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Carbon Monoxide Deaths Increasing

Portable generators and heating systems are to blame for many of the deaths.

Recent Recalls: Ford Lightning

Ford is recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks.  The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit when the battery is fully charged or near fully charged. Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery pack, free of charge.  Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 27, 2023.  Owners

Safest Places to Live Are in the Southwest

Fewer floods, earthquakes, storms in the Southwest make it the safest area, study finds.

Extended Auto Warranty Scam Squashed

Scammers fined, barred from telemarketing and warranty sales.

Click-to-Cancel Proposal Would Make It Easier to Escape Self-Renewing Subscriptions

Tired of that razor blade subscription? It may soon be easier to cancel it.

Hyundai, Kia Recall 570,000 Vehicles, Ask Owners to Park Them Outside

Hyundai and Kia are recalling 570,000 vehicles because an electrical short could develop and start a fire. Owners should park the cars outside, away from buildings or anything flammable, the companies said. The affected vehicles are model years 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2019-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe

Recent Recalls: Ford F-150, F-53, F-59, Bronco

Ford is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles.  The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at

Debt Collector Portfolio Recovery Associates Ordered to Pay $24 Million

One of the nation's largest debt collectors violated a 2015 order.

Recent Recalls: Ford Bronco Raptor, Honda Models, Ford Fusion

Ford is recalling certain 2023 Bronco Wildtrak and 2022 Bronco Raptor vehicles.  Internal damage to the steering gear may require increased steering effort or cause the steering wheel to lock-up. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the steering gear, free

Hispanics Living in the U.S. Face Elevated Cancer Risk

Latinos have higher incidence of risk factors like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

California Planning Crackdown on 'Fintech' Payday, EWA Lenders

EWA loans let workers get at wages before payday rolls around, but the money comes at a cost.

'Poor Decision' by Kia, Hyundai Made Their Cars Too Theft-Prone, State AGs Say

Consumers are paying the price for the manufacturer's cost-cutting, the states allege

FCC Acts to Block Robotext Scams

New federal rules will require wireless providers to block texts from numbers likely to be spoofed or hijacked.

Marijuana Health Claims on Social Media May Be Harmful

Marijuana companies use social media to push unfounded health claims, research finds

Recent Recalls: Sunbeam Heated Blankets, Fredericksburg Farm Candles, Pfizer Nurtec Drugs

Sunbeam is recalling about 60,000 queen sized heated blankets sold in the U.S. and Canada. They can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. his recall involves the Sunbeam Queen Size Heated Blanket, model number 32810027. The blankets were sold with detachable controllers and in the following colors: beige,

Luxury Gas Hogs Face Steeper Price for Premium Gas

It might be time to take another look at electric cars - premium gas prices are rising sharply.

Recent Recalls: Mockingbird Strollers, IKEA LETTAN Mirrors, STIHL Docking Stations

Mockingbird Single Strollers are being recalled because of reports of cracks in the frame. Mockingbird Strollers are made of aluminum and are black or silver in color. The seats are black, and the canopies are available in black, light blue, dark blue, pink and light green. The recall expansion includes

'Junk Fees' Drive Up Already-High Rent Costs, Study Finds

One landlord even charged renters a "January fee" - whatever that is.

Fraud Surging on Social Media, FTC Warns; Opens Investigation

Social media a "gold mine for scammers who tout sham products," FTC charges

Mediterranean Diet Good for Brain Health, Study Finds

Seafood, fruit, nuts are good for brain health as well as overall health, researchers say

Epic Games Sanctioned for Using 'Dark Patterns' in Fortnite

FTC orders Epic to pay $245 million to reimburse consumers fooled by tricky menus.

Who Should & Who Shouldn't Have a Home Warranty?

Do you really need a home warranty? For many consumers, the answer is "probably not."

How Credit Cards Get Cloned Without You Realizing It

When you are at an ATM don't let anyone get close to you.

Recent Recalls: YETI Coolers, Monoprice Cookers, Ford, Lincoln Trucks, SUVs

YETI Coolers, Monoprice Cookers, Ford, Lincoln Trucks, SUVs being recalled

When Is A “Safe Investment” Not So Safe?

Risky bank business - take a careful look before depositing large sums.

Recent Recalls: Bedsure Heating Blankets, Calico Critters, Bravely Bamboo Nursing Hoodies

Bedsure Electric Heating Blankets and Pads are being recalled. The controller for the electric heating blankets and pads can malfunction, posing fire and thermal burn hazards. This recall involves Bedsure electric heating blankets models in throw, twin and full sizes made of flannel and/or sherpa in the following sizes:

Scalding Tap Water - Dangerous but Easy to Avoid

Scalding tap water remains a serious public health hazard. A $30 fitting can prevent it.

Recent Recalls: Anker Power Banks, Adult Bed Rails, Baby Crib Bumpers

Anker 535 Mobile Power Banks (PowerCore 20k) with model number A1366 are being recalled. It can be used to charge multiple devices from laptops, tablets or phones with a 30W maximum output. The mobile power bank comes with two USB cables and in a variety of colors. The power bank

Recent Recalls: Purely Soothing & Apotex Eye Drops, Tesla Model Y

Pharmedica USA LLC is recalling two lots of Purely Soothing, 15% MSM eye drops because the product may not be sterile. Use of contaminated eye drops can result in the risk of eye infections that could cause blindness. The eye drops were distributed worldwide via Amazon Marketplace and other outlets.

Feds Go Looking for Junk Fees, Find Plenty Lurking in Loans

"Junk fees creeping across the economy," new report finds.

Recent Recalls: Mercedes Vans & Toyota Tundras

Two versions of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and recent Toyota Tundra models are being recalled.

Mexico Prohibits Shaking Down Customers as They Leave Stores; What About the U.S.?

in Mexico, it is illegal for stores to force consumers to show their receipts as they leave. What about the U.S.?

Recent Recalls: Nissan Rogue, Infiniti QX60, Dodge Durango

Recent recalls include Nissan Rogue, Infiniti QX60 and Dodge Durango vehicles.

Heat Pumps Save Energy but Often Get a Chilly Reception

Heat pumps work well and save energy but switching from natural gas can be a chore.

Cars Underwater! $1,000 Payments Grow

Cars do more to keep us poor than just about anything. Right now, the $1,000 car payment is a spreading curse.

Recent Recalls: TJX Office Chairs, Helly Hansen Sweatshirts, Primark Children's Plates

TJX is recalling about 82,000 office chairs. The back of the chair can break or detach from the seat base when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard. Contact info: TJX toll-free at 888-359-4763 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through

BetterHelp Ordered to Pay $7.8 Million for Revealing Consumers' Mental Health Data

BetterHelp promised to keep clients' data confidentail but shared it with social media, FTC charges.

Keto, Paleo Diets Score Low on Nutrition, High on Carbon Emissions

Keto, Paleo diets bad for humans and the earth, study finds. Vegan and pescatarian score highest.

Eli Lilly Cutting Price of Insulin Drugs Humalog and Humulin

Insulin prices spiked in the 2010s, sparking criticism from lawmakers and consumer advocates.

Instacart Intros Delivery Service for Small Businesses

Instacart Business targets small businesses that now buy their supplies locally and online.

New York Nursing Home Fined $7 Million for 'Worthless Services' Provided to Patients

Patients were neglected and Medicaid was billed for "worthless services," prosecutors alleged.

FDA Approves New Treatment for Macular Degeneration

A new drug offers hope to the one million Americans afflicted by macular degeneration.

Recent Recalls: Genesis, Ford, BMW Models

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60 vehicles.  In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap,

For-Profit Hospice Care 'Substantially' Worse Than Non-Profit - RAND Study

RAND study finds for-profit hospice care worse than that provided by non-profits.

Popular Sweetener Erythritol Raises Heart Attack, Stroke Risk, Study Finds

Erythritol is a popular sugar substitute but a Cleveland Clinic study finds it's associated with heart attack and stroke.

Feds Shut Down Majestic Home Loans For Military Lending Violations

Majestic Home Lending has been barred from making mortgage loans by federal consumer protection officials.

Recent Recalls: Cosori Air Fryer; SmartBase Bed Frames; HomeGoods Book Cases

Recent recalls include Cosori air fryers, SmartBase bed frames and HomeGoods book cases.

Who Should Write Your Eulogy?

Delivering a eulogy is a great honor. It's important to choose the best person for the task.

TitleMax Fined $10 Million for Overcharging Military Families

TitleMax fined $10 million for "predatory lending to military families" and others.

Recent Recalls: LumaRail Bed Rails; Jack-O-Lantern Candles; Lancaster High Chairs

Recent recalls include bed rails, Halloween candles and high chairs.

Consumers Lost $8.8 Billion to Fraud Last Year

Investment fraud topped the list of scams reported to the feds in 2022.

Daily Marijuana Use Linked to Heart Disease

People who use marijuana daily have a higher risk of heart disease, a major new study finds.

Amazon Buys One Medical Primary Care Clinics

Amazon buys national chain of healthcare clinics, will offer subscriptions for $144 per year

Recent Recalls: Ford Vehicles

F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, Lincoln Aviator Ford is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions.  The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the

Wearable Health Monitors May Be Risky for Some Patients

Watches, smartphones, other wearable health monitors may interfere with pacemakers and other essential devices, study finds.

All-Clad Lawsuit Nears an End

All-Clad Metalcrafters cookware is said to last nearly forever, which is roughly how long a class-action lawsuit has been working its way through the courts. A federal court judge in Pennsylvania has finally signed off on a $6.5 million settlement agreement. The lawsuit charged that the company's cookware can

Study Links Modest Amounts of Alcohol to Alzheimer's

The notion that "light" drinking may not be harmful – and may even be beneficial – is taking a beating lately, as large studies find evidence that alcohol is instead linked to cancer and death. Now a study finds a link to Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. Scientists at

Recent Recalls: Dodge Ram Trucks, Subaru Solterra, Ford Explorer

Chrysler is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine.  An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off. Owners are advised to park outside and away

New Energy Standards for Refrigerators, Washing Machines

There's nothing very exciting about appliances and it's easy to forget about them, but they can take a big chunk out of consumers' utility bills, running up electricity and water charges every month and, sometimes, emitting greenhouses gases that contribute to global warming. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Tesla Not the Only Automaker to Overpromise Self-Drive Capability, IIHS Warns

Tesla isn't the only automaker that overpromises the abilities of its self-driving system, insurance institute warns.

Vampire Expenses: How to Detect and Control Them

In managing our personal finances, it is important to pay attention to all the expenses we make, not just the ones we have planned. Many times, there are disbursements that go unnoticed and end up affecting our budget significantly. It is in this context that the so-called "vampire expenses" arise.

CBD May Help Smokers Kick the Habit

CBD may not do everything its boosters claim but researcher have found that it just might help smokers quit. A team led by Washington State University researchers tested the effects of CBD, the non-psychoactive component of cannabis, on human liver tissue and cell samples and found that it inhibited a

OTC Naloxone Could Reduce Drug Overdose Deaths

There are widely available drugs and devices to help consumers who suffer a heart attack, allergic reaction or other health emergency but well-known and effective antidotes for drug overdoses are often locked up behind pharmacy counters. It may be time to change that. In a paper published in The American

Tesla Recalls Thousands of Cars

Tesla is issuing a massive recall for hundreds of thousands of its cars, conceding that its automated Full Self-Driving Beta system can increase the risk of a crash. The company has previously disputed complaints about the system, insisting it is safe when used as intended but in its filing with

Recent Recalls: Disney Figurines, Outdoor Kitchens, Kids' Nightgowns

“My First” Disney-Character Figurines                                                             The arms or legs on the figurines can detach, posing a small part choking hazard to children. Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Kids Preferred for instructions on receiving a full refund.  Consumers who register for the recall will receive

Supplement Maker Charged with Hijacking Amazon Ratings

The Federal Trade Commission today filed its first "review hijacking" case, accusing The Bountiful Company of deceiving consumers by appropriating reviews and ratings from other products. Bountiful carried out its deception by merging its new supplement products on Amazon with different well-established products that had more ratings, reviews, and badges,

FDA Proposing New Definition of 'Healthy' in Food Labeling

"Healthy' is one of those words like "natural." It means something but the meaning is so broad as to be nearly meaningless. This leaves food manufacturers free to label their food as healthy without providing much in the way of proof. The Food and Drug Administration hopes to change that

Study Decries 'Dry Scooping' Protein Powder

Social media has brought society many things besides cute cat photos and disinformation. One trend just starting to emerge from the shadows is "dry scooping" – the practice of wolfing down protein powder without mixing it with liquid. It's a practice most popular among young men and adolescent males, many of

CashCall Ordered to Pay $167 Million in High-Interest Loan Case

A federal judge has ordered the high-cost consumer lender CashCall to pay $167 million in connection with unjust gains from small-dollar loans in a case brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in December 2013. U.S. District Judge John Walter ruled that CashCall must pay $134 million in

New Cars' Safety Gadgets Complicate Repairs

The crash avoidance features common on new cars have proven safety benefits but a study finds they can also run up big repair bills and can sometimes cause problems after they've been repaired. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety surveyed owners of vehicles equipped with front crash prevention, blind spot

Dark Chocolate Better for You? Not Always

Dark chocolate gets good press. Most consumers think it's healthier than milk chocolate. The USDA credits it with providing lots of iron and not much sugar. But is there a dark side to dark chocolate? There is, and it has to do with cadmium and lead – two heavy metals that

Scoot Over, Amazon - Shein is Moving In

Walmart and Target have tried to take over the online shopping space from Amazon but haven't made too much of a dent. But a new challenger is on the scene – Shein, a Chinese fashion retailer whose app is said to be the most-downloaded on earth. Shein has already made a

MoneyGram Refunding $115 Million In Scam Funds Crackdown

MoneyGram is paying the price for failing to stop scammers from exploiting its system. It is sending more than $115 million in refunds to consumers nationwide. The refunds are a result of a 2018 action the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice brought against MoneyGram, charging

Recent Recalls: Baby Bags, Garage Doors, Silver Lining Baby Gyms

There is a constant stream of safety recalls, some more urgent than others but all important. Here are a few of the more recent ones: Baby Sleep Sacks The problem is that the zipper can detach from the sleep sack, posing a choking hazard. Consumers should immediately stop using, take

The Lies Romance Scammers Tell

They're not little white lies. The lies that romance scammers tell their victims are big, ugly and expensive. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that in 2022 alone, 70,000 consumers lost $1.3 billion to romance scammers. The FTC extracted those estimates from their new data spotlight, which found that

Google, iHeartMedia Aired Deceptive Radio Ads

Google and iHeartMedia, which owns radio stations across the country, have settled charges that they aired deceptive radio ads touting Google's Pixel 4 smartphone. Besides the settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the companies will pay about $9.4 million in penalties to states, including Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts,

Consumers Die While Recall Process Plods Along: Report

Safety recalls are intended to alert consumers to dangerous products and give them a clear pathway to replacing or modifying the defective product. But a new report from U.S. PIRG finds the process drags along so slowly that consumers continue to be injured and even killed before the recalls

FDA Punts to Congress on CBD Regulation

Most medical authorities agree that not too much is known about the benefits and risks of CBD, a chemical found in marijuana. Supplement pushers and hemp farmers have been pressing for regulation – legalization in other words – but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been resisting. CBD isn't

Puppy Loan Bank's Rating Downgraded by FDIC

A bank heavily criticized for making predatory loans to consumers buying puppies has been brought to heel by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which said it has downgraded the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance rating of Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB Bank) to “needs to improve,” a low rating that

Feds Moving Against Pay-to-Play Mortgage Info Sites

Comparing mortgage interest rates is essential for would-be homeowners but it can be difficult to get good information because of all the pay-to-play web sites that disguise themselves as objective sources of information. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) would like to put an end to that practice and has

Amazon's Growth Was 'Nearly Flat' in 2022, a First

Trying to keep track of Amazon's many ventures is like trying to count pollen in springtime but one simple fact emerged as 2022 drew to a close: the company's growth was nearly flat for the year. That's a first for the giant online retailer, which has shown consistent growth in

ZyCal Barred From Claiming It Can Grow New Bone

The makers of ZyCal, a supplement that supposedly relieves joint pain by growing new bone have agreed to stop making that claim, as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC today announced an order settling a 2020 federal lawsuit against ZyCal Bioceuticals Healthcare Company, Inc., which

Honey Smacks Maker Fined $19 Million for Unsanitary Practices

One of the companies that manufactures Kellog's Honey Smacks cereal faces a $19 million dollar fine, the largest criminal penalty ever imposed in a food safety case, the U.S. Justice Department announced Friday. Food and ingredient manufacturing company Kerry Inc. pleaded guilty to a charge that it manufactured breakfast

Kids' Robes Sold on Amazon Recalled for Fire Danger

Children's clothing sold exclusively on Amazon is being recalled because it fails to meet flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Consumers should immediately take the recalled robes away from children, stop using and destroy

Feds Set New Safety Standards for Gas Cans

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is requiring new flame mitigation devices on gas cans and other fuel containers in an effort to make them safer. Each year, thousands of people go to emergency departments with burn injuries related to flammable liquids, CPSC said. Many burn incidents involve

Toyota Sienna Seat Belt Reminders Get Top Marks

Seat belt reminders can be annoying but they can also be life-savers, especially when you're transporting children who may ignore adult instructions to buckle up, so you might think that family-oriented minivans would put some extra care into them. But apparently not. In recent tests, the 2023 Toyota Sienna was

What If ChatGPT Wrote Consumer Protection Stories?

ChatGPT has been getting a lot of attention lately, as people use it for everything from writing code to poetry. It and other artificial intelligence programs are also being used to write news stories, especially those that rely on an easily defined set of facts, like sports recaps. We wanted

Roomster Faces Lawsuit Alleging Fake Listings, Phony Reviews

Roomster is a popular website that matches up potential roommates. It's heavily used by lower-income consumers and students looking for an affordable living arrangement. But a lawsuit charges that many of the listings and reviews are fraudulent. The lawsuit was filed by six states and the Federal Trade Commission last

Feds Target Excessive Credit Card Late Fees

A decade ago, Coongress banned excessive credit card late fees. Today, Americans aare paying about $12 billion a year for being late with their payments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) wants to change that. The agency is proposing a rule that would ensure that over-the-top late fees are illegal,

Finding the Next Job - the One That’s Just Right For You

Tech workers being laid off, quiet quitters quietly quitting, companies trying to slim down, it all makes for a tricky time to managing a career. Whether you’re looking for a job or thinking about jumping ship, there’s a lot to consider. The latest career development course from CECNA

GoodRx Slapped for Sharing Consumers' Sensitive Health Data

GoodRx gets high marks for its low prescription drug prices but those low prices come at a cost, the Federal Trade Commission charges. The agency says GoodRx has been selling its customers' sensitive health information to Facebook, Google and other third-party advertisers and it's proposing a $1.5 million penalty.

Children Using Cosmetics that Contain Toxins

It's common for children to use glitter, face paint, lip gloss and other products, as a new study by scientists at Columbia University and Earthjustice confirms. The study found that 79 percent of parents say their children 12 or younger use such products. The problem with that is that those

Vaping May Be More Harmful than Cigarette Smoking

Many consumers turn to vaping because they think that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes. But a new study finds that vapers have greater lung inflammation than cigarette smokers and non-smokers. The study, published online in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, is the first to provide evidence that vaping e-liquids

Black, Hispanic Hairdressers Exposed to "Concerning' Chemicals

A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers finds that Black and Hispanic women are being highly exposed to a "complex mix of chemicals" that could have serious health impacts. “We know women are more highly exposed to chemicals in personal care products and we also know women of color have

FDA Wants to Get Lead Out of Baby Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a new program intended to reduce lead levels in food for infants and children under two.

