Biodegradable paper products, clothing made from renewable resources ... more and more products bear labels claiming some degree of environmental friendliness. But are all these statements to be believed? And are they worth the markup?

The Federal Trade Commission is set to revamp its guidelines for these environmental marketing claims, which have not been updated in more than a decade, according to a Greenwire article in the NYT (discovered via Consumerworld.org).

The vocabulary has changed a lot since then, to include terms like "carbon neutral" or "sustainable".

According to the article, the FTC has dinged a few companies for claims like ...

Continue reading "Environmental claims to be investigated by FTC" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

The Baltimore Department of Public Works wants residents to know that they are not required to carry a "water line coverage insurance" policy for their homes.

Apparently some businesses have sent advertisements or notices to residents implying that such coverage was mandated, according to DPW.

Although it's true that property owners are responsible for paying for any repairs needed for the portion of the water line from the water meter to their homes, property owners are not required to have an insurance policy to cover such repairs.

In fact, your insurer may already cover that sort of damage under your current policy -- or you could purchase supplemental policies or riders. But either way, you're not required to have insurance for your water line.

You can always check with the Maryland Insurance Administration for more information about supplemental policies.

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The Maryland Department of the Environment has announced it's seeking fines of $638,400 for 27 alleged violations of the state's air, water, land and radiation management standards.

Water Pollution: State laws require that property owners notify MDE before conducting any work in tidal and non-tidal wetlands, their buffers and waterways.

Non-Judicial Settlement Agreement Among The U.S Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District, The Maryland Department of the Environment, and Daryl C. Wagner and DCW Dutchship Island, LLC, Little Island and Lot 4-Dutchship Pointe – Pasadena, Anne Arundel County: On December 4, 2009, MDE executed a settlement agreement for alleged constructing a stone revetment and pier beyond what was authorized by license. The Agreement requires Daryl Wagner to create a marsh and, reduce the size of the pier platform at Little Island, restore nontidal wetlands, and pay a $15,000 penalty to the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund, and a $15,000 penalty to the Nontidal Wetlands Compensation Fund is required. In addition, payment of a $10,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required.

Air Pollution: MDE enforces federal and state air quality laws.

Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals, L.P. – Baltimore, Baltimore County: On November 17, 2009, MDE signed a Consent Order with Sunoco to resolve alleged violations of air quality regulations at the bulk gasoline terminal in Curtis Bay. Specifically, MDE alleges that Sunoco violated air quality regulations when it failed to monitor and record a parameter required in its air quality permit. The Order includes a penalty of $30,000 and measures to prevent similar violations in the future.

CENVEO – Baltimore City: On December 14, 2009, MDE executed a Consent Order requiring CENVEO to make corrections to address alleged violations of air quality regulations that occurred when the printing plant exceeded their volatile organic compounds limit due to problems with a control device.

Radiation Enforcement Actions

Users of technologies that employ radiation, such as medical and industrial X-ray equipment and devices that contain radioactive material, must meet strict requirements to protect public health.

While violations may result in a penalty, it is important to note that there were no resulting impacts to the health and safety of the patients or staff at any of these facilities.

Radiation Machines Division

The following actions are in response to violations of Maryland regulations for the control of ionizing radiation from radiation (x-ray) machines.

Billy D. Davis, D.D.S. – Baltimore City: On November 19, 2009, MDE issued a Complaint, Order, and Administrative Penalty for $8,000 for alleged violations.

Radioactive Materials Licensing and Compliance Division

The following actions are in response to violations of Maryland regulations for the control of ionizing radiation from the use of radioactive materials (radioisotopes).

Nader A. Dakak – Bowie, Prince George’s County: On November 24, 2009, MDE issued a Complaint and Administrative Penalty for $8,000 for alleged violations.

CTI Consultants, Inc. – Owings Mills, Baltimore County: On December 10, 2009, CTI Consultants, inc. signed a Settlement Agreement requiring payment of a penalty of $8,400 for alleged violations.

Land Pollution - lead poisoning prevention program

The following actions were for properties alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards:

Continue reading "Pollution violations statewide: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

WalletPop has an excellent list of scams to avoid online and elsewhere.

I think most people are too skeptical for those "work-from-home" spam e-mails filling up inboxes, but the site also warns consumers to be on the lookout for bootleg copies of DVDs and faulty memory sticks/USB jump drives.

Post-transaction marketing for discounts off purchases already made are a no-no, too, because if you don't carefully read the fine print, you're probably authorizing your way into a monthly club of some sort.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition and the state Attorney General's Office want Maryland to regulate debt settlement companies --- businesses that promise to negotiate with credit card issuers and others on your behalf, resolving your debts in a single, smaller payment.

These firms may claim they can cut the total amount you owe by as much as 50 cents on the dollar, wrote Eileen Ambrose in her column today. Some companies encourage debtors to stop paying their bills while they save up for a lump sum payment, even though consumers continue to rack up late fees and other penalties with their creditors during that time. And the consumers can end up paying high fees for this assistance --- up to 20 percent, charges that start racking up long before any payments to existing creditors are made.

The proposed regulations --- the third attempt to get something like this passed --- would prevent debt settlers from collecting fees from consumers until the debts have been settled. They would also cap those fees at 15 percent of the total debt owed.

A representative of a debt collectors' trade association told Eileen that the industry welcomes regulation, but the advance fees are necessary since it can take years to resolve these debts.

The worst part of this situation is ... 

Continue reading "Debt settlement companies: Naughty Businesses of the Week? " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The Naughtiest Business of 2008 was BlueHippo, a Woodlawn-based company that sold installment plans for computers and electronics to people with poor credit. Many customers complained that they paid for months without ever receiving their products --- or refunds.

This year, BlueHippo has earned a nomination again. After flouting a 2008 agreement to clean up its act, the Federal Trade Commission asked a New York judge in November to ban the company from financing and selling electronics. That pushed Blue Hippo to pursue Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a move that has now been approved by a Delaware judge.

For the customers who have posted complaints to this blog about paying BlueHippo thousands of dollars without ever receiving the equipment they ordered, personal finance columnist Eileen Ambrose has some suggestions to get their money back (just click the link to read the column).

So what should be the other candidates for Naughtiest Businesses of the Year? Some are no-brainers, like the Peanut Corp. of America, whose lax care of peanut products lead to food recalls of tons of foods with peanut butter, and credit card companies like Citibank, Chase and Bank of America that have used this time before new federal regulations kick in to change minimum payments, add monthly fees and drop customers.

How about financial institutions that accepted bailout money and used it to pay executive bonuses? And what about loan modification companies that have scammed homeowners looking for some relief for ballooning mortgage payments?

Others seem like they're vying for a different prize ... 

Continue reading "BlueHippo and other Naughtiest Businesses of 2009" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's another contender for Naughty Business of the Week: RC2 Corp. and its subsidiary Learning Curve Brands Inc. will pay a $1.25 million penalty as part of an agreement settling lead paint violations with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The agreement settles allegations that the company knowingly imported wooden Thomas & Friends train toys that had paint with lead levels that exceeded the federal limit of more than 0.06 percent lead.

About 1.5 million Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys were recalled in June 2007. About 200,000 other wood train toys were added to the recall later.

The recalls sparked congressional action to pass the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and prompted the reduction of the limit to 0.009 percent this year.

