Protest Your Property Taxes

Here are some tips for protesting your property taxes.

You can file now, but mount your case over the next few days, the important thing is to get the protest in BEFORE the end of business June 2nd.  It can be filed electronically by going to www.hcad.org.  You can also mail in the protest, as long as it is post marked by June 2nd.   Make sure to check off "Value is over market  AND "Value is unequal compared with other properties".  On the electronic filing or the paper filing, these are the main reasons for protesting.

If you choose to protest in person, make sure you get the facts HCAD is using to justify the appraisal increases.

   

To win a market value protest, call Realtors, get the closing prices of homes in your neighborhood and compare that to the appraised value of your home.  If the sales prices are lower, you've got a case.

Take pictures of problems with your property and get estimates for fixing those problems (you do not have to make the repairs).  Include the pictures and estimates with your sales records.

Make four copies of all your information, then get ready for your protest date.

   Another way to protest is to figure out the price per square foot of your home and see if it is over valued.

   To do that, go to the Harris County Appraisal District's web site, www.hcad.org, then enter your address in the search box.

   Find the appraised value of your home then divide it by your home's square footage to get the price per square foot.

   On Pine Thistle, we found a home appraised at 251,200 and divided that by the homes 3068 square feet of living space.

      That works out to $81.90 per square foot.

   We then  clicked on the "Nearby Address" tab on the HCAD web page to find other homes in the neighborhood.

   Narrowing the search to similarly sized homes, we divided appraised value by square footage and found the average of five homes to be $67.00.

   That means the home appraised at $81.00 per square foot is over valued.

    Instead of paying taxes on $251,000, the home should be closer to $205,000.

   How did we come up with that number?  By multiplying the average per price square foot of the five similar homes by the actual square footage of our test home.

   You have until June 2nd to file a protest.  You can mail it in or file the protest on line.  You can even chose to settle your protest electronically, but if you have pictures and estimates, you may want the face to face meeting,  either way get the protest in by Monday June 2nd.

   In the past when you met face to face to discuss your protest, you would have an Informal Hearing and if you did not like the outcome you could appeal to the Formal Review Board the same day.  Now there is a week between those dates.

   If you chose to protest in person, you may have to go twice to HCAD's offices.

   HCAD officials say the extra week will give you time to add to your case, but it means taking another day off from work.

So far 153,000 people have filed a protest.  Nearly 12,000 have chosen the isettle option.  Of those, more than 7000 have already accepted the isettle offer.

Those who refuse the offer are scheduled for a hearing in front of the Formal Review Board, about 1500 people who chose the isettle option are going that route.

Remember, the Formal Review Board is made up of 3 people, from the community who will hear you case, I promise they will not poke you with a stick!

Good luck!

gardening for kids

"Ka Bloom" It was done.

An empty atrium was turned into a living lesson for special needs students at Harris County's Academic and Behavior Center West.

"I like to create something beautiful out of something ugly"

said landscape artist of 30 years and "Ka Bloom" owner Jeff Law. The Heights resident volunteered to work with the students to spruce up their school for spring.

It was fun for me to see the kid's enthusiasm and team work and see their efforts result in a beautiful flower garden. So, I thought other kids might be interested in learning something different this summer-gardening and found some programs.

The Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center is offering a summer gardening camp for kids ages 9-12. The phone is (713) 640-2407 and website is houstonaudubon.org

The Mercer Arboretum www.mercerarboretum@hcp4.net and the Men's Garden Club of Houston also offer summer programs.

Jeff Law designs homes from re-cycled materials and gardens that take little care.  He plants flowers that don't even need watering! His e-mail is www.kabloomlandscaping.net

Have A Good Weekend and click on 'angels' if you need help1

Lori

Power Bill Help

Summer heat is here but if you can not afford to pay your power bill, help is available.

Call Harris County Social Services 713-696-7900

You must be a resident of Harris County, Be at least 18 years old, have a disconnect notice, be the head of household and provide proof of financial need.

If you are a Reliant Energy customer, the company is also offering to help.

They will suspend disconnects for low income, elderly and special need customers.

Call Reliant to ask about the program and learn more about the requirements.

The number is 713-207-7777

If you need to go to a cooling center, you have 9 to chose from:

Acres Homes Multi-Service Center 6719 Montgomery

Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center  6402 Market Street

Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center 4014 Market Street

Northeast Multi-Service Center 9720 Spaulding

Magnolia Multi-Service Center 7037 Capitol Street

Southwest Multi-Service Center 6400 High Star

Sunnyside Multi-Service Center Wilmington

Third Ward  Multi-Service Center 3611 Ennis Street

West End Multi-Service Center 170 Heights Blvd.

