Consumer News & Alerts

October 27, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

IS BANKRUPTCY YOUR PERSONAL BAILOUT?
Bankruptcy is a painful option in the best of economic times, but with the global markets sliding into a recession, job losses increasing, foreclosures raging and credit delinquencies piling up, it's fast becoming the choice of last resort for many Americans. But tough new bankruptcy laws and the difficult process of declaring oneself insolvent may make the cure worse than the disease. Financial expert Fred Yager walks you through the steps of bankruptcy and offers advice on what you can do to avoid it. Read more...

HOW TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL
Beasts must be fed and in an era of depressed home values and increased foreclosures, many localities are assessing properties at much higher values than they're really worth in order to maintain revenue. There are ways to appeal the assessment and earn yourself a lower property tax bill -- but it's tricky. Real estate columnist Broderick Perkins explores the many means by which you can prove you shouldn't be forking over as much as you are. Read more...

ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS MORE HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chairman Sheila Bair has broken ranks with the Bush administration in recent weeks through her criticism of the $700 billion (plus earmarks) bailout package that recently sailed through Congress. Bair has said that more needs to be done to address the real root of the financial crisis -- keeping homeowners out of foreclosure and in their homes. This week, Bair called for more government assistance to lenders modifying faltering mortgages, particularly standardizing the terms of loan modifications across the board to ensure more banks get on board. Read more...

More economic and financial news...

• Existing Home Sales Rise in September Lower prices and shrinking inventory lead to spike.

• Foreclosure Activity Drops in September 12 percent decrease from last month may not signify bigger trend.

• Bankers See Recovery in Second Half of 2009 Recession is underway, but signs show turnaround beginning next year.

• Budgeting to Play Big Role in Holiday Shopping Price is the chief factor in deciding where to spend.

• Baby Boomers Scramble to Reassess Future What to do when your retirement disappears before your eyes.

• Finding a Job Takes Longer in Slow Economy But long-term predictions say things will turn around.

• Autumn Has Long History as Financial Disaster Season 2008's crisis is only the latest in long line.

• Southern California Home Sales Surge 65 Percent in September A blip on the radar or a sign of things to come?

GAS PRICES UNDER $3, CHEAPER THAN A YEAR AGO
It seems like only yesterday that America was buckling under the weight of gas prices at $4 a gallon or more. Now you can gas up for under $3 a gallon in more than 36 states. Mark Huffman reports that the slide has OPEC producers panicked enough to announce big cuts in production. But even that may not be enough to stop the downward trend, leaving motorists anxiously hopeful that filling the tank won't mean breaking the bank. Read more...

This week's automotive news...

• Does Your Car Sound Haunted? Scary noises may be due to any number of problems.

• Gas-Saving Autos Lead in Reliability Ford gets high marks from survey.

• BMW Owners Suffer Reversal of Fortune Certain models suddenly lose ability to back up.

• Chevy Volt Gets a Jolt with Mixed Review Car And Driver praises and buries electric car equally.

The week's safety recalls...

SOON-TO-BE-BANNED TOYS FLOOD AISLES IN TIME FOR HOLIDAYS Advocates of safe childrens' toys scored a victory earlier this year when legislation was passed outlawing the use of phthalates -- dangerous chemicals that can cause reproductive defects -- in toys. But the ban doesn't go into effect until February 10, 2009, meaning toymakers have ample license to flood stores with potentially tainted toys this holiday season. Consumer advocates and members of Congress are outraged at toymakers and retailers for selling the tainted toys, while toymakers and corporations that use phthalates claim that there is no definitive proof that the chemical is unsafe -- though evidence is mounting to make that case. Read more...

CONSUMER AGENCY WARNS OF HAZARDOUS CRIBS
Infant death due to a badly designed or malfunctioning crib is a horror no parent should ever have to experience. This week the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released warnings about cribs with drop sides, which can disengage unexpectedly and lead to entanglement or strangulation. The warning coincided with two recalls of cribs made by Delta Enterprise Corp. The company is recalling about 985,000 drop-side cribs to replace missing spring pegs. It is recalling 600,000 cribs because of problems with spring pegs. Read more...

This week's consumer protection news...

• Scam Artists Target Missouri Citizens with "Grandparents" Scheme Con artists pose as grandkids to steal money.

• Brits Get Treats, Yanks Get Tricks From Food Companies American products use food dyes, while UK equivalents go all-natural.

• West Virginia Wipes Out Credit Card Debt for 1,451 Citizens Attorney General cleans the slate for victims of shady debt collector.

