The Clark Howard Podcast
Episodes
1.31.20 Variable pricing gets crazier with travel sites; Clark Stinks
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Variable pricing has made it even harder for consumers to book travel. But there are some important things to know when you are looking to book airfar...
1.30.20 Paying surrender fees is worth it to ditch high costs; Ford owes drivers millions after court settlement
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nonprofit and hospital workers, teachers and other 403b workers suffer much confusion from this rip off form of retirement plan. It’s a scandal that...
1.29.20 Cheap eyeglasses and contacts; FDA condemns Purell claims; Delete info Facebook has on you
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We tend to just accept that prescription glasses are costly. There is an international cartel that’s been buying up both retailers and frame manufac...
1.28.20 Google ad result confusing changes; Car insurance auto rates rising
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Google search results now present in a way making it more difficult to distinguish between results and ads. Anyone can be buying those ads which could...
1.27.20 Coronavirus impact; FedEx email scam; FICO credit score changes
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We face unknowns with the Coronavirus outbreak. Some practical matters to be aware of. Historically, odds favor the virus not becoming widespread in t...
1.24.20 Clark's self-installed $8 a month security system; Clark Stinks
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Clark’s quote for a modern home security system came in at $2700 + $25 a month monitoring or $300 a year. Meanwhile, Clark’s been touting self-ins...
1.23.20 Planning for retirement; Employer pays off employee mortgage; Income share agreements instead of student loans
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Clark discusses the expenses many retirees don't consider when they are planning for retirement. Some call them "stealth expenses." It's important to ...
1.22.20 Internet privacy law for minors; Paper check fraud grows; Socially responsible investing
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Other than recent initiatives in California, the U.S. is lagging when it comes to internet privacy protections. This spring, strict online privacy rul...
1.21.20 Natural gas prices plummet; Restore faith in Capitalism; Hottest job markets
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In some states people are able to shop their natural gas service. Regardless of state, know that natural gas prices have collapsed. Projections are th...
1.20.20 Even wealthy Americans struggling with debt; What to know about store closings and liquidation sales
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Bankrate survey has found that of those with $100k to $200K net worth, more than half are carrying credit card debt. The psychology of this is impor...
1.17.20 Cars that people keep at least 15 years; Clark Stinks
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vehicles are one of the largest purchases in life. To protect your finances, drive your car till the wheels fall off. Certain vehicles stand the test...
1.16.20 Grandparent scam; Retirement account hacking; Homeowner's insurance rates rising
16 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A senior gets a call from someone pretending to be a relative in trouble asking for money. This scam preys on seniors desire to help loved ones, resul...
1.15.20 New CA privacy law impacts; Windows security patch; Smile Direct Club issues
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many younger adults have no expectation of privacy. For others, there’s a clear expectation of privacy. Know when you download an app there’s the ...
1.14.20 Is college worth it?; Honey browser extension rocks; Clark discusses P2P lending profits
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In November Clark reported on the anti-college mindset and provided stats on how much more a person makes over time with any level of post-high school...
1.13.20 Employers paying you to relocate; Former Boeing CEO's insane payday; Verizon ditches TV contracts
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A large percent of publicly traded companies are losing money right now, even in a decade-long strong economy. But we’re moving into a feast / fami...
1.10.20 Small business loans are fraught with pitfalls; Clark Stinks
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since the Truth in Lending Act does not apply to small business, instant loans to small businesses is a major rip off area around the country. There’...
1.9.20 Big discounts in January; Free file your taxes; CA privacy law ripple affects for you
09 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There's a heavy wave of discounts this January in addition to historical discount patterns for this time of year. Fitness equipment is a deal now. Buy...
1.8.20 Travel deals & paying too much for internet; Teacher retirement plans; Be careful paying at the pump
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
January bring a LOT of travel deals. Clark talks about how to grab them. If you get internet from cable and there’s an increase, check out what the...
1.7.20 New retirement account changes; 2020 scam to watch out for; Returns are crushing retailers
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Congress just passed the SECURE Act which modifies how retirement plans work. The RMD – required minimum distribution has changed the age requiremen...
1.6.20 Upside down vehicle loans stink; Door to door investment salespeople; Lemonade insurance expands
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Edmunds.com research covering the first 9 months of last year finds that 1 in 3 who traded in a car at a dealership were upside down on the trade-in c...