HomeAdvisor - alias Angie's List - Faces $7 Million Penalty

It’s been said that you can only sell your credibility one time. If that’s true, HomeAdvisor, Inc., may find it more difficult to get new clients. The clients in this case are not consumers but the contractors and handymen who pay the company to provide them with lists

Insulin Makers Sued by California for Driving Up Prices

California is suing drugmakers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), accusing them of colluding to drive up the cost of insulin, the life-saving drug that millions of diabetics rely on but which is so expensive that many consumers struggle to afford it, even those covered by health plans. Similar suits were

Useful tips for sending or receiving remittances from the U.S. to Mexico

Foreign remittances ease the economic burden of many Mexican households Spanish version The United States is a popular destination for immigrants from Mexico and Central America, so it is only logical that Mexico is one of the countries that receives the most remittances from abroad and most especially from its

New Local Laws Require Gun Owners to Have Insurance

Amidst all the mass shootings in the United States, it was perhaps the shooting of an elementary school teacher by a six-year-old student that proved Americans can still be shocked by gun violence. News of the shooting in Newport News, Va., was short on details, given the age of the

Credit Acceptance Corp. Tricked Customers into High-Cost Used Car Loans, Feds Charge

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the New York State Office of the Attorney General have sued auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation for allegedly misrepresenting the cost of credit and tricking its customers into high-cost loans on used cars, charging that the car-buying experience turns into a nightmare for

UniTeller Hit for Money Transfer Problems

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued an order against Servicio UniTeller, an international remittance company, for multiple violations of the requirements governing electronic money transfers, including failing to refund customers after the company made money transfer errors. The CFPB found Servicio UniTeller failed to comply with many Electronic

How Airbnb Can Hurt Both Businesses and Consumers

Airbnb has landed with force just about everywhere Airbnb has been a popular platform for travelers and those looking for a cheaper lodging option. However, there are certain risks that need to be considered by both consumers and businesses. There are safety concerns for consumers when using Airbnb. Although the

Get Out of January Without Going into Debt

Simple tips to get out of January’s slope The beginning of the year can be a difficult time for everyone. Not only is it a time to start fresh and make resolutions we may not be able to keep, but it’s also a time when your bank account

Lack of Transparency a Major Cause of Loss of Consumer Confidence

The advertising saturation of social networks can lead to consumer mistrust Spanish version The loss of consumer trust in social media advertising is a phenomenon that has become increasingly important in recent years. As social media advertising has become increasingly prevalent, some consumers have lost confidence in the truthfulness and

Consumer Views on Alternative Proteins: Trends and Challenges

Grains and seeds are some of the sources from which alternative proteins can be obtained. Spanish version The modern consumer is increasingly aware of the importance of healthy and sustainable eating. This has led to an increase in demand for alternative proteins, such as those obtained from plants or microorganisms,

Wells Fargo to Pay $3.7 Billion for Mismanaging Loans

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is ordering Wells Fargo Bank to pay more than $2 billion in redress to consumers and a $1.7 billion civil penalty for legal violations across several of its largest product lines. The bank’s illegal conduct led to billions of dollars in financial

Fortnite Game Publisher Hit With Half-Billion Dollar Penalty

The Federal Trade Commission has secured agreements requiring Epic Games, Inc., creator of the popular video game Fortnite, to pay a total of $520 million in relief over allegations the company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and deployed design tricks, known as “dark patterns,” to dupe

Brand Image: Do Consumers Buy It?

Companies put a lot of time, effort and money into their brand image, but do consumers agree with what companies think of themselves? There are brands that do not know how they are seen by consumers. The image consumers have of a brand can be very different from the image

When Do Consumers Prioritize Price?

There are several reasons why consumers prioritize price. First, the most obvious reason is that they may not have enough money to buy the product in question. If you’re on a tight budget and need something, but it’s out of your financial reach, you’d probably rather pay

Rogue Christmas Lights May Be Under (and on) Your Tree This Year

A British consumer protection group says that Christmas lights bought from online marketplaces are being sold illegally and in some cases putting users at risk of electric shocks or fires. The consumer group called Which? tested Christmas tree lights at the cheaper end of the price range bought from online

Top 5 Mistakes We Make With Our Money and How to Avoid Them

There are habits that can affect us financially Spanish version We’ve all made mistakes with our money. Sometimes we know it, and sometimes we don’t even see it coming until it’s too late. But the only way to learn from our mistakes is to admit them, and

Forget Tennis - Pickleball Is Packing the Courts

It’s not exactly the U.S. Open but something called pickleball is bringing Americans onto the court, paddles in hand and shoulders warmed up to slam a match-winning serve. Pickleball, which might be called slow tennis, has been around for years but has gone viral recently, especially among retirees.

Titanium Makes Food Nice and White but Is it Safe?

What is it that makes your coffee creamer so nice and white? It’s a metal element called titanium and it is used as a food additive to whiten up everything from baked goods to chewing gum. But the Center for Science in the Public Interest says it may also

5 Consumer Trends that Will Prevail in 2023

Consumer trends for 2023 will not follow the rules of the past. Spanish version Consumer trends are changing. Not only digital natives are making changes, but everyone. That also means that the old rules no longer apply to today’s consumers. The first thing to keep in mind is that

Excessive Consumption of Prilosec Can Be Harmful, Specialists Warn

Spanish version Since its introduction in 1980, omeprazole – known commercially as Prilosec among other brand names – has been widely used to treat heartburn, also known as, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erosive esophagitis. Omeprazole is generally well tolerated, with the most common side effects being headache, dizziness and diarrhea. But

Consumer Alert: How to Avoid New QR Code Scams that Steal Money from Consumers?

Spanish version QR codes, short for Quick Response codes, are a form of barcode that can be scanned with a smartphone or other device to access information. They are often used in advertising and marketing campaigns. However, Profeco, the consumer protection agency of Mexico, has warned about a new type

Mexico Accuses Facebook of Not Doing Enough to Stop Fraud

Spanish version The top Mexican consumer protection agency is accusing Facebook of not doing enough to stop fraud on its platform. The Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office (Profeco) says Facebook hasn’t done enough to stop fraudulent travel offers that abound on its site. The agency also said it had

Beware of Sales, Including Black Friday

Shoppers love sales, especially the annual Black Friday blow-outs. But are they really what they seem? Despite all the advertising, hype and hoopla, evidence suggests consumers should take a careful look before whipping out their credit cards. A recent study by the British consumer organization Which? found that only one

Tax Filing Websites Have Been Sending Users’ Financial Information to Facebook

The Markup found services including TaxAct, TaxSlayer, and H&R Block sending sensitive data By: Simon Fondrie-Teitler, Angie Waller, and Colin Lecher Major tax filing services such as H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer have been quietly transmitting sensitive financial information to Facebook when Americans file their taxes online, The

Older Adults Lost $90 Million in Timeshare Exit Scam, Feds Charge

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Consumer Law Protection, a company that claims it can help consumers get out of timeshare contracts. “The defendants used scare tactics and high-pressure sales pitches to coerce seniors into forking over thousands of dollars for timeshare exit services they didn’t deliver,

So, You Think You Can’t Afford a Home?

Priced out of homeownership but tired of renting? The rent-to-buy hybrid is getting a new lease on life. Had a look at housing prices lately? Yes, we’ve seen the news headlines announcing a drop in housing prices, but they’re still historically high: on average $348,079 in the

Follow These Tips to Avoid Being Abused on Black Friday

Spanish version Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, which marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. On this day, stores offer deep discounts on products to attract customers. The name comes from the activities that stores and stores deploy by opening their operations at midnight on the Thursday

Consumer Complaint? Take It to the Top

By Ted David Guest Column All too often, we call a bank or merchant or retailer, even a medical laboratory, and we end up being told “due to higher than normal call volumes” it will take hours to talk to somebody. In other cases, there seems to be nobody in

FDA Oversight of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Food Packaging Essential, Report Finds

A study by the Government Accountability Office finds that better oversight of so-called forever chemicals in good packaging and production is needed but says manufacturers are not currently required to provide the Food and Drug Administration with information about such additives. U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Chellie Pingree

How to Create a Home Gym Without Breaking the Bank

By Leslie D. Shuffleton Guest Column Since the Covid lockdowns, it isn’t just the work from home concept that has taken root. The workout from home concept has exploded in popularity, too.  Covid changed our ideas about fitness and self-care:  gaining a few pounds during those lockdown periods drove

Should Big Tech Control the Car Industry?

“Mobile Operating System” may take on new meaning Not too long ago, the Big Three meant Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Now it means Amazon, Apple and Google, and consumer advocates say the auto industry may be the next big expansion area for Big Tech, with serious consequences for car

Sí, puedes hacer algo contra el cambio climático

A medida que la COP27 se pone en marcha en Egipto, es hora de hacer algo más que hablar del tiempo. En cuanto al clima, 2022 ya es un año para recordar. Ian, el huracán más mortífero que ha azotado Florida desde 1935 (que también ha devastado Venezuela, las Islas

Yes, You CAN Do Something About Climate Change

It’s time to do more than just talk about the weather Weather-wise, 2022 is already a year to remember. Ian – the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935 (also devastating Venezuela, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica); record-breaking heat waves throughout Europe (topping 100°F in cities such as under-air-conditioned

Mexican Consumer Agency Studies Chocolate Brands

Spanish Version All chocolate is not the same. Some chocolate brands contain more vegetable fats than cocoa, for one thing. The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO) of Mexico decided to take a closer look at popular brands of chocolate and has now released the results of a laboratory analysis of

Vonage se ve obligado a reembolsar 100 millones de dólares a sus clientes

Vonage es lo que antes se conocía como un proveedor de VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), es decir, una compañía de telefonía por Internet. Al utilizar Internet en lugar de las conexiones telefónicas tradicionales, los proveedores de VoIP suelen ofrecer un servicio más barato que sus competidores. Pero los consumidores

Federales: Una red de conspiradores de convertidores catalíticos es detenida en todo el país

Las fuerzas del orden federales, estatales y locales de todos los Estados Unidos han llevado a cabo hoy una operación coordinada a escala nacional de los líderes y asociados de una red nacional de ladrones, distribuidores y procesadores por su participación en conspiraciones relacionadas con convertidores catalíticos robados vendidos a

Feds: Nationwide Takedown Nabs Network of Catalytic Converter Conspirators

Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners from across the United States executed a nationwide, coordinated takedown today of leaders and associates of a national network of thieves, dealers, and processors for their roles in conspiracies involving stolen catalytic converters sold to a metal refinery for tens of millions of

Vonage on the Hook for $100 Million in Refunds to Customers

Vonage is what used to be known as a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider — an internet telephone company, in other words. Using the internet instead of traditional telephone connections, VOIP providers can often offer lower-priced service than their competitors. But consumers have complained that their Vonage service is often

LOS FUNERALES DE GOFUNDME NO SIEMPRE SON LA SOLUCIÓN

Los funerales solían ser un asunto familiar, pero con el aumento del precio de un funeral completo y las finanzas de muchos consumidores estancadas en un punto muerto, se está llegando a un punto en el que muchas familias tienen dificultades para conseguir el dinero para financiar un funeral cuando

GoFundMe Funerals Not Always the Answer

Funerals used to be a family affair but with the price of a full-scale funeral rising and the finances of many consumers stuck in neutral, it’s getting so that many families have a hard time coming up with the money to finance a funeral when a loved one dies.

¿QUIERES HACER TUS OPERACIONES BANCARIAS EN WALMART?

¿Quiere hacer sus operaciones bancarias en Walmart? Puede que pronto sea posible. La mega cadena minorista está trabajando para ofrecer cuentas corrientes y otros servicios financieros a sus empleados y clientes. Decenas de millones de estadounidenses no están bancarizados, es decir, no tienen una cuenta corriente u otra cuenta bancaria.

¿NECESITA DINERO RÁPIDO? BUSQUE ALTERNATIVAS A LOS PRÉSTAMOS DE DÍA DE PAGO

Todo el mundo se encuentra de vez en cuando con falta de dinero en efectivo, y puede ser difícil pensar en formas de conseguir suficiente dinero para pasar una mala racha. Es entonces cuando mucha gente recurre a los préstamos de día de pago, el equivalente moderno a pedir prestado

No Surprise: Consumers Would Like Energy Efficient Appliances

When’s the last time you read a story about appliances? Although appliances trail only homes and cars as typical large investments, they don’t get much attention from media outlets. Consumer review sites have plenty of complaints about appliances not lasting as long as everyone seems to think they

Don't Be THAT Tourist!

Tourists are becoming a menace. Don’t be one of them. Tourism brings in money, jobs, construction…good things for the life of a country or city or village, right? Think of some of the good stuff riding on tourist coattails: * extra tax revenues from accommodation and restaurant taxes, airport

Red 3 Is Trick, Not Treat, Scientists Say

The dye known as Red 3 is illegal in cosmetics. It’s known to cause cancer. And yet, it is legal in foods, ingested drugs, and supplements. It’s especially prevalent in the candies that children will be collecting this Halloween, like candy corn, Nerds, Peeps, Pez, and SweeTarts. “Halloween

Avoid Probate Court: Name a Beneficiary

By Ted David Guest Column There is an old song from 1944 entitled “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.” More than just a song, it is a truth that each of us, at some point in our lives, will face some unpleasant or perhaps even devastating event. For many

Feds Hope to Rein In Junk Fees

Processing fees, environmental clean-up fees, restocking fees and fee creation fees — there’s no end to the “junk fees” that American businesses impose on customers, and the Federal Trade Commission thinks consumers have had just about enough. “It’s beyond frustrating to end up spending more than you budgeted because

YMCA's Event Registration Company 'Tricked' Consumers, Feds Charge

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing an online event registration company that has worked for the YMCA and other prominent organizations. It charges that ACTIVE Network “tricked” consumers trying to sign up for fundraising road races and other events, into enrolling into its annual subscription discount club, Active

California detalla los derechos de los inquilinos; ¿lo hace su estado?

Más de un tercio (34,7%) de los hogares en los Estados Unidos son alquilados, y como grupo, los inquilinos tienden a ser más jóvenes, menos blancos y de menores ingresos que los que son dueños de sus casas. También les hace susceptibles de tener disputas con los propietarios, que

California Spells Out Tenant Rights; Does Your State?

More than a third (34.7%) of homes in the U.S. are rented, and as a group, renters tend to be younger, less white and lower-income than those who own their homes. It also makes them susceptible to disputes with landlords who are often much better informed about rental

Watch Out for Sky-High Obituary Prices

Consumers are often surprised by the high price of a simple newspaper obituary, which these days can easily exceed $500. Not too long ago, newspapers ran obits for just a few dollars, but as classified and display advertising have largely moved to the internet, newspapers are taking a more predatory

FDA Taking Another Look at BPA, Most Recently Found in Sports Bras

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of those long-lasting chemicals that’s just about everywhere — even in sports bras, according to a new study. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has agreed to reconsider the chemical’s safety. The sports bra revelation came a few days ago, in a

Colleges Offer Substandard Financial Services to Students, Report Finds

Many colleges offer financial services to their students that carry “junk fees” and terms that are no better, or even worse, than terms available on the open market, according a report released today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “Many college students trust that schools have their best interests

E-cig Use by Teens Remains High, Disposables Most Popular

Years of progress in reducing cigarette use are going up in smoke, as teens turn to vaping for their nicotine hits, public health officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration say. “The FDA remains deeply concerned about e-cigarette use among our nation’s youth. It’s clear that

Four Tips for Hiring the Right Personal Trainer

By Leslie D. Shuffleton Guest Column The battle of the bulge may be too tough to handle alone. Time to call in the personal trainer. But how?  “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” This little philosophical nugget by

Tips for Policyholders with Hurricane Ian Claims

Insurance companies are being inundated with property damage claims following Hurricane Ian, but that doesn’t mean they can drag their feet when processing claims, according to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and United Policyholders (UP). The groups say that consumers are entitled to get their wind and flood

How to Change Your Career at 50+

You’re not on your parents’ career path. Age 50 may be the time to take another path forward. Here’s how to do it.  First it was longevity: all those Baby Boomers prospering, eating better, living longer… Then necessity: many were not also saving and therefore are unable to

How to Change Your Career at 50+

You’re not on your parents’ career path. Age 50 may be the time to take another path forward. Here’s how to do it.  First it was longevity: all those Baby Boomers prospering, eating better, living longer… Then necessity: many were not also saving and therefore are unable to

Looking for a 'Lifestyle Health' Doctor?

New online directory lists certified lifestyle medicine practitioners You might not know what a “lifestyle medicine practitioner” is, but there’s a new online directory that will help you find one when you need it. It’s just been launched by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and lists

Ian Swamps Insurers, Interest Rates Hamper Rebuilding

Hurricane Ian is gone but the devastation it leaves behind will weigh heavily on homeowners for years and may drive some low-income residents from the state. Wind and storm-surge losses from Hurricane Ian could reach as $47 billion in Florida alone, according to an analysis by CoreLogic. Damage claims are

MoneyLion Charged Military Members Excessive Interest, Feds Charge

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing MoneyLion Technologies, an online lender, and 38 of its subsidiaries, alleging that it imposed illegal and excessive charges on armed service members and their dependents. “MoneyLion targeted military families by illegally extracting fees and making it difficult to cancel monthly subscriptions,” said

Regions Bank Penalized for Surprise Overdraft Fees

Regions Bank is being ordered to return at least $141 million to customers harmed by its surprise overdraft fees. It will have to pay another $50 million into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s victims relief fund. The CFPB said that from August 2018 through July 2021, Regions charged customers

For-Profit Stratford University Closing

Another for-profit university is closing because of accreditation issues. Stratford University is closing its campuses in Virginia, Maryland and India at the end of the term, according to an email sent to students last Friday. Forty-three other schools around the country are also losing their accreditation. The school said the

Four Red Flags that Spell 'Scam'

Fraudulent schemes directed at consumers, known popularly as “scams,” seem to increase every year. In the first half of 2022 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 793,000 complaints about scams, with about 27% resulting in financial losses of $3.56 billion. Trying to warn consumers about every scam is

Pedestrian, Bicycle Deaths Hit New Highs

Traffic fatalities inched higher last year but pedestrian and bicycle deaths rose by historic amounts. In 2021, pedestrians killed jumped 13% to 7,342, the most since 1981. The number of people on bicycles who were killed rose 5% to 985, the most since at least 1980, according to the

Genetic Testing: Promise or Pitfall?

At-home genetic testing is all the rage, but should you change your life based on the results? “You have to know the past to understand the present,” Carl Sagan famously said. Makes you wonder what the astrophysicist would think about today’s obsession with knowing where we came from — not

Forced Arbitration Clauses Must Go, Consumer Groups Tell Feds

Over 100 consumer, civil rights, and labor groups are demanding action on the issue of forced arbitration clauses — the sneaky language commonly buried in financial service contracts to block customers from suing when they are cheated or defrauded by big banks. During the Trump administration, Congress blocked a rule issued

Buy Now, Pay Later Plans Grow, So Do Late Fees

Buy Now, Pay Later is sometimes described as credit without the credit card. It’s an increasingly popular way to buy everything from pet supplies to travel. It normally does not charge interest but late fees can add up fast and a study finds that late fees are becoming more

Want to do Your Banking at Walmart?

