By Tiffany Foxcroft | Friday, April 2, 2010, 4:34 PM
Searching out some seafood for dinner? You can't always trust the information on the supermarket label. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your mackerel.
By Erica Johnson | Friday, March 26, 2010, 9:08 AM
These days, it's hard to miss the ads promising relief for back pain. They're marketing something called "non-surgical decompression therapy," with headlines that claim the treatment comes "with a guaranteed success rate between 80 and 90 per cent!"
This back-pain treatment is a high-tech form of traction. Patients get strapped onto a table that pulls apart the vertebrae, supposedly allowing damaged discs to be rehydrated, and move back into position. The treatment is not cheap -- up to $5,000 for 20 sessions.
By Erica Johnson | Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:09 AM
Geri and Peter Crawshaw thought they had picked out a great retirement home in Orillia, Ont., for Peter's aging mom Betty -- until a fire broke out last year and she suffered major smoke inhalation. Four other residents died.
What they learned too late was the home wasn't equipped with sprinklers -- a device firefighters say is key to controlling not just flames, but smoke. Smoke is what kills most people in a fire.
By Erica Johnson | Friday, March 12, 2010, 9:15 AM
There's a good chance you've had that call from your bank or credit card company telling you your credit card has been compromised and you need a new one. That happened to me two months ago. And when I asked the customer service rep how my card was stolen, she mentioned thieves stealing the information off computers. It's kind of ironic, because at Marketplace that was just the story we were working on -- the newest way crooks are stealing your debit and credit card numbers.
Dale Bass is a cellphone customer from Kamloops, B.C. with a text-mad son. Dale decided to add Liam to her family plan. She believed she was buying an unlimited text message package but when she got her bill, discovered she was getting charged for extra text messages at the rate of 15 cents a pop.
We've been investigating stories like Dale's and, in fact, have put out a call for Canada's Worst Cellphone Bill. As part of our research, we've learned that navigating the cellphone company plans and contracts can be a minefield. And so we have put together some tips for you -- so you can avoid the ugly surprise that Dale got.
By Tiffany Foxcroft | Friday, February 5, 2010, 8:56 PM
When looking to lose weight at a weight loss clinic:
• Don't get bound into long term contracts.
• Ask for a total program cost - what does it include, what does it not.
• Find out what you can expect from the program. For example, how much weight to be lost in a certain time frame. A reasonable goal would be 1-3 lbs a week. Ask whether you have to buy additional products.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, January 29, 2010, 8:35 PM
Free homebuyer seminar! Real estate secrets revealed! You've no doubt seen the pitches in newspapers, transit ads or late night TV. They might leave you wondering: could a real estate seminar guru really have the secret to riches? If you are looking to attend a real estate investment seminar, here are some tips to help keep your foundation and finances sturdy.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, January 15, 2010, 8:30 PM
Want to find an alternate route home to beat rush hour traffic? Are you
travelling somewhere new and want to check out some hot spots - or
worse, you're completely lost? GPS navigation systems can help you find
the way without having to pull-over to ask for directions or unfurl a
map.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, January 8, 2010, 8:23 PM
The truth is that no home is perfect, and if you're looking to buy one, it's wise to check it out thoroughly before striking a deal. To do this, you might consider hiring a home inspector to point out potential problems that a seller or agent might not disclose or be aware of. But before you do, keep in mind that almost anyone can call themselves a home inspector, as there are no current national or provincial requirements or standards (except in British Columbia).
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, March 27, 2009, 11:27 AM
Find yourself in a high pressure sales situation? Sometimes it's harder than it should be to just walk away. Here are some tips to help get you out the door with your wallet intact:
Know who you're dealing with before you walk through the door. Does the company have a history of high pressure sales? Have customers signed contracts and regretted it afterwards? Use a search engine to check out the company beforehand to get an idea of its reputation.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, March 20, 2009, 1:16 PM
Most everyone has heard complaints about sales agents selling contracts
for natural gas and electricity, and using their powers of persuasion
to get you to sign up and lock in to a fixed price. It's a decision
that could save or cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, March 13, 2009, 1:15 PM
In these tough economic times, getting any kind of loan is becoming
more and more difficult -- especially if you have bad credit. The
temptation to turn to a lender that promises to arrange a loan, even if
you have poor credit, is stronger than ever. But beware: you could be
setting yourself up for more financial hardship, or worse, fall into a
scam.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, February 20, 2009, 1:01 PM
Have a credit card? You may already be paying for credit balance
insurance. It could be called "Balance Protection" or "Credit
Protector," but basically, for an extra fee, you get coverage for your
credit card payments in case of injury, job loss or death. If you've
signed up or are considering signing up for credit balance insurance,
here are some tips to keep in mind.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:39 PM
While the Reader's Digest sweepstakes is a real contest that
does award prizes, there are also many other sweepstakes offers out
there, and there are things you can do to protect yourself and your
family from spending money on sweepstakes.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, February 6, 2009, 12:37 PM
Who doesn't want to make more money these days? An economic crunch
combined with massive layoffs make money schemes all the more tempting.
But if profits rely on recruiting others, you could be part of a
pyramid scheme, which is illegal in Canada. Here are some tips on how to spot this kind of scheme.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, January 30, 2009, 12:31 PM
When you're sick, you'll do anything to get better. For those suffering
with a serious illness, they are desperate for a miracle cure. Here are some tips on how to avoid getting taken advantage of during a time of ill health.
By Robert Ballantyne | Friday, January 23, 2009, 12:25 PM
Need a cellphone for your kids? Marketplace has uncovered new
evidence about possible health risks linked to kids and longterm
cellphone use. So if you're shopping for a cellphone for your child, or
if they're already using one, here is a list of some precautions you could take.
By Marketplace Staff | Friday, January 16, 2009, 12:21 PM
Thinking of buying a used car? You may have been offered a free car
history report from a used car dealer. But if you rely solely on that
report before you buy, you could be making a pricey mistake.
ENCORE PRESENTATION — Firefighters know there's one thing
that can help save lives in a fire, so you'll be surprised to learn
this one thing is still missing in thousands of buildings across
Canada. Also: Erica Johnson investigates a new wave of so-called
American-style non-profit charities offering debt advice to Canadians.
These days, it's hard to miss the ads promising relief for back pain. They're marketing something called "non-surgical decompression therapy," with headlines that claim the treatment comes "with a guaranteed success rate between 80 and 90 per cent!" 
Dale Bass is a cellphone customer from Kamloops, B.C. with a text-mad son. Dale decided to add Liam to her family plan. She believed she was buying an unlimited text message package but when she got her bill, discovered she was getting charged for extra text messages at the rate of 15 cents a pop.
When looking to lose weight at a weight loss clinic:
Free homebuyer seminar! Real estate secrets revealed! You've no doubt seen the pitches in newspapers, transit ads or late night TV. They might leave you wondering: could a real estate seminar guru really have the secret to riches? If you are looking to attend a real estate investment seminar, here are some tips to help keep your foundation and finances sturdy.
The truth is that no home is perfect, and if you're looking to buy one, it's wise to check it out thoroughly before striking a deal. To do this, you might consider hiring a home inspector to point out potential problems that a seller or agent might not disclose or be aware of. But before you do, keep in mind that almost anyone can call themselves a home inspector, as there are no current national or provincial requirements or standards (except in British Columbia).
