Globe Syndicate

 

For release Friday July 23, 2004

 

 

The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents

 

by Carol Abaya, M.A.

 

 

READ LEGAL DOCUMENTS BEFORE SIGNING

 

Question:  My mother, 85, is being sued by a company that claims she owes them $850.  The company says it helped her nine years ago get a reduction in her real estate taxes.  They claim she promised to pay them one-half of the amount she saved.  She thought she was getting the reduction directly from the county.  She has few assets and only social security for income.  She doesn’t want to pay and wants to hire an attorney.

Should we hire an attorney?

 

Answer:  From talking with you, it is clear she did sign the papers for the reduction in taxes and agreed to pay the company one-half of the saving.  It is not the company’s fault that she may not have read the document before she signed it or did not show it to an attorney.  While I’m not a lawyer, I think a judge will hold her liable.  So you are wasting money if you hire a lawyer.

            Before anyone, regardless of age, signs any legal or financial document, they should read it line by line.  All  that fine print often hides troublesome clauses.  It is also good to show it to a lawyer -- or at least have another family member review it.

 

Question:  My mother, 76 received a booklet in the mail from a company saying it could get her $10,000 to repair her house.  She would only have to pay an application fee of $1,000 and would not have to repay the $10,000.  She paid the $1,000 and now the company does not return her or my calls.  What can we do?

 

Answer:  She fell for one of the biggest scams of the century -- paying a fee up front for a supposed service. There really is little you can do to recover the money.

            Report this to your local and state consumer affairs departments.  Hopefully others will be protected if the state stops such a company.

            Legitimate companies never ask for money up front. There are agencies and programs that help low income seniors obtain grants or low interest loans.   It may take a number of telephone calls to connect with an agency that can help your mother.  So do persevere.

           

It’s THAT Time of Year Again:

 

            “Gypsies” (people who travel around supposedly doing all kinds of home repairs) are out in force during the summer.  They’ll knock on your door as say, “We are in the neighborhood.  Do you want us to fix ___?”  If you say “Yes” they will then ask for payment or partial payment even before they start to do work.  Then they disappear with your money.

            1.  Never hire someone who “is in the neighborhood” or has a vehicle with no name and telephone number of the side.

            2.  Call your local police immediately to alert them that this person is in the neighborhood.

            3.  Never pay anyone money before work is completed.

 

 

Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time?  Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?

 

Do you feel alone?  Rest assured you are not alone!  The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.

 

 

 

* * *

 

Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, mail direct to her at PO Box 132, Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132 or contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.com.

 

Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 547 words; other material = 160 words

 

We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.