90º

AMY DAVIS

KPRC 2 Investigates: Are you paying for someone else’s electricity? One man found out the hard way - after discovering 7 fake accounts

Thieves are using stolen identification to open electricity accounts up and in some cases several accounts. Hear from one man who discovered seven accounts using his personal information! KPRC 2 Investigates is uncovering how electricity companies are doing very little to stop this from happening. Plus, what you should be doing to protect your private information.

Timeshare Termination company disappears with customers’ money

Traveling and spending time with family are two big draws that convince people to buy into timeshares. But when those timeshare owners want to get out of the expense and commitment, they usually find themselves stuck. That's why dozens of people paid big money to a company that promised it could legally end their timeshare agreements. Once they paid, the company disappeared. Those customers contacted KPRC 2 Investigates reporter Amy Davis to get answers.

If you collected unemployment in 2020, you get a tax break

HOUSTON – If you collected unemployment in 2020, you could get a bigger tax refund. Usually, when you collect unemployment, you have to pay federal income tax on that money. This year, you do not have to pay taxes on $10,200 of those benefits if you earned less than $150,000. Mary Bynum emailed consumer expert Amy Davis, writing, “I collected unemployment in 2020 and filed my return and received my refund in mid-February. On the IRS website, the agency explains what forms you should use and file if you are doing your taxes yourself to get the tax break.

How a faulty smart thermostat caused huge electric bills for one customer

HOUSTON – Smart appliances and thermostats are supposed to help users save money because you can adjust and control devices even when you’re not at home. But one Houston woman says her smart thermostat cost her thousands of dollars in sky-high electric bills. What happened“I would never have dreamed that it was my thermostat,” Nichole Medrano told consumer expert Amy Davis. When Medrano moved into her apartment 3 years ago, she hired Vivint Security to install cameras, a smart doorbell and a smart thermostat. A Reliant representative told us the thermostat was communicating with the furnace and turning it on every 15 minutes.

One year since pandemic began: These are the last pictures KPRC reporters took before the shutdowns

One year ago Thursday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic. AdKPRC2 Sofia Ojeda:The #lastphoto before the pandemic shut everything down last year. We went to the zoo.... Posted by KPRC2 Sofia Ojeda on Wednesday, March 10, 2021KPRC 2 Britta Merwin:My last photo on my phone before the pandemic. This photo makes... Posted by KPRC2 Britta Merwin on Thursday, March 11, 2021KPRC2 Amy Davis:#TheLastPhoto I took before the #pandemic #lockdown . @KPRC2 Posted by KPRC2 Amy Davis on Thursday, March 11, 2021KPRC2 Andy Cerota:What is the last picture on your camera roll from before the pandemic?

Tips to get your lawn and yard back in shape after the freeze

HOUSTON – In a “normal” year, Houston area lawns would be looking lush, green and ready for Spring. However, last month’s freeze left our landscape looking brown and dead. Randy Lemmon has been hosting the Garden Line with Randy Lemmon radio show on KTRH News 740 for nearly 25 years. He has been looking for signs of life all over the Gulf Coast region since the big freeze. According to Lemmon, you need to start cutting away all of the brown dead leaves and look for any green you can find.

Mom-versations: KPRC 2 moms on parenting styles

HOUSTON – When it comes to parenting, what’s your style? Our “Mom-versations” series continues as KPRC 2′s Courtney Zavala, Amy Davis, Sofia Ojeda and Britta Merwin weigh in on this popular topic. The moms all agree that they parent each kid differently. Watch the clip below to see the full discussion with the moms. RELATED: KPRC 2 MOMS ON KIDS AND TECHNOLOGYRELATED: KPRC 2 MOMS ON PARENTING DURING THE PANDEMICRELATED: KPRC 2 MOMS ON MANAGING MOM GUILT

Mom-versations: KPRC 2 moms on kids & technology

Our “Mom-versations” series continues as KPRC 2′s Courtney Zavala, Amy Davis, Sofia Ojeda and Britta Merwin tackle the topic of technology and screen time. The moms all agree that starting off kids with an old cell phone is appropriate. Amy says she’s heard of parents taking a pact to “wait until eight,” that’s eighth grade before introducing a cell phone. Sofia mentioned that her oldest daughter, “wants a cell phone, but we’re not doing cell phones for a while.”The moms also weighed in on screen time. RELATED: KPRC 2 MOMS ON PARENTING DURING THE PANDEMICRELATED: KPRC 2 MOMS ON MANAGING MOM GUILT

Mom-versations: KPRC 2 moms on parenting during the pandemic

HOUSTON – Parenting is full of challenges, but throw in a pandemic and things can really get crazy. Our “Mom-versations” series continues as KPRC 2′s Courtney Zavala, Amy Davis, Sofia Ojeda and Britta Merwin weigh in on the many challenges and funny moments that have occurred during this new normal. During the pandemic, Britta remained at the station. We were lucky to get it on the air.” - Courtney ZavalaAdAmy had a REAL mom moment happen during one of her interviews. Our kids are really feeling the stress right now.” - Sofia OjedaWatch the clip below to see the full discussion with the moms.

