Can BlueHippo’s days be numbered?
The FTC yesterday asked a New York court to find the Woodlawn computer sales company in contempt of an earlier settlement. If the court goes along, the FTC also wants the company to be banned from financing or selling consumer electronics.
BlueHippo officials haven’t returned calls, but we’ll post their response when they do.
Do you like fighting for the underdog? Do you want to hold businesses, landlords and health care providers accountable to their contracts and commitments?
Then volunteering for the mediation unit of Consumer Protection division of the state Attorney General's office might be right for you.
Volunteers help consumers who call the division's hotline (410-528-8662) with complaints.
For more information ...
The state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation is warning homeowners in Dundalk whose homes were flooded last week by the water main break to use licensed contractors.
“Too often, unlicensed contractors arrive after a tragedy such as this flood with offers to help when their true intent is to prey upon and rob individuals and families in distress,” DLLR Secretary Thomas E. Perez said in a press release. “Often the first available or the cheapest contractor is not the right choice.”
Homeowners who use licensed home improvement contractors are protected by the Maryland’s Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. This fund is administered by DLLR’s Home Improvement Commission to compensate homeowners who suffer economic damages at the hands of a licensed home improvement contractor. No coverage is provided to the homeowner if the contractor is unlicensed.
It is against the law for any home improvement contractor, electrician, plumber, or HVACR contractor to work in Maryland without a license. Penalties include criminal fines or imprisonment.
Consumers may contact DLLR’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing at 410-230-6001 or http://www.dllr.state.md.us/to check the licensing status and complaint history of any contractor.
My fellow blogger Liz Kay also provided other tips for flood victims last week.
Dannon has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed over misleading advertising on its Activia and DanActive lines of yogurt, according to the Associated Press.
The health claims indicated that the yogurt's bacteria would help with digestion or with the immune system.
As part of the settlement, the White Plains, N.Y. company does not admit any wrongdoing but will create a $35 million fund to reimburse qualified consumers up to $100 for products purchased.
If you purchased either Activia or DanActive products since they were introduced in 2006 or 2007, you should sign up to receive a Dannon Activia/DanActive claim form.
Continue reading "Dannon settles class action suit over Activia health claims" »
Baltimore's Department of Public Works is warning residents about scammers who are calling people and telling them their water bills are overdue and water service will be cut off.
According to DPW, the department only contacts residents by mail about billing issues. Apparently the scammers didn't demand payment, but officials fear they may show up at people's homes, particularly if they can determine from the phone call that the resident is vulnerable (elderly, lives alone, etc.)
DPW asks that residents who receive such calls should ask for a name and a callback number, and use Caller ID or *69 to determine what phone number the scammers are using. Please share those digits with Baltimore Police, by calling 911 or the local police district.
The Maryland Insurance Administration has directed victims of the Dundalk water main break on Friday to call 410-468-2340 for insurance assistance and complaints.
They have also provided additional advice from other state agencies, such as the Attorney General's office tips on how to avoid home repair rippoffs as well as how to clean mold and mildew, from the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Hit the jump for more MIA tips on recovering from a disaster:
Continue reading "Dundalk water main break victims: insurance and scam alerts" »
I got a gift certificate to a downtown Baltimore spa for my birthday back in March. The procrastinator that I am, I never got around to using it, and it’s set to expire in September.
I was getting anxious trying to figure out when I would have time to go until someone pointed out to me that legally it can’t expire that soon.
The General Assembly passed a law in 2006 that said gift certificates and gift cards bought for a specific store couldn’t expire until four years after the date it was bought. National gift cards, such as ones issued from Visa and Mastercard, can expire sooner. But the expiration must be clear on the card or certificate.
I called the Maryland Attorney General’s Office to make sure and spokeswoman Shanetta Paskel confirmed the law to me.
“They would not be able to expire in a year,” Pascal said. “If some company is doing that or some specific restaurant is doing that, then that is illegal in Maryland.”
After talking to Paskel, I thought about several gift certificates I bought from Restaurant.com. I bought them last October and the certificates said they expire a year after purchase. I still have about four left and was wondering when I’d use them all. Paskel said if they’re for a specific restaurant they can’t expire in a year.
I called Restaurant.com to ask them about the expiration dates and am still waiting word. A spokeswoman is looking into it. I’ll let you know what they say.
In the meantime, this is just a friendly reminder to consumers to remember your rights when it comes to gift cards and gift certificates. Many businesses obviously don't know the rules. Stand up for your four years.
This Consumer Web Site of the Week comes via ShopSmart magazine, published by the Consumers Union, which offered tips for shopping at the online police auction site PropertyRoom.com.
We have told you about PropertyRoom.com, which allows police departments across the country to sell items seized from criminals.
It seems they now offer a new service: an opportunity to "steal back" your stolen stuff!
Here's how it works:
Continue reading "Recover your belongings after theft: Consumer Web Site of the Week" »
Every six months, the Maryland Department of Agriculture releases a list of naughty Maryland businesses that have committed weights and measures violations.
But these MDA inspectors do more than just test scales! According to the weights and measures program Web site,
"Electronic scanning devices at the check-out counters in retail stores are inspected periodically in order to audit and verify prices stored in the retailer's computer."
That explains several penalties paid by two big-box stores in Owings Mills for "price verification" violations.
Have you been overcharged by a price scanner error? To file a complaint about this or other problems, print out MDA's weights and measures complaint form (here's a .pdf version), fill it out and fax it to 410-841-2765. The office address is:
Maryland Weights and Measures
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Check the list below the jump to find a number of stores with weights and measures violations in the Baltimore area, including shops in Westminster and Glen Burnie.
(photo: Jo Jakeman/Flickr)
Continue reading "Inaccurate scales: Naughty Businesses of the Week " »
I fell for it. The lure of a 20 percent discount on the spot and the promise of more coupons in my mailbox convinced me to open a Macy’s credit card even though I knew better. What I didn’t know is that I was opening two credit cards in one.
My new credit card is used as a Macy’s card when I shop at the department store. But it can also be used as a Visa card anywhere else.
How did I find this out? I paid my bill online, only to get a paper bill saying I hadn’t paid. I was charged a late fee and an exorbitant interest rate on the “unpaid” balance.
When I called Macy’s, the customer service guy said I paid the Visa bill, but not the Macy’s. Can we say, confusion? I didn’t even know I had a Visa bill. And with a very high limit too.
The guy transferred my payment to the Macy’s bill. But I have to say I’m still a little peeved. Like a lot of people, I’m not using much credit these days. And I definitely don’t want that much open credit.
It just reminded me to be very, very careful with credit cards. Credit card companies are raising interest rates and cutting limits as they prepare for more stringent rules to take effect in February. Banks also say they are seeing higher default rates because of the economy. Read what my colleague Eileen Ambrose recently wrote about one man’s experience.
Here are tips from Consumers Union about credit card traps to avoid.
(Photo courtesy of AP)
Watch out for the modern Willie Loman.
In May, we heard warnings about beguiling teenagers and college students selling magazines door-to-door for charities that don't actually exist.
June brought us security system companies pitching 'free' alarm equipment in exchange for a monthly fee for the service itself.
Now, in Howard County, water purification companies are plying their wares by leaving free tests of home drinking water at their doors, a scam that nearly always results in recommendations that homeowners invest in a purification system.
Just remember ...
Continue reading "Door-to-door sales scams: don't buy these claims" »
Maryland Dish Network subscribers will share $325,000 in restitution under a settlement concerning the satellite television company’s marketing and billing practices.
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler through his Consumer Protection division joined 45 other states and Washington in suing the company for not adequately disclosing all the terms of its contract, making telemarketing calls to consumers who requested not to get them, failing to disclose the availability of rebates, credits and free offers and not telling consumers they were purchasing used equipment.
The company also made inaccurate comparisons to competitors’ prices and charged consumer credit cards and debited bank accounts without proper permission. Under the settlement, Dish Network has agreed to change its marketing and billing practices and make sure consumers clearly understand what they are buying.
It also must change its practice of debiting consumer bank accounts and make sure third parties it hires to market its products follow terms of the settlement. Dish Network also agreed to pay $5.991 million in total restitution to consumers across the country, including the $325,000 to Maryland.
