Consumer News & Alerts

August 11, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

NOT FIT FOR DOGS OR PEOPLE
We're pretty jaundiced about food safety by now, and for good reason — the constant recalls, warnings and mysterious illnesses that afflict humans and animals alike. The latest recall of human victuals involves none other than Whole Foods. It's "fresh" ground beef is being recalled because it may contain e. coli. Turns out the Whole Foods beef in question comes from the somewhat notorious Nebraska Beef, no stranger to recalls and safety scares. Read more ...

Over in the pet food aisle ... Mars Petcare USA is recalling some of its Pedigree dog food because of possible salmonella contamination. Mars — the secretive candy company — also makes Nutro pet food, which scores of pet owners blame for the illness and even deaths of their pets. No Nutro pet food is included in the Pedigree recall, which is centered in Southern California and Nevada. Read more ...

GRAPHIC CARD GLITCH MAY AFFECT MILLIONS OF COMPUTERS
It's every worker's nightmare--you're just about to boot up a major presentation on your laptop and the screen suddenly goes dead or is filled with lines, making it unviewable. This scenario has been affecting many laptop users of late, due to a fault in graphics chip maker Nvidia's GeForce 8M Series graphics processor. The chip can be found in many brand-name computers, and while Nvidia has acknowledged there is a problem, it has yet to formally recall the computers containing the faulty chip, leaving owners wondering if the next time they pull up a PowerPoint presentation will be the last. Our Truman Lewis investigated the problem and has tips for you to identify if your laptop contains the chip. Read more...

This week's technology news...

• Report: Metered Broadband Bad For Consumers, Businesses Study debunks "false choice" of content blocking or pay-as-you-go Internet.

• Internet Buzzing About iPhone Case Cracks Overproduction may be leading to defects in new phones.

• Cablevision to Block Online Child Pornography Covad also complies with anti-child porn initiative.

• Ring Charged with Hacking Major U.S. Retailers Scheme believed to be the largest identity theft case ever prosecuted.

GAS PRICES SLOWLY CREEP DOWNWARD
It's Day 22 of the nationwide gas price drop, and while prices are still higher than they've ever been, there are positive signs of declines in both gas-hungry and inexpensive states all around the country. Automotive maven Joe Benton has the lowdown on what a gallon of gas will set you back in the weekly Gas Price Roundup.Read more...

IS BIG BROTHER HITCHING A RIDE IN CALIFORNIA?
If you want to keep your privacy about how you drive, you may end up paying higher insurance premiums for the privilege. A new bill has cleared the California Senate Appropriations Committee that would authorize different insurance rates for drivers who agree to place a "black box" in their cars versus those who do not. Consumer advocates and privacy rights groups oppose the bill on the grounds that insurers could use the data gathered from the black boxes for many purposes unrelated to the drivers' actual mileage, and could resell it to others without the drivers' consent.Read more...

This week's automotive news...

• Brake Noise #1 Consumer Complaint in J.D. Power Study Lexus tops the field in dependability.

• Hybrid Technology a Presidential Campaign Issue Obama promises $4 billion in support for plug-in cars.

• Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Tiguan Earn Kudos in Consumer Reports' Tests Grand Cherokee and Touareg score poorly in ratings.

• Oil Price Trend May Be Good News For Consumers Analysts changing tune on the cost of gas.

This week's recalls...

UNEXPLAINED PET DEATHS ARE "SUSPICIOUS," EXPERT SAYS
The health problems that have affected scores of cats and dogs across the country after eating Nutro pet food still have no definitive cause or link, and experts disagree as to what may be the root of the problem. ASPCA toxicologist Dr. Steven Hansen reviewed many of ConsumerAffairs.com's received complaints about Nutro, and found no evidence that the food was the cause of the various illness-related complaints. But South Carolina veterinarian Dr. Calley Hille witnessed a client's dog sicken immediately after consuming Nutro and die soon after, and an autopsy on the dog revealed unusual symptoms that added to the puzzle. Lisa Wade McCormick continues her investigation of the Nutro pet food mystery and provides you the information you need to make your own decisions. Read more...

DO YOU KNOW THE SCORE ABOUT CREDIT SCORES?
It's a little three-digit number you may not even know of, but it is vital to your ability to get a loan, rent an apartment, apply for a mortgage, or even get a job. Credit scores measure how well you use and pay back credit, and they can determine your financial future, so it's essential to know all there is about them. Fred Yager walks you through the ins and outs of credit scores----how they work, how to improve them, and what happens when your score takes a hit.Read more...

This week's scams and outrages...

• Latest Spam Scam Rips Off News Headlines Fraudsters trick victims into clicking on virus-laden Web sites.