Spanish version Want to do your banking at Walmart? It may soon be possible. The mega retail chain is working towards offering checking accounts and other financial services to its employees and customers. Tens of millions of Americans are “unbanked,” meaning they don’t have a checking account or other

Four Red Flags That Signal a Scam

Fraudulent schemes directed at consumers, known popularly as “scams,” seem to increase every year. In the first half of 2022 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 793,000 complaints about scams, with about 27% resulting in financial losses of $3.56 billion. Trying to warn consumers about every scam is

California Sues Amazon for Anticompetitive Practices

California has become the second state to sue Amazon, charging it with anticompetitive practices, saying it creates creating artificial pricing floors by barring sellers from offering their goods cheaper on other platforms. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the company stifled competition and caused increased prices across California.  “For years,

Inflation Fighting: Good Enough is Pretty Great

By Holland Cooke Guest Column Sir Thomas Malory was writing back in the 1400s, long before brands emerged and took over everyone’s consciousness. But he was onto something with his “enough is as good as a feast” quote. It was true then and is still true today. Having worked

Kids Dying Unnecessarily in Cars

Highway deaths have increased alarmingly in recent years and children are often the victims. In 2020, 607 children under age 13 were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to Injury Facts. Properly securing children in car seats that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards goes a long way in keeping

Fighting Inflation: Frugality Fundamentals

By Holland Cooke Guest Column Maybe you’ll be rich someday. But let’s face it, you’re not there yet so here are some fundamental frugalities that can help you fight inflation now – and after you’re rich, for that matter. Shopping bricks ‘n mortar I saved a couple

A Good Night's Sleep Shouldn't Be Expensive

Wellness is all the rage these days and staying well requires, among other things, a good night’s sleep, preferably every night. In pursuit of that goal, aggressive wellness seekers are shelling out big bucks for “sleep vacations.” It may sound like the sleepaway camps of our youth but these

Catfishing Can Hook You If You're Not Careful

Catfishing used to be something people did on their day off. It usually involved a lake or river, a cane pole and some worms. Now it’s an online deception in which someone who claims to be a beautiful rainbow trout turns out to be an ugly, slimy old catfish.

Amazon, NY Crack Down on License Plate Blockers

You see them everywhere – those thin plastic lenses that distort license plates and make them hard to read. The idea, of course, is to blur the images captured by speed and toll cameras, turning vehicles into “ghost cars.” You may not see as many of them in New York City

Pedestrian Autobraking Doesn't Do So Well at Night

It’s hard to see in the dark, and that turns out to be true not only for people but also for emergency braking systems found on many newer cars, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The non-profit research group recently tested 23 midsize cars, SUVs and

Oops! The Costs and Risks of Reversing Plastic Surgery

“Beauty,” said Plato famously, “lies in the eyes of the beholder.” And when those beholding eyes include millions of Snapchatters and TikTokers and Instagrammers, the pressure to conform to a social-media-driven ideal of beauty can be enormous. And fleeting. What was “in” just a few years ago is fast becoming

Car Sales & Service Top Consumer Complaints List

Some things never change. With all the new digital scams and social media annoyances, old-fashioned car sales and services still top the list of complaints to local and state consumer agencies, according to an annual survey conducted by Consumer Federation of America (CFA). “For the sixth year in a row,

Subaru Outback Aces New Side Impact Test; Others Not So Much

The Subaru Outback is the only midsize car to earn a good rating in an updated side impact test, with the Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Jetta scoring acceptable ratings out of the seven cars tested. The new crash test was devised by the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after

Does Beauty Have to Be Toxic?

“There is no torture that a woman would not endure to enhance her beauty.” * Michel de Montaigne (French Renaissance philosopher) History tells us men and women have been willing to risk even death to enhance their natural beauty and follow the fashion of the day. Indeed, the quest for beauty

Covid-19 Side Effect: Speeding

Drivers put the hammer down as the COVID-19 lockdown cut into traffic on the nation’s highways – and they’re showing no signs of returning to normal, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds. “The empty roads probably tempted pandemic-stressed drivers to put the pedal down,

Opendoor Tricked Homeowners, FTC Charges

Does it make sense that you could make more money selling your home to a middleman than through the usual process of hiring a Realtor and selling directly to a buyer? Many homeowners thought so and sold their homes to Opendoor Labs Inc., thinking they would come out ahead of

New Salmonella Safety Standard for Poultry

It’s taken awhile but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking steps to prevent poultry products contaminated with salmonella from reaching store shelves. USDA  announced the new standards today. USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin outlined plans to declare Salmonella an adulterant in frozen

U.S. Bank Misused Customer Records to Open Phony Accounts, Fined $37 Million

Though shocking, it’s not too unusual for bank employees to use customer records to open bogus checking accounts, credit cards and other services. U.S. Bank was aware its employees were dummying up accounts to meet sales goals, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) , which today ordered

U.S. Bank Misused Customer Records to Open Phony Accounts, Fined $37 Million

Though shocking, it’s not too unusual for bank employees to use customer records to open bogus checking accounts, credit cards and other services. U.S. Bank was aware its employees were dummying up accounts to meet sales goals, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) , which today ordered

U.S. Bank Misused Customer Records to Open Phony Accounts, Fined $37 Million

Though shocking, it’s not too unusual for bank employees to use customer records to open bogus checking accounts, credit cards and other services. U.S. Bank was aware its employees were dummying up accounts to meet sales goals, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) , which today ordered

U.S. Bank Misused Customer Records to Open Phony Accounts, Fined $37 Million

Though shocking, it’s not too unusual for bank employees to use customer records to open bogus checking accounts, credit cards and other services. U.S. Bank was aware its employees were dummying up accounts to meet sales goals, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) , which today ordered

Hyundai Fined $19 Million for Credit Reporting Failures

Hyundai is being ordered to pay $19 million for providing inaccurate information to credit reporting agencies and failing to correct errors when consumers complained. “Hyundai illegally tarnished credit reports for millions of borrowers, including by falsely reporting them to credit reporting companies as being delinquent on their loans and leases,

Homeowners Abandoning Flood Insurance at their Peril

Flood insurance premiums have risen steadily with the rising tide of flooding linked to climate change. As a result, as many as one million homeowners may sign up for the coverage or maintain their existing policy, a report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency cautions. The report was not publicly

Keurig Misled Consumers about Recycling its K-Cups, Suit Alleges

Keurig will be brewing up $10 million to settle charges that it misled consumers about recycling the company’s K-Cup single-serve coffee pods. The little pods are everywhere these days, as consumers have gotten hooked on the ease of use and the satisfactory coffee that comes pouring out of a

Keurig Misled Consumers about Recycling its K-Cups, Suit Alleges

Keurig will be brewing up $10 million to settle charges that it misled consumers about recycling the company’s K-Cup single-serve coffee pods. The little pods are everywhere these days, as consumers have gotten hooked on the ease of use and the satisfactory coffee that comes pouring out of a

Keurig Misled Consumers about Recycling its K-Cups, Suit Alleges

Keurig will be brewing up $10 million to settle charges that it misled consumers about recycling the company’s K-Cup single-serve coffee pods. The little pods are everywhere these days, as consumers have gotten hooked on the ease of use and the satisfactory coffee that comes pouring out of a

Keurig Misled Consumers about Recycling its K-Cups, Suit Alleges

Keurig will be brewing up $10 million to settle charges that it misled consumers about recycling the company’s K-Cup single-serve coffee pods. The little pods are everywhere these days, as consumers have gotten hooked on the ease of use and the satisfactory coffee that comes pouring out of a

Electric Cars Present New Insurance, Road-Building Issues

American consumers are adopting electric cars at a faster pace, bringing potential environmental benefits as well as the possibility of higher insurance claims and headaches for highway officials. Electric vehicles are heavier than their gas-powered counterparts, possibly increasing the severity of collision damages, not to mention more severe personal injuries,

Bank of America Fined $250 Million for Botching Pandemic Relief

Thursday was an expensive day for Bank of America. It ran up a total of $250 million in fines for botching the payout of state unemployment benefits during the COVID pandemic. The bank automatically and unlawfully froze consumers’ accounts with a faulty fraud detection program, and then gave them little

Bank of America Fined $250 Million for Botching Pandemic Relief

Thursday was an expensive day for Bank of America. It ran up a total of $250 million in fines for botching the payout of state unemployment benefits during the COVID pandemic. The bank automatically and unlawfully froze consumers’ accounts with a faulty fraud detection program, and then gave them little

Bank of America Fined $250 Million for Botching Pandemic Relief

Thursday was an expensive day for Bank of America. It ran up a total of $250 million in fines for botching the payout of state unemployment benefits during the COVID pandemic. The bank automatically and unlawfully froze consumers’ accounts with a faulty fraud detection program, and then gave them little

Bank of America Fined $250 Million for Botching Pandemic Relief

Thursday was an expensive day for Bank of America. It ran up a total of $250 million in fines for botching the payout of state unemployment benefits during the COVID pandemic. The bank automatically and unlawfully froze consumers’ accounts with a faulty fraud detection program, and then gave them little

Abortions Outlawed but Vasectomy Still Works

The recent Supreme Court ruling has upset family planning efforts for millions of Americans. But nothing stops men from getting a vasectomy when they and their partner want to prevent future pregnancies. Men often express horror and revulsion at the idea but the procedure is much less debilitating than childbirth

FHA Loans Can be the Answer for Some Homebuyers

News reports today are full of stories about skyrocketing mortgage rates and aspiring homebuyers being locked out of the market. It’s true that at this writing interest rates for conventional fixed-rate mortgages are hovering near 6% but in fact, that old standby – the FHA loan – is still available and

It's Not a Good Time to Buy a Car

Gas prices are up, your tires are bald and you’re bored with your four-year-old gas-guzzler. It’s about to hit 60,000 miles and it just feels like the right time to ditch it and get something new. Maybe an electric car. Or at least a mild hybrid. Not

Debt Collectors' Pay-to-Pay Fees Scrutizined

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been casting a wary eye on all kinds of add-on fees lately. The latest are the “pay-to-pay” fees often charged by debt collectors. The debt collectors like to call them “convenience fees” but the CFPB calls them “junk fees.” Whatever you call them,

Suicide: The Other Outlawed Abortion

It’s once again illegal to perform an abortion in much of the United States. And it is still illegal, in most cases, to assist someone who wants to end their life. Both issues are about having autonomy over one’s own body, and both are unlikely to be settled

Suicide: The Other Outlawed Abortion

It’s once again illegal to perform an abortion in much of the United States. And it is still illegal, in most cases, to assist someone who wants to end their life. Both issues are about having autonomy over one’s own body, and both are unlikely to be settled

Suicide: The Other Outlawed Abortion

It’s once again illegal to perform an abortion in much of the United States. And it is still illegal, in most cases, to assist someone who wants to end their life. Both issues are about having autonomy over one’s own body, and both are unlikely to be settled

Suicide: The Other Outlawed Abortion

It’s once again illegal to perform an abortion in much of the United States. And it is still illegal, in most cases, to assist someone who wants to end their life. Both issues are about having autonomy over one’s own body, and both are unlikely to be settled

LGBTQ+ Extortion Scams Infest Dating Apps

Besides putting up with intolerance and job discrimination, LGBTQ+ people have to be constantly on guard against extortion. This has always been true but internet dating sites have added a new dimension to the problem. The Federal Trade Commission is warning that it’s hearing about scams targeting people on

Single-Use Plastics Targeted by Canada, California

Stir sticks, straws, plastic cutlery and plastic checkout bags are on the road to becoming mere memories. The Canadian government has announced that it will ban most single-use plastic products in December 2022 and a California legislative committee is considering similar action. New York City and other local jurisdictions already

Single-Use Plastics Targeted by Canada, California

Stir sticks, straws, plastic cutlery and plastic checkout bags are on the road to becoming mere memories. The Canadian government has announced that it will ban most single-use plastic products in December 2022 and a California legislative committee is considering similar action. New York City and other local jurisdictions already

Single-Use Plastics Targeted by Canada, California

Stir sticks, straws, plastic cutlery and plastic checkout bags are on the road to becoming mere memories. The Canadian government has announced that it will ban most single-use plastic products in December 2022 and a California legislative committee is considering similar action. New York City and other local jurisdictions already

Single-Use Plastics Targeted by Canada, California

Stir sticks, straws, plastic cutlery and plastic checkout bags are on the road to becoming mere memories. The Canadian government has announced that it will ban most single-use plastic products in December 2022 and a California legislative committee is considering similar action. New York City and other local jurisdictions already

Facebook Accused of Spying on Hospital Patients

Medical records are supposed to be confidential but Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has allegedly been tracking patient data at one-third of the top 100 hospitals in the United States. A report published by The Markup says the tracking has been carried out secretly, without patient consent and apparently without

Crypto Scams Yield $1 Billion in 18 Months

Crypto scams have taken $1 billion from consumers since January 2021, 60 times more than in 2018, with losses on track to equal or exceed in the next accounting. The $1 billion in losses were divided among about 46,000 victims, with a median loss of $2600 for each individual.

'Buy With Prime' Buttons Popping Up on the Web

Amazon’s tentacles are ever-expanding as it finds new ways to embed itself in the minds and wallets of consumers. The latest innovation is Buy With Prime, basically a way to buy through Amazon without actually going to the Amazon site. Buy With Prime buttons have started showing up on

What's In That Meatless Meat You're Eating?

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or just a curious eater, you’ve probably tried one of the meatless burgers or other meat substitutes that have seen a growth spurt the last few years. Whether you like them or hate them as you gnaw away, you may be curious about what

U.S., Canada Gang Up on Cigarettes

Health warnings and changing social standards have reduced cigarette smoking to something routinely practiced by a small band of determined smokers who are unwilling or unable to kick their nicotine addiction, and by teens who take up the habit despite warnings. Public health officials are always looking for ways to

U.S., Canada Gang Up on Cigarettes

Health warnings and changing social standards have reduced cigarette smoking to something routinely practiced by a small band of determined smokers who are unwilling or unable to kick their nicotine addiction, and by teens who take up the habit despite warnings. Public health officials are always looking for ways to

U.S., Canada Gang Up on Cigarettes

Health warnings and changing social standards have reduced cigarette smoking to something routinely practiced by a small band of determined smokers who are unwilling or unable to kick their nicotine addiction, and by teens who take up the habit despite warnings. Public health officials are always looking for ways to

U.S., Canada Gang Up on Cigarettes

Health warnings and changing social standards have reduced cigarette smoking to something routinely practiced by a small band of determined smokers who are unwilling or unable to kick their nicotine addiction, and by teens who take up the habit despite warnings. Public health officials are always looking for ways to

Feds Probe Middlemen's Role in High Rx Prices

You may never have heard of a pharmacy benefit manager but chances are one or more of them have their hand in your pocket. PBMs, as they’re called, are basically the middlemen of the prescription drug industry and their policies have a big impact on the prices you pay

Informed Consent Requires that Patients Have a Choice and a Voice

Guest Column by Paulette Moulton, M.D All too common skin cancer underscores the need for all health care consumers to take an active role, in partnership with their doctors, in choosing their form of treatment. Skin cancer, one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, provides a prime example

Informed Consent Requires that Patients Have a Choice and a Voice

Guest Column by Paulette Moulton, M.D All too common skin cancer underscores the need for all health care consumers to take an active role, in partnership with their doctors, in choosing their form of treatment. Skin cancer, one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, provides a prime example

Informed Consent Requires that Patients Have a Choice and a Voice

Guest Column by Paulette Moulton, M.D All too common skin cancer underscores the need for all health care consumers to take an active role, in partnership with their doctors, in choosing their form of treatment. Skin cancer, one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, provides a prime example

Informed Consent Requires that Patients Have a Choice and a Voice

Guest Column by Paulette Moulton, M.D All too common skin cancer underscores the need for all health care consumers to take an active role, in partnership with their doctors, in choosing their form of treatment. Skin cancer, one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, provides a prime example

Wells Fargo Sued Over Clients' Zelle Losses

Zelle is a handy way to transfer money but it’s also an easy way to lose it. A class action lawsuit charges that Zelle and Wells Fargo aren’t doing enough to protect their clients against fraud. Other banks face similar suits. In the Wells Fargo lawsuit, Luke Hartsock

Is Premium Gas Worth the Price?

With gas prices hitting new highs and expected to continue climbing, many consumers are starting to wonder if they really need to put premium-grade gasoline in their car. The answer in most cases is no, according to AAA and other experts. If you car requires premium fuel, you should by

Biden Cancels Corinthian College Student Debt

The controversy swirling around student debt cancellation largely ignores the fact that many of those drowning in debt were enrolled at for-profit schools that provided education widely regarded as worthless. Corinthian Colleges topped the list of for-profit schools that signed students up for federal loans and then delivered a substandard

Dancing Your Way to Fitness

You’d have to be living under a rock not to have read recently at least one of the several thousand studies proving that exercise increases your energy levels, fights fatigue, and even relieves symptoms of depression. Well, here’s one from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine

Can Consumers Sue Gun Manufacturers for Gun Violence?

The short answer to that question used to be no, thanks to a pliant Congress and the Second Amendment. But there have been a few cases that squeaked through the courts and the recent mass shootings are liable to incite more anti-violence activists to take legal action. Gun makers have

Why Was Your Loan Denied? The Lender Must Tell You

It’s not unusual for a consumer’s loan application to be turned down for no apparent reason. Lenders typically claim that they consider a wide range of information in reaching their decisions. In fact, an increasing number of those decisions are made by algorithms – so-called artificial intelligence – with little

New Law Raises Safety Standards for Infant Cribs

Babies should be sleeping safely under terms of a new law that prohibits making or selling padded baby crib bumper pads and inclined sleeping products for infants. President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act (H.R. 3182) into law earlier this month. It was passed unanimously in the

Does Your Homeowners Policy Cover Wildfires?

Seeing coverage of recent wildfires that swept through expensive homes in Laguna Niguel, California and elsewhere, consumers may wonder whether their homeowners insurance protects them against such disasters. The unfortunate truth is that the risk of catastrophic wildfires is growing as climate change dries out much of the West, as

Car Repair Shops Luring Customers Into Predatory Loans

A Utah bank is helping car repair shops lure customers into loans that can carry annual interest rates as high as 189%, even though such loans are illegal in many states, a report from the Stop the Debt Trap coalition warns. “Loans at 189% are illegal in most states, but

Diaper Taxes in 33 States Hurting Families' Budgets

The baby formula shortage has been getting a lot of press but the group Baby2Baby says diaper taxes are another headache facing families with infants and it’s mounting a Twitter campaign to put pressure on the 33 states that charge sales tax on diapers. “While eliminating the diaper tax

Can You Advance Your Career While Working From Home?

The initial thrill of working from home – connecting with colleagues on Zoom calls dressed in a jacket and shirt and pajama bottoms, eschewing that morning commute – is beginning to wear off. While many remote workers report being able to spend more time with their families, or taking up gardening, or

Debt-Relief Scheme Targeted Student Borrowers, Must Pay $11 Million

Consumers burdened with student loan debt are a tempting target for scam artists. One company accused of bring an integral cog in such a scheme has been ordered to pay $11 million, including $8.7 million in refunds to consumers. “Too often, bad actors take advantage of student loan borrowers

Is Your Homeowners Policy Keeping Up With Inflation?

