Instant money is always nice, when you get a gift, or see your name on the state's unclaimed property list .. or maybe you're lucky enough to win the lottery ... but NOT when we're talking about your tax return. Some commercial tax preparers, like H&R Block, entice people by offering an instant refund. Hear an offer like that and you assume it means you can get your government check immediately. You can't. What you get is the equivalent of a loan. Your return is prepared. Your refund is computed, and what happens essentially is, you get a cash advance .. and, like at any bank or lending institution, there are fees attached. In other words, it'll cost you to get an instant refund, and it could be a lot. Make sure you know exactly what an instant rebate will cost. Ask. It could be a lot and worth waiting the few weeks for your government check.

Today's storm is especially difficult for people planning to fly out of Logan. Not because it's so hard getting to the airport ... but, because you may not be sure your flight will leave on time, or at all. There haven't been any wide-spread changes or alternations to the day's departure screen, but there have been cancellations here and there .. and the question of refunds always pops up.
I am happy to tell you, some of the airlines, like Delta, have loosened their general policies, so it is easier to get a full refund if you decide you don't want to make a trip .. but, the terms and conditions are important; you can't simply ask for your money back.. it needs to be within a specified period of time. Check with the individual airline.
Now, having said that, it is different when there are weather related problems. Laws are sketchy on this; the FAA gives the airlines a lot of slack when setting policies .. they mostly have the freedom to come up with whatever they like, with one caveat: they must get you to the destination for which you paid. If they can't, they have to give you a refund. However, if a flight is simply delayed, it's harder. Most airlines will accept a weather-related itinerary change free of charge, but they won't automatically issue a refund. Of course, it never hurts to ask. And as I said earlier, check with the individual airline to see what its policy is .. because they vary between carriers.

By now you've probably heard the Sharper Image is in financial trouble and has filed for bankruptcy protection. Company officials say they want to re-organize. The idea is to close nearly half their stores and come up with a plan that will bring the once cutting-edge retailer back to its prominence. In the meantime, the same company spokespeople are saying it will be business as usual. Well, it's not, exactly.
When I hear "business as usual", I think just that: go into a store and you won't notice anything different. Well, a quick check at the Sharper Image at the Natick Collection, and things ARE different. One big change: they are no longer accepting gift cards .. so, that pile you got over the holidays .. I am sorry to tell you, they are worthless. That credit you received when you returned the things you didn't want: worthless. How can you retrieve the value? You can't.
Unless otherwise noted by a court, that's what a bankruptcy filing is .. protection for the business, not the consumer.
As you may have heard me say so many times before, this is one big reason I don't like the a-fore-mentioned means of gifting. When you receive a card, use it ASAP .. in case something like this happens.

If you've seen a newspaper over the last few days you would think President;s Day is the only time to buy a car. I have always wondered, if they are so excited to sell us a car during this time, and insist it is the best possible deal, then how desperate must they be to sell the remaining cars the next day? Personally, I have always thought the week after President's Day was appealing for car shopping. But, then again, you'll never see me in a grocery store onthe eve of a storm. I'd prefer to starve to death. But, I digress.
So, if you bought a car over the last few days, there are some things you should know:
First of all, I hope you really like it because if you signed the paperwork, it's a done deal. Contrary to what many people think, there is NO 3-day right to cancel. A signed contract is a done deal, unless you legitimately have problem.
For example, if the salesman tells you something about the car which is also denoted in the contract, and you discover an error after you take possession, you can returnthe vehicle immediately. If you can't work it out with the dealer, you have the right to officially reject the car (or truck)
If you have problems with the car, new or used, you do have rights. It's the Lemon Law for new vehicles.... The Lemonaid Law for used. Both laws also apply to leased vehicles.
Again, car laws apply to cars and trucks only. Mobile homes don't apply, nor do ATVs.
If you have problems with those vehicles, the best thing to do is call me.
Here are the links for the state lemon laws

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Autos+and+Transportation&L3=Lemon+Laws&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=the_new_and_leased_car_lemon_law&csid=Eoca

If you are a regular reader of this blog, and I hope you are, you know I have written about pot hole damage and who pays, before. You know, if your car is damaged on a state owned and operated road, you are on your own. As Jack Harper reported tonight .. there is no law forcing the state to be responsible. But, not so cities and towns .. and, as a matter of fact, some will reimburse you.
If you lose a tire or suffer any damage to your car the result of a pothole the first thing to do is call them local police. Even though they can't help you file a claim, they can make a record of the hole and follow procedure for getting it filled. They can also tell you if the road is maintained by the local municipality, and, if it is ... your next call is to the city or town hall. The clerk's should be able to direct you to the office responsible for taking your claim. Usually, its the Alermen or Board of Selectmen. You'll likely have to write a letter and submit a bill, and re-imbursement could take weeks, depending on how often the governing body meets, but, it's the only chance of getting help for a situation that you didn't cause.
Good luck and happy motoring.

Many of you may be intrigued by today's news about the liquidation sale at Alpha Omega. Even if you've never been in one of their stores, you've probably seen either one of their billboards advertising expensive Rolex watches, or magazine ads with local celebrities flashing fabulous jewels, and you're thinking you'll be able to get that kind of merchandise really cheap. Think again.
Jewelry is a blind item. It's sometimes hard to know what you're buying.
I haven't been to any of the stores yet, but I highly doubt they have cases full of Rolex and other big name watches or diamonds at greatly reduced prices. It's a lot more likely what they have is shiny gems, with price tags that may or may not reflect their true worth. You are no longer dealing with a local merchant, whose name you know. You are dealing with a liquidator who has possibly taken the original Alpha Omega stock and, if not replaced it all together, perhaps combined it with stuff that may have come from .. well, use your imagination.
Here's the point: you may not know what you are buying. It may not be the quality you'd expect to find at Alpha Omega before it's owner disappeared and there were reports of millions of dollars in missing merchandise. And there is no way to check.
So, yes, go to the liquidation sale .. but, with a realistic attitude .. and don't buy something just because they say it's a good deal. If it doesn't have a brand name and a price tag you can check elsewhere .. you really don't know what you're buying. Don't forget that!