The Clark Howard Podcast - Episode Summary Release Date: January 27, 2025 Episode Title: SAVE More On Airfares / Your Privacy & Vehicle Data Collection

1. Saving More on Airfares

Timestamp: 00:54

Clark Howard opens the episode by addressing the evolving landscape of air travel in the United States. He highlights the dominance of major airlines—American, United, and Delta—and their establishment of “fortress hubs,” which has shifted the dynamics for consumers seeking affordable airfare deals.

Key Points:

• Emergence of Low-Cost Airlines: Howard introduces Allegiant, a Las Vegas-based airline specializing in leisure-oriented routes to less-served markets. He notes that Allegiant flies to numerous smaller cities, often twice or four times a week, providing significant savings compared to the major carriers.

• Competitors Rising: Following Allegiant’s model, airlines like Avelo and Breeze have emerged, expanding their networks to include destinations typically overlooked by the full-service airlines. For example, Avelo has made a notable presence in New Haven, Connecticut, offering fares that are about a quarter of those from American, United, or Delta.

• Advantages and Trade-offs: While these low-cost carriers offer substantial savings and reliable, non-stop flights to unique destinations, Howard warns of potential downsides, such as flight cancellations. Given their limited flight schedules, cancellations can leave travelers stranded for extended periods.

Notable Quote: Clark Howard emphasizes the reliability of these airlines by stating, “Allegiant, Breeze, and Avelo have been running extremely reliable schedules and reliable airlines” ([02:45]).

2. Identity Theft and Banking Issues

Timestamp: 07:52

In a call from Ray in Florida, Clark discusses the challenges victims face when dealing with identity theft and bank disputes.

Key Points:

• Delayed Bank Responses: Ray shares his experience where stolen identity information led to unauthorized bank transfers and withdrawals. It took months for the bank to return the stolen funds.

• Clark’s Advice: Howard advises that banks have a 10-business-day window to address written disputes. He stresses the importance of promptly visiting a branch to file written protests to initiate this timeline.

Notable Quote: Clark remarks on the inefficiency of large banks: “They just don’t care what the law is. They don’t care what the regulations are” ([08:20]).

3. Credit Freezes and Store Credit Cards

Timestamp: 12:54

Dean from South Carolina inquires about the implications of applying for store credit while having a frozen credit file.

Key Points:

• Impact of Credit Freezes: Howard explains that applying for a store credit card with a frozen credit file typically results in the application being rejected without affecting the credit score.

• Store Credit Skepticism: He voices skepticism about the value of store credit cards, referring to them as “junk credit” and advises listeners to avoid them unless necessary.

Notable Quote: Clark asserts, “Store credit is junk credit. There’s no upside to having store credit” ([13:47]).

4. Utilizing AI to Dispute Parking Tickets

Timestamp: 14:50

Scotty from Tennessee shares a success story about using artificial intelligence to dispute an unfair parking ticket.

Key Points:

• AI Assistance: Scotty used ChatGPT to draft a detailed and convincing dispute letter for a $65 parking ticket, which resulted in the dismissal of the ticket within 30 minutes.

• Clark’s Personal Anecdote: Clark relates by recounting his own experience disputing a wrongful ticket from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority without using AI, ultimately succeeding by presenting his own written appeal.

Notable Quote: Clark encourages listeners not to fear disputing tickets and to leverage AI: “Moral of the story, don’t be afraid to dispute tickets and don’t be afraid to use AI” ([14:50]).

5. Vehicle Data Collection and Privacy Concerns

Timestamp: 17:49

Clark delves into the increasing privacy issues related to vehicle data collection, sparked by an incident involving a soldier’s suicide and the Tesla Cybertruck’s tracking capabilities.

Key Points:

• Surveillance Capabilities: Modern vehicles, especially those like Tesla’s Cybertruck, can provide law enforcement with extensive data on a vehicle’s movements and activities.

• Lack of Privacy Laws: Howard highlights the absence of federal privacy laws that protect consumers from pervasive data tracking by automakers. He emphasizes the need for consumers to have control over their personal information and criticizes the legal loopholes that allow companies to exploit user data.

• Future Market Trends: Clark foresees a potential market shift toward vehicles with minimal tracking technology as consumers become more privacy-conscious.

Notable Quote: Clark articulates the struggle between technology and privacy: “We’re in a time where the technology is accelerating so quickly and we need to have more control over what others know about us” ([25:00]).

6. Freestanding Medical Scans vs. Hospital Systems

Timestamp: 26:59

Janice from Georgia shares her experience with freestanding medical imaging services, which provided significant cost savings but encountered issues with hospital system compatibility.

Key Points:

• Cost Savings: Howard previously discussed the benefits of using freestanding MRI and CT scan facilities to avoid exorbitant hospital prices. He cites his personal experience of saving approximately $2,400 at a hospital versus $300 at a freestanding center.

• Compatibility Issues: Janice points out that some hospitals refuse to read or accept scans from external providers due to their proprietary systems, forcing patients to repeat expensive procedures.

Notable Quote: Clark expresses frustration over the lack of interoperability: “It’s just wrong that they would pretend that only their own scan was a valid scan” ([27:25]).

7. Additional Listener Questions

• Byron from Kentucky on Sales Tax: Byron questions why his prepaid phone service provider collected tax on the full retail value of a discounted phone. Clark explains that state tax regulations, such as those in Kentucky, may require taxation based on the original price rather than the discounted rate. He advises contacting the state’s sales and use tax office for clarification ([30:08]).

• Diana from South Carolina on Credit Card Offers: Diana asks whether accepting a promotional lower interest rate on her credit card is beneficial since she pays off her balance in full each month. Clark advises that unless anticipating significant expenses, accepting such offers provides little advantage and recommends maximizing rewards from cards that offer cash back or other benefits ([31:33]).

Conclusion

Clark Howard wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of being proactive in financial decisions, whether it’s securing affordable travel, protecting personal data, or navigating banking challenges. He encourages listeners to utilize available resources, such as the Team Clark Consumer Action Center, and to stay informed through various platforms provided by Clark Howard.

Final Quote: Clark concludes with a call to action: “The purpose for you to learn ways to save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off” ([31:57]).

Resources Mentioned:

• Allegiant Airlines: Offers affordable flights to less-served destinations.
• Avelo and Breeze Airlines: New low-cost carriers expanding into niche markets.
• Consumer Action Center: Free one-on-one advice available at clark.com/cac.
• Clark Howard's Resources: clark.com and ClarkDeals.com for saving tips and consumer advice.

Note: Advertisement segments were omitted to focus solely on the content discussions and listener interactions.