You can even get a free ride to a cooling center, call 713-497-2711

Zombie Debt

Get ready for an onslaught of old debt.  If you owe money to anyone and have not made a payment in years, you may be getting a phone call soon.  Consumer lawyers say old debts are being sold off at a quick pace right now and the new holders of that debt are trying to collect.   The old debt is sold for pennies on the dollar, but the new holders of that debt often ask for the full amount.  If this happens to you there are things to keep in mind.   If your debt is older than 4 years, you can not be sued.  But, if for some reason you get a letter saying you are going to be taken to court over on old debt, do not ignore it.  Not showing up in court can end up with a judgment against you requiring you to pay the debt.  Also, just because the debt is seven years old, you still have to pay.  It can not be reported to the credit bureaus, but you still owe the money.

Here's a link with more old debt information:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116a1.asp

If you have an old debt that keeps coming back, it's a good idea to check your credit report, here's a link to get a free copy:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Last Chance for Energy Star Tax Free Savings

If you are going to buy a major appliance, or even a light bulb, do it now! The state of Texas is repealing state taxes on Energy Star rated appliances and devices until midnight tonight.  Take a look at the whole list here.

What is an Energy Star rating?  Check it out here.

Free Fun this Memorial Day Weekend

If gas prices have you counting your cash, you can still have a good time this Memorial Day Weekend and get out of the back year too.

   The Houston Zoo is having a Free Day on Monday.  Typically thousands attend the free day and parking is limited so taking mass transportation may be your best bet.  Here's a link for the best commuter options to the zoo.

http://www.houstonzoo.org/memorialday/

You can also see a free concert Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 8:15 p.m.

The "Dancin' in the Street...Motown and More Revue"  will take to the stage at the Miller Outdoor Theater.

Also Discovery Green in Downtown Houston is free all year round.  Right now the water fall and squirt zone are a great way to keep the kids cool.

And don't forget the Gulf of Mexico.  It's free year round and only a short trip to Galveston Island.  Pack a lunch and avoid spending anything more than the 8 bucks for parking at Stewart Beach.

If you'd like to stay closer to home, the City of Houston public pools are open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.   Here's a link to find the pool nearest to your home.

http://www.houstontx.gov

WHEELCHAIRS

"Marvin must be up there pulling strings"  said Mrs. Marvin Zindler when we delivered 30 brand new wheelchairs to Texas Children's Hospital paid for by the Agris/Zindler Foundation for children. "I think he's up there watching and making sure that they're here and that all the children will get what they want and what they need". Mrs. Zindler and Mrs. Agris were on hand for the donation to Chief of Staff Dr. Ralph Feigin.

There's a hugh need for wheelchairs and we have web sites and phone numbers if you want to donate or need a wheelchair. The wheelchairs are available only if they're donated.

www.maministries.org (713) 469-4516 ext 135

www.whamministries.org (713)780-2727

if you know of other places that offer low cost or no cost wheelchairs, please let us know

Lori

PreBuy Electric Refunds?

If you were a customer of PreBuy electric, you have just been switched to another provider.  The reason?  The State of Texas says PreBuy could not pay for the power the company needed to supply its customers.  When that happens the state switches consumers to the "Provider of Last Resort"  IN our case that's Reliant Energy and Gexa Energy.  The rate for those switched is set by the state and is currently 16.1 cents per kilowatt hour.  That's pretty high, so it's important to chose another provider quickly.  Do to that you can check out the state's web site www.powertochoose.org.  If you were a customer of PreBuy and prepaid for electricity, you need to contact the company and ask for a refund.  If you can't reach the company, contact the Public Utility Commission and file a complaint.  We have a link to the complaint process here.

Luby's Coupon Problem

It was supposed to be a reward for valued customers, but one local restaurant chain has been on damage control ever since a five dollar coupon hit the world wide web.

Luby's was offering the deal through the middle of next month. But they ended the offer early, and a lot of people are upset!

The five dollar off coupon was sent to a limited number of customers, but thousands more got their hands on the coupons and Luby's had to pull the plug on the promotion.

Luby's Cafeteria is a popular spot for many people in the Houston area, it certain has been a favorite of Jack Coursey.

"l go to Luby's two times a week, when I worked I used to eat at Luby's everyday of the week," said Coursey.

So when Coursey heard about a coupon being offered that gave customers five dollars off, he went to the internet and printed a copy.

"Luby's cashier told me there was a Luby's coupon on the internet and I went home and of course downloaded some copies," added Cousey.

The first day Coursey used the coupon without a problem, the next day however things changed.

"Could not use it, would not take it, they said the had been scammed," Coursey said.

Now Luby's stores have a sign on the front door saying they no longer accept the coupon that had been good until June 15th.

So what happened?

According to Luby's corporate officials, the coupon was emailed to a select number of customers however an internet link that allowed anyone to print the coupon was picked up by coupon web sites and then the rush was on.