The company denies the allegations that it knowingly violated the law.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

For the last Naughty Business of the Week, here's the final installment of doctors and medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians through November:

SEPTEMBER

David Harness, RCP
Area of Practice: Respiratory Care Practice (Casselberry, FL)
Denial of Application for a license to practice Respiratory Care. The Board took its action based on the fact that the Applicant was found guilty of a crime of moral turpitude and lacks good moral character because of his conviction for solicitation for prostitution. Date of Action: September 23, 2009

Parvez I. Shah, M.D.
Area of Practice: Urological Surgery (Laurel, MD)
Termination of Probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Consent Order dated January 30, 2007. The physician has complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: September 28, 2009

Joanne E. Shay, M.D.
Area of Practice: Anesthesiology (Baltimore, MD)
Termination of terms and conditions of Consent Order dated October 24, 2007. The physician has successfully complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: September 2, 2009

Todd B. Sheridan, M.D.
Area of Practice: Anatomic/Clinical Pathology (Baltimore, MD)
Revocation. The physician pleaded guilty to a crime of moral turpitude and thereby became subject to statute that mandates revocation of license. Date of Action: September 28, 2009

Jack W. Snyder, M.D.
Area of Practice: Anatomic/Clinical Pathology (Potomac, MD)
Suspension until the physician is reinstated by the Virginia medical board. The Board issued its order based on disciplinary action of the Virginia Department of Health Professions for conviction of a felony charge of false statements. Date of Action: September 9, 2009

OCTOBER

Panayiotis Baltatzis, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Parkville, MD)
Probation for a minimum of 5 years subject to terms and conditions. The board found that the physician failed to meet the standards of quality care and failed to maintain adequate records in his care and treatment of six patients. Date of Action: October 20, 2009

David E. Berman, M.D.
Area of Practice: Plastic Surgery (Sterling, VA)
Revocation. The physician pleaded guilty to the Misbranding of a Drug offered for Sale Under the Name of Another Drug in violation of federal law and thereby became subject to state statute that mandates revocation of license. Date of Action: October 22, 2009

Peter L. Campbell, M.D.
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Springfield, VA)
Reprimand; Permanent Restriction from prescribing Schedule II, III and IV CDS in Maryland. The Board took reciprocal action based on a sanction issued by the Virginia Board for the physician’s failure to properly manage the care and treatment of eleven patients in his practice of psychiatry. Date of Action: October 14, 2009

Gerald J. Dauer, R.T.
Area of Practice: Radiologic Technologist (Greenbelt, MD)
Summary Suspension. The Respondent performed, or was reasonably aware that his staff performed CT scans with contrast of patients, without consulting with, nor under the supervision of, a physician who was immediately and physically available in violation of state regulations. Date of Action: October 27, 2009

Daniel M. Howell, M.D.
Area of Practice: Family Practice (Hollywood, MD)
Suspension; stayed; Probation for a minimum of 3 years subject to terms and conditions that include a prohibition from treating any patients for chronic pain management. The Board found that the physician failed to meet the standards of quality care in his care and treatment of 10 patients in his practice of family medicine. Date of Action: October 28, 2009

Saied Jamshidi, M.D.
Area of Practice: Neurological Surgery (Potomac, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for a minimum of 2 years subject to terms and conditions. The physician had provided false responses to the Maryland Board on two separate renewal applications. Date of Action: October 28, 2009

Ram S. Makker, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Roslyn Heights, NY)
Revocation. The Board took reciprocal action based on a sanction issued by the New York medical board for the physician's failure to properly manage and treat eight patients in his practice of emergency medicine. Data of Action: October 14, 2009

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: Disciplined doctors and medical professionals" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's the list of doctors and other medical professionals sanctioned in July and August by the Maryland Board of Physicians:

Karmine E. Blanks, No License (Raleigh, NC)
Order to Cease and desist from the unauthorized practice of medicine; civil fine of
$10,000. The individual practiced medicine without a license, misrepresented herself as
a person authorized to practice, and used terms and words with the intent to represent that
she practices medicine. Date of Action: July 6, 2009

Julian P. Choe, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Frederick, MD)
Reprimand. The Board found that the physician committed unprofessional conduct in
the practice of medicine in regard to a female patient during an office visit in February
2005. Date of Action: July 27, 2009

Charles O. Folashade, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Salisbury, MD)
Permanent surrender of medical license. The physician permanently surrendered his
license based on the Board’s investigation that found that he prescribed CDS for
illegitimate medical purposes, sold drugs to patients for financial gain, dispensed
prescription medications to patients without a dispensing permit, and failed to provide
medical records to another physician for continuity of care. Date of Action: July 22,
2009

Douglas F. Greer, M.D.
Area of Practice: Ophthalmology (Washington, DC)
Revocation of License for five (5) years. The physician pleaded guilty to one count of
healthcare fraud and one count of income tax fraud and thereby became subject to statute
that mandates revocation of his license. Date of Action: July 23, 2009

John G. Harney, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Baltimore, MD)
Revocation; the Board will not accept any application for reinstatement within 2
years from the date of revocation. The Board found the physician in violation of his
November 28, 2007, consent order. Date of Action: July 29, 2009

Scott S. Haswell, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Baltimore, MD)
Suspension for a minimum of 3 years with all but 1 year stayed and continuing until
terms and conditions have been completed; should the Board reinstate the license,
probation for 3 years. The Board concluded that the physician engaged in sexual
misconduct with a patient in the fall of 2007. Date of Action: July 23, 2009

Ofelia G. Loot-Gayoso, M.D.
Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Annapolis, MD)
Surrender of License. The physician surrendered her license due to her retirement and
to avoid further prosecution of pending disciplinary charges for failure to meet standards
of quality care and maintain adequate medical records when treating an obstetrical
patient. Date of Action: July 22, 2009

Martin R. McLaren, M.D.
Area of Practice: Anesthesiology (Bethesda, MD)
Revocation for five (5) years. The physician pleaded guilty to the felony of knowingly
and willfully making a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement and
representation in connection with the delivery of health care benefits, items and services
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1035, and thereby became subject to state statute that mandates
revocation of his license. Date of Action: July 23, 2009

Continue reading "Naughty Businesses of the Week: Disciplined Doctors & medical professionals" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

There's an important question to ask the next time you schedule a doctor's appointment, and it's not just whether he or she takes your insurance. 

I've recently heard a few friends and colleagues grumbling about a frustrating medical billing practice recently featured in the Wall Street Journal (an article which I discovered via ConsumerWorld).

Essentially, the patients made regular doctor's appointments that were held at a clinic hosted by a hospital. The hospital then sent the patients bills for outpatient services or a "facility fee", even though they were only there for exams and didn't otherwise use the hospital facilities.

In the article patients were also billed by urgent care facilities as if they had visited the emergency room. 

Even if you have insurance, these facility may not be covered. Instead, they count toward patients' deductibles.

In some cases, the patients could have avoided the additional costs by making appointments at a different location, like the doctor's private office. But why should a doctor's exam at one address cost so much more than an visit at a different address?

Continue reading "Charged hospital fees for doctor visits? " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Listed below are the latest weights and measures violations reported by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Only a handful of incidents were reported in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll or Harford counties. Remember, as we've told you before, MDA is the agency you should contact if you encounter errors or discrepancies due to price scanner errors. UPDATED:To file a complaint, call 410-841-5790 or go to www.mda.state.md.us/weights_measures/index.php.

Advance Auto Parts, California – On July 1, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Bloom #2707, Gaithersburg – On July 2, MDA received $750 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

Harris Teeter, Gaithersburg – On July 13, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

CVS #2373, Hyattsville – On July 13, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Giant Food #329, Rockville – On July 13, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

Giant Food #196, Gaithersburg – On July 15, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

Advance Auto Parts, Westminster – On July 20, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Staples #956, Glen Burnie – On July 21, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Staples, #1222, Nottingham – On July 21, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

CVS #1456, Upper Marlboro – On July 28, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

CVS #1476, Forestville – On July 28, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

CVS #1800, Palmer Park – On July 28, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

T & M Mulch, Bel Air – On August 24, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short measure.

Bloom #2708, Rockville – On August 26, MDA received $2,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

Grand Mart, Gaithersburg – On August 31, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

Continue reading "Weights and measures violations: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

After Sunday’s piece about selling gold jewelry for cash, I’m beginning to look at my jewelry box as a piggy bank.

Basically, what I found is that it pays to shop around to find the best deal. What dealers pay can vary by a wide margin.

It also pays you to find a reputable dealer. One fact that didn’t make the paper: Anyone engaged in buying gold in Maryland must be licensed in the state as a secondhand precious metals dealer.

According to Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation, license applications are waaaaay up, but there are still plenty of others who claim to be gold buyers but aren’t licensed.

If you’re selling your gold, check the state’s Web site to make sure the dealer is licensed.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW, Personal finance
        

Boy, do I wish I had read the December 2009 issue of ShopSmart magazine before I bought a pair of shoes online earlier this month.

To be honest, there are few things I like to buy online, but I got caught up in the excitement of a sale and impulsively purchased a pair of shoes --- which don't fit (of course). I know that I need to return them, but between paying for shipping them to me and shipping them back, I'll have paid more than $10 for the privilege of trying them on.

Basically, the lesson I've learned: it's never enough to check the base price when shopping online. Always factor in shipping charges --- including sending back returns. There are several shoe sites that offer free return shipping --- why didn't I patronize one of them? 

How to avoid similar return-policy problems? ShopSmart reviewed the return policies of 88 popular online retailers and found some real winners and losers, including ...