Continue reading "Dish Network settles over billing and marketing practices, to pay restitution" »
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Heads up: Annapolis Police believe a skimming device had been installed on a Bank of America ATM in Annapolis between June 25 and July 5 to steal customers' debit card information, and they're looking for two suspects.
Bank employees reported that a customer spotted a suspicious box on the ATM on July 5. Annapolis detectives also noted several reports of bank fraud in which the victims had used that Church Circle ATM.
Skimmers are devices that copy the information from the magnetic stripe on ATM users' cards. The Annapolis Police have surveillance images of two suspects they believe installed the device onto the ATM.
Later, the card numbers were used to make online purchases, including cell phones in the United Kingdom as well as memberships to porn and other sites.
If you, too, were prey to these criminals, contact the Annapolis Police at 410-268-9000.
Nicole Nastacie, spokeswoman for Bank of America, said the company does not comment on specific incidents but does work with law enforcement as well as monitors its ATMs for unusual activity. Anyone who spots fraudulent charges should contact their bank.
How can you protect yourself from skimmers?
Continue reading "Skimmer suspected at Annapolis ATM" »
Auction sites such as eBay and other online sellers were flooded with "commemorative items" to honor the legacy of the King of Pop after MJ's death, said Angie Barnett, President and CEO of the Maryland BBB.
Unfortuantely, the value of most of the stuff is ...
Continue reading "Michael Jackson memorabilia: a great investment? " »
The Federal Trade Commission announced a crackdown on companies that allegedly have used the economic downturn to prey on consumers desperate for work or needing relief from debt.
Along with the FTC, the Department of Justice, 13 states and the District of Columbia were involved in the sweep called “Operation Short Change.”
The FTC’s David Vladeck said in a news conference today: “Thousands of people have been swindled out of millions of dollars by scammers who are exploiting the economic downturn. Their scams may promise job placement, access to free government grant money, or the chance to work at home. In fact, the scams have one thing in common--they raise people’s hopes and then drive them deeper into a hole.”
Read more about the crackdown and the schemes the FTC says it has uncovered.
It seems the Wild Wild West atmosphere of blogging is slowly being tamed, or at least attempts are being made.
Last week, I wrote about the rising number of libel lawsuits against comments made on blogs and Twitter.
But the Federal Trade Commission is also looking at setting up endorsement guidelines for bloggers who promote products after receiving gifts or trips from the manufacturer.
Bloggers, if you earn commissions on the sales of products you promote, be prepared to come under FTC oversight.
Below is Associated Press business writer Deborah Yao’s article on the topic. Let us know what you think.
Writes Yao:
Savvy consumers often go online for independent consumer reviews of products and services, scouring through comments from everyday Joes and Janes to help them find a gem or shun a lemon.
Continue reading "FTC to issue guidelines to bloggers promoting consumer products" »
But the Electronic Frontier Foundation has made them a little easier to track with its new TOSBack site (discovered via Consumerist). The site compiles insertions and deletions to terms-of-service agreements for 58 Web site policies, including Facebook, MySpace, Netflix, Comcast, YouTube and other companies.
You can even subscribe to an RSS feed of terms-of-service changes to get the changes sent to you in whatever reader you prefer.
Is Hoodia weight loss supplements a fat lie?
The Federal Trade Commission says they can be.
The agency yesterday said it charged suppliers of “Hoodia gordonii” with deceptive advertising for claims that their product would help you lose weight, suppress your appetite and even cut the amount of calories you take in by up to 2,000 per day. The FTC says not only were the claims false, but sometimes the product didn’t even have any Hoodia gordonii — an African plant — in it.
The FTC filed its complaint against Delaware-based Nutraceuticals International, LLC, New Jersey-based Stella Labs, LLC, as well as four individuals who run the companies.
Maryland's General Assembly has finished its work, but there doesn’t seem to be very much passed to help consumers.
The House overwhelmingly passed a credit card bill that would prohibit card companies from raising your interest rate if you were late on another bill. But it didn’t gather much steam in the Senate where it languished and died. (Legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress to strengthen consumers’ protections on credit cards.)
Johanna Neumann, state director of Maryland’s Public Interest Research Group, tallied up the wins and losses for consumers this session.
Among the wins:
Creating a mandatory mercury recycling program for cars and trucks.
A commitment to move toward a paper record so voters can verify their cast ballots by 2010.
Among the losses:
* $70 million cut in energy efficiency and clean energy programs.
* No advancement on public financing of elections.
* No phase out of certain toxic chemicals used in consumer products in the state.
Ah, well, there's next year.
Green parcel tracking notices have shown up in Howard County mailboxes, instructing the recipients to pay $6.95 in "processing and delivery fees" by calling a telephone number.
Don't do it! The Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs says that these parcel tracking notices are a scam that has been tried elsewhere in the country. You might have thought that the package came from a friend or something you yourself ordered. Instead, you've been "specially selected" to receive a cultured freshwater pearl necklace supposedly worth $50, but is really worth far less.
Plus ...
Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: parcel tracking notice scams" »
Some doctors are taking action to protect themselves against a patient population increasingly accustomed to online research.
The docs are apparently asking patients to sign waivers promising not to post an online review of their treatment or the doctor's expertise, as first reported by the Associated Press. If patients don't like it, they suggest they find a different healthcare professional.
NPR's On the Media tackled the First Amendment implications of physician review waivers on its show last week, as well as the value of such online reviews, which are often anonymous and can easily descend into vitriol.
Although there are questions about whether physician review agreements would hold up in court, I'm curious how you'd react if presented with such a document.
Whether you would or wouldn't sign such a form, check out Consumer Reports' advice for choosing a doctor, including how to check a doctor's credentials. Then, read the list of the doctors and medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians in January, and stay tuned for the February list later today.
Continue reading "Disciplined Maryland doctors, January edition: Naughty Business of the Week" »
The Federal Trade Commission today released two videos spoofing commercials that promise free credit reports, but in reality try to sell you other products.
See the videos here.
The FTC videos appear to be a take off on freecreditreport.com’s ads, like the one featuring a guitar strummer wearing pirate clothes and singing in a fish restaurant. The FTC video features a kilt-wearing guitarist singing in an restaurant with step dancers in the background.
The guitarist sings: “Beware of the others. There is always a catch. They claim to be free but there are strings attached. Their ads can be funny, but don’t be deceived. Hold onto your money. There is one site you need: annualrecreditreport.com.”
That site is the only one where you can get free reports from all three major credit bureaus.
However, go to freecreditreport’s site, and here is what you’ll find:
“When you order your free report here, you will begin your free trial membership in Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. If you don't cancel your membership within the 7-day trial period, you will be billed $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership.”
Wow, with a free offer like that, you can end up in debt.
The FTC says it is releasing the videos as part of National Consumer Week, although an agency official says that many consumers confused by sites purporting to offer free reports.
In 2005, the FTC reached a settlement with the parent company of freecreditreport.com, after the FTC accused the company of deceiving consumers.
Read the story below:
Continue reading "FTC spoofs commercials offering free credit reports" »
In 2007, the state Public Service Commission began investigating about 300 complaints filed about Verizon customer service --- that technicians missed repair appointments, leaving people without basic telephone service.
Now to clear up these Verizon customer service complaints as well as other matters, the company has negotiated a settlement agreement with the Office of the People's Counsel, which represents consumers, and commission staff.
They are offering $1 million in bill credits to customers who were left without service for more than four days as well as promising to pay penalties if they leave people hanging in the future.
Continue reading "Verizon repair woes: would $11 satisfy you? " »
The Heartland data breach resulted in credit card fraud for only a small number of consumers, according to the company --- though they won't say how small is small. But dozens of banks and credit unions had to alert their customers to the potential that they, too, could have been affected, in some cases issuing new credit and debit cards, just in case. Provident Bank sent out new cards and put transaction limits on debit cards and Sovereign Bank will send customers a new card at their request.
Tom Field of bankinfosecurity.com pointed out the largest examples of similar data breaches weren’t banks themselves. For example, hackers used malware to capture millions of card numbers from the Maine-based Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain last March. And just two weeks ago, T.J.Maxx and Marshalls offered a 15 percent off sale to apologize to customers for a similar hacker attack in 2007.
