You know that feeling when you've been ripped off by a shady contractor or a faceless corporation, and you just wish you had a "big brother" with a microphone to go kick some doors down for you? For nearly three decades in Arizona, that guy was Gary Harper.
He wasn't just some talking head in a suit. He was the guy who'd show up at a "fake" contractor’s house or track down a missing refund check when everyone else was giving you the runaround. But lately, people have been asking a lot of questions. Is he still on the air? How much money did he actually get back for people?
And honestly, did he really retire?
The truth is, Gary Harper 3 On Your Side became a household name because he did the dirty work most of us are too polite (or too tired) to do. He went after the scammers, the bed-bug-infested mattress sellers, and even caught police officers playing cards on the clock. It was classic investigative journalism with a desert twist.
The Big News: Gary Harper Called It a Career
If you’ve been tuning into Arizona’s Family (3TV/CBS 5) recently and wondering where Gary went, here is the scoop. In late November 2025, after 28 years with the station and nearly 40 years in the news business overall, Gary Harper officially retired.
It wasn't a sudden "he's gone" moment. It was a week-long victory lap. He looked back at the early days—think 1980s hair and fashion—when he was just starting out in Lubbock, Texas, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. By the time he hit his stride in Phoenix, he had become the gold standard for consumer advocacy.
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He finished on a high note.
On his final day, Friday, November 21, 2025, the newsroom gave him a proper send-off. It’s kinda rare to see someone stay at one station for almost thirty years these days, but Gary was a staple. He wasn't just reporting the news; he was fixing problems.
By the Numbers: $4 Million and Counting
People often think these "On Your Side" segments are just for show—a bit of TV drama to fill the 5:00 PM slot. But with Gary, the numbers were pretty staggering. Since he took over the consumer beat in 2003, he helped viewers recover more than $4 million.
That’s not corporate "savings." That’s actual cash back in the pockets of Arizonans.
Sometimes it was a $790 overpayment from a cable company that was being "held" for no reason. Other times, it was helping a couple get $2,100 back from an extended car warranty company that claimed the check was "in the mail" for months. In one massive 2024 case, his team helped a woman named Sandy recoup $16,000 that had been stolen from her credit union account.
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Why the "Gary Harper 3 On Your Side" Model Worked
- The Confrontation: Gary was famous for the "sting." He’d set up an empty house, call a shady contractor, and wait. When the guy showed up to take a deposit for work he never intended to do, Gary would walk out with a camera crew.
- The Persistence: He didn't just call once. He’d email, text, and call until the person on the other end realized it was easier to pay the viewer back than to keep dealing with Gary Harper.
- The Variety: One day he was talking about Tesla design flaws trapping kids in hot cars, and the next he was investigating why a woman was being billed $500,000 due to identity theft.
What Most People Get Wrong About Consumer Reporting
A lot of people think you can just email a news station and they’ll fix your $20 Amazon dispute. That's not how it works. Gary and the "3 On Your Side" team (including Susan Campbell) looked for patterns. They wanted the "big fish" or the stories that could teach everyone else a lesson.
They focused on things like:
- Contractor Scams: Specifically guys like Travis Scott of Unity Pools, who allegedly took money for pools and left dirt pits.
- Identity Theft: Showing how a single stolen ID can lead to half a million in medical bills.
- Corporate Red Tape: Forcing companies like Cox or Circle K to actually pay out when they were clearly at fault.
If you’re wondering why Gary was so good at this, it might be because he had a genuine respect for "doing it yourself." In a tribute he once wrote for a colleague, he mentioned how he admired people who could fix their own houses or engines just by reading books. He brought that same "figure it out" energy to his investigations.
Is 3 On Your Side Still Around?
Yes. Even though Gary has hung up the microphone to enjoy his retirement, the 3 On Your Side brand is still very much alive at Arizona's Family. Susan Campbell and the rest of the team are still handling the consumer desk. They still run the "Money Saved" segments every month.
Just in April 2025 alone, the team saved viewers over $17,000. It’s a legacy that Gary built, and it’s one of the few places where "regular" people still have some leverage against big companies.
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How to Get Help Now (Post-Gary Era)
If you’ve got a problem and you’re looking for the next Gary Harper, you don’t just shout into the void. You have to be smart about how you approach the station.
First, you’ve got to have your paperwork. Gary always said he couldn't help if there wasn't a paper trail. If you have a "handshake deal" with a guy named Vinnie to fix your roof, the news team probably can't help you much.
Second, you need to show that you’ve tried to fix it yourself. The station usually wants to see that you’ve made a reasonable effort to resolve the issue before they step in.
Actionable Steps to Take:
- Gather your evidence: Receipts, contracts, and a timeline of every time you called or emailed the company.
- File a formal complaint first: Go through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or the Arizona Attorney General’s office. This shows the news team you are serious.
- Contact the station: You can submit a tip through the "3 On Your Side" portal on the azfamily.com website. Be concise. Tell them exactly how much money you are out and why the company is refusing to pay.
- Be ready to go on camera: This is TV, after all. If you aren't willing to tell your story to a reporter, they likely won't take the case.
Gary Harper spent nearly thirty years being the "squeaky wheel" for people who felt like they didn't have a voice. While he’s now likely enjoying some well-deserved peace and quiet, the trail he blazed for consumer rights in Arizona remains the gold standard for local news.
Check your contracts, keep your receipts, and if someone tries to rip you off, remember that there's still a team in Phoenix that has your back.
Next Steps:
If you are currently facing a consumer issue in Arizona, visit the Arizona's Family website and navigate to the "On Your Side" section to submit your story. Make sure to include "Attn: Consumer Team" in your subject line and attach scanned copies of your primary contract or disputed invoices to speed up their review process.