Ask Amy: Facility Fees added to Houstoniansโ medical bills
We know a lot of you are paying more for your medical bills with added โfacility feesโ. Some seeing hundreds of dollars in charges above your co-pay. Investigator Amy Davis has heard from a lot of you about these fees after the KPRC 2 Investigation earlier this month. In this weekโs Ask Amy episode, Amy talked to experts about these fees and what you can do about it.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Car stolen while at repair shop. Who is responsible?
Last year in Houston alone thieves stole about 55 vehicles a day. Thatโs more than two every hour. Itโs why we use car alarms, lock our doors and do our best to protect our property. And when you leave your car at a repair shop you expect them to take the same precautions. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is looking into what happens when they donโt and whoโs responsible.
Ask Amy: Can my HOA just raise my dues?
From fines and fees to unexplained expenses we commonly hear your complaints about issues some of you are having with your homeownerโs association. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers to your HOA related questions with Attorney David Kahne. He represents homeowners in battles against their HOAโs.
Ask Amy: Insurance sticker shock! Two things that impact your insurance rates
We are hearing from a lot of you who have sticker shock when it comes to insurance rates right now. And thatโs if the company will even renew you. A lot of people are being denied insurance coverage. In this weekโs Ask Amy, Amy Davis looks into whatโs going on with rates and how technology is playing a bigger role in determining how much you will pay.
Ask Amy: Costly, common myths about divorce
A major life change like divorce can be stressful and expensive. There are common myths about divorce that can cost you a lot of money. For an episode of Ask Amy, Amy Davis talks with a lawyer who helps women navigate divorce and the top divorce myths that could cost you.
Why you may see a credit on your next Houston water bill
If you havenโt received your April water bill from the City of Houston, you may be pleasantly surprised. Several customers reached out to Investigative reporter Amy Davis curious about why they received credits to their bills. We are explaining why water customers are getting money back and what to look for on your own bill.
Ask Amy: Your FAQ about the new Houston water bill plan
Houston water customers DRAINED from inaccurate, exorbitant bills are hopeful the mayorโs new plan to fix the problems will work. But many of you have questions about the process. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has answers to your most common water bill plan questions.
Ask Amy: How to prevent property deed issues and protect home ownership in Houston
There are a lot of communities in Houston where families live for generations. Often times there are issues with property deeds and home ownership. In this weekโs Ask Amy, Amy Davis has what you can do now to prevent a big problem a lot of Houstonians face.
Hereโs how much more you will pay for your water bill this month
Houstonโs latest water rate increase took effect April 1st. The city said the average customer will notice about a 9% increase in their monthly bill. Investigative reporter Amy Davis crunched the numbers to show you what it looks like on real accounts and sheโs sharing what the city may do with the extra money.
โDRAINEDโ results: Houston Mayor announces new water bill improvement plan; hereโs what it means for you
After nearly two years of KPRC 2 Investigates DRAINED series exposing failures at the Houston Water Department, Mayor John Whitmire announces major changes. This comes a few weeks after Mayor Whitmire talked with Amy Davis about the ongoing issues and his work to find solutions for people.
How renters can make sure their water bill is right
The KPRC 2 โDRAINEDโ Investigation is helping people get to the bottom of water bill issues in Houston. Investigator Amy Davis has gotten questions from renters about water bills. Often if you live in an apartment you know water bills can be unpredictable. One month itโs high and the next month itโs low. Hereโs a way to determine what you actually owe for your water bill.
โDRAINEDโ: Huge water bills at apartment complex, what renters can do
While Houston homeowners struggle with inaccurate, seemingly impossible water bills we are hearing from landlords and renters who say they are โDRAINEDโ. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is getting to the bottom of one apartment complex water bill that - if unresolved- could leave renters homeless.
Ask Amy: How to cut funeral costs with the help of a funeral negotiator
Itโs something every person will probably have to deal with at some point. We are talking about paying funeral costs for your loved one or planning ahead for yourself. Amy Davis talks with the โFuneral Negotiatorโ about how to keep funeral costs down.
