Author: Sarah Sharkey

Saks Fifth Avenue joins a string of legacy stores, including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Old Navy and Nordstrom, in an exodus from Union Square in San Francisco.

The store has been a landmark in the area since 1981. But after nearly 45 years, the high-end retailer closed its doors on May 10.

“While the closing of Saks marks the end of an era, this was not an unforeseen development considering their recent changes to an appointment-only model, and Neiman Marcus acquisition,” said Will Reisman, a spokesperson for the Union Square Alliance in a statement.

Reisman continued in the statement, "We expect the path to downtown revitalization to have its twists and turns — still we are extremely optimistic about the future of Union Square.”

Company maintains a presence across the street

Since the pandemic, Saks Fifth Avenue and other retailers in Union Square have struggled with the changes in foot traffic.

Last year, the iconic store transitioned to an “appointment only” model. Presumably, the luxury retailer intended that this change would make the store more sustainable.

Additionally, Saks’ parent company acquired the Neiman Marcus Group in December 2024. With a Neiman Marcus location essentially across the street from Saks Fifth Avenue, the parent company seemed unwilling to maintain such a large presence in Union Square.

“While we saw meaningful engagement and success through the appointment-only format, we have made this decision as part of our integration process as we focus on long-term growth,” a Saks Global spokesperson said in a statement.

With this store closing, the first question is where the employees will go. For some, the answer lies right across the street.

The company claimed it would offer some employees transfer opportunities to the Neiman Marcus San Francisco location. Since this isn’t possible for every employee, others would receive appropriate separation packages.

For locals, the rash of store closings is sad. “I bought my suit at Bloomingdale’s only to see a month later that they’re gone,” said Grant Johnson of San Francisco to NBC Bay Area. “I just think these stores are magnificent, I’d like to see them stay, they’re kind of fun to shop in.”

A changing retail environment

Saks Fifth Avenue isn’t immune to the changes happening in downtown San Francisco. Since 2020, once-bustling retail districts of the city have seen declining foot traffic due to a combination of factors, including increased remote work, reduced tourism, and the perception of crime, according to CBRE. In fact, it said Union Square’s foot traffic declined by 45% between pre-pandemic levels and October 2023.

"In the first quarter of 2025, the overall vacancy rate in Union Square was up by 70 bps from the last quarter’s figure to 22.8%," said commercial real estate services firm Cushman and Wakefield. "Despite the increase of the vacancy rate, tenant touring activities were active in the first quarter, showing strong interest from national and international retailers looking for an opportunity in the San Francisco market."

Union Square isn’t down for the count just yet. While the old guard of retailers might be moving out, new retailers are moving in. Newer tenants include Banana Republic, IKEA, a flagship Zara location, World Network, and a highly anticipated Nintendo store. It is the Japanese company’s second official store in the U.S.

City leaders are pushing for Union Square and other retail locations to thrive. As a part of the city’s “Vacant to Vibrant” program, new pop-up retailers will arrive in Union Square soon.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A recent social media post stated, in part, “not a single international cargo ship at the Port of Seattle. The port is effectively dead.”

While the post went viral, a local news outlet, KING 5 News, decided to investigate the claims. According to the station’s reporting, the information shared in the social media post wasn’t true.

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Even as the Trump administration imposed up to 145% tariffs on most Chinese imports, which it has now temporarily walked back to about 30%, the port isn’t a “ghost town” yet.

Tariff impacts loom over the Port of Seattle

KING 5 News reported that, based on data from VesselFinder, which tracks vessel positions in real time, three container ships were docked in the Port of Seattle at the time of the post. The ships were registered in Portugal, Singapore and Hong Kong.

They also reported that traffic to the Port of Seattle was up 7.3% over the previous 30 days, according to the Northwest Seaport Alliance. In March, volumes were up by 18.4%, but that lift may be partly due to early cargo movement in anticipation of tariffs.

"The last forecast I saw was forecasting out over the next three months, and each month was forecasted to be down around 25% per month,” Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle Commissioner, told KING 5 News.

Ship traffic isn’t the only thing that may trend downward.

“Unfortunately, we are beginning to see a reduction in the total number of containers coming off any particular vessel when they come in,” Calkins said.

The Seaport Alliance says that some ships are arriving with 30% less cargo.

Additionally, some U.S. export orders have been canceled, which may leave U.S. business owners struggling to store and sell their products.

