EDMONTON – For 20 years Global Edmonton’s Trouble Shooter has been standing up for Edmontonians and getting results. Host Julie Matthews is the longest-serving Trouble Shooter, celebrating her 10th year in this role. She informs viewers of the latest schemes, questionable businesses and product recalls to protect them and their wallets.
Here’s a look back at some of Julie’s favourite stories.
1. Online Romance Scams (a two-part feature)
“My most memorable moment was turning the tables on two overseas romance scammers,” Julie said. “I pretended to be a lonely widow looking for love online and for eight weeks strung them along with emails, phone calls and texts to expose the tactics they use. When I revealed who I really was, their reactions were priceless, and my scam investigation garnered national attention.”
2. Civil or Small Claims Court and Judgements (two-part feature)
Whether it’s a dispute with a neighbour, landlord or contractor — when all negotiations fail, you can take them to court. But to many, suing someone in civil or small claims court is intimidating. In the first part of her report, Julie cut through the paperwork and confusion. In the second part, she shared some tips and tricks to help you collect your cash, since — unlike what many believe — no one is forced to pay a judgement.
3. Inspector Sting
In Alberta, home inspectors are required to have specific training and be licensed. That doesn’t seem to be getting through to everyone in the industry, though. In an undercover investigation, set in a house full of hidden cameras, Julie teamed up with provincial investigators to catch unlicensed home inspectors. Here’s what happened.
4. Online Reviews Put to the Test
Thanks to the internet and social media, reviews of a business or restaurant are just a click away. Some review websites claim to have filters in place to try to catch fake and malicious reviews. But do they work? Julie put them to the test, and the results may change the way you look at online ratings.
5. Creepy car concerns
Lee White drives a hearse. It’s his personal vehicle, and not used for work. He says it’s a great ride and conversation piece; however, the management at the condo building where his mother lives had a problem with it, saying it was “creeping out” the tenants. With an eviction notice threatening his mother, Julie got involved.
6. Monica back in school
It’s a story that captured the hearts of Edmontonians: a wheelchair bound grandmother unable to take her granddaughter to school because the strech of sidewalk from her house to the school was impassable. Not even a week after Julie brought the family’s struggle to light, the young girl was finally able to return to school.
7. Hoarders
You may think it will never happen to your family, yet approximately 1 million Canadians are believed to be hoarders. Since the tendency increases with age, the problem is only expected to grow. Julie gave us an inside look at how bad it can get, as she introduced us to a local woman struggling to clean her mother’s home.
8. Happy Shovellers
After hearing about the lack of snow clearing services for people with disabilities, dozens of Global viewers came forward to help Carol Isherwood.
9. Battle with Rental Company
A tragic crash cut a family’s European vacation short, and left them with a rental car bill close to $10,000. The family then turned to Julie for help.
10. Up, Up and Away
After four years, a family has finally taken flight on a hot air balloon ride, but not with the company they originally booked with. Troubleshooter Julie explains.
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