"None of these happened to a bank and yet the banks are left having to explain to their customers, and to bear the cost of replacing the cards."
Unlike banks, which must have federally mandated security systems, companies such as Heartland aren’t held to the same standards, even though they handle TONS of financial data, Field said.
So how can you protect yourself?
Continue reading "Data breaches and credit card fraud: protecting yourself" »
Some Provident Bank customers have been impacted by a data breach at Heartland Payment Systems, a Princeton, N.J. processor of credit card payments.
Apparently, hackers used malicious software -- 'malware' -- to steal credit and debit card numbers from the card payment processing company last year. Some estimate that the Heartland breach could affect tens of millions of cardholders nationwide.
Only customers who received a new card in the mail and a letter from Provident had their card numbers compromised, company officials say. If you got the new card, activate it and destroy the old one.
Then, watch your statements --- and check old ones --- for problem transactions, because according to this Washington Post blog, Heartland doesn't know how long the malware was reading the numbers.
Some Provident customers thought the letter was a hoax or a scam,
Continue reading "Provident customers affected by Heartland data breach" »
I've got doctor and health ratings on the brain this week.
Last week I got to attend a health blogger summit at Consumer Reports, which has recently stepped up its Consumer Reports Health offerings with comparisons of the best diet tips to test results on the latest infomercial exercise equipment.
After all that discussion, it seemed timely to post the latest list of physicians and medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians. Check them out below:
Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: disciplined doctors, November edition" »
This Consumer Web Site of the Week will help you, your friends and neighbors avoid falling victim to fake check scams ... situations where crooks convince unsuspecting people to cash a bad check and wire the money somewhere.
The take-home message from fakechecks.org? When you cash a check, *you* are on the hook for covering the cash if it turns out it's fake.
Check out the site for some excellent fake check scam fraud tests and video interviews with victims --- intelligent people like you who have been duped.
Check your bank statements if you shopped at Macy's on the Saturday before Christmas.
Apparently, Macy's double-debited some customers if they paid with a debit card on Dec. 20, according to the Associated Press.
The story states that the computer glitch took place between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Here's what to do if you're affected:
Continue reading "Macy's charges some Christmas shoppers multiple times" »
See this jumbo snow globe on the left?
Sure it looks festive and harmless. Just look at the cute little flecks of fake snow flying about the snowman's glass belly.
But when exposed to sunlight, the snow globe's torso apparently becomes a powerful magnifying glass that can ignite nearby combustible materials. So says a recent warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which issued a recall of the 7,000 units sold at Hallmark Gold Crown stores in October and November this year.
Apparently, Hallmark received two reports from consumers who claimed the jumbo snow globes ignited nearby materials. The firm then worked with the CPSC to announce a voluntary recall of the item.
The globe, which is made in China, can be returned to any Hallmark store for a full refund of the $100 it cost, the CPSC said.
On a side note, why does a snow globe cost $100? And who are these 7,000 people who actually shelled out 100 bucks for a snow globe?
So did you check out Excellent Eileen's column Sunday about Prosper.com, a peer-to-peer lending site that, under SEC scrutiny, has ceased making loans amid concerns that they've essentially been selling unregulated investments?
As Eileen explained:
Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: peer-to-peer lending and dead trees" »
Well kids, here goes my last Consumer Sundays post. I just handed in my paperwork at HR, got my boxes packed and am wrapping things up now on this here blog.
Tune in Sunday to find out why Eileen says, in her personal finance column, it's OK to embrace your inner tightwad in these hard economic times.
Liz's Watchdog column tackles a bus that doesn't stop at an unmarked bus stop in Canton.
And me? Well, just for giggles, I looked up the oldest article written by me that I could find in the Sun's archives. Here it is, a story that ran on 3B of the old Maryland section, when I was an intern in 1991:
Catrice Green, a student at Rosemont Elementary School, thought it was just great being a part of a stripe in the American flag."I feel like I am a star," said Shanee Monroe, a senior at City College and president of the student council who was one of the flag's stars. "To be any part of this celebration for the flag is a lifelong experience."
An estimated 3,400 elementary and high school students agreed yesterday that being a part of a human flag was exciting, fun and quite a privilege.
Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Thanks and Goodbye" »
If you're already cheesed off about all the extra charges you encounter when flying these days, how ticked off would you be if you found out you got charged extra for checking an "overweight" bag because the airline's scale was inaccurate? The Today Show had an interesting segment yesterday about all the inaccurate airline scales they spotted at four different airports.
So many people are in a rush when they're at the airport so how many would actually notice that a scale is off? Most people just lug their bags in, plop it on the scale, show their ID and rush off to wait in the security line. Would you notice if the scale didn't start at zero? I can't say for sure that I would.
Continue reading "Paying for an overweight bag? Is that Airline Scale Accurate? " »
Consuming Interests readers are too smart to approach a day like Black Friday without a plan of attack.
ConsumerWorld.org compiled some really intelligent Black Friday shopping tips so you can take advantage of great deals that might be out there ... and avoid any promises of savings that are just too good to be true.
1. Read the ads in the paper and online. Newspapers will be chock-full of details at major retailers. Some of those advertisements have already been posted on the Internet as well, at sites like bfads.net or blackfriday.gottadeal.com.
2. Do your research. Compare prices to evaluate how much you'll be saving, especially looking for differences between online and in-store prices. Read reviews of products that seem to be good deals online to see if they're worth even that discounted price. (ed note: I gotta say, I love ConsumerSearch for comparing product reviews and prices. -- DD)
This research should extend to your credit card as well. See if price protection or an extended warranty is a benefit --- no need to be tempted by a heavy sales pitch at a store if your plastic gives it to you for free!
3. Look for coupons and rebates for further discounts. Put your search engine to work sussing out "triple plays", ConsumerWorld recommends. An item might be on sale, but it will be even cheaper if you have a store coupon and if the manufacturer offers a rebate. This piece of advice is ESPECIALLY important if you're buying online. Just google the store name and "coupon" or "promotion code" and see what you can find.
4. Map out your trip. If you plan to hit multiple stores, figure out when each opens and plan to get there well beforehand. If necessary, print out directions and make contingency plans for parking or traffic issues.
Continue reading "Cheap Trick Thursday: Black Friday shopping tips" »
Are you convinced the flu shot gives you the flu? Do you think you're not at risk? Do you believe the shot is ineffective? Consumer Reports says stop with your namby-pamby flimsy excuses. Here's why:
1. Excuse: It’s better to build your own natural immunities (67 percent).
Reality: The body’s innate immune response against the flu virus is short-lived, usually just a few months. Moreover, the virus that causes the flu often changes from year to year. So any protection your body develops during one flu season is usually gone by the next. (That also explains why, unlike most other vaccines, you need a fresh flu shot each year.)
Continue reading "Top 12 Flimsy Excuses to NOT get the Flu Shot" »
Everyone should keep your scam detectors on high alert these days, especially in tough economic times. Why? Because there's always someone out there trying to take advantage of you, even when you're looking for a job.
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission charged a nationwide marketing operation with violating federal law by deceiving consumers into buying materials they thought would help them land federal postal jobs.
A federal judge issued a preliminary order prohibiting U.S. Work Alliance, Inc., d/b/a Exam Services, Tyler Franklin Long, and Brenda Long, all based in Norcross, Georgia, from misrepresenting that they are affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Postal Service.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants falsely advertised that postal jobs paying an average of $20 per hour or $57,000 per year are available. Consumers were told to call a toll-free number in response to the defendants’ ads, answer some questions to “qualify for a position,” and then informed that jobs are open in their geographic area.
Continue reading "FTC Charges Marketers with Running a Postal Job Scheme" »
Last week, retail scribe Andrea Walker told you that Tweeter might be going out of business and that Circuit City is closing several locations as it struggles with the poor economy.
So we knew it would only be a matter of time before we'd hear about either electronics store filing for bankruptcy. Little did we know Circuit City would do it this quickly and beat Tweeter to the courthouse.
Here's what Bloomberg said about Circuit City:
Continue reading "Circuit City Files for Bankruptcy, Go use your Gift Card STAT!" »
We have been hammering on pay TV prices lately and it seems there's good reason for it because we're not the only ones wondering why prices keep climbing.