“Unfortunately hearing stories right now of our agricultural exporters having to come back to the terminal and pick up containers full of agricultural exports to return back and store them as they wait for a customer because the sale that they had made to an overseas customer was canceled as a result of the tariff war,” Calkins told KING 5 News.

As the tariff situation evolves, it’s possible a resolution won’t be reached in time to avoid fallout.

“If we don’t get a resolution quickly, I think we’re all going to feel a lot of pain in the pocketbook,” Calkins said.

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Impacts on personal finances ripple outward

The Port of Seattle represents a key player in a massive trade network. If shipment volumes continue to drop, it’s likely that people connected to the port will feel it financially.

With a drop off in imports and exports, some of the people who might immediately see an impact include dockworkers, truck drivers and warehouse staff.

As the impacts of tariffs play out across the economy, anyone closely connected to trade, like farmers and manufacturers, will also feel the pinch.

Unfortunately, a job loss could spell financial disaster for many, with around a quarter of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, according to a Bank of Amreica report. The domino effect can start with drained emergency savings and move to early withdrawals from retirement savings and sliding into debt to keep the lights on. Not to mention the long-term impact of pausing progress toward financial goals, like saving for retirement and paying off debt.

If you find yourself in a tight financial situation, budget for what you have and what are your immediate needs. Start by pulling back on discretionary purchases, like eating out and entertainment. From there, tap into any financial support available through your union or state, including unemployment benefits.

While income assistance can help you stabilize the situation temporarily, if the impacts continue, consider exploring job retraining programs and picking up a side hustle, like driving for a ride-hailing or food delivery service, to pull in some income while you look for a more permanent solution.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

After undergoing a medically necessary surgery on her colon, Madeline Rogers of Zephyrhills, northeast of Tampa, was shocked to discover that she was stuck with a $150,000 bill due to a denied insurance claim.

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“I was told every time: denied. Denied. Denied," Rogers told the ABC Action News I-Team. “Somebody has got to intervene and stop what’s going on with this healthcare system.”

Receiving a bill of this magnitude could completely derail anyone’s financial future. While recovering from surgery, managing the stress of this unexpected bill is the last thing that a patient wants to deal with.

Unfortunately, medical debt isn’t a rare occurrence in America. About 20 million adults owe some level of medical debt, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.

Insurance company denies patient’s claim

The day before heading into surgery, the hospital called to cancel because they hadn’t received the approval from the insurance company. Rogers called the insurance company for more information about the late approval.

She said, “I had spoken to the insurance company about the approval, and I was told on a recorded line, do not worry if you don’t have the authorization ahead of time. As long as the doctor deems it medically necessary, you won’t have any problems.”

Since her condition was life-threatening, Rogers decided to move forward with the surgery anyway. She paid $26,000 upfront to receive the care.

After the surgery, Rogers received a bill from the insurer indicating that they had denied the claim, and she owed $150,000 for her care. Immediately, Rogers started the appeals process. She went through two rounds of appeals and a peer-to-peer review by medical professionals without getting anywhere.

Finally, she reached out to the I-Team at ABC Action News to share her story. The I-Team reached out to the insurance company, Oscar, about the issue.

The next day, Rogers received news that her claim was approved.

“I was floored to hear from them so quickly," Rogers told the I-Team.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

What to do if an insurance company denies your claim

People in the U.S. owe a total of at least $220 billion in medical debt. Most of that burden is on individuals who owe more than $10,000 in medical debt.

If you find yourself facing a mountain of medical debt after a denied claim, start by appealing your insurance company’s decision. Patients with denied claims have the right to appeal the decision both internally and externally.

Generally, you’ll start with an internal appeal, which involves your insurance company conducting a full review of the situation. Without a resolution, you can move to an external appeal, which involves an independent third party reviewing the situation.

Another option is to negotiate the medical debt with the provider. In some cases, they might allow you to pay a lower amount to clear the debt. Many hospitals offer some level of financial aid. If you qualify for financial aid, this could relieve your medical debt burden.

When possible, start with the hospital’s billing department for guidance on your options. But if you need additional help, consider working with a medical bill advocate. Medical bill advocates can help you navigate the billing system.

In the best-case scenario, the insurer will cover the claim. But even if your insurer foots most of the bill, you’ll likely face some out-of-pocket costs surrounding a major medical event. With that, it’s helpful to build up savings in a Health Savings Account or a Flexible Spending Account to cover medical costs.