Continue reading "Best and worst return policies online" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Holiday shopping, Naughty businesses/NBotW, online shopping
        

We've told you about problems with expired products on supermarket and drug store shelves, but both Target and CVS have recently settled with attorneys general in other states after inspectors found old items on shelves.

In New Jersey, Target is paying $375,000 for selling expired baby formula as well as charging incorrect prices at the register, according to the Associated Press. Under the settlement Target admits no wrongdoing but the company is adding a senior manager to ensure prices charged match advertising and training employees in price accuracy for the next two years.

New Jersey has already settled similar suits with Rite Aid and Duane Reade.

After breaking a previous agreement to stop selling expired baby formula, food and medicine, CVS Pharmacy Inc. is paying $875,000 to the state of New York, the Associated Press explains.

How do you stop yourself from bringing home expired goods? I can't say that I routinely check items not sold in refrigerator cases. I try not to buy items like over-the-counter medicine from low-traffic locations that might not rotate stock frequently, but that's not always an option. 

Remember ... 

Continue reading "Target, CVS settle over sale of expired products: Naughty Businesses of the Week " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Still playing catchup on our lists of disciplined doctors and other medical professionals. Here's the list of docs sanctioned (or whose licenses have been reinstated) by the Maryland Board of Physicians in May and June:

Shirley E. Brown-Ornish, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Mitchellville, MD)
Reinstatement of license; Probation for 3 years subject to terms and condition. The Board has determined that it is appropriate to reinstate the physician’s license, however, subject to probation with terms and conditions. Date of Action: May 6, 2009

Michael Q. Durry, M.D.
Area of Practice: General Surgery (Randallstown, MD)
Reinstatement of license; Remaining terms and conditions of the 12/19/07 Consent Order continue in effect; Probation for 5 years subject to terms and conditions. The Board has determined that the physician’s circumstances justify a reinstatement of his medical license, however, subject to conditions that the Board believes necessary to ensure protection of the public. Date of Action: May 8, 2009

Mark H. Eig, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Silver Spring, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for a minimum of 2 years subject to terms and conditions. The Board found that the physician failed to keep adequate medical records in his care and treatment of 6 patients. Date of Action: May 6, 2009

Charles O. Folashade, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medic ine (Salisbury, MD)
Summary Suspension; The Board determined that the public health, safety, or welfare required emergency action based on the physician prescribing drugs for illegitimate medical purposes, his sale of drugs to patients for financial gain, dispensing prescribing medications without a permit, and failure to provide medical records to another physician
for continuity of care. Date of Action: May 15, 2009

Richard C. Habersat,, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Parkton, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for a minimum of 2 years and until terms and conditions have been satisfied. The physician failed to carefully monitor and aggressively treat adverse side affects of a patient on multiple narcotics when changing the patient’s medications. Date of Action: May 28, 2009

Kevin R. Kellman, RRT
Area of Practice: Respiratory Therapy (Frederick, MD)
Suspension for 30 days; No direct patient care; if practitioner elects to resume patient care, notification to the Board in writing of the place of employment; Probation for a minimum of 2 years with terms and conditions. The practitioner engaged in unprofessional conduct and failed to meet standards of quality care for, including but not limited to, initiating a test on a patient without a physician’s order. Date of Action: May 27, 2009

David R. Leaverton, M.D.
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Arnold, MD)
Suspension for one month; Probation for 2 years and until terms and conditions have been satisfied. The Board concluded that the physician engaged in boundary violations with a patient, prescribed medication to another patient prior to doing an initial evaluation, failed to maintain adequate documentation in regard to these patients, and in one instance billed one of the patient’s visits to the other patient. Date of Action: May 28, 2009

Kathy A. Mesbahi, M.D.
Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Rockville, MD)
Probation for 1 year subject to terms and conditions; cease and desist from the practice of laser surgery; fine of $20,000; and cease and desist from aiding unlicensed individuals in the practice of medicine. The Board determined that the physician aided 2 unauthorized individuals in the practice of medicine. Date of Action: May 11, 2009

Continue reading "Disciplined Doctors: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

After hearing that Bank of America has started charging annual fees of $29 to $99 on some credit cards, Consuming Interests readers told us loud and clear: they plan to cancel their credit cards if the card issuer starts levying a yearly 'membership' payment.

Today, business columnist Eileen Ambrose reviewed the potential impact canceling a credit card would have on your credit history and credit score.

It might come as a surprise to discover that a good payment history for a card would remain on your credit report long after you've canceled it.

Also, you can mitigate some of the other negative effects, like having a smaller amount of available credit, by opening another card with a similar credit limit as the one you plan to close. Eileen's column has more details.

But, consumers tend to be very loyal to their credit cards, Eileen said. So, we're wondering: what would prompt you to go to the trouble of dropping the plastic you've been using for years? Let us know in the poll and feel free to elaborate in the comments below.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Credit cards, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

We know you take care of your personal information in your own home by shredding documents, right? And you probably expect that your bank and other financial institutions take the same precautions too?

But according to this WMAR-TV report last week, an M&T Bank branch in Rodgers Forge had tossed documents listing customers' personal information into a dumpster without shredding or otherwise destroying them first. Reporters found recent letters, papers with account numbers and even a copy of one customer's driver's license, according to the story.

The branch was originally part of Bradford Bank, which was taken over by M&T in August.

An M&T spokesman said the mistake stemmed from one employee's error. Most of the data was old or obsolete, he told WMAR, and credit monitoring has been offered to affected customers.

But the breach violates both federal and state regulations, according to ... 

Continue reading "M&T Bank dumps personal information: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Target has agreed to pay $600,000 million in civil penalties for violations of the federal lead paint ban, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The settlement resolves allegations that the retailer knowingly imported and sold toys with paint that exceeded federal limits on lead from May 2006 to April 2007. CSPC staff stated that Target didn't take adequate action to ensure that no toys or children’s products would bear lead-containing paint.

The company has admitted no wrongdoing, but had voluntarily recalled the toys at the time.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's even more businesses fined by the Maryland Department of the Environment for violating water, gas vapor and radiation control regulations:

Water pollution enforcement actions (for unauthorized construction in tidal wetlands and sediment control issues):

David Hans, Hans Marine Construction, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County: On July 20, 2009, MDE executed a Settlement Agreement for alleged unauthorized work in tidal wetlands that included the construction of an unauthorized pier and alleged unauthorized work in tidal wetlands that included the construction of a revetment. The agreement requires payment of a $10,000 penalty to the Tidal Wetlands Compensation Fund.

Sloan Materials, LLC, Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County: On July 6, 2009, MDE received a payment of $10,000 to the Sediment Control Fund on July 6, 2009, for alleged violations at the surface mining site, Zimmerman Pit #2. The payment resolves alleged violations for failure to implement and maintain the erosion and sediment controls resulting in a sediment discharge to waters of the State.

Air pollution violations: 

Mount St. Mary’s University – Emmitsburg, Frederick County: On July 17, 2009, MDE issued an Opportunity to Settle Letter to address alleged violations of air quality regulations. Specifically, MDE alleges that Mount St. Mary’s violated visible emissions regulations and record-keeping requirements.

Gasoline vapor violations: 

E&C Enterprises (Shell Station) – Rockville, Montgomery County: On July 21, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Settlement Letter seeking $1,500 for alleged violations of Stage II Vapor Recovery regulations.

Liberty Gasoline Station – Germantown, Montgomery County: On July 21, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Settlement Letter seeking $1,500 for alleged violations of Stage II Vapor Recovery regulations.

Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Properties, LLC (Chevron Station) – Gaithersburg, Montgomery County: On July 21, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Settlement Letter seeking $1,500 for alleged violations of Stage II Vapor Recovery regulations.

Continue reading "More businesses fined for pollution violations: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's the the first part of the recent list of businesses fined by the Maryland Department of the Environment for violating air, water, waste and radiation management regulations:

Hazardous waste violations:

Primitive Wood Designs, LLC, Old Wood & Co., and Martin L. Bueneman, Queen Anne & Queenstown, Queen Anne’s County: On July 28, 2009, MDE issued a Complaint, Penalty and Order seeking $100,000 for alleged violations.

Lead risk reduction violations (for rental properties, inspectors and contractors):

Donald N. Young and Sylvia C. Young, Hagerstown, Washington County: 1 affected property – On July 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $16,500 for alleged violations.