Remember when analog cable customers complained about losing Washington channels that were being moved to digital, and then complained again to the blog here and here about paying more for less? There was a lot of confusion about whether Comcast's channel moves had something to do with the fed's digital TV push coming this February (Comcast says there's no connection). But what readers weren't confused about was feeling angry about how Comcast said that analog subscribers won't have to pay more to upgrade to digital, except that you need a box for each TV you have and each box will cost you about $3.95 each per month.
Then, we had a full-on gripe session about Comcast's announcement that your cable rates were going up starting Nov. 1. At the time, we asked if consumers living in areas that offered competition saw better rates and many of you said no. Well, now, guess who else is wondering why pay TV prices keeping going up and up? That's right, the Federal Communications Commission. Check out the Associated Press story that just moved a couple hours ago:
Continue reading "FCC To Probe Rising Cable Prices" »
Seriously. How many complaints from consumers need to be filed before the authorities shut down a troubled business?
We told you in February that the Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with BlueHippo over allegations that it took consumers' money without providing the electronics purchased. BlueHippo didn’t admit to doing anything wrong, but agreed to pay $3.5 million to possibly $5 million to burned consumers. Then in May, I told you that complaints are still pouring in to Better Business Bureaus and AG Offices around the country about BlueHippo.
Continue reading "Tennessee AG Sues BlueHippo" »
How can you avoid turning credit repair into credit despair? Here are a few suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission:
Avoid any company that wants you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services. It is against the law.
Avoid any credit repair company that will not tell you your legal rights and what you can do, yourself, for free.
Avoid any credit repair company that tells you not to contact a credit reporting company directly.
Avoid any credit repair company that advises you to dispute all of the information in your credit report.
Avoid any company that suggests creating a 'new' credit identity - and then, a new credit report - by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number. That is against the law. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you also may be subject to prosecution.
Be safe out there.
Ever wonder if those TV ads claiming to help you repair your credit are legit?
Here's what the Federal Trade Commission and 24 state agencies said:
"Companies that promise they are able to scrub your credit reports of accurate, negative information for a fee are lying - plain and simple," said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Under federal law, accurate, negative information can be reported for up to seven years, and some bankruptcies can be reported for up to 10 years."
Earlier this month, the FTC and the state agencies launched "Operation Clean Sweep" to go after 33 operations that deceptively claimed they can remove negative information from consumers' credit reports, even if that information is accurate and timely. The FTC sought to halt the companies' allegedly unlawful business practices, prohibit further violations, and make them pay consumer redress and give up their ill-gotten gains. The FTC said it received thousands of complaints from consumers. Keep reading for the list of companies that they took action against.
Continue reading "FTC Crackdown on 36 Credit "Repair" Companies" »
Welcome back, welcome back! Hope everyone had a good weekend.
So did you catch my column yesterday on U-Haul's gas policy? If you're using an eyeball test on a gas gauge, which in my experience with cars (my dad was a mechanic) become increasingly unreliable with age, how accurate can that be? I wonder who ends up shorted more often? U-Haul or their customers?
The only sure thing I learned from Lauren Klemm's experience is that you should never drop off a rental without someone there to check it in or else you're at risk of finding some surprise charges on your card.
I'd advise bringing a camera with you, too, so you can document the condition of the rental before you pick it up and the condition of the rental afterward... As a precaution, I'd say you should probably start taking a photo of the gas gauge, too, especially if you're renting from U-Haul.
Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Finance and Kids & You vs. U-Haul" »
Hey, all you Windows users out there, it's time to patch Windows again because there's a nasty little bug waiting to wreck havoc on your computer.
Michael Horowitz at CNet News' Defensive Computing says:
Susan Bradley, of windowssecrets.com, recommends that you immediately install a patch that Microsoft has issued to protect yourself from a remote code exploit that could spread as rapidly as 2003's MSBlaster worm.If you use a Windows computer connected to a network, a newly discovered bug makes it possible for a bad guy to wreak havoc on the computer without your doing anything. The most vulnerable versions of Windows are XP, 2000 and Server 2003. Vista and Server 2008 are also vulnerable, but not as badly. Microsoft considers the bug important enough to issue the patch immediately rather than waiting for their normal once-a-month patch Tuesday.
Continue reading "Patch Windows ASAP" »
Raise your hand if you've gotten an e-card in your e-mail Inbox, only to delete it because you're worried it could contain malicious software or other virus just waiting to muck up your computer?
I don't really know of anyone who sends e-cards, do you? I don't think I've ever opened one for fear of what might be in it.
Now if those e-greeting cards aren't bad enough, I just saw this U.S. News & World Report story online about a Web-based system that allows you to electronically tell people that they may have contracted a sexually-transmitted disease.
No. I am not kidding. Yes. It's true. Read about the you've-possibly-been-exposed-to-an-STD-e-card story here.
Imagine opening up a card that says:
Continue reading "An E-card You Might Not Want to See in Your InBox" »
We've told you before that you can save money on prescription drugs by comparing prices, because different pharmacies can charge wildly different prices.
Now the Maryland attorney general office Web site has a prescription drug price finder, a great tool to compare prescription drug prices among local pharmacies that I discovered on a list of health care savings tips from Consumer Reports.
Here's how it works:
Continue reading "Save more money on prescription drugs by comparing prices" »
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a fondness for watching cheezy infomercials. 
They used to air late at night, but now there are entire channels devoted to them.
So I often find myself lingering far too long, when I'm channel surfing, on the dozens of client affirmations for Proactiv, Cindy Crawford's buy-these-beauty-products-and-never-age-like-me schtick, and that one doo-dad that makes hot pockets out of any kind of food you want to eat. I have just one word for that last infomercial: awesome.
One infomercial, however, drives me up the wall. Which one, you ask? Any infomercial that involves Kevin Trudeau and whatever book he's shilling on natural cures or weight loss. Why does this dude bother me?
Because a federal judge has banned Kevin Trudeau from infomercials in which he has an interest for three years. He's also been ordered to pay more than $5 million in profits from his book, "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About." This recent ruling in August confirms a 2004 contempt finding against Trudeau -- the second time he's been found in contempt of court in the past four years.
Judge Robert W. Gettleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois affirmed his 2007 ruling that Trudeau "clearly, and no doubt intentionally," violated a provision o a 2004 stipulated court order that prohibits him from misrepresenting the content of his books in his infomercials.
Continue reading "The 3-year FTC Ban that Kevin Trudeau Doesn't Want You to Know About" »
Happy Friday, people! This week just felt like it was never going to end, huh? We've had lots to do, though, preparing columns and stories for you dear readers this weekend. We've also been busy hammering away here on the blog. Did you check out our redesigned blog with our happy little family of four? Groovy, yes?
First up on Sunday... If you're still feeling a little dizzy and sick to your stomach over the stock market roller coaster ride we've been riding, what better time, then, to hear some sage words of reassurance? Americans living through the Great Depression had Franklin Roosevelt and his Fireside Chats to get them through the Great Depression. Read some of the words that calmed a nation in Money & Life on Sunday.
Eileen doesn't just stop there. She also tells you how the downturn in the stock market has hit college savings plans. Find out what you should do if your balance is down and your child is heaed to school in a year or two.
It's time to spend every last dollar left on a Linens 'N Things gift card, lest you be left holding a worthless piece of plastic after today's auction of the company, which declared bankruptcy in May.
Consumer Reports' Money blog warns readers that buyers of bankrupt retailers may not honor gift cards sold by previous owners, although a LNT spokesman felt confident that a new owner would still accept them.
There's certainly some unfortunate recent history with gift cards. Remember in March when Dan Thanh told us about how Sharper Image stopped accepting their gift cards, accepted them at a lower value and then stopped when they went completely under?
Not every business does it --- Boscov's continued to honor its gift cards after the department store declared bankruptcy in August, but it was able to keep some stores open.
Since there's no guarantee, you're better off trading that Linens 'N Things gift card in for some high-thread count sheets or other home item much sooner than later.