Who will be in charge of the new water bill relief plan? Hereโs what we know
Houston Mayor John Whitmire is sharing new details about a plan to help frustrated water customers. He gave an exclusive interview to Investigative reporter Amy Davis. โDRAINEDโ has been investigating the water department for nearly two years trying to help many of you deal with excessive and confusing water bills. But we wanted to know, who will be in charge?
โDRAINEDโ Results: Homeowner finally in new home after massive water bill issue
For the first time in nearly six years a Houston victim of hurricane Harvey is waking up in her own bed in a brand new home. It wasnโt just the floodwaters that kept Julia Benjamin from getting back home. A $39,000 City of Houston water bill almost kept her from getting the new home she qualified for from the Texas General Land office.
โWaste of taxpayerโs moneyโ: City spends money on trinkets amid water bill crisis
While Houston water customers wait for relief from inaccurate and unexplained high water bills thatโs left them โDRAINED,โ KPRC 2 Investigates has discovered the head of Houston Public Works, memorializing the department with trinkets weโre all paying for.
โI am not comfortable:โ Rep. Al Green on mail-in ballots and USPS delay issues
For weeks now - weโve been following these problems. The United States Postal Service says this is because they are working to modernize their mailing system. U.S. Representative Al Green talked with KPRC 2โฒs Amy Davis about how the hold-up could impact voters.
โThe amount was ridiculousโ: Houston family stuck with big ambulance bill. Why new Texas law wonโt help
When youโre sick or in pain and you need a doctor quickly you probably donโt stop to check rates for how much an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital will cost you. But did you know 1 out of every 4 ambulance rides results in a surprise bill for thousands of dollars? Itโs why a new law bans surprise ambulance bills in Texas. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains who is protected and what you should do anytime you get a bill from an ambulance service.
New twist on old โromance scamโ has thieves asking to send you money
You smell the flowers in the store and see the heart-shaped candy and gifts. This is the time of year when people may feel extra lonely and more vulnerable to fall for romance scams. Amy Davis warns that thereโs a new twist on the old romance scams youโve heard about.
Ask Amy: Can I get my money back for mail packages that arrive late?
Paying extra for expedited shipping is proving to be a big waste for Houston area mail customers. Now some of you are asking Amy Davis if you can get your money back for packages that arrived way behind schedule or havenโt arrived at all.
โDonโt make me fight to pay youโ: Customer says city hasnโt charged him for water in more than 2 years
Cable, electricity, gas.. if you want any of these things, you have to pay for them. But what if you used the service and never received a bill for them? Would you call the company to ask what you owe? How many times would you call? This is the same dilemma some Houston water customers are having. While many of you are feeling drained, stuck with exorbitant bills, we're hearing from other customers who say the city isn't charging them anything for water.
Public Works has $46.3 million in extra revenue. So why raise water rates again?
Each week we in our โDRAINEDโ Investigation are showing you water bills for hundreds, even thousands of dollars that are โdrainingโ Houstonians. NEW TODAY: We are asking questions about the planned water bill increases and extra city money. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains why some are questioning whether the city needs the extra revenue.
Houston-based car buying company Vroom shuts down, some customers left in limbo
One of the largest online used car dealers in the country just closed and this one is in our backyard. Houston-based Vroom, that took over Texas Direct Auto in 2015, is no longer selling cars. But itโs not a clean closure. Customers still have a lot of questions. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers.
โDRAINEDโ: Houston Mayor still working on plan to tackle high water bills. Council wonโt hear details Wednesday.
A big update on KPRC 2โฒs โDRAINEDโ Investigation into Houston water bills. Investigator Amy Davis was first to tell you about the outrageous water bills from the city of Houston and sheโs been helping customers get thousands of dollars in refunds. Now that thereโs a new administration Mayor John Whitmire wants to bring some much-needed relief and prevent these types of bills.
Thousands of Houston customers billed for water theyโre not using
Some 7,000 property owners in the city of Houston are paying monthly water bills even though they havenโt used a single drop of water. Houston City Council voted to change the ordinance in December to give those customers are way to stop the never-ending charges. But even with that change, the water department is still sending monthly bills without letting those citizens know there is a way to make them stop.
Ask Amy: Unclaimed money letter could be legit
We all get a lot of junk mail. So, if you get a letter that says you have unclaimed money you may not trust it. One viewer sent Amy Davis a letter she thought was fake, but Amy had the feeling right away that it might be real. You should know about this in case you get a similar letter in the mail.