Aimee Ly and Hung Manh Do, Baltimore, Baltimore County: 1 affected property – On July 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $11,000 for alleged violations.

enture Alliance Partners, LLC and Olatunde Ogungbade, Baltimore City: 5 affected properties – On July 23, 2009, MDE issued an Administrative Complaint, Order and Penalty seeking $44,000 for alleged violations.

Continue reading "Businesses fined by for pollution violations: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Well, it's been a little while since we've told you about doctors and allied medical professionals disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians. We'll try to do a little catch-up today, starting with this list of sanctions from March and April 2009:

Nelson A. Burton, M.D. Area of Practice: Thoracic Surgery (Falls Church, VA)
Reprimand. The Board took reciprocal action on an action by the Virginia Board of Medicine for failure to follow up on a CT scan report that recommended an MRI. Date of Action: March 16, 2009

Peter C. Gleason, M.D. Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Annapolis, MD)
Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Final Decision and Order dated July 10, 2008. The physician has complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: March 5, 2009

Stephen C. Hamilton, M.D. Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Annapolis, MD)
Administrative Fine of $550; terms and condition. The healthcare practitioner committed prohibited acts under H.O. §14-404(a)(3)(ii) and (36) with respect to completion of continuing medical education credits as required by H.O. §14-316 and COMAR 10.32.01. Date of Action: March 6, 2009

Charles Y. Kim, M.D. Area of Practice: OB/GYN (Frederick, MD)
Termination of probationary terms and conditions imposed by the Final Decision and Order dated July 23, 2008. The physician has complied with the terms and conditions precedent. Date of Action: March 5, 2009

George S.G. Lakner, M.D. Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Washington, DC)
Suspension for 3 years from date of the original August 29, 2005 order; fine of
$10,000 to be paid in 30 days or in quarterly installments over a 2 year period. After
an allocution hearing on the issue of sanction, the Board issued its sanction based on the
findings of fact and conclusions of law of the August 29, 2005 order. Date of Action:
March 17, 2009

Brian M. Levin, M.D. Area of Practice: Urology (Westminster, MD)
Reprimand; terms and conditions. The physician did not timely disclose to his patient
or to the hospital that he had made an error in diagnosis and removed the wrong kidney.
Date of Action: March 27, 2009

Roman Ostrovsky, M.D. Area of Practice: General Practice (Baltimore, MD)
Petition for Reinstatement is denied. The Board will not consider any further
applications for reinstatement before June 12, 2010. Date of Action: March 23, 2009

Mahmaud Shirazi, M.D. Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Salisbury, MD)
Permanent Revocation. The Board found that the physician used his position as a
physician to take advantage of four women by unwanted and demeaning sexual touching
during medical examinations. Date of Action: March 17, 2009

Continue reading "Disciplined doctors: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The same types of businesses irked consumers the most in 2008 as they did the previous year, according to the National Association of Attorneys General.

Each state has a consumer protection statute and the attorney general in that state will accept and help settle complaints. 

They noted that debt collection, auto sales and home repair/construction were the top three types of businesses drew the most consumer complaints for the second year in a row.

However, the organization saw that credit card companies and predatory lending/mortgage companies joined the list this year as well.

To find out more about consumer protections in Maryland, check out the attorney general's Web site.

And without further ado, here is the National Top 10 Consumer Complaints List for 2008:

Continue reading "Top consumer complaints: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

It's bad enough that many mortgage products were so confusing that some customers were able to get large loans with little evidence that they could afford the payments. But in some cases it seems banks have started to file foreclosure motions before they are even sure they have clear title to the home.

To combat this problem, one New York judge has been combing through the paperwork and rejecting documents riddled with errors, according to this New York Times story (discovered via Consumerist).

Judge Arthur M. Schack said in the story that if you're planning to take someone's house away, "everything should be legal and correct."

If you're concerned about the size of your loan payments or worry that foreclosure may in your future, e-mail your foreclosure questions to Sun business columnist Eileen Ambrose. Then tune in at 12 p.m. for a live chat with counselors from St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center. They'll provide some guidance for those for whom the housing crisis has struck home ... and the answers will be archived on the blog post for future reference.

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Home/Real Estate, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's a happy ending to a frustrating situation!

I told you yesterday about the woman who couldn't get a Walmart in Hampstead to refund her money for a recalled DVD player because of a missing part.

Anne of Manchester, who first read about the recall of 1.5 million Durabrand DVD players sold at Walmart here at Consuming Interests, finally got her $29.99 back from Walmart on Tuesday, but it wasn't easy.

"No one at Walmart knows how to handle a defective return or recall, and the whole thing started over again today as it did yesterday," she wrote in an e-mail.

After talking with a series of managers and clerks at the Hampstead store who asked her for both the original receipt and the missing battery plate for the remote control, she convinced them to give her her money back.

They tried to give her a gift card, she said, but she said she told them "that in light of them already selling one defective piece, I am not buying another one from them, and they gave me the cash."

I e-mailed Walmart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien about this encounter and she said staff at the Hampstead store were unaware of both the recall and Walmart's policies about them.

As she said yesterday, customers don't need all the parts, the original packaging or the receipt to return a recalled product to Walmart. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

We told you last week that Walmart recalled 1.5 million Durabrand DVD players sold between January 2006 and July 2009 after several units overheated and some even caused fires. Customers were instructed to take the units back to Walmart for a refund as a result.

Several readers wrote to thank us about the post, including Anne from Manchester. Her DVD player wasn't working well so she was happy to hear the news:

"I have had trouble with mine since shortly after buying it and I tried to take it back to WalMart before, but lost the receipt.  When the thing heated up -- the picture would freeze.  Thank God I didn't have a fire.  WalMart told me they hadn't sold this in over two years, and couldn't take it back because they didn't know how much to refund me since it was out of their system, but now they HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK."

Except, that's not what she said happened when she arrived at the Walmart in Hampstead, with the DVD player in the original box, but without the small plastic plate that covers the batteries in the remote control:

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: Walmart store refuses to refund recalled product" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

How much money would a woodchuck steal from you, if a "woodchuck" is another term for a contractor that goes door-to-door offering overpriced services?

Thousands and thousands, according to a Los Angeles Times story about woodchucks, also known as gypsy contractors, after a roving band of tree-trimmers was spotted as close by as Northern Virginia. 

Apparently people --- particularly seniors --- have been duped of as much as $20,000 by itinerant contractors who charged way more than normal, and didn't even complete the work! 

According to the story, homeowners should be skeptical of contractors who need to go door-to-door to drum up business, although the economy is so bad these days that I wouldn't be surprised if more businesses consider it.

However, it's worth repeating one more time: compare prices of items and services sold door-to-door, just as we mentioned when telling you about water testing scams pitched door-to-door as well as home security systems sold by door-to-door salesmen and magazine subscriptions allegedly supporting a charity. You wouldn't buy the first vacuum cleaner you see without doing some research; how do you know the estimate that one contractor gives you is within the right ballpark?

Jamie Smith Hopkins over at Real Estate Wonk has some more tips for finding a good contractor ...

Continue reading "Gypsy contractors: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Cash for Clunkers certainly has been popular, with more than 250,000 vehicles sold with the help of $4,500 from the federal government.

But in your haste to take advantage of the credit, steer clear of any Cash for Clunkers scams, warns the Federal Trade Commission.

Figuring out whether your new car, or your trade-in, will qualify is complicated enough, but the best source of information is the official cars.gov Web site.

And remember, you don't need to register or sign up in any way to take advantage of the deal --- instead, it's the dealer's responsibility to fill out the paperwork to get reimbursed later. 

Any sites that ask you to enter your name, address and Social Security Number are just "phishing" for your information. If you find a site like this, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

If you suspect other Cash for Clunkers-related scams or fraud, tell the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration at 1-866-CAR-7891.

(photo: dno1967/Flickr)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Scams
        

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 " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

In keeping with Consuming Interests' annual tradition, here's the list of Maryland lawyers disciplined by the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission in the last fiscal year (ending June 2009).

ALLEGANY COUNTY

THOMAS, C. Trent - Commission reprimand by consent for failure to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing his client and failure to respond to requests for production of documents and evidence of causation in a timely manner, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.3.

WASSER, Nathan H. - Disbarred by consent on February 3, 2009 for misappropriation of escrow funds, failure to safekeep client property and illegal conduct, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.5(a) and 8.4(b),(c) and (d).

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

ROUSE, Joseph H. - Commission reprimand by consent for failure to substantively pursue the administration of an estate.

