What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A New Jersey woman booked a catering hall for her daughter's baby shower. She paid $2,500 for the event, but on the day of the party they discovered that the hall had double-booked and they had been moved to a smaller room to make way for a wedding. When she complained, the hall promised to refund half her money back. But when she got the check, it bounced, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island Man was injured in a car accident back in January 2009. He tore his rotor cuff, fractured his neck and cracked five teeth. His insurance company has paid to repair the rotor cuff and the neck surgery, but they are dragging their feet about paying to repair his teeth. In the meantime he has lost over 20 pounds because he can't eat solid food and has had to move back in with his parents, because he's in so much pain, he can't work, so he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Bronx woman has a tree growing in front of her house, that sits on city property. The roots are pushing up through the sidewalk, creating a walking hazard. The Parks Department said they'd take care of it, but when she began receiving violations from the city, threatening her with fines, she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Staten Island woman bought an expensive necklace on her Fortunoff's credit card just before the company declared bankrupcy. She returned the necklace just a week later and received a return slip. However, months after the transaction, World Financial Bank, who issues Fortunoff credit cards, began hassling her for $1,200. They claimed she never paid the bill for her expensive necklace. That's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island man was cheated of his money--at the expense of his own neighbor.

The man decided to buy a car from his next-door neighbor, an elderly woman, and paid her in increments each week, working his way up to the car's $32,000 price tag. When he finally paid the amount of $1,950, the woman suddenly rescinded the offer and refused to return his money. Needing assistance, the man called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Manhattan woman's $400 bike was stolen last month. A neighboring store caught the actual theft and thief on camera, but still police showed no interest, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Manhattan man moved into what he thought was a regular apartment building in Chinatown, until he found out people were running an illegal hotel on the top floor. But when his complaints fell on deaf ears, he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Queens woman paid $2,000 to have storm doors made and installed on her home. The contractor hired to do the job, had worked for her before, but when he disappeared with the money and was never heard from again, she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Bronx man had applied to the Bronx Parks Department for a permit to secure a field in Van Cortlandt Park for a kids flag football league to play. But after continously getting the run-around from the Parks Department, he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Several men signed up for a paid construction internship program in Harlem. They were told they'd make $10 an hour learning a trade that would help them get a foot in the door on a construction job. It sounded too good to be true and it was. But they didn't learn anything, they didn't get paid and they're nowhere near getting any construction jobs, so they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A man was in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for the birth of his baby, when he brought some baby gifts down to the parking garage to store in his car. He left his computer and some of the gifts on the counter of the parking garage, planning to make a second trip to his car. But when he got back to the counter, his computer, the rest of the gifts and the parking attendant were gone, so he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Manhattan man bought a bottle of Coke one day and on the soda’s label he read that he was the winner of a brand new hybrid car. But when he contacted Coca-Cola to claim his prize, they said that there had been a mistake and he was not due the new car, so he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Queens woman, who’s an aspiring poet and songwriter, saw an ad by a company that promises to publish your poems for free. After sending them a poem, they told her they would publish her poem in a book and send her a free copy. But, they then proceeded to take money out of her bank account without her permission, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Brooklyn family laid their mother to rest in a nearby cemetery late last year. In January, they were contacted by a monument company that offered to engrave her headstone and add a photograph for $1,008. But after months of no job being done, despite countless promises that it would be, they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Brooklyn woman traveling home from Florida, checked in at the Fort Lauderdale airport more than an hour before her flight. She was told by the Spirit Air ticket person that she was too late and her seat had been sold to someone in standby. Because their next flight to New York City was not for another two days, she had to pay for another ticket to get home and cannot get Spirit to reimburse or credit her flight, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Our Howard Thompson profiles leading opthamologist Dr. Monica Dweck. She reconstructs faces that have serious eye injuries. While a leader in her field, she has chosen to stay at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and teach where she did her residency and give back to the community.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Brooklyn man had been paying his water bill based on an estimated bill for years, but when they installed a real water meter, his water bill suddenly shot up to $50,000, so he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Queens family gave a local real estate office $1,450 as a deposit for an apartment. The wife is 8 ½ months pregnant and they needed a place to settle before the impending birth. But when the landlord backed out at the last minute and then the real estate office refused to return the family's deposit, they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Brooklyn woman bought a diamond ring from a Manhattan jewelry store for over $3,000 and a few months later the stones began to fade.

