Problem Solved is a weekly consumer column that fixes reader problems. From broken laptop computers to faulty kitchen appliances, nothing is off limits for this feature. Each story brings a fresh problem and solution in an engaging and succinct Q&A format.
Charlene Burgett faces every concertgoer’s nightmare when she discovers her expensive StubHub tickets offer no view of Jason Bonham, the drummer she specifically came to see at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Can she get a refund?
Jan Burnett thinks her routine blood tests are behind her when she receives an explanation of benefits showing zero patient responsibility. But more than a year later, a collections notice arrived demanding payment for the same tests. Now she’s caught in a bureaucratic nightmare between Quest Diagnostics, her insurance company, and a collections agency.
A noisy, cracked induction cooktop from Frigidaire leaves Linda Lockwood chasing repairs, dealing with missed appointments, and getting the runaround from both the manufacturer and Best Buy. After months of unanswered calls and emails, Lockwood wonders: Will anyone take responsibility for this $1,400 kitchen disaster?
Joe Burley buys a mini PC on eBay, but the seller ships his package to another address. When USPS confirms the delivery wasn’t to Burley, eBay denies his refund, citing an exception in its policy. Can he get this sorted out?
Mike Tarallo pays a fixed rate to repair his refrigerator but gets endless delays, false diagnoses, and a canceled service visit. Can Frigidaire and its parent company, Electrolux, thaw this ice-cold mess?
Hien Shields faces an $18,926 bill for emergency spinal surgery after Anthem Blue Cross and its partner Carelon point fingers over authorization. She’s made 80 calls over 21 months – but with the insurer’s two-year claims deadline looming, can anyone fix this?
Alex Cashman-Rolls faces a $500 cleaning fee from Hertz after returning a rental car he used with a registered service animal. Hertz claims the charge is for “excessive” hair, but Alex argues it’s unreasonable under federal law and lacks proof of actual costs. Will Hertz back down?
Bruce Gerencser can’t access his Amazon account after changing his phone number, leaving two-factor authentication tied to his old number. Despite making calls for six weeks, submitting his ID three times, and sending emails to executives, he hits a wall with Amazon’s customer service.
Cynthia Alviso’s new Frigidaire wall oven fluctuates between 35 degrees below and 60 degrees above its set temperature, ruining her baked goods. Despite four repair attempts, it’s still broken. Frigidaire insists the oven works properly. Can she get a refund?
When Simone Zeno can’t attend a j-hope concert because of a family emergency, StubHub agrees to refund her purchase. Then it backtracks and refuses to return the money. Can it do that?
