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Travel Advisory: US Passport Fees Going Up

US Passport fees increase substantially on July 13, 2010

If you have been planning to get a U.S. Passport, or renew one, act fast. U.S. Passport fees increase dramatically on July 13, 2010. The cost of a new passport jumps from $100 to $135. Renewing your existing passport will rocket from $75 to $110, a 47 percent increase. Charges for a minor to age 16 increase from $85 to $105. Even the cost of a Passport Card, for land crossings into Canada and Mexico is going up from $45 to $55. These represent the third increase in the last five years.

And the feds are adding an entirely new passport fee, too. If you are a frequent traveler who needs to add additional pages to an existing passport, that will cost $82 after July 13, 2010. Right now it is free.

So, if you think you’ll need a passport in the next few years, if your existing passport is expiring in the new couple of years, or if you think you’ll run out of pages soon, the apply, renew or expand now, before the price goes up on July 13,2010. You can apply at many US Postal Service branches, by mail, or in person at a passport office.

Avoid Gulf Coast Oil Spill Charity Frauds

The good guys are volunteering and working overtime to undo the damage of the BP oil spill, the worst environmental disaster US history. Beware of frauds. The bad guys are out there scamming instead of skimming.

Job Scams — One fraud is asking you to pay up front for a job helping clean up the mess. Jobs available directly with BP are posted on BP’s website. For jobs through the state, such as Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, you can visit the states’ own job websites. If you have been recruited by a company that claims to have a contract with BP, The Better Business Bureau recommends that you research the business fully and try to confirm with BP that they are a legitimate employer for the oil spill clean up. Simply — be wary of companies that require you to pay an upfront fee.

Claim Scam: The FTC warns against phony adjusters who ask for fees to expedite services. The toll-free BP claims line is 1-800-440-0858. The line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or you can file a claim online through BP’s website. Additionally, there are many claims offices along the Gulf Coast. More information is available through the Deepwater Horizon Response website and on BP’s website.

Charity frauds — It always happens. After any disaster, the creeps come out of the woodwork to take advantage by setting up phony charities, including with names that sound like — oh, so close — to legitimate, reputable charities. Before you give, check with charity watchdogs like Charity Navigator and The Better Business Bureau. Here is a list of charities that meet BBB Wise Giving standards and are working in the Gulf Coast to help the people, the wildlife and the land itself.

You certainly can find a charity you like on this A-List of good guys — on the next page.

Holiday Driving Safety 101 Starts in the Driveway

It’s safety first for any holiday driving, including this long Fourth of July weekend. Every family road trip should start with a ten minute check of the car in the driveway to give you peace of mind on the road ahead. Ten minutes now can save you headaches, time [...]

Avoiding Garth Brooks Concert Ticket Scams

Entertainer Garth Brooks has been performing to sold-out crowds and rave reviews in Las Vegas. His performances at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas are so popular that tickets are now on sale for dates through Thanksgiving 2010. Depending on how you look at it, new ticket buying rules from the Wynn will protect Garth Brooks fans from buying counterfeit tickets and from paying two or three times the ticket price from unauthorized brokers. Or, the new ticket buying rules are so restrictive that they will discourage Garth Brooks Fans.

Travel to the Gulf Coast Now Despite the Oil Spill

Despite the BP oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history, most beaches along the Gulf of Mexico remain open and ready for visitors. One of the best ways you can help resort communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida is to travel there and spend your money in the local, family-owned restaurants, [...]

Earth Day 2010: Saving the Green in Your Wallet

Earth Day 2010: save the green in your wallet

April 22, 2010 is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a day to think about the environment and keeping it green. Since my own personal definition of saving green includes saving the green in in my wallet, here are my High Fives – the five [...]

New iPhone App for Car Shopping

2010 Lexus HS250h hybrid luxury sedan

More of us car shoppers are researching 2010 and 2011 models from our mobile phones. The website Cars.com, which launched a mobile site in 2007, reports a surge in mobile shopping activity since the launch of its iPhone car shopping app in February.

As much as 10 percent of Cars.com’s traffic now [...]

Five Ways to Improve Driving Safety

Photo: carcrashes.com

Every year there are some 37,000 deaths on America’s roads. The on-going recall of Toyota and Lexus models for problems with sticking accelerators, steering and brake issues have made us all think more about automotive safety.

First, know what to do in an emergency if your gas pedal sticks or brakes fail to work.

Here are five more easy, free things you can do every day to drive smarter:

1. Buckle up. Wearing a safety belt is the easiest way to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road. In 2008, some 14,000 died because they were not buckled up.

2. Don’t mix drinking and driving. Alcohol was involved in nearly 12,000 fatalities in 2008. That’s a staggering 32 percent of all highway deaths. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives. Choose a designated driver, or take the keys away from friends who have had too much to drink, and you will help prevent thousands of deaths.

3. Avoid distractions. Distracted driving is at least as dumb and dangerous as drunk driving. A University of Utah study found that distraction from using a cellphone can slow a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood-alcohol level at the .08 percent legal limit, whether the cell phone use is hand-held or hands-free. Nearly 6,000 deaths were attributed to distracted driving in 2008. So, don’t talk on a cell phone or send or read text messages.