When she contacted the store, they admitted on the phone they had sold her a ring with lesser stones, but refused to give her a refund, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

The FTC is going after companies that fraudulently promise to help desperate homeowners, trying to save their homes from foreclosure. These mortgage modification companies charge huge fees, take the homeowner's money and then do nothing. We name some of the worst offenders and tell viewers where they can get real help.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A disabled Vietnam veteran, living in a fourth floor walk-up, is having a very hard time getting around.

He walks with great difficulty using a cane, he really needs a wheelchair, but even if he had a wheelchair, the management of his building, for security reasons, is locking the one door that has wheelchair access between the hours of 5pm and 8am.

Even though he took the building to ourt and won, the building continues to lock the door, so he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A New Jersey woman paid $1,000 for piano lessons for her kids, but when the school charged her credit card six different times, totaling $ 6,000 and she couldn’t get them to clear the charges, that’s when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A woman paid $4,000 worth of furniture from Thomasville, using their GE Capitol Credit Program. With their deferred payment plan, she had a year to pay it off before she’d have to pay interest.

Unfortunately, the year ended before she finished paying it off and she still owed $1,000 on the payment. That’s when she found out that the interest starts accruing from the date of the purchase and now she owes $3,000 in interest, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A young man who is legally blind has been trying for years to move to Manhattan, where his doctors are located and where he would be able to receive the services he needs -- services he wasn’t getting on Long Island. But when he ran out of options, he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Millions of Americans are trying to renogotiate their home loans these days. But in the process, many are paying thousands of dollars to companys that promise to help, then pocket the money and never do anything. Howard will have tips on how to spot them and protect yourself.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Two local men looking for a job respond to an ad in the newspaper. They get a call back and are told they need a special certificate. But they had to pay for this certificate. It's been weeks and they still haven't heard back about a position. That’s when they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island woman had just applied to the Connecticut School of Broadcasting when it suddenly closed its doors, leaving many graduates in limbo a week before graduation. Unfortunately, she had also just been approved for a loan for $8,500 when she found out the school was no more and that's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island family was charged an early cancellation fee of $320 by the cable company
DirecTV when they cancelled their service after being loyal customers for 12 years, so they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Queens woman was approached by an independent production company, who asked permission to shoot a film in her house, promising a $2,000 payment. She said "yes," they shot in her house for two days and were gone. When she got the check, it bounced, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island woman called Help Me Howard complaining about receiving phone calls offering her fraudulent deals on car warranties. We take a look at the current trend of people receiving blind calls about extending their auto warranty and other deals and get consumer advice from the Better Business Bureau on what's real and what's not.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Long Island man went to a Queens car dealer to buy a used car in January. He ended up paying $30,000 in cash, then just days later he found out the car had been in a prior accident, so he went back to confront the dealer.

That's when the dealer took back the car, kicked the customer off his property and refused to return his money. So, the customer called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Brooklyn woman battling cancer had to take on Medicaid when they told her she had lost coverage. When part of her treatment involved twice a week trips for chemotherapy and they refused to pay for it, she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A Bronx man was going on vacation with friends to Puerto Rico last summer, when he was approached by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), agents in the airport, who confiscated $ 6,000 in cash off of him and told him that he would have to file a claim to get his money back, that's when he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

In part one, we met a Brooklyn woman wanted a short sale of her home last year, so she went through a realtor in Queens. But instead of helping her sell her house, he talked her into filing for bankruptcy, so he could benefit.

Even after winning a court case against him for fraud, she still couldn't get him to pay the damages, and that's when she called Help Me Howard. Today, in part two, he finally pays up.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Last year parents of a Bronx kindergarten class had a stepping up ceremony, in which the children "graduated" up to their next level and wore little caps and gowns. Unfortunately, the 2008 sashes, the children were supposed to wear and which parents had paid in total $1,000 for, never materialized. After waiting nearly a year, they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Last year, Howard took on a Queens company that promises to help home-owners clear up violations on new properties for a fee and then never did anything.

Howard goes back to find out if Tulio Camino Ram ever did the job he was paid $17,000 to do.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

After last Monday's big snowfall, a Staten Island woman shoveled the street outside her house early in the morning and went to work at Staten Island Hospital, where's she's a nurse and works 12-hour shifts.

