Dear Fixer: I redeemed some savings bonds at Harris Bank for a down payment on my car. The bank gave me $5,269.64 in return for my bonds. I used this money directly for the car payment.
Dear Fixer: Last July, I obtained a home security system from Pinnacle Security. My system was installed and a $44.99 fee is withdrawn monthly from my checking account.
The Fixer always gets choked up at weddings. It's hard not to, watching the bride walk down the aisle to meet her groom. And if your stepdaughter is the one getting married, it's an extra-special event that requires an extra-special gown.
Dear Fixer: In a recent column, you mentioned that TVs that are already hooked up to cable will not have to do anything more when broadcasting switches to digital in February 2009.
Dear Fixer: I had been a customer of DirecTV for many years but recently had problems with the receiver.
Dear Fixer: I had a reservation for a 17-foot U-Haul truck to pick up and drop off at a location in Joliet on May 17.
One thing The Fixer has learned from reading your letters over the years: It's always easier to prevent losing money than to try to recoup it later.
Dear Readers: We're going to take a short break from fixing today with a heartwarming story about stepping up for someone who needed a fixer.
Dear Readers: Some of the saddest letters here at Fixer headquarters are from people battling insurers for payment of medical services they've already received.
Dear Fixer: I am not seeking any money; I am just trying to protect my excellent credit rating.
D ear Fixer: I purchased five new appliances from Lowe's in January to be delivered on Feb. 1. The subcontractor who delivered the stove and fridge broke my gas line while delivering them and told my wife she should call NIPSCO.
The Fixer occasionally hears from readers who did innocent things, like making cell phone calls or using the Internet, that wound up costing them big bucks. That's because they weren't aware that they were being charged roaming charges on their cell phones or toll calls on their dial-up Internet.
Dear Fixer: I have been after AT&T for a refund of $120, which was supposed to settle part of cancellation charges on my Verizon cell phone.
Dear Fixer: My husband and I got Comcast cable for my niece and paid the bill for her address, although the bill came to my address. After a year, I found a better deal and canceled Comcast.
Dear Fixer: We took a family vacation on Sept. 15 to Disney World in Florida. While shopping at Downtown Disney we came across the Disney Mobile kiosk.
Dear Readers: Thanks to all who came and got a cupcake from Team Fixer earlier this week to help celebrate our first $500,000 in recovered money for readers. We were smudged with green frosting by the end, but everyone had a good time.
Stephanie Zimmermann: This week, The Fixer column marks its first half-million dollars saved for Sun-Times readers. All week, we're looking back at some of the weird, frustrating, funny and heartwarming "fixes" we've achieved since the column was launched in September 2005.
This week, The Fixer column marks its first half-million dollars saved for Sun-Times readers. And all week we're remembering some of the weird, frustrating, funny and heartwarming "fixes" we've achieved since the column was launched in September 2005.