1.3.20 The impact of running even just a little; The most reliable vehicles
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The CDC reports a massive decline in the smoking, down to 13% of the adult population. The same week, a dramatic decline in lung cancer was reported r...
1.2.20 Finding a free ATM; Beware bogus side hustles
02 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
2 months ago Clark shared a Bankrate survey finding ATM charges have hit an all time high. Banks are looking for every possible way to take advantage ...
1.1.20 Healthier snack options; Buying a money-saving car
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Some workplaces now have the open vending room, equipped with digital cameras. You can register a credit card via fingerprint for ongoing charges, or ...
12.31.19 Planning a cheap ski vacation; Why credit unions rock
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Snow skiing is a very expensive hobby. There are many bargains available for getting to the slopes and skiing. CO and UT are the 2 biggest ski zones. ...
12.30.19 How to get great customer service; College degrees that earn the most
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a need to call customer service, be aware they have a great deal of info on their callers. They may know everything you ever purchased fro...
12.27.19 Americans are moving less; Healthcare costs are a major American concern
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Historically, 1 in 5 Americans move each year. But the Census Bureau finds we are relocating at a much lower rate today, closer to 1 in 10 moving each...
12.26.19 Compelling electric vehicles; Save $1000 challenge for 2020
26 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Coming next year: the electric Ford Mustang SUV - faster than any Mustang muscle car before. Electric vehicles will get steadily cheaper with longer r...
12.25.19 Car subscriptions services; Making money online
25 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
People have become comfortable subscribing to most anything. But cars is a new frontier. The first efforts at car subscription services appeared in 20...
12.24.19 Senior citizens and student living together; Tech companies enter banking sphere
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One Minnesota senior living center is renting out vacancies to nearby college students. Students in residence volunteer hours to senior citizens for d...
12.23.19 Google Flights to save on travel; Don't carry these things in your wallet
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Google has the most sophisticated search tool for finding travel bargains because they acquired a key industry database. That combined with Google's d...
12.20.19 Retailers using secret consumer scores; Clark Stinks
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Retailers now use third party data services to determine whether you get to return an item, regardless of their return policy. "Machine learning" big ...
12.19.19 Commission-free investing; Social security scams; Getting rid of a timeshare
19 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In Clark's almost 33 years on the air, an unmistakable trend has emerged. In his first 15 years, there weren't questions about saving and spending in ...
12.18.19 Budgeting apps rock; Social media casting calls; Tap water safety
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A week out from Christmas, many have put themselves in a financial bind. Clark felt that those who used budgeting apps were the type who really didn't...
12.17.19 Fast food breakfast wars; Elderly scams; Streaming local stations for free with Locast
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
2020 will bring deals on breakfast. More people eat breakfast away from home. McDonalds and Starbucks account for almost half of breakfast buys, and o...
12.16.19 Jobs that don't require a college degree; Lending money to friends; New dental technology
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
So many are languishing in low paying jobs, unable to get ahead. See the Clark.com story on jobs that don't require college degrees and pay at least $...
12.13.19 Apps for buying local; Clark Stinks
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark discusses some newer apps that help you shop at local businesses. Christa reads listener posts about how Clark has missed the mark in his advic...
12.12.19 Emerging jobs to consider; Avoiding fund mistakes when investing
12 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
LinkedIn has published a list of the top 10 emerging jobs. The trend is clear: STEM jobs are happening. 7 out of 10 are related to tech, computers and...
12.11.19 Clark gets customer no service; Healthcare scam; Christmas spirit stories
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark NEVER ever settles a personal score in any public forum. But he will share how he’s been able to solve a problem. Last year Clark bought a dea...
12.10.19 How to return items; Wells Fargo is awful; End of year tax help
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The lines for returns start Dec. 26. Often you’ll get a gift card to use at that retailer to shop. The week between Christmas and New Year’s has b...
12.9.19 Unemployment is low but so is pay; Tipping during the Holidays
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark discusses the current economic situation. Unemployment is low. Hooray! But pay has not gone up as much as it should have considering the current...
12.6.19 Big travel deals around the corner; Clark Stinks
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Next year we’ll see many great airfare bargains domestic and international. Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit, the 3 hard discount airlines are having ...
