Consumer News & Alerts

May 27, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

GAS PRICES SURGE PAST $4
Gasoline prices are continuing their ascent to new heights, jumping a dime a gallon over the Memorial Day weekend. Ten states and the District of Columbia now suffer from an average gasoline price for regular self-serve above the $4 mark. The average price throughout the U.S. for regular is now $3.936. Mid-grade gasoline sells for an average of $4.181 and premium $4.330, Joe Benton reports. The high prices are definitely having an effect: federal figures show the steepest decrease in driving ever recorded in the U.S. during March, the last month for which numbers are available.

• Retailers Respond to High Gas Prices with Discounts, Promotions Kroger launches nationwide fuel discount program.

• Rushing Into a Smaller Car Too Soon May Not Save Money Overall vehicle costs can offset any savings at the pump.

• Spit Spark Plugs Still Hobble Ford Trucks Used truck buyers beware; problem still not solved.

• Feds Probe Ford Windstar for Fire Hazard Two homes damaged by fires.

DEFECTIVE GAS GRILLS CAN GO UP IN SMOKE
Ah, Memorial Day. The best time of year for barbecues, baseball, and...blazes caused by faulty propane grills? That's what happened to North Carolina's Maynard Outlaw, whose Charmglow grill belched out flames and nearly torched his outside deck after he set it to maximum due to its poor performance. As Joseph Enoch reports, Outlaw's fiery mishap is similar to stories of other defective Charmglow grills from 2005, which led to a recall of the faulty products. Are Charmglow's grills still causing meltdowns, and if so, why isn't grill manufacturer Brinkman doing more about the potentially deadly problem?

DROWNING SEASON: HOME POOLS ENDANGER CHILDREN
Blazing barbecues aren't the only thing to be concerned with as summer heats up. Injuries and fatalities frome backyard swimming pools and spas are on the rise, especially among very young children. A new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) details how lack of adult supervision can lead children to a range of gruesome injuries and deaths in swimming pools, and homeowners who build pools have to take on the responsibility for what happens in them. Joseph Enoch details what you can do to make your pool safe for yourself and your family.

FEDS ROUST TELEMARKETERS
The Federal Trade Commission is calling it the largest crackdown on illicit telemarketeres in its history. The agency and its Canadian counterparts filed more than 180 criminal and civil actions against companies that allegedly used deceptive tactics to sell everything from extended car warranties to magazine subscriptions. But like speeders on an Interstate, a few are caught while the rest go racing by, so it's up to consumers to be cautious of just about everybody, especially those who make their pitch by phone.

More scams, outrages, and product safety news...

• Pet Food Makers Agree to $24 Million Settlement Dog, cat owners would be compensated for medical expenses, cremation costs.

• FTC Charges Home Buying Operation With Credit Repair Scheme Consultancy claimed it could remove negative information from credit reports.

• Scammers Cashing In On Chinese Earthquake Con artists prey on consumers' sympathies.

• US Search Agrees to Stop Selling Private Credit Data New York wrests agreement, $250,000 settlement from data broker.

• Paper Money Discriminates Against Blind, Court Rules Judge orders Treasury Department to redesign the currency.

• Warning: 'Love Stone' Can Cause Poisoning, Death NYC Health Department issues warning after hospital reports a death.

• USDA Bans Downer Cow Slaughter Action follows huge beef recall, Mad Cow fears.

• Merck Agrees to Pay $58 Million to Settle Vioxx Claims States accused drugmaker of false marketing.

• Feds Probe DeVry Sales Tactics Investigators probe recruiters' compensation.

• Feds Bust International Computer Scam Ring Internet phishing scam centered in Los Angeles & Romania.

• FDA Closes Smoked Seafood Processor, Demands Recall Failure to follow consent decree drives action.

• Pop-Up Scammer Faces $100,000 Fine Messenger Solutions runs afoul of Washington state.