The next morning on Tuesday, she swept what had blown back onto her sidewalk and went to work for another 12-hour day. Later that day, her son came home to find a ticket on their front door from the sanitation department for $100, stating they had made no attempt to shovel the path.

He took pictures of their shoveled sidewalk as well as the barely plowed street and called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

With all the Ponzi schemes in the news these days, how do you spot one and protect yourself from getting caught up in one? We talk to a lawyer who prosecuted one and put the guy in jail.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Two young sisters were hired to work at an East Village yogurt shop last year. They worked long hours, off the books, without lunch or breaks and one of them was still a minor.

In January, they weren't paid for several weeks, but kept working, expecting to get paid. At the end of the month they got paid for the last week, but never got retro payment for those early weeks.

Finally, during an in-house mutiny by employees, they quit and called Help Me Howard to help them get their back pay.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Brooklyn man bought a television for $1,600 with an extended warranty for $250 from a New Jersey-based company called Repair Tech.

It turns out the warranty company went out of business and his TV is now having troubles. With the warranty worthless, that's when he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Brooklyn woman wanted a short sale of her home last year. She went through a realtor in Queens, but instead of helping her sell her house, he talked her into filing for bankruptcy, so he could benefit. Even after winning a court case against him for fraud, she couldn't get him to pay the damages, that's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Long Island 13-year-old wrote a book and her parents helped her self-publish it. The local wiz kid even had a book signing back in November 2008 at a Long Island Borders Bookstore. After Borders took their cut, she was supposed to make nearly $200 except. She is still waiting to get her money from Borders, so she called help me howard

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Bronx lounge owner and caterer says she lost about $40,000 in business last year, when ConEdison shut her down for a week during a construction job, so she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpiX.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Steve from Manhattan sent his hockey gloves to be repaired. After a couple months went by and he didn’t get them back, he called the shop. The owner told him he was working on it, and it would take a couple more weeks to finish. Weeks went by and still no gloves,

He called back to find out what happened. The owner told him that the gloves were mailed out, but Steve never got them. That’s when he called Help Me Howard. Can Howard make the “save”?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Brooklyn man bought a safe deposit box at a local Banco Popular. He put important documents and other belongings for safe keeping. However, when he went to the bank they couldn't find his box. And that's when he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A young woman inherited a one-bedroom co-op apartment in Yonkers and was allowed to rent it out for several years but for the last two years she has been trying to sell it.

Over the course of the two years she and her broker have been tireless in bringing buyer after buyer to the table only to have them rejected by the co-op board. That's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Bronx family paid nearly $600 for their daughter to take what they thought was a prep class to get a civil service job. But after three weeks of "classes" they waited to be told when she would take the final test and get her "job." Months went by and when they called and the phone was disconnected, so they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Three models who were hired to sell a new beer to bars and liquor stores claim they were never paid by the beer distributor who hired them, so they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Long Island man bought a car on Labor Day and was entitled to a $300 gas card as part of the purchase, but after waiting months and months and never receving the card and getting no clear answers, he called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A Yonkers couple checked out a new program at H&R Block that states they can give you a pre-refund loan based on your last pay stub. So the couple claims H&R Block told them they were getting over $4,000 back, making them eligible for a $900 credit line. So they took $800 home and spent it. But when H&R Block did do their taxes, they found out they were only getting back a little over $800 and that's when they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A New York woman's Facebook account was hacked into and the hacker identified himself as her and began telling her Facebook friends that she had been robbed in London and needed money wired to her so she could get back home. Unfortunately, a friend she had just reconnected with sent $650 via Western Union. We talk to an identity and computer expert on how to keep safe on the new social websites.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

A retired doctor stored two of her furcoats with a Manhattan currier, then one day they disappeared mysteriously and the furrier wouldn't tell her what happened, and that's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A woman out walking recently fainted on the street and was helped by a man who stayed with her and comforted her while waiting for EMS, then he disappeared. She has asked Howard's help in finding this good samaritan.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Did your date stick you with the check? Or even worse, did he take a call from another girl while you were on the date? Well, he's probably a loser and you need to move on. But those signs aren't usually that clear cut. And to help us distinguish the winners from the losers is relationship expert and radio show host Diana Falzone.