Inflation drives up the cost of everything – gas and food and also building supplies. And the robust job market drives up labor costs. Add all of that up and it may mean your homeowners policy is no longer up to the task. A new survey of more than 1,000

Abortions Not Likely to be Stopped No Matter What SCOTUS Decides

Reaction to the leaked Supreme Court abortion decision draft has been predictably apocalyptic despite technology advances that may effectively render state laws ineffective. If the court does indeed scrap Roe v. Wade, states will be able to declare abortion illegal and take measures to stop it within their boundaries. But

Abortions Not Likely to be Stopped No Matter What SCOTUS Decides

Reaction to the leaked Supreme Court abortion decision draft has been predictably apocalyptic despite technology advances that may effectively render state laws ineffective. If the court does indeed scrap Roe v. Wade, states will be able to declare abortion illegal and take measures to stop it within their boundaries. But

Abortions Not Likely to be Stopped No Matter What SCOTUS Decides

Reaction to the leaked Supreme Court abortion decision draft has been predictably apocalyptic despite technology advances that may effectively render state laws ineffective. If the court does indeed scrap Roe v. Wade, states will be able to declare abortion illegal and take measures to stop it within their boundaries. But

Abortions Not Likely to be Stopped No Matter What SCOTUS Decides

Reaction to the leaked Supreme Court abortion decision draft has been predictably apocalyptic despite technology advances that may effectively render state laws ineffective. If the court does indeed scrap Roe v. Wade, states will be able to declare abortion illegal and take measures to stop it within their boundaries. But

'Free' Tax Claims Spell $141 Million Penalty for Intuit's TurboTax

Just a few weeks ago, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) skewered Intuit for the “free, free, free” ad campaign for its TurboTax subsidiary. Now the company has agreed to pay $141 million to customers who were deceived by misleading promises of free tax-filing services. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced

Bank of America Penalized for Illegal Garnishments

Bank of America has been ordered to pay a $10 million penalty and make refunds to customers who were hit by illegal garnishments and the fees it charged for those illegal actions. “Bank of America imposed unlawful garnishment fees and injured its customers by inserting unenforceable clauses into contracts in

Adjustable Rate Mortgages Suddenly Look Attractive

Home buyers had been enjoying mortgage interest rates as low as 2.65% the last few years but the sudden upheaval in economic conditions has changed all that and rates are now around 5%, their highest level in more than a decade. This is leading many aspiring home buyers to

Break Up Wells Fargo, Warren Urges

Saying that “cheating consumers is simply in Wells Fargo’s DNA.,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is urging that the bank be broken up, along with other repeat offenders of consumer protection laws. During a recent Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing, Warren listed the many times she

Break Up Wells Fargo, Warren Urges

Saying that “cheating consumers is simply in Wells Fargo’s DNA.,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is urging that the bank be broken up, along with other repeat offenders of consumer protection laws. During a recent Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing, Warren listed the many times she

Break Up Wells Fargo, Warren Urges

Saying that “cheating consumers is simply in Wells Fargo’s DNA.,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is urging that the bank be broken up, along with other repeat offenders of consumer protection laws. During a recent Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing, Warren listed the many times she

Break Up Wells Fargo, Warren Urges

Saying that “cheating consumers is simply in Wells Fargo’s DNA.,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is urging that the bank be broken up, along with other repeat offenders of consumer protection laws. During a recent Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing, Warren listed the many times she

Genetic Data Should be Private, Consumer Group Argues

Do you know who has your genetic data and what they’re doing with it? Insurance companies, employers and others have a strong desire to know who is likely to fall ill or display certain behavioral traits and there’s currently not much to prevent them from doing so. “Unlike

Genetic Data Should be Private, Consumer Group Argues

Do you know who has your genetic data and what they’re doing with it? Insurance companies, employers and others have a strong desire to know who is likely to fall ill or display certain behavioral traits and there’s currently not much to prevent them from doing so. “Unlike

Genetic Data Should be Private, Consumer Group Argues

Do you know who has your genetic data and what they’re doing with it? Insurance companies, employers and others have a strong desire to know who is likely to fall ill or display certain behavioral traits and there’s currently not much to prevent them from doing so. “Unlike

Genetic Data Should be Private, Consumer Group Argues

Do you know who has your genetic data and what they’re doing with it? Insurance companies, employers and others have a strong desire to know who is likely to fall ill or display certain behavioral traits and there’s currently not much to prevent them from doing so. “Unlike

Tesla Insurance Claims Experience Will be a 'Dream,' Musk Pledges

Billionaire multitasker Elon Musk has been in the news for his takeover of Twitter, a little utility that is perhaps nice to have but not exactly necessary. Car insurance, on the other hand, is necessary and Musk is also setting out to reform – or perhaps, disrupt – it. As with all

'Nonbanks' Face New Federal Scrutiny

Lenders making payday loans, private student loans and mortgages generally operate with less oversight than banks, a factor in some of the more disastrous economic meltdowns that have plagued consumers in recent decades. That’s about to end. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced today that it is invoking

MoneyGram Sued for Multiple Alleged Consumer Law Violations

MoneyGram is being sued for allegedly mishandling customer funds and failing to resolve disputes promptly. A lawsuit filed today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the company stranded customers waiting for their money when it failed to deliver funds promptly

MoneyGram Sued for Multiple Alleged Consumer Law Violations

MoneyGram is being sued for allegedly mishandling customer funds and failing to resolve disputes promptly. A lawsuit filed today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the company stranded customers waiting for their money when it failed to deliver funds promptly

MoneyGram Sued for Multiple Alleged Consumer Law Violations

MoneyGram is being sued for allegedly mishandling customer funds and failing to resolve disputes promptly. A lawsuit filed today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the company stranded customers waiting for their money when it failed to deliver funds promptly

MoneyGram Sued for Multiple Alleged Consumer Law Violations

MoneyGram is being sued for allegedly mishandling customer funds and failing to resolve disputes promptly. A lawsuit filed today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the company stranded customers waiting for their money when it failed to deliver funds promptly

Intuit Skewered for Influence Peddling and 'Free' Tax Filing Abuses

Hiring former regulators and politicians as lobbyists and apologists is common in Washington. But Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) says Intuit has taken influence-peddling to new lows with the tactics it uses to defend its TurboTax product’s “bogus” advertising for free tax filing. Warren’s comments follow a Federal Trade

Vegan Diet Better for Dogs, UK Study Suggests; Vets Not So Sure

It’s been pretty well established that a vegan diet is healthier for  most humans than a typical meat-heavy diet. But is the same thing true for dogs? A new British study says it is, although veterinarians urge caution. The study followed more than 2,500 dogs for a year

Fake Government Web Sites Charge Big Bucks for Bogus Info

Whatever you may think of complaints about supposedly “fake news,” there’s no arguing that fake government websites defraud consumers to the tune of millions of dollars and, in the process, often steal vital personal data while dispensing bogus information. Take the case of On Point Global, recently ordered to

Dog Leasing Draws Snarls from Regulators and Animal Advocates

It sounds absurd to think you could lease a dog. But a California company has been running a dog-leasing scheme that just didn’t smell right to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. In a settlement with Healey’s office, Monterey Financial Services agreed to waive about $700,000 of payments

TransUnion an "Out of Control, Repeat Offender," CFPB Charges

TransUnion is being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which charges it is an “out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law.” The lawsuit names TransUnion and its chief executive, John Danaher. It alleges the company is violating a 2017 order to stop deceptive marketing of

TransUnion an "Out of Control, Repeat Offender," CFPB Charges

TransUnion is being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which charges it is an “out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law.” The lawsuit names TransUnion and its chief executive, John Danaher. It alleges the company is violating a 2017 order to stop deceptive marketing of

TransUnion an "Out of Control, Repeat Offender," CFPB Charges

TransUnion is being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which charges it is an “out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law.” The lawsuit names TransUnion and its chief executive, John Danaher. It alleges the company is violating a 2017 order to stop deceptive marketing of

TransUnion an "Out of Control, Repeat Offender," CFPB Charges

TransUnion is being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which charges it is an “out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law.” The lawsuit names TransUnion and its chief executive, John Danaher. It alleges the company is violating a 2017 order to stop deceptive marketing of

State Attempts to Rein In Payday Loans 'Not Working'

States have been trying to put a lid on the excessive interest rates charged by the payday loan industry but those attempts aren’t working, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “Our research suggests that state laws that require payday lenders to offer no-cost extended repayment plans are

Etsy Sellers on Strike Over Fees

Things are looking a bit feisty on the labor front lately. First it was Starbucks and Amazon workers trying to unionize. Now thousands of Etsy sellers have closed up shop because they’re irked at higher fees being charged by the popular crafts site. Marketplace Pulse research reports that only

Etsy Sellers on Strike Over Fees

Things are looking a bit feisty on the labor front lately. First it was Starbucks and Amazon workers trying to unionize. Now thousands of Etsy sellers have closed up shop because they’re irked at higher fees being charged by the popular crafts site. Marketplace Pulse research reports that only

Etsy Sellers on Strike Over Fees

Things are looking a bit feisty on the labor front lately. First it was Starbucks and Amazon workers trying to unionize. Now thousands of Etsy sellers have closed up shop because they’re irked at higher fees being charged by the popular crafts site. Marketplace Pulse research reports that only

Etsy Sellers on Strike Over Fees

Things are looking a bit feisty on the labor front lately. First it was Starbucks and Amazon workers trying to unionize. Now thousands of Etsy sellers have closed up shop because they’re irked at higher fees being charged by the popular crafts site. Marketplace Pulse research reports that only

Researcher Targets 'Sock Puppet' Requests that Contribute to Profile Hacking

“Hey everyone, don’t accept anything from me. It’s not me!” How many times has a message like this come across your social media feed? They’re often the result of “sock puppet” requests, false online identities and user accounts created for deceptive purposes. A researcher at Southern Illinois

Researcher Targets 'Sock Puppet' Requests that Contribute to Profile Hacking

“Hey everyone, don’t accept anything from me. It’s not me!” How many times has a message like this come across your social media feed? They’re often the result of “sock puppet” requests, false online identities and user accounts created for deceptive purposes. A researcher at Southern Illinois

Researcher Targets 'Sock Puppet' Requests that Contribute to Profile Hacking

“Hey everyone, don’t accept anything from me. It’s not me!” How many times has a message like this come across your social media feed? They’re often the result of “sock puppet” requests, false online identities and user accounts created for deceptive purposes. A researcher at Southern Illinois

Researcher Targets 'Sock Puppet' Requests that Contribute to Profile Hacking

“Hey everyone, don’t accept anything from me. It’s not me!” How many times has a message like this come across your social media feed? They’re often the result of “sock puppet” requests, false online identities and user accounts created for deceptive purposes. A researcher at Southern Illinois

How Well Do Drivers Understand New Driver-Assistance Systems?

Human behavior has a way of thwarting safety technology, especially when it comes to the driver-assistance systems now becoming common in new cars, a AAA study finds. “You can’t fake it ‘til you make it at highway speeds. New car owners must receive training that is safe, effective, and

Chicago Breaks the Limit for Speed Camera Tickets

Faster than a drag racer, Chicago has blazed a new trail in speeding violations, issuing 2.8 million speeding tickets in 2021. That’s more residents than live in all of Chicago and speed cameras get the thanks, or the blame. It all added up to $89 million in total

Chicago Breaks the Limit for Speed Camera Tickets

Faster than a drag racer, Chicago has blazed a new trail in speeding violations, issuing 2.8 million speeding tickets in 2021. That’s more residents than live in all of Chicago and speed cameras get the thanks, or the blame. It all added up to $89 million in total

Chicago Breaks the Limit for Speed Camera Tickets

Faster than a drag racer, Chicago has blazed a new trail in speeding violations, issuing 2.8 million speeding tickets in 2021. That’s more residents than live in all of Chicago and speed cameras get the thanks, or the blame. It all added up to $89 million in total

Chicago Breaks the Limit for Speed Camera Tickets

Faster than a drag racer, Chicago has blazed a new trail in speeding violations, issuing 2.8 million speeding tickets in 2021. That’s more residents than live in all of Chicago and speed cameras get the thanks, or the blame. It all added up to $89 million in total

Gig Workers: How to Collect Late Payments

“The cheapest form of credit is paying suppliers late.” That’s insight from a debt collector – Hans de Keijzer, Head of Policy Management for Allianz Trade, the world’s largest trade credit insurer and part of the Allianz global insurance family. And while late payments may be a boon for

There's No Accounting for Accountants

It’s spring and a consumer’s fancy turns to taxes and, from there, to accountants, those sticklers for detail who help us stay on the right side of the tax code. But unlike other professions that have their fingers on our literal or figurative pulse, accountants are a pretty

Drip Sensors Can Keep Your Home High and Dry

It’s taken for granted these days that most homeowners have smoke detectors. But how many have leak detectors, also known as drip sensors? Water can do just as much damage as fire but isn’t normally top-of-mind except during harsh winter weather when homeowners worry about pipes freezing and

Edfinancial Fined for Misleading Student Borrowers

The latest development in the scandal-ridden student loan program involves a small Tennessee company, Edfinancial Services, ordered to pay a $1 million civil penalty for misleading student borrowers. “Edfinancial’s failure to tell the full truth to borrowers, so it could pad its bottom line highlights a systemic problem with

Cheap Oximeters Removed from Online Sites after Accuracy Questioned

Amazon and eBay are among companies that removed a number of blood oxygen testing devices from their sites after the British consumer group Which? raised questions about whether the devices could be legally sold in the UK. The consumer champion found 11 out of 15 cheap pulse oximeters bought from

Turning SUVs, Pickups More Likely to Hit Pedestrians

It’s not news that SUVs, pickups and other large vehicles cause more severe injuries than sedans when they hit pedestrians. Now a study finds that they’re also more likely to smash into pedestrians when turning. “It’s possible that the size, shape or location of the A-pillars that

No Steering Wheel, No Problem: New Car Safety Rule

Someday there will probably be cars that don’t need drivers. So why should they have to have steering wheels, driver’s seats and so forth? A new federal rules says they shouldn’t. The 155-page rule updates the current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to accommodate vehicles that don’

Fake Reviews, Corporate Gag Orders Eyed by Feds

Consumers have come to rely on online reviews to make decisions about important purchases but can be misled by fake reviews and by companies’ efforts to waylay negative reviews. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) wants to put a stop to such deceptive and possibly illegal practices, and today issued

Electric Cars More Trouble-Prone than Gas: UK Survey

Most consumers assume that electric cars are more reliable than their gas-powered ancestors. They have fewer moving parts, after all. Yes, but they also rely on complex and relatively new software, which a British study finds is often troublesome, with the Tesla S the most trouble-prone. The study was conducted

AARP Campaigning for Lower Drug Prices

AARP is launching a crusade against high drug prices which it says continued to rise during the pandemic and beyond. New research shows that 75 of the 100 brand name drugs with the highest total Medicare Part D spending had already increased their list prices in the first month of

FDA Ready to Snuff Puff Bar

Puff Bar has become the go-to smoke for teens, thanks to a loophole that is just about to close. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already snuffed out most flavored e-cigarettes and it is now closing in on Puff Bar which uses a non-tobacco source of nicotine.

FDA Ready to Snuff Puff Bar

Puff Bar has become the go-to smoke for teens, thanks to a loophole that is just about to close. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already snuffed out most flavored e-cigarettes and it is now closing in on Puff Bar which uses a non-tobacco source of nicotine.

FDA Ready to Snuff Puff Bar

Puff Bar has become the go-to smoke for teens, thanks to a loophole that is just about to close. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already snuffed out most flavored e-cigarettes and it is now closing in on Puff Bar which uses a non-tobacco source of nicotine.

FDA Ready to Snuff Puff Bar

Puff Bar has become the go-to smoke for teens, thanks to a loophole that is just about to close. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already snuffed out most flavored e-cigarettes and it is now closing in on Puff Bar which uses a non-tobacco source of nicotine.

Hungry College Students Missing Out on SNAP Benefits

You might not think of college students going hungry but in fact many do, including thousands of low-income students who might qualify for federal food-buying assistance but don’t know it’s available or think they would have to be employed fulltime to qualify. A group of U.S. senators

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Dollars

“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.” So said no less an expert than William Shakespeare. It is perhaps this belief which led consumers to throw $547 million to their imagined true loves in 2021, even after the first signs of alteration. That’s a lot of

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Dollars

“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.” So said no less an expert than William Shakespeare. It is perhaps this belief which led consumers to throw $547 million to their imagined true loves in 2021, even after the first signs of alteration. That’s a lot of

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Dollars

“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.” So said no less an expert than William Shakespeare. It is perhaps this belief which led consumers to throw $547 million to their imagined true loves in 2021, even after the first signs of alteration. That’s a lot of

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Dollars

“Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.” So said no less an expert than William Shakespeare. It is perhaps this belief which led consumers to throw $547 million to their imagined true loves in 2021, even after the first signs of alteration. That’s a lot of

Women Pay More for Car Insurance, Studies Find

Auto insurance is based on risk, so you would think that since men have more accidents, they would pay higher rates. But in fact, a study by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) finds that women pay more, at least in Delaware, where the study was conducted. Similar studies elsewhere

Weight Watchers App Illegally Collected Kids' Info

Many parents don’t think twice about letting their kids use apps specifically designed for children. After all, what could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, quite a bit can go wrong. There is a fairly lengthy history of children’s apps collecting personal information, effectively spying on the kids and their

Feds Target Rogue Repossessions

The used-car market is blazing hot, thanks to supply problems that have made new cars hard to come by. So, like anything that suddenly grows in value, cars are prime targets not only for outright theft but also for illicit and premature repossession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warns.

Feds Target Rogue Repossessions

The used-car market is blazing hot, thanks to supply problems that have made new cars hard to come by. So, like anything that suddenly grows in value, cars are prime targets not only for outright theft but also for illicit and premature repossession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warns.

Feds Target Rogue Repossessions

The used-car market is blazing hot, thanks to supply problems that have made new cars hard to come by. So, like anything that suddenly grows in value, cars are prime targets not only for outright theft but also for illicit and premature repossession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warns.

Feds Target Rogue Repossessions

The used-car market is blazing hot, thanks to supply problems that have made new cars hard to come by. So, like anything that suddenly grows in value, cars are prime targets not only for outright theft but also for illicit and premature repossession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warns.

Credit Reports Used to 'Extort' Consumers into Paying Healthcare Bills

The American healthcare and credit reporting systems work in tandem to “coerce and extort patients into paying medical bills they may not even owe,” a new report from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finds. “When it comes to medical bills, Americans are often caught in a doom

What's the Cost of Those Loyalty Programs?

Loyalty programs can save you a lot of money, right? You can get discounts, upgrades and all kinds of goodies completely free –  just by providing your email address or phone number! Right? Well, yes and no. These programs do come with a cost, as much of the data winds up

What's the Cost of Those Loyalty Programs?

Loyalty programs can save you a lot of money, right? You can get discounts, upgrades and all kinds of goodies completely free –  just by providing your email address or phone number! Right? Well, yes and no. These programs do come with a cost, as much of the data winds up

What's the Cost of Those Loyalty Programs?

Loyalty programs can save you a lot of money, right? You can get discounts, upgrades and all kinds of goodies completely free –  just by providing your email address or phone number! Right? Well, yes and no. These programs do come with a cost, as much of the data winds up

What's the Cost of Those Loyalty Programs?

Loyalty programs can save you a lot of money, right? You can get discounts, upgrades and all kinds of goodies completely free –  just by providing your email address or phone number! Right? Well, yes and no. These programs do come with a cost, as much of the data winds up

Citi Axes Overdraft Fees, Other Banks May Follow

Citigroup is the latest – and the largest – bank to eliminate overdraft fees. Citi said yesterday it would eliminate the $34 overdraft charge this summer. Citi joins Ally Financial of Detroit and Capital One of McLean, Virginia, which scrapped overdraft fees earlier, as political pressure from progressive Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth

Amazon Sues Sites Over Fake Product Reviews

Amazon has filed lawsuits against two websites that it accuses of orchestrating fake reviews in return for money and free products. The suit charges that AppSally and Rebatest are misleading shoppers by promoting fake reviews on Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Etsy. “Fake review brokers attempt to profit by deceiving unknowing

Imposters Drove Feverish Growth in Scams Last Year

If anyone is writing an updated A Journal of the Plague Year, they should be sure to take note of the alarming 70% growth in consumer dollars lost to fraud in 2021. Whether it was because consumers were quarantined at home – or scam artists were – fraud complaints went viral in

There’s Money Lurking in Your Closet

Can you name an asset that has steadily appreciated in value over the past decade, impervious to market fluctuations, appreciating 500% between 1980 and 2015? It’s not financial services or heavy industry or even technology. It’s the Hermes Birkin bag. Yes, a handbag. But not just any handbag.