Finally, building a solid emergency fund to lean on during unexpected medical events can take some of your financial stress out of the equation.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Thousands of Americans experience identity theft each year — and when a bad actor starts using your information, there’s no telling what they’ll do with it.

Identity thieves put victims’ names on all sorts of fraudulent accounts, such as credit cards and loans.

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The fraud can also involve cellphone service, as one Florida man, who’s nearing his birthday, discovered earlier this year.

Mike Battista of Tarpon Springs, northwest of Tampa, was sent a cellphone bill from Verizon after someone used his information to open a new account. Even though he immediately reported the issue to the company, Verizon denied his fraud claim and still expected him to pay the bill left by the fraudster.

That’s when he reached out to a local news station for help resolving this issue.

Verizon denies Florida man’s fraud claim

Battista, a retired law enforcement officer with 28 years of experience, found an unexpected phone bill in his mailbox.

The bill, which contained his name, address and personal information, was for $198.30. It reflected the purchase of a new phone and a new phone line through Verizon.

Not only did Battista not approve this new phone line; he isn’t even a Verizon customer.

He went to the local Verizon store in Tarpon Springs to sort things out.

“They said they couldn’t do anything,” Battista said. “I had to go to a corporate store.”

At a second Verizon store, he was told no when he tried to close the account. From there, he immediately filed a fraud claim with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. After submitting his police report and fraud details to Verizon, he was shocked when they denied his claim.

In a letter to Battista, Verizon said, “We are unable to substantiate your claim that this account was opened without your knowledge or consent.”

Running out of options, Battista contacted a local news channel, ABC Action News. A consumer investigative reporter, Susan El Khoury, contacted Verizon about the issue. On the next day, Battista received an email resolving the claim.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

How to protect yourself from identity theft

Identity theft can wreak havoc on your financial life. Unfortunately, reporting identity theft to a company doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have the issue resolved. Companies don’t have a financial obligation to victims of identity theft.

But if you are impacted by identity theft, seeking recourse with the company is a valid option. In the best-case scenario, the company will not expect you to pay for purchases made by a fraudster.

However, if the company doesn’t waive your responsibility to pay for the purchases, consider reaching out to a consumer protection group, like the Federal Communications Commission (FTC) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to file a complaint about the situation. If you want more help, even your local police station may offer guidance.

Battista’s recommendation for anyone going through a similar situation: “If something doesn’t seem right, mention it to somebody, never surrender.”

But, of course, preventing identity theft before it happens is ideal.

One way to stop fraudsters is to freeze your credit with the three credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.

“It just takes a few minutes to request to freeze your credit report, and then if you decide that you need to open new credit yourself, you can unfreeze it,” said Anna Marie Fiallos, an investigator and outreach coordinator with Pinellas County Office of Consumer Protection, to ABC Action News.

Additionally, take measures to protect your personal information. Never share details about your finances with anyone over the phone, online, or via email. If possible, shred documents with sensitive information before throwing them away.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

When you get married, it might feel like a relief to pass off all financial duties to your spouse. But choosing to offload your financial responsibility can come at a cost.

Take, for example, the following scenario: A wife recently checked into her household finances and discovered that there was $31,000 in credit card debt. With her husband controlling every cent, she doesn’t have clear insight on where the money goes.

The debt is shocking to her, especially because she earns $120,000 per year. Now, she wants to learn how to protect herself financially, especially in the event the couple gets divorced.

Although the average household with credit card debt carries a credit card balance of $6,065, the high interest rates typically associated with credit cards can make it difficult to climb out of this hole.

But the real problem doesn’t lie only with credit card balances. After all, financial infidelity isn’t just about secret spending. This couple is likely also dealing with a lack of financial literacy.

According to a recent study, only around 48% of adults in the U.S. possess a baseline level of financial literacy. Without the right knowledge, it can be difficult to get a household’s financial situation under control, even without the added complications of a controlling spouse.

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Do shared assets come with shared liabilities?

Married couples often have shared assets, like a home or bank account. In addition to shared assets, many married couples share liabilities, like a mortgage or credit card debt. But when one partner doesn’t know about shared debts, that puts them at financial risk, especially during a divorce.

Many married couples often share joint responsibility for debts accumulated during the marriage. For example, if both partners open a joint credit card, they are both legally responsible for repaying that debt.

