Consumer News & Alerts

June 2, 2008

TRANS UNION TO PROVIDE FREE CREDIT SCORES TO MILLIONS IN CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
In a huge win for consumers, the Trans Union credit reporting agency has agreed to provide millions of consumers to with free credit scores as part of a $10 billion class action lawsuit settlement. The lawsuit settlement, which still requires federal court approval, alleged that Trans Union sold data on consumers to realtors, lenders, and other businesses for marketing purposes -- an illegal action under federal law. The free information packages may help many people stressed by the bad economy to figure out what they can do to improve their financial standing.

SOME PET OWNERS DISPLEASED WITH POISON FOOD SETTLEMENT
What is a beloved family pet worth? That's the question being asked after a judge gave preliminary approval to a $24 million settlement with Menu Foods and other manufacturers who sold pet food tainted with melamine, leading to the injury and death of hundreds of animals and the largest pet food recall in history. Lisa Wade McCormick talked to many pet owners involved in the settlement, and found them angry over what they feel is a relatively light slap on the wrist for the multi-million-dollar pet food manufacturers.

CLASS ACTION CHARGES NCAA TICKET SCALES "SCAM"
Speaking of class actions, angry basketball fans have filed suit against the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and Ticketmaster for their charging of nonrefundable service fees just to get into a lottery for the tournament games. As Joseph Enoch reports, the NCAA can hold on to the tickets for months before informing buyers if they have successfully won a seat at any of the NCAA tournament games, and offers little information as to when a refund may be available if they don't get a ticket. The end result is a slam-dunk in profits for the NCAA while consumers are left wondering when they'll get their hands on the ball.

CELL PHONE INDUSTRY LOSING ARBITRATION CLAUSES; ARE TERMINATION FEES NEXT?
It was a bad week for wireless carriers, as the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by T-Mobile of a ruling that its mandatory arbitration contract clauses were unfair to customers, enabling a class action lawsuit against it to proceed. The ruling may impact similar lawsuits against T-Mobile over contract "termination fees," forcing carriers like AT&T and Verizon to continue prorating the fees and offering other reforms to avoid the threat of new regulation.

This week's consumer protection news...

• U.S. Cellular Settles 'Free' Phone Complaint Oregon challenges company's advertisements.

• Texas Sues Prepaid Calling Card Company Charges Next-G with delivering fewer minutes than advertised.

• Texas Sues Travel Clubs Clubs defrauded unsuspecting consumers, state charges.

• Bankrupt Helicopter School Shoots Down Student Aspirations Question: Are those student loans still due?

• Express Scripts Settles Drug Switching Charges For $9.3 Million States charged company's practices were unfair and deceptive.

• Judge Rules Dell Deceived Consumers Dell 'strongly disputes' decision; judge will determine restitution.

• West Virginia AG Challenges Anti-Lawsuit Group 'Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse' may not be what it seems.

• FTC Shuts Down Pretexting Operation Company gives up nearly $600,000 for selling callers' personal information to third parties.

• Yahoo! Sues Fake Lottery Scammers But the actual defendants are still unknown.

Recalls this week...

• Makit & Bakit Children's Jewelry

• Sky Champion Wireless Toy Helicopters

• Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores Outdoor Benches

• Candlsense Electric Candle Warmers

• Miele Gas Dryers

• Little Tikes Toy Cell Phones

• Adio 'Champ Custom' Hooded Sweatshirts

• IntelliSwitch Fireplace Wall Controls

• Rawlings Junior Batting Helmets

• Spa At Home Gel Candles

• Counterfeit Square D Circuit Breakers

FEDS PROBE POSSIBLE MANIPULATION OF OIL PRICES
For years, the argument that oil prices were being artificially manipulated to increase profits was treated as the province of crackpots and conspiracy theorists. But the government's Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has taken the unusual step this week of revealing an ongoing investigation into the possibility of energy futures speculators driving up oil prices. Although the CFTC promises its investigation will help ensure oil prices are behaving according to market conditions and not outside manipulation, critics charge that it may be too little and too late for the investigation to have any effect.

This week's automotive news...

• $4 Gas Spreads Throughout the Nation Nationwide average could hit $4 by June 1.

• Beware of Fuel Sippers Sipping High-Test Good mileage doesn't always mean big savings.

• Gas Price Record Streak Hits 21 Days Price tops $4 in 11 states, DC.

DID WALL STREET WRECK THE ECONOMY?
It's not just manipulation of oil prices that may have contributed to the economy's dismal state. Widespread approval of bad mortgage loans with subprime lending terms enabled the loans to be bundled into securities and sold into Wall Street, granting huge profits to investors -- but leaving taxpayers holding the bailout bag when the loans went bad, as in the case of Bear Stearns. Mark Huffman investigates both the speculation of commodities futures and the dark side of the mortgage industry and finds disturbing evidence that the Street may be at the heart of the problem.

This week's economic and financial news...

• Grocery Spending, Spam Sales Up Shoppers turn to store brands, lower-priced meats to make ends meet.

• Consumer Confidence Hits 16-Year Low High gas prices, plunging home values leave consumers downcast.

• Another Survey Reveals Depth Of Consumers' Blues Confidence at lowest point in 28 years.

• Foreclosure 'Rescue' Firm To Pay $1.2 Million To Arizona Victims Homeowners lost their homes thanks to firm's 'help.'

• Florida Governor Signs Foreclosure Rescue Law New law tries to rein in fraudulent 'rescue' operators.

• Realtors Settle Anti-Trust Charges Settlement opens listing database, may lower commissions.

• Home Values Plunge; New Home Sales Pick Up Values down 14.1% in first quarter but new home sales increase in April.

DOES HEART BYPASS SURGERY CAUSE "PUMP HEAD" EFFECT?
Some patients who undergo heart bypass surgery report memory loss, confusion, and slower mental acuity as a result of being put on a bypass pump--an effect some call "pump head." Medical experts disagree as to the nature of this condition, what causes it, and how to treat it. In this week's edition of "The Healthy Geezer," Fred Cicetti takes a look at the "pump head" effect, and how the medical establishment is using new surgical techniques to prevent it.

This week's health news...

• First Vioxx Judgment Overturned On Appeal Judges find no evidence Vioxx caused defendant's heart attack.

• Consumers Union Weighs In On Drug Ads Wants ads to include 800 number to report side effects.

• FDA Wants Recall of Xiadafil VIP Tabs Product contains dangerous undeclared ingredient, agency warns.

• Fruits & Vegetables May Protect Against Sunburn Lycopene, carotenoids may also prevent many cancers and skin diseases.

• FDA Wants New Labeling Rules To Protect Pregnant, Nursing Women With six million pregnancies per year, problems can add up fast.

• Express Scripts Settles Drug Switching Charges For $9.3 Million States charged company's practices were unfair and deceptive.

• Secondhand Smoke Linked To Hospital Admissions Very young infants at greatest risk.

• Childhood Obesity Holding Steady, Study Finds A hopeful sign in the youth obesity epidemic.

WHAT MAKES YOU SNEEZE?
Ragweed, grass, trees, molds ... most of us are allergic to at least one of the common allergens. But Wi-Fi signals? A group of allergy sufferers in New Mexico claim that Wi-Fi makes their condition worse and they want it banned in such public places as libraries. The group didn't mention Starbucks but it's surely on their list.

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