Feds Eye 'Money-Making Opportunities' That Turn into Debt Traps

Everybody would like to make more money. But what look like can’t-miss opportunities from well-known companies often turn out to be money-makers for the company but not for the hapless consumers who fall for them. If this sounds like we’re talking about multilevel marketing platforms, gig jobs and

Feds Warn Against Lies About Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is warning student loan servicers not to make deceptive statements about loan forgiveness for students who go on to work in public service jobs. “Illegal conduct by a student loan servicer can be ruinous for borrowers who miss out on the opportunity for debt

Loans Forgiven for Students at DeVry, Other For-Profit Schools

The U.S. Department of Education continues sifting through claims from former students at for-profit universities and is forgiving $415 million in loans owed by students at DeVry University and other schools. “The Department remains committed to giving borrowers discharges when the evidence shows their college violated the law and

Predatory Puppy Loans Make Consumer Groups Growl

Having a pet is expensive enough without paying exorbitant interest rates when you finance the purchase of your pup. (Of course, you should adopt not purchase but that’s another story). The problem with the puppy loans arises when consumers finance their new animal friend through the pet store. Many

For Your Valentine, Give the Gift of Sleep

Roses are red but eyes aren’t supposed to be. If your special someone isn’t getting enough sleep, it can put a damper on your Valentine’s Day and all the other mornings when one or both of you wake up grumpy. What’s the solution? Meditation, melatonin, exercise

'Extended Warranty' Promoters Bilked Consumers Out of $6 Million, Feds Charge

Just about everyone with a phone is hounded constantly by people hawking “extended auto warranties” despite the efforts of the Federal Trade Commission and other federal, state and local regulators to put them out of business. In the latest such attempt, the FTC is charging that American Vehicle Protection Corp.

How Big Is Amazon? Almost Too Big to Measure

Jeff Bezos’ yacht is so big they may have to disassemble a bridge in Rotterdam to get it out to sea. Back on shore, Amazon’s third-party marketplace now gets 25 cents of every online shopping dollar. Were Amazon’s marketplace an independent platform, it would be the largest online

Making Your Home Safer for Seniors

We’re all getting older. There are more seniors in the U.S. than ever and many of them are choosing to stay in their longtime homes. That can be a wise decision but it may require some upgrades to make those homes safer. Considering that a month in a

New Safety Rules for Crib Mattresses

Babies are soft but their mattresses should be firm. New federal safety standards for crib mattresses are intended to do just that – provide a firm, flat sleeping surface. Softer sleeping surfaces have been linked to suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The new rules adopted by the U.S.

Home-Based Businesses Need Beefed-Up Insurance Coverage

Everybody knows the stories about Silicon Valley bazillionaires who started out working in their garage. Nice stories but setting up a business in your home isn’t as easy as shoving a desk into the guest room and hoping for the best. There’s insurance for one thing. Businesses face

Who's Selling Your Personal Information? Here's the List

There really are no secrets anymore. And to prove it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each year compiles an annual list of consumer reporting companies, firms whose sole purpose is to collect – and sell – information about you. The list identifies dozens of specialty reporting companies that collect and sell access

Who's Selling Your Personal Information? Here's the List

There really are no secrets anymore. And to prove it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each year compiles an annual list of consumer reporting companies, firms whose sole purpose is to collect – and sell – information about you. The list identifies dozens of specialty reporting companies that collect and sell access

Who's Selling Your Personal Information? Here's the List

There really are no secrets anymore. And to prove it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each year compiles an annual list of consumer reporting companies, firms whose sole purpose is to collect – and sell – information about you. The list identifies dozens of specialty reporting companies that collect and sell access

Who's Selling Your Personal Information? Here's the List

There really are no secrets anymore. And to prove it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each year compiles an annual list of consumer reporting companies, firms whose sole purpose is to collect – and sell – information about you. The list identifies dozens of specialty reporting companies that collect and sell access

Feds Target 'Junk' Bank Fees

Overdraft fees, resort fees, service fees and other ill-defined charges are in the sights of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It’s putting together a set of rules aimed at eliminating or reducing fees that don’t reflect the actual cost of providing a service – “junk fees,” in other

Fashion Nova Fined $4.2 Million for Blocking Negative Reviews

Online reviews have been around for more than two decades and have been subject to all kinds of manipulation and whitewashing without much in the way of action from the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s primary consumer protection agency. That has now changed. Fashion Nova, LLC will have to

IRS Wants to Hear From Gig Workers

We hear a lot about how rich people supposedly don’t pay taxes. But the rest of us sometimes slip through the net as well, often using online payment platforms like PayPal, Venmo, CashApp and Zelle. This is about to get a bit more difficult. The Internal Revenue Service is

Insurance Costs Rising in California Fire-Prone Areas

If you’ve been thinking of buying a multi-million dollar home in California, you may want to think again. Insurers are growing tired of paying big claims each time a wildfire torches a pricey neighborhood. More than 40,000 structures have been destroyed by wildfires since 2017 despite government’s

'Tech Support' Was a Scam, Aimed Mostly at Seniors

Everyone has seen the pop-up and text ads promising free tech support, anti-virus and other services. If you dismissed them as scams, you were probably right. And now, one of the larger perpetrators of these come-ons has met his match. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today filed a proposed

Feds Warn Companies Against Violating 'No Surprises' Act

Millions of Americans have unpaid medical bills on their credit reports and one big reason is “surprise” charges – the ones that aren’t covered by a consumer’s health insurance. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress and signed by then-Pres. Trump in 2020, establishes new federal protections against medical

Feds Warn Companies Against Violating 'No Surprises' Act

Millions of Americans have unpaid medical bills on their credit reports and one big reason is “surprise” charges – the ones that aren’t covered by a consumer’s health insurance. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress and signed by then-Pres. Trump in 2020, establishes new federal protections against medical

Feds Warn Companies Against Violating 'No Surprises' Act

Millions of Americans have unpaid medical bills on their credit reports and one big reason is “surprise” charges – the ones that aren’t covered by a consumer’s health insurance. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress and signed by then-Pres. Trump in 2020, establishes new federal protections against medical

Feds Warn Companies Against Violating 'No Surprises' Act

Millions of Americans have unpaid medical bills on their credit reports and one big reason is “surprise” charges – the ones that aren’t covered by a consumer’s health insurance. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress and signed by then-Pres. Trump in 2020, establishes new federal protections against medical

Student Lender Navient to Pay $1.85 Billion to Borrowers

Giant student loan servicer Navient has agreed to pay $1.85 billion to student loan borrowers nationwide, settling a lawsuit filed by a coalition of state attorneys general in 2009. The settlement resolves claims that despite representing that it would help borrowers find the best repayment options, Navient steered struggling

Credit Bureaus Still Failing to Correct Errors in Credit Reports

Errors in consumer credit reports have plagued American families for years and a new analysis finds that major credit bureaus are still failing to correct their procedures. In 2021, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion together reported relief in response to less than 2% – that’s two percent – of covered complaints, down

GM Pulling into Carvana's Lane

Visiting a car dealer is not exactly everyone’s idea of a good time. A recent poll found that only 13 percent of respondents thought car dealers treated consumers fairly. Online-only dealers like Carvana and Vroom have been taking this attitude to the bank, grabbing market share from established dealers

Rogue Movers Ordered to Pay $13 Million for Using Competitor's Name

Picking a mover can often be more stressful than moving. There are nearly constant complaints of movers who don’t show up, who hold customers’ goods hostage and who engage in any number of slippery business practices. But tracking down the bad guys can be difficult. Consumers are in a

5G Spells the End for AT&T Home Alarm Service, Many Others

The much-hyped arrival of 5G cellular communications may eventually prove beneficial to consumers. But for now, much of the impact is being felt by people whose 3G services are being cut back or eliminated entirely. A fairly notable example is AT&T, which recently sent this rather cryptic notice to

Bioengineered Foods Are the New GMOs

If you’ve been avoiding genetically modified foods (GMOs), you may want to shift your focus to foods labeled as “bioengineered (BE).” The feds are changing the rules about what names should be applied to foods whose genes have been tampered with. Way back in 2016, Congress passed something called

Bioengineered Foods Are the New GMOs

If you’ve been avoiding genetically modified foods (GMOs), you may want to shift your focus to foods labeled as “bioengineered (BE).” The feds are changing the rules about what names should be applied to foods whose genes have been tampered with. Way back in 2016, Congress passed something called

Bioengineered Foods Are the New GMOs

If you’ve been avoiding genetically modified foods (GMOs), you may want to shift your focus to foods labeled as “bioengineered (BE).” The feds are changing the rules about what names should be applied to foods whose genes have been tampered with. Way back in 2016, Congress passed something called

Bioengineered Foods Are the New GMOs

If you’ve been avoiding genetically modified foods (GMOs), you may want to shift your focus to foods labeled as “bioengineered (BE).” The feds are changing the rules about what names should be applied to foods whose genes have been tampered with. Way back in 2016, Congress passed something called

What's the Most Dangerous Room in Your Home?

Quick – what’s the most dangerous room in your home? The kitchen? The garage? No, it’s the bathroom. More people get hurt in bathrooms than anywhere else in their homes. Not surprisingly, about two-thirds of the injuries involve slips and falls, mostly while bathing or showering, with toilets close

Electric Cars: Where’s the Juice?

With gas prices at 40-year highs and popular consciousness of the perils of global warming climate change increasing, you may be thinking it’s time to look into buying an electric car…seriously. You wouldn’t be alone. Including hybrids, sales of electric cars made up 7.2% (accounting for

Ease the Pain of Inflation

Ever since money was invented, inflation has been a problem. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting disruptions to the economy, it promises to be a bigger problem than usual in 2022. While it’s true that inflation has some benefits for the average consumer – increased home values, for example

When Is a Loan Not a Loan?

Everyone knows that using credit to make purchases is handy but can also be expensive and risky to your financial well-being. Using cash is sometimes better but can deplete your cash supply. That’s where something called “Buy Now, Pay Later” comes in. It’s not exactly a new idea,

Hearing Aids Will Soon Be Available Without a Prescription

This story is about something you can’t buy yet – over-the-counter hearing aids. At present, in most states, consumers with hearing issues must be examined by a medical professional before buying a hearing aid locally, but that’s about to end. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently

Want to Subscribe to Your Car?

People used to subscribe to newspapers, magazines and cable channels. Now they subscribe to razor blades and toothpaste. What’s next? Cars, if the automakers have anything to say about it. Just last week, Stellantis – née Chrysler Fiat & PSA Group – publicly daydreamed about its plans to sell billions of dollars

Beyond Vegan: Lab-Grown Meat

If you haven’t already tried a meatless hamburger, chances are you will bite into one soon. Some 57% of American households have already taken the plunge and the number is growing fast. The customers, by the way, aren’t all vegans. Industry research shows 98 percent of people who

LAS TARJETAS DE REGALO DE TARGET SON LA PRINCIPAL ELECCIÓN DE LOS ESTAFADORES

Las tarjetas de regalo son muy útiles para los consumidores, las empresas y, por desgracia, los estafadores. Los últimos datos de la Comisión Federal de Comercio muestran que en los primeros nueve meses de 2021, los consumidores declararon haber perdido 148 millones de dólares en estafas en las que se

LAS TARJETAS DE REGALO DE TARGET SON LA PRINCIPAL ELECCIÓN DE LOS ESTAFADORES

Las tarjetas de regalo son muy útiles para los consumidores, las empresas y, por desgracia, los estafadores. Los últimos datos de la Comisión Federal de Comercio muestran que en los primeros nueve meses de 2021, los consumidores declararon haber perdido 148 millones de dólares en estafas en las que se

LAS TARJETAS DE REGALO DE TARGET SON LA PRINCIPAL ELECCIÓN DE LOS ESTAFADORES

Las tarjetas de regalo son muy útiles para los consumidores, las empresas y, por desgracia, los estafadores. Los últimos datos de la Comisión Federal de Comercio muestran que en los primeros nueve meses de 2021, los consumidores declararon haber perdido 148 millones de dólares en estafas en las que se

LAS TARJETAS DE REGALO DE TARGET SON LA PRINCIPAL ELECCIÓN DE LOS ESTAFADORES

Las tarjetas de regalo son muy útiles para los consumidores, las empresas y, por desgracia, los estafadores. Los últimos datos de la Comisión Federal de Comercio muestran que en los primeros nueve meses de 2021, los consumidores declararon haber perdido 148 millones de dólares en estafas en las que se

Target Gift Cards Are Scammers' Top Choice

Gift cards are very handy for consumers, businesses and, unfortunately, scam artists. The Federal Trade Commission’s latest data spotlight shows that in the first nine months of 2021, consumers reported losing $148 million in scams where gift cards were used as the form of payment. That amount is more

Financial Violations Rife as Consumers Struggled with Pandemic

Improper mortgage fees, fair lending violations and payday lender malpractice were among the illegal conduct found by federal examiners during the first half of 2021, according to a report issued today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “Today’s report reveals that irresponsible or mismanaged firms harmed Americans during

Stellantis Plans to Offer Usage-Based Car Insurance

Automaker Stellantis is the latest to say it plans to get into per-mile auto insurance in the U.S., a potential boon for consumers who don’t drive much. Stellantis launched an insurance program in France earlier this month, offering rates based on driver behavior, as measured via online data

Banks Rethinking Overdraft Fees

Capital One Bank has set off a new chapter in the continuing squabble over overdraft fees, the expensive and highly profitable fees banks charge when customers’ accounts dip below zero. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called on other banks to follow suit and regulatory agencies threatened action. The bank’s CEO,

Green Burial Growing Slowly as an Option

It may not be a pressing concern at the moment but the question of how to handle your remains after death is one that’s starting to be considered by many environmentally aware consumers. Traditional burial in a graveyard has rather severe environmental costs. Graves take up valuable land, leak

NY Times Wirecutter Staff Prepares to Strike

A planned strike at a popular product review site has journalists around the country abuzz. Editors and reviewers for Wirecutter, a New York Times website, are planning a strike over the Thanksgiving holiday. The dispute raises some thorny issues about how product reviews are financed. Many journalists look down on

Imposter Scam Calls Again Top FTC's Consumer Complaint List

There are about 333 million people in the United States, the Census Bureau says, and nearly 245 million telephone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list. While it’s no doubt true that some people have registered more than one telephone number on the list, one

Imposter Scam Calls Again Top FTC's Consumer Complaint List

There are about 333 million people in the United States, the Census Bureau says, and nearly 245 million telephone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list. While it’s no doubt true that some people have registered more than one telephone number on the list, one

Imposter Scam Calls Again Top FTC's Consumer Complaint List

There are about 333 million people in the United States, the Census Bureau says, and nearly 245 million telephone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list. While it’s no doubt true that some people have registered more than one telephone number on the list, one

Imposter Scam Calls Again Top FTC's Consumer Complaint List

There are about 333 million people in the United States, the Census Bureau says, and nearly 245 million telephone numbers on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list. While it’s no doubt true that some people have registered more than one telephone number on the list, one

Do You Have What It Takes To Retire Overseas?

When you start approaching 65, you take out your calculator and start figuring out how much income you’ll have – and how much you’ll need — when you decide to retire. Once the shock wears off, you may start thinking about downsizing…sometimes downsizing overseas, where your dollar often goes

Do You Have What It Takes To Retire Overseas?

When you start approaching 65, you take out your calculator and start figuring out how much income you’ll have – and how much you’ll need — when you decide to retire. Once the shock wears off, you may start thinking about downsizing…sometimes downsizing overseas, where your dollar often goes

Do You Have What It Takes To Retire Overseas?

When you start approaching 65, you take out your calculator and start figuring out how much income you’ll have – and how much you’ll need — when you decide to retire. Once the shock wears off, you may start thinking about downsizing…sometimes downsizing overseas, where your dollar often goes

Name-Only Matching Not Enough for Credit Reporting Agencies, CFPB Cautions

It’s common practice for some credit reporting agencies, including tenant and employment screeners, to use names only when compiling their reports. This can lead to all kinds of headaches for consumers and can result in damage to their credit ratings, job prospects and housing choices. But a recent advisory

Pawn Lenders Overcharged Military Consumers, Complaint Alleges

Members of the military are protected from excessive interest rates on loans but in the real world, those protections are often ignored. In the latest example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal district court against FirstCash, Inc. and Cash America West, Inc.

Student Debt Scheme Netted $31 Million, Feds Charge

The millions of consumers struggling to pay off student loan debt constitute a fertile field for unscrupulous scam artists, many peddling debt-relief schemes that do nothing but drain the victims’ checking account. One such company, the Federal Trade Commission charges, is Automatic Funds Transfer Service, a payment processor that the

Feds Plan Stronger Safety Rules for Window Blind Cords

Window blinds don’t look or sound dangerous but they’re actually one of the biggest safety threats to children. Every year, children strangle on the cords hanging from blinds, shades and draperies. “Unfortunately, two children strangled on hazardous cords in October,” said Linda Kaiser, founder of Parents for Window

Don't Drive Much? Consider Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance

The pandemic put a huge dent in traffic for awhile and appears to have turned many of us into permanent homebodies. And yet, most Americans are still paying the same auto insurance premium. Does that make sense? Insurance is supposed to be based on risk, after all, and the risk

FDA Orders 'Black Box' Warnings for Breast Implants

Plastic surgeons will have to provide patients with a checklist of safety risks before performing breast implant surgery, an action the agency has been considering for years – too many years, according to some critics. “It’s better than nothing, but it’s not as good as it could be,” said

FDA Orders 'Black Box' Warnings for Breast Implants

Plastic surgeons will have to provide patients with a checklist of safety risks before performing breast implant surgery, an action the agency has been considering for years – too many years, according to some critics. “It’s better than nothing, but it’s not as good as it could be,” said

FDA Orders 'Black Box' Warnings for Breast Implants

Plastic surgeons will have to provide patients with a checklist of safety risks before performing breast implant surgery, an action the agency has been considering for years – too many years, according to some critics. “It’s better than nothing, but it’s not as good as it could be,” said

FDA Orders 'Black Box' Warnings for Breast Implants

Plastic surgeons will have to provide patients with a checklist of safety risks before performing breast implant surgery, an action the agency has been considering for years – too many years, according to some critics. “It’s better than nothing, but it’s not as good as it could be,” said

Walmart Welcomes Chinese Sellers Booted Off Amazon

Immigration is a hot topic these days, and not just in politics. Online retailers are also staking out competing positions, with Walmart opening its platform to many Chinese sellers recently jettisoned from Amazon. Walmart announced in March that it would be expanding its borders, so to speak, and as the

Online Trading Academy Customers In Line For Debt Forgiveness

A large group of Online Trading Academy customers will have their debts erased under a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. It’s the second shoe to drop in the OTA case. In September 2020, OTA was ordered to pay refunds of more than $10 million to consumers who

Forget the Car - Crooks Busy Boosting Catalytic Converters

You wouldn’t leave a gold watch lying on the sidewalk. But you leave your car parked in plain sight on public streets all the time, its precious catalytic converter just hanging there waiting to be harvested by anyone with a hacksaw or wrench. For a consumer with an older

Post Office Banking: It's Not Just About the Money

Would you open a bank at the post office? The issue is on the congressional agenda, following the proposed Postal Banking Act that would establish permanent essential financial services in post offices in every U.S. community. Supporters such as Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) call it

Reverse Mortgage Ads Misled Consumers, Complaint Charges

An Irvine, California, company is being accused of using inflated home estimates to lure consumers into taking out reverse mortgages. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) leveled the charges against American Advisors Group (AAG). “American Advisors Group violated consumers’ trust by advertising reverse mortgages with inflated and deceptive home-value estimates,

Mortgage 'Rescue' Makes a Bad Situation Worse

[Updated 5 p.m. 10/13, to add the company’s response] Falling behind on your mortgage is bad. Falling in with companies that claim to offer “mortgage relief” services can be even worse, leaving cash-strapped homeowners like Paul of South Carolina in even worse shape than before they signed

California Outlawing Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers, Lawn Mowers

A few years ago, the rather chic little city of Palm Springs, California, banned gas-powered leaf blowers, bringing relief to residents tired of the ear-splitting din and noxious fumes emitted by the infernal gadgets. The move was seen as the sort of thing that only a wealthy little resort town