"When I started to get in the door, go in the door, there was a long line to get served," said Coursey.

One customer told us when she came Luby's last week she was given a coupon by a complete stranger, a stranger who had apparently copied dozens and dozens of the coupons.

In a statement Luby's officials said, "...we had to discontinue this offer due to unauthorized reproduction of the coupon."

Adding, "it is a shame that some bad apples had to spoil the entire crate for everyone."

Luby's officials say the coupon never appeared on it's official web site and was only intended for a small number of customers, but University of Houston law professor Richard Alderman says those terms were not printed on the coupon we were given.

"They could have written anything they want on here, the law is clear, they could have put restrictions and they didn't," said Alderman.

Alderman went on to say now that Luby's is publicly ending the promotion, the company is off the hook, but those customers who printed the coupon last week can make a case that they should have been given the discount, however actually getting the deal could mean going to small claims court and that's a lot of hassle for five bucks

Luby's says it is giving gift cards to the customers who were supposed to get the discount all along and now can't use it.

Here's Luby's full response to the problem:

We reached out to some of our customers during a difficult economic period by emailing a $5 coupon on April 29th (over two weeks ago) to provide them relief and incentive to visit our restaurants.

Fortunately, many of our customers were able to take advantage of this offer. However, unfortunately, we had to discontinue this offer due to unauthorized reproduction of the coupon. 

On May 15th we notified our guests through in-store signage, phone calls, emails and a posted message on our website that due to unauthorized reproduction of the coupon we would no longer accept the email coupon beginning May 16th.

These coupons were circulated to a select group of customers; this coupon was never posted to Luby’s website or made available by Luby’s to the general public.

We are currently in the process of mailing a $5 gift card to the recipients of our original email distribution list.

It is a shame that some bad apples had to spoil the entire crate for everyone.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our customers and appreciate their understanding. However, we believe we have taken exhaustive steps to communicate and rectify this situation with our customers.

Rick Black

Luby’s

Director of Communications

String Quartet

It was fun working with the music class of Hartman Middle school. The kids took to the new musical instruments right away. The young man on the bass was so proud he kept spinning it around with style as he practiced. and, they improved greatly under the direction of teacher Marcia Sadberry.

Principal Joseph Addison, who sang with opera great Pavarotti, emphasized the importance of music in education. Kids get better grades, have more discipline, and confidence.

The American Music Conference said that in Texas, a study of average SAT scores for music students for 8 years showed that kids in programs such as a string quartet scored higher than the national average.  Not Bad.

And check out the Lisle Violin shop on Bissonnet and in Pasadena at VIOLINS.COM

And, If your child's school doesn't have a band and needs musical instruments there are foundations the school can apply to for grants such as the VH1 Foundation 'Save the Music"

By the way- the teacher, Mrs. Sadberry is performing at Miller Park Thurs. Fri. and Sat. May 29,20,31.

click on angels.abc13.com if you need help.

Lori Reingold 

Hotel Furniture for you!

Today at 4:55 Action 13 Consumer Reporter Jeff Ehling told you about luxury hotel furniture being sold to the public.  Some of the things available at Southwest Surplus include armoires, chairs, desks, tables, sofas, lights, and mirrors.  Right now the shop has stuff from the Houstonian, the Warwick, and the Doubletree.  The warehouse is located off of I-45 North.  Here's their web site: http://www.swsurplus.com/

eye tracking computer

We've had a whole bunch of inquiries about the 'eye tracking computer" we were able to provide for little Jemma Leech - a 10 year old Houston school child with cerebral Palsy. Jemma, you may recall, won a writing contest over hundreds of kids with prose beyond her age.

The computer is a keyboard where you focus on a letter for 2 seconds and then move your eyes to the next letter. It takes moments to set up even if you wear glasses or contacts. and, you're imprint is saved if the machine is used by others. after writing what you want to say with your eyes, the machine speaks your words. it's amazing.

so, here's the information once again on the company. tobii ATI www.tobii.com  Betsy Walker represents the company locally. betsy.walker@tobii.ATI.com.

we hope others will benefit from knowing about this technology.

lori reingold lori.reingold@ABC.COM

Stimulus Check Delay

If you are wondering where your stimulus check is, you are not alone.  Millions of Americans may have to wait a bit longer for the money.  The reason?  It can be traced back to tax filing preparation software.  Electronic filers have an option to pay for the service when they file or to have the fee deducted from their refund.  For those who chose the later, your stimulus check will be mailed to your tax preparer and then mailed to you.  The IRS is getting phone calls from taxpayers about this right now, and we are getting plenty of e-mails about the problem too.  If this impacts you the next question you have is probably, "When will the money arrive?"  Fortunately the IRS has a mailing schedule based on the last two digits of your Social Security Number, click here to see the schedule.