TANKO, Louis P., Jr. - 60-day Suspension on April 17, 2009 for misleading the Court by filing documents requesting expungement of cases which he knew were not entitled to be expunged and not alerting the court to the timing requirements, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 3.3 and 8.4(d).

BALTIMORE CITY

BUTLER, Anthony Ignatius, Jr. - Commission reprimand for failure to diligently pursue his client’s collection cases and failure to communicate with the client.

BUTLER, Anthony Ignatius, Jr. - Suspended for 30 days by consent on November 26, 2008, effective as of December 1, 2008 for his failure to follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and repeatedly missing deadlines.

GARDNER, Paul W., III - Commission Reprimand for failure to deposit a client’s retainer into an attorney trust account, maintained pursuant to Maryland Rules, Title 16, Chapter 600 for safekeeping. The client’s retainer payment was in anticipation of future legal services yet to be rendered, pursuant to the retainer agreement, to be withdrawn only as fees were earned.

JONES, Rodney M. - Commission reprimand for failure to act with diligence and promptness in representing his client, resulting in a direct criminal contempt hearing, in which the Court issued an Order of Contempt. His misconduct is a violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.3.

PETTIT, A. Dwight - Reprimand by Commission on July 16, 2008 for being remiss and negligent in supervising his employee over a long period of time and in monitoring his cases.

BALTIMORE COUNTY

DOUGLAS, Yalonda M. - Disbarred by consent for engaging in fraudulent conduct in connection with the receipt of a loan to refinance property, handling the settlement on the refinance, and signing another lawyer’s name to the settlement statement for the transaction.

GLASS, Joseph E. - Commission reprimand for failing to adequately communicate the terms of the fee agreement to his client before or within a reasonable time after the engagement.

JORDAN, Cynthia - 30-day Suspension on April 6, 2009 for making a false reports to police and her insurance company that her automobile had been stolen by an unknown individual, when she knew it had been taken by a friend who abandoned it after having an accident, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 8.4(b), (c) and (d).

McLAUGHLIN, J. Michael - Commission reprimand for failure to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority, the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland.

PAWLAK, Thomas F. - Indefinite Suspension on April 14, 2009 for a lack of competence and diligence by failing to handle an estate matter for over a decade and for failing to respond to Bar Counsel, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rules 1.1, 1.3 and 8.1(b).

POWELL, Roger N. - Commission reprimand for the wrongful disbursement of funds from his escrow account.

TURNER, Robert C. - 90-day Suspension by consent for engaging in a conflict of interest and neglecting his clients’ cases.

WEINRAUCH, Aaron D. - Disbarred by consent for failure to withhold income taxes and failure to pursue cases after taking fees.

CARROLL COUNTY

NEE, Dawn Allison - Commission reprimand for creating her own mediation services to be performed outside of her employment with the firm. In doing so, she used the firm’s malpractice policy information without the firm’s knowledge, in order to offer such services as a court-appointed mediator, which conduct violated Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(c).

DORCHESTER COUNTY

BOHLEN, Lawrence G. - Commission Reprimand for commingling his personal funds with his clients’ funds held in his escrow account, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a) and 16-607.

FREDERICK COUNTY

BRENNAN, Richard A. - Disbarred by consent on January 28, 2009 for various violations, including lack of diligence and communication, misappropriation of client funds in connection with his “debt settlement” business, in violation of Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16, 8.4 and the Annotated Code of MD, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Section 10-306.

Continue reading "Disciplined Maryland lawyers: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Costco has reached a settlement agreement with consumers who were short-changed on their membership renewals, with agreements that expired fewer than 12 months from the re-up date, according to Consumer Reports.

Basically, consumers would come in to the warehouse retailer months after their memberships had lapsed and sign up for another year. But the company would back-date the new agreement to when the original membership ended, so consumers who didn't spot the error would pay for a full annual membership that would expire in fewer than 12 months.

It's like paying to resume a subscription to a magazine and only getting 8 or 10 issues!

Under the terms of the Costco settlement agreement ...

Continue reading "Costco membership renewal fewer than 12 months long: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

Learn a lesson from Mildred Jones.

The Pasadena resident got a visit last month from a person who said he was from the marketing department for a home security system company.

He wanted to put his company's sign in her yard and to install a security system in their house for free to attract sales from her neighbors. All she and her daughter would only be responsible for the monthly payment for the security service.

The salesman also mentioned that there had been several break-ins just a few blocks away.

Ms. Jones and her daughter talked it over and decided to sign up, after the representative said they could cancel the contract within a month. He reviewed the contract with them, and although there was a clause referring to locking in a price for 60 months, he reassured them that that just meant if they kept with the product. The equipment was installed that evening.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Ms. Jones and her daughter learned the truth: 

Continue reading "Home security system sales: Naughty Businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer Web Site of the Week, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

A word to the wise: check the sell-by date of all your perishable foods before you put them in your grocery cart.

Esther Roskam has learned that you can't rely on stores to clear their shelves of dairy products past their sell-by dates.

The Parkville resident has shopped at the Safeway on Waltham Woods Road in Carney for several years. But starting in December, she noticed expired dairy products still on the shelf --- mostly her favorite Dannon Fruit on the Bottom yogurt, but sometimes even milk or buttermilk. 

Roskam spoke the store manager on duty each time she visited but never felt like it made a difference. She became concerned that the store might not be upholding other, less obvious standards.

"They’re not listening to me saying there’s expired food in their case. How do i know they’re keeping the food at the right temperature?" she asked.

Thankfully the world has dedicated consumers such as Roskam to advocate for shoppers like me who blindly pick up cheese and sour cream without a care in the world, never ensuring that the sell-by date has not passed. 

"I'm concerned for all the people shopping there who don't know what they're getting," she said.

After months of talking to the store's managers, Roskam contacted The Sun, and we called the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection & Resource Management, which inspects food service businesses.

Based on her complaint, a sanitarian visited on June 3 and discovered ...

Continue reading "Carney Safeway selling expired dairy products: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Inc. Magazine has compiled a list of seven businesses to watch out for, all of which have generated numerous complaints from consumers to the Better Business Bureau.

The list includes installment financing companies such as Maryland-based BlueHippo, which has drawn plenty of ire from Consuming Interests readers in the past.

They also included a business you might recognize from its advertisements on late-night television: 

Continue reading "Repeat offenders: 7 businesses to watch out for" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

We've told you before about disciplined doctors and medical professionals that have been sanctioned. But did you know veterinarians are also subject to similar oversight?

The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, has revoked the license of Dr. Gary W. Dehne. The small-animal vet made home visits to patients in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area of Montgomery County.

He is accused of ... 

Continue reading "Vet's license revoked: Naughty business of the week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Freecreditreport.com will be curtailed even further within nine months, when the recently passed credit card reform bill goes into effect, according to the U.S. PIRG blog.

You may recognize freecreditreport.com from frequent commercials that hardly make a mention of the credit monitoring service it's really pitching.

U.S. PIRG reveals what they call a "hidden gem" in the CARD bill: Section 205, which curtails deceptive marketing of credit reports. Essentially it requires anyone advertising free credit reports must include language to inform consumers that "this is not the free credit report provided for by federal law" and to remind them to go to annualcreditreport.com.

U.S. PIRG also reminds readers that Marylanders are eligible for TWO free credit reports each year ... 

Continue reading "Freecreditreport.com limited by credit card reform bill " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

We're in the throes of the high season for limousine rentals, what with proms, wedding and other activities clustered in the warmer months of the year. But don't get burned by an unscrupulous car-for-hire service, like some unlucky teens featured last week by WMAR-TV.

These Cinderellas wanted a Hummer stretch limo for their trip to the ball, but they might have found winter squash more reliable.

According to the story, they hired White Glove Limousine Service, which unfortunately had not followed the procedures set by the Maryland Public Service Commission, the agency that regulates limosines, taxis and other for-hire passenger services.

On Monday the PSC subpeonaed the Owings Mills-based White Glove Limousine Service, calling them to come before the commissioners on Wednesday with documentation, including the names of contractors that have worked with them.

Company officials informed the PSC that they only act as a referral service for limosine sub-contractors that meet PSC regulations, but that contradicts the claims in their advertising.

According to the story, Maryland Limosine Association officials say that companies like these often advertise on the Internet offering rides at discounted rates. So how do you protect yourself?

Continue reading "Bad limousine companies: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cars, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Door-to-door magazine sales have been around for ages, but watch out for the hard sell, warns the Better Business Bureau of Greater Baltimore.