Family Member Needs Long-Term Care? Consider These Tips

Caring for an elderly or disabled loved one prior to COVID-19 was a significant undertaking. Now, as the pandemic continues, there are increased challenges when looking after family members in need. This is especially true if the health of this individual has recently started to decline enough to warrant long-term

For-Profit Colleges Warned about False Promises

The Federal Trade Commission has warned 70 for-profit colleges to be careful. The agency is cracking down on false promises about the jobs and salaries graduates can expect and warning schools that violators face “significant” financial penalties. “For too long, unscrupulous for-profit schools have preyed on students with impunity, facing

For-Profit Colleges Warned about False Promises

The Federal Trade Commission has warned 70 for-profit colleges to be careful. The agency is cracking down on false promises about the jobs and salaries graduates can expect and warning schools that violators face “significant” financial penalties. “For too long, unscrupulous for-profit schools have preyed on students with impunity, facing

For-Profit Colleges Warned about False Promises

The Federal Trade Commission has warned 70 for-profit colleges to be careful. The agency is cracking down on false promises about the jobs and salaries graduates can expect and warning schools that violators face “significant” financial penalties. “For too long, unscrupulous for-profit schools have preyed on students with impunity, facing

For-Profit Colleges Warned about False Promises

The Federal Trade Commission has warned 70 for-profit colleges to be careful. The agency is cracking down on false promises about the jobs and salaries graduates can expect and warning schools that violators face “significant” financial penalties. “For too long, unscrupulous for-profit schools have preyed on students with impunity, facing

Falling Furniture Risk Rises as Weather Cools

Cooler weather is on the way, which means families will be spending more time indoors. And that means children will be more exposed to furniture tip-overs, a relatively new hazard created by the popularity of gigantic TVs and cheap furniture made of pressed wood and other flimsy materials. The problem

Consumers Who Paid for 'Funding' Getting Refunds

Nearly 9,000 consumers who paid Seed Consulting LLC for “funding” to pay for expensive training courses are getting refunds. The Federal Trade Commission is sending 8,843 checks totaling more than $2 million to consumers who signed up with Seed for training programs that the FTC says were expensive

Consumers Who Paid for 'Funding' Getting Refunds

Nearly 9,000 consumers who paid Seed Consulting LLC for “funding” to pay for expensive training courses are getting refunds. The Federal Trade Commission is sending 8,843 checks totaling more than $2 million to consumers who signed up with Seed for training programs that the FTC says were expensive

Consumers Who Paid for 'Funding' Getting Refunds

Nearly 9,000 consumers who paid Seed Consulting LLC for “funding” to pay for expensive training courses are getting refunds. The Federal Trade Commission is sending 8,843 checks totaling more than $2 million to consumers who signed up with Seed for training programs that the FTC says were expensive

Consumers Who Paid for 'Funding' Getting Refunds

Nearly 9,000 consumers who paid Seed Consulting LLC for “funding” to pay for expensive training courses are getting refunds. The Federal Trade Commission is sending 8,843 checks totaling more than $2 million to consumers who signed up with Seed for training programs that the FTC says were expensive

FDA Looks at Safety of New Food Delivery Services

As the COVID-19 pandemic closed in last year, Americans increasingly turned to food delivery and other ways to avoid shopping in person at crowded supermarkets. While these delivery options may have helped curb the spread of the coronavirus, there’s reason to doubt they did anything to improve food safety.

Getting a Grip on Climate Change: Decarbonization for Consumers

Record-breaking heatwaves, hurricanes, forest fires, rising sea waters, flooding. Once one-time anomalies, now commonplace, and becoming worse.  Natural disasters fueled by a warming planet caused record damage and displaced millions of people according to two assessments of insurance claims in 2020. As United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters at

'Out-of-Control' Insulin Prices Driving Sales of Bogus Diabetes Cures

The cost of insulin has been rising steadily in the United States – up 11 percent annually in recent years –  reaching an average annual cost of $6,000 per patient. One result is obvious: many patients, as many as one-fourth by some estimates, are cutting back or even going without their

California Wants to Trash Misleading Recycling Symbols

There’s something trashy about the recycling symbols you see everywhere. To put it simply, many of them are misleading or downright false. California, which has sort of taken on the role of protecting the nation’s consumers and environment, may soon require that the symbols actually mean what they

California Wants to Trash Misleading Recycling Symbols

There’s something trashy about the recycling symbols you see everywhere. To put it simply, many of them are misleading or downright false. California, which has sort of taken on the role of protecting the nation’s consumers and environment, may soon require that the symbols actually mean what they

California Wants to Trash Misleading Recycling Symbols

There’s something trashy about the recycling symbols you see everywhere. To put it simply, many of them are misleading or downright false. California, which has sort of taken on the role of protecting the nation’s consumers and environment, may soon require that the symbols actually mean what they

California Wants to Trash Misleading Recycling Symbols

There’s something trashy about the recycling symbols you see everywhere. To put it simply, many of them are misleading or downright false. California, which has sort of taken on the role of protecting the nation’s consumers and environment, may soon require that the symbols actually mean what they

California Bill Would Ban PFAS in Food Packaging, Restrict Advertising

California legislators are preparing to ban PFAS, the “forever chemicals” widely found throughout the environment, in food packaging while also imposing strict rules on advertising and requiring manufacturers to disclose toxic chemicals used in cookware. The state senate voted voted Friday to pass the Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act.

More Americans Looking Overseas for Retirement Living

More Americans than ever are setting up a second home in another country, with State Department estimates placing the current number as high as nine million. The motive is often financial, as retirees hope to raise thir standard of living without a big increase in cost. Panama, Costa Rica and

Facebook's WhatsApp Fined $267 Million for Privacy Violations

Ireland regulators are fining Facebook-owned WhatsApp $267 million for violating the European Union’s data privacy rules by, among other things, not properly telling EU citizens how it handles their personal data. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) charged that WhatsApp shared data with Facebook and other entities without fully

FDA Finds No Measurable PFAS in Processed Foods

There’s been growing concern about “forever chemicals” like PFAS in food, cosmetics and other consumer products. But a new FDA study found no measurable PFAS in a sampling of processed foods, including baby food. Another study published today, however, found the chemicals widely present in indoor air in homes,

Scam Artists Will Renew Your Faith in Human Ingenuity

Anyone who remains dubious about evolution needs to pay heed to scam artists and their amazing ability to adapt and change their stripes at a moment’s notice. In a world beset by hurricanes, floods, fires, pandemics and winding-down wars, there is no shortage of human misery and desperate need

Supreme Court Comes to Landlords' Rescue, Ends Eviction Moratorium

Landlords are suffering “irreparable harm” because of President Biden’s moratorium on evictions, the U.S. Supreme Court held Thursday, ending the moratorium and opening the door to wholesale evictions of renters. Outnumbered liberal justices complained that the court had not heard full arguments from renters but the conservative majority

Alleged Robocaller Faces $5 Million Fine for Calls to Voters

A couple of highly-placed K Street lobbyists with a roster of right-wing clients are facing a $5 million fine for allegedly making more than 1,000 robocalls to wireless phones, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The alleged perpetrators are John M. Burkman and Jacob Alexander Wohl. Burkman is

The Joker Returns and He's After Your Money

The Joker virus is back, infesting various Android apps in the Google Play Store. It’s a revival of the infamous malware that, back in 2017, attacked its victims by hiding in their computer apps. Among its other nasty tricks, the virus can sign you up for online payment services

Does Your Insurance Cover You for Remote Work?

Once upon a time, employers tended to view working from home as a boondoggle. Who knew what employees were up to if they weren’t working in the office? Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and those skeptical employers became believers: overnight, working from home became the only viable option to

Walmart Opens its Marketplace to Foreign Sellers, Amazon Eyes Bricks and Mortar

Trying to keep track of the competition between Walmart and Amazon is more like watching a hockey game than a tennis match. Things happen quickly, in every direction. You can’t look away for an instant. In perhaps the two latest developments, Walmart is opening its online platform to foreign

You Got an Email from the FTC Chair? Sorry, It's a Scam

Lina Khan is the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that leads the charge against scam artists. She’s a highly qualified and capable person and you can believe what she says. However, you can’t believe that email you may have gotten from her – you know,

You Got an Email from the FTC Chair? Sorry, It's a Scam

Lina Khan is the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that leads the charge against scam artists. She’s a highly qualified and capable person and you can believe what she says. However, you can’t believe that email you may have gotten from her – you know,

You Got an Email from the FTC Chair? Sorry, It's a Scam

Lina Khan is the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that leads the charge against scam artists. She’s a highly qualified and capable person and you can believe what she says. However, you can’t believe that email you may have gotten from her – you know,

You Got an Email from the FTC Chair? Sorry, It's a Scam

Lina Khan is the new chair of the Federal Trade Commission, the agency that leads the charge against scam artists. She’s a highly qualified and capable person and you can believe what she says. However, you can’t believe that email you may have gotten from her – you know,

Amazon Cracks Down on 'Pay for Praise' Scams

Amazon has banished more than 50,000 sellers from its platform as part of an effort to stop vendors from paying customers for writing good reviews about their products, Bloomberg reports. When they sign up for Amazon’s fulfillment service, sellers must agree that they will not compensate customers for

Stem Cell "Institute" Was Bogus, Feds Say

Stem cells are one of those things people don’t really know much about, although they sound impressive. That was perhaps what the founders of the grandly named Stem Cell Institute of America were hoping. The Georgia-based “institute” was actually a clinic run by a chiropractor and a handful of

Stem Cell "Institute" Was Bogus, Feds Say

Stem cells are one of those things people don’t really know much about, although they sound impressive. That was perhaps what the founders of the grandly named Stem Cell Institute of America were hoping. The Georgia-based “institute” was actually a clinic run by a chiropractor and a handful of

Stem Cell "Institute" Was Bogus, Feds Say

Stem cells are one of those things people don’t really know much about, although they sound impressive. That was perhaps what the founders of the grandly named Stem Cell Institute of America were hoping. The Georgia-based “institute” was actually a clinic run by a chiropractor and a handful of

Stem Cell "Institute" Was Bogus, Feds Say

Stem cells are one of those things people don’t really know much about, although they sound impressive. That was perhaps what the founders of the grandly named Stem Cell Institute of America were hoping. The Georgia-based “institute” was actually a clinic run by a chiropractor and a handful of

WhatsApp Users Need to Watch Our for New Scams

There’s an old saying about a sucker being born every minute, but these days it almost seems more like a scammer is born every minute. WhatApp is lately on everyone’s radar as a fertile breeding ground for new scams. As the pandemic continues to drive online shopping to

WhatsApp Users Need to Watch Our for New Scams

There’s an old saying about a sucker being born every minute, but these days it almost seems more like a scammer is born every minute. WhatApp is lately on everyone’s radar as a fertile breeding ground for new scams. As the pandemic continues to drive online shopping to

WhatsApp Users Need to Watch Our for New Scams

There’s an old saying about a sucker being born every minute, but these days it almost seems more like a scammer is born every minute. WhatApp is lately on everyone’s radar as a fertile breeding ground for new scams. As the pandemic continues to drive online shopping to

WhatsApp Users Need to Watch Our for New Scams

There’s an old saying about a sucker being born every minute, but these days it almost seems more like a scammer is born every minute. WhatApp is lately on everyone’s radar as a fertile breeding ground for new scams. As the pandemic continues to drive online shopping to

Cremation Isn't the Only Option to a Traditional Burial

Cremation has rapidly become the most popular choice of American families, now accounting for more than half of funeral services each year. It’s less expensive and, in most cases, simpler to arrange. Cremation also does away with the “viewing” of the deceased that many now find distasteful. Contrary to

Car Insurance Rates Produced Windfall Profits During the Pandemic

Auto insurance companies made windfall profits of at least $29 billion in 2020 despite their promise to reduce rates as consumers drove less during the pandemic. Insurers provided $13 billion in premium relief while pocketing $42 billion in excessive premiums, according to a study by the Consumer Federation of America

Many Student Borrowers are Underwater, Paying Interest on Interest

Payday loans are often described as the ultimate form of predatory lending but a new study suggests student loans may be in the same league. The study found that nearly two-thirds of students who made payments during the pandemic pause were underwater on their loans – meaning they owe more than

Boost Customers Face Service Disruption in January

Nine million U.S. consumers rely on the prepaid cellphone service Boost, formerly a division of Sprint. But a complex series of maneuvers by T-Mobile, AT&T and Dish Network may leave those customers without service early next year. Officials at the U.S. Justice Department have expressed “grave concern”

Boost Customers Face Service Disruption in January

Nine million U.S. consumers rely on the prepaid cellphone service Boost, formerly a division of Sprint. But a complex series of maneuvers by T-Mobile, AT&T and Dish Network may leave those customers without service early next year. Officials at the U.S. Justice Department have expressed “grave concern”

Amazon, Facing Legal Pressure, Ups Protections for Buyers

Amazon is voluntarily taking limited responsibility up to $1,000 for defective goods that cause property damage or personal injury to its customers, a partial retreat from its longtime policy of shifting blame to sellers on its platform. “We’re excited that these innovations create a more trustworthy shopping and

Amazon, Facing Legal Pressure, Ups Protections for Buyers

Amazon is voluntarily taking limited responsibility up to $1,000 for defective goods that cause property damage or personal injury to its customers, a partial retreat from its longtime policy of shifting blame to sellers on its platform. “We’re excited that these innovations create a more trustworthy shopping and

FCC Tries Again to Thwart Robocallers

Trying to eliminate robocalls is roughly akin to eliminating mosquitoes – a worthy goal but one that’s hard to realize. The Federal Communications Commission has been trying to deal with the illegal and annoying calls for years, with limited success. Now it’s trying to really get tough. To put

Off to College? Read This First

Again this year, new and returning college students face health threats from Covid-19, raising concerns about vaccines, masks, crowded events, dorm living and so forth. But something else to be concerned about is financial health, often jeopardized by poor financial habits, scams, and super-sized student loans. Although they’re often

Student Loan Payback Deadline Extended Through January

Even better than delaying final exams, the Biden administration is extending the moratorium on federal student loan payments through Jan. 31, 2022, averting a deadline that had been set for the end of this month. But like a teacher cautioning that this would be the last warning, the Education Department

Are Electric Cars Really Cheaper to Maintain than Gas?

President Biden would like for everyone to start the switch to electric cars, mostly because of the environmental benefits. But a big part of the appeal of electric vehicles (EVs) is that they’re cheaper to operate, or so most people seem to think. Consumers often assume that, although they’

End of Mortgage Moratorium May Bring Flood of Foreclosures

The end of the eviction moratorium for renters has already raised fears that millions of consumers may become homeless. Now similar fears surround the end of the mortgage forbearance program that has provided a little breathing space for some homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners who have federally-insured mortgages have

Predatory Payday and Car Title Loans Targeted by Senate Bill

Payday and car title loans trap millions of consumers in a revolving cycle of debt every year despite attempts by states and consumer activists to restrict them. That could change if a U.S. Senate bill reintroduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and others passes. The Veterans and Consumers Fair

Diabetes Type 2 Worries? Millets May be the Answer

Type 2 diabetes is sort of the curse of affluent society. It tends to afflict those who, like most of us, eat too much fatty food and spend too much time couch-surfing. Now a study finds that millets may be a partial solution. And what, you say, are millets? They’

Vaccine Scams Jab the Unwary

Scams are almost as common as viruses and just as adaptable. The latest variant making its way through the U.S. centers on the lotteries some states and cities are using to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves. Other, more life-threatening, scams are being reported in India and

Vaccine Scams Jab the Unwary

Scams are almost as common as viruses and just as adaptable. The latest variant making its way through the U.S. centers on the lotteries some states and cities are using to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves. Other, more life-threatening, scams are being reported in India and

Vaccine Scams Jab the Unwary

Scams are almost as common as viruses and just as adaptable. The latest variant making its way through the U.S. centers on the lotteries some states and cities are using to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves. Other, more life-threatening, scams are being reported in India and

Vaccine Scams Jab the Unwary

Scams are almost as common as viruses and just as adaptable. The latest variant making its way through the U.S. centers on the lotteries some states and cities are using to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves. Other, more life-threatening, scams are being reported in India and

Eviction Moratorium Ending, Leaving 8 Million Renters at Risk

This Saturday, July 31, marks the end of the federal moratorium on renter evictions, a protection put in place during the COVID pandemic, leaving both renters and landlords worried about what happens next. The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a guide to hundreds of rental assistance programs

Summertime is Prime Time for Driveway Paving Scams

This is the time of year when it’s not uncommon to find a slightly sweaty guy at your front door, claiming he is in your neighborhood paving and repairing several driveways. Because he has workers and equipment nearby and ready to go, he says, he can offer you a

Cagey Seniors Fall for Tech Support Scams Less Often than Younger Consumers

Tech support scams continue to infest the internet but a Microsoft survey finds that consumers aren’t falling for the scams as readily as they once did. In particular, baby boomers are less likely to get roped in than younger consumers. To put it bluntly, it appears to be overconfident

Millions Drowning in a Tsunami of Medical Debt

There’s a lot of public angst about student loan debt. Now you can add unpaid medical bills, which are about twice as high as previously thought, with an estimated 18 percent of Americans in default on at least some of their medical debt. The student debt burden now stands

Ethylene Oxide in Food Additives Causing Recalls in Europe

European governments are ordering safety recalls of foods contaminated with ethylene oxide, a toxic substance that public health officials say is not safe to consume in any quantity. The recalls are linked to a food additive that’s used in a wide range of products including ice cream, cereal, crackers,

Romance Scams Target Seniors, Losses Rise Sharply

Online romances are blossoming among seniors, but way too many of them are more like poison ivy than a dozen roses. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says that reported romance scam losses in 2020 hit a record $304 million, up about 50 percent from the previous year. The actual

Scammers Eye Payments to Families with Children

Monthly tax credit payments to eligible families with children started this week. They promise to be helpful to struggling families and also to scam artists who are always waiting to pounce on any new source of revenue. Families will be getting payments every month through December, adding up to half

Scammers Eye Payments to Families with Children

Monthly tax credit payments to eligible families with children started this week. They promise to be helpful to struggling families and also to scam artists who are always waiting to pounce on any new source of revenue. Families will be getting payments every month through December, adding up to half

Scammers Eye Payments to Families with Children

Monthly tax credit payments to eligible families with children started this week. They promise to be helpful to struggling families and also to scam artists who are always waiting to pounce on any new source of revenue. Families will be getting payments every month through December, adding up to half

Scammers Eye Payments to Families with Children

Monthly tax credit payments to eligible families with children started this week. They promise to be helpful to struggling families and also to scam artists who are always waiting to pounce on any new source of revenue. Families will be getting payments every month through December, adding up to half

Safety Regulators Sue Amazon to Force Recalls of Hazardous Products

Federal safety regulators are getting tough with Amazon, which for years has sidestepped demands that it recall hazardous or counterfeit products sold on its website. The hands-off policy basically echoes the standard applied to content sites, which are protected from legal liability by the telecommunications law passed by Congress. But

Lower Cell Phone Rates on Tap for Some Canadian Consumers

President Biden’s massive stack of initiatives intended to spur competition has grabbed headlines in the U.S., and Canadian consumers can expect some action on wireless telephone rates as well, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Canada’s four biggest wireless operators – Bell, Rogers, Telus and

Biden Signs 'Right to Repair' Order as Part of Pro-Competition Package

“This is a big day for the right to fix our stuff,” said U.S. PIRG’s Nathan Proctor as President Biden signed an executive order that should make it easier for consumers to repair cell phones, farm tractors and a wide range of other products without relying on the

Biden Signs 'Right to Repair' Order as Part of Pro-Competition Package

“This is a big day for the right to fix our stuff,” said U.S. PIRG’s Nathan Proctor as President Biden signed an executive order that should make it easier for consumers to repair cell phones, farm tractors and a wide range of other products without relying on the

Biden Signs 'Right to Repair' Order as Part of Pro-Competition Package

“This is a big day for the right to fix our stuff,” said U.S. PIRG’s Nathan Proctor as President Biden signed an executive order that should make it easier for consumers to repair cell phones, farm tractors and a wide range of other products without relying on the

Biden Signs 'Right to Repair' Order as Part of Pro-Competition Package

“This is a big day for the right to fix our stuff,” said U.S. PIRG’s Nathan Proctor as President Biden signed an executive order that should make it easier for consumers to repair cell phones, farm tractors and a wide range of other products without relying on the

Will Patients Accept ArtificiaI Intelligence-Driven Medicine?

