Rachel DePompa
Investigative reporter
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Rachel DePompa is NBC12's On Your Side Investigator. Rachel grew up in Waldorf, Md., and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in broadcast journalism.Before joining WWBT in March of 2008 Rachel worked in Roanoke, Bristol and Harrisonburg.
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Protecting personal information is critical in the digital age, but according to experts, a simple web search of your name will likely return your age, date of birth or even home address. We show you ways to try to remove your personal information.
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Student loan interest rates are due for a significant hike. We break down the impact on your bottom line.
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Rental rates are rising to record highs across the U.S. and according to the latest research from industry experts, wages and salaries are not keeping up.
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Checking online reviews when shopping, researching vacations or even looking for a doctor has become an integral part of the modern consumer experience. But experts say many of the products or service reviews you’re reading were either bought or sold and completely fake. In “Five Star Fakes”, InvestigateTV found several posts on social media platforms where people are bartering - even buying and selling - online reviews, despite a federal law that prohibits this act.
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30% percent of Americans say they've skipped, or considered skipping, a wedding because they couldn’t afford to attend, according to a new NerdWallet study. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has expert advice on saving for the celebration and the art of the RSVP.
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A 2022 high school graduate will borrow on average $40,000 in student loans by the time they graduate college, according to a new NerdWallet study. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares advice from Elizabeth Renter of NerdWallet for students and parents.
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Credit card debt continues to climb in the U.S. as experts say people will likely lean on their cards to offset rising prices and interest rates. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa spoke with a financial expert Elizabeth Renter from NerdWallet on the best ways to manage your debt.
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Flights and hotels aren’t the only costs you need to plan for that summer trip. Here's why a daily spending budget should be on your packing list.
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A drone has helped discover thousands of graves sites at the East End Cemetery.
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In this Watching Your Wallet, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares why experts say loan pre-approval is an important first step before you buy.
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Even if you’ve avoided accidents or tickets this year, your car insurance costs could be on the rise. Learn how you can save money as prices continue to climb.
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In an effort to fight inflation, The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates by half a percentage point, the biggest hike in two decades. Consumer Reporter Rachel DePompa talks with a financial consultant to explain what it means to your wallet.
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Planning a big trip this summer but unsure whether to purchase travel insurance?
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Car insurance rates are not immune to inflation. As with everything experts say the cost of auto insurance will likely rise in 2022 so what can you do to keep more money in your pocket? Rachel DePompa is on your side with ways to cut your car insurance costs.
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We get this question a lot this time of year. Should you spend extra on travel insurance? Rachel DePompa finds out from an expert in this morning’s on your side savings guide.
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On April 4, 1865, just two days after Confederate troops evacuated the city, President Lincoln and his son Tad visited the still-smoldering ruins of the South’s former capital.
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Does it feel like all your friends are getting married? That usually means a lot of extra money you need to budget. Rachel DePompa has ways to save if wedding season as you feeling a little anxious.
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Cutting-edge computer technology designed to mimic the human brain is being used by hackers to create lifelike videos of celebrities and politicians. But now, bad actors are using this readily available tech to target everyday social media users in cryptocurrency scams.
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In 2021 credit card balances fell more than they have in 20 years. But with high inflation and stimulus checks gone- experts say credit card use is soaring again. Rachel DePompa takes a look at how to navigate credit card balances in a world full of inflated prices.
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What if your child gets scholarships and grants for college, but you still don’t have enough to cover the tuition? It’s a likely scenario these days with the growing costs of college. Rachel DePompa looks at ways to fill the gap in financing.
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Understanding your medical bill can be a hard process – but filling an appeal can be even harder. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa shares advice from a medical advocate of what you can do to challenge a doctor bill or an insurance decision.
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A trip to the emergency room can instantly change your life - not just medically, but financially as well. Americans are burdened with at least $140 billion in outstanding medical debt according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. But help is out there. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa speaks with experts on the frontline aiding those “Diagnosed with Debt”.
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Rent is skyrocketing across the country as inflation soars and supply is down. Rachel DePompa is on your side taking a look at the numbers and what you can do.
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Trying to find a way to cut an expense and save a little money each month? How about asking insurance companies for a re-rate?
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If you qualify, there’s no reason to file your taxes and pay a fee each year. And yet, according to Nerdwallet, nearly 100 million Americans who qualified didn’t take advantage of this feature.
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There comes a time when many of us will need to help our aging parents sign up for Medicare.
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Nearly 47-percent of teenagers are employed and earning an income according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Have you talked to your teen about budgeting and saving? Now is the perfect time to do so.
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There were 4.8 million identity theft and credit card fraud reports to the Federal Trade Commission in 2020... That's $4.5 Billion in losses.
A good way to figure out where you are financially is to look at your net worth.
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It’s not cheap to fly right now. So how do you become a frugal traveler and strategically save money. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has some ideas in this Watching Your Wallet.
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If you’re preparing for a child to go off to college-- it may be time to fill out the online applications for student loans.
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Whether you’re in a new relationship or you’re about to get married, it’s always a good idea to eventually talk money.
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Los expertos dicen que los hackers no solo toman control de cuentas sociales, sino que roban fotos y videos para crear una versión completamente nueva, y a veces es un perfil que no trama nada bueno.
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Experts say hackers aren’t just taking over your social media accounts, but many are stealing pictures and videos to create a completely new you, and in some cases, it’s a profile that’s up to no good.
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More than 33 million Americans have quit their jobs since the spring of 2021. It’s been dubbed the “great resignation”. Before you decide if you want to make a change, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has some reminders.
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Experts say the biggest thing holding most people back from buying a home is a down payment. Rachel DePompa is on your side with a look at your options and how much you really needed in this savings guide.
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Airline rewards programs can be daunting. You probably only want to know-- two things-- how many points or miles do I earn... and what’s it worth?
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Consumer prices are still showing no sign of slowing down. The U-S Labor Department reports inflation rising to 7.5% in January. Rachel DePompa shows us how to keep inflation from chipping away at your spending power.
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The spring housing market is hot, and a new study says millions of Americans are looking to buy a home.
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Supply is tight, mortgage rates are rising and prices are high-- putting the squeeze on house hunters. If you are looking to buy- experts say it’s more important than ever to be ready to make an offer.
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It’s time to start double checking your purses and wallets, because if you got a gift card over the holidays, there’s a chance it could still be hanging around waiting to be spent.
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Don’t just blindly pay your credit card bill each month. Rachel DePompa explains in this on your side savings guide why experts say to always look at the statement.
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How many times have you ordered something from Amazon, and it took longer than two days arrive? If this is you and you want some money back, you may want to hear what Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa has to say in this on your side savings guide.
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Most people look at their tax returns once a year-- as fill them out online or meet with a tax preparer. But a local expert says-- keep your tax returns handy throughout the year.
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Nearly $30,000 dollars, that’s the average amount of debt carried by members of the class of 2020, according to the most recent data. This is why it’s so important you make sure your graduating child understands how student debt works, Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa explains what you and your child need to know.
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Spring cleaning usually means de-cluttering your closets or maybe your garage... But what if you also extended that to your finances? Rachel DePompa explains how a deep clean of your budge and your house could put pay off in this on your side savings guide.
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A lot of people keep a close on their credit by having a company watch for suspicious activity. That’s called credit monitoring. But is it better to just freeze your credit?
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Buying a car right now-- isn’t easy. According to iSeeCars.com used car prices increased more than 27%.
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There are two websites you can use to find out whether something you just bought, or have owned for years, has either been recalled or reported as potentially dangerous.