(photo: Associated Press)
Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Free money, the Fed bailout and you, Watchdog updates" »
I know, I know. It's lunchtime, so you're not thinking breakfast food probably. But this morning, I was going to eat a bowl of cereal to start off my day and then I remembered the new Consumer Reports test on breakfast cereals.
Are you like me? I always buy a box of Special K or some good-for-you cereal in my cupboard. But every once in a blue moon, I like to buy a box of Golden Grahams or Corn Pops. mmm mmmm corn pops.
Unfortunately, CR now tells me that:
Continue reading "Might as well eat a glazed donut for breakfast" »
A decision earlier this week in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice means that consumers will be able to find out if an automobile they want to purchase has been stolen or rebuilt after a wreck. U.S. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled Monday that the DOJ has until Jan. 30 to make this information available to consumers in a national database.
Congress originally passed a law in 1992 to create such a database. It took a lawsuit filed in February by Public Citizen, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and Consumer Action to make it happen.
The advocacy groups argued that the "agency's unlawful delay in implementing the database was putting consumers at risk. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will help consumers avoid purchasing a potentially dangerous used car by allowing them to instantly check the validity of the car’s title and mileage and learn whether it had been stolen or was a junk or salvage vehicle," said Deepak Gupta, attorney for Public Citizen.
Continue reading "A National Auto Fraud Database coming" »
The House of Reps passed the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights today by a vote of 312-112.
We've told you about efforts to rein in bad credit card practices before, here, and here .
The White House agrees that there are abusive credit card practices, but opposes the cardholders' rights bill for fear that it could further discourage lending.
The American Bankers Association agrees. Edward L. Yingling, ABA president and CEO, said:
“The American Bankers Association is very disappointed by the action today of the House of Representatives. The so-called “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights” (H.R. 5244), while well-intentioned, will increase the cost of credit for consumers and small businesses across the country, result in less access to credit for consumers and businesses alike, and may further roil the securities markets – all at a time when our economy can least afford it.
Continue reading "House of Reps passes Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" »
If you're wondering which cleaning companies get good grades for telling you what kind of chemicals they put in the products you use to clean your house, well, wonder no more. The Women's Voices for the Earth just issued a report that five leading cleaning product manufacturers on toxic chemical and consumer right-to-know issues.
According to WVE, the companies were graded on things like toxic chemicals in products, responsiveness to consumer concerns, their toxic chemicals screening process and how well they inform consumers of ingredients contained in their products. All companies were given an opportunity to review their grades and provide feedback prior to the release of the report card.
WVE says it has been working to pressure companies into developing a formal policy on ingredient disclosure because “Every day, we are exposed to so many chemicals that are questionable in terms of safety,” says Alexandra Gorman Scranton, staff scientist at WVE.
“Since we don’t yet know the long-term, cumulative effects of being in close contact to these chemicals, many people are taking the precautionary approach by choosing their products more consciously, or making cleaners at home with non-toxic ingredients like vinegar and baking soda," Gorman Scranton says. "This precaution makes a lot of sense, especially for pregnant women or people with young children in the home.”
Three companies failed in certain categories:
Continue reading "Cleaning product companies get failing grades for toxicity" »
Remember the good old days when you'd eat just any old thing without worrying about what you were popping into your mouth? Ah. Ignorance was bliss, or so we thought until we realized what all that fat, salt, trans fat and calories we were ingesting was doing to our bodies.
How many of you out there read food labels more carefully now?
How many of you buy food based on whether it's organic, or trans fat-free, or natural? I'm betting a lot more people read food labels and worry more about where their food comes from than we used to.
Anyhoo, the Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidelines last week for approving genetically engineered (GE), sometimes referred to as genetically modified (GM), produced food.
As the FDA press release on GE food explains:
Genetic engineering generally refers to the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques to introduce new characteristics or traits into an organism. When scientists splice together pieces of DNA and introduce a spliced DNA segment into an organism to give the organism new properties, it's called rDNA technology. The spliced piece of DNA is called the rDNA construct. A GE animal is one that contains an rDNA construct intended to give the animal new characteristics or traits.
Continue reading "Food for thought: Frankenanimals" »
Have you been following the battle heating up over consumer plastics and whether a hormone-like chemical contained in those plastics are a health hazard?
USA Today is reporting that scientists and the Food and Drug Administration are fighting over whether bisphenol A, or BPA, should be taken out of food packaging. The FDA says it's not a danger at the level that people are commonly exposed to BPA. Scientists disagree.
BPA has been detected in the bodies of virtually all Americans tested, USA Today says.
The story also says:
The newest research — the first large study in humans — links BPA to both heart disease and diabetes in adults. Adults with the highest BPA levels in their urine were more than twice as likely to have heart disease or diabetes than those with the lowest levels, according to the study of 1,455 people, published online Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The total number of people with these conditions was small: 79 had heart disease and 136 had diabetes.
Continue reading "Consumer plastics a health risk?" »
It's mid-September and we've already had news of three major data breaches.
Over at Forever 21, the discount clothing company for people who want to dress young (hey... I'm not judging, I buy pencil skirts from there once in awhile), the company just notified customers that their system "may have been illegally accessed to obtain customer payment card information."
According to Forever 21's press release, based on a Secret Service investigation, "we believe that the unauthorized persons accessed older credit and debit card transaction data for approximately 98,930 credit and debit card numbers. Approximately 20,500 of these numbers were obtained from the Fresno store transaction data."
La Liz told you over the weekend about BNY Mellon Shareholder Services, which "informed an additional 144,000 Maryland residents that their personal information - including names, addresses and Social Security numbers - may have been compromised in a data security breach."
Continue reading "Corporate data breaches continue: Forever 21, Countrywide and BNY Mellon" »
Good news for Bear Stearns' mortgage customers; bad news Bears.
The company and its subsidiary, EMC Mortgage Corp., agreed to pay $28 million to settle government charges of unlawful practices in handling people’s mortgages.
The Federal Trade Commission claims the companies “misrepresented the amounts borrowers owed, charged unauthorized fees, such as late fees, property inspection fees and loan modification fees, and engaged in unlawful and abusive collection practices.”
The FTC also says that the companies sent inaccurate information to credit bureaus. And when consumers disputed the information, the companies didn’t report those complaints to the credit bureaus as required by law.
These tactics occurred before JP Morgan Chase & Co.’s acquired Bear Stearns in May.
Besides paying $28 million that will go toward consumer restitution, the companies will create a data integrity program to make sure the information they have about consumers’ loans is accurate.
The court needs to approve the settlement. If you’re eligible for restitution, you will be contacted by mail. If you moved recently, call the FTC’s settlement hotline to update your information at 1-877-787-3941.
Two Web sites I discovered via Consumerist can help you on that quest and enjoy the honor as our Consumer Web Sites of the Week.
Maybe they've been too busy bench-pressing or kick-boxing, but 11 health clubs are accused of failing to renew their registration with the state.
The Office of Maryland's Attorney General filed administrative charges against the clubs for selling health club services since 2007 without registering with the Consumer Protection Division. The state wants the clubs to stop offering services until they register and pay penalties.
The clubs: AAA Karate of Silver Spring, Frederick Academy of Self Defense in Frederick, Curves of Glen Burnie, Contours Express of Bryans Road in Accokeek, JYI Marital Arts in Arnold, Contours Express of Hagerstown, Curves - La Plata, King Tiger Martial Arts inSilver Spring, Panther Academy of Martial Arts in Ocean Pines, Self Defense America in Centreville, The Wing Chun Gung Fu School of Columbia.
Make sure your fitness center or self-defense school is registed before signing up. Call the Consumer Protection Divsion at 410-576-6350 or go to the Web site.
Here's a list of tips from the AG's site:
-- Before signing up for a long-term contract, ask whether you can do a month-to-month or short-
Continue reading "Checking up on your health club" »
Don't assume a sweet and tasty indulgence will taste the same as you remember.ABC News has a story about how candy companies like Hershey's are reformulating their chocolate bars and relabeling them with terms such as "made with chocolate" or "chocolatey" or "chocolate candy" to overcome Food and Drug Administration standards for that taste sensation.
