Consumer News & Alerts

April 28, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

SAFETY AGENCY SLOW ON THE DRAW
An Ohio professor says it took the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 16 months to recall "Hip Charm" key chains with an alarming level of lead, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported. An untold number of children may have ingested lead, which can harm brain development and even cause death, during that lag time. It's the latest black eye for the beleagured agency.

The commission and Wal-Mart last week recalled Chinese-made Hip Charm key chains after Illinois officials reported that an infant with high blood levels of lead had been found mouthing one. But Jeffrey Weidenhamer, an Ashland University chemistry professor, says he told the CPSC in December 2006 that the Hip Charm key chains had dangerously high lead levels. Widenheimer has previously detected high lead levels that helped trigger recalls of Halloween and Eastern trinkets. Read more ...

FORD HOPES TO WIND DOWN RECALL OF FIRE-PRONE VEHICLES
Although 7 million Ford vehicles are on the road with a faulty cruise-control system that can catch fire even when parked and turned off, the Ford Motor Company is hoping to push past its massive recall effort by sending "final repair notices" to car and truck owners who have not responded to the company's warnings. However, Ford has conceded that demand for replacement parts for the malfunctioning system is still high, and both Ford and the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) are continuing to send notices and warnings, even as angry customers continue to report cases of their cars and trucks turning into fire hazards without warning.

IS TONY SOPRANO CAUSING GAS PRICES TO GO UP?
You think gas prices are going up due to increased demand, or low supply, or production costs, or the Iraq war? Fugheddaboutit--it's La Cosa Nostra, or so suggested Attorney General Michael Mukasey last week. Mukasey claimed that he had classified intelligence reports indicating that groups of criminals and terrorists may have infiltrated international energy markets with the intent to destabilize oil prices and harm U.S. interests.

This week's automotive news...

• Gas Prices Break Records in All 50 States Average price hits $3.57, up from $2.87 one year ago.

• Oil & Gas: The New Bubble Prices rise as consumption falls.

• California Tops in Car Theft Modesto has highest per capita rate in the nation.

• Critics: New Federal Gas Mileage Standard Falls Short California, Public Citizen castigate Bush, Congress.

• Caution: $4 Gasoline Ahead Nationwide average shoots past $3.50, climbing fast towards $4.

• Hybrid Sales Set Record Toyota Prius remains the undisputed leader with more than half of all sales.

• Consumers Feeling Pain of Skyrocketing Gas Prices Survey shows dramatic increase in 'great concern' over gas prices, Middle East imports.

MANUFACTURER MAKES GOOD FOR ABANDONED KIDS' QUARTERS CUSTOMER
It's still "no quarter" for the majority of Kids' Quarters customers, who are out thousands of dollars for buying furnishings that the store never shipped before going bankrupt. But one customer and her daughter can expect a happy ending to the story. Lisa Wade McCormick reports that Berg Furniture will ship their bed free of charge, and that the company promises to make and ship all other furniture ordered from the defunct retailer at the same price.

• Public Citizen: Movers Database Missing Crucial Information Consumers still won't know which companies may hold their belongings hostage.

CONGRESS MAY REGULATE "TOUGH LOVE" BOOT CAMPS AFTER TALES OF ABUSE, HUMILIATION
"Tough love" boot camps for troubled teens are coming under heavy scrutiny after repeated instances of teenagers' abuse, humiliation, and even death at the hands of unregistered and unaccredited counselors, many of whom have no professional training in dealing with young adults. Joseph Enoch reports that Congress may pass regulations mandating oversight and better regulation of teen boot camps, after a hearing this week in which former residents of the programs shared horrific stories of back-breaking manual labor, and being tied up and beaten repeatedly.

More scams and outrages...

• Wachovia Penalized $144 Million for Telemarketing Abuses Telemarketers preyed on thousands of senior citizens.

• FDA Orders Illinois Pet Food Maker to Clean Up Its Act Risk of botulism in Evanger's dog, cat food.

• Unauthorized-Charge Scammers Fined $28.2 Million 'Wal-Mart Shopping Spree' offers were bogus, feds charge.

• Consumers Having Problems with Digital TV Converter Coupons Latest snag in government's attempt to move TV broadcasters to new frequency band.

• Airline Ticket Price May Surge To Cover Fuel Costs Delta CEO thinks a 20% increase would just about cover it.

• Pets Polluted with Industrial Toxins Toxic load much higher in pets than in humans.

• North Carolina Stops Advance Fee Credit Card Scheme Premier Nationwide Corp. hit with restraining order.

Recalls this week...

• LawnBott Lawn Mowers

• Waxcessories Recalls Electric Simmer Pots

• Beco 'Butterfly' Infant Carriers

• Performance Travel Trac Trainers

• Nashbar Travel Trac Trainers

500 FORECLOSURES A DAY IN CALIFORNIA, 20,000 SO FAR THIS YEAR
Every so often, a statistic comes along that makes you sit up and take notice of just how bad the mortgage meltdown in America really is. Mark Huffman reports that in this case, it's news that California foreclosures surged 327 percent from the first quarter of 2007 to now, jumping from 8,000 to 20,000. The average homeowner in trouble was five months behind on their primary residence's mortgage, owing an average of $11,474 on a median $346,750 mortgage.

More economic and financial news...

• Foreclosure Efforts Lacking, States Find Homeowners need more help to stave off foreclosure.

• Bank of America Tightens Lending Rules New rules coincide with acquisition of Countrywide Financial.

• Federal Mortgage Aid Needed Now, Consumer Group Warns Housing crisis dwarfs industry's attempt to respond.

• Existing Home Sales Plunge Sales down nearly 20% from one year ago.

SENATE COMMITTEE DEBATES FUTURE OF THE INTERNET
Supporters and opponents of net neutrality faced off at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing that debated how best to regulate the Internet and protect consumers' right to access content equally, while respecting networks' right to manage their "pipes." An eclectic group testified before the committee, ranging from FCC chairman Kevin Martin, to Christian Coalition vice-president Michele Combs, to former "Family Ties" actress and writer Justine Bateman.

EATING DISORDERS WIDESPREAD AMONG U.S.WOMEN Women of all ages and ethnic groups are under tremendous pressure from media and pop culture to be skinny, even at tremendous cost to their health, and a new report from the University of North Carolina in partnership with Self Magazine confirms that sixty-five percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 have behaviors indicative of eating disorders. The researchers found that American women engaged in a wide variety of unhealthy behaviors related to eating, from excessive dieting to smoking in order to lose weight, and that these behaviors continued well into their 30s and 40s.

More health news....

• Mercury Exposure, Autism Linked In Study Texas study is first to show link between autism and distance from mercury source.

• FDA Orders Illinois Pet Food Maker to Clean Up Its Act Risk of botulism in Evanger's dog, cat food.

• MIT Researchers Confirm Contamination in Heparin China denied similar findings by FDA.

• Heart Tests Needed for ADHD Children Stimulant drugs can affect heart, blood pressure.

• Doctor Discipline Declines for Third Straight Year Public Citizen finds 22% decrease in serious disciplinary actions.

• Harvard Physicians Promote Breakfast The right breakfast can help your heart, studies show

• CDC Finds This Year's Flu Vaccine Lacking Two of three flu strains slipped by this year's vaccine.

• Lifestyle Linked to Alzheimer's Onset Heavy drinking, smoking seen as major risks.

• Tips for Aging Gardeners Injuries are more common than you might think.

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