Warranty

Dear Mr. Azrael, We settled on our new home in October 1997. Before we settled, we noticed water in the basement that the builder assured [us] would be fixed promptly. Six or seven visits were made by the "punchout" crew after we settled with various explanations as to what the problem may be. Afterward, our calls to the builder were not returned. Letters were sent and not returned. We then left the matter unresolved, after tiring from our efforts at a resolution. We are still living in the home and still experience large puddles of water after a storm.

Dear Mr. Azrael, I purchased a new home in April 1999. During the second year of homeownership, in June 2000, the builder repaired a cracked pavement in front of my home. The repair was faulty, and the damage to the pavement has expanded. I have contacted the home warranty company but have not received any response. Who is responsible for [fixing] the damage? Norman Jackson Baltimore Dear Mr. Jackson, The builder is responsible for damage resulting from the faulty repair of your pavement.

They're not all happy about it, but condominium owners at The Club at McDonogh Township yesterday put up thousands of dollars in the first of three payments for structural repairs on eight Club buildings with deficiencies that have been the subject of controversy for years.The community's board of directors ordered the payments so that repairs will continue while it negotiates with a defunct developer, a homeowner's warranty company and Baltimore County over who ultimately must foot the bill.

Pelting rain and melting snow have penetrated the new roof on Corkran Middle School, flooding hallways and classrooms and prompting school officials to cancel classes today and tomorrow."

Ihope you can help me get satisfaction from the builder of my new home I purchased in June for $700,000. Some of the unresolved issues are: 1. In correcting a building error, the builder damaged some of the copper flashing around the bay windows. The builder replaced only small sections and, as a result, the copper is different in color and looks ridiculous. The builder says the new copper will weather, but there is still a variation in color. 2. Condensation in the gas hot water heater vent results in loud, constant dripping.

Dear Mr. Azrael: I have an issue with ground erosion beneath the walkway of my townhouse, and it is severe. I purchased a townhouse in November 1998, and the ground beneath the walkway has eroded severely and is threatening to collapse the concrete above. There are two cracks along the width of two of the steps, which I believe is from lack of support beneath them.[The builder] claims to have filled this in once, as is clearly stated as their only responsibility in various documents, but I question whether the work was ever done or done properly at least.

Flight attendants, USAir OK pactUSAir and its flight attendants have agreed on a new 18-month contract after more than one year of negotations, the Association of Flight Attendants said today."

Sometimes "really good deals" can cost you a lot of mone. Here are some examples:Credit card insurance:The pitch: You pay about $25 for a company to contact all your credit card issuers in the event your cards are stolen and to guard against being billed for unauthorized purchases.By federal law, the institution that issued you the card can charge you up to only $50 for unaauthorized charges, and then only for charges made before you notified it. So, if your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately.

Sykesville and the Ford Motor Co. may come to a parting of the ways.Twice this year, the town has had to replace engines in its Crown Victorias -- "police package units" -- used by its six-member Police Department.If the automaker does not compensate Sykesville for the cost of repairs and loss of service, officials have said, the town has bought its last Ford.All five police vehicles, including the newest K-9 unit, are Fords.Chief Wallace P. Mitchell has written twice to the Ford Customer Service Division in Dearborn, Mich.

Are you still carrying collision insurance on that clunker you call a car? Maybe it's time you consider dropping that coverage, says the July issue of Money magazine.Collision pays for damage to your car in an accident, and in some cases, that coverage may account for 20 percent to 40 percent of your total auto premium.If your car is old, however, it may be wise to pocket those dollars. As a rule of thumb, the magazine said, collision should be dropped if it costs you more than 10 percent of your car's market value.