Houston Newsmakers: The cruel tragedy of the Sugar Land 95

The Sugar Land 95, as they have come to be known represent 94 men and one woman found in unmarked graves as a Fort Bend ISD School was under construction. Ad“They won’t cut off your electricity if your power provider goes out of business,” she said. Harris County Attorney to investigate ERCOTThe failure of the state’s power grid has spurred investigations into what went wrong. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee says his office will also investigate. “Harris County is the 3rd most populous county in the country, more populous than 25 States,” he said.

Full closet with nothing to wear? Sounds like you need a closet detox

Your closet is full, but you feel like you have nothing to wear when you get the chance to go out. If that’s you, you need a closet detox. “Take everything out of your closet and put it on your bed,” Lawson instructed. You’re buying things that don’t fit your shape, so you’re not feeling confident in what you’re wearing. After you have sorted your clothing and put what you want to keep back inside, make some money by selling the clothing you don’t want.

What do electric customers need to know after the winter storm? KPRC 2 is finding out

HOUSTON – KPRC 2′s Amy Davis is looking into what electric customers need to know now after the winter storm. Do you need to switch providers? RELATED: Time to switch power providers? Davis spoke with Jesson Bradshaw with Energy Ogre and Lisa Davies with Energy Procurement Services on Tuesday. Be sure to watch the full video of her interviews in the video player below as soon as it is processed and watch her reports on this topic on KPRC 2 News Today this week.

Third-party booking sites slow to refund money for hotels that were closed during the storm

HOUSTON – As families with no electricity tried to stay warm last week, some of them checked into hotels with heat. Third-party booking sites like Travelocity, Expedia and Priceline let people reserve and pay for rooms online, but when people showed up at hotels last week, they found them closed with no power. A manager at the hotel tells KPRC 2 they were closed because they had no electricity for three nights. Worthington tried to cancel her reservation and request a refund online, but she says her refund was denied. But at the end of our shift, we found the Hampton Inn closed because it had no electricity.

Time to switch power providers? Why waiting until after the Texas electricity crisis could be costly

Not because it will get anyone’s lights on faster, but because residents and business owners could be out a lot of money if some electricity providers start to fold in the days ahead. CenterPoint said customers without power should be prepared to have no power for several more days. - These conditions in the electric industry mean we will likely start to see some retail electric providers (These are the companies you pay for electricity.) That is what the retail electric providers pay to get it. Some electric providers are telling customers to please leave... even offering $100 off their last electric bills to encourage customers to go somewhere else.

CenterPoint explains why some customers are without power and others are not

Keep in mind, Centerpoint does not create or generate electricity, all they do is take the electricity and pass it on to customers. That was when Centerpoint started moving around electricity for certain customers. So some customers will see their power back on during the middle of the night,” he added. Mercado said Centerpoint was making good headway getting power back on to customers, but the company hit a new roadblock early Tuesday morning. Mercado said as power plants that are owned by third parties come online, they have to ramp up slowly before being at full power.

What you need to know about this spring’s Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market, coming in April

Consumer Expert Amy Davis previews the first ever spring Nutcracker marketHOUSTON – The Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market will make a return for the spring season this April. Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for on sale dates for Nutcracker Market SPRING* General Admission tickets! Though... Posted by Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market on Monday, February 1, 2021Due to capacity restrictions, all guests must purchase a ticket to enter the Market, regardless of age. Ticket purchases and 10% of merchandise proceeds will benefit the Houston Ballet Foundation, its academy, and scholarship programs. IF YOU GOHouston Ballet Nutcracker Market -- SpringWhere: NRG CenterWhen: April 16-18Tickets: $20 per person, regardless of ageTickets can be purchased at any H-E-B Business Center or on Ticketmaster.

Transform your home and even your car with one can of this paint

All this week, consumer expert Amy Davis is sharing “Home projects to DIY for.” Today, she’s starting with paint that can make anything look new, from your car to your furniture. You can only get Heirloom Traditions All-in-One paint online. Allen used Heirloom Traditions All-in-One paint. Free chair after painting with Heirloom Traditions All-in-One paint (Copyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.) That’s confusing for people... as well as what do I really need to accomplish this project?”There are 30 colors of Heirloom Traditions paint.

