Consumer News & Alerts

April 7, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

SHOULD YOU BUY A USED PRIUS?
Hybrid cars such as the Prius are all the rage, and the demand is pushing up prices even faster than the skyrocketing cost of gas. Buying a used or second-hand Prius may be the only way some car buyers can afford these vehicles, but be careful -- used Priuses can have more than their fair share of problems under the hood. Joe Benton reports on some common problems faced by used Prius owners, including a look at the many complaints submitted by Prius drivers to ConsumerAffairs.com.

This week's automotive news...

• Gas Prices Hit New High ... Again National average price hits $3.303, diesel still over $4.

• Feds Have Safety Concerns About Smart Fortwo Minicar Driver door came unlatched in crash test.

• Hybrid Parking Perk Under Fire in Los Angeles Growing budget problems prompt closer look at hybrid perks.

• No Joke: Gas Prices Climbing Once Again Another record set as April begins.

MENU FOODS SETTLES PET FOOD CLASS ACTION; PET OWNERS DISPLEASED
Barely a year after Menu Foods announced a recall of 60 million containers of tainted pet food, the company has announced a tentative settlement with pet owners. The company claims the settlement will cover costs incurred as a result of the recall, but did not provide details. Grieving pet owners say that Menu Foods should have done more to reimburse them for the care of their sick pets, and do not believe that the settlement will be fair to them.

More consumer safety news...

• Congress Moves To Tighten Tobacco Controls FDA would get power to regulate tobacco products.

• Be Careful Using Over-the-Counter Creams, Ointments Overuse, misuse can be dangerous, FDA warns.

• Electronic Payment Industry Touts Its Green Benefits Bill-paying doesn't have to be environmentally expensive.

• Dole, Chiquita Join Honduran Cantaloupe Recall Melons may carry Salmonella, FDA warns.

• Big Box Retailers, Not FEMA, May Be First Line Of Defense Remote, top-down federal management falls short of meeting urgent needs.

• Junk Mail Relief How to get your name off marketers' mailing lists.

This week's recalls....

• Evenflo Discovery Restraint Systems

• Mitsubishi Recalls 120,000 Endeavors

• Honda Motorcycles

• Imaginarium Activity Centers

• A.O. Smith Gas Water Heaters

• Wal-Mart Candle Holders

• Children's 'Main Street Draq' Sunglasses

• Cabot Composite Deck Cleaner

• Children's Hooded Sweatshirts

• 'Lock and Leash' Locks

• Hydropool Serenity Series Spa Hot Tubs

NCAA STANDS FOR "NO CHANCE AT ADMISSION" THANKS TO TICKET LOTTERY SCHEME
Basketball fans always have an uphill climb ahead of them to get tickets to NCAA championship tournaments, but now the organization has added insult to injury by instituting a nonrefundable service charge of as much as $9 just to enter into a competitive lottery to get the tickets. Joseph Enoch reports that frustrated buyers are finding their money stuck for months, and if they don't get a ticket, the NCAA only refunds a portion of the money paid while pocketing the rest.

More scams and outrages....

• Losses From Cybercrime Nearly $240 Million in 2007 Agencies find new trends in Internet fraud.

• TJX To Pay Mastercard $24 Million For Data Breach Will set aside money to provide restitution for victims.

• Key Lawmaker Wants FAA 'Housecleaning' Agency's oversight of airline safety in question.

• ATA Stops Flying, Files Bankruptcy Two airlines park their fleets in one week.

• Carnival Cruise Lines to Refund $40 Million in Fuel Surcharges Florida goes after cruise lines for retroactive charges.

• Apple Sued Over 'Millions of Colors' Claim MacBook actually displays only 262,144 colors.

• Connecticut Wants Craiglist to Pull Prostitution Ads Popular site violates its own rules against promotion illegal activity, state alleges.

• Missouri Sues Kennel Operator Sick dogs shipped to consumers nationwide.

• 419 Scams Never Go Away Like cicadas, they come and go with the seasons.

• TJX Settles with FTC Over Data Breach Nearly 100 million consumers may have been affected.

• Some Old Debts Never Die Luebke Baker pursues old magazine subscription debts.

CONSUMER DEBT THE REAL ROOT OF COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC TROUBLES
Pundits who blame the country's economic troubles on the housing crash and high gas prices are only getting part of the story. One of the biggest problems consumers are facing is the high level of debt incurred from using their credit cards as the all-purpose spending tool. As banks use any excuse to increase interest rates on credit cards and consumers fall further behind on even making minimum monthly payments, economists recommend setting strict budgets and paying down as much debt as possible.

More economic and financial news...

• Loan Payment Delinquencies Rise Credit problems spread to auto loans, credit cards.

• Mortgage Applications Plunge 29% in One Week Good rates available for qualified borrowers, but few are applying.

Consumers Taking Out Fewer Instant Tax Loans But low-income taxpayers still lose hundreds of millions in unnecessary costs.

RESEARCHER: CELL PHONES "MORE DANGEROUS THAN SMOKING"
Health experts have battled back and forth over the years regarding the question of whether or not frequent usage of cell phones can lead to health risks. Now British health researcher Dr. Vini Khurana has raised the stakes by claiming that extensive cell phone usage could be more dangerous than exposure to asbestos or smoking. Mark Huffman reports that the report dovetails with increased concern in the United Kingdom over usage of Wi-Fi networks, which may cause similar health hazards.

More health news...

• Study: Gymnastics Lands Thousands in the ER Interest in the sport spikes during the Olympics.

• Senior Years Aren't Always Serene One in five seniors suffer from anxiety disorders, it's estimated.

• Diabetics Share Same Risks as Heart Attack Sufferers Early and persistent treatment necessary.

• Study Discounts Usefulness of Home Defibrillators No difference in survival rates found.

• Study: New Blood Pressure Rx Has Fewer Side Effects Study also finds orlistat helps relieve hypertension.

• Study: Doctors Favor National Health Insurance Support has grown 10% over the last 5 years.

• Doctors Warned About Vytorin No better than older, cheaper drugs, another study finds.

• FDA Seeks Civil Penalties from Hearing Aid Maker Advanced Bionics cochlear implants pose risks, agency charges

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