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By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com
VIDEO PROFESSOR GOES AFTER CRITICS
John Scherer, also known as the "Video Professor," has promised for years on late-night infomercials that he is so confident in his product, he will give you a free computer lesson. But while Scherer looks friendly enough, he clearly doesn't like it when his students give him a failing grade. Instead of modifying his lesson plan, the "professor" is responding to critics with threats of a lawsuit. He is demanding that the consumer complaint website Infomercialscams.com give him the names of consumers whose complaints it has posted. Does Scherer want them to stay after school? Our Joe Enoch went looking for the answer ... and also audited the professor's "class." Read more ...
This week's scams and outrages...
• 'Free Gifts' Weren't Free; Spammer Pays the Price Adteractive lured consumers with phony offers, feds charge.
• TJX Settles Visa Suit over Data Breach Nearly 100 million consumers may have been affected.
• Budget Rent-A-Car Settles Charges Over Hidden Fee Renters weren't told of fuel fee, FTC alleged.
• Social Security Errors Common Consumers should carefully review their annual statements.
• FTC Finds 8 Million Identity Theft Cases Costs, types of fraud vary widely.
• Canadian Lottery Scam Resurfaces Victims get phony check, lose real money.
VETS SOLVE MYSTERY OF PET FOOD DEATHS
Veterinary experts have confirmed that the rash of pet deaths from tainted food this year was caused by the combination of two chemicals, melamine and cyanuric acid. While neither chemical alone could cause death or injury in pets, the two combined to form crystals in the animals' bodies that block kidney function--and according to veterinary diagnostician Dr. Barbara Powers, there was no reason to expect that pet food would ever have evidence of taint from those chemicals. Lisa Wade McCormick interviewed Dr. Powers regarding her findings, and for information on what will happen next in the saga of the tainted pet food.
CHARITIES MAY TURN AWAY TOYS DUE TO RECALLS
In the wake of the massive toy recalls due to lead paint and other defects, some charities are increasingly nervous about accepting toys that may be unsafe for children. As Lisa Wade McCormick reports, some local Goodwill and Salvation Army chapters have been turning away toys that may have been recalled, and the effort of disposing of unsafe toys is costing the organizations money that is normally spent on their charitable efforts.
More product safety news...
• New Jersey Finds Recalled Toys In Nine Stores State subpoenas retailers' records to check compliance.
• All-Terrain Vehicles Not Child's Play Deaths nearly double in last decade, study finds.
• Gift Basket Cheese Recalled Le Gourmet Connection Jack Cheese sold in holiday gift baskets.
•Meat Packer Recalls 96,000 Pounds Of Beef Beef was distributed to resellers and may be hard to identify.
This week's recalls...
• DesignWare Confetti Bursts
• Lazy Lounger Chairs and Recliners Sold at Dick's Sporting Goods
• Holiday Ornaments Recalled for Lead Content
• Lexus Recall for Faulty Fuel Line
• Graco Snugride Infant Seats Recalled
• Bon-Ton Hooded Sweatshirts
• Meijer Firepits
• Performax, Wilton Miter Saws
• “Power Bolt” Pitchbacks Sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods
• NHTSA Recalls Saturn L Series
• Pontiac Torrent, Chevy Equinox
• GMC, Chevy Pickups Recalled
MOST GIFTS FORGOTTEN AS SOON AS THEY'RE RECEIVED
Think carefully before getting your loved one that new shiny widget for the holidays this year--the odds are that they may forget it as soon as it's unwrapped. A new
survey found that traditional gifts were increasingly unmemorable among American consumers,
with large numbers of respondents not being able to remember any gifts they received last holiday season, let alone the best.
Then there's the gift that, all too often, never starts giving. We're talking, of course, about gift cards. A new report finds that many gift cards include hidden fees and charges.
Besides that, many gift cards just plain don't deliver the goods. You might say they're not worth the plastic they're printed on. Some leading examples, according to our readers, include:
• Amex,
• I-Tunes,
• Sears, and
• Bank of America.
More holiday shopping news...
• Gift Cards Include Hidden Costs Report picks best & worst of this year's batch.
• Keeping Santa Solvent Tips to help you survive the holiday shopping season with finances intact.
• Gift Cards Include Hidden Costs Report picks best & worst of this year's batch.
GAS PRICES AT $3 AND HOLDING
As consumers start spending money in bundles for holiday shopping, they're continuing to feel the bite from high gas prices every time they open the wallets, and explosions at Canadian pipelines briefly threatened to spike prices even further. Joe Benton has the weekly roundup of which parts of the country are the cheapest and most expensive for fueling up.
More automotive news...
• Ford Settles Explorer Rollover Lawsuits Consumers will get discounts on new Fords.
• ExxonMobil Claims New Hybrid Battery Technology Could be good news for next-generation hybrids.
VERIZON & GOOGLE PLAY CHESS FOR FUTURE OF WIRELESS
Hoary telecom heavyweight Verizon Wireless and upstart search engine giant Google spent the past week one-upping the other in announcements that rocked the technology world. First Verizon Wireless reversed its "walled garden" policy and announced that it would open its network for use with all wireless handsets and applications--though a closer look revealed that Verizon's definition of "open" is rather narrow. Then Google committed to bidding in the upcoming auction of wireless spectrum, putting up $4.6 billion of its own money to offer consumers more competition in the wireless world. What's the next move?
More technology and media news...
• Study Measures Impact of Media Violence Violent movies, games 'significantly' increase risk of violent behavior.
• Consumer Groups, Investors Oppose XM-Sirius Merger Objections raised to lack of competition.
DODD ANNOUNCES BANKRUPTCY REFORM LEGISLATION
The 2005 bankruptcy bill, largely derided as a love letter to the financial industry from a complacent Congress, hit homeowners especially hard with strict revisions as to what could be discharged in bankruptcy. Connecticut Senator and presidential candidate Chris Dodd announced proposed legislation this week that would roll back the most drastic changes of the 2005 law and enable homeowners to hang on to their residences while declaring bankruptcy.
More real estate news...
• Mayors Warn Homes Could Lose $1.2 Trillion In Value Subprime meltdown has 'massive' effect on metro areas.
LATEX ALLERGY CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING
Latex is one of the most ubiquitous products in everyday life, from the doctor's office to balloons to bicycle handles. But this everyday product can cause dangerous allergic reactions in some people, ranging from coughing and congestion to skin rashes to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. Dr. Henry Fishman takes a look at the hidden dangers of this seemingly innocuous product, and what you can do to protect yourself and prevent infection.
More health news...
• Smokers Cost Taxpayers $10 Billion If all Medicaid beneficiaries quit smoking, taxpayers would be $10 billion richer.
• States Get Poor Grades on School Food Little progress seen since last year.
• More Nurses Needed to Cut Hospital Deaths Rising costs, shortage of nurses make new hires unlikely.
• FDA Frets about Flu Drugs' Side Effects Suicidal, violent thoughts reported in some young adults.
• Suit Seeks Medicare Coverage of 'Off-Label' Drugs Seniors going without needed medication, suit charges.
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