Ask Amy: Frozen, busted pipe? Big mistake people make when filing insurance claim
If you have frozen, busted pipes and damage in your home you will be dealing with your insurance company. Amy Davis says how you handle that claim right from the very start matters.Attorney Eric Dick joined Amy for an episode of Ask Amy to go talk about storm damage and your insurance claims.
Water device featured in KPRC 2โฒs โDRAINEDโ investigation among top gadgets at CES 2024
Itโs always interesting to see the new types of gadgets and technology that people are working on. A product featured during this yearโs Consumer Technology Associationโs annual trade show (or CES) is something we featured in our โDRAINEDโ Investigation! KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis tested a water monitoring device that could help frustrated water bill customers.
Ask Amy: Can an insurance company offer you a rate, then change the price after youโve paid?
Maybe you have resolved to save money in the new year. One way you could do that is by shopping for new home insurance. But Amy Davis signed up with a new insurance company, then realized that low rate you are offered can change with no notice.
DRAINED: Who is investigating questionable city contracts? What is the Office of the Inspector General?
When KPRC 2 Investigates first exposed the conflicts of interest to the City of Houston city leaders told us they referred the allegations to the Office of Inspector General to investigate. Now, six weeks later Investigative reporter Amy Davis is explaining what that office does and does not do.
Remembering Kelsey Nalepa: 8-year-old killed in crash involving drunk driver gets highway sign in League City
In honor of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, KPRC 2โฒs Amy Davis and Haley Hernandez were able to speak with a League City couple whose daughter was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver in 2017.
Suspended water employee authorized $116k payment to her brother after city of Houston started investigation
Five weeks after KPRC 2 Investigates uncovered questionable connections between businesses awarded millions in waterline repair jobs and city of Houston employees, we're digging deeper to show you what city leaders have done with the information.
Houston City Council delays vote on water bill ordinances that couldโve provided instant relief to customers
The city of Houston could finally see changes to its policy that will hopefully help Houstonians who are feeling DRAINED by high water bills. The vote on new proposals was put on hold during the city council meeting.
โDRAINEDโ Results: How much money weโve helped customers get back on water bills
We are getting results from our โDRAINEDโ investigation into Houston water bills. This week city leaders plan to address the issue at city council, hopefully with some solutions. Plus, while we are hearing from more of you who have issues others are getting the help they need.
Is your neighborhood on the list of top places where people ask for water bill help?
We know Houston water customers are โDRAINEDโ dealing with huge bills you donโt think you owe. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has shared dozens of cases from customers looking for help. KPRC 2 has the hard numbers to show the growing problem and which areas of Houston have the most people asking the city to adjust their bills.
Houston city leaders take action on water billing issues following KPRC 2 DRAINED investigations
The Houston mayor said his administration has a plan to address high water bill issues in our city. He made the announcement late Tuesday, the same day multiple Houston City Council members submitted a notice to place water bill relief on the city council agenda. This is all a result of KPRC 2โฒs DRAINED investigations.
NEW VIDEO: Houston Mayorโs 2016 beef with KPRC 2โฒs Amy Davis
A tense moment between KPRC 2 Investigatesโ Amy Davis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over the cityโs water billing and infrastructure problems has gone viral. Weโve gotten a lot of comments and questions about what Mayor Turner was referring to in his comments on Nov. 15.
#RudeForHOU: Viewers react to Houstonโs mayor calling Investigator Amy Davis โRude!โ and refusing to answer questions
โYou are very rude.โ That is what the Mayor of Houston told Investigator Amy Davis when she tried to get him to answer questions about our โDRAINEDโ Investigation into water bill issues. KPRC 2 viewers are reacting to how the Mayor handled the situation.
Millions of dollars in questionable Houston water department contracts uncovered by KPRC 2 Investigates
KPRC 2 Investigates uncovers millions of dollars in city contracts related to the water department linked to questionable companies. Your tax dollars โDRAINEDโ while so many people are struggling with increasing water rates and sky-high bills.
