Archive for March 4th, 2010

Consumer Protection Week begins March 7th. BBB is a proud supporter of this nationwide effort to educate the public on how to become savvier consumers. Hundreds of national and local organizations will work together to educate consumers on the importance of taking control of their personal finances. Look for your BBB at various local events.

U.S. Census – Be alert for potential scams surrounding the U.S. Census which ramps up in March. Most census forms will arrive in the mail March 15 – 17 and then at the end of April, Census workers will go door-to-door to households that didn’t return the form. Beware of anyone who asks for your social security number or bank account information. Also, the Census will not contact you by email.

IRS Scam – Beware of an email that looks like it’s from the IRS. The “very important note” states the consumer is eligible for a tax refund, and asks the consumer to go to a website that looks like the official IRS website. The fake website asks for the consumer to use a small bank debit account, like a hometown bank, instead of a large bank like PNC, Chase, etc. The IRS will never contact someone via email about taxes.

Chile Earthquake Scams – Be alert for scams surrounding the Chile earthquake. BBB recommends to avoid making donations to unfamiliar websites or as a result of a solicitation received via email. Also be aware that scams can occur on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. For more information on donations, check out the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.

Online Job Scams – Job seekers who respond to certain job postings on Craigslist are receiving an email requesting information for either a background check or credit report prior to consideration for employment. The scammer directs the job seekers to a website that is used to steal their personal information. Legit job offers never require upfront fees or bank account information before an interview.

Online Housing Schemes – Consumers looking for homes to rent on Craigslist should be skeptical of ads that seem “too good to be true.” Consumers across the country are being duped by scam artists who say they are living in Nigeria and want to rent their home in the U.S. The scam artist offers a cheap price for the rental, but wants an advanced payment wired to them. The listings are legitimate homes, many of them on the market for sale. However, the real owner knows nothing of this elaborate scam.

The Love Foundation claims to be a program that offers financial assistance for children of the homeless and unemployed. The ad is popping up on Craigslist and other sites. The “foundation” claims to be out of different states. Those who need assistance are asked to call 1-800-217-9750. The first thing the caller is asked to provide is a social security number.

National Publishers, Inc. is a Mississippi-based magazine subscription company that’s claiming membership with the BBB. The company, which also does business as Exclusive Media, has an “F” rating with the BBB due to failure to correct a pattern of complaints. Consumers say they received a call from the company informing them that they won a sweepstakes for cash prizes, items, or trips, but they are told they must purchase magazine subscriptions in order to win. Consumers report that they are then charged several payments each month, sometimes totaling hundreds of dollars.

Spring Break Scams – Be cautious when surfing the Internet to find great deals on spring break travel. While the rates may look good, you may click on an offer and find that the total price is much more than the advertised price. BBB recommends spring breakers review all terms and conditions as well as cancellation and refund policies before finalizing deals, and check out the company first at www.bbb.org.

Online Payday Lenders – BBB has received hundreds of complaints against payday loan sites like OnceClickCash.com, 500Fastcash.com, rbtloans.com, and Ameriloan.com. Complainants say they agreed to what they thought was a one-time payday loan, typically a few hundred dollars to be paid off in two weeks, and quickly found out that payments went towards recurring finance charges and never toward the principal. They report paying two to three times the amount of the original loan.

Public Input Sought on Proposed Service Cuts for June

TARC is proposing to make additional service cuts June 6 in order to make up a budget shortfall projected for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Due to reduced occupational taxes and increased expenses, TARC is expecting a shortfall of about $5 million and is considering eliminating service on up to 20 routes and reducing service on another 17 routes.

“We are not anywhere near the level of service that Louisville needs. We’ve got overcrowding that we’re not able to respond to and folks out there who depend on TARC to get to their jobs,” said TARC Director J. Barry Barker. “Our situation is critical and we are working everyday to find the funds to keep as much service on the street as possible.”

The cuts proposed for June are in addition to those that took effect Sunday, Feb. 21.

