Consumer News & Alerts

March 31, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

STATES FIGHT XM-SIRIUS MERGER
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) may have given its rubber-stamp approval of the proposed merger between XM and Sirius Radio, but the Attorneys General of eleven states aren't going along, citing the merger as what Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal called "the textbook definition of a monopoly." Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) still has to weigh in on the proposal, the states are already voicing fears that rural communities will lose access to many levels of satellite radio programming, and that subscribers will have to buy expensive new equipment as a result of the merger.

This week's scams and outrages...

• 'House Stealing' Scam Combines Identity Theft, Mortgage Fraud Thieves steal and sell your house, leaving you stuck with the mortgage.

• Massive Securities Fraud Ring Exposed In New Jersey Investors lost at least $50 million, prosecutors charge.

• No Exit? Consumer Finds Way Out of Columbia House Music, book, DVD clubs a petty but persistent annoyance.

• Post-Storm Survival Tips Midwest faces deadly hazards -- and scam artists -- when flood waters recede.

• American Airlines Grounds Planes For Inspection Wiring bundles on MD-80s will be re-inspected.

• Report: Attorneys General Deserve More Credit State AGs are consumers' front-line defense.

• Appeals Court Rejects NY Passengers Rights Law Passengers must rely on lobbyist-stalled Congress.

• Art Dealers Indicted in Alleged Global Scam Counterfeit prints sold to unsuspected art lovers.

• More Counterfeit Money Order Scams Reported Midwest has the latest infestation of the fast-spreading scam.

• Feds Suspend Three Firms in Pump & Dump Scam Spammers use email to drive up price of penny stocks.

HOME WARRANTIES NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Home warranties -- essentially service agreements that farm out basic home repairs -- can be a useful investment for homeowners, particularly of existing homes. But just as often, they can prove to be serious headaches for unwary buyers. David Wood reports that many home warranty companies routinely deny coverage or pay out small cash amounts in lieu of actually repairing the item, and often shortchange the contractors they hire on payment for the jobs.

More economic and financial news...

• Consumer Sentiment Drops Sharply In March Closely-watched index at lowest point since 1992.

• Urban Home Values Plunge In January Home prices in some areas down nearly 20% in two months.

• Home Sales Pick Up, Prices Dip Deeper Existing home sales up in February for first time in seven months.

CRITICS CHARGE FEDS' ROOF STRENGTH RULE IS INADEQUATE
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s proposed performance standard for vehicle roofs doesn't pass muster, according to consumer group Public Citizen. The new standard fails to test both the driver's and passenger's side of a roof, nor did it employ mock-rollovers to determine other factors that may cause damage in a rollover. The proposal is so inadequate that Public Citizen recommended the NHTSA go completely back to the drawing board and create a new proposal.

This week's automotive news...

• Gas Prices Soar Despite Supply Glut Study points to manipulation of refinery process.

• 'Intelligent' Brake Lights Could Reduce Rear-End Collisions System tells how quickly a car is stopping.

Recalls this week...

• High Energy Boys' Hooded Sweatshirts

• Rock 'N Ride Plush Rocker Toys

• Avon Plush Warming Polar Bears

• Ring Toss Game

• Combi Infant Seats

• Mercedes-Benz Recalls S Class Sedans

• 'Backyard and Beyond' Metal Water Bottles

• Plan Toys Wooden Penguins

• International Recalls School Buses, Trucks

COMCAST AGREES TO STOP BLOCKING SUBSCRIBERS
It took a mountain of bad publicity and an FCC investigation, but Comcast has backed down and promised to stop interfering with subscribers who use the popular BitTorrent file-sharing application. Instead, Comcast and BitTorrent will work together to develop standards for Internet network providers that enable users to share and upload content without clogging the "pipes." Supporters of net neutrality applauded the decision, but say more work is needed to guarantee equal access to Internet content for all users.

PET FOOD SALES HAVE YET TO RECOVER FROM RECALLS
Although it's been a year since the wave of pet food recalls swept the nation, many stores and chains are still reporting sluggish sales, particularly of wet brands. As D.O. Volente reports, Store owners acknowledge that it'll take more work to lure customers back to buying, while pet owners want investigations of the recalls to continue as long as is necessary.

SLEEP APNEA CAN BE DANGEROUS
You can stop breathing in your sleep and never even realize it--and this can happen hundreds of times in a night. The condition is called sleep apnea, and it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. In this week's "Healthy Geezer," Dr. Fred Cicetti takes a look at sleep apnea--what causes it, what the symptoms are, and what you can do to prevent it.

The week's health news...

• FDA Warns Consumers About Total Body Formula Liquid diet supplement can be dangerous, agency warns.

• A 'Healthy Weight' May Not Be So Healthy Study defines 'normal weight obesity' as an emerging risk factor.

• FDA Studies Asthma Drug's Potential Suicide Link Reports from patients taking Singulair spark probe.

• FDA Warns Against Using 'Blue Steel' and 'Hero' Products Products are illegal drugs and pose serious health risks.

• Pot Belly in Middle Age Linked to Alzheimer's Study is first to show link between middle-age spread and Alzheimer's in later life.

• Severe Shortage of Nurses Looms, Report Warns Demand grows as supply ebbs.

• Chip Detects Flu in 2 Hours Device can differentiate influenza A, B viruses.

• Contraceptive Pill May Help Conception Birth control pills may have the reverse effect.

• FDA Warns against Fetal 'Keepsake' Images, Heartbeat Monitors Procedures expose unborn infants to unnecessary risks.

• Another Heparin Producer Announces a Recall Raw material from China suspected in both blood-thinner recalls.

• Honduran Cantaloupes Linked To Salmonella Fifty illnesses reported in the U.S. so far.

• Home Sales Pick Up, Prices Dip Deeper Existing home sales up in February for first time in seven months.

• Weight Loss Found Effective in Reducing Blood Pressure Study also finds orlistat helps relieve hypertension.

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