See, the FDA defines chocolate as made with cocoa butter --- a commodity that has more than doubled in price in just two years, according to the ABC News story. Some of Hershey's bars, such as the Whatchamacallit and the Take 5, are now made with cheaper palm or sunflower oil, according to the labels. It will still look like chocolate, but you may notice a different texture, or mouthfeel, with every bite.
American chocolate manufacturers lobbied the FDA in 2006 to change the standard, but that didn't fly. Mort Rosenbaum, author of Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light, examined the chocolate standards issue for the New York Times Op-Ed page then.
The worst part for chocoholics is that the substitutions have come on the market as other costs have also increased, so Hershey's has increased candy prices overall, as Cybele May broke down the financials on her Candy Blog last week.
So which candy bars have made the switch?
Continue reading "Cheated by chocolate" »
Here's some disturbing news last month in case you missed it from NewsInferno.com:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers who filled prescriptions at The Medicine Shoppe pharmacies located at 8035A Liberty Road and 5900 Reisterstown Road, both located in Baltimore, Maryland. The FDA is reporting that such consumers may have received defective drugs that were either expired or suspected counterfeit and is concerned because some of the drugs are for serious diseases and could have an adverse treatment effects. At this time, no other Medicine Shoppe pharmacies seem to be involved.
Because the safety and efficacy of the listed drugs has not been established, the FDA is strongly advising consumers “who filled prescriptions for these drugs at these two pharmacies to contact their prescribing physician immediately for new prescriptions. Additionally, consumers in possession of the above listed prescription drugs from these pharmacies should call FDA at 800-521-5783 for further information on how to dispose of the drugs.” The medications include:
Continue reading "Bad drugs sold in Baltimore" »
Rockville-based home builder Smart Development/Premiere Homes L.C. and its owner, Edward Kevin Smart, were charged today with violations of the Consumer Protection Act, acccording to the Office of the Attorney General.
The charges allege that Premiere Homes' building contracts contain illegal clauses that the builder used to terminate building contracts with consumers without any liability if it failed to build a client's home.
The charges also allege that Premiere Homes repeatedly took advantage of this temrination clause when favorable market conditions caused housing prices prices to rise. The AG's Office says the company would cancel its contracts to build homes after one year and refused to build the homes unless consumers signed new contracts agreeing to pay Premiere Homes more money.
"Under Maryland law, a home builder that fails to build homes cannot cancel its contracts with consumers without liability," said Attorney General Doug Gansler. "Consumers should be able to receive their promised homes."
Continue reading "Rockville home builder charged with Consumer Protection violations" »
Consumerworld tipped us off to a Wall Street Journal story about a Supreme Court ruling last year that allows manufacturers to set minimum prices for their products, and to require retailers to honor those prices.
According to the article, companies in the same industry can't collude with each other to set prices --- that would violate antitrust laws --- but a business could stop working with a retailer who did not abide by those policies.
Some companies allow stores to sell products for less as long as they don't publicize those lower prices. It's kind of the way that scratch'n'dent or salvage grocers work --- they often make agreements with their suppliers not to undermine sales at traditional markets and drug stores by advertising how low their prices are.
But that kind of policy presents a challenge to online retailers, the WSJ article points out, because by their nature they alert consumers to prices in the market.
Here's the July 2008 list of physicians disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians:
George M. Hricko, M.D., License # D05500. Area of Practice: Plastic Surgery (Dover, MA) -- Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Consent Order dated February 26, 2004. The physician has complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: July 2, 2008
Mark Davis, M.D., License # D23760. Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Bel Air, MD) -- Revocation for a minimum of 3 years; the Board will not entertain an application from the physician any earlier than three years from the date of this Final Decision and Order. The physician provided substandard care to patients in his weight management practice and continues to disregard basic medical norms. Date of Action: July 8, 2008
Richard G. Yeron, M.D., License # D41717. Area of Practice: General Practice (Frederick, MD) -- Summary Suspension. The Respondent engaged in a pattern of excessive and unjustifiable prescribing of Schedule II opioid analgesics, that placed his patients at risk for potentia lly serious or life-threatening consequences such as habituation and/or addiction. Date of Action: July 9, 2008
Continue reading "Disciplined Docs in Maryland, Part II" »
We've told you about naughty attorneys, naughty real estate professionals, businesses fined by the state Department of Environment, and all manner of other businesses misbehaving, deceiving the public or disciplined by various federal and state agencies.
Today, we bring you the physicians and physician assistans who you allow to poke, prod, and peer at you in your most vulnerable state... er... you ladies and gents know what I mean if you've been good about getting your annual exams. Do read this carefully because some of them are a doozy. Let's hope your current doctor isn't among those listed.
Here are the June 2008 sanctions from the Maryland Board of Physicians:
Victoria Bagby, RT, License # M00011. Area of Practice: Radiation Therapy (Baltimore, MD) -- Revocation. The Board found that the health care practitioner violated the Medical Practice Act based on her attempt to provide health care services in a condition in which she was unable to complete her assignment, repeated unexcused absenteeism at two medical employers, refusal of a reasonable and proper order to report for health evaluation, and her false answer on an application. Date of Action: June 25, 2008
Jeffrey R. Beck, D.O., License # H55156. Area of Practice: Emergency Medicine (Edgewater, MD) -- Revocation. the Board will not entertain any application for reinstatement for 10 years; order for summary suspension vacated as moot. The Board found that the physician committed unprofessional conduct when he instructed a nurse to remove 2 CDS tablets from a hospital supply and falsified records; prescribed CDS for a friend without maintaining medical records; for rude and insulting behavior to his patients and other health care workers in the hospital workplace; and used his status as a physician to further a prurient relationship with a person whom he believed to be a fourteen-year-old boy. The Board also found that the physician falsified medical records and fraudulently and deceptively used his license in regard to hospital incident involving removal of 2 CDS tablets from a hospital supply. Date of Action: June 25, 2008:
Continue reading "Disciplined Docs in Maryland, Part I" »
Two states in the country have consumer laws on the books that require businesses to place prices on most items in the store -- it's a regulation that businesses say is very labor intensive because it requires workers to meticulously change price stickers on products every time there is a sale or some other price adjustments.
I can see both sides of this since I'm sure human or electronic error can cause a lot of problems for a business, but at the same time, it makes me wonder how many consumers get charged the wrong price because of these errors.
For instance, according to this Boston Globe story about the state conducting pricing inspections:
CVS Caremark Corp., the nation's biggest pharmacy chain, was fined more than $275,000 since January 2007 for nearly 2,800 alleged violations of Massachusetts rules on pricing accuracy - by far the most penalized of any retailer in the state.
Continue reading "Is the price right?" »
... if you've purchased them before, that is.
As part of the $175 million settlement of a class action lawsuit against several major department stores and cosmetic companies, consumers will be able to sign up to get free makeup, worth up to $25 in value starting in January, The Boston Globe reports (via Consumerist).
According to the article, the companies were spanked for colluding to prevent their products from being discounted as well as to prevent competition between stores. As a result, they will be giving away free products "to consumers who purchased specific brands of makeup, moisturizers, and fragrance products at their stores between May 29, 1994 and July 16, 2003," the article states.
What brands, and at what stores?
We've warned you before about all the come-hither come-ons looking to buy your old gold jewelry. Then we saw that the Better Business Bureau is reporting that complaints against gold dealers have increased.
So before you dig through your jewelry box and hawk your precious metals, here are some thoughts to think about before you sell.
Make sure you know what the price of gold is selling for on the market.
Understand that you won't get the full value of your gold since the dealer will want to make a profit.
Before you drop your valuable belongings into a bag and ship it in the mail to someone you don't know, ask if the business has free shipping and find out if your property will be insured if it gets lost in the mail.
Continue reading "Be careful selling your gold" »
So last week, a bill that would abolish unpopular credit card industry practices passed a key U.S. House committee test late Thursday, moving it toward a vote by the full House.
According to this creditcards.com story, the bill:
targets credit card companies and seeks to ban practices such as retroactive interest rate increases, except under certain conditions, and limits "double-cycle" billing, which increases the ability of card issuers to impose interest charges.
Under the proposed legislation, consumers would get a minimum of 45 days' notice of any interest rate increases and have at least 25 days between the date of the monthly statement and the due date to pay their bills. Last-minute amendments to the bill added provisions to block credit cards issued to people under 18 years of age and ban over-the-limit fees caused by "holds" placed on the credit card account.