Even if you and your partner actively choose to keep your finances separate and avoid joint credit cards, state law might dictate that both partners are still on the hook for any outstanding debts. For example, if you live in Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington or Wisconsin, you’re on the hook for debt your partner assumes.

Whether or not divorce is on the table, it would be important for this person to get involved in the household finances immediately.

Although it can be challenging to establish new patterns of behavior around money, getting on the same page with your partner financially is critical.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, start by investing in your own financial literacy. As you gain competence around financial topics, you’ll likely start to develop confidence around making joint and individual financial decisions.

If planning to stay together, ideally, you’ll both come together around the central goal of money management. For example, if debt repayment is important to you, then hopefully you and your partner can commit to a debt repayment plan that takes care of the credit card debt as soon as possible.

If divorce is on the table, you’ll need a different approach. Start gathering information about the household’s financial situation. Tally up the assets and debts. If you aren’t sure where to start, look for credit card statements, tax returns, and bank account transactions to build a picture of where your funds are going each month.

With a clearer picture, move quickly to open your own bank account. Start depositing your paycheck into that account and build up savings to get you through the potentially rough patch ahead. In terms of household bills, you could transfer the necessary funds, and only the necessary funds, into the joint account for scheduled payments.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

If you are worried about your spouse opening more joint credit cards, freeze your credit temporarily, which prevents any new loans from being opened in your name or damaging your individual credit score.

Consider enlisting the help of a financial advisor to help you evaluate the situation and help you prevent any future financial damage. If divorce is a pressing concern, consider getting an attorney involved as soon as possible.

How do I rebuild financial autonomy?

Regardless of the situation, it’s critical for both partners in every relationship to build some financial autonomy. Although it’s somewhat common for women to leave money management to their spouses, that can backfire even with the most supportive of spouses.

A recent report from Fidelity shared that almost 90% of women become financially responsible for their own situation at some point in their lives. This might be due to divorce, widowhood, or choosing to stay single.

With that in mind, it’s better to build financial autonomy sooner than later. It’s often most important to start with building financial literacy. Learning how to manage your money can help you set up a plan to protect yourself financially.

For many women, rebuilding financial autonomy involves building an emergency fund and establishing individual credit accounts, while keeping diligent track of your finances and your personal budget. After hitting these basics, the right move varies based on the individual’s situation.

For example, one woman might choose to pay down her credit card debt, but a debt-free woman might start to aggressively save for retirement.

For those lacking the confidence to map out their own financial plan, consider turning to a financial advisor to get started.

Along the way, you can evaluate the continuing need for a financial advisor as you gain the skills required to build long-term financial stability and independence.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Like many condo owners in Florida, residents at the Heron Condominiums in West Kendall were expecting to receive a special assessment of some kind. The mandatory 40-year recertification inspection is the result of new regulations for condominiums in the state following the deadly 2021 condo collapse in Surfside, Florida.

But when their special assessment came back for $3.48 million, the residents were aghast.

While the aging condo building was likely to need repairs of some kind, the colossal price tag has left many worried about potentially losing their homes.

"They’re not against the special assessment," said Mayra Rodriguez, a resident speaking on behalf of several homeowners in an interview with CBS News Miami. "They’re just saying, why so much?"

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Expected costs put pressure on budgets

Those who own condos know that some of the costs and maintenance responsibilities are outside the residents’ control.

For example, this condo needs roof repairs, building repairs, waterproofing and other structural work. And, until these are completed, the buildings cannot be recertified and must bare code violation signs throughout the property. These repair costs are covered through the assessment, which is divided between the number of units a building has so that each unit covers a portion of that total bill.

In this case, the $3.48 million assessment is spread across approximately 250 units. Residents at Heron have a choice between two different payment options: a 10-year bank loan amounting to roughly $154 per unit per month or a self-funded payment of over $13,200, paid either as a lump sum or divided into four quarterly payments of roughly $3,300, starting in June.

In order for the condo board to move forward with the bank loan payment option, at least 66% of the condo owners must approve that action. With the vote yet to happen, residents are worried about being able to cover the cost on their own.

“That’s $3,300 every three months," Rodriguez explained. "Most people here just can’t afford that."

Beyond the consternation about the upcoming assessment, residents are frustrated about the lack of communication and transparency from the board. The owners at this condo complex already pay $260 per month in dues. But they aren’t clear on how those funds have been used.