• Hartz Recalls Rawhide Chips After Possible Salmonella Contamination 4,850 two-pound bags recalled.

• New Baby Names Take Over NYC Bassinets Isabella, Sophia, Daniel displace Ashley and Michael.

• Florida Sues Foreclosure Rescue Company for Deceptive Practices "Debt mitigation" firm falsely claimed it could solve mortgage problems.

• United Pilot Arrested for Alleged Drunkeness Fliers bound for London watch captain hauled off in handcuffs.

• Pfizer Pays $894 Million to Settle NSAID Claims Allegations involve Bextra and Celebrex.

• Feds, 13 States Sue to Block Meat Packer Merger Authorities say consolidation will drive up prices and reduce competition.

• Halloween Can Be Dangerous to Your Pet Treats and decorations could be hazardous to animals' health.

IS TECHNOLOGY BRINGING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER?
The common wisdom held that the Internet, cell phones, and video games were taking the place of typical family bonds and driving people apart -- but that may not be the case. A new study from the Pew Research Center found that increasing percentages of families both with and without children owned multiple communication devices, linked them in home networks, and used them for regular communication and keeping in touch even over large distances. While this new model of family bonding may present its drawbacks, it seems that the family that texts, chats, and blogs together does indeed stay together. Read more...

More technology and Internet news...

• Feds Issue New Identity Theft Recommendations But delay enforcement of "red flags" fraud program for businesses.

• Internet Gaming Addiction May Be Growing Health Problem Can online virtual worlds cause loss of grip on reality?

DO SOME SENIORS GET TOO MUCH HEALTH CARE?
Too often, doctors treat health care for seniors like the federal government -- just throw lots of money at the problem and hope for the best. But LifeLedger.com's John Boden reports that not only are seniors paying too much for expensive care, they often don't need it as much as they need "health care literacy." Boden advises exhaustive research and study not only of potential treatments, but of the doctor offering them. If the doctor doesn't answer your questions fully or doesn't explore multiple options, it may be worth it to look elsewhere. Read more...

MORE CHILDREN LACKING HEALTH INSURANCE ACROSS THE BOARD
Children from poor families aren't the only ones lacking health insurance or going without care these days. Uninsured children in families earning between approximately $38,000 and $76,000 a year are about as likely to go without any health care as uninsured children in poorer families. Nearly half of uninsured children in the U.S. went without any medical care or prescriptions during the year they had no insurance, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study. Read more...

This week's health news...

• Half of U.S. Doctors Prescribe Placebos 62 percent of surveyed physicians are okay with giving out fake meds.

• Can Coffee Offset Liver Damage from Alcohol? Tips for avoiding cirrhosis.

• 3 Million U.S. Kids Have Food or Digestive Allergies New report tracks trends in childrens' reaction to food.

• Medicare Penalizes Hospitals for Treating Disadvantaged Patients Ranking system does not factor in care for poor, needy, and elderly.

• Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Key to Survival Simply getting through a heart attack isn't enough.

• Secondhand Smoke May Hurt Children More Than Adults Younger children at particular risk for long-term damage.

• 'Western' Diet Increases Heart Attack Risk Globally Bad diet choices have repercussions across the world.

• Suicide Rises Among Baby Boomers Middle-aged whites become newest at-risk group.

• Study Documents Safety Problems for Biological Medicines Insulin and other "homegrown" meds not as safe as you think.

• New Prostate Surgical Techniques Often "Over-Promoted" Many treatments have not been adequately evaluated before use.

• Fructose Sets Table For Obesity, Study Suggests Combination with bad diet can easily lead to weight gain.

NEW ROGUES

Every day we add hundreds of new consumer complaints and comments to our site. And each day sees a the addition of companies and products that haven't previously appeared in our Rogues Gallery. Here's the latest batch of newcomers:

• Saturn Aura
• Vanguard Tours & Cruises
• Gucci
• Home Instead
• The Tax Club
• Wireless Midgets
• Oster Rotisserie
• Oster Wine Cooler
• Ticketsnow.com
• Collectiblestoday.com
• Blue Bay Club
• OneClickCash.com
• DVDavenue.com
• OneClickFurniture.com
• Polaroid TV
• Samsung Bluray
• Techondigital.com
• 200cash.com
• ConsumerBill.com
• Dacor Appliances
• GoCopyright.com
• Sentry

We want to hear from you. If you've had a problem -- or a pleasant experience -- with a company, product or service, please let us know, using our secure complaint form.

Back to the top |