Ask 2: How do I stop robocalls and text messages besides registering my number to the National Do Not Call Registry?

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: How do I stop robocalls and text messages besides registering my number on the National Do Not Call Registry? Answer: There are many ways to stop spam calls even after registering your number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Manually blocking each number on your phone and simply ignoring the phone calls or deleting text messages are the best ways to keep robocallers from contacting you. You can also download an app on your phone such as Robokiller which helps redirect calls to another robocaller to answer.

Are you getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to buying tires?

Best Value for your money:This warehouse club charges $15 for each tire, $60 to install all four tires. Free disposalWe discovered the price youll pay for tire installation varies from one Pep Boys location to another. The Richmond Pep Boys told us it would be $64 to install all four tires. And when we checked the price for Pep Boys to install tires we purchased at Tire Rack and had shipped to Pep Boys, we got a quote of $117.96. We saw a local Pep Boys that would charge $78 for installation, making the total price here $789.96.

How to lower your cell phone bill today

HOUSTON - When was the last time you shopped around for cell phone service? WhistleOut can help you compare about 350 cell phone plans across 40 different providers for free. You can find all of this information on your cell phone bill. Advantages of MVNOsMVNOs charge much less than the four big carriers because they have much less overhead. Chang said Litchie should get the pay off amount for her phone, pay it and keep it, instead of trading up for the next model.

How to make a seller stand behind a warranty

HOUSTON - When you make a big purchase, the seller generally makes a promise to stand behind their work or product. But when something goes wrong, and you can't get your seller to fix the problem, you have some options. Before any work is started, make sure you get a copy of the warranty and what it covers in writing. If the seller is unresponsive or refuses to make the repairs covered by your warranty, file a written complaint to the Texas Attorney General's Office. Send a written complaint to consumer expert Amy Davis at adavis @kprc.com or mail it to 8181 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074.

Here is a what you can expect to see at the Pink Elephant Rummage Sale

HOUSTON - Houston's oldest rummage sale is back! The Pink Elephant Rummage Sale is in its 68th year and the women of the River Oaks Garden Club set up sale items at the Bayou City Events Center Thursday ahead of the all-day sale Friday. All the items on sale are donated by the women in the River Oaks Garden Club, and they range from $3 costume jewelry and $2 shoes to higher-end couture clothing and accessories. Watch her Facebook Live video below:It's Houston's oldest rummage sale & it's HUGE! #PinkElephantSale #RiverOaksGardenClub https://www.facebook.com/events/1375697802595953/?ti=as Posted by KPRC2 Amy Davis on Thursday, October 17, 2019Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

How to return Amazon products, save some money

Amazon has made returning products pretty simple with several options for getting the item back to the online giant. The best Amazon return option? If there is a Kohl's store near you, this is hands down the best place to take your Amazon returns. When Channel 2 consumer expert Amy Davis went by a store in West Houston, she walked right up to the counter exclusively for Amazon returns. Every time you return an Amazon item at Kohl's, you get a 25 percent off coupon to use inside the store.

Owner of estate sale company now behind bars

While Head was awaiting trial, she was charged with theft in another estate sale case in Liberty County. How to protect yourselfIf you're planning to hire an estate sale company, you should know that there are no laws or licensing for the industry. Check criminal records in the counties where you live and where the estate sale company is based. Ask for the following things in writing:How will the items in your estate sale be priced? How much will the estate sale company keep?

True or false? Sharing photos, vacation details on social media can void your insurance policy

That's the start of a Facebook post many people have copied and shared thousands of times in recent weeks. It explains that some insurance companies won't pay claims if your home is burglarized if you shared photos on social media that reveal you are away from your home. KPRC 2 wondered if the claim was true, so consumer expert Amy Davis dug around for some answers. Here's the post:Davis checked with The Woodlands Financial Group that has nearly 400,000 customers through 300 insurance companies. They said none of their policies carry this language, and they couldn't find a single domestic carrier using social media in their policy or denying coverage based on Facebook posts.

High cost of prescription drugs driving consumers to flea markets for medicine

Where did KPRC Channel 2 find prescription drugs for sale with no prescription needed? According to Chapter 483 of the Texas Health & Safety Code, only licensed pharmacies and doctors are allowed to sell and dispense prescription medication. It is even illegal for an individual to possess a prescription drug without orders from a doctor. What is the harm in taking prescription drugs without a prescription? The other problem with people taking prescription antibiotics without a doctors prescription is that they can become resistant to those drugs.

