INVESTIGATES

When you hire someone to do a job at your house that you can’t do, you have to trust that they’ll do the job right. A Humble woman says she’s out nearly $800 and has nothing to show for it after she hired someone to clean her air ducts. It’s a common crime that happens in communities all over the country and we want you to know what to look out for.

Tests are supposed to be free, but one family is asking Amy what to do if you get a bill after you get your results. Do you have to pay a bill for a COVID test?

It's all in the name. 24 Hour Fitness has 18+ locations around the Houston area. Of course, they shut down during the pandemic, but now that they are back open, why aren't they back to being open 24 hours?

Bill Spencer shows you four critical steps you need to take to keep from being ripped off by a rogue moving company

Gift cards are always the popular go-to holiday present. Now that people are trying to use them some are saying their cards are worthless and the company that issues them won't help.

New COVID concerns are causing the cancellation of many events and concerts. Now, ticket holders are wondering what to do and some are worried about buying tickets to future events, like the Houston rodeo shows. We have what you need to know about buying tickets right now.

Forget law school or an astronaut, the dream job for kids right now is being a YouTuber or social media influencer. You probably know some of these stars make good money, but it's not without risk. We are looking into the risky business of being a social media star.

We’ve all been there where you answer a local number thinking it's an important call and it's a spammer or a recording. It’s frustrating if you are still getting these messages even though you think you have done everything to stop them. This week Amy explains a few things you can do to try and stop spam.

We are answering some of your questions about COVID testing and what to look out for when you visit a testing site. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is your resource to get answers about suspicious COVID test concerns. From testing costs to worries about fake tests, it’s a growing concern in our area.

You may be getting offers from companies offering to help get rid of your debt. Not all companies are the same so you may need to do your homework before handing over all of your information.

The COVID vaccinations millions of Americans are getting were already paid for with taxpayer dollars. So if you receive a bill it’s like you’re paying twice. The KPRC 2 Investigative team is looking into charges that one major Houston hospital system is billing patients.

KPRC 2 news viewers have called the station to report dozens of UPS packages and boxes littering parking lots. It almost looks like they were dumped there. You asked us what is going on and we are getting answers for you!

Once again, thieves are using the COVID pandemic to think of new ways to steal your information. Online money scams cost Americans more than $4.2 billion dollars last year. KPRC 2 Investigates has this warning about the most common COVID-related scams in 2021.

Many of us use the new year as a time to start saving money. As you set your savings goals for 2022 our Investigates team has warnings about the most common ways people lost big in 2021.

On Thursday Cole Hagan went home in time for Christmas.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has charged a Houston man with bigamy, the crime of being married to more than one person, which is outlawed in all 50 states.

One Pearland family was in for an unwelcome surprise after buying a popular holiday wish list item and ending up with nothing. The brand new Apple watch box was sealed and looked brand new. But thieves had clearly been inside. Now Apple and Walmart are going back and forth about who is responsible. KPRC 2 Investigates is getting answers.

Dealing with an insurance company after a car accident is not always easy - that's why one viewer is asking KPRC 2 Investigates for help. Plus, what to do if a bank is taking too long fixing fraudulent bank charges.

Stores are hopping right now with holiday shoppers. We have a warning if you are approached in a store by a salesperson who wants to switch your cell service.

Part of her brand new refrigerator broke just days after delivery. Now months later one Huffman woman says she still hasn’t gotten the help she needs. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team is on the case! And what we learned while dealing with Sears is something we all should be doing after an appliance delivery.

KPRC 2 Investigates our states’ paper license plate epidemic. Millions of illegal tags are being printed and sold. It’s a problem the DMV has known about since 2017. So, what’s taking the agency so long to fix the problem?

A new law allows homeowners in Texas to put up a perimeter fence around their property for added security. The law specifically states that homeowners associations can not restrict it. But some are trying. KPRC 2 Investigates team is looking into what your HOA can and can not do.

KPRC 2 Investigates digs deeper into a cozy relationship between the airports director and a subordinate. Both are named in an employee misconduct complaint filed by a former employee.

A former Houston Airports System employee says his claims of sexual harassment by a program director went unanswered by senior staff members.

People hoping to make extra money during the holidays are finding out the job they landed - isn’t going to pay. In a time when more people are looking for work from home positions, one job opportunity seemed like the real deal. One mom wanted to share her story in hopes of helping others. KPRC 2 Investigates explains how these potential employees are being tricked.

KPRC 2 Investigates is looking into used car dealer Carvana selling cars customers can’t drive. The problem - they can’t get the vehicles registered because the dealer can’t provide the title or the permanent license plate.

Is bail reform responsible for rising crime in Harris County? That's the topic of discussion with our team of experts on this week's Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall.