"Where is all the money we’ve been paying for?" asked Jose Redondo, an owner in the complex.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Some Florida condo owners could see legislative relief

Earlier this month, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill aiming to bring immediate financial relief to condo owners.

The bill allows condo associations to tap into lines of credit or loans for their reserves and allows for an extra year to make repairs following a structural inspection.

While this bill may offer some financial relief for condo owners in the short term, it doesn’t entirely protect their budget or longer-term financial wellbeing. The ability to tap into loans likely means many condo owners will face an ongoing monthly payment (with interest) or higher condo dues. Similarly, not all residents have the luxury to wait for the bill to come into effect in July (Heron residents for example are expected to start paying their portions of the assessment in June).

So while Florida’s post-Surfside condo regulations were made with safety in mind, the new requirements have also meant greater financial strain for those living on a fixed income. Some residents of the Heron complex are seniors living on such an income. While their property values might be high, these lower-income residents may feel ‘house rich but cash poor.’

Depending on the situation, some residents might also not qualify for new loans to cover their assessment costs. If they wanted to leave the complex, they might struggle to find a comparable housing option in the area.

With that, many condo owners might feel compelled to sell below market value, downsize to a smaller place, relocate to a more affordable city, or switch to renting for the foreseeable future.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

With a new baby and two other growing boys, the price of food adds up quickly for Kandyce Thorton.

“I feel like every time I go to the store I’m spending more than I should,” Thorton told News 5 Cleveland reporter Elizabeth VanMetre in a story published May 1.

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And Thorton isn’t the only one feeling the pinch. Faced with high food costs, nearly 9-in-10 Americans (88%) have changed the way they shop for groceries, according to a 2025 survey commissioned by LendingTree.

Shoppers are going generic

One key strategy Thorton employs is opting for generic-brand products.

“I try to get something similar, even if it’s generic, just to kind of keep the price down,” she said.

Turns out Thorton isn’t alone in this choice. The survey published by LendingTree shows, among those who changed their shopping habits, 44% were buying more generic brands in pursuit of savings.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Other grocery savings strategies

Another creative way to cut back on grocery spending is to create a meal plan and stick to it. According to the LendingTree survey, around 38% of shoppers who changed their habits reported sticking more closely to their shopping lists. Only buying what’s on your grocery list and resisting the urge to splurge on extra items can help you save money.

If you struggle with temptation, opting to order your groceries ahead of time and picking them up at the store can also help you avoid the possibility of adding extras to your cart.

“You can make your list when you’re at work or when you’re at home and we do the shopping for you,” Marcie Mathis, director of a Meijer grocery store, told News 5 Cleveland.

As you make your list, don’t forget to look for relevant coupons and look for weekly savings in store flyers. Although you might just save a little bit here and there, the savings can really add up over time.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

When Jamie Lewis received a call from police about a party at her house, she thought it was a prank. But after her husband received a call from their neighbors, Lewis started to believe the outlandish tale about what was unfolding in her home.

On May 3, approximately 200 teens broke into her house and proceeded to throw a “mansion party,” as Lewis put it.

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“The feeling of being, first of all, vandalized and then just 1000% being violated is something that you just don’t ever want to have to deal with,” said Lewis in an interview with FOX5 KVVU-TV.

The teens made entry into the empty home by kicking in the door through her garage. Once police arrived on the scene, the teens began to scramble in all directions.

How did this happen?

The idea of teens breaking into a home in order to throw a wild party might sound like a plot from a movie. But for Lewis, this destructive story unfolded in her own home.

While out of town, Lewis initially didn’t believe the reports that teens were partying in her empty home. But the evidence quickly forced her to accept this painful reality.

“Seeing the videos, and realizing that we needed to get home, we needed to cut our trip short,” she told FOX5.

Although she’s not sure how the party organizers knew she’d be out of town, she’s certain it was all preplanned. In the days leading up to the party, organizers broke the gate into her community to make entry easier for guests and circulated flyers online about the event.

Lewis shared videos of the party from inside her home on social media with the goal of tracking down whoever is responsible for the party — and the damage it caused.

“I will not let this go. I will not let this go. I will refuse to cower and be scared. I will not do it,” said Lewis.

Since posting, Lewis has discovered multiple “mansion parties” have happened all over the Las Vegas area.

“These kids go from house to house, sometimes multiple houses in the same night,” said Lewis. “They charge money at the door, they bring in a DJ.”

