

The Latest
-
Customer Service Stress: Survey Finds Consumer Frustrations High During Pandemic
Forced to confront long hold times, uninformed employees, and unresolved disputes, consumers around the country are sharing frustration with the state of customer service in 2020. Many families we heard from are surrendering to lousy customer service and leaving money on the table – in the middle of an economic recession. Those are the key findings... -
Pandemic Puppy Scams ‘Skyrocketing': How to Sniff Out a Scam
Pets are getting a lot of people through the challenges and isolation of the pandemic. But some people are taking advantage of families looking for a puppy companion – the Better Business Bureau reports that puppy fraud has skyrocketed in recent months. Mary Crotty of Canton experienced it. “I live on social security and I’m out $1,600 and I’m goin... -
Stafford Springs Man Stuck in Months-Long Travel Insurance Claim
“I retired this year and I planned on traveling a lot.” Jay Goff’s sentiment is very relatable in 2020. “Well, I was in IT most of my career, so I was really looking forward to retiring and getting out of the corporate world,” Goff said. Goff, of Stafford Springs, was planning on retiring, but not this soon. He lost his…
-
Zero to Five Stars: How Would You Rate Customer Service During the Coronavirus Crisis?
Customer service plays a huge role in where we spend our money. An excellent experience can create a lifelong customer, while a poor interaction may lead you to declare you’ll never again do business with a particular company. NBC Connecticut Responds hears from frustrated consumers every day, but the complaints to our hotline have more than ... -
New Britain Woman Waits Months for Travel Refund
Postponed plans. Cancelled trips. Social distancing. Life has changed drastically since the start of the coronavirus crisis. The NBC Connecticut Responds team has received more than double the complaints from consumers this year compared to last. In many cases, we’ve heard from people frustrated by a company’s customer service. Taylor Renaud of New... -
Sports Leagues, Other Cancellations During COVID-19 Crisis: Can You Get Your Money Back?
The pandemic has impacted everything from our plans to our pocketbooks. But what happens when activities we signed up for had to be canceled? Can you get your money back? Marilyn Tilley and Val Fusick reached out to NBC Connecticut will their concerns. The friends have been adult volleyball teammates for years, but like most everything back in Marc... -
Burlington Family Surprised With a Bill for a Pre-Paid Funeral
Lawrence Keller of Burlington said his parents Frederick and Helen Keller prepared well for their final resting place, but the family received a surprise bill after discovering the headstone engraving for their mother was not included in the pre-paid funeral package. “It’s always tough to see a parent decline,” said Lawrence Keller. A debilit... -
Connecticut Consumers Urged to Return Unwanted Gifts ASAP
Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection is urging consumers to return or exchange unwanted holiday gifts as soon as possible. The agency typically receives about 500 complaints about refunds, credit, and exchanges each year. But the agency received 714 complaints in 2019. ″“We’re encouraging consumers to handle any returns or exchanges as s... -
Enfield Woman Shells Out Thousands on Airfare to See Dying Mother
Donna Witkins was caught off guard when she got the call that her mother was dying. She ended up spending more than $6,000 to get to her. She reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds to share her story in hopes that others learn from her experience.
-
Romance Schemes Are On The Rise, Costing Online Daters Millions
Catfishing is a growing trend in the cyberworld as scammers create fake profiles to fish people into relationships for love and money.
-
Beware of Gift Card Thieves, FTC Warns
With Christmas just around the corner, you may be thinking about gift cards. While they’re popular and convenient, they’re also a popular way for thieves to steal your money. That’s because gift cards are like cash. If you buy one and use it, you might not get your money back. The Federal Trade Commission said one thing consumers should... -
Carfax Caution: Vehicle History Report May Not Tell the Whole Story
A Vernon woman spent $20,000 a pre-owned 2013 Ford Edge SUV that she believed had a clean accident record. But years after she purchased it in 2016, she learned that wasn’t the case.
-
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: Is it a Real Deal?
Holiday shopping can be time consuming and costly, especially when you’re bombarded with an overwhelming amount of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
-
Wallingford Man Says Driveway Paving Job Was Incomplete
Dozens of viewers reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds with complaints about paving companies’ performance, ranging unsatisfactory work to not finishing the job. Experts say there are steps you can take if you’re faced with those kinds of problems.
-
What Kind of Storm Damage is Covered by Insurance?
After a storm, it’s important to find out what kind of damage is covered under your insurance policy.
-
Plymouth Couple Says Wedding Plans Hit A Financial Snag
Keri Mingle and fiancé Jeff Harper wanted a big wedding, but finances forced the couple to cancel the event. When they had a hard time getting back the money they paid toward the venue, they turned to NBC Connecticut Responds for help.
-
Lawmakers, Health Officials, and Law Enforcement Tackle Vaping Epidemic
Vaping has been marketed as a way to help you kick the smoking habit, but a new study out of New York University finds exposure to nicotine from e-cigarette vapor could cause lung cancer and potentially bladder cancer in mice.