Posts Tagged ‘Better Business Bureau’

The good news: The official due date for filing individual federal tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service is Monday, April 18 instead of Friday, April 15 due to the observance of Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.

The bad news: The scammers are out there! If you’re planning on using a tax service to prepare your return this year, be prepared.

Bill Thomas, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana, spoke with Ed Wenck on WIBC radio about what to watch out for when it comes to tax refund scams. Click the below link to listen in!

Bill Thomas of the BBB Offers Tax Advice on 93 WIBC

Super Bowl XLIV (or 44) pits the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts against the NFC champion New Orleans Saints. It will be the first time since Super Bowl XXVIII that both number one seeds will face each other in the Super Bowl. It also marks the first time that two teams who play in an domed/retractable roof stadium will play each other in a Super Bowl.

How’s that for some excitement?:)

But with these super-sized offenses unfortunately come some super-sized scams. The Better Business Bureau says that scam artists look to take advantage of these high-emotion situations with fake Super Bowl ticket giveaways and travel packages.

Some tips for purchasing Super Bowl tickets include:

· Deal with a reputable, local company that has a track record with Bowl game packages and ticket sales.
· Research any company you might do business with at http://www.bbb.org/.
· Use a credit card or PayPal for your purchases as they offer additional protection if the offer falls short and provides a means to track your purchase.
· Make sure the Web site where you buy tickets is secure and reputable. Look for a seal of approval from the BBB or similar organizations.

In addition, the BBB encourages consumers to watch out for travel package deals that may “include” Super Bowl tickets. Package prices may be severely inflated to accommodate the purchase of tickets, while other aspects of the package may be below expectations.
 
Other tips for purchasing Super Bowl tour packages include:

· Get all the details in writing, including price, cancellation penalties and all of the other specifics of the package, including the name of the hotel, the airlines, etc.
· Verify that your travel package includes guaranteed tickets to the Super Bowl game.
· Independently verify your travel arrangements, including your flight and hotel reservations. Then, follow up with your travel promoter a few days before departure to confirm reservations.

Make sure your purchase is guaranteed — so that you can be guaranteed the Super Bowl experience of a lifetime.

Brian Coles has been named vice president of marketing at Coles Marketing Communications in Indianapolis, overseeing strategy and tactics of both traditional and non-traditional client campaigns.

A 1999 graduate of Indiana University, he joined the agency in 2003. His past experience includes assisting a new business in Colorado launch its operations and leading its management function, product manager of Technuity and inventory manager for Batteries.com. Coles has experience providing market research for Endress+Hauser Consult AG, a Swiss company specializing in measurement products. He has also served in corporate communications for Indiana Mills and Manufacturing. In his free time, Coles volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and St. Mary’s Child Center. He is also a past board member of AdClub Indianapolis and a past committee member of the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.

Since 1985, Coles Marketing Communications has provided marketing, communications, creative, Word of Mouth and social networking council to local, regional and national clients in the government, healthcare, education, financial, logistics, real estate, hospitality and technology industries. Coles Marketing Communications is a member of Pinnacle Worldwide, Public Relations Society of America, Better Business Bureau and the Counselor’s Academy.