She spoke about the number one way you can spot a loser, signs that hint at the fact that he or she might not be good for you and why it's so difficult for some women to detach themselves from a bad boyfriend/relationship. Falzone also spoke about appropriate gifts guys can give in order to stay off the loser list.

You can check out Falzone's show Date Night With Diana on Fox News iMag and visit www.dianafalzone.com for more information.

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We talk to a man who's identity was stolen and what he's done so far to clear it, plus there will be tips on what people can do to recover their own identity.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

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A former gang member and local doctor have teamed up to start a program to help ex-cons re-enter the work force by removing their gang tattoos for free. Howard talks to both men to promote their effort.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

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A Long Island family was told by their doctor that their two-year-old son needed to receive a special monthly shot to protect him from illnesses because his heart defect made him more susceptible. But when their insurance company refused to pay for the $4,000 monthly shot, they called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

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A local woman bought a 30-day Metrocard from a MTA machine, but when it stopped working after just one week and all she got was the run-around from the MTA, she called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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A Brooklyn man sent his mechanical wheelchair in for repair just before Thanksgiving. But when he was still trying to get word on its repair, even after new years, and no one was calling him back, that's when he called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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A Bronx man left his vintage leather Jets jacket with a local dry cleaners for cleaning. The jacket held more sentimental value then monetary value, but when the cleaners caught fire, he was not happy to learn his jacket was lost. When he called Help Me Howard, Howard enlisted the help of former NFL player Carl Banks.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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Are they for real or just a scam? After so many complaints from people who have lost money to mystery shopper pitches, we talk to a real mystery shopper about what's real and what's not.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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A Brooklyn daycare center was solicited by a company to be part of a fundraising event and for their effort selling candy, they would receive books for the daycare. But when they raised the money and sent it back to the company, they found out it had gone out of business, taking their money, the candy and their books, and that's when they called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

A Washington Heights woman answered an ad by an employment agency, but when they told her she had to pay $50.00 for a background check, she got suspicious. We get to the bottom of just who can order background checks and who is supposed to pay for them.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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A Brooklyn mom says she was scammed out of over $1,500 for buying a desktop computer from blue hippo.com. She got the computer, but the printer, flatscreen tv and $300 rebate, that were also part of the deal, never materialized. Then when they tried to take even more money out of her bank account, that's when she called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward or e-mail him at helpme@wpix.com.

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A New Jersey woman went to a New York City electronics store on 7th Avenue to buy an iPhone. They showed it to her and she ended up paying nearly $1,000 for it. But after leaving the store, when she was able to examine the phone further, she found out she had actually bought a "Hi-Phone". When she tried to return it, the store refused, so she called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehowardor e-mail him: helpme@wpix.com.

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A New York City-based travel agent is advertising great travel deals to out of state customers. Trouble is when they send him checks and money orders, he takes their money and disappears.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehowardor e-mail him: helpme@wpix.com.

As of January 2009, telemarketers will be able to call people on their cell phones. Truth or rumour? The internet is full of questions and misinformation on this topic. We get the truth from the Federal Trade Commission, who run the Do Not Call Registry.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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A Queens man, caring for his aging mother, ran into trouble when Aetna kicked mom off his healthcare program and her bills went into collections. That's when they called Help Me Howard.

Read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward

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A Bronx family says that the baby food they bought at a nearby market was expired. Howard confronts the market owner and we find out just who is at fault when it comes to expired food.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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A Brooklyn woman paid a local company to ship hundreds of dollars worth of Holiday toys and gifts to Trinidad, only to find out the packages never arrived and the shipping company had disappeared.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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A Brooklyn woman paid over $200 for a package of tanning sessions with a Brooklyn Hollywood Tans. But when they abruptly closed shop a month ago, halfway thru her sessions, she tried to find another ht facility to finish out her package, only to be told that she would have to buy more sessions to finish her old ones.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

It’s the number one consumer complaint Help Me Howard receives during the winter. We visit a Brooklyn family having heat problems, learn how their problem was resolved and explain how the average tenant can deal with HPD or on their own to work through the system to report the problem and get it resolved.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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The latest money scam is targeting consumers by sending them fake letters from "Publishers Clearing House," stating they've won money and have to pay taxes on their winnings. We talk to the sweepstakes company and find out how to tell the difference between the real PCH and the fakes.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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A New York man says his Thanksgiving vacation to Turkey turned into a nightmare when he flew with El Al airlines.