12.5.19 Stopping robocalls; Public pension problems; Deterring porch pirates
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One recent study reports a record 5.7 billion robocalls were made in Oct. alone, up 25% from the month before. That translates into 182 million roboca...
12.4.19 Riskier consumer loans; Stop unplugging things; Unsafe toy list
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s estimated 1 in 5 U.S. adults has a thin or no file by traditional credit reporting methods. A new regulation was issued yesterday giving the gr...
12.3.19 Fake reviews online; Gift cards are awful; Revolutionary recycling techniques
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There’s been a huge increase in the number of fake reviews. Consulting firm Pattern found for an item listed on Amazon, a one star higher rating lea...
12.2.19 Clark tells his Black Friday experience; Personal loans for presents!?; Tenant screening goes futuristic
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Stores were not crowded on Black Friday this year. Clark visited Costco, Target, Walmart, Microcenter, Ollie’s & Five Below just to get a feel for r...
11.29.19 Credit Karma bank account; Avoid cable modem monthly fees
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We get many calls about online banks. Last December Clark was talking about stock trading app Robinhood launching a 3% checking account. That was shut...
11.28.19 How Clark would fix healthcare; Americans are saving more
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark promised recently to convey the key components for fixing healthcare in the U.S. He starts by asking how to align free market incentives with mo...
11.27.19 Lowest cost of living cities; Beware online micro-loans
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Move.org has published a new survey on the average cost of living in the 75 largest metros in the country. San Francisco is the most expensive city, c...
11.26.19 Is plant-based meat tasty?; Make your smartphone last longer
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark loves the Impossible Burger - not a fan of Beyond or veggie burgers. Recent reports reveal the Impossible burger isn't particularly healthier. T...
11.25.19 Workers fleeing big cities; Avoid this health insurance with terrible coverage
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Even with solid education, skills and jobs, it's difficult for many in high-cost cities to live without wheezing financially all the time, often with ...
11.22.19 When to use a travel agent when booking travel; Clark Stinks
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Travel agents are a thing of the past, right? Nope! While booking travel online has become incredibly easy and also allows you to compare prices more ...
11.21.19 T-Mobile home internet adds competition; Juice jacking invades public charging ports; Five Below raises prices
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Home internet has been way too expensive without much competition. Monopoly cable companies have cornered the market in most of the country. Clark pre...
11.20.19 Amazon expands free music; Buckle up this holiday season; Nursing home abuse tool
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark has a Spotify family plan. $15 a month includes 5 different streams - $3 per person. Spotify faces competitive market threats from Apple Music....
11.19.19 Wire transfer warning; No Christmas decorations!; Dollar Tree FDA warning
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
According to the FBI, wire transfer fraud is growing exponentially. Typically homeowners, small to mid-size business owners and nonprofits are target...
11.18.19 Healthcare price transparency; Gift exchange scam; Black Friday preview
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Trump administration has issued rules that has the medical industry in furious. New rules will require consumers have access upfront to costs for ...
11.15.19 Carry-on bag warning; Clark Stinks
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many fly only during the holiday period near the end of the year. Airlines gouge you on checking a bag, so many bring carry on bags. Airlines quickly ...
11.14.19 Google gets into medical records; Designer purse lawsuit; iBuyer companies great for consumers
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Google’s Project Nightingale is a huge initiative by the second largest hospital system in the U.S. Some are hostile to Google doing this. But this...
11.13.19 New privacy law and your data; Fake Costco coupon; Real ID law info
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
California passed a law that is having national impact. In the U.S. we lack any digital rights to privacy, while internet behemoths collect our data, ...
11.12.19 Managing a Waffle House; AT&T forces price increase; Scaling back on Christmas purchases
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Waffle House has been in the news lately!One recent late night, only 1 cook showed up for his Birmingham Waffle House shift. So the customers pitched ...
11.11.19 Veteran's Day; Disturbing Boeing revelations; Best streaming TV deals
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark comes from an immigrant family. All 4 of his grandparents were born overseas. From the time they became citizens, serving in the military became...
11.8.19 How screen time affects your kids brain; Clark Stinks
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A new study shows that the effects of screen time on small children could be physically changing their brains. The study which was published in JAMA r...