Does Dr. Bot know best? That’s a question that will be confronting consumers in one form or another soon than you may think. The answer may lie in how artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the healthcare picture – whether doctors provide the gateway to AI diagnosis or whether patients

Home Elevators Endanger Children, Feds Seek Recall

In an unusual action, federal safety regulators are suing a home elevator manufacturer, seeking to force a recall of elevators that they say can trap and kill or maim children. What’s unusual about that? Well, for starters, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) doesn’t normally have

U.S. Population Declining; Good News for Workers, Renters

The United States is accustomed to steady economic growth, driven by a growing population that is increasingly affluent and eager to buy the consumer goods that keep the money flowing. But the times they are a-changing. The vast baby boom generation is leaving the workforce, immigration is slowing, the birth

U.S. Population Declining; Good News for Workers, Renters

The United States is accustomed to steady economic growth, driven by a growing population that is increasingly affluent and eager to buy the consumer goods that keep the money flowing. But the times they are a-changing. The vast baby boom generation is leaving the workforce, immigration is slowing, the birth

U.S. Population Declining; Good News for Workers, Renters

The United States is accustomed to steady economic growth, driven by a growing population that is increasingly affluent and eager to buy the consumer goods that keep the money flowing. But the times they are a-changing. The vast baby boom generation is leaving the workforce, immigration is slowing, the birth

U.S. Population Declining; Good News for Workers, Renters

The United States is accustomed to steady economic growth, driven by a growing population that is increasingly affluent and eager to buy the consumer goods that keep the money flowing. But the times they are a-changing. The vast baby boom generation is leaving the workforce, immigration is slowing, the birth

Heat Pumps Becoming a Year-Round Solution to Heat Waves and Winter Weather

Bailey the Dog and I were sitting quietly in the family room one day in February when an odd thing happened. I realized I was sweating and Bailey was panting lightly. It being the coldest day of the year, somewhere south of 20 degrees, this didn’t seem normal. Our

Student Loan Moratorium Winding Down as Tensions Rise

As the pandemic-linked moratorium on student loan payments nears its end, there are fears that millions of borrowers won’t be able to resume payments, bringing increased calls for reform of the scandal-plagued program. A group representing borrowers charged today that the student loan industry has been “engaged in a

New Robocall Rules Require Accurate Caller ID Info

Been getting calls from the IRS demanding money? Or from the FBI threatening to fine you for something you didn’t do? That should stop today (June 30) as new rules clamping down on robocalls take effect. Ever since 1996, when Congress revamped telecommunications regulations, scam artists have been impersonating

EL BENADRYL SIGUE SIENDO MUY UTILIZADO DESPUÉS DE QUE UN ESTUDIO LO RELACIONARA CON EL ALZHEIMER

Teniendo en cuenta la gran expectación que ha suscitado el Aduhelm, un nuevo fármaco recientemente aprobado para tratar la enfermedad de Alzheimer, y la cantidad de dinero que la gente gasta en todo tipo de tratamientos no probados, uno pensaría que las pruebas sólidas que relacionan ciertos medicamentos populares con

Benadryl Still Widely Used After Study Linked it to Alzheimer's

Given how much excitement there’s been about Aduhelm, a new drug recently approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease and how much money people spend on all kinds of unproven treatments, you’d think strong evidence linking certain popular drugs to the dread disease would get a lot of attention.

Student Loan Scheme Victims Getting Refunds

There are some people who would argue that the federal government is the biggest student loan scammer out there, given how many people were falsely promised their loans would be forgiven if they worked in public service jobs.   So far only five percent have had their loans forgiven. But that’

Anti-aging Supplement is "Pure Hype," Short Seller Claims

You may not know what NAD+ is but a supplement called Tru Niagen claims it can increase it. And that’s good, we’re told, because NAD+ can supposedly help your body resist the effects of aging. As you age, “you face a natural decline in NAD+ levels. Tru Niagen

Consumer Complaints about PayPal, Venmo, Other Payment Apps Rising

Payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Square are handy but consumers are learning that although they’re convenient, things can and sometimes do go wrong. A new study from the PIRG Education Fund cites a growing number of complaints in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Consumer Complaint

Consumer Complaints about PayPal, Venmo, Other Payment Apps Rising

Payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Square are handy but consumers are learning that although they’re convenient, things can and sometimes do go wrong. A new study from the PIRG Education Fund cites a growing number of complaints in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Consumer Complaint

Consumer Complaints about PayPal, Venmo, Other Payment Apps Rising

Payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Square are handy but consumers are learning that although they’re convenient, things can and sometimes do go wrong. A new study from the PIRG Education Fund cites a growing number of complaints in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Consumer Complaint

Consumer Complaints about PayPal, Venmo, Other Payment Apps Rising

Payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and Square are handy but consumers are learning that although they’re convenient, things can and sometimes do go wrong. A new study from the PIRG Education Fund cites a growing number of complaints in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) Consumer Complaint

Need Money Fast? Look at Alternatives to Payday Loans

Spanish version Everybody finds themselves short of cash now and then, and it can be difficult to think of ways to raise enough money to get through a rough patch. This is when many people turn to payday loans, the modern-day equivalent of borrowing from your local mobster. Both are

Raw Milk: the Raw Truth

Some people refuse to be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Others, an estimated three percent of the U.S. population, consume raw milk and other dairy products. In each case, the stated goal is better health but the evidence suggests otherwise. Raw, meaning unpasteurized, dairy products can and often do cause

Raw Milk: the Raw Truth

Some people refuse to be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Others, an estimated three percent of the U.S. population, consume raw milk and other dairy products. In each case, the stated goal is better health but the evidence suggests otherwise. Raw, meaning unpasteurized, dairy products can and often do cause

Raw Milk: the Raw Truth

Some people refuse to be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Others, an estimated three percent of the U.S. population, consume raw milk and other dairy products. In each case, the stated goal is better health but the evidence suggests otherwise. Raw, meaning unpasteurized, dairy products can and often do cause

Raw Milk: the Raw Truth

Some people refuse to be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Others, an estimated three percent of the U.S. population, consume raw milk and other dairy products. In each case, the stated goal is better health but the evidence suggests otherwise. Raw, meaning unpasteurized, dairy products can and often do cause

Big Utilities Blackball Solar Power

Many homeowners assume that, any day now, they’ll be able to put some solar panels on their roof, thereby saving money and helping reduce the strain on the nation’s electric utility grid. But the reality is a bit different. In state after state, consumers find that a few

PFAS Toxins Widely Found in Cosmetics

Looking for a way to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals? You may want to think twice about slathering on lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and other common cosmetics. A new study reinforces earlier findings that a wide range of cosmetics contain “forever chemicals,” including PFAS, a group of “persistent” chemicals that the

Wire Fraud Scams Getting Smarter

Wire fraud scams have been around a long time and most clever consumers already know to be extra careful when wiring funds for real estate closings and other transactions. But nothing is stable in the world of scams and skullduggery and wire fraud scams have been growing ever more sophisticated

Wire Fraud Scams Getting Smarter

Wire fraud scams have been around a long time and most clever consumers already know to be extra careful when wiring funds for real estate closings and other transactions. But nothing is stable in the world of scams and skullduggery and wire fraud scams have been growing ever more sophisticated

Wire Fraud Scams Getting Smarter

Wire fraud scams have been around a long time and most clever consumers already know to be extra careful when wiring funds for real estate closings and other transactions. But nothing is stable in the world of scams and skullduggery and wire fraud scams have been growing ever more sophisticated

Wire Fraud Scams Getting Smarter

Wire fraud scams have been around a long time and most clever consumers already know to be extra careful when wiring funds for real estate closings and other transactions. But nothing is stable in the world of scams and skullduggery and wire fraud scams have been growing ever more sophisticated

Child Drownings Increase, Mostly in Home Pools

Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children under five, and a new report finds little to cheer about, as child drownings increased in nearly every category studied. The report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found: * an increase in pool-or spa-related fatal drowning incidents

Arsenic in Baby Food Sparks Recalls, Manufacturing Changes

Beech-Nut has issued a recall and says it will stop selling all single-grain rice cereal after Alaska state officials discovered high arsenic levels during routing sampling, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement released earlier this week. The company simultaneously announced it will recall the lot

Arsenic in Baby Food Sparks Recalls, Manufacturing Changes

Beech-Nut has issued a recall and says it will stop selling all single-grain rice cereal after Alaska state officials discovered high arsenic levels during routing sampling, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement released earlier this week. The company simultaneously announced it will recall the lot

Home Alone: How Much Time Can Your Dog Spend by Itself?

The COVID-19 pandemic saw millions of Americans working at home all day, leading many to adopt a dog or other pet. Now that offices are beginning to turn the lights back on, there’ll be a new batch of stay-at-home dogs joining the pooches who spent years knocking around empty

Traffic Fell but Deaths Rose in 2020

Less traffic but more fatal accidents. That’s the quickest way to sum up the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic safety. Federal safety regulators say the increases came mostly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, as a nationwide lockdown cut commuter traffic to a fraction of

Traffic Fell but Deaths Rose in 2020

Less traffic but more fatal accidents. That’s the quickest way to sum up the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic safety. Federal safety regulators say the increases came mostly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, as a nationwide lockdown cut commuter traffic to a fraction of

Traffic Fell but Deaths Rose in 2020

Less traffic but more fatal accidents. That’s the quickest way to sum up the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic safety. Federal safety regulators say the increases came mostly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, as a nationwide lockdown cut commuter traffic to a fraction of

Traffic Fell but Deaths Rose in 2020

Less traffic but more fatal accidents. That’s the quickest way to sum up the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic safety. Federal safety regulators say the increases came mostly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, as a nationwide lockdown cut commuter traffic to a fraction of

Traffic Fell But Traffic Deaths Rose in 2020

Less traffic but more fatal accidents. That’s the quickest way to sum up the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic safety. Federal safety regulators say the increases came mostly in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, as a nationwide lockdown cut commuter traffic to a fraction of

Manufactured Homes Can Be Risky Investments

Manufactured homes — often called mobile homes — offer an affordable housing solution for millions of Americans. But a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) identifies some risks that are often overlooked by consumers. While not as common in urban areas, manufactured homes make up 13 percent of the

Manufactured Homes Can Be Risky Investments

Manufactured homes — often called mobile homes — offer an affordable housing solution for millions of Americans. But a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) identifies some risks that are often overlooked by consumers. While not as common in urban areas, manufactured homes make up 13 percent of the

Manufactured Homes Can Be Risky Investments

Manufactured homes — often called mobile homes — offer an affordable housing solution for millions of Americans. But a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) identifies some risks that are often overlooked by consumers. While not as common in urban areas, manufactured homes make up 13 percent of the

Manufactured Homes Can Be Risky Investments

Manufactured homes — often called mobile homes — offer an affordable housing solution for millions of Americans. But a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) identifies some risks that are often overlooked by consumers. While not as common in urban areas, manufactured homes make up 13 percent of the

Two Telcos Ordered to Stop Carrying Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has ordered two companies to stop carrying robocall and spoofing campaigns on their networks, the latest in a series of actions the agency has taken to try to stamp out the annoying calls. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau sent cease and desist letters to VaultTel Solutions

Two Telcos Ordered to Stop Carrying Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has ordered two companies to stop carrying robocall and spoofing campaigns on their networks, the latest in a series of actions the agency has taken to try to stamp out the annoying calls. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau sent cease and desist letters to VaultTel Solutions

Two Telcos Ordered to Stop Carrying Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has ordered two companies to stop carrying robocall and spoofing campaigns on their networks, the latest in a series of actions the agency has taken to try to stamp out the annoying calls. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau sent cease and desist letters to VaultTel Solutions

Two Telcos Ordered to Stop Carrying Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission has ordered two companies to stop carrying robocall and spoofing campaigns on their networks, the latest in a series of actions the agency has taken to try to stamp out the annoying calls. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau sent cease and desist letters to VaultTel Solutions

Organic Food a Trade-Off Between Health and Climate

Organic foods may be better for you than the non-organic kind, but they may also be worse for the planet, according to a couple of new studies. Researchers at Johns Hopkins compared organic meat with the standard variety and found that the organic kind was less likely to be contaminated

Repair Restrictions Harming Consumers, FTC Finds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found “scant evidence” that manufacturers’ restrictions on product repairs are. necessary. In a report to Congress, titled Nixing the Fix, the commission said repair restrictions are clearly harming consumers. “The bipartisan, unanimous report is yet another indication that Right to Repair isn’t a

Repair Restrictions Harming Consumers, FTC Finds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found “scant evidence” that manufacturers’ restrictions on product repairs are. necessary. In a report to Congress, titled Nixing the Fix, the commission said repair restrictions are clearly harming consumers. “The bipartisan, unanimous report is yet another indication that Right to Repair isn’t a

Repair Restrictions Harming Consumers, FTC Finds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found “scant evidence” that manufacturers’ restrictions on product repairs are. necessary. In a report to Congress, titled Nixing the Fix, the commission said repair restrictions are clearly harming consumers. “The bipartisan, unanimous report is yet another indication that Right to Repair isn’t a

Repair Restrictions Harming Consumers, FTC Finds

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has found “scant evidence” that manufacturers’ restrictions on product repairs are. necessary. In a report to Congress, titled Nixing the Fix, the commission said repair restrictions are clearly harming consumers. “The bipartisan, unanimous report is yet another indication that Right to Repair isn’t a

Postal Banking Movement Gaining Supporters

You might not think of going to the post office to cash a check or take out a small loan. But that’s something that happens routinely in countries all over the world. In fact, it happened here from 1911 until 1966 and there is a growing movement to reinstate

Consumers Largely Sought No Relief in Car Insurance Costs During the Pandemic

Millions of Americans stayed home from work, school and social outings during the pandemic, and so did their cars. But even as their cars sat idle — and therefore not likely to be involved in an accident — more than half took no action to reduce their insurance cost, a new survey

FDA to Ban Menthol Cigarettes, Citing Harm to Blacks, Teens

It will soon be time to take that last drag on a Salem. And don’t even think about switching to flavored cigars. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today that it will issue a proposal “within the next year” to ban menthol in cigarettes and ban

Lemonade Entering Car Insurance Market

Lemonade might not sound like it has anything to do with car insurance. Of course, neither do Farmers, State Farm or Progressive, just to name a few. But if Lemonade has its way, you will soon associate it with car insurance, which it is adding to its existing pet, homeowners,

Lemonade Entering Car Insurance Market

Lemonade might not sound like it has anything to do with car insurance. Of course, neither do Farmers, State Farm or Progressive, just to name a few. But if Lemonade has its way, you will soon associate it with car insurance, which it is adding to its existing pet, homeowners,

Lemonade Entering Car Insurance Market

Lemonade might not sound like it has anything to do with car insurance. Of course, neither do Farmers, State Farm or Progressive, just to name a few. But if Lemonade has its way, you will soon associate it with car insurance, which it is adding to its existing pet, homeowners,

Lemonade Entering Car Insurance Market

Lemonade might not sound like it has anything to do with car insurance. Of course, neither do Farmers, State Farm or Progressive, just to name a few. But if Lemonade has its way, you will soon associate it with car insurance, which it is adding to its existing pet, homeowners,

Supreme Court De-Fangs Federal Trade Commission

The U.S. Supreme Court today revoked the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to recover ill-gotten gains from companies, saying unanimously that Congress had never granted it that authority. It’s a major blow for the FTC, the nation’s top consumer protection agency, which has recovered billions of dollars

Supreme Court De-Fangs Federal Trade Commission

The U.S. Supreme Court today revoked the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to recover ill-gotten gains from companies, saying unanimously that Congress had never granted it that authority. It’s a major blow for the FTC, the nation’s top consumer protection agency, which has recovered billions of dollars

Supreme Court De-Fangs Federal Trade Commission

The U.S. Supreme Court today revoked the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to recover ill-gotten gains from companies, saying unanimously that Congress had never granted it that authority. It’s a major blow for the FTC, the nation’s top consumer protection agency, which has recovered billions of dollars

Supreme Court De-Fangs Federal Trade Commission

The U.S. Supreme Court today revoked the Federal Trade Commission’s authority to recover ill-gotten gains from companies, saying unanimously that Congress had never granted it that authority. It’s a major blow for the FTC, the nation’s top consumer protection agency, which has recovered billions of dollars

Methylene Chloride Bathtub Refinishing Deaths on the Rise

Researchers say they found an “unacceptable” number of deaths from paint stripper chemicals in a recent study, despite the known dangers of the chemical, methylene chloride. Most of the victims died while working, mostly in paint stripping and bathtub refinishing. “It is unacceptable that these workers died simply because they

FCC Building A Case Against Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission is building a file on robocallers, in hopes of eradicating them. The agency today launched its Robocall Mitigation Database, which requires phone companies to document their efforts to stamp out illegal robocalls. After a September 28, 2021, deadline, phone companies will have to refuse traffic from

Sensors to Save Babies in Hot Cars OK'd by FCC

It’s a common story, and a tragic one: A harried parent forgets about the baby in the back seat. Hours go by and the baby dies from the heat, which builds up quickly in a parked car. A four-month-old girl was in critical condition after just such an incident

Debt Settlement Company 'Took Advantage' of Customers, CFPB Charges

Debt settlement isn’t always bad. For consumers who are drowning in debt, it may be a better option than bankruptcy or other remedies. But it can also do little more than make matters worse, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says a company called Settlelt did. The agency

Warranties and Repairs Shouldn't Be At Odds

Consumers trapped at home during the pandemic who were tempted to repair minor problems with their appliances and electronics may have been scared away by fears that doing so would void their warranty — a belief that consumer advocates say is encouraged by manufacturers. In fact, a new survey from U.

Warranties and Repairs Shouldn't Be At Odds

Consumers trapped at home during the pandemic who were tempted to repair minor problems with their appliances and electronics may have been scared away by fears that doing so would void their warranty — a belief that consumer advocates say is encouraged by manufacturers. In fact, a new survey from U.

Warranties and Repairs Shouldn't Be At Odds

Consumers trapped at home during the pandemic who were tempted to repair minor problems with their appliances and electronics may have been scared away by fears that doing so would void their warranty — a belief that consumer advocates say is encouraged by manufacturers. In fact, a new survey from U.

Warranties and Repairs Shouldn't Be At Odds

Consumers trapped at home during the pandemic who were tempted to repair minor problems with their appliances and electronics may have been scared away by fears that doing so would void their warranty — a belief that consumer advocates say is encouraged by manufacturers. In fact, a new survey from U.

Unused Airline Tickets Should Be Refunded: PIRG

A flight to nowhere might sound romantic but paying for a flight that never happens is annoying and a waste of money. But that’s what millions of Americans unwittingly did in 2020 when they did the safe thing and canceled their trips because of the pandemic. Instead of refunds,

YouTube Kids a Child Predator?

A generation or two ago, television was labeled a “vast wasteland.” Now it’s YouTube Kids that’s being denounced. Congressional critics say the Google-owned video service is “a wasteland of vapid, consumerist content” being fed to children to boost its advertising revenue. Members of the U.S. House Oversight

YouTube Kids a Child Predator?

