenburg,

"This book is full of sage advice and serves as an excellent resource..." -- Ed Johnson, Better Business Bureau

About the Author

Elisabeth Leamy is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning consumer and investigative reporter for WTTG, the Fox station in Washington DC. Her reports air ten times a week and have resulted in arrests, new city laws, and Congressional inquiries. Elisabeth holds a bachelors degree from The University of California at Berkeley and a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives with her husband in the Washington, DC area.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931868573
• ISBN-13: 978-1931868570
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I *thought* I was Savvy, June 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Savvy Consumer: How to Avoid Scams and Ripoffs That Cost You Time and Money (Capital Ideas) (Paperback)

This book is a must-have reference for the home to be pulled out often. I thought I was a savvy consumer, but this book contains tips and reveals scams that ONLY an investigative reporter could uncover. Truly a great guide for all of the major investments in life: home and car buying, home and car repairing, buying insurance, etc. And it also gives great tips on everyday scams that we just don't have time to check up on. (Did you know that there's help to block junk mail and credit card offers???)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to Digest and Very Helpful, April 20, 2004

By 

Mark J. Thomas (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Savvy Consumer: How to Avoid Scams and Ripoffs That Cost You Time and Money (Capital Ideas) (Paperback)

Every consumer should be armed with this weapon! The book is very user-friendly and very comprehensive. The author writes in a way that readers can easily understand. This is a book that you can purchase and refer back to for the rest of your life. I've watched the author's reports on TV for some time now and I think she's the best reporter in the business. What a bonus to get her work in print! If you purchase one buyer-beware book, make it "The Savvy Consumer".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helps you wise up!, April 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Savvy Consumer: How to Avoid Scams and Ripoffs That Cost You Time and Money (Capital Ideas) (Paperback)

What a commonsense book this is. Every household needs a copy, especially if you are living on a budget or trying to save money -- and who isn't? The section on car buying was especially helpful, hands down better than a year's subscription to Consumer Reports. And if you are plagued with credit issues, this book is more useful than any debt counseling agency, and lots less likely to rip you off. I am surprised this wonderful little book hasn't been more talked about. I'm giving six as Christmas gifts to nieces and nephews.