Andrew Jozefiak claims he was told by El Al personnel that he had to check his digital camera in his luggage for security purposes, when he voiced his concerns about the safety of his property, he was told that everything would be fine.

Read Howard's blog: weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward

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We're looking back at the best Help Me Howard of 2008. From scams to scumbags, he got them all. We can't wait to see what's in store for Howard in 2009.

For more on Help Me Howard, visit www.wpix.com/wpix_help_me_howard.

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A Yonkers woman received a Gucci bag from her friends as a birthday gift. But when it started to fall apart just months later, she took it to the store for repair, only to find out it was a fake.

When the online company from where it had been bought wouldn’t take it back nor return the money, she called Help He Howard.

For more on Help Me Howard, visit www.wpix.com/wpix_help_me_howard.

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A Brooklyn woman paid $1,200 to charter a bus to great adventure. It was her son’s birthday wish to take a bus full of family and friends on halloween day to enjoy the amusement park’s “fright fest”. So she paid hundreds of dollars worth of park tickets and $ 1,200 for the bus charter.

But on the day of the event 25 people showed up to meet the bus, but it never arrived. As days passed and she couldn’t get answers from the bus rental company, she called Help Me Howard.

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A New Jersey-based charity, devoted to the memory of a Port Authority police officer, who died on September 11 needed some financial help to buy holiday gifts for needy kids, after losing some of their funding, so they called Help Me Howard.

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A queens man paid over $17,000 to a local construction company to help clear up some building violations on his property and to convert his two-family house into a three-family house. Eight months later, all he has is a blueprint of the conversion and no answers from the construction company, so he called Help Me Howard.

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Last year, a Bronx man bought his daughter a digital camera from RadioShack for Christmas. Along with the purchase, he also paid for a two-year service warranty.

About a month after Christmas, the camera stopped working and he took it to radio shack for repair. This happened two more times this year, each time the same operating problem would shut the camera down.

But after the third repair, RadioShack said they would no longer service his camera nor would they give him a replacement camera. A week later, the camera broke again and that's when he called Help Me Howard.

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Last summer, a Bronx woman bought two tickets to a rap concert at the Utopia Paradise Theater for $110.

But on the night of the show, everyone was told that the concert had been cancelled. Instead of being reimbursed, everyone was told to hold onto their tickets and they'd be notified when the show would be re-scheduled.

Now months later, with no word of a new concert date, when the woman contacted the Paradise Theater for a refund, she was told she had to get it from the concert promoter and when she contacted the promoter, he said she had to get it from the theater, so that's when she contacted Help Me Howard.

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Back in August 2008, Ainsworth Wright was riding his motorcycle on Route 130 in South Brunswick, New Jersey, when he was struck and killed by a car making an illegal U-turn.

Now as his wife and children deal with his loss, adding insult to injury is the fact that according to NJ state laws, the u-turn driver may not face any serious charges. Howard talks to the family.

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A 78-year old bronx woman, living on social security, spent the last year making monthly payments to a furniture store for a new bedroom set. After putting down $1,000.00, the store suddenly closed its doors and disappeared, taking her money and her bed with it. When she called help me howard, we called in a favor from 1-800-Mattress.

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Deal gone wrong in Brooklyn, a chinese merchant and an Arab merchant had been doing business for a year with no problems. But when one store suddenly refused to pay the $1,200 bill for the other's goods, yet still insisted on keeping the items, they called Help me Howard to straighten things out.

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A mortgage broker talked a 77-year old New Jersey woman into taking out a home equity loan to remodel her house. Then he talked her into hiring him as her contractor-manager for $52,000. But when he botched the job, disappeared and wouldn't return phone calls, the woman's family called Help Me Howard.

For more on Help Me Howard, visit www.wpix.com/wpix_help_me_howard.

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An elderly Queens woman bought a sears dishwasher back in January that included installation, but when october came around and she was still waiting for them to come and install it, she called Help Me Howard.