A generation or two ago, television was labeled a “vast wasteland.” Now it’s YouTube Kids that’s being denounced. Congressional critics say the Google-owned video service is “a wasteland of vapid, consumerist content” being fed to children to boost its advertising revenue. Members of the U.S. House Oversight

YouTube Kids a Child Predator?

A generation or two ago, television was labeled a “vast wasteland.” Now it’s YouTube Kids that’s being denounced. Congressional critics say the Google-owned video service is “a wasteland of vapid, consumerist content” being fed to children to boost its advertising revenue. Members of the U.S. House Oversight

YouTube Kids a Child Predator?

A generation or two ago, television was labeled a “vast wasteland.” Now it’s YouTube Kids that’s being denounced. Congressional critics say the Google-owned video service is “a wasteland of vapid, consumerist content” being fed to children to boost its advertising revenue. Members of the U.S. House Oversight

Do Uber & Lyft Really Reduce Congestion?

To hear Uber and Lyft tell it, they are helping to reduce congestion and air pollution by making transportation more efficient. But are they really? A new study finds that, in fact, they are discouraging consumers from using more efficient options like public transit and logging untold miles of “deadheading”

Dr. Google's Not So Bad ... Sometimes

“Dr. Google” may not be so bad after all. Doctors complain about “cyberchondia” — increased anxiety inducted by the internet — but a new study finds that consumers’ ability to arrive at a correct diagnosis is often helped by their internet searches. Other studies, however, are less cheery. “I have patients all

Regulators Consider New Rules for Pet Insurance

Pet owners have been snarling about pet insurance for years and regulators are taking note. A committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is considering a model law that would set new rules about such issues as pre-existing conditions and how long customers must wait after buying a

Regulators Consider New Rules for Pet Insurance

Pet owners have been snarling about pet insurance for years and regulators are taking note. A committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is considering a model law that would set new rules about such issues as pre-existing conditions and how long customers must wait after buying a

Regulators Consider New Rules for Pet Insurance

Pet owners have been snarling about pet insurance for years and regulators are taking note. A committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is considering a model law that would set new rules about such issues as pre-existing conditions and how long customers must wait after buying a

Regulators Consider New Rules for Pet Insurance

Pet owners have been snarling about pet insurance for years and regulators are taking note. A committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is considering a model law that would set new rules about such issues as pre-existing conditions and how long customers must wait after buying a

Study Finds High-Protein Not Necessary to Build Muscle

Weight-lifters routinely down vast quantities of protein drinks, protein bars and high-protein meals in the belief that they need a lot of protein to get the full benefit of their workout and build bulging muscles. But a new study by the University of Illinois casts doubt on that deeply ingrained

Does 'Ed Tech' Deliver on its Promises?

When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated classroom teaching, there was widespread optimism that technology would fill the gap. School districts and colleges rushed to implement remote learning strategies. The results are still out but many schools have had problems keeping the systems running and, even worse, keeping students interesting. Now, a

Does 'Ed Tech' Deliver on its Promises?

When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated classroom teaching, there was widespread optimism that technology would fill the gap. School districts and colleges rushed to implement remote learning strategies. The results are still out but many schools have had problems keeping the systems running and, even worse, keeping students interesting. Now, a

Does 'Ed Tech' Deliver on its Promises?

When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated classroom teaching, there was widespread optimism that technology would fill the gap. School districts and colleges rushed to implement remote learning strategies. The results are still out but many schools have had problems keeping the systems running and, even worse, keeping students interesting. Now, a

Does 'Ed Tech' Deliver on its Promises?

When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated classroom teaching, there was widespread optimism that technology would fill the gap. School districts and colleges rushed to implement remote learning strategies. The results are still out but many schools have had problems keeping the systems running and, even worse, keeping students interesting. Now, a

Should You Take Fish Oil? It Depends

Think fish oil supplements are good for you? Well, they might be. But then again, they might not be. Now, researchers have developed a way to tell whether you have the genetic make-up to produce the results you’re looking for. Consumers spend $1 billion a year on fish oil

$50 Million on the Way to University of Phoenix Students

More than 147,000 University of Phoenix students will soon be collecting $50 million in refunds following a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The lawsuit alleged that the for-profit school used deceptive advertisements that falsely touted its relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T,

Governor Signs Illinois Payday Loan Bill

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure that’s expected to end the payday loan industry in Illinois. The Predatory Loan Prevention Act will cap interest rates at 36% on consumer loans, including payday and car title loans. The state legislature passed the bill in January. It has

California Sets Up Agency to Enforce New Privacy Law, Virginia Follows

Who has the power? California voters, that’s who. The state’s initiative process gives voters the power to put measures on the ballot. If approved, they have the force of law. Proposition 13, which froze the state’s property tax at 1976 levels, is perhaps the most famous but

Harvard Professor Calls for Phthalates Ban

Shower curtains, boots, fingernail polish and IV tubing are just a few of the consumer products that often contain phthalates, a family of chemicals that have been shown in numerous tests to decrease the production of testosterone, possibly leading to learning, attention, and behavioral disorders in children. A Harvard professor

Proflowers Tops Online Satisfaction Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited personal interactions, but that hasn’t stopped consumers from saying it with flowers. And, according to the J.D. Power 2021 Online Flower Satisfaction Report, consumers remain satisfied with online florists’ offerings. The study pegged overall satisfaction at 828 (on a 1,000-point scale), down

Dogs' Paws Cleaner Than Your Shoes

March 8, 2021 Service dogs are widely used by people with impaired hearing, vision and balance — among other things — to help them get through their daily errands. But often, hospitals and other private and public establishments ban all animals, supposedly because of hygiene concerns. Researchers at Utrecht University decided to

Ladders Top Workplace Safety Violations

[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text] Ladders climbed to the top of the list of safety violations compiled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for 2020, with 5,424 violations cited. “In a year that was defined by the

Fuel-Efficient Purchase is Good but Doesn't Mean a Gas-Guzzler Should Share the Garage

Buying a Prius or a Tesla or some other fuel-efficient car is great. But it often means the consumer’s second car may be a gas guzzler, University of Maryland researchers say. Since most families have more than one car, the findings tend to confirm fears that one good deed

Looking for Clean Air? Look Aloft

Even when there’s no pandemic, many people are reluctant to fly because they think the air quality on a crowded, tightly sealed airliner is poor. But researchers in Georgia whose study was supported by Delta Airlines say it’s just not so. The Georgia Institute of Technology researchers studied

FCC Granting $3.2 Billion in Broadband Discounts for Families

The Federal Communications Commission is offering $3.2 billion in temporary discounts to families that need help paying for broadband service. “Today the Federal Communications Commission made history.  It adopted rules for the nation’s largest-ever program to help households nationwide afford broadband service,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “This

States Step Up Payday Loan Regulations

Feb. 26, 2021 Lacking a strong federal effort, states are stepping up to crack down on predatory payday lending, the easy-to-get but hard-to-repay loans that often trap consumers in a spiral of debt while charging them interest rates of 400% and more. Illinois is on the brink of becoming the

Study: Plant Protein Diet Reduces Risk of Heart Disease, Dementia

Older women who ate a lot of plant protein had lower risks of premature death, cardiovascular disease and dementia-related death compared with women who ate less plant proteins, according to a new study released today. Previous studies have found a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in people whose diet is

'Eco-Friendly' Insulation May Be a Health Hazard

Anything involving health and the environment involves trade-offs. Jogging is healthful but you could break your leg. And a new type of flame retardant used in building insulation that’s supposed to be safer could actually be harmful to human health, researchers report. The substance in question is polymeric flame

COVID-19 Shows Need for Better Long-Term Care for Older Americans

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to strengthen the long-term care safety net for older Americans, to provide better care without forcing families into financial ruin, a new study finds. The report proposes a system of universal coverage to support the long-term care needs of all older Americans. It

Florida Homeowners Face Higher Insurance Rates

Feb. 17, 2021 Florida and Texas have become quite aggressive in painting themselves as low-cost states and making a pitch for businesses and consumers looking to escape higher costs of living in such states as California, New York and Illinois. But while both states offer relatively low tax burdens, they

Exercise May Help Prevent Sudden Death, Researchers Find

No one wants to have a heart attack but if you’re going to have one, you’re more likely to survive if you have been maintaining an active lifestyle, a new study reports. “There are many ways to be physically active at little or no cost. Our study provides

'Reversing Diabetes' Guide Was Bogus; FTC Levies $2 Million Penalty

A Baltimore-based company that published a supposed guide to “reversing” diabetes has agreed to pay $2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the supposed cure was bogus. “These defendants preyed primarily on older consumers with false or unsubstantiated claims about curing diabetes and free money from the government,

Vegan Diet Beats Mediterranean in Weight Loss Derby

The struggle against excess poundage is never-ending, leading consumers to an ongoing, even obsessive, search for the most effective weight-loss protocol. Perennial contenders are the vegan and the Mediterranean diet. Each has its adherents but a new study finds the vegan diet with a decisive lead. “While many people think

Repairing Electronics Saves Money, Preserves the Environment

Things break. It’s a fact of life. The TV stops working, the microwave starts sparking and the laser printer slips into a coma. What do you do? All too often, the answer is that we rush out to the nearest Circuit City or Walmart (or go online to Amazon)

Rear Automatic Braking Prevents Fender-Benders, Saves Money

Buying a new car? If you’re trying to decide between a panoramic moonroof or oversized wheels, you might want to put automatic emergency braking, both front and rear, at the top of the list. Sure, the moonroof looks nice, if it doesn’t leak, and those big wheels are

Investing Safely: Remember, Bernie Madoffs Are Everywhere

Bernie Madoff was far from the first and certainly won’t be the last investment advisor to drain his clients’ accounts. While it’s not advisable to keep your savings in a pillowcase under the bed, it’s also not a good idea to rely on financial advisors whose credentials

Amtrak Will Make Stations More Accessible to Disabled Passengers

“All aboard Amtrak” sounds good if you’re actually able to get through the train station safely. That’s a particular challenge for people with mobility disabilities. But things may be getting better; Amtrak has agreed to fix mobility issues at 78 of its stations and pay more than $2

U.S. Drug Prices 2.56 Times Higher Than In Other Nations

Prescription drug prices in the United States are much higher than in other economically developed countries, and a new RAND Corporation report details just how much higher U.S. prices are. Another study, conducted by Bankrate, found that 58 million Americans have had trouble paying for needed prescriptions. Prices in

Planning Ahead Can Reduce Funeral Expenses

Considering that the mortality rate of humanity is 100 percent, we’re not very well-informed about our options when the inevitable happens. In fact, a new survey finds that only 25 percent of consumers know that funeral homes are required to provide price quotes by phone and an itemized list

Online Postings Could Provide Clues in Food Poisoning Cases

Food poisoning may not seem very mysterious but 80 percent of cases go unsolved each year. With about 48 million cases — including 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths — from food poisoning each year, that’s a major problem. Sometimes the cause is obvious, like the 2019 case in which

Shut It Down, COVID-19 Researchers Urge

Governments are striking a “precarious balance” in trying to control COVID-19 without destroying their economies but a group of scientists is warning that stricter control measures are needed to reduce the evolution and spread of the deadly virus. “Humanity is faced with a new reality. The faster we adapt, the

New Standards Aim to Make Microwave Ovens Safer for Children

New safety standards will make microwave ovens less likely to cause severe burns in children. That’s the hope, anyway. The new standards will make oven doors harder to open, hopefully reducing the severe burns that now scar hundreds of children yearly. The changes grow out of a 15-year effort

Consumers See Biden-Harris as Allies

Whatever else you may say about it, the Biden-Harris Administration will be more aggressive in consumer protection, with swift action expected on student debt, predatory loans and product safety, all given short shrift in the Trump Administration. For evidence, look no further than Biden’s pick to lead the Consumer

Alcohol Linked to Cancer, Death

It’s popularly believed that moderate drinking may be beneficial but a new study finds that alcohol consumption accounts for a considerable portion of cancer and mortality. A British study, meanwhile, compared the risks of drinking alcohol to smoking cigarettes. In the U.S. on average, the study found, alcohol

Add Video Calls to the List of Polluters

Trying to save the world? Turn off your video camera next time you’re on Zoom! It will not only hide your pandemic hair and guest bedroom clutter but will also measurably reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Sound ridiculous? It’s not really. Just one hour of videoconferencing or streaming, for

States Trying to Rein In Payday Loans

Illinois is the latest state to attempt to put a cap on consumer loans, responding to federal agencies easing regulations on predatory, high-cost lending including payday and car title loans. The measure had enjoyed strong backing from the Illinois Black Caucus and consumer groups. “The efforts of legislators to pass

Temperature Scanning Does Little to Detect COVID-19: Researchers

Doing just about anything these days requires getting your temperature scanned. But does all that scanning really do anything to slow the spread of COVID-19? A new study says it doesn’t. Just having people stand in front of a scanner can result in a large number of false negatives,

Summer Camps Often Fail to Require Vaccinations, Study Shows

Nearly half of summer camps surveyed by researchers didn’t have official policies requiring campers be vaccinated, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics. The lax policies raise the potential of camps becoming super-spreaders. “While all states require immunizations for children attending public schools, most don’t have the

AT&T Re-Imposes Data Caps

COVID-19 is raging more widely than ever but AT&T is re-imposing data caps on its customers, becoming the first major carrier to abandon the “Keep Americans Connected” pledge many of them adopted last year, according to a Law360.com report. The pledge, suggested by the Federal Communications Commission, technically

Car Crashes Down Due to COVID, Drivers Owed Refunds, Groups Say

With most commuters facing COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, traffic has been way down for months, and so have insurance claims, according to new data from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Center for Economic Justice (CEJ). The drastic drop in accidents is good news for drivers, of course, but

COVID-19 Adds to 'Normal' Death Toll from Disease, Drugs, Guns, Cars

There are many ways to die but they basically boil down to accidental and natural, with the coronavirus pandemic expected to increase deaths in several categories this year thanks to the social and economic dislocations brought on by the pandemic. Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of “natural”

Funerals Don't Have to Break the Bank

The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by news stories bemoaning the plight of funeral homes struggling to keep up with increased demand. But little attention is paid to alternatives that can save consumers’ precious resources without sacrificing the closure and solace that a farewell ceremony provides. The simplest solution is

Some Automakers Get the Jump on Automatic Braking

Ten automakers have taken the lead in installing automatic emergency braking (AEB) in nearly all the cars they produce for the U.S. market, well ahead of the 2022-23 deadline set for all manufacturers. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Tesla began installing the potential life-saver last year. This year, they are

Consumers Get New Protections from Illegal Debt Collections

While 2020 didn’t have many high points, there’s at least one thing for consumers to celebrate – a new initiative aimed at protecting consumers from fraudulent and harassing debt collectors. The Federal Trade Commission announced Operation Corrupt Collector (OCC), in September, a crackdown involving three other federal agencies and

Pennsylvania Alleges Student Loan Forgiveness Offer Was a Scam

Student loan forgiveness has been a big topic on the campaign trail recently but it is still more of a concept than a reality, creating attractive opportunities for scammers. In Pennsylvania, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that his office has shut down a California-based company that was allegedly operating an

CBD Promoters Cautioned by FDA

CBD, or cannabidiol, has become the latest cure-all to fly off retailers’ shelves and websites. Its promoters claim all kinds of enviable health benefits but public health agencies caution that it’s not so simple. In the latest attempt to tamp down untoward enthusiasm, the U.S. Food and Drug

Solar Chimney Can Save Lives in a Building Fire

Solar chimneys can not only save energy but also lives, a study finds. Researchers in Australia say a properly designed solar chimney radically increases the amount of time people have to escape the building during a fire – extending the safe evacuation time from about two minutes to over 14 minutes.

Clothing Fires a Hazard for Seniors

Thanks to COVID-19, a lot of people are sitting around the house in their pajamas or workout wear, but normally it’s seniors who tend to wear loose clothing, so perhaps it’s not surprising that older people account for 77% of the deaths from clothing fires, even though the

Gift Cards Are Scammers' Favorites

For scammers, the gift card is the gift that keeps on giving. That’s the conclusion of a new data analysis by the Federal Trade Commission, which found that gift cards continue to be scammers’ preferred form of payment. Since 2018, the data analysis shows, consumers have reported spending nearly

Home Elevators a Safety Threat for Children

Home elevators seem harmless enough. They help seniors and disabled people move around their homes more easily and they’re generally considered an enviable safety measure for those who can afford them. But, like swimming pools and hot tubs, they can pose a deadly hazard for children. Although incidents are

Massachusetts Regulators Charge Robinhood 'Manipulated' Investors

Robinhood, a trading platform with 13 million users, is being accused of making it a little too easy for inexperienced investors to make unlimited trades. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts alleges in a complaint that the firm doesn’t adequately screen its investors and takes issue with Robinhood’

Genetic Testing Kits Don't Always Live Up to the Hype

Genetic testing is a powerful tool that holds great promise for improving human health but a study by the Consumer Federation of America cautions that accuracy and privacy considerations shouldn’t be overlooked. “There is a lot of helpful information on … genetic testing companies’ websites about genetics and how their

Nationstar Mortgage's Mr. Cooper to Pay $86 Million in Penalties, Restitution

Dec. 15, 2020 “Mr. Cooper” will be paying homeowners $79.2 million as part of a deal with state attorneys general. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s part of Nationstar Mortgage LLC, the mortgage lender’s servicing arm. The stage AGs had charged that Mr. Cooper,

Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, Others in FTC Privacy Inquiry

The Federal Trade Commission is issuing orders to nine social media and video streaming companies, requiring them to provide data on how they collect, use, and present personal information, their advertising and user engagement practices, and how their practices affect children and teens. The FTC is issuing the orders under

Scams Spreading Like a Virus, Feds & States Crack Down

The Federal Trade Commission, along with 19 federal, state, and local law enforcement partners has launched a nationwide crackdown on scams that target consumers with fake promises of income and financial independence that have no basis in reality. The impact of these scams has intensified as scammers take advantage of

Online Trading Academy ordered to refund consumers' payments

Consumers who signed up for online trading courses that netted them little or nothing will be eligible for more than $10 million in refunds under the terms of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. Online Trading Academy will be required to offer debt forgiveness to thousands of consumers who

Amazon 'gouged' consumers during pandemic: report

Sept. 11, 2020 — Amazon is price-gouging customers on a wide range of essential goods – jacking up prices on face masks, toilet paper and antibacterial soap by up to 1,000%, according to a Public Citizen report. The report alleges a pattern of “outrageous” price increases for products listed as “sold

'Light' drinking may not be light enough

There’s a general belief that light drinking — just a drink or two a day — isn’t harmful and may even be good for you. A new study casts a bit of doubt on that somewhat rosy outlook. The study of nearly 27 million South Korean adults 20 and older

Americans tighten budgets as pandemic drags on

Sept. 5, 2020 — It’s often said that Americans don’t save enough, but COVID-19 is changing all that, at least for now, according to a Consumer Reports study. More than half of U.S. consumers have cut back on spending since the coronavirus pandemic began, the magazine found. While

FBI warns of elder scams

Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme, including romance, lottery, and sweepstakes scams, to name a few. Criminals will gain their targets’ trust and may communicate with them directly via computer, phone, and the mail; or indirectly through the TV

Equifax adds free credit reports

In connection with various settlements that were entered in July of 2019, Equifax previously announced that it would make six free Equifax credit reports available for U.S. consumers during any twelve-month period for seven years without any charge. Equifax will now make these free reports available online via AnnualCreditReport.

Consumers have rights when companies go bankrupt

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra recently provided important information and resources regarding business bankruptcies and consumer rights amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Families, businesses and communities throughout the country are facing unprecedented financial strain as a result of the public health emergency. The economic impact of the pandemic has caused many

FTC tallies COVID-19 complaints by state

The Federal Trade Commission is making more state-level information available to the public about the complaints it receives from consumers related to COVID-19, with reports about online shopping problems topping the list of complaints in most states. Under its expanded reporting, the FTC is now releasing the numbers of different