Consumer News & Alerts

September 8, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

DOG TOYS PULLED FROM MARKET AFTER TONGUE AMPUTATION
Four Paws, makers of rubber ball dog toys, is recalling its entire product line after a gruesome accident involving a dog's tongue getting stuck inside one of the toy balls, resulting in its tongue being amputated. The dog owner found out that a similar accident had cost the life of another dog several years earlier due to the flawed design of the toy balls, according to Lisa Wade McCormick's investigative report. Although Four Paws itself has pulled the product from shelves and has promised to correct the flaw, there are still hundreds of thousands of potentially dangerous toy balls on the market--and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has refused to investigate, saying it does not have jurisdiction over pet products. Read more...

ROYAL PRESTIGE COOKWARE MAKERS PAY $1 MILLION TO CALIFORNIA FOR BAD BUSINESS
Hy Cite Corporation, makers of the Royal Prestige cookware brand, has agreed to pay $1 million to the state of California as part of a settlement with Attorney General Edmund G. Brown for deceptive marketing and business tactics. The company was accused of using false pretenses to get into households for their "in-home" demonstrations of Royal Cookware products, and would concoct false "tests" designed to fool potential buyers into thinking their cookware was unsafe, in order to convince them to switch to Royal Cookware products. The investigation also found that Hy Cite was targeting Latino households and providing them with different, less favorable financing options than for Anglo households. Hy Cite had previously agreed to reform its business practices and pay penalties to California in a 2000 investigation. Read more...

This week's consumer protection news...

• Virginia Consumers Warned About Post-Storm Scams Hanna damage may open floodgates to thieves and fraudsters.

• New York Reaches $35 Million Settlement With Managed Care Provider Senior executive gets indicted.

• Gulf States Post Scam Alert in Wake of Gustav Evacuees warned to watch out for price gouging and fraud.

• Getting Fair Claims Payment for Damage from Gustav Consumers must be ready as insurers saddle them with more costs.

• Massachusetts Arraigns Five for Telemarketing Fraud Accused of using fraudulent charity drives to scam victims.

• Washington Improves Credit Freeze Law State adds provisions to "thaw" freeze in 15 minutes, free freezes for seniors.

• Consumers Avoid Extremes in Soft Drink Sizes Preferences tend to midrange options in beverages.

• New Trend In Drug Ads Gets Around FDA Rule Pharma uses Web to get around revealing side effects of drugs.

• Mississippi Wants Answers on Excessive Energy Costs Attorney General charges energy provider withheld information.

WHY ARE OIL PRICES FALLING?
Even with Hurricane Gustav ripping through the Gulf Coast last weekend, oil prices have continued a slow, inexorable trend downward--but the question is, why? It's certainly good news for the average consumer, but what does it mean--and will it continue? Mark Huffman investigates the trends that could be influencing a downward spiral in oil prices, from speculators realizing a run on oil may be through, to slowed demand from developing economies such as China and India. Read more...

TRUCK, SUV SALES PLUNGE IN AUGUST
Gas prices aren't the only thing on the decline--the Big Three American automakers are seeing record lows in sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Automotive maven Joe Benton reports that Chrysler sales fell 34 percent in, while GM sales were down 20.4 percent and Ford sales fell 26.6 percent. GM will extend its "employee discount" program through September and all three will increase the use of incentives in order to encourage buyers to clear the companies' stock of 2008 auto products and make way for 2009's new models. Read more...

This week's automotive news...

• Gas Prices Trickle Down Consumers cut summer driving.

• Small Car Bumpers Fail to Prevent Expensive Damage Prius, Elantra, Rabbit cost most to repair.

• Late-Model Used Car can Save Thousands Over First Five Years "Sweet spot" of auto deals.

• NHTSA Ends Toyota Tacoma Investigation Decision a win for Toyota lobbying effort.

This week's recalls...

REVERSE MORTGAGE: SMART MOVE OR SOMETHING TO AVOID?
You've probably seen infomercials touting the benefits of a reverse mortgage as a way for seniors to augment their retirement income--but what exactly is it? How does it work? And what are the hidden costs? Fred Yager walks you through the ins and outs of reverse mortgages, and what they can really mean for your home equity, your finances, and your retirement. Read more...

This week's financial news...

• Lenders See Foreclosure Situation Worsening Bad economic situation can lead to emotional problems as well.

• More Consumers Living Paycheck To Paycheck High prices cut into savings across the board.

GOOGLE TRIES TO STRIKE GOLD WITH "CHROME" WEB BROWSER
You couldn't click your mouse last week without running across a blog or Web site breathlessly trumpeting the arrival of "Chrome," Google's new open-source Web browser, the beta version of which is free for download from the search engine giant's home page. Chrome integrates the search and address bar together to speed viewers to their destination and enables each browser tab to operate independently, so that the browser can keep working even if one tab crashes. Google has directly positioned Chrome to be the competitor to Microsoft Windows' latest iteration of Internet Explorer, the most recent version of which was released a week earlier. But what about Firefox, eh? Read more...

KIDS BURN MORE CALORIES PLAYING ACTIVE VIDEO GAMES
It's considered a given that one reason for the increase in child obesity is too many kids playing video games instead of getting exercise. But a new study purports to show that some games are actually better than others at burning calories while you play. "Active" video games, such as those that mimic sporting activities such as boating, tennis, and golf, can spur higher heart rates and greater metabolic activity than typical video games, according to researchers at the Institute for Human Performance at Hong Kong University, Pokfulam. Compared with resting, children burned 39 percent more calories per minute playing a seated game, 98 percent more playing active bowling and 451 percent more during an action/running game. While video games are still no substitute for genuine physical activity, active video games may provide a valuable solution to stemming the tide of childhood obesity. Read more...

This week's health news...

• Seniors Tend to Bruise More Easily Aging leads to thinner skin.

• Too Much Calcium May Increase Risk of Fatal Prostate Cancer Research may lead to new method of early detection.

• Exercise May Help Improve Memory Problems Physical activity stimulates mental processes.

• Knee Problems Facing Aging Baby Boomers Obese also at risk of developing osteoporosis.

• New Trend In Drug Ads Gets Around FDA Rule Pharma uses Web to get around revealing side effects of drugs.

• Lab Tests Point to Problems with New Sweetener Consumer group says product can increase cancer risk.

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