Legal Shield Independent Associate Nickie McNichols

11/13/2020

Residents who experienced property damage from Tropical Storm Eta should take special care in documenting losses for insurance and hiring only qualified, licensed contractors to complete repairs.

Cleaning up flood damage

Remove wet contents immediately to prevent mold. Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding, and other items holding moisture can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours - more information.
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

Filing insurance claims

Document everything and take inventory of damaged goods; take photos and videos (save to a cloud if you can).
File a flood insurance claim as soon as possible; track all your conversations; work closely with your adjuster. Learn more here.
Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits contract as a condition of having your home repaired. Florida Property Insurance Fraud, Don't Sign Your Rights Away.

Hiring a contractor

Watch out for “fly-by-night” contractors who take deposits and do not do any work. Never deal with any contractor soliciting work at your house.
Deal only with licensed and insured contractors. Verify that the license is current and active by calling the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board at (727) 582-3100.
Ask for and check references of previous customers.
Get at least three estimates. Be certain the estimates are itemized and for the same work.
Avoid a contractor who asks for advance payment in full. Pay upon completion or as the work progresses. Always avoid paying in cash.
Avoid contractors who ask you, as the homeowner, to obtain the building permit.
Beware of any contractor who tells you that extensive or structural repairs do not require a permit.
Take your time when signing a contract and consider asking a knowledgeable friend, relative or attorney to review it before you sign. Make sure the warranty information is included in the contract.
Require the contractor to supply a final affidavit indicating that all subcontractors and suppliers used on the job are paid in full. Ensure that the work is inspected by the building department before final payment.

Document damage for the County

Pinellas County is also gathering damage reports for potential state and federal emergency assistance. To document damage on your property, use the Online Damage Assessment Tool: https://arcg.is/1T4i9j.

For more information on flood recovery, visit: www.pinellascounty.org/flooding.

For more information on avoiding post-disaster scams, visit:http://www.pinellascounty.org/consumer/pdf/post-disaster-consumer-tips.pdf

08/05/2020

Welcome Linda W., new Legalshield associate!

11/18/2019

The holidays are almost upon us. They are prime time for identity theft. This is not simple credit card fraud. Your credit card company, your bank, the Social Security office, even the police cannot fix identity theft. You need ID Shield. I can get it for you in 15 minutes or less. Only $9.95 a month. I wouldn't leave home without it.

09/21/2018

Welcome new Legal Shield member Pat!

07/14/2018

Keep thieves outta your car!

A cybersecurity expert says foil is the most inexpensive way to keep criminals from gaining access to your car! Here’s what you need to know.

05/12/2018

Welcome TS, new Legal Shield member!

03/25/2018

Just received this a few days ago from IDShield:
As part of the IDShield family, we want to make you aware of a large data breach that has the potential to cause concern among consumers.
THIS MESSAGE IS NOT AN ALERT THAT YOU ARE AFFECTED BY THIS BREACH.
We hope this breach doesn't affect you. However, since you have IDShield protection, we can alert you to potential threats to your identity and have experts ready to assist with those threats, should it be needed.
Travel website Orbitz, a subsidiary of Expedia, announced earlier this week that customer data collected between January 1, 2016, and December 22, 2017, may have been exposed in a suspected data breach that has a global impact.

The breach may have taken place from October 1, 2017 to December 22, 2017; it was discovered on March 1. Theft of details on as many as 880,000 payment cards, as well as personal data tied to purchases, such as customers' names, birth dates, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, and gender may have also been exposed.

IDShield is here for you.

02/02/2018

Tax season is here and we have been getting several IRS Scam complaints. An IRS Scam flier was shared to me and I would like to share it with you. Please read it over and be careful not to fall for the scam. Remember, the IRS will not ask you to wire money.
Stay safe and thank you
IRSScam_Alert-Largo.pdf

01/24/2018

Welcome new Legal Shield members!

01/11/2018

Did you know that more Americans wind up in the courtroom, than in the ER? It's true! Get LegalShield today!

11/28/2017

9 Tips for Safe Driving and Dealing with Traffic Tickets

Traffic accidents and citations increase around the holidays. The best way to avoid accidents and trips to traffic court is to drive safely and know what to do if you are pulled over. If you do receive a ticket, LegalShield has you covered. Snap is a feature of the LegalShield app that allows you to take a picture of your traffic ticket with your smartphone and send it directly to your LegalShield provider law firm. Here are some tips for staying safe on the road and what to do if you are pulled over.

Watch your speed. Driving too fast is one sure way to end up in an accident or with a ticket. In recent years, many states and provinces have tightened their laws on reckless driving. If you are caught exceeding a threshold speed, you may be charged criminally, rather than with a simple traffic citation. The penalties for reckless driving may include substantial fines, license suspension and even jail time for repeat offenders.

Never drink and drive. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts your life and the lives of others in grave danger. Even blood alcohol levels below your state’s legal limit can impair your driving and increase your chance of injury or death in an accident. First offenses of DUI or DWI may land you in jail and leave you with a criminal record. The best way to avoid DUI or DWI accidents and criminal charges is to avoid drinking and driving all together.

Never text or email while driving. Texting or using a smart phone while driving is now illegal in several states and many localities and may not only earn you a traffic ticket, but also injure or kill you. Numerous studies have shown that texting or using your smart phone while driving substantially increases your chance of injury or death. The number of injuries and deaths caused by distracted drivers has skyrocketed in recent years. Avoid serious injury and death (and tickets) by always safely pulling to the side of the road and stopping before texting or using your smart phone.

