Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

By Harlan Levy

Before I get into my main topic, I want to pass on this posting from the community site Nextdoor by B.R. from Glastonbury. It’s all about the site JustAnswer, which often pops up when you have a question – like how to fix, say, a leaky faucet. I’ve also had B.R.’s aggravating experience:

“I called JustAnswer to ask a very brief legal question. Found number online. Was told it would cost $5. Never saw a form or signed anything. Talked with a lawyer for less than 5 minutes. They charged $50 for the talk, which I paid. Since then they have charged me for two months and said somewhere in small print I signed up for a membership. They won’t refund me for one of the months – I was prepared to pay the first bill. Don’t ever use these guys. They are shysters.”

So, if you have a question go to sites that AREN’T JustAnswer.

Endurance extended car warranty

Following the lead of the ubiquitous and annoying CarShield extended car warranty TV ads are the equally-obtrusive Endurance extended warranty ads. Endurance promises great service and relatively inexpensive coverage if your car breaks down.

I don’t know about your experience, but my 11-year-old Subaru Outback has never broken down, nor has my wife’s 2016 Toyota Avalon.

So I researched Endurance’s charges and reputation:

• Endurance’s warranty plans generally cost between $104 and $141 per month.
• Total contract prices often range from $2,900 to over $3,500. Total costs depend on vehicle mileage, coverage level, and deductibles. A 30-month contract can range from approximately $3,750 to $6,607, depending on the vehicle. Deductible options typically range from $0 to $500.
• The provider also requires an initial down payment and an activation fee for their plans.

Reviews:

• Endurance Warranty Services holds a B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as of April 2026, but it faces significant negative reviews. Customers on the BBB profile often complain about denied claims, high-pressure sales, and difficult cancellation processes. Others, however, have reported positive experiences with customer service and claim approvals.
• Many consumers on the BBB Complaints page allege that Endurance uses tactics to delay or deny coverage for repairs.
• Some users report receiving misleading, high-pressure marketing materials, sometimes addressed to individuals who do not own the vehicles.
• While some customers praise the ease of getting repairs covered, a significant number of complaints focus on difficulty in canceling policies and receiving refunds.
• Despite the complaints, it is described as a large, fast-growing company, gold-certified by the Vehicle Protection Association.

Advice:

• Read the specific contract terms, especially regarding exclusions, before purchasing a policy, as some customers felt that common repairs were not covered. It is highly recommended to get a free, no-obligation quote directly from Endurance to get exact pricing for your specific vehicle.

Conclusion:

These days, who needs these monthly charges if you have asked the opinion of a trusted garage and researched the breakdown potential and experiences of same-year car models and found little to worry about.

Food hacks

Here are two “hacks” I found you may want to use:

• To keep strawberries fresh longer, place a folded paper towel in their container, close it, turn the container upside down, and store in your fruit drawer.
• After boiling spaghetti, Instead of putting your sieve/strainer in the sink and dumping the noodles into it, place the strainer in upside down over the pot and pour the pasta water out. That way you don’t have to transfer the noodles from the strainer back to the pot to mix in a sauce.

Now you know.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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