How to Complain Successfully

Customer Service can be a nightmare, but our Money Editor, Stacy Johnson, has some tips that should help you come away from your complaint with a little more restitution. Video runs 1:39…

Have you had a bad experience with a customer service rep? Either on the phone, in person, or online? Sound off and tell us about it. Use the comment link below to tell us your customer service experience, good or bad.

Tankless Water Heaters: Are They Right For You?

If you're in the market to replace a water heater, now may be a good time to consider a tankless variety.

After getting over the initial phobia of not having hot water sitting in a tank waiting for you to use (and wasting a lot of electricity at the same time) here are some of the things you need to know about tankless water heaters:

1. Tankless water heaters don't require a lot of room. With traditional water heaters there are different sizes and shapes but when you are using one of these for your entire home you can be sure these water heaters will be a lot larger than the tankless heaters. The gas tankless water heaters are approximately the size of a suitcase and the electric tankless heaters are the size of a briefcase. So, obviously these heaters are going to take less room than the traditional water heaters.
2. Tankless water heaters last longer than traditional water heaters. These days, traditional heaters last about 8 to 12 years. Tankless water heaters don't have water storage like the traditional heaters do so they last longer. The gas ones will last about 15 to 20 years and the electric ones will last 30 to 40 years.
3. Tankless water heaters will save you money. To get a tankless water heater will be more expensive than traditional water heaters. The tankless heaters will save you money because they cost less to operate. With these water heaters you can save 40 to 50 percent on your water heating bill every month. Over time this will save you a lot of money.
4. Do you ever run out of hot water when there is more than one person taking a shower? The tankless water heater will take care of this problem because these water heaters will make sure you always have hot water. Tankless heaters heat the water as it moves through so you will never run out of hot water.

So if your old water is due to be replaced, take the time to check out tankless water heaters so you can decide if this would be a good thing to have in your home. If you have to buy a new water heater, why not get one that has so many benefits to you?

If you have any experience with a tankless water heater, we'd love to hear about it, pro or con. Just click the comment link below and tell us about your tankless water heater experience. We'd love to hear from you. Don't worry, even though your email address is required to post a comment, it will never show up here when your comment does.

Jobless Claims Highest in 6 Years

According to a recent Labor Department report, the nation's jobs market sent a fresh cry of distress as the number of newly laid-off people unexpectedly hit the highest level in more than six years. The AP's Ed Donohugh reports in this short video (runs :57)…

Do you think this latest jobs report truly reflects our nations' economy, or is this latest report just evidence that more people are looking for government help? We'd love to hear your opinion. Sound off by using the comment link below. Your identity is always protected when posting at our site. Your email address will never be published here.

June Pending Home Sales Up 5.3%

The number of pending homes for sale rose in June, a rebound from the previous month.

The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index rose 5.3% in June to 89 from a downwardly revised reading of 84.5 in May.

The index remains 12.3% below its level in June 2007, when it stood at 101.4, but it's at its highest point since October 2007, when it was at 89.9.

The number of homes under contract for sale fell more than expected in May, after a surprising spike in April.

Do you think these numbers reflect a possible end to the housing dive? We'd love to hear your comments and feedback. Just use the comment link below and tell us what you think. Your email address will never be published at this site to protect your privacy, even though it is needed in order for you to post a comment. We look forward to hearing from you.

Homeowners Insurance: Tips for Reducing Your Premium

With prices for just about everything fluctuating (mostly in the upward direction) lately, people everywhere are looking to save money where ever they can. A good place to start is with your homeowner's insurance policy.

In spite of our economy, home values have increased over the past 5-15 years. Many people have failed to determine if their current insurance coverage would be adequate to replace their homes. Your policy should allow you to completely rebuild your home should a disaster occur. If not, get your policy updated to match your current property values.

To save money on your homeowner's insurance policy, follow these tips:

• Determine the limits you want on your homeowners insurance, what value you need to insure, get multiple quotes.
• Consider purchasing your homeowner, auto and umbrella insurance with the same company so a multi-coverage discount will apply.
• Having smoke, burglar alarms and a sprinkler system could mean bigger discounts.
• Get a quote for insurance that would pay to replace your belongings, rather than pay you based on their depreciated value.
• Ask your agent what documentation you need to substantiate a claim, in case of theft or fire. Make sure you videotape all of you personal properties including what is in the drawers and cabinets and send the tape to someone you trust for safekeeping.
• Make sure you carry enough liability coverage to protect you against a lawsuit if someone gets slips, trips or gets hurt on your property.

If you haven't reviewed your homeowner's insurance policy lately, now might be a wise time to do that, especially to make sure you are adequately covered in case of an unexpected disaster, like fire, tornado's, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.