TARC is soliciting public comment on the new proposals through March 11. Feedback can be sent to TARC by emailing info@ridetarc.org, or by calling 561-5112. The mailing address is TARC, Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40203.

Those wishing to discuss the changes and get more information about how they will be affected are invited to attend public hearings. The days and dates are as follows:

Tuesday, March 9
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
TARC Union Station
1000 W. Broadway

5 to 7 p.m.
Americana Community Center
4801 Southside Dr.

Wednesday March 10
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bon Air Library
2816 Del Rio Place

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
New Albany – Floyd County Public Library
180 West Spring St.
New Albany, IN

5 to 7 p.m.
East End Government Center
200 Juneau Dr.

Thursday March 11
5 to 7 p.m.
TARC Union Station
1000 W. Broadway

At the TARC Board of Directors meeting of Feb. 22, the following service reductions were proposed:

Routes proposed for elimination:
#1 – Fourth Street Trolley
#12 – Twelfth Street
#22 – Twenty-Second Street
#35 – Indian Trail-Hikes Lane
#37X – Iroquois-Fairdale Express
#38X – Deering Express
#45X – Okolona Express
#49X – Westport Road
#50X – Dixie Express
#53X – Breckenridge Express
#54X – Manslick Express
#58 – Bashford Manor-Oxmoor
#59 – River Road
#61X – Plainview
#64X -  Fincastle-Forest Springs Express
#66X – Mount Washington Express
#68X – Prospect Express
#73X – Charlestown Road Express
#75 – Bluegrass Industrial Shuttle
#80 – Hurstbourne Parkway

Routes proposed for frequency reduction, shortened service or routing change:
#2 – Second Street
#4 – Fourth Street
#6 – Sixth Street
#17 – Bardstown Road
#18 – Preston-18th
#19 – Muhammad Ali
#21 – Chestnut Street
#23 – Broadway
#25 – Oak Street
#27 – Hill Street
#29 – Eastern Parkway
#31 – Middletown
#40X – Jeffersontown Express
#52 – Medical Center Circulator
#62 – Breckenridge-Shepherdsville
#67X – Oldham I-71 Express
#72 – Clarksville-New Albany
#77 – Main-Market Trolley
#78X – Downtown/Bluegrass Express

A detailed list of the proposed changes is posted on TARC’s website.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of information in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Language translators will also be provided upon request. Please call 561-5112 or 561-5115 with specific information on your needs.

2010 Iroquois Area Business Association College Scholarship

 Click here to download and print the application!

History
In 2008, the Board of Directors of the Iroquois Area Business Association (IABA) launched a program to award a one-time college scholarship to a local graduating high school senior. The business association wished to emphasize the value of education for young people in our local area. It is the hope of the IABA that an investment in the college aspirations of area students is also an investment in the local community, one that will help open the door of opportunity for the people of South Louisville.

Description
The IABA Scholarship is a $500 award that must be applied towards tuition at a post-secondary school of the recipient’s choosing. The scholarship will be offered annually and is nonrenewable.

Criteria
Qualifying students must either live in the Iroquois-area business district or be a senior at DeSales High School or Iroquois High School. Scholarships will be awarded to well-rounded students who can demonstrate a history of success in academics and involvement in extracurricular activities, while also providing positive examples of leadership and community service. A brief written essay and a letter of recommendation are required for application. A completed application is required for consideration for the scholarship.

Previous Winners
2009 Michael J. Booth (DeSales High School)
2008 Karl J. Weihe (Holy Cross High School)

Deadline
The 2010 deadline for the IABA Scholarship is April 2, 2010. Applications may be found on the IABA website by accessing www.iaba-louisville.org.

After all scholarship applications have been received, the Scholarship Selection Committee will meet to consider all applications. The committee may petition to interview any or all of the candidates, if deemed necessary, to facilitate its decision.  At the conclusion of the selection process, the committee will notify the applicants, in writing, of their decision. The notification process will be completed by April 30. Payment of the scholarship will be made directly to the post-secondary school indicated by the recipient.

Contact
Please direct all questions and comments to the IABA at jdb262@yahoo.com

 Click here to download and print the application!