But while that should be good news, Chuck Jaffee of MarketWatch warns that it could spell hard times for all cardholders since:
Continue reading "An end to credit card tricks and traps?" »
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a final rule yesterday that won't protect manufacturers from lawsuits filed by families harmed by defective booster seats. An original draft of the rule barred families from taking such action.
The American Association for Justice (AAJ) filed comments in March discouraging NHTSA from issuing a rule that would preempt state law, effectively giving corporations complete immunity from lawsuits.
AAJ says that so far, seven federal agencies have issued over 56 rules with preemption language in the preamble to the rule. As a result of these preambles, states have had their authority curtailed by federal agencies.
Continue reading "No more federal immunity for manufacturers of child safety seats" »
You can't say we don't get things done around here.
Just one day after we warned you to be a bit leery about a curious official-looking Web site offering help to the unemployed in Maryland, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issued a warning against the same Web site yesterday.
Coincidence?
Perhaps.
But we'd like to think not. In any case, Secretary Thomas E. Perez reminded Internet users yesterday that Maryland's official insurance benefits Web site, www.mdunemployment.com, does NOT charge for its services and will never ask for a credit card number.
Continue reading "We warned you, now DLLR warns of unemployment scam Web site" »
Here's the rest of the list of diciplinary action against Maryland attorneys so far this year:
FREDERICK COUNTY
AVENDANO, Ana Luisa - Suspended for 90 days by consent for failing to act with reasonable diligence, failing to keep her client informed, failing to supervise non-lawyer assistant, failing to maintain an unearned advance fee in trust and failing to respond to Bar Counsel’s lawful demand for information.
BRENNAN, Richard A. - Commission reprimand for failure to competently and diligently handle accounts of debt management and debt settlement clients, failure to timely communicate with clients, failure to respond to requests for information and refunds and mishandling funds entrusted to him by clients for payment to creditors.
ENGLEHART, David A. - Suspended indefinitely by consent for accepting retainers for work that he had not performed and did not return those funds.
MAHONE, Willie J. - Reprimanded by the Court of Appeals for failing to respond timely for repeated requests from Bar Counsel for information concerning a complaint from a client.
GARRETT COUNTY
HAMILL, Geoffrey Semmes - Disbarred by consent following his guilty plea to a felony count of unlawfully manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).
HARFORD COUNTY
KREAMER, Barbara Osborn - Disbarred for lack of competence, lack of diligence, failing to communicate with her client, charging unreasonable fee and making misrepresentations to clients.
Continue reading "Maryland attorneys disciplined in 2008, Part II" »
This Naughty Business of the Week comes by special request from reader Robert Aman who asked:
Dan Thanh Dang can you please consider to write a blog about crooked lawyers?
We live to please so here's the list (this will include two parts since it's a long list) of disciplinary action against Maryland attorneys for 2008 from mdcourts.gov:
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
MARCALUS, Jeffrey S. - Suspended indefinitely by consent for engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by sending a client inappropriate and sexually suggestive text messages and touching the client in a sexually suggestive manner while in the court house awaiting trial.
NUSSBAUM, Jerold K. - Disbarred for repeatedly misappropriating client funds and presenting false ledgers to the Attorney Grievance Commission.
Continue reading "Maryland attorneys disciplined in 2008, Part I" »
Remember that icky post over at Mutts, about Overstock.com purging its catalog of furry items after learning that some of its items labeled as fake fur that were really made of raccoon dog pelts?
The Humane Society of the United States has published this guide to distinguish fake fur from animal fur, which I discovered via consumerworld.org.
Some of the tips are pretty straightforward, including looking at the backing to make sure it looks woven, rather than like skin. Real fur also has strands that taper like needles, rather than blunt ends, according to the guide.
(photo: stock.xchng)
While I was trying to meet my Sunday column deadline today, I got this urgent e-mail from Reader Rodney:
Hello, I'm in an auto repair shop and I'm very very concerned. The owner started alot of repairs on his own without any authorization at all. The vehicle is there because it wouldn't start. An injector pump was sent out and completed and when I asked the price for it; he told me he had no idea! When I pressed him that he must at least have a ballpark figure; he replied that they range from $500 to $12,000!!! Of course I should have never let that go. When I pressed for an estimate; he told me that he would know more later in the week. This guy scares me to death and I have a lot of experience with auto repair facilities. Isn'it there al law that work has to be athorized by the customer? Thank you very much.
Continue reading "Don't get ripped off by your auto mechanic" »
When I'm confronted by a problem I don't always know how to solve myself, I always try to find someone with more knowledge, power or leverage to assist me when I want to Get-R-Done, a handy phrase coined by that lovable Larry the Cable Guy.
In the case where I was getting annoying telemarketing calls about extended auto warranty offers on my cell phone, out of curiosity, I contacted my provider and asked them if they received a lot of complaints from their customers about these calls.
What Verizon's Leigh Schachter told me, warmed my heart.
Turns out, these auto warranty calls annoy A LOT of Verizon Wireless customers, which in turn, annoys Verizon Wireless a great deal, too, said Schachter in a phone interview with me yesterday. Schachter is assistant general counsel for ligitation for Verizon.
How annoyed is Verizon? Annoyed enough to file suit in state and federal court to stop these shenanigans.
Continue reading "Verizon hates annoying auto warranty calls, too: Part Two" »
I was so glad to hear I'm not the only one annoyed by pesky extended auto warranty offers in my mail, my home phone and cell phone. After the column ran, my colleagues here in the office were quick to send me the numbers annoying them, too.
Marvelous Marcia over on the Metro Desk received several. She's been taking down numbers:
562-288-7125
517-931-2516 (not warranty, but low cost healthcare)
866-788-9833
The great and wonderful Real Estate Wonk-esse herself, Jamie, sent me this number: 402-562-8737. "Please don't make the mistake of driving without a warranty," the recorded voice urged.
Steve from North East said he got rid of one company, but now he's getting a number from outside of the country: 011-50622377029 Costa Rica!!!
Continue reading "Lots of people hate extended auto warranty calls, Part One" »
I mentioned this group the other day when I was telling you this is Auto Theft Awareness Month. What is the National Insurance Crime Bureau? It's a nonprofit organization that receives support from approximately 1,000 property/casualty insurance companies and works with law enforcement agencies to help identify, detect and prosecute insurance criminals (sounds sexy, doesn't it? like CSI for insurancegeeks).
The cool thing about this Web site is that you can tap into its database for vehicles that were stolen, but not recovered, or declared totaled by cooperating NICB members. Unlike other companies that charge you for this service, NICB offers it to you for free. We love free stuff here.
Continue reading "How to find out if the car you want was stolen" »
I have a routine every night when I get home from work. I empty my car of any change, CDs or any personal items. Save for a doggy blanket, I pretty much empty my car every night and then put the club on and lock it. Why? Because I've had my car broken into four times in Baltimore.
Once, there was nothing in the car to steal so they took off with my car battery. That was lovely. But the one that left me pretty disturbed was when they tried to jimmy the ignition to steal it.
So why am I telling you all this? Because July is Auto theft Awareness Month and whether you want to prevent someone from swiping your car or just ransacking it, there are steps you can take that might help. The Insurance Information Institute says the number of cars stolen has decreased between 2004 and 2007, but drivers should remain vigilant because auto theft continues to be a major problem with a million vehicles stolen annually.
To prevent your car from being stolen the I.I.I. recommends taking the following precautions:
Continue reading "Auto Theft Awareness Month" »
Ignorance is bliss, right? Well, health officials in New York City think ignorance will kill you. So recently, the Big Apple became the first city in the country to force chain restaurants to post the calorie count of each food in the same size and font as the price.
Yikes.
As this msnbc story on calorie sticker shock says, consumers aren't so sure they want to be jarred into awareness when their tummy is growling for food.
Here's the top of the story:
Nora Cara was flabbergasted.
Continue reading "Restaurant menus dishing up calories" »
Right on the heels of my Sunday column on those pesky extended auto warranty calls people all over the country have been receiving on their home phones, work phones, cell phones and mailings, the Office of the Attorney General issued a warning on them today.