For more on Help Me Howard, visit www.wpix.com/wpix_help_me_howard.

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An aspiring New Jersey model thought she had nabbed the modeling gig of a lifetime, until she got a mysterious check in the mail and that's when she called Help me Howard.

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A local man's family is calling for an investigation into an organization that is supposed to help individuals with mental and physical disabilities. Family members claim an act of negligence cost the severely handicapped man his life. Help Me Howard tries to uncover what went wrong.

For more on Help Me Howard, visit www.wpix.com/wpix_help_me_howard.

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After the deadly March 15, 2008 crane collapse on the East Side, a Staten Island clean-up company was hired by the crane's construction company to remove some hazardous material from the accident site. Now six months later, he's still waiting to be paid, so he called Help Me Howard.

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A Staten Island woman was trying to bring her two American children home from Lebanon, but was forced to leave them there with her abusive husband and his Lebanese family. When he wouldn't let her take them with her when she tried to get help from the U.S. Embassy she ran into a stone wall, so she called Help Me Howard.

Earlier this year, Howard helped a woman clear her Brooklyn house of two destructive tenants, whose pitbulls had destroyed her home.

Howard revisits the scene to see what's been accomplished and what remains to be done.

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Howard's search to get a refund for a Queens customer continues as yet another victim of the travel company "Jewish Journeys" comes forward with his story.

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Last month Howard tried to track down the electronics store owner who had sold a Queens man a bad car radio, only to find out the store had gone out of business.

Today, the store owner reaches out to Howard and tried to make right with the Queens customer.

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A New York city school teacher, in need of a kidney transplant, is looking for one in a new and unusual way and asks Help Me Howard to tell his story.

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A recent NYU graduate student got locked out of her apartment one night, so she called a locksmith to open her door. But when the locksmith charged her over $700 for the job and forcing her to go to an ATM because he only took cash, that's when she called Help me Howard.

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A Young Polish painter had worked several jobs for a Brooklyn construction company, but when the checks starting bouncing and his boss didn't rectify the problem and pay him, he called Help Me Howard. Watch the story >>>

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2 different NYC families each tried canceling their daughter’s wedding receptions at a Bronx catering hall, after suffering broken engagements. But when the hall told them they wouldn’t get any money back based on the contract and both family’s realized they didn’t have that part of the contract, they both called Help Me Howard. Help Me Howard is on the case >>>

A local family is demanding answers after their son was found dead aboard a U.S. Navy Warship. Help Me Howard is on the case >>>br clear="all">

A New Jersey man contacted a rock & roll memorabilia auction house to sell his vintage Janis Joplin poster for him. The deal was that they would take a 10% fee for selling the poster and he would get the rest. But after the auction ended last summer 2007 and he learned his poster had sold for over $ 4,000, he waited and waited and waited to get paid. Finally, after waiting over 6 months with no answer, he called Help Me Howard.Watch the story >>>

Howard talks to a Newark police officer, out on sick leave, who claims the department's police director is unfairly targeting certain officers for termination. He wants people to know what's going on.Watch the story >>>

A Manhattan woman trusted the remains of her departed sister to the neighborhood funeral home. But when her sister's ashes weren't delivered in time for the memorial service and the funeral director wouldn't return her calls, that's when she called Help Me Howard.Watch the story >>>

When a Brooklyn woman broke down on the side of a New Jersey road, she was towed to a nearby garage. That garage went on to find other problems with the car and charged her nearly $1000 for the parts & labor. But when she picked up the car and was not allowed to have the damaged parts that were replaced, she took the car to her mechanic to verify the work and found it hadn't been done, that's when she called Help Me Howard. Help Me Howard is on the case >>>

In April 2007, a Staten Island family paid over $4,000.00 for a new leather couch. Nine months later the seams on the couch began coming apart. Because they had a one year warranty, they called the furniture store for help. But when the store claimed to have lost their paperwork and therefore couldn't replace the couch, because they didn't know who the manufacturer was, that's when they called Help Me Howard.Watch the story >>>

It was a dream for one New Jersey family to renovate their house, but it has now turned into a nightmare. The contractor they hired took the money and ran. Help Me Howard is on the case >>>

It's no secret, the internet has it's fare share of scams. There are three in particular that have proven to be among the most successful in ripping consumers off. Howard has tips on how to protect yourself >>>

