Current Events in June 2012

Over the years West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed dozens of lawsuits against payday lenders and car title loan companies, which state law bars from doing business in the state.

Because many now operate on the Internet, they have been able to get around that prohibition - up to a point. Sure, they can make the loans but getting repaid is another thing entirely.

Back in court

McGraw has gone to court again, this time suing Virginia-based Fast Auto Loans, Inc., its parent company, Community Loans of America, headquartered in Atlanta, and its owner Robert I. Reich.

The lawsuit asks for a permanent injunction preventing Fast Auto from making unlawful threats of criminal prosecution and halting the company’s collection of excess charges, failure to follow the law in seizing consumers’ vehicles, extreme methods of coercion, and other deceptive, unfair and illegal debt collection practices.

It's McGraw's second suit against the company in the last 14 months. He sued the company last year accusing it of trying to block his investigation.

Seeks restitution and refunds

The suit also charges that Fast Auto Loans violated several state consumer protection laws and asks for civil penalties as well as restitution and refunds for consumers.

"Out-of-state lenders collecting debts in West Virginia will respect the rights of our citizens and the laws of our state or they will face the consequences," McGraw said.

McGraw said his investigation shows that Fast Auto Loans has put hundreds of liens on vehicles in 24 West Virginia counties. Many of the affected consumers live close to the Virginia border where they visited Fast Auto offices. Car title loans are illegal in West Virginia.

"Unfortunately, many desperate folks obtained a title loan from the company as a stopgap measure only to find that they had compounded their financial troubles," McGraw said.

300 percent interest

After a number of West Virginia residents complained, McGraw said he found that Fast Auto Loans had charged 300 percent interest on loans made against car titles, repeatedly harassed and abused West Virginia consumers and their families and friends in attempt to collect debts, made false threats of arrest and criminal prosecution, and confiscated cars without a court order. Some victims’ vehicles were seized even though the amount owed – as little as $100 – was a fraction of the car’s value.

"While we cannot stop our citizens from seeking these ill-advised out-of-state loans, we can and will stop predatory lenders from abusing our citizens and violating our state’s debt collection laws," McGraw said.

Having a lot of people around can be pretty annoying. They listen to music, crash around in the kitchen and sometimes make you go places and do things you would rather not do.

But there's something even worse, especially if you're over 60. That something is loneliness, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. Another study found that, even if you're not lonely, simply living alone was associated with an increased risk of death.

Loneliness in individuals over 60 years of age appears associated with increased risk of functional decline and death, the journal reported. In older persons, loneliness can be a common source of distress and impaired quality life, according to the study background.

Carla M. Perissinotto, M.D., M.H.S., of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues examined the relationship between loneliness and risk of functional decline and death in older individuals in a study of 1,604 participants in the Health and Retirement Study.

The participants (average age 71) were asked if they felt left out, isolated or a lack of companionship. Of the participants, 43.2 percent reported feeling lonely, which was defined as reporting one of the loneliness items at least some of the time, according to the study results.

Risk of death

Loneliness was associated with an increased risk of death over the six-year follow-up period (22.8 percent vs. 14.2 percent), the results indicate. Loneliness also was associated with functional decline, including participants being more likely to experience decline in activities of daily living (24.8 percent vs. 12.5 percent), develop difficulties with upper extremity tasks (41.5 percent vs. 28.3 percent) and difficulty in stair climbing (40.8 percent vs. 27.9 percent).

“Loneliness is a common source of suffering in older persons. We demonstrated that it is also a risk factor for poor health outcomes including death and multiple measures of functional decline,” the authors comment.

The authors conclude their study could have important public health implications.

“Assessment of loneliness is not routine in clinical practice and it may be viewed as beyond the scope of medical practice. However, loneliness may be as an important of a predictor of adverse health outcomes as many traditional medical risk factors,” the researchers note. “Our results suggest that questioning older persons about loneliness may be a useful way of identifying elderly persons at risk of disability and poor health outcomes.”