• Texas Attorney General Sues Olympic Ticket Scammers Company accused of taking money and not providing tickets.

• Six New E. coli Cases Reported In Massachusetts Investigators have not identified source.

• Bogus Websites Selling Beijing Olympics Tickets Scammers fool buyers into paying for nonexistent passes to Games.

• Diving Injuries On The Increase 10-to-14-year-olds are group at highest risk.

• North Carolina Sues Women's Gym for Going Co-Ed Gymgoers were not let out of contracts after club closed.

• Credit Card Scam Resurfaces In Kansas Fraudsters trick victims into giving out information over the phone.

• Two Canadians Plead Guilty in Telemarketing Scheme Scheme raked in nearly $10.5 million from 37,000 Americans.

TSA SUSPENDS "CLEAR" PROGRAM AFTER LAPTOP THEFT
Potential applicants for the TSA's "Clear" registered traveler program, which gives them the ability to bypass long lines at the airport in exchange for paying a fee, were put at risk of identity theft this week when a laptop containing data on 33,000 applicants was stolen from San Francisco International Airport. The laptop was password-protected but not encrypted, and contained data including names, dates of birth, and driver's license numbers. The theft is the latest in a long string of embarrassments and privacy glitches for the TSA, which promised to make all the companies participating in the "Registered Traveler" programs compliant with their security standards. Read more...

This week's air travel news...

• Frequent Flier Trip Rules Change At American Airlines heap backdoor cost increases on fliers to pay for fuel.

• Delta Adding Wi-Fi to All Flights JetBlue charges for pillows, blankets.

OVERDRAFT LOAN FEES INCREASE AT TEN LARGEST BANKS
If you're ever in the position of bouncing a check, you might be glad that your bank provides a "courtesy" overdraft advance to make sure your check clears--until the bank takes a bite out of your next deposit to pay itself back. A new survey conducted by several consumer groups found that not only were the nation's ten biggest banks opting their customers into overdraft protection without their consent, but the fees they charged for the protection were growing larger with each passing year. The groups want the banks to adhere to proposed federal rules mandating "opt-in" disclosures for customers who don't want overdraft protection, and to prevent manipulation of transactions in order to charge fees for bounced checks or negative balances.OVERDRAFT LOAN FEES INCREASE AT TEN LARGEST BANKS

This week's financial news...

• Pending Home Sales Rise In June Buyers take advantage of foreclosures to get bargains.

• Citigroup Agrees To Securities Settlement Will pay $50 million civil penalty to New York for deceptive marketing.

• Connecticut Sues Countrywide Over Deceptive Loans Attorney General alleges lender gouged customers for "excessive" fees.

• Worst Foreclosure Activity Limited To Four States Housing "depression" concentrated in Nevada, Arizona, California, and Florida.

• Fed Votes To Keep Interest Rates Steady Inflation concerns outweighed by weak economy fears.

• Spending Rises, Along With Consumer Prices Modest wage gains, rebate checks power consumer buying.

82 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WANT HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
That's the key finding of a new survey performed by The Commonwealth Fund, which reported that a majority of respondents felt their doctors prescribed too many unnecessary tests and they were victims of inefficient, expensive care. Those surveyed wanted easier access to comprehensive medical records, stored electronically, and a single primary care physician who could coordinate their various health care issues, rather than going to different doctors across multiple health networks. The survey also highlighted the desire for the U.S. presidential candidates to propose and deliver health care plans that improved quality, access, and affordability. Read more...

MOST KIDS' MEALS EXCEED SUGGESTED CALORIC INTAKE
Taking your kids out to a restaurant for dinner may be a fun experience, but it can hurt their health in the long run, as kids' meals at national restaurant and fast food chains regularly exceed the recommended daily caloric intake for children, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Joseph Enoch reports that CSPI recommends printing kids' meals calorie counts in the same size and font as other items on the menu to give parents more information, but that restaurant associations and lobbyists are spending huge dollars to fight any such rule from being implemented. Read more...

This week's health news...

• Don't Overdo or Underuse Antibiotics Misuse can lead to increase in drug-resistant "superbugs."

• Researchers Find New Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Chemoprevention gene therapy may be best solution yet discovered.

• Complementary Methods Used to Deal With Cancer Most patients don't use techniques to handle emotional aspects.

• FDA Approves 2008-2009 Flu Vaccines HHS urges more vaccinations for health care workers.

• Companies Agree To Cut Cancer-Causing Chemicals In Potato Chips Fast food makers pay thousands in settlement with California.

• Blood Sugar Monitor Can Detect Early Diabetes Old monitoring test is an effective screening tool.

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