Always avoid this roadside assistance, Clark’s 7 steps to get better customer service

August 29, 2024 | Read Online

People love to stream sports but is this a problem for the streaming platforms themselves? Find out more later in this email.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

Warning: Never Get Roadside Assistance From Your Insurance Provider

It may be tempting to purchase roadside assistance when you buy car insurance. But it’s usually a horrible idea, as Clark explains. Read more.

Clark Howard’s 7 Simple Steps To Get Better Customer Service

It’s natural to get flustered and upset when a customer service agent isn’t interested or helpful. Rather than get angry, here are Clark’s seven steps for getting what you want. Read more.

Should I Avoid Investing More Than $500,000 With a Single Brokerage Firm?

The SIPC, similar to the FDIC for banks, protects investment accounts up to $500,000. Does that mean it’s dangerous to invest more than that through a single company? Read more.

Cheapest Ways To Get T-Mobile’s Network

Did you know you can access the T-Mobile network while paying bargain-basement prices? Here’s the cheapest overall plan, unlimited plan and the best hotspot plan among those networks. Read more.

📣 Today’s Top News

Total Wireless Deal: Get 2+ Unlimited Lines for $15 Each

🏈 Streaming Loves Sports … Except For the Churn

As one of the only things people prefer to watch live, sports is becoming an ever-more-important part of the streaming landscape.

Netflix, Amazon and Google are upping the ante by competing with traditional companies such as CBS, FOX and NBC.

The NBA just secured $77 billion in new broadcast rights deals. NBCUniversal’s Peacock added 2.8 million signups in the first six days of the Paris Olympics alone.

But streaming signups invested in sports seem especially finicky. For example, in Q1, YouTube TV lost 150,000 subscribers for the first time in its seven-year history. It came during the same quarter as the NFL season ended.

Peacock itself saw a large bump after an NFL wild card game streamed exclusively on the platform in January. But it later lost 500,000 subscribers who churned out.

It will be interesting to observe the percentage of the millions of new subscribers who leave Peacock now that the Paris Olympics have closed.

If sports rights cause such seasonality among subscribers, will it force platforms to attempt to grab rights to enough popular sports properties to avoid “off-season” dips? Or will it eventually start to create a headwind for major sports leagues as they renew their broadcast rights?

Time will tell.

📊 Stat of the Day

🦜 $165,000: Damages that a New York City woman earned after an eight-year legal battle against an apartment building after management threatened to evict her and her three emotional-support parrots.

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🎙️ Podcast

YouTube video by Clark Howard: Save More, Spend Less

Full Show: QR Code Scam Warning and Clark’s Secret To Avoid Rental Car Toll Fees

QR codes are everywhere – and so are scams. Before you scan a QR code at a restaurant, parking structure, or anywhere, Clark has tips you need to know to protect yourself. Also, rental car companies are known for fees on just about everything, including tolls. Clark shares a few secrets to help you save.‌

Watch the Full Episode

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.