Cardiovascular disease

If loneliness seems too imprecise, consider this: another study published today finds living alone was associated with an increased risk of death and cardiovascular death in an international study of stable outpatients at risk of or with arterial vascular disease, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

Living alone was associated with higher four-year mortality (14.1 percent vs. 11.1 percent) and cardiovascular death (8.6 percent vs. 6.8 percent), according to the study results.

Social isolation may be associated with poor health consequences, and the risk associated with living alone is relevant because about 1 in 7 American adults lives alone. Epidemiological evidence suggests that social isolation may alter neurohormonal-mediated emotional stress, influence health behavior and effect access to health care, which may result in association with or acquisition of, cardiovascular risk, according to the study background 

Jacob A. Udell, M.D., M.P.H., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues examined whether living alone was associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular (CV) risk in the global REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry. Among 44,573 REACH participants, 8,594 (19 percent) lived alone. 

Based on age, living alone was associated with an increased risk of death among those patients 45 to 65 years old compared with those living with others (7.7 percent vs. 5.7 percent) , and among those participants 66 to 80 years old (13.2 percent vs. 12.3 percent). However, among patients older than 80 years, living alone was not associated with an increased risk of mortality compared with those living with others (24.6 percent vs. 28.4 percent), the results indicate.

“In conclusion, living alone was independently associated with an increased risk of mortality and CV death in an international cohort of stable middle-aged outpatients with or at risk of atherothrombosis,” the authors conclude. “Younger individuals who live alone may have a less favorable course than all but the most elderly individuals following development of CV disease, and this observation warrants confirmation in further studies.”

You wouldn't expect your car door to catch fire but that's apparently what's been happening on some 2007 through 2009 Toyotas, according to federal safety regulators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has received 32 reports of electrical fires or burned switches from fires that started in the driver's side door -- specifically in the power-window switch.

Some of the fires have been serious and have destroyed the entire car, although there is so far only one report of personal injury, which occurred when a passenger in a 2007 Camry tried to extinguish a door fire.

In that case, which occurred on Dec. 26, 2011, the consumer reported that she was driving normally with three passengers in her Camry when black smoke suddenly filled the car.

"The flames caught the left side of my arm and started to burn my coat," she reported to NHTSA. "After exiting, the flames quickly increased and began shooting into the air untrollably. My husband was able to retrieve a piece of clothing from the trunk of the car and used it to put out the fire while sustaining a burn on his hand." 

The investigation centers on several models -- the 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Yaris and the 2008 Highlander Hybrid. About 1.4 million vehicles have the switches that are implicated in the fires.

NHTSA said it is now doing an engineering analysis of the problem. That's a key step in deciding whether a recall will be issued.

Toyota refuses to help

Perhaps most striking about the 32 NHTSA reports examined by ConsumerAffairs is the response many of the consumers received from Toyota's headquarters and its dealers: many reported getting no help at all and two said the dealers had laughed at their issues. 

In one case, a Toyota RAV4 caught fire while parked and unattended, NHTSA's case file indicated. The owner of the RAV4 said she had spoken previously with Toyota of Braintree, Mass., about problems with the power windows. After her car burned to the ground, she said she was offered $13,000, which was not enough for her to replace her paid-off car without taking out a loan. She said she contacted Toyota headquarters, which refused to help her in any way.

One Camry owner said that after his door caught fire, he quickly extinguished it and took the car to Ventura Toyota, which charged him $437.36 in parts and $57.50 in labor to replace the switch assembly.

An Atlanta-area woman said that she and her children narrowly escaped injury when their car caught fire and filled with smoke, forcing them to run accross a busy intersection to safety. She said her Toyota dealer "actually made jokes about us being 'in a fire'" and ignored her request that they save the burned parts for examination by her insurance company. Although her car smelled of smoke for months after the incident, she said the Toyota dealer refused to detail the car or replace any of the smoke-damaged interior.

Another consumer reported that he was cleaning his car with the ignition on so that he could listen to the radio when the door began smoking. He extinguished the fire before it could spread but had to pay $422 to replace the master switch assembly. Toyota refused to offer any assistance, he said.

A Toyota Camry owner said that after his door caught fire, the Toyota dealer refused to offer any assistance because his car was out of warranty and claimed that "the fire was the first of that kind they have heard of." 