The BBB has received more than 1,100 complaints from 46 states and Washington, DC about door-to-door magazine sales --- usually people who look like high school or college students, some of whom say they are selling to raise money for troops overseas. Or that they won't get to eat today if you don't buy now?

Common complaints, in addition to the heavy pressure to buy, include not receiving the magazines that have been paid for.

But here's a tip regarding door-to-door sales: 

Continue reading "Magazine scams: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

More than half of Maryland's auto insurance companies have had to pay hundreds of thousands in administrative penalties and restitution to their policyholders after mishandling claims when vehicles are declared a total loss, according to the Maryland Insurance Administration.

A year-long review has revealed that ...

Continue reading "Auto insurance companies return fees to Marylanders: Naughty businesses of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cars, Insurance, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

After a woman suffered second-degree burns at a nail salon when a heated bowl of acetone caught on fire, both the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists as well as the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health program have launched investigations.

It's not clear whether there were any violations at the Nail Studio, in the 5400 block of Reisterstown Road --- a March inspection revealed no problems --- so let's reserve judgment on the business for the time being. The shop was apparently using a small appliance to heat the solvent to remove artificial nails, and other salons also heat acetone, according to one Twitter reader.

Still, be sure never to heat acetone in the microwave or put the container of acetone in a bowl of warm water, or, because it is very flammable. Some people cover fingertips with cotton balls soaked in acetone and wrap fingertips in aluminum foil to retain body heat to encourage the tips to come off using body heat alone, recommends Hannah Lee, editor of Nails magazine.

The incident is a good opportunity to review some basic salon safety tips:

Continue reading "Nail salon investigated after customer badly burned: Naughty Business of the Week?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

If you’re delinquent on your mortgage or facing foreclosure, you’re likely desperate for any lifeline.

But federal and state regulators are warning consumers against a growing number of mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue schemes that have been on the rise.

Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission announced it launched enforcement actions against five companies for deceptive practices. Those are:

Federal Loan Modification Law Center or FedMod The FTC accuses FedMod of charging consumers $1,000 to $3,000 in fees but failing to get the mortgage modification relief it promised consumers. It also, the FTC says, misrepresents that it is affiliated with the federal government.

Bailout.hud-gov.us The FTC accuses defendant Thomas Ryan of registering two sites – bailout.hud-gov.us and bailout.dohgov.us – to lure consumers into thinking that they were associated with the government when they weren’t.

Home Assure, doing business as Expert Foreclosure The FTC claims that the company guarantees it can stop foreclosures because it has a special relationship with lenders. It charges an upfront free as high as $2,500, but offers little or no relief to avoid foreclosure, the FTC says. And it won’t give the money back when a foreclosure happens, the agency says.

Hope Now Modifications LLC and New Hope Property LLC, doing business as New Hope Modifications LLC The companies misrepresented that they were part of the federal HOPE NOW program to help homeowners, the FTC alleges.

Besides the FTC, regulators in more than 20 states, including Maryland, are part of a nationwide crackdown on mortgage- and foreclosure-related schemes.

If you need help, you can get round-the-clock free assistance from government-approved housing counselors by calling 1-888-995-HOPE.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The Pikesville Target was cleared to reopen Friday morning after Baltimore County environmental protection inspectors determined that the store had resolved a severe rodent infestation.

WBAL-TV reported Thursday that the Target had closed due to rodents.

Baltimore County environmental protection officials ordered the Reisterstown Road store to close Wednesday after an anonymous (anonymouse? hee) tip about the problem led them to discover rodent carcasses and droppings throughout the store, said Jonas Jacobson, the Baltimore County environmental protection director.  Pet and human food containers were also chewed open, he  said.

Continue reading "Pikesville Target to reopen after rodent infestation: update" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer safety, Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

As promised, here are the doctors and other medical professionals sanctioned in February by the Maryland Board of Physicians:

Francyne O. Anderson, M.D.
Area of Practice: Family Practice (Cheverly, MD)
Fine of $25,000; terms and conditions; the physician may not apply for reinstatement until terms and conditions have been met. The physician practiced medicine without a license. Date of Action: February 26, 2009

Michael A. Cadogan, M.D.
Area of Practice: Diagnostic Radiology (Princeton, NJ)
Reprimand; terms and conditions. The Board concluded that the physician failed to
meet the standards of quality care in that he failed to correctly identify and diagnose the
abnormal mass on a patient’s CT scan. Date of Action: February 19, 2009

Shireen R. Collins, R.T.
Area of Practice: Radiation Therapy Technology (Sharpsburg, MD)
Stay of Suspension of the February 27, 2008, Consent Order is lifted; Certificate
therefore is suspended. The healthcare practitioner violated the February 27, 2008,
Consent Order by testing positive for cocaine and her admission that she ingested cocaine
prior to being scheduled for a chemical screening. Date of Action: February 10, 2009

Adrienne Feldman
Area of Practice: None (Baltimore, MD)
Fine of $1,000 to be paid in full no later than 30 days from date of order. The
individual practiced medicine, attempted to practice or offered to practice medicine; and
represented or implied she was a physician assistant. Date of Action: February 17, 2009

Debra J. Freeman, M.D.
Area of Practice: Pediatrics (Oldsmar, FL)
Revocation. The Board’s action is based on the physician’s psychiatric conditions,
criminal conduct, and care and treatment of a newborn. The February 14, 2008, Order
for Summary Suspension is now moot because the physician’s license is by this order
revoked. Date of Action: February 2, 2009

Maria C. Gaviria, M.D.
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Glen Burnie, MD)
Suspension; suspension stayed and probation for 2 years subject to terms and
conditions that include to cease and desist from internet prescribing. The Board
found that the physician violated the standards of quality care, failed to maintain adequate
medical records, and engaged in unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine based
on her practice of internet prescribing. Date of Action: February 26, 2009

Continue reading "Disciplined doctors, February edition: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Shocking! Several Burlington Coat Factory stores in Connecticut were caught by a local TV news station selling men's coats supposedly by "famous makers" such as Perry Ellis. Except, these fake fancy labels were just sewn over tags showing they were from Walmart!

Burlington Coat Factory ended up pulling the entire shipment of coats from stores nationwide according to the story, discovered via Consumerist.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Shopping
        

Southwest Airlines was fined $10.2 million for safety violations by the Federal Aviation Administration last year, but that's not what the company will be ultimately paying for missing inspections.

Officials said last March that 46 planes had gone into the air for nearly 60,000 flights in 2006 and 2007 without safety inspections for potentially dangerous cracks in the fuselage.

Southwest said that the lapse stemmed from overlapping maintenance schedules that overlooked some parts. The company stated then that it completed the inspections less than two weeks later.

The fines were the largest ever levied against an airline. 

Now, about a year later ...

Continue reading "Southwest Airlines safety violations: a Naughty Business update" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Airlines, Cheap/Frugal, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Travel
        

Don't fear that the recent bankruptcy filing of the Peanut Corp. of America, the Lynchburg, Va.-based company accused of distributing peanut products tainted with salmonella, will get away too easily.

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection may shield them from litigation from the families of the nine people who died as a result of the outbreak, or the hundreds others who became sick.

But there remain some tools in the arsenal ... 

Continue reading "Peanut butter contamination: Naughty Business of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Weights and measures violations? No way. That's one of the many vital life lessons I learned from The Karate Kid II --- don't cheat poor farmers out of payments for their rice. Don't swindle us with inaccurate gauges at the gas pump. And you better weigh my produce accurately ... bananas are expensive enough.

So, then, here are the latest weights and measures violations from the Maryland Department of Agriculture:

Continue reading "Naughty Businesses of the Week: weights and measures violations" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Auto warranty calls annoy lots of Consuming Interests readers. And in July, we told you that Verizon filed a suit against two robo-marketing call companies.

Now, AT&T Mobility has also filed suit in Georgia against those responsible, according to RCR Wireless (via Consumerist).

These calls are particularly irritating ...

Continue reading "Auto warranty calls prompt AT&T Mobility lawsuit" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Banks, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Banks, Consumer protection, Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Here's part two of the Naughty Business of the Week: doctors and other medical professionals disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians in December. 

(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: disciplined doctors, December edition" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Just FYI: yesterday's Naughty Business of the Week about contaminated peanut butter products came a little too early.