Consumer alert: What you need to know, watch for after a flood event

KPRC 2 consumer expert Amy Davis has a warning for what you need to be doing or watching for following a major flood event. Price Gouging After ImeldaAttorney General Ken Paxton is reminding people and businesses that price gouging is illegal in the wake of declared disasters like Imelda. If you live in one of the affected counties and you think a business is price gouging, file a complaint with the AG at Texasattorneygeneral.gov. Save your receipts and any documents that prove the price gouging. The AG will need those to investigate.

How to avoid being tricked by shady contractors

Consumer expert Amy Davis is showing us tricks shady contractors use and how not to fall for them. We've already received reports of contractors and clean-up crews going door to door in flooded areas where the water has now receded. One local roofing company owner says the only thing you should buy that starts with a door knock is Girl Scout cookies. When you get the estimates, don't reveal estimates from other contractors or the amount your insurance company is offering. You should let your insurance company know before you do that as well.

Cleaning your windshield just got a lot easier, but is it worth the price?

We're not talking about exercising, but the maneuvers you have to make to reach and clean the bottom of your car's windshield from the inside. Consumer expert Amy Davis testing the Hurricane Windshield Wizard that claims to help reach and clean that space easily. He's eyed the Hurricane Windshield Wizard before, but he just couldn't pull the trigger at the current $14.99 price. How it Works:An end cap on the handle of the Windshield Wizard unscrews so you can fill it with water. Pros:The Windshield Wizard does make it easy to reach the narrow space between your dash and front windshield.

Houston warehouse sells brand new 'Treasurez' at big discounts

HOUSTON - Customer returns, discontinued items and overstock, big retailers clear these items off store shelves to make room for new products. Consumer expert Amy Davis discovered a Houston warehouse that sells them for up to half off. "You got trolling motors and boat things, guitars," said Treasurez for Less owner Brian Pawlowski. He buys new inventory by the tractor-trailer load daily from big retailers that don't restock returns or discontinued items. Pawlowski sells it all for about 40 percent; some items are half off.

Too good to be true? Foam claims to keep sinks, drains clean and stink-free

HOUSTON - Nothing's worse than a stinky sink or garbage disposal. Sani360 Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer is a foam that claims to clean and deodorize your disposal and sinks. Three Steps1- Run the hot water in your sink for one minute after you have cleared out the garbage disposal. 3- Spray the Sani360 foam down the disposal continuously until the foam comes up over the rubber gasket. The can says you will get two months of use out of it if you use it on one sink weekly.

Win prizes in our pro football contest

This football season, KPRC 2 is bringing you awesome prizes and bragging rights with our Pro Football U Pick Em! Guess the winner of every pro game weekly until The Big Game. Pick against other football fanatics and KPRC 2's own VIP Pickers which includes Owen Conflenti, Taniya Wright, Jennifer Reyna and Amy Davis. Every week, you have the chance to win a $25 prepaid debit card plus a Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Combo Meal. The Grand Prize winner will score $500 to Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

Does this $10 phone mount really make hands-free driving easier?

The Fast Ball Magnetic Ball and Socket phone mount is $10 at Walmart, CVS and Target. The ball mount attaches to your dash with an adhesive and the socket attaches to the back of your phone or phone case. Claim:Holds device tight: patented magnetic mount combines strong, steel ball and magnetic socket for the ultimate media mount. The Fast Ball Magnetic Ball and Socket mount does come with extra adhesive in case you change vehicles or need to move the mount. ConsDepending on your vehicle, there may not be a good spot to mount Fast Ball.

Here is where you can get all types of furniture, decor starting at $5

HOUSTON - If you like a good deal, get yourself to Southwest Surplus on the North Freeway near Gulf Bank Thursday. Hundreds of mini-fridges from hotel rooms are $25. What you need to know to get there asap:Where: Southwest Surplus7700 North FwyHouston, TX 77037When: Open every day but Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Why does Southwest Surplus want to get rid of everything? From here on out, Southwest Surplus will be more selective about what pieces make the long haul. Once it clears out the current inventory, Southwest Surplus only want to sell high-end furniture from hotel suites and common areas.

These 5 answers to your questions will help show you how to get paid if you've been robocalled

Here are answers to the top 5 most common questions:Can you get money for robocalls to landlines? No, the section of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act that allows consumers to collect money from robocallers only applies to cellphones. Why do I have to buy the kit you told us about in the story to get the money? Can you send me a draft of your demand letter so I know what to write? I used the template letter in the kit.