11.7.19 Employers offering more freedom; How to refi student loans
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement was a hot topic last year. People set early retirement goals and modified lifestyle dramatica...
11.6.19 Credit score help for licensed professionals; Krispy Kreme follow-up; Cancelling subscriptions
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly 20% of American adults have no credit file at all. There’s not enough data to establish credit risk. Around 25% of American adults have low ...
11.5.19 Stay in your home longer; Krispy Kreme stops college-age entrepreneur; Ford to update vehicles over internet
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark recommends a minimum ownership cycle of 7 years for houses and 10 years for condos. There’s enormous expense involved in both buying and selli...
11.4.19 USPS address change scams; FDA romaine lettuce debacle; Major issues with Airbnb
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
ID theft criminals are entering post offices with fake IDs and doing address changes. The USPS gets 37 million address changes each year. An unwitting...
11.1.19 New poll helps you plan your Christmas shopping; Clark Stinks
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
ClarkDeals has created a new poll that reveals some of the Holiday consumer shopping trends. Clark discusses the findings and how you should approach ...
10.31.19 Best HSA providers; New TX 403b law is terrible for teachers; Student loan regrets
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark talks about the best places to open an HSA. Some providers do a better job for people attempting to save money in their HSA while other provider...
10.30.19 Economic growth is slowing; Predatory online installment loans; Grocery delivery
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark discusses the fed rate cut and how the economy is slowing. Online installment loans are rising to prominence. The interest rates are almost as...
10.29.19 Open enrollment info; Creepy new interview technology; Cutting real estate agent fees
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Open enrollment is near for corporate workers and individuals on the federal exchange. Employers are facing major cost pressures providing healthcare...
10.28.19 Affordable housing; Deals for first responders; Take your vacation time!
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Affordable housing is in short supply in the U.S. these days. It hasn’t been this difficult to acquire affordable housing since 1948. Restrictive zo...
10.25.19 Electronic wills are becoming legal in states across the country; Clark Stinks
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
More people would be willing to create a will if the process was easier. So states across the country are changing laws to allow people to create thei...
10.24.19 Non-compete clauses are awful; Moviepass STILL charging people money; Drone delivery
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Two US Senators have introduced legislation to get rid of non-compete clauses in almost all cases. This is GREAT news because these non-compete clause...
10.23.19 Delaying school start times; Apple parental controls; Hackers invading online shopping carts
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
California has passed legislation to delay school start times. This is great for kids! Apple's parental controls for Screen Time have been easily byp...
10.22.19 New Walmart health centers; Equifax PIN update; Will the Boeing Max fly soon?
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Walmart is launching new healthcare centers around the nation. And up-front pricing is making things more transparent. You can get urgent care, x-rays...
10.21.19 Commute times hit record high; More reasons to beware of full commission stock brokers; Warning for joint account holders
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Americans are doing record time on the roads in traffic crawling to work. As many metros have developed by sprawl, public transit is not the answer. S...
10.18.19 Scammers are finding it easier to dupe people on internet marketplaces; Clark Stinks
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The BBB has issued a new scam warning. Historically, scams have most often come via phone. Now, the most common point of scam contact is on social med...
10.17.19 Businesses want to use chat technology with you; Medical images leaked online; Happiest states in America
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. has lagged behind in 'conversational commerce' enjoyed elsewhere in the world, where texting meets commerce for AI customer service. We spen...
10.16.19 Cell phone plan deals; 401k early withdrawal changes; Financial advice for different generations
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Of the 4 major cell carriers, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile & Sprint - all the growth over the past 4 years has gone to T-Mobile, steadily taking market sha...
10.15.19 Big strides in renewable energy; What to call fake meat?; Cost of cars over time
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are now more people working in wind / solar energy in the U.S. than in coal mining, which has become an industry in retreat. It's now cheaper to...
10.14.19 Is texting or email safer?; Concert promotion scam; SEC opens an investigation into 403b's
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There’s increased interest in protecting privacy. We forget how things we say aren’t private in this electronic era. Text messages aren’t real...
10.11.19 FCC battle vs states over net neutrality; Clark Stinks
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The FCC doesn't want states to be able to implement their own rules surrounding net neutrality. Clark explains what this court battle means for consum...