The ads online and on TV from Astroworld festival attorneys are in overdrive. As we see with every tragedy, there are always bad guys who will try to cash in. KPRC 2 Investigates has what you need to know about sending your personal information out and also advice for screening potential attorneys.

A crime-fighting tool is increasingly being used by businesses and neighborhood HOAs in Harris County.

Santa and his elves are kicking it into high gear and so are thieves. We have a warning about the increase in fake shopping websites popping up all over the internet. KPRC 2 Investigates team explains what you need to look out for when shopping online.

The City of Houston has raised water rates but customers are questioning the *accuracy* of the meter readings. KPRC 2 Investigates has one man’s story that puts the problem into perspective.

A new scam is targeting something just about all of us have in our pocket or purse - our cell phone. It’s called SIM swap fraud and our KPRC 2 Investigates team explains how criminals can steal your phone, your personal information and your money, without ever touching your device. We have the warning plus, what you need to do to protect the information on your phone.

We’ve got a warning about personal information being sold to would-be thieves. KPRC 2 investigates explains how criminals paid cash to get the personal information of dozens of people. Hear how FBI Agents working a national scheme zeroed in on a cell phone store in Missouri City.

On Monday, KPRC 2 Investigates exclusively obtained internal activity logs detailing what happened, as it happened, at the Astroworld Festival.

Dozens of lawsuits are in the works and more are coming up after the Astroworld tragedy. KPRC 2 Investigates has what you need to know before hiring an attorney for yourself, or even your teenager who may have been at the festival.

Houston Hertz customers say they were detained by police, and in some cases jailed, after being accused of driving a stolen rental car. The rental car company is now facing a lawsuit involving dozens of customers across the country.

Thousands of dollars gone and a time-honored family tradition canceled. One Splendora family reached out to KPRC 2 Investigates for help after they discovered the party venue where they planned to hold a Quinceanera closed down.

KPRC2 Investigator Bill Spencer shows you three ways to beat the juggers at their own game.

You’ve seen the videos of people running up, snatching purses or other shopping bags from unsuspecting victims. Law enforcement calls them “juggers” who are targeting those who are vulnerable and distracted.

We have seen them, heard them, and appreciated them.

Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner had a one-word reaction to KPRC 2′s latest investigation, “Unacceptable”.

Many of us have been there, when a utility company comes onto our property to access a cable box or lines and wires buried underground. You have to let utility companies have access to the easement. And in one case our KPRC 2 Investigates team is looking into, it's really David versus Goliath situation.

Since February the state of Texas has paid landlords more than one billion dollars for tenants who can't afford to pay rent. KPRC 2 Investigates has received dozens of complaints from people all over the state who say they are waiting weeks and months for promised help. Here are 3 tips to increase your chances of getting help to pay your rent faster.

A Harris County grand jury declined to criminally charge Commissioner Rodney Ellis in the African art case.

At a time when it seems like just about everything is more expensive, we want to warn you about potential sticker shock when it comes to your bills. You’ll probably be paying more for several of your utility bills this winter. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team is here with what you need to know to prepare.

Our KPRC 2 Investigates team has one family’s cryptocurrency fraud story and what anyone considering crypto should know.

Harris County is steadily building out a network of Air Quality Monitors, in part, because the state’s network of monitors has a history of being unreliable during times when people need them most, according to a Harris County Commissioner.

NTSB investigators on Thursday afternoon did not speculate on what may have caused Tuesday’s crash on an MD-87 in Waller County.

A 19-year-old Houston woman has filed a lawsuit against the rideshare service Lyft.

Houston roadways are busy and dangerous even on a good day. If you get in a car accident staying calm and knowing what to and what *not* to do can save you a lot of heartache and money. KPRC 2 Investigates helped one woman who got in the middle of a big mess after an accident. We also have helpful advice for you to remember if you ever get into a crash.

HOUSTON The Texas Supreme Court recently ordered no jury trials or jury selections are to take place before Aug. 1, unless a plan is submitted and approved by the Office of Court Administration. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree the system cant handle much more of a back-up and they have got to find a way to get things moving. Thiessen said only 10 people are allowed in a courtroom at a time and that includes court staff. Thiessen and Musick both were quick to say the idea of trial participants wearing masks wont work. The back-up in the courts is also leading to an increase in the population at the Harris County jail.

While booking the first leg on United, we saw the promotion of social distancing by limiting or blocking the advance selection of middle seats. But had the flight been full, social distancing would not have been an option. When we landed in Austin, flight attendants asked us to exit one row at a time to keep our distance, but a few passengers ignored the request. An internal memo says flight attendants should approach the situation with empathy and respect. Southwests official policy says customers will be asked to wear masks when social distancing is not possible. Its an indication that perhaps bluer skies are ahead for an airline industry thats navigating through turbulent times.