Take a look inside Houston-area's newest water (soon-to-be amusement) park

NEW CANEY, Texas - Astroworld closed its gates nearly 14 years ago, and Houstonians have been longing for a replacement theme park ever since. Grand Texas Theme Park, located just eight miles north of Kingwood in New Caney, hopes to fill that void. Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures at Grand Texas is part petting zoo, part gator habitat and all fun and adventure. "It's entertainment for the entire family," explained Big Rivers Chief Operating Officer Terre Albert. WATCH: Amy Davis tests Big Rivers zipline and water slideYou can also float in Houston's longest lazy river or navigate North America's largest floating obstacle course.

Here are dentists in Houston that won't break your budget

At the Pima Medical Institute Community Dental Clinic on the Katy Freeway near Memorial City, teeth cleanings start at $19.95 and dental sealants are just $11 each. Lyons Clinic Houston Dental Clinic- Legacy Community Health3811 Lyons Ave.(832) 548-5400Eastwood Health Center412 Telephone Rd. Houston, TX 77051713-`732-5065Antoine Health Clinic5815 AntoineHouston, TX 77091713-602-3300Harris Health SystemsAcres Homes818 RingoldHouston, TX 77088281-448-6391Settegast Dental9105 N. WaysideHouston, TX 77028713-633-2020Aldine Dental4755 Aldine Mail Rt. Houston, TX 77039281-985-7600Vallbona Dental (formerly People's)6630 DeMossHouston, TX 77074713-272-2600Strawberry Dental927 Shaw RoadPasadena, TX 77506713-982-5900Gulfgate Dental7550 Office City Dr.Houston, TX 77012713-495-3700Harris Dental Center5230 Griggs Rd. Houston, TX 77099713-526-4243IBN Sina FoundationBeaumont/Port ArthurCommunity Dental Clinic8599 Ninth AvenuePort Arthur, TX77642409-724-7452Clear Lake Community Dental Center15132 Old Galveston RdHouston, TX 77598281-990-7462North Sheperd Community Dental Center5012 North Sheperd DrHouston, TX 77018713-695-7462South Post Oak Community Dental Center16345 S Post Oak RdHouston, TX 77053281-438-7462Wilcrest Community Dental Center11226S.

What KPRC 2 anchors and reporters are saying on social media about our Astros event

HOUSTON - KPRC 2 anchors and reporters celebrated KPRC 2 Night at the Astros, by meeting some of the stations biggest fans and of course rooting on the Astros. Heres a look at some of the social media posts KPRC anchors and reporters from Minute Maid. Anchor Frank BillingsleyAnchor Dominique SachseAnchor Bill BallezaReporter Haley HernandezReporter Jonathan MartinezReporter Amy DavisHost Derrick ShoreCopyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

Quite distinguished: KPRC anchors, reporters try out FaceApp aging function

Amy Davis, Justin Stapleton and Vincent Crivelli try out the FaceApp older function. HOUSTON - The familiar faces of KPRC look quite different using FaceApp, the app that can make you look older, among other functions. Here are some of the photos altered to make our anchors and reporters look much older than they do now. I'm... Posted by KPRC2 Amy Davis on Wednesday, July 17, 2019Justin Stapleton:Justin Stapleton/FaceAppJacob Rascon (and Art Rascon):The Face App makes you look older or younger, among other things. Posted by KPRC2 Owen Conflenti on Wednesday, July 17, 2019Vincent Crivelli:Vincent Crivelli/FaceAppRose-Ann Aragon:Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

Where to buy pet food at the lowest prices

Pet foods used in this comparisonNot every retailer carried all seven types of food. Warehouse clubs Sam's Club and Costco had the most limited selection. The biggest takeawaysPetSmart had the highest prices for five out of the seven foods. If Sam's Club or Costco carries the pet food you feed your dog or cat, they will always have the lowest price. Target and Walmart's prices were almost always within 20 cents of each other, but Target never had lower prices than Walmart for any of the pet foods we compared.

Beyond Burger v beef: How the plant-based product stacks up against the real thing

These are made with pea proteins, beets and coconut oil among other things and are designed to mimic the texture and heft of real beef. Beyond Meat Burger vs. Real Beef BurgerWe asked burger buff Justin Turner, owner and chef of Bernie's Burger Bus, to cook up his regular mouth-watering beef burgers alongside the Beyond Burger planted-based patties, which are soy-free and gluten-free. Turner served both a Beyond Burger hamburger and a real beef burger to four KPRC2 volunteers. It's delicious," she said of the real beef burger. However, all four taste testers preferred the real beef burger.