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Consumer News & Alerts

February 13, 2006

IT'S JUST LUNCH -- OR IS IT?
Scientists have split the atom, government employees have walked on the moon and researchers have mapped their genome. But whether anyone's found a new and improved way to hook up with the opposite sex is very much in doubt.

The bar scene gets old in a hurry and it's not all that easy to find attractive candidates at work or play. There's a temptation to "outsource" the search for romance, to turn it over to a supposed professional. No doubt this works out sometimes but, quite often, it doesn't. In It's Just Lunch ... Or Is It? our Lisa Wade McCormick reports on her two-month investigation into the expensive dating service that claims to match you to the person of your dreams.

We attempted to interview the CEO of It's Just Lunch but he was willing only to provide a faxed statement that answered none of the questions raised by Lisa's report. To be fair, other dating services have their problems as well. Mark Huffman examines them in Computers Little Better than Bars. You'll find plenty of other consumer reviews in our Dating Services section.

In Illinois, legislators are considering a proposal to require that online dating sites provide more safeguards.

IOWA CHALLENGES REBATE ROBBERY
You might think of Iowa as placid, perhaps even staid, but it is home to a revolutionary notion -- that consumerrs who buy a product based on the promise of a rebate should get that rebate, no matter what. While the feds and other states sit idly by, Iowa is challenging the brazen cheating of consumers by big retailers.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed suit last week against Young America Corporation, a Minnesota fulfillment company and warns that he's just getting started. "We will soon be knocking on the doors of other rebate processors to seek compliance with our unclaimed property laws," said Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald.

NJ Sues TruGreen Chemlawn New Jersey alleges the lawn service applied treatments without consent and made false promises. The state's charges echo complaints filed with ConsumersAffairs.Com by consumers around the nation. "After being told never to contact us again, they sent a truck and a workman who sprayed our bushes without our knowledge," said Raymond of Tallahassee, Fla.

STATES PULL PLUG ON CALLING RECORD SALES
States have moved quickly to put a stop to the odious practice of selling cell phone and landline calling records over the Internet. Florida-based 1st Source, facing lawsuits by three states and a federal investigation, shut down last week. Meanwhile, Texas sued three other companies that have allegedly been selling private calling records.

Meanwhile, In Washington ... A winter storm was blowing into town but there was plenty of hot air on the Hill. The Federal Trade Commission testified before a Senate committee that, by gum, it would waste no time in shutting down the illicit sale of calling records.

No Quick Fix for Junk Faxes Yes, junk faxes are illegal but the yahoos in Congress, not wanting to offend any of their "friends," have cleverly created some pretty big loopholes. Our suggestion: get an Internet fax number. We've used just such a thing for years. It saves paper, time and trouble -- and you can get your faxes from anywhere.

Speaking of Yahoos There's an anything-goes attitude in the online world that can have very unpleasant consequences in the real world. For example, 81 Chinese journalists and political dissidents are presently in jail, many of them allegedly betrayed by Yahoo. A reporters committee says that when goons from the totalitarian Chinese government asked Yahoo for email and Web-search records, the company simply handed them over, condemning its customers to prison ... or worse.

DNA ARTISANS
Your mother, we trust, told you vegetables are good for you. Now researchers say many vegetables contain chemicals that may help cells repair DNA damage, potentially enhancing your body's ability to fight off cancer. The Georgetown University study found that broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, as well as soy beans, can increase the levels of proteins that repair damaged DNA.

In other health news ...

Another Cancer Fighter Here's one you may not have thought about: A new study finds that women who have sex with uncircumcised men are more likely to develop cervical cancer, our Dr. Henry Fishman reports.

Antidepressants May Affect Unborn Child Newborns may suffer severe hypertension if their mothers use Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft in the second half of pregnancy, researchers warn.

Female Hormones May Affect Allergies, Asthma Women with irregular periods have higher risk of developing allergies and asthma.

Diabetics Need to Walk More Italian study finds significant benefits in walking three miles per day.

Saw Palmetto No Better Than Placebo Study examined older men with prostate problems.

U2 WITH YOUR BREW?
Besides the most expensive coffee in town, Starbucks has made its mark in the music business, selling more CDs than just about anyone but Wal-Mart. Along the way it has built the biggest network of Wi-Fi hotspots. Now it plans to put those two together by creating an iTunes-style digital download business.

Another iPod Lawsuit Apple hit a home run with its marriage of iTunes software and iPod hardware, but the hardware part of the equation is becoming a headache. Now a class action lawsuit claims the iPod Nano is cool but way too delicate.

WHO'S NO. 1?
Ford and General Motors are feuding over who sold the most cars last year. GM has been claiming the No. 1 spot for its Chevrolet brand, based on cars sold through dealers, but now Ford says its count shows Ford was in the top spot and it's demanding GM withdraw its boastful ads.

NHTSA Probes Durango Fires The highway safetymeisters are looking into complaints that fires can start under the front seat of the problem-plagued Durango. Yes, and lots of other fires start under the hood in various Chrysler and Dodge models.

Prius Patent Suit A small Florida company claims the hot-selling Toyota Prius infringes one of its patents. If the challenge is successful, it could halt Prius imports.

YOUR TRUST, THEIR CASH
Celebrities like Andrew Weil, Larry King and Dr. Phil are making big bucks cashing in on the credibility they've built up over the years. They've been shamelessly promoting nutrition supplements of dubious value. Weil sells his own products, as did Dr. Phil until the FTC began investigating. King, who is supposed to be a journalist, simply hires himself out as a commercial spokesman.

In other scams and outrages ...

• More Top Tens Top picks include identity theft, contractors, financial scams.
• Identity Theft Hotline Trained counselors will help Illinois ID-theft victims put their finances back together.
• Phony Checks, Secret Shopping Victims told they are "monitoring" moneygram services.
• Bargain Laptops Phoenix consumers scammed by parking garage "bargains."
• Affinity Scam Rocks Louisville Church Church member claimed to be a qualified financial planner.

THE ART OF THE TRAVEL DEAL
The Donald, no apprentice to travel, starts his version of Priceline. It promises a wider selection of hotels, special package deals and, gasp, Trump's picks. Package deals are fine but the more adventurous among us like to pick a spot on a map and go there, then figure out where to stay, what to do, and so forth. It's called taking travel into your own hands, as guest columnist Tom Glaister explains.

Travel editor Dan Schlossberg's feature destinations this week ...

• San Francisco Tour Company Switches to Biodiesel Incredible Adventures converts its van to clean-burning biodiesel.
• West Coast Cruise Line Abandons Ship Great American Journeys declares bankruptcy.

RECALLS & SAFETY WARNINGS

• Graco Crib Recall An Oregon infant suffocated when the support slats in its crib collapsed.
• First Years Liquid-Filled Teethers The liquid inside the teethers may be contaminated.
• Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines They can catch fire.
• Strike First Fire Extinguishers They may not work.

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