How do you really know how much water you are using? We put water usage monitoring device to the test
When customers get bills showing two times, three times, up to ten times the amount of water they normally use they donโt trust the city or the meter. Investigative reporter Amy Davis shows one way to test the cityโs reading.
4 things to know before signing up for solar panels
Before you answer that knock at your door, listen up. Solar panel salespeople are canvassing neighborhoods across Houston. Some 55,000 homeowners in the Houston area have them now. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has what you should know before you sign on that iPad or tablet.
Houston leaders promise change, accountability after DRAINED customers takeover council meeting
On Tuesday, 27 people signed up to speak about their water bill problems after KPRC 2 Investigates asked the community to address the council after 18 months of reporting on unexplained water usage, meter readings, and billing problems.
KPRC 2 Investigates cluster mailbox mess
Many communities and subdivisions in and around Houston use cluster mailboxes. The clusters with multiple mail slots make it easy for people to get their mail from one location but when the boxes need repair or replacing mail customers say they're getting the runaround. They called KPRC 2 Investigates for help.
KPRC 2 โDRAINEDโ Investigation reveals troubling trend after people complain about getting high water bills
As KPRC 2 Investigates Houston water customers โDRAINEDโ from dubious and sometimes inaccurate water bills weโve noticed a troubling trend. Instead of getting to the bottom of whatโs causing the irregular bills Investigator Amy Davis says the city is using money earmarked for low-income families to pay itself.
5 steps to take the minute you get a high water bill
Got a high water bill you donโt think you owe? Youโre not alone. Since last November we have received calls and emails from more than 500 city of Houston water customers who are feeling โDRAINEDโ. Investigator Amy Davis has five things you should do in this order when you get a crazy high bill.
Ask Amy: Can my boss do that?
More than 100 Kingwood-area restaurant employees are getting backpay after the U.S. Department of Labor discovered their employer failed to pay them overtime. In some cases, they were not even paid the legal minimum wage. We are looking into common questions regarding worker rights including how to know if you have money owed from a previous employer, or what to do if you think your employer is not paying you the right amount.
KPRC 2 Investigates goes undercover to check out โshadyโ rental car company complaints
KPRC 2 Investigates a car rental company new to Houston luring drivers in with low rates and then jacking up the cost at the pick-up counter. Investigator Amy Davis went undercover to show you what's happening to dozens of drivers who fly into Houston's Intercontintental Airport and try to pick up a rental car.
Homeowner stuck with $39K water bill for home damaged during Hurricane Harvey
A homeowner called KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis after dealing with a water bill issue for years. A meter issue left her with a huge bill that stood in the way of getting the federal Hurricane Harvey relief money she needed.
The warning signs someone is already using your personal info
Patients from some of Houston's largest medical facilities are the victims of a major data breach. Investigator Amy Davis has with what you should know about medical ID theft and how to know if your information has already been compromised.
Will school let you know before they do a lockdown drill?
As we help get your family classroom ready itโs not just reading, writing and math your students are learning, they will also learn about lockdowns, evacuations and sheltering in place. There are six different types of safety drills Texas students will practice this school year. KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis explains the difference so you can talk to your child about what theyโre learning.
City fixes faulty water meter - still insists customer pay huge water bill
A Houston water customer called KPRC 2 Investigates when she said the city stuck her with a $2,400 water bill caused by its faulty equipment. Itโs a six month ordeal that mentally โDRAINEDโ this Kingwood homeowner. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers and what you can do if something similar happens to you.
Ask Amy show notes: Avoiding roof scams
The roofing industry is not regulated or licensed, so you really need to watch out. Investigator Amy Davis looks into what you should know before hiring roofing help. Christian and Jennifer Hernandez from JC and C Roofing join Amy Davis for an episode of Ask Amy.
โDRAINEDโ Investigation: Why you might have low water pressure right now
Some water customers in the City of Houston say when they turn on their water, they get only a trickle. Low water pressure is โDRAININGโ many of you from downtown to Garden Oaks to southwest Houston. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers about what the city is doing about it.
Ask Amy: 8 steps to protect yourself from ID theft
It can ruin your credit and cause a lot of problems. But a lot of people donโt worry about identity theft until it happens. This is a topic KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis gets questions about. The number one way to protect yourself from identity theft is to check whatโs going on with your financial information and do it often.