The OAG says to be "wary of a marketing campaign attempting to sell extended auto warranties that is targeting countless citizens nationwide on their cellular phones and landlines, as well as through postcards, letters and emails. The marketers offer to sell expensive extended warranties, and often 'phish' for personal information about the consumer.
Just hang up if you're getting unwanted telemarketing calls, the OAG says. Beware of extended warranty offers.
Continue reading "Maryland Attorney General says BEWARE extended car warranty offers" »
Here's yet another update about MyGallons. Consumerist alerted us that MyGallons has stopped accepting membership fees.
The Better Business Bureau had given the company an F because MyGallons had no vendor to process transactions for pre-paid gas with participating gas stations.
Now the BBB has removed the F and has instead given it "no rating".
Here's what the BBB had to say:
Continue reading "Update: MyGallons.com stops taking new members" »
How many out there know that Montgomery Ward went out of business in 2001? Now, how many know that a catalog company bought the Wards name brand out of bankruptcy in 2004? If you did, I'm awarding quality points to you. Bravo.
Now here's the bad news for anyone doing business with Wards.com and six other affiliated sites that includes three Sears brands (SearsHomeCenter.com, SearsShowplace.com and SearsRoomforKids.com). At least 51,000 records were breached at the parent company of those brands, Direct Marketing Services Inc.
Someone hacked into and stole consumer credit card information, according to DMSI, which informed its payment processor and Visa and MasterCard, and filed a report to the U.S. Secret Service.
Continue reading "Direct Marketing Services doesn't tell consumers about data breach" »
Please please please verify IDs before you let anyone into your home or open the door to anyone asking to enter your home.
If you missed this little blurb yesterday, the Associated Press reported that three men posing as utility workers entered a home in Westminster yesterday and stole money and other items.
Maryland State Police said it occurred about 12:30 p.m. The men, who kept in contact with one another with portable radios, diverted the victims' attention to steal from them. Police said the men then fled in a minivan onto Route 140.
It's happening more and more. Baltimore County Police issued a warning on similar deception scams running in their jurisdiction recently.
Continue reading "Scam Watch: Thieves posing as utility workers" »
The pen manager who oversaw some of the worst documented abuses of downed animals in the Hallmark Meat Company case pled guilty today to two counts of felony animal cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to downed animals.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos charged Daniel Navarro with animal cruelty, which was uncovered by in an investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.
HSUS says that Hallmark principally slaughtered “spent” dairy cows for the Westland Meat Co., which was the nation’s No. 2 supplier of ground beef for the National School Lunch Program.
The HSUS investigation found that many of the animals were unable to stand and walk. An HSUS investigator filmed slaughter plant employees routinely beating cows to try to make them rise. Cows were repeatedly shocked in the face and eyes with electric prods, and even rammed with the blades of a forklift.
The mistreatment occurred just long enough to make the animals get up on their feet to be slaughtered — this, HSUS says, despite the known risks that such animals may be harboring foodborne pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella, or even infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow disease”).
Remember when we told you that the Humane Society of the United States found downer cows at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas?
And then we told you that the Westminster Livestock Auction Market owner, James Horak, was charged with four counts of violating State Animal Health regulations?
Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson said in response to those charges, Horak signed a consent agreement regarding violations of the Maryland Animal Health law at the auction on April 22 and 23.
“A very deliberate investigation has revealed that a ‘downer’ cow was not treated in a humane manner and the market was not prepared to handle downer animals that night,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. “Under the terms of the consent agreement, Mr. Horak, while not admitting guilt, is not contesting the charges filed against him and has agreed to a number of actions to assure that animals in his custody will be treated humanely and in accordance with State law. Even before signing the agreement, Mr. Horak already had instituted a number of these actions.”
Continue reading "NBotW Update: Westminster Livestock Auction Operator Signs Consent Agreement" »
We've told you about shrinking ice cream containers and peanut butter jars --- even though the prices for these items remain the same. Websites like Mouseprint and Consumerist exist just to chronicle such attempts by businesses to get more of our money. And the latest product to get this treatment? Pints of beer, according to the Wall Street Journal.
But how can a beverage dispensed in a standard unit of measurement decrease in size?
You might think it's just the natural variation in the way humans pour a beer, but no. Some bars and restaurants have been serving the drinks in glasses with thicker bottoms, holding only 14 ounces compared to the traditional American 16-ounce pint (in the U.K, pints are about 19 ounces). According to the article, some bartenders comically describe these vessels as falsies.
The article mentions a couple of chain restaurants that practice this, including some Romano's Macaroni Grill locations. Here are some others:
Continue reading "Less beer, same price" »
You say toMAYto, I say toMAHto... Either way, they're still yummy and a staple of my diet. Problem is, I was out grocery shopping on Sunday at the Shopper's Food on Eastern Avenue and searched high and low for some juicy red tomatoes. To my great disappointment, there wasn't a single tomato in the entire store. WTH? (er... that's the PG-version of WTF).
Now, don't scold me for not knowing about this sooner. I've already told you I don't go food shopping often. Also, on weekends, I will occasionally enforce a news blackout just so I can relax (hey, if you were a mathematician, you wouldn't want to solve math equations all weekend, would you?).
Anyhow, that's my sorry excuse for missing the fact that over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration expanded its nationwide warning that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes.
The FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If you're not sure where the tomatoes are grown or harvested, you should contact the store where the tomato purchase was made.
You can still eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home, the FDA says.
Continue reading "Tomato Warning from FDA" »
The Hispanic Institute applauded the Federal Trade Commission's recent move to halt sales of fraudulent phone cards distributed by several major calling card companies.
THI President Gus West says, "Hispanics have been an unwitting target for unscrupulous calling-card firms. We at the Hispanic Institute applaud the FTC for acting on behalf of consumers and call on other leaders to do so as well."
At the request of the FTC, a U.S. District Court ordered a temporary halt to the deceptive advertising claims used to promote prepaid phone card. The agency accused marketers of misrepresenting the number of calling minutes consumers will get on their cards and fail to adequately disclose fees that will reduce the value of the cards.
Defendents in the case are: Alternatel, Inc.; G.F.G. Enterprises, LLC, also d/b/a Mystic Prepaid; Voice Prepaid, Inc.; Voice Distributors, Inc.; Telecom Express, Inc.; and their principals.
The FTC said the companies marketed their prepaid calling cards through small retailers such as newsstands, kiosks, grocery and convenience stores, and over the Internet. The cards, which sell for between $2 and $10, are marketed under a wide variety of names, including “Aló Mamá,” “Coffee Time,” “Rey de Florida,” “Tree Monkey,” and “Voz do Brasil.”
Continue reading "Avoid these Prepaid Calling Cards, FTC says" »
Tuesday's column focused on the spread of Voice over Internet Protocol phone service, or VoIP as its better known, and the concerns behind relying on a telephone that you might not work when the power goes out or when your Internet service is interrupted.
While the popularity of VoIP has grown, I'm not altogether sure that consumers are aware of the possible drawbacks to using an Internet phone, which the column pointed out that calling emergency services can be problematic. Please remember that if you move your VoIP service, you must change your billing address AND your emergency address with your provider or your 911 call could get directed to the wrong emergency calling center.
Since I haven't tried to sign on for this service myself, I was really interested to hear from Frank Bonomo who told me about what he discovered when he jumped at a triple play offer:
Continue reading "Voice over Internet phone concerns" »
On Sunday, I wrote about BlueHippo and the unending complaints that are still coming in about the Woodlawn-based retailer that sells computers and other electronics to people with poor credit.
Maria Allwine of Baltimore wrote in to say:
How about a story on who owns Blue Hippo and its history. I think publishing the names of the owner(s) and the history, finances, etc. of this company might be helpful.
The bad news is that I didn't include that information because I only have 25 inches of space to work with for my Sunday column. The good news is that The Sun and fellow blogger (a.k.a. Financial Guru) Eileen wrote a terrific story on this very question back in 2006.
But, being the generous, thoughtful soul that I am, I'm going to copy and paste the lengthy article after the jump instead of making you search and pay for it in our archives like my bosses would like for you to do. Why? Because it's all about you readers, that's why.