The state department of health and mental hygiene announced that three Marylanders --- including two children from Baltimore --- were among the more than 400 in 43 states who have gotten sick from the Salmonella Typhimurium infection first reported in the fall.

The three Maryland residents were affected before the end of 2008.

Again, the danger comes not from jarred peanut butter that you might have bought yourself but products made with the sticky stuff, such as cookies, cakes or ice cream. The FDA has a searchable database of peanut butter products with known problems, but when in doubt, throw it out. 

Salmonella infections can result in nausea and vomiting, leading to stomach pain and diarrhea, fever, chills and muscle pains lasting a few days to two weeks, according to the story by Frank Roylance. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

More and more contaminated peanut butter products are being yanked from the shelves this week after a wave of reports of salmonella across the country that has killed six people and sickened hundreds of others, according to the Food and Drug Administration and news reports.

The products all stem from contamination at a Peanut Corporation of America plant in Georgia. But don't toss that jar of Jif in your cupboard --- the plant sells peanut paste to companies that make peanut butter products, such as the Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter, or institutional quantities of peanut butter that go to nursing homes and other places. It doesn't sell the jars that go on supermarket shelves.

The FDA is maintaining a searchable database of contaminated peanut butter products for consumers.

Companies such as General Mills and supermarkets such as Safeway have recalled products, and yesterday Clif Bars and Luna Bars made with peanut butter were the latest to be recalled, in the following flavors and "best by" dates:

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: peanut butter recalls" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Recalls
        

If you purchased a Dell computer or service after April 1, 2005, here's a heads up: you can apply for your share of a Dell settlement negotiated with 34 states, including Maryland.

Attorneys general from these states contended that Dell and its financial arm told consumers about zero-percent financing and then charged them higher interest rates. In addition, the company didn't adequately tell consumers the terms to apply for rebates or limitations on technical support and repair policies.

The company did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to pay $1.5 million in restitution to consumers who were affected. It will also pay states to reimburse them for the legal and investigative costs.

Dell will also:

-- tell people that most won't qualify for their best annual percentage rate, and tell them the range they may qualify for;

-- inform customers of the terms of financing, including that it's a revolving credit account with minimum payments just like a credit card; 

-- tell customers that telephone trouble-shooting will be required before Dell will send someone for on-site repair under warranty;

-- provide necessary rebate information when the product is delivered; 

-- mail rebates within a specified time frame, or 30 days is none is specified. 

To apply for restitution:

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: Apply for your share of the Dell Inc. settlement" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Computers, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

Unfortunately, there were plenty of candidates contending for dubious honors last year in Consuming Interests' first Naughtiest Business of the Year contest.

Since we initiated the feature in June, we've told you about livestock auctions selling downer cows and credit repair site crackdowns, data breaches by companies as varied as Forever 21 and BNY Mellon, and counterfeit drugs sold at Baltimore pharmacies.

Then again, there were the national scandals ---- the Countrywide officials who gave VIPs favorable rates, even Macy's, which charged some customers twice for Christmas purchases. And shrinking packages when the prices remain the same for less product.

And we heard a lot from you after posts about Citigroup raising credit card interest rates, the auto warranty calls that never stop and phantom Passport to Fun charges, which really aren't entertaining at all.  

But the 2008's Naughtiest Business is (drum roll, please) ...

Continue reading "The Naughtiest Business of 2008" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

For months, we've been sharing stories of bad businesses with you every Tuesday.

And certainly this year has offered more than its share of examples of businesses who have done wrong by consumers --- starting with the housing crisis, moving onto banking crisis, and did we mention the insurance companies that required a bailout? Last week's auto bailout got in just under the wire.

Then there are the myriad bad medical professionals or airlines who decided to fool with their luggage scales. the auto warranty calls and the shrinking grocery packages still sold at the same price as the larger sizes. And let's not forget the data breaches --- where companies let your personal information get out of their hands.

So, in your opinion, which business do you feel has been the worst this year? And who do you feel has been the best --- and the worst --- consumer advocate in the past 12 months?

Refresh your memories of past Naughty Businesses of the Week, and please share your ideas below. We'll share our picks and hand out virtual wreaths to the best --- and dole out lumps of coal where coal is due.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

You saw September's list of disciplined doctors earlier today. Here's the most recent list of doctors and other medical professionals disciplined by the Maryland Board of Physicians --- this one from October.

Paul A. Acevedo, M.D., License #: D66247
Area of Practice: Neurology (Bethesda, MD)
Indefinite Suspension. The Board took reciprocal action based on action by the District
of Columbia Board of Medicine because of substance abuse issues. Date of Action:
October 22, 2008

Michael L. Beavers , D.O., License #: H57008
Area of Practice: Anesthesiology (Parsonburg, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for 5 years subject to terms and conditions. The physician
violated his September 6, 2007, Order issued by the Board in regard to his impairment
issues. Date of Action: October 24, 2008

Kermit Bonovich, M.D., License #: D05593
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Bel Air, MD)
Suspension until terms and conditions are met; should the Board terminate the
suspension, Probation for a minimum of 2 years subject to terms and conditions.
The Board found that the physician failed to meet the standards of quality care and failed
to maintain adequate medical records in regard to his care and treatment of six patients
that included his prescribing practices. Date of Action: October 22, 2008

Myron D. Brenner, M.D., License #: D21657
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Owings Mills, MD)
Surrender. The physician surrendered his license to avoid disciplinary charges and the
prosecution of the charges based on his unprofessional and sexual relationship with a
female patient while under his care as her treating psychiatrist. Date of Action: October
22, 2008

Patsy Firth, M.D., License #: D39836
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Bel Air, MD)
Reprimand; Probation for 2 years subject to terms and conditions. The physician
failed to meet the standards of quality care and failed to maintain adequate medical
records in regard to 10 patients receiving residential psyc hiatric services. Date of Action:
October 22, 2008

Bryant K. Howard, P.A., License #: C01008
Area of Practice: Physician Assistant (Whitehall, PA)
Permanent Revocation. The physician was terminated from employment in Maryland
for making inappropriate sexual overtures and contact with 3 female employees;
practiced in Maryland without a delegation agreement; and failed to disclose on his
Maryland renewal application that his employment had been terminated for disciplinary
reasons. Date of Action: October 22, 2008

Continue reading "Disciplined doctors in Maryland, October edition" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

I was reminded to post the next installment of disciplined doctors (sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians) for Naughty Business of the Week after reading this Consumer Reports health blog post about paying too much for unnecessary medical care.

JOHNSON, Dwight Joseph, M.D., License #: D61970
Area of Practice: Family Medicine (Scranton, AR)
Terms: within 30 days of the date of the Consent Order the physician shall submit
proof of completion of the ethics course and payment of the administrative fine
imposed by the Texas Board. The Board took reciprocal action on disciplinary action
by the Texas Board for unprofessional conduct for inappropriate personal involvement
with a patient not related to the medical care provided. Date of Action: September 3,
2008

Jennifer Leadroot, P.A., Certificate #: C03247
Area of Practice: Physician Assistant (Baltimore, MD)
Administrative Fine of $500. The physician assistant continued to practice after her
certificate lapsed in violation of Md. Code Ann. Health Occ. §15-401. Date of Action:
September 3, 2008

Kristi Marie Yetter, RT, Certificate #: O00561
Area of Practice: Radiation Oncology/Therapy Technology (McAlisterville, PA)
Administrative fine of $500. The healthcare practitioner practiced radiation
oncology/therapy technology without a certificate in violation of Md. Code Ann. Health
Occ. §14-5B-17©. Date of Action: September 3, 2008

Michael W. Burkhart, M.D., License #: D54094
Area of Practice: Family Medicine (Rehoboth Beach, DE)
Reprimand. The Board took reciprocal action based on disciplinary action by the
Delaware Board for the physician’s use of excessive force to restrain an intoxicated
patient in his practice as an emergency room physician. Date of Action: September 11,
2008

Michael Ference, III, M.D., License #: D14238
Area of Practice: Ophthalmology (Bozeman, MT)
Permanent Surrender. The Board took reciprocal action on disciplinary action by the
Texas Board for failure to meet standards of quality care in his practice of
ophthalmology. Date of Action: September 24, 2008

Michael Glen Harper, M.D., License #: D30673
Area of Practice: Neurology (Bethesda, MD)
Summary Suspension. The Board issued its disciplinary action based on a peer review
in which the reviewers opined that the physician failed to meet standards of care with
respect to prescribing narcotic medication for four of the charts reviewed, and a
psychiatric evaluation in which the evaluator concluded that the physician required
ongoing treatment in order to practice safely. Date of Action: September 24, 2008

Continue reading "Disciplined doctors in Maryland, September edition" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Steer clear of the mobile advertising company Carvertising International, warns the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland.