AIR TRAVELERS MOROSE
You know the days of flying the friendly skies are over when the IRS rates higher in customer satisfaction than most major airlines. Yet that's exactly what happened, according to a new report that saw the major carriers drop to seven-year-lows when it comes to keeping customers happy. If that wasn't enough, Mark Huffman reports that other surveys found customers increasingly dissatisfied with airport services as well, from baggage claims to ticketing to the increasingly burdensome security procedures.

More air travel news...

• American Slashes Routes, Charges for One Checked Bag First airline to charge for a single checked bag; fuel costs blamed.

• Feds Propose Air Travel Improvements Delays, baggage fees, fares targeted.

This week's recalls...

• Disney Store 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Sleeping Bags

• Disney Store 'Tinker Bell' Wands

• United Scientific Magnets

• American Scientific Magnets

• 'Basic Beat Shaker' Guiro Instruments

• Sure Grip Children's Paint Brushes

• Floppy Friends Horse Toys

• Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grills

• Ski-Doo Snowmobiles

• American Flame Fireplaces

• 'Lil Snugglers' Children's Blankets

• 'Little Rider' Toy Cowboy

• Kenmore Wall Ovens

• Cricket Cell Phones

• Home Depot Candle Holders

• K2 Snowboard Bindings

REALTORS BASH LENDING LIMITS
Even as the inventory of unsold homes continues to pile up and place greater downward pressure on home prices, a new report from the National Association of Realtors claims that the demand for homes is there--but tighter lending standards are keeping buyers from making the leap. Mark Huffman takes a look at the Realtors' report and parses the data for which markets are showing improvement--and which ones are still in the dumps.

More housing market news...

• California Busts 'Land Grant' Foreclosure Scam Desperate homeowners were persuaded to transfer their deeds.

• Mortgage Fraud Up 176%, FBI Reports Economic woes provide fertile field for scam artists.

WHAT WOMEN -- AND MEN -- SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BREAST CANCER
Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in women, and in rare cases, men as well. This most common of killers can be avoided and treated in a variety of ways, and Fred Cicetti uses this week's "Healthy Geezer" column to teach you the basics of how to detect, treat, and prevent breast cancer, regardless of gender.

This week's health news...

• 'Killer Cribs' Study Finds Toxins in Common Baby Products Friends of the Earth targets fire retardants in Graco products.

• California Finds Air Pollution Claims Lives Fine particles produced by combustion take their toll.

• Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix Linked to Seizures, Heart Problems, Diabetes FAA bans its use by pilots and air-traffic controllers.

• Medicaid Cuts 'Devastating,' Pharmacies Warn Thousands of pharmacies could close if cuts are made permanent.

• Survey: Shoppers Seeking Sustainability Older shoppers more likely to look for multiple sustainability factors.

• Merck Agrees to Pay $58 Million to Settle Vioxx Claims States accused drugmaker of false marketing.

• Chemical in Celery May Fight Alzheimer's Study finds luteolin reduces inflammation in the brain.

• Teen Blood Donors Have Higher Risk of Complications Fainting, bruising more common in teens than in older donors.

• Trip to the Beach Could Make You Sick More illness tied to swimming, boating.

• Study Cautions Pregnant Women On Cell Phone Use Cell-phone-using moms more likely to have unruly children.

• CELL PHONE TERMINATION FEES MAY BE TERMINATED
It looks good on the surface. Verizon and its friends at the FCC are concocting a deal that would more or less eliminate the hated termination fees now slapped on consumers who want to dump their cell phone contracts. But there may be more to this than meets the eye. For one thing, the deal would emasculate state authority over cell phone contracts (a favorite tactic of the one-stop-shopping telco lobbyists) and would eliminate pending class action suits against the wireless carriers. Oh, and industry observers note that it would most likely put a big dent in Sprint's market share, a sweet little side benefit for Verizon and AT&T.

In other digital doings ...

• GAO: Digital TV Switchover Mostly On Track But report finds "technical issues" still slowing pace of transition.

• U.S. Continues To Lag In Broadband Penetration New international rankings released; U.S. is 15th in the world.

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