Consumer News & Alerts

August 4, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

CONGRESS PASSES SWEEPING CONSUMER REFORM BILL, BUSH PROMISES TO SIGN
After months of negotiation, delays, and favor-trading, Joseph Enoch reports that Congress has passed a massive reform of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The bill would increase funding for the troubled consumer protection agency, bans six new chemicals along with lead from childrens' toys, and increase enforcement power for both the federal agency and state Attorneys General to police unsafe products. Passing the legislation was the last act of Congress before they adjourned for their August recess, and President Bush indicated he would sign the bill, capping off a major victory for consumers. Read more...

IT'S OFFICIAL: FCC PENALIZES COMCAST FOR CONTENT BLOCKING
Consumers scored another big win this week when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially voted 3-2 to penalize Comcast for blocking customers' access to BitTorrent. Republican chairman Kevin Martin and Democrats Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps stated that Comcast violated FCC policy through its actions, though they did not fine the cable giant. The decision was hailed by supporters of net neutrality as setting precedent to prevent other Internet service providers from blocking content or shaping Web traffic, while rumors flew that Comcast might appeal the decision or sue the FCC. Read more...

More consumer protection news...

• Judge Nixes Peanut Butter Class Action Poisoned consumers can't combine their salmonella claims.

• EPPICard Scam Pops Up In Indiana Payment system used to trick cardholders into revealing information.

• Getting Top Dollar For Jewelry Requires Knowledge, Patience Sellers should appraise value objectively and protect their assets.

• Judge Rules Sprint Termination Fees are Illegal Telecom must pay millions in class action suit.

• Missouri Attorney General Takes on Foreclosure Scams New operation designed to protect vulnerable homeowners.

• Fake Check Scams Rise in Falling Economy Secret shopper offers can lead to wire fraud and lost money.

• Canadian Gets 23 Years in Credit Card Scam Telemarketing scheme took $8.2 million from 40,000 Americans.

• House Committee to Consider Landmark Credit Card Legislation Bill would curb predatory interest rates and lending practices.

• Plastic Grass Gets Green Light from Feds Consumer safety agency finds no lead exposure risk in synthetic turf.

• FDA Says It Found Salmonella Source In Mexico Agency warns consumers to continue avoiding Mexican Serrano peppers.

• Web Site Dishes Up Dirt, Exposes 'Greenwashing' Responsibleshopper.org strives to 'connect the dots'.

• Maryland Developer Seeks Names of Web Complainants Public Citizen argues consumers should be able to remain anonymous.

• Pennsylvania to Require Licenses For Internet Payday Lenders State banking office would credential online lenders.

• Young Adults Seen As Prime Identity Theft Targets Group offers basic protection tips to keep students' data safe.

• New York Nails Insurance Broker for Scamming Seniors Broker fined for selling seniors overlapping health services.

GAS DROPS BELOW $3.90 A GALLON--HOORAY?
Remember when we were complaining over $2 a gallon for regular unleaded? It's a sign of the times that we can cheer for gasoline dropping to $3.89 in some states after 15 days' worth of price declines. Automotive maven Joe Benton has the weekly roundup of where gas is cheapest and most expensive. Read more...

This week's automotive news...

• Automakers Report Huge Drop in Sales Consumers turn away from trucks and SUVs.

• Baby Trend Child Safety Seat Recall NHTSA warns seats could fail in a crash.

• Gas, Credit Crunch Put Dent in Lease Deals Major companies announce leasing cut-backs, cost increases.

• Hood Latch Failures Smash Dodge Truck Windshields Nearly 700,000 vehicles part of NHTSA investigation.

• Americans Drive 10 Billion Fewer Miles in Last Year Record drop in driving leads to losses in highway funds.

This week's recalls...

ARE YOU SURE YOUR JOB IS SAFE?
Even in these tough economic times, it's easy to look at unemployment statistics and think, "That can't happen to me"--but it can. Employees who aren't paying attention to the signs can find themselves out on the street before they even know what's happened. The best way to land on your feet from a job loss or downsizing is to be prepared, so our Fred Yager walks you through the various signals that indicate your position is on the chopping block, and what you can do to get a jumpstart on your job search. Read more...

This week's economic and financial news...

• Survey: Americans Cut Back On Credit Cards All ages, income groups are using plastic less.

• Home Prices Take Record Dip, Consumers Stay Confident Contradictory findings point to unpredictable market.

• Bush Signs Housing Bailout Into Law Measure criticized for not helping enough homeowners.

• Utah Shifts To Four-Day Work Week Researchers say experiment will increase productivity, job satisfaction.

ARE US AIRWAYS JETS "FLYING VENDING MACHINES?"
That's the claim levied by an angry group of flight attendants through the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) over the airline's new policy of charging passengers $2 for soft drinks and $1 for coffee and hot tea beginning August 1. AFA-CWA criticized the airline for instituting the change without providing proper notice to attendants, and for what they consider a shift in focus from their jobs as flight attendants to becoming "cashiers" focused on squeezing more money from passengers. Read more...

More air travel news...

• Delta Raises Second Checked Bag Fee to $50 New fee will go into effect beginning August 5.

• Delta Passengers Stranded 7 Hours on Plane Bad weather left plane stuck on tarmac until cancellation of flight.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER CAN HARM SENIORS' HEALTH
August isn't just the month known for vacations and high humidity--it can represent a danger to the elderly through increased risk of hyperthermia, heat-related illness. Our regular "Healthy Geezer" correspondent Fred Cicetti takes a look at hyperthermia, including the warning signs and what you can do to prevent and treat it when it strikes. Read more...

• Know Your Medical Scans Different types of medical imaging can have very different results.

• Exercise in a Pill? New drug transforms test subject mice into super-athletes.

• Medical Tourism Impacting U.S. Health Care Billions in losses forecast as citizens flock overseas for surgery.

• Feds Seize More Than $24 Million in Unapproved New Drugs St. Louis manufacturer raided for selling timed-release drugs without permission.

• Daily Pill Said To Stop Alzheimer's British scientists claim treatment destroys "tangles" in brain.

• Study Finds Big Tobacco Exploiting Ad Ban Loophole Research suggests children are in advertising crosshairs.

• Study: 86 Percent of Americans Could Be Obese by 2030 More exercise recommended for weight loss.

• Is Radon Lurking in the Kitchen? Researchers claim granite countertops may emit harmful radiation.

MIT RESEARCHERS REPORT SOLAR POWER BREAKTHROUGH
Although research into harnessing the sun as an infinite and cheap power source has made great progress, we're still a long way away from swapping out our furnaces for solar panels. But MIT researcher Dr. Daniel Nocera and his team may be bringing that day one step closer with a new breakthrough in fuel cell research. This form of "artificial photosynthesis" generates oxygen from a glass of water by splitting water molecules, producing a reaction that in turn produces a hydrogen gas. The hydrogen becomes a fuel, which can be burned or used to power a fuel cell to generate electricity on demand. Can this herald the adoption of low-cost, always-on solar energy collectors? They're not calling it "the discovery of the century" for nothing. Read more...

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