Know how to handle a traffic stop. Being pulled over by the police can be a nerve-racking experience. Pull safely off the road, turn your interior light on at night, keep your hands on the steering wheel, be polite and cooperative with the police officer. Comply with the officer’s requests for your name, driver's license, registration and insurance information. Do not exit the vehicle unless you are directed to do so by the officer. You do not have to consent to a search of your car. If the officer searches over your objection, stay calm, tell the officer you object to the search and do not physically resist the search.

If you receive a ticket, use Snap to send the ticket to your LegalShield provide law firm. Make sure the image is legible before submitting to the attorney. Once received, your LegalShield provider law firm will process the information and call you within 8 business hours. Submitting your ticket right away helps ensure an attorney is available for your court date and has plenty of time to prepare your case. If you have questions or do not hear back from your LegalShield provider law firm within 8 business hours, you may call them directly. If you do not have the app, you may download it from the iTunes or Android store today or call your provider firm directly to speak with an attorney.

Be prepared for difficult weather. If you are driving in wet or icy weather, allow yourself extra time and drive with caution. If you are particularly uncomfortable driving in bad weather, stay off the road until conditions improve.

Make sure you have the right car seat for your child. It is extremely important to protect your children by ensuring they are in the appropriate car seat for their age and size. Most states and provinces have strict laws regarding child safety seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a great resource to help parents ensure their children are protected.

Think twice before running a light or stop sign. Running a red light or stop sign may save you a few seconds, but it puts you, your passengers and other drivers around you at risk of serious injury or death. Drivers running red lights and stop signs cause nearly 1,000 deaths and 90,000 injuries each year in the United States. Red light traffic cameras are now used throughout the U.S. and Canada, so even if you escape injury, you may not escape a ticket.

Follow at a safe distance. In ideal road conditions, you should leave at least 3 seconds between you and the car in front of you. If you are hauling a heavy load or driving in wet or icy conditions, leave at least 7 or 8 seconds between you and the car ahead of you. Rear-enders cause nearly as many deaths and injuries per year as intersection collisions.

If you think you might be interested in the Legal Shield membership, please call me today for a 15 minute appointment.

11/27/2017

Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams and Rip-offs

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are the biggest retail and online shopping days of the year. In order to protect your holiday budget, you will need to do your homework and watch for scams. The following tips will help ensure you are able to focus on holiday fun rather than legal disputes with retailers or losing money to scammers. If you have any questions or need legal assistance call your LegalShield provider law firm today. The LegalShield Mobile App puts your LegalShield services including access to your Provider Law Firm at the touch of your fingertips. If you do not have the app, you may download it from the iTunes or Android store today.

Beware of pricing that is too good to be true. Check reviews on greatly discounted items to make sure they do not have major problems. A $250 TV might not seem like such a great deal if it does not make it through 2018. Online scammers often set up dummy websites, auction listings or ads that offer popular items far below market value. These scammers will kick into high gear for Cyber Monday. Trust your instincts and beware of scam sales.

Read and save a dated copy of the retailer’s return policy. Many sales disputes stem from misunderstandings over return or refund policies. Make sure you read and understand the return policies before making a purchase. Some returns will require costly restocking fees and some sale items may not be eligible for return. Also, find out if you are responsible for shipping costs on a return item, as larger items could be costly to ship.

Do your homework on extended warranties. Many products already come with a manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, your credit card company may already offer protection. Make sure you understand what the warranty covers and what is excluded. Consider the cost of the warranty versus the potential benefit.

When shopping online use trusted retailers. It is important to make sure you are on the correct website by checking the domain name in the browser. Sometimes emails or online ads promising great deals will direct you to scam sites designed to look like a trusted retailer. The domain name at the top of your browser should contain https://. Use unique and secure passwords when setting up online accounts. If you are also an IDShield member and feel you may have fallen victim to this type of attack, you may contact an IDShield licensed private investigator.

Read online product reviews. Product reviews can be incredibly useful to help you avoid buying crummy products or buying the incorrect item. Some online sellers post intentionally misleading product descriptions. Negative reviews will often note the difference between the product and the description. Taking a moment to read the reviews will help you avoid disappointment or hassles with returning products.

Review marketplace seller rating information and negative feedback from previous buyers. Marketplace websites allow a wide range of individual sellers to offer products to a large audience. Many of these sites allow previous customers to rate their experience with a particular seller. Does the seller ship slowly? Are they difficult to deal with? Exercise caution when dealing with sellers who have an excess of poor feedback. Check the specific feedback to see what those who complained had to say. Know what you are getting into before you make a purchase.

Beware shipping email scams. If you order a lot of your holiday gifts online, you know the influx of packages can be confusing. Phishing scams pretending to come from the shipping company are frequent and can be difficult to spot. Check the sender's email address to make sure it matches the company or use the tracking info from the confirmation email you received directly from the seller.

Check your bank account frequently. Incorrect or fraudulent charges are easier to miss when spending increases around the holidays. Save all of your receipts and review them along with your bank and credit card statements to make sure everything is accurate. Contact your bank or credit card company immediately if you notice any irregularities.

Keep payment information secure. Never pay for items purchased online with wire transfers, money orders or cash. These types of payment offer no tracking or protection in the event of a scam. When making an online payment for goods, use a credit card, PayPal, Google Checkout or another secure online payment system. Some payment systems offer additional dispute resolution options.