Consign your way to financial freedom

Business is booming at resale shops across Houston.  From buyer to sellers, people are taking advantage of the services the shops provide.  While you can find a resale shop just about anywhere, there is an area of midtown that has several nice shops, here they are:

1. Assistance League of Houston, 1902 Commonwealth (713) 526-5425

   10am to 3pm  Wed.-Sat.

2. Charity Guild Shop of Catholic Women, 1203 Lovett (713) 529-0995

  10am to 3pm Mon.-Sat

3. Cottage Thrift Shop 607 Westheimer (713) 526-4663

   10am-4pm Mon.-Sat.

4. Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop 615 W. Alabama (713) 528-0470

   10am-4pm Mon.-Fri.

5. Salvation Army Thrift Store 2208 Washington (713) 425-8727

   10am-8pm Mon.-Sat.

6. The Guild Shop 2998 Dunlavy (713) 528-5095

   9:30am-3:30pm Mon.-Fri.  10am-2pm Sat.

7. Houston Area Women's Center 1435 Westheimer (713) 528-1062

   10am-4:45pm  Tues.-Sat.

8. Methodist Auxiliary Thrift Shop 1721 Waugh (713) 522-4494

   10am-3pm Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri., & Sat.

9. St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Resale Stores (713) 862-2605

   9am-5pm Tues.-Sat.

New Home Auction

If you are looking for a new townhouse in the Champions area, the stars may have aligned perfectly.  Verandah Development is offering 30 town-homes at auction on June 1st.  The homes were listed for sale at $295,000.00 but they were not selling.  Now the developer has hired an auction company to sell that inventory.  The homes are located at 7718 Willow Chase in the Champions area.  The opening bid is $80,000, but the sales price could go higher or lower.  We are told 10 of the townhouses will sell no matter the final bid.  Bidders should take a look at the homes during the weekend open houses May 17, 18, 24 and 31st.  Sheldon Good is the auction company holding the sale.  The auction will be in the JW Marriott Houston at 5150 Westheimer Road on June 1st.  Registration starts at noon, the auction is at 1 p.m.  Bidders need to bring a cashiers check for at least $8000.00

Thanks to "The Sun Cypress" for helping gather the information for this story! 

Texas Revised Franchise Tax and You

Gas prices are making everything go up, but now Texas residents have something else to worry about.  The Revised Texas Franchise Tax is due next month.  Thousands of businesses that never paid the tax before are finding they owe money now.  We spoke with a restaurant owner today who says his business will have to pay tens of thousands more because of the Revised Franchise Tax.  One accountant we spoke with tells us hundreds of business owners will owe money and they still do not know.  If you are a business owner, click here to find out more about the tax.  For consumers, this could mean higher prices depending on how much businesses have to pay, so prepare yourself.

Anniversary and Birthday Greetings

Send in your photos!

We'll be announcing anniversary and birthday greetings on line!

If you've been married for at least 50 years or are 100 years old-send in your picture and we'll announce your landmark anniversary.

E-mail photos to angels.abc13.com

Or

Send them to Lori Reingold "Greetings" Channel 13 -Post Office Box 13-

Houston

, Texas 77001

Let us hear from you.

Energy Star Tax Free Weekend pt. 2

If you are going to buy a major appliance, or even a light bulb, do it now! The state of Texas is repealing state taxes on Energy Star rated appliances and devices until midnight tonight.  Take a look at the whole list here.

What is an Energy Star rating?  Check it out here.

Save on Over the Counter Drugs

Wal Mart today announced plans to start selling hundreds of Over the Counter drugs for just $4.00.   The medications are Wal Mart brand generics and include allergy drugs, antacids, pain reliever's, and even vitamins.  There are too many to name, but check out a partial list here.

Widow's benefits

we learned that one of the "best kept secrets" is veteran's widow benefits. here are web sites and the veterans services phone number - if you need assistance.

Here is the information we told you about:
http://www.csd.hctx.net/
http://www.vso.hctx.net/

Harris County Veteran Services Department
281.876.6600

The veterans services also provide assistance to veterans and their dependents regarding compensation, pension, medical, educational, insurance and death benefits.

If you need help from one of our angels e-mail me directly here.

thanks,

lori

Protest your Property Appraisal

Today on Eyewitness News at 4 we showed you the Harris County zip codes facing the largest increases in appraised values.  If you live in Northwest Harris County, Kingwood, Clear Lake, inside the Loop or in the Spring Branch area, your values could be going up by 10 to 26%.

Take a look at the zip code break down here.

You still have time to file a protest and sign up to have the case settled on line.  You can do that right now by checking out the Harris County Appraisal District's web site here.

The deadline to file a protest is June 2nd.