10.10.19 How tariffs are playing out; Watch out for crafty MLM's; What if your luggage gets damaged?
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
New tariffs will protect Boeing and hurt Airbus. The new tariffs could also mean higher prices on food and drink. AdvoCare has been fined $150 milli...
10.9.19 Low inflation creates job opportunities; Scam season is in full swing; How much allowance is good?
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We have the lowest unemployment rate in years, while wages remain relatively static. Most aren't seeing meaningful pay raises. Certain sectors of the ...
10.8.19 Low investing fees go lower; AT&T sends early termination bill to deceased family; Too much politics
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Follow-up: the financial industry continues its radical transformation. Technology has made it possible to invest at a lower cost. Last week Schwab an...
10.7.19 Google gives you more control over your data; Veterans wrongfully denied coverage; ATM fees
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Current privacy concerns have Google in the spotlight. Google lives in fear the U.S. will finally pass privacy laws outlining restrictions and consume...
10.4.19 Cheaper 401k plans for small businesses; Clark Stinks
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly half of us have no access to a retirement plan through work. Most small employers don’t know how to make this happen. If they go to an insur...
10.3.19 How to avoid fraud; New hires not showing up to work; Short-term rentals becoming more popular
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
NEVER NEVER NOT EVER publish your birthdate and place of birth online or on social media. Why? That's 98% of what a crook needs to steal your identity...
10.2.19 Credit score drops; Investment cons are alive and well; When to ditch an old car?
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We borrow principally for a home, vehicle, credit cards, student loans. A long-held frustration is how scoring models punish you for eliminating debt....
10.1.19 Schwab eliminates trading fees; Using your credit card overseas; Getting married in a diamond store
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Southwest is having a sweet sale right now! An all-out price war to zero is underway with small company Interactive Brokers and giant Charles Schwab. ...
9.30.19 Another reason not to use debit cards; Payroll company scam; Hotel deals are coming
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last week, there have been several stories published about why you should stop using a debit card. When you present your card in person, the ...
9.27.19 Grocery story happy hours lower costs and prevent food waste; Clark Stinks
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
By most estimates, 40% of the food in the U.S. is tossed – from expiration, restaurants, grocers. Some supermarkets route expiring food to food bank...
9.26.19 Apple & Google get into gaming; New tax form for seniors; Negative interest rates
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A gaming war is underway between Apple and Google. Both are offering subscriptions. For a monthly fee you get a number of games with no in-game purcha...
9.25.19 Open enrollment; Massive airline fees; Hot deals today
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’re nearing open enrollment. If your employer offers the option of a lower payroll deduction for a high deductible health plan or higher pay deduc...
9.24.19 How to stop SIM swapping; Digging up dirt on Amazon; Your TV is spying on you
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Your phone may power up, but if your service is dead, that could be SIM hacking. Crooks have penetrated operations of the big 4 cell provider to hijac...
9.23.19 Forced arbitration clauses stink; Government database breaches; Best time to buy a home
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This summer came reports that cell phone carriers have been tracking and selling consumer location info. Lawsuits have been filed against AT&T for thi...
9.20.19 Verified emails with watermarks are coming; Clark Stinks
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Deleting financial emails has become standard consumer behavior, due to so much spam. This has become a frustration for the financial services industr...
9.19.19 New Walmart credit card; People love to help; Factors that make car insurance cost more
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With new partner Capital One, Walmart is offering a store credit card or a co-branded Walmart Mastercard. With the use of their app tied in with a Cap...
9.18.19 Fed rate cut impact; Twisted tax law hurts military heroes; Medical bill shock
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Reserve lowers interest rates again to reduce the severity of economic slowdown and to help prevent a recession. The Fed is acting defensi...
9.17.19 Gas price fluctuations after Saudi attack; Equifax breach settlement follow-up; How gig workers get paid
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Saudi Arabia represents a huge percentage of world oil production. The recent drone attack took half their production offline. But it appears they wil...
9.16.19 Car rental warnings; Update on Apple's battle with independent repair shops; Scientific study touts benefits of being an optimist
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Clark recently returned a rental car. He had 5 pics of the car. Why? After returning, sometimes weeks later you may get a notice saying you owe for da...