Last year, a young landlord rented one of her Brooklyn apartments to what she thought was a successful young businesswoman. But a month after the lease was signed, the tenant moved her ex-con boyfriend and his pitbulls into the apartment and began destroying the place.Watch the story >>>

For last year's Valentine's day 2007, a young Brooklyn woman wrote a dating article for a local Brooklyn newspaper. It was her very first article to be published and she was very excited about that. Only problem, she was never paid for it. For a year she waited for the check, as the newspaper kept promising "it was in the mail". Finally she got tired of waiting and called Help Me Howard. Watch the story >>>

They promise you a computer with an easy payment plan, but when a Bronx woman cancelled her order, Blue Hippo said she was due a refund. Now after waiting a year for her money and getting no answers, she called Help Me Howard. Watch the story >>>

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Long Island woman thought she could trust her boss when she agreed to loan him $125,000.00 as a short-term loan. But when it came time to pay her back, hecut her a check for $ 25,000.00 , then fired her. That's when she called Help me Howard. Watch the story >>>

Last year Howard exposed a scam going on in Lodi, NJ that was taking people's money with promises of management jobs. The same people have now moved to Brooklyn with a new job caper, selling fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.Watch the story >>>

Cleaned Out CitiBank Accounts!!
We have another installment on the Citibank missing money story, as more fraud victims from the metropolitan area come forward to tell their stories.Watch the story >>>

Bad Breeder, Bad Breeder!
A local family says they were sold a dog that was not healthy. They later discovered the breeder was not a professional. After they couldn't get their money back, they called Help Me Howard.Watch the story >>>

Cleaned Out CitiBank Accounts!!
We have the latest on the citibank missing money story, as more fraud victims from the metropolitan area come forward to tell their stories.Watch the story >>>

Cleaned Out Bank Account
Right before the holiday rush, one woman was asking her bank "Where's all the money?" when she noticed her bank account was cleaned out. She called Help Me Howard. Watch the story >>>

Sweet Sixteen Surprise
She wanted to throw her daughter the perfect Sweet 16 party, but came across a problem when the DJ she hired never showed up to the event. After failing to get her money back, she called Help Me Howard. Watch the story >>>

NOT SO HEALTH-Y INSURANCE
When a school teacher switched her medical insurance, the new carrier denied her full coverage for a prosthetic arm. She called Help Me Howard to get answers. Watch it >>>.

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TRANSPLANT APPROVED!
In a Help Me Howard follow-up, a woman who was denied experimental treatment for Leukemia by her health insurance now has something to smile about. She got the good news after Howard got on the case. Watch it >>>.

Re-Design On Hold
A Manhattan man hired an area architect to re-design a house. But after paying an initial deposit of $1,000, he never received the drawings or permits. Finally after waiting a year for the designs he called Help Me Howard. Watch it>>>.

Stem Cell Treatment Horror
Their mother has leukemia and now their healthcare provider will not pay for a procedure that may save her life. That's when they called Howard Thompson. Watch it>>>.

Bad Cosmetics Company
A Help Me Howard investigation has uncovered what consumer watch dogs is calling a team of scam artists. It all started when a victim who thought she was applying for a dream job, discovered it was anything but. Watch The follow-up.

The Transparent Windowman
In 2006 a Queens woman hired a Long Island man to install all new windows in her house. But after making the initial payment installment of $1,700, he began delaying the job. Finally after waiting a year for this job to start and no word from the contractor, she called Help Me Howard.

The Chandelier That Never Came
A woman made a $6,300 down payment on a chandelier. The only problem, it was never delivered. This frustrated customer called Help Me Howard.

Inventor Gets Money Back
A local inventor says a company that was supposed to help him develop and market his idea, just took his money. He pleaded with the company, but when that didn't work he called Help Me Howard.

$10,000 Dentist Bill
A woman says she went to the dentist but ended up not getting any work done. So why did she get a $10,000 bill? That's enough to give you toothache. When she wasn't getting the answers she wanted, she called Help Me Howard.

The Case Of The Missing Necklace
A couple from our area says they bought a necklace from a local jeweler just about two years ago. When they brought it back to shorten it, the necklace disappeared and so did the couple's money. That's when they called Help Me Howard.