Consumer News & Alerts

August 18, 2008

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

BUSH SIGNS CONSUMER SAFETY BILL INTO LAW
Consumers won a hard-fought victory this week when President Bush signed legislation reforming and strengthening the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The bill will double the beleaguered consumer protection agency's budget over the next six years, increase civil penalties that CPSC can assess against violators of CPSC laws, and protect whistleblowers who report product safety defects. As Joseph Enoch reports, the bill also bans lead and phthalates in toys and requires that children's toys and be tested for safety before sale. The bill passed both chambers of Congress by overwhelming margins, and the funding for the new mandate is expected to be approved when Congress returns from its summer recess. Read more...

This week's consumer protection news...

• FDA Again Finds BPA Safe Despite Critics' Concerns Widespread use of potent chemical in infant products riles parents.

• Airborne Health to Pay FTC $30 Million for False Claims Company settles charges that it falsely advertised its cold remedies.

• Whole Foods Extends Beef Recall Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah included.

• Mortgage Businesses Sued For Violating "Do Not Call" Law Pennsylvania alleges companies aggressively marketed mortgages.

• Texas Debt Collection Firm Hit for Harassing Consumers Attorney General slams firm for misconduct and violations of law.

• Consumers Cautioned About Voter Registration Scams Fraudsters use phone calls to steal personal information.

• Some Drug Prices Surging 100 Percent Or More Congress wants investigation into skyrocketing prescription costs.

• Whole Foods Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Meat came from troubled Nebraska Beef plant.

• Mars Petcare Recalls Some Pedigree Dog Food Company also makes Nutro, blamed for problems by scores of pet owners.

FINDING FOREIGN BRIDES ONLINE CAN LEAD TO SCAMS OR WORSE
Increasing numbers of American men, faced with the depressing reality of middle age and confused by a world where women want more out of life than being barefoot and pregnant, are turning to online dating services and mail-order operations to win the heart of an exotic beauty from Russia, Thailand, or the Philippines. It should come as no surprise, says our resident road junkie Tom Glaister, that the majority of these schemes are scams designed to part lonely men from their money. Tom explores the world of finding foreign brides online and walks away with some smart advice for guys: When it comes to love, there really is no place like home. Read more...

More Internet safety news...

• New Spam Scam Mimics MSNBC Emails Fraudsters abandon fake CNN emails for new tactic.

• Proliferation of Online Job Sites Overwhelms Job Seekers Clutter for employers and lost opportunities for job hunters.

• Should You Place A Freeze On Your Credit Report? Credit freezes provide new protection against identity theft.

• New Twist On Phishing Scam Surfaces In Kentucky Criminals call claiming to be from credit union.

MILLIONS OF FIRE-PRONE FORDS STILL ON THE ROADS
Even with the ongoing recall of Ford vehicles containing a faulty cruise control system that catches fire unexpectedly, the automaker estimated there may be as many as six million risky vehicles still on the road in its report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Automotive maven Joe Benton has the latest roundup of which vehicles are affected and what drivers need to do to fix the problem, as well as some hair-raising horror stories from ConsumerAffairs.com readers who found their cars and trucks turning into bombs without warning. Read more...

This week's automotive news...

• Gas Prices Slide 8 Percent from Record Summer driving down as well.

• Teen Misjudgment Major Factor in Highway Accidents Risk prevention programs need better teen education.

• Honda Plans New Hybrid for Earth Day 2009 Automaker promises "affordable price".

• 33,000 Sign Up for Battery-Powered Car Volt model not available till 2010, will cost nearly $40,000.

• BMW Recalls 200,000 Vehicles for Airbag Failures Extends airbag warranty for some models.

• GM To Offer More Fuel-Efficient Pickups New models will get increased fuel economy.

Recalls this week...

HAS THE BEAR MARKET HIT BOTTOM?
For those of you who have been watching the endless stream of bad financial news and seeing your investments tank, the big question is "When will it end?" Analysts and pundits all remain divided over whether or not the market is turning and signaling better times ahead, so what's the average investor to do? Fred Yager takes a look at the state of Wall Street and offers common-sense advice on how you can plan for a stronger turn in the market while being protected from the bad times. Read more...

DON'T LET A BAD ECONOMY RUIN YOUR MARRIAGE
Not everyone can afford to play the markets in these tough times--many married couples are struggling just to pay the bills and feed their families, which can lead to huge strain on a happy union. Money worries are one of the leading causes of marital stress and divorce, but even if the pocketbook is light, you can still hold it together and not lose what really matters--your spouse. Fred Yager offers advice and solutions for couples trying to negotiate the bad times together. Read more...

This week's financial news...

• Rise in Mortgage Rates Linked to Falling House Prices Combination puts housing market in "downward spiral".

• Sales of Existing Homes Hit 10-Year-Low Housing recession deepens in second quarter.

• Inflation Surges in July Broad-based price increases continue.

• West Virginia Sues Countrywide Financial Attorney General alleges "unaffordable and unconscionable" loans were made.

• Foreclosure Activity Up 55 Percent In July Nevada, California, Florida continue to top state foreclosures.

• One-Third Of Recent Home Buyers "Underwater" Increasing numbers owe more than their home is worth.

UNITED PILOTS WANT CEO FIRED
A Web site complaining about a company's bad customer service and bad performance is nothing new (just ask us!), but when it's created by the company's own personnel, that's something of a twist. Such is the case with GlennTilton.com, created by United Airlines' pilots union to criticize the management decisions and problems plaguing the air carrier--problems they lay at the feet of CEO Glenn Tilton. Sour grapes from a dying industry or legitimate concerns from people who want their company to treat them--and their customers--better? Read the article and decide for yourself. Read more...

More airline and air travel news...

• FAA Fines American $7.1 Million For Safety Violations Agency alleges defective planes were flown 58 times after warnings.

PARENTS CAN SHAPE KIDS' EATING HABITS
Childrens' first and best role models are their parents, with the example a parent sets can influencing their child for a lifetime--and eating habits are no exception. Researchers at the St. Louis University School for Public Health tested a program that taught parents in their homes how to provide preschool children easy access to more fruits and vegetables and examined whether changes in what the parents ate affected what their children consumed. The tests found that kids with normal health and body weight did eat more healthy foods, but children who were already overweight stuck to bad habits, proving how necessary it is to set good patterns for kids to follow early in life. Read more...

This week's health news...

• What Exactly is a "Charley Horse?" How to avoid painful muscle cramps.

• California Considers Limiting Chemicals in Baby Items Restrictions sought on potentially harmful hormone used in bottles.

• Run For Your Life--and Live Longer Jogging boosts overall fitness and life expectancy, report finds.

• Overweight Doesn't Always Mean Unhealthy Looks can be deceiving when it comes to your health.

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