Case of another missing rebate solved
On Jan. 12, I upgraded my cell phone with T-Mobile. I was supposed to get a $50 rebate for doing so. I mailed everything by Jan. 18. The deadline was March 31. I periodically called to check on the status, but they kept telling me that I needed to wait at least eight to 10 weeks for them to receive and enter the rebate.

Reader says there's a gap in this story
I'm in a real fix. Last August, I bought a brand-new 2007 Sportage SUV at the Midway KIA dealership in Des Plaines. A little more than four months later, I was in a major traffic accident that badly wrecked the new car.

Shooting victim's loved ones out cash
My fiancé, Tyrone Henry, was the victim of a homicide last Sept. 1. He was sleeping on my living room couch when a bullet came through the window and killed him. He had an appointment scheduled for Sept. 20 at Oak Forest Hospital in the dentistry department. Because he died before his appointment, no work was performed. He had paid $300 in advance.

Taxing problem with Sprint phone bill
Remember me? I had a problem with Sprint regarding some premium text messaging that I was billed for. Now I have a new problem with my account.

Lower heat doesn't lead to lower bill
I am writing this for Daniel Zacharias. He has been very ill, so he has relocated to the Dyer/Munster, Ind., area to be closer to his family and a better hospital. He has been out of his house since December.

Room charge sticks, despite cancellation
On Oct. 20, my daughter reserved two rooms at the Holiday Inn in Elmhurst for Saturday, Nov. 24. The hotel has a water park, and the reservation was for my grandson's 6-year-old birthday party for him and a few of his friends. I called the hotel to secure the two-room reservation with my credit card.

Nothing slick about getting oil rebate
I bought a case of 5W-30 Pennzoil motor oil at Murray's Discount Auto last November, for which I was to get a $12 rebate. I have written to this place but have never heard from them.

Slow reply to high-speed Internet woe
For six months, I've been trying to resolve a problem. AT&T, for the past five years, had been billing me for high-speed Internet service, even though I am not receiving the service.

Not LOL, putting a hold on text spammers
I read your column the other day where you said the National Do Not Call Registry was being extended indefinitely. One thing I have not been able to get an answer to is this: Does the registry apply to text messaging? I have been getting a lot of unsolicited text messages lately. Can you help me out?

Motorist driven crazy over tollway bill
I received a letter on March 10 from Avis car rental regarding a charge for $45.30 for an Illinois tollway violation that allegedly occurred on Sept. 9, 2006. The toll was 30 cents, but there was a $20 fine from the tollway and an administrative fee from Avis of $25. Basically, $45 in fees for a 30-cent toll.

Lit up over electric bill that isn't hers
On my January bill from ComEd, there was a transfer service for a home in the 3700 block of South State Street in Steger added to my account, with late fees totaling $674.23. We do not own this property, nor have we ever lived there.

Left out in cold over Northfield firm's tactics
On Feb. 8, 2007, a service technician from Northern Refrigeration came to my house to evaluate the cost to repair my washing machine. He said it would cost $440, and I gave him a deposit check of $220 made out to North Shore Repair, as requested in the contract.

Car deal more like highway robbery
Dear Fixer: I feel I have been a victim of deceptive practices. I bought a Pontiac from Gateway Chevrolet on Sept. 4, 2006. They told me I could refinance after six months. The payments and the APR were very high. I was paying $500 a month total.

Phone lines tangled up in high bills
I could really use your help. My problem is with Sprint PCS. It began in December when I ordered two new phones and was eligible to get them for $49.99 (they were originally $279.99). They were ordered about a week apart.

Bad message in airplane banner flap
I wanted to plan a surprise for my wife's 60th birthday on Dec. 1 and also celebrate the news that she was to become a grandma after years of heartbreak and loss. I wanted a small plane to fly over our home with a banner to read "Happy Birthday Grandma Barbie."

Taken for ride over plane ticket offer
Last June, JCPenney offered a promotional free airline ticket with the purchase of $125 of men's Dockers apparel. The purchase had to be made between June 3 and June 9, submitted on their form and postmarked by July 9.

Cruiser finds travel agent scammed her
I need some assistance with some fraudulent charges made on my Discover Card since last July.