So far, Lewis has spent over $12,000, according to Local News Live, repairing the damage left behind. But she still has many repairs to complete before the damage is completely resolved.

Las Vegas Metro Police are still investigating the incident.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

So-called ‘mansion parties’ are on the rise

“Mansion parties” are a growing trend. Essentially, it involves breaking into an expensive home and throwing a party. In most cases, this leaves behind extensive damage.

For example, New York Post reported a recent mansion party in East Nashville caused over $100,000 in damages across two unoccupied, recently built homes. Another mansion party took over a $1 million home in Goodyear, Arizona back in 2022, says Local News Live.

Beyond the damage caused to the property, uninvited guests can open the door to lawsuits against homeowners. If an uninvited guest gets hurt on the property, they might have grounds to sue the homeowner, even though they broke in, President of Greater Los Angeles Realtors Association Anne Russel Sullivan told CBS News last year.

If you’re leaving your home unattended, Lewis says to do everything you can to protect your property from unwelcome visitors. Locking doors and installing security cameras is a good place to start. If possible, install cameras on your property that will alert you to any unexpected movements. That might give you the warning you need to contact the police or race to the property to prevent any further damage.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

The last thing Chicagoans expect when they lift the hood of their car is a literal rat’s nest.

But rodents do enjoy curling up in warm spaces and chewing on any available wires, which makes nestling in the engine block of your vehicle a cozy spot. And, much to the chagrin of residents, rats have been making themselves at home in vehicles all over the Windy City.

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Once in your vehicle, rats can do a lot of damage. In one case, they caused more than $1,200 in damage to Koren Baker’s vehicle in the Irving Park East neighborhood.

“Whoa, that’s too much money to pay for just a rat,” Baker said in an interview with ABC 7 Eyewitness News Chicago.

Rat infestations are common in Chicago

Reports of rat infestations are racing up the list of complaints for the Department of Streets and Sanitation to deal with. Between April 2024 and April 2025, there were 43,400 complaints about rodents or rats to Chicago’s 311 hotline. That’s a 6.6% decrease in the average number of complaints from 2022 to 2024.

Rats often climb under plastic covers within car engines, destroy any available foam, build a nest, and chew through any easily accessible wires.

It’s a problem that master technician Mark Ferjak, of Berman Infiniti Chicago, has seen often. In addition to chewed wires, rodents leave their feces behind. Naturally, finding a rat under the hood — dead or alive — comes as a shock to car owners.

"I was very surprised, because I didn’t know it could be that big in the engine,” Koren Baker told ABC 7. “And we had been driving around with it for that many days.”

Further investigation showed that the rats chewed Baker’s insulation and made a little home out of it.

“You can see how they’ll take the insulation, chew it up, make a little nest, and then actually, here you can see the excrement,” Ferjak pointed out. “That is a lot, there, and it looks like they were there for a long time.”

While rats can find their way into your car, regardless of where you are in the city, the neighborhoods with people ratting out the pests include West Town, Lake View and Portage Park.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Protecting your vehicle from expensive rat infestations

Pest control experts have seen a sharp rise in the rat numbers in recent years.

"The population explosion of rats (that) has outweighed our efforts — collectively — to control them, is the bottom line of it,” certified pest management professional Janelle Iaccino with Rose Pest Solution said. “Coming out of the pandemic, the rats became widespread, not just residential areas, but commercial areas, too, and we can’t keep up with it. Their breeding is out of control.”

There are some cost-effective ways to prevent rats from nesting in your car. This means thinking beyond just your car. Ensure garbage cans in or around your garage or parking area are sealed, and if possible, avoid parking near any garbage bins, which attract rodents.

You can double-check the seal on your garage as rodents can flatten their bodies and squeeze through holes the size of a quarter. Also, store dog food, bird seed or grass seed in tightly sealed containers to avoid attracting vermin.

If you do smell a rat, Chicago residents can call 311. The city services team can help to set traps or bait the area.

Those willing to take protection measures another step further, consider signing up for a rodent control package. These services cost between $40 to $100 per month, which can be an offer that gives peace of mind. If ongoing expenses are not in your budget, consider wrapping a rodent-repellent tape around car wires. The tape is infused with capsaicin or peppermint and costs around $50 per roll.

For residents of rat-infested areas, adding pest control costs to their monthly budget might be a necessary expense.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.