People from as far away as Canada have been scammed by the scheme that promised to earn $50 to $500 a month in exchange for posting a business logo on their car. 

The problem arises after consumers pay a $109 "membership fee" for the materials, according to the BBB. Consumers complained that they didn't have enough information to start receiving payments. 

It doesn't help that the company's voice mail box is full, its Web site has been taken down and its phone number disconnected, according to the BBB.

The physical address for the business in Bel Air turned out to be a Mailboxes, Etc. store where the business has rented a box, a BBB investigation uncovered.

Here's the BBB's tips to avoid scams like this one:

Continue reading "Naughty Business of the Week: Carvertizing International " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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? " »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Airlines, Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

After all we've told you about Blue Hippo, the Woodlawn-based company that sells computers and other electronics to people with poor or no credit, you'd be surprised to hear people were still having problems with them, right? 

After all, the Maryland Attorney General's office had Blue Hippo pay restitution to wronged customers last year for violations of the Consumer Protection Act, including charging inflated prices and not delivering products.

They also settled with the Federal Trade Commission in February, agreeing to pay $3.5 million to possibly $5 million to consumers for possible violations of the Mail Order Rule, Truth in Lending Act and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.

Blue Hippo didn't admit any wrongdoing in either case. 

But despite this and other legal actions against Blue Hippo, The Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland warns consumers ...

Continue reading "Naughty Businesses: Blue Hippo still drawing complaints" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

C'mon. How can we choose any other business but Citigroup for this week's Naughty Business?

Blaming a difficult economic environment, Citigroup is laying off thousands of employees and announced last Friday that it will start raising interest rates on card holders after executive pledged in 2007 to Congress that it would not raise rates at any time for any reason on customers until an account expired.

So much for promises.

We understand that companies are hurting under the credit crunch, but hey, so are consumers, OK? How does raising anyone's interest rate make it easier for cardholders to continue using their cards to spend or pay back what they owe?

Continue reading "Citigroup Raises Interest Rates on Card Holders" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Credit cards, Economy, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The Maryland Attorney General's Office has put a bulls eye on Westwood Design Build Inc., a home builder based in Beltsville. The office says this week it filed consumer protection-related charges against the company and its owners, Mary Dietz and Michael Conrad Brown, for taking $400,00 from consumers to build new homes.  The AG alleges they took $400,000 in payments from consumers -- and not delivering the homes or paying subcontractors.

As you can imagine, the state's accusing them of failing to comply with a smorgasbord of consumer protection laws, including: the Maryland Home Builder Registration Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Custom Home Protection Act and laws governing deposits on new homes.

If there was a kitchen sink within reach, it sounds like the AG's office would've tossed that also at Westwood Design Build.

Continue reading "Maryland AG Cracks Down on Maryland Homebuilder" »

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Home/Real Estate, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Scams
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

You didn't think I'd forget to tell you about a naughty business this week, did you, what with all this election stuff going on? Puhleeze.

A U.S. district court judge has frozen the assets of a Canadian business and ordered a halt to its allegedly billing businesses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico for directory listings they did not order until the matter is resolved in court.

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to permanently prohibit the defendants from future violations and make them give up their ill-gotten gains.

According to the FTC's complaint filing, the operation deceptively sold Internet business directory listings and Web page hosting services by phone to Spanish-speaking businesses. Consumers were allegedly told that the person was calling from the yellow pages or the local telephone company to verify or update business names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Consumers are told the call is a renewal, although they typically do not mention cost, the FTC says. When asked, the business says the cost will be "the same as last year," although the consumers have never purchased their services before.

Continue reading "Fake Yellow Pages Marketers Bilk Spanish-Speaking Businesses" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Scams
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Computers, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Loans, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Debt, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Personal finance, Scams
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Marketing/Advertising, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

So you know how we try to tell you about naughty businesses every week? Well, here's an interesting twist on that thought. There's a new Web site out there that wants to tell you about naughty consumers out there.

Instead of complaining about companies, uradeadbeat.com allows businesses to post the names of naughty people. Maybe someone who stiffed them on a bill. Or a customer who refuses to pay even after the court has ordered them to do so. In this little role reversal, instead of customers bad-mouthing a business, businesses can bad-mouth an individual by name, for a fee.

I can definitely see why something like this has popped up. It's very similar to that other Web site we told you about, DoNotRentTo.com, which allows landlords to post the names of bad renters on the Web site. Both sites, of course, allow the other side a chance to vent against bad consumers... and we are firm believers here that there is such a thing as a bad consumer.

With that said, I'm troubled by what I'm seeing on the so-called Deadbeat List.

Continue reading "Are you a bad consumer? uradeadbeat.com might think so." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Complaints, Debt, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Naughty Business of the Week has told you about disciplined doctors before, so without further ado, here's the August 2008 installment of medical professionals sanctioned by the Maryland Board of Physicians:

Timothy H. Bulkley, M.D., License #: D65772
Area of Practice: Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine (Topeka, KS)
Surrender. The physician failed to comply with the terms and conditions of his
Rehabilitation Agreement with the Board. Date of Action: August 22, 2008

Mark Davis, M.D., License #: D23760
Area of Practice: Internal Medicine (Abingdon, MD)
Motion for Reconsideration of the Board’s July 8, 2008, Final Decision and Order is
denied. The Board made its determination after deliberation on the physician’s Motion
for Reconsideration. Date of Action: August 27, 2008

James V. Dicanio, P.A., License #: C01024
Area of Practice: Physician Assistant (Annapolis, MD)
Surrender of Certificate. The Board accepted the licensee’s surrender based upon its
investigation that revealed that the licensee prescribed narcotic medication for a family
member, outside the scope of his delegation agreement, without authorization or consent
of the supervising physician, and without maintaining any medical records. Date of
Action: August 27, 2008

Lucy M. Dossett, M.D., License #: D63668
Area of Practice: Diagnostic Radiology (Dallas, TX)
Reprimand. The Board took reciprocal action based on disciplinary action taken by the
Colorado Board based on her failure to disclose her arrest for driving while intoxicated
when filling out her Colorado application. Date of Action: August 18, 2008

George Lakner, M.D., License #: D25404
Area of Practice: Psychiatry (Washington, DC)
Motion for Reconsideration of the March 19, 2008, Final Decision and Order is
denied. The Board made its determination after deliberation on the physician’s Motion
for Reconsideration. Date of Action: August 27, 2008

Barbara L. Perrone, M.D., License #: D64984
Area of Practice: General Practice (Hockessin, DE)
Reprimand and requirement to complete, that is, provide proof of payment of a fine
and completion of CME’s within 60 days from date of order. The Board took
reciprocal action based on disciplinary action by the Alabama Board of Medical
Examiners based on her falsely answering yes on her renewal application that she had
completed the required CME’s for the year 2006. Date of Action: August 18, 2008

Continued after the jump ... 

Continue reading "Disciplined Maryland docs, August edition" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Those pesky debt collection agencies topped the 2007 list of consumer complaints, according to the National Association of Attorneys General.

The Washington AG's Office said that auto sales moved up a spot to No. 2 on the NAAG list. Home repair and construction dropped two spots from 2006’s top complaint to the number three slot.

Also, telecommunications, slamming, and cramming remained the fourth most common complaint, and general automotive complaints moved up one spot to number five. Telemarketing and Do-Not-Call complaints dropped to number six, while financial and investment-related complaints (seven) appeared in the top 10 for the first time since 2005.

Here's the Top Ten List:

Continue reading "Top 10 Consumer Complaints for 2007" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

iKaput.com calls itself the "Easiest iPod Repair Service Available."

The BBB of Utah says no, not so much. Not if your idea of easy is actually getting in touch with someone from the company, actually getting your iPod fixed, or even getting it returned to you unfixed, the BBB says.

Here are the excuses the company used when consumers contatced the company to complain, the BBB said:

The company is restructuring. There was a death in the family. A staff member stole a number of iPods.

Continue reading "iKaput's repair job on iPods rates an iBleh from BBB" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

The following businesses were spanked last month by the Maryland Department of the Environment for air quality violations.

Continue reading "Air quality violations by Maryland businesses" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Home/Real Estate, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

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