Infamous for recalls

Toyota became infamous for being slow to recognize and respond to consumers' reports of problems with unintended acceleration a few years ago. The problem was eventually traced to ill-fitting floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals, forcing Toyota to recall more than nine million vehicles worldwide. The recall hurt the company's sales and is blamed for reducing its share of the U.S. market.  

Earlier this month, Toshiba released its Satellite U840Ultrabook, and the company claims it's the perfect portable laptop. That bold claim alone made me go to see the computer myself, especially since I've owned a Toshiba Satellite L655D for years, until it overheated and stopped working a ways back.

I was a bit gun-shy to look at another Toshiba, but I trudged on and went to a Best Buy display area to run some tests and comparisons.

Don't get me wrong. Toshiba has lots of loyal users. It has a reputation for making solid, serviceable laptops at a reasonable price. Sort of the Toyota Camry of computers.

We checked the comments of 1.8 million posters to social media and found Toshiba hovering around an 80 percent positive rating, which is good anyway you look at it.

The comments we checked through computerized sentiment analysis found consumers generally happy with their Toshibas, although one has to wonder how many have ever tried anything else.

ConsumerAffairs readers were, as usual, much tougher, giving the brand just a 1.5 rating on a scale of 5.

Methodical exam

Before checking out the laptop, I was careful to jot down each of Toshiba's product claims about the Ultrabook, and check-listed each one.

The multinational Japanese company's primary claim, is the UltrabookU840 is one of the most portable laptops on the market. I even overheard the store salesperson telling someone 'If you work outside of your home a lot, this is the one you want', pointing to the new Ultrabook.

Pretty portable

Was it especially portable? I would have to say yes. Just upon appearance the laptop looked incredibly thin, and upon picking it up, I imagined its lightness would be really easy on the shoulder and arms if it had to be carried on a regular basis. So check plus for ultra portability.

Toshiba also says the new Ultra book is ultra-rich with sharp, lifelike imaging, powered by HD 4000 graphics, but I wasn't all that impressed.

Don't get me wrong, the picture was pretty darn good, far superior to my previously owned Toshiba, but with Apple recently wowing my eyes with its, New MacBook Pro and iPad 2, the U840's screen view was underwhelming. The resolution is 1366x768, which is pretty much industry standard these days.

The laptop is also advertised to be extra fast in its boot-up time, and is supposed to be booted and ready to go within 14-seconds. Just to time it, I shut down the laptop just to turn it back on again. I did that two times, and the Ultrabook fully booted in 12 seconds and 13 seconds respectively. Not bad.

Crisp audio

The U840 also is supposed to have superior audio, far better than its predecessors.  It features include SRS Premium Sound 3D, which claims to automatically adjust sound to ensure proper bass, plus the mid and treble tones. Toshiba also says its speakers are of better design, and all movies, games, and music will sound crisp and distortion-free.

I give the new laptop a check plus in the audio category. After running a few Youtube videos, and playing a couple of songs, I noticed the speakers were noticebly better than I expected.

Definitely a step above most laptop speakers I've encountered. It's always baffling why putting decent speakers in a laptop is so difficult for computer companies. Toshiba apparently has thought the same thing and has made some needed improvements to its speakers.

Chintzy keyboard

I didn't like the keyboard though. It was too tiny and the buttons were incredibly close together. I know one has to get used to smaller keys, and at first use your fingers may not be adjusted, but several laptop designers have figured out how to make a compact device without sacrificing necessary finger space or softer buttons.

In today's email/Facebook, text-heavy world, buttons are everything.  Just ask Blackberry who's taken a profit dive since Apple made everyone want a touchtone screen instead of hard Blackberry buttons.

Another check minus for the U840 is the fact it only has one USB port. With the many gadgets and the loads of information people transfer, having only one port could really be an annoying inconvenience. But the laptop having a long nine=hour battery life slightly compensates for the single USB port.

The overall processing speed of the laptop was up to par. No computer speed records were broken upon testing it, but it passed my personal-user-impatience-test. I was told the laptop should handle any task that requires heavy video processing, and will maintain its speed over time. That remains to be seen though.

