http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross RSS Feed for DN Col Harry Gross en-us Wed, 30 May 2012 10:51:44 GMT 2012-05-30T10:51:44Z en-us http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120530_No_need_to_pay_for_college_admissions_help.html Q. Our son is going into his senior year in a highly rated high school. He has straight A’s for his first three years, and he’s on the school’s football team (they’re not so hot). A friend recommended that we see her child’s college counselor, who guaranteed that he would get her daughter into an Ivy League school and did. He charges $2,000 for his services, which include training for the admissions test and advanced placement. The guarantee was backed by a full- refund promise. He said that he has "very special relationships" (whatever that means) with the admissions officers at a number of colleges. I am hesitant, but my husband says that we should go for it. Our son says that he would rather do it on his own, but he’ll do this if we think it’s necessary. Help! A. I am always very skeptical about guarantees with money-back offers. A number of years ago, there was a similar deal offered by a so-called counselor who claimed special relationships at various colleges. He accepted only top-notch students. However, he did absolutely nothing in the way of training or even contacting the various admissions officers. Many of his charges were admitted to the colleges of their choice. Many were not and got refunds. But he made quite a bit from those who were admitted. A neat little scam. There are many youngsters who do it on their own with perhaps a little work with admissions-test guidebooks. My money is on your son going it alone. Wed, 30 May 2012 10:51:44 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120530_No_need_to_pay_for_college_admissions_help.html 2012-05-30T10:51:44Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120525_Getting_jolt_out_of_Volt_tax_credit.html Q. I think electric cars are the wave of the future. As soon as I read that [GM’s Volt is available in all states], I contacted a nearby Chevy dealer who has been a lifelong friend to get on the list to buy one. He assured me that I’d be among his first 50. The price will be about $40,000. The demand is apparently so great that the dealer will be able to demand full sticker price for some time to come, so I got no price break. However, he assured me that the price hit will be softened by a federal income-tax credit. He estimated that it would be computed to be at least $5,000. Is this so? How will the credit be computed, and when will I get it? Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120525_Getting_jolt_out_of_Volt_tax_credit.html 2012-05-25T07:00:00Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120523_.html Q. Some time ago, you had a letter regarding parking in the center lane of South Broad Street. The city lost revenue because there were no tickets. Well, I have a related problem with cars running the red lights at Bustleton Avenue and Hartel Street. This happens many times an hour. I live nearby and I have never seen a police car staking out that light. I often see police cars parked at the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts just a stone’s throw away with the cops just talking. A little more patrolling would net the city plenty of extra revenue from the tickets that would be issued. It would also make the streets safer for cars and pedestrians. I have no idea who to call about this without getting the local police angry at me. Please do something before we have a lot of traffic deaths. A. Contact the officer in charge of the police district in which you live. Also, contact your city councilman and the city’s 3-1-1 line. I think the safety issue is far more important than the lost revenue, but that could also be significant. As to the cops parked at a Dunkin’ Donuts, cops have to eat the same as the rest of us. Is it not possible that what you saw was a lunch break? Incidentally, you can remain anonymous in making these calls. n Wed, 23 May 2012 15:43:02 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120523_.html 2012-05-23T15:43:02Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/152204795.html Q. Our home in South Philly had a security system. When we moved to New Jersey, we transferred the old monitoring system to the new house which had its own hardware. Tue, 22 May 2012 20:15:58 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/152204795.html 2012-05-22T20:15:58Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120518_Should_unmarried_couple_buy_house_together_.html Q. We are an unmarried couple who are in the process of buying our first home. My credit is not so hot, so my friend will be assuming the mortgage while I put up the 20 percent down payment and half of the closing costs. We intend to share equally all mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs, etc. What is the best way for us to take title to the house? Fri, 18 May 2012 14:34:31 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120518_Should_unmarried_couple_buy_house_together_.html 2012-05-18T14:34:31Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120516_Can_retired_parent_gift_me_cash_.html Q. My mother recently moved to a nice, affordable retirement community. She would like to make me a gift of $13,000 per year tax-free for the next three or four years so that she can share my inheritance with me while she is still alive. Wed, 16 May 2012 10:48:52 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120516_Can_retired_parent_gift_me_cash_.html 2012-05-16T10:48:52Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120514_New_mortgage_can_help_dig_out_of_debt.html Q. MY HUSBAND and I are retired on a small pension and Social Security. We have a home-equity loan for about $30,000 (no mortgage) and almost $50,000 in credit-card debt. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:42:03 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120514_New_mortgage_can_help_dig_out_of_debt.html 2012-05-14T12:42:03Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120511_Getting_life_insurance_for_heart_patient_may_be_doable.html Q. MY HUSBAND has had problems with his heart since he was a young man. He never got any life insurance because he was afraid that he’d be rejected or given such a high premium that it would not be worthwhile. Fri, 11 May 2012 14:25:35 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120511_Getting_life_insurance_for_heart_patient_may_be_doable.html 2012-05-11T14:25:35Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/150697945.html Q. I am presently incarcerated. My mother recently died and left a very nice house free and clear of a mortgage, but left almost no money. My brother became administrator of her estate since there was no will. Thu, 10 May 2012 14:35:53 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/150697945.html 2012-05-10T14:35:53Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120507_Harry_Gross_returns_with_more_than_a_few_tips.html Hey, we goofed, OK? When we cut out Harry Gross’ column last July but insisted “remaining true to our populist roots as the People’s Paper,” most of you begged to differ. Mon, 07 May 2012 21:51:38 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/harry_gross/20120507_Harry_Gross_returns_with_more_than_a_few_tips.html 2012-05-07T21:51:38Z