Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 22, 1994 TAG: 9405260031
SECTION: SENIOR STYLE PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SARAH COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Fraud is a big concern, and comes in the form of the door-to-door salesman, the telephone solicitation, home improvement contractors (the paver who was just in the neighborhood and had some extra time), work-at-home schemes and charitable contributions.
Seniors can combat this by being informed.
Shannon Abell, assistant finance director of the League of Older Americans also is Coordinator of the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Project (VICAP). He said Roanoke is a "hot bed of insurance overselling, scams and [ways] of tricking people to buy things they don't need." The usual scenario, Abell said, is for insurance agents to come to seniors' homes and sell top-dollar products or sell too much.
One 89-year-old woman, Abell said, complained that an insurance agent spent over four hours in her home around Christmas trying to talk her into a long-term care insurance policy. The woman became frightened - she couldn't convince the man to leave - so she finally signed a contract for a $2,100 product.
"She didn't have a whole lot to begin with," said Abell, "and she was afraid. She thought the agent was going to murder her. He went as far as to write the check for her to sign."
Abell, along with the State Corporation Commission, got all of her money back. According to Abell, the agent didn't do anything illegal, but in Virginia you have three days to get money back from a door-to-door sale. With insurance, you have 30 days from the date the policy is delivered from the company (not the day you sign the contract from the agent), he said.
For insurance refunds, send two certified letters, one to the agent and one to company headquarters, stating "I want this policy canceled immediately." If they do not refund your money immediately, you can lodge a complaint with the SCC in Richmond (1-800-552-7945 and ask for the Bureau of Insurance). Abell said they will get your money back for you.
With other products, you can contact the State Division of Consumer Affairs in Richmond, (804) 786-2042. Also, use the Better Business Bureau in Roanoke, 342-3455 to check references.
The best solution is to not let anyone in your home. Many get into your home under the guise of doing a door-to-door survey. If you are interested in their product, make an appointment for a later date and tell the solicitor you'll talk it over with your son, daughter or neighbor - someone who can look after your best interests. Many who come knocking say they've just been to see your neighbor you were suggested as a potential customer. Ask for identification, and call the Better Business Bureau for references. Or call your neighbor and check the story out.
Abell said phone solicitors often use the tactic of calling to review Medicare benefits, and then try to get seniors to cancel their present policy and buy high-dollar ones. Never buy a policy the first day, over the phone or in your home. Get them to leave a copy and review it, he advised. B.J. Ewell, who used to be a police officer and now is an investigator with Roanoke City Department of Social Services in their adult protective services area, can give advice from both angles.
He said he was recently on a legislative study committee investigating exploitation. He agreed that seniors are a very vulnerable group of people.
"The elderly eventually get to a point where they aren't as cautious as they should be," he said. "An 87-year-old woman isn't going to put up much of a fight" against a 187-pound man trying to snatch her purse, said Ewell.
Ewell said the very first step in personal security is to be alert. For instance, many elderly are used to leaving their doors unlocked. That's how it used to be. But it's not acceptable now. "People need to be realistic that there are problems in our society now," said Ewell.
He suggested a common sense check list that will help seniors take precautions and avoid dangerous situations.
Use deadbolts on house doors.
If you lose your house keys, replace the locks.
Don't attach an identification card to your key chain.
Be careful about accidently leaving your keys in your front door - the first place a burglar checks is the front door lock.
If you don't have a peephole in your door, get one installed.
Don't let strangers in the house.
Don't keep a lot of expensive jewelry or other possessions in the house, get direct-deposit for your checks, and mark or take photos of your valuables.
Put notices in your windows and doors saying you've done the above - the last thing a burglar wants is to try to unload marked merchandise.
If you buy a handgun, get training.
Try a pepper-spray, which Ewell said is a non-lethal and very effective personal safety weapon.
Warning devices such as loud sounds are not very effective anymore, because people are so used to hearing car alarms and tend to ignore them.
Adopt the buddy system - call a friend on a regular basis to check on their comings and goings.
Or, get a dog who will be a great companion and a good guard.
Ewell suggested certain precautions outside the home as well. First, don't leave a note on the door saying when you'll be returning, but do leave a light on for your return. It's better to go out with a friend, rather than alone, and pre-determine the route you will take.
Try to avoid dangerous shortcuts, and try to leave your purse behind. Many are now using waist packs. And if you are in a mall, try to leave it before dark and remember where you parked your car (hopefully close by). Ewell said that if you are afraid to walk to your car alone, do not hesitate to go back to a store and ask store personnel to call security to walk you to your car.
If you are personally attacked, Ewell said it is important to sit down. Sit down?
"Eventually, you may get knocked down anyway," Ewell said, so sitting down will help you avoid injury. Try to remember identifying characteristics of the attacker.
by CNB