Plain Jane

As far as the overall look of the U840, it's quite straightforward looking. No pretty colors, no sleek design, just a basic no-nonsense look. The serious appearance of the laptop makes it look like it was built for crunching numbers, and nothing else.

The battery compartment is locked by tiny screws, so one just couldn't easily slip off the compartment door to replace or check the battery. A Phillips screwdriver will be needed, and that could be an eventual hassle.

And since my last Toshiba overheated, I especially wanted to see how hot the U840 felt after being on all day in the store's display area. It was actually cool to the touch.

The vents that are used to extract the computer's hot air were both on the back and bottom of the laptop, and the vents are much bigger than older models. The L655D series only has small venting on the base and side of the computer, which is why my old laptop had a tough time cooling off.

Overall, the Toshiba Satellite U840Ultrabook is sufficient for basic computer needs, and its best feature is the laptops thinness and lightweight. Anyone who totes their laptop around on a regular basis should be pleased with how portable the U840 really is.

At $799.99 for the 13-inch version, consumers will find the price comparable to similar-sized laptops with similar functionality. As far as performance, it opened photos, streamed video content, and loaded screens quite normally, with no noticeable flaws in that area.

However, the bland look, coupled with the small keyboard and resistant buttons, didn't make me want to head to the store register for a purchase. But it did make me wonder why it took Toshiba so long to release a better laptop than the model I bought.

Nutrex must face class-action claims that its body-building diet supplements contain a powerful stimulant banned in professional sports, a federal magistrate has ruled.

The case arises out of a complaint by Stephen Rush, who charged that Nutrex Research and its founders violated California's fair business laws by marketing the supplements as safe muscle builders despite their alleged knowledge that the products were ineffective and dangerous because of the use of the chemical stimulant DMAA, Courthouse News Service reported.

Several countries and Major League Baseball have banned DMAA or geranamine, which is growing in popularity among young people as a designer "party pill."

In the suit, Rush and his girlfriend say they bought two of Nutrex's products -- Hemo Black Rage Ultra Concentrate and Lipo 6 Black Hers Ultra Concentrate -- and used them for about six weeks. They said that during that time, they felt jittery, anxious, had a racing pulse, and felt exhausted if they did not use the products. Rush said he didn't know the products contained DMAA and also didn't know that DMAA can cause stroke or death.

U.S. Magistrate Laurel Beeler refused a motion by Nutrex that the claims be dismissed and said Nutrex had not properly challenged Rush's charges. "If Nutrex has not challenged all theories supporting Rush's claims, then the claims survive and the court does not need to address Nutrex's arguments on the merits," Beeler wrote.

The new ephedra?

DMAA has been finding its way into the gym bags of more and more body-builders since ephedra was banned because of safety concerns and is also becoming popular among dieters hoping to find the mythical "fat burner."

Body-builders say the substance gives them the energy and concentration to make their way through a strenuous workout while the overweight hope it somehow helps them lose weight without setting foot in a gym.

But critics say DMAA is dangerous. It acts in the body like ardenaline, which is normally produced in times of stress and physical danger. Taken regularly, it can cause complications ranging from high blood pressure to stroke and death.

Writing recently in Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and general internist at Cambridge Health Alliance, said the chemical is potentially dangerous and challenged manufacturers' claims that it is a natural substance.

Marketers sometimes claim that DMAA is a natural substance derived from geraniums but Cohen said there is no evidence that this is true. 

The compound, also known as 1,3-dimethylamylamine or methylhexaneamine, was patented as a nasal decongestant decades ago and is similar in structure to ephedrine and amphetamine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned ephedra in 2003, years after consumer and health advocates began calling on them to do so. The Feb. 16, 2003, death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, who keeled over from heatstroke after taking the herbal stimulant, reignited a long-simmering debate over the safety of the substance.

Crushing student loan debt is a growing threat to the economy. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports total student loan debt in the U.S. now exceeds $1 trillion, placing a huge financial burden on new graduates.

New education programs warn students and their families of the dangers of running up college loan debt, but what about the millions of former students already struggling to make payments?

Student debt doesn't have to be a lifelong burden. It turns out there are ways to reduce or eliminate that debt, but it takes time and you must meet certain criteria. But for graduates with federal student loan balances the size of a home mortgage, the student loan forgiveness programs may offer hope.

First, the program is for federal loans, not loans from private institutions. To qualify for federal loan forgiveness, you must:

• Perform volunteer work
• Qualify for public service loan forgiveness
• Perform military service
• Teach or practice medicine in certain types of communities
• Meet other criteria specified by the forgiveness program

Encouraging good works

When Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, it didn't really foresee the mounting debt burden. Instead, it was really trying to encourage people to work full-time in public service jobs.

But to even be considered for the forgiveness plan, borrowers must first make 120 payments on their loan. That's 10 years worth of payments. Only then can you be considered -- and the loan must be current, it can't be in default.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is available to anyone employed by a public service company. This includes those who work in law enforcement, government agencies, the U.S. military, public health, public education, and other qualifying non-profit organizations. Even if your position at a company may not seem eligible, that's okay -- as long as the company is considered a public service company, you may still qualify.

Volunteer work

Some volunteer work also qualifies you for federal Stafford loan assistance. If you serve in Americorps for 12 months you'll receive up to $7,400 in stipends plus $4,725 to be used towards your loan. Peace Corps volunteers may apply for deferment of Stafford, Perkins and consolidation loans and partial cancellation of Perkins Loans, earning 15 percent for each year of service. If you sign up with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and provide 1700 hours of service, you can receive $4725.

The forgiveness program applies to any non-defaulted loan made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, such as:

• Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Direct Consolidation Loans

To find additional information, and determine if the organization or job you work for qualifies for public service loan forgiveness, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center by calling toll-free (800) 433-3243.

Chance of additional help

Meanwhile, more help may be on the way if legislation introduced in March finds its way to President Obama's desk. The student Loan Forgiveness Act would set up a new repayment plan, capping interest rates and more importantly, converting some private student loans to federal loans.

The repayment portion caps payments at 10 percent of the borrower's discretionary income. The borrower would still have to make 10 years worth of payments before any of the loan could be forgiven.

And of course, first it has to pass Congress. The bill, H.R. 4170, has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Training.

You may have seen them on Facebook, they're called "Sponsored Stories" and they're generated when one of your "friends" clicks the "Like" button to applaud someone else's posting.

So does that mean your "friend" is being paid by the brand that's advertised in the story? You might think so, but you'd apparently be wrong and five Facebook users took offense at the notion that they were potentially being seen as advertising shills.

The five filed a class action lawsuit against Facebook in U.S. District Court in San Jose, charging that Facebook violated California law by publicizing users' "Likes" without paying them or giving them a way to opt out.

A judge has agreed and Facebook has agreed to pay $10 million to charity to settle the lawsuit.

"California has long recognised a right to protect one's name and likeness against appropriation by others for their advantage," Judge Lucy Koh wrote, reported Reuters.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is quoted in the lawsuit as saying that such friend endorsement is the "Holy Grail" of advertising.

The judge must still give final approval to the settlement.

In comments filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) says the government watchdog should find a way to protect low-income consumers from “exorbitant, deceptive and abusive fees and other practices” of subprime credit card issuers.

The comments were issued in response to a CFPB proposal to withdraw a rule that requires pre-account opening fees to be included in the calculation of fees for purposes of the government's 25 percent cap. That rule, established under the CARD Act, requires that first year fees not be more than 25 percent of the card's credit limit.

First Premier Bank sued the CFPB last year to block the agency from considering its first year fees in that 25 percent calculation. For at least one of First Premier's cards, there are $130 in first year fees while the credit limit is sometimes as low as $300.

But in its suit, First Premier argued that its fee structure was “in accordance with law and regulations” and that the higher fees, which were not deducted from the customer's credit limit, were necessary to protect the bank against the risk of default.

Urged not to abandon the rule

“The CFPB should retain the current rule as issued by the Federal Reserve Board (FRB),” the group said in its comments. “In the alternative, the CFPB should re-issue the rule that includes pre-account opening fees in the 25 percent cap by using its expanded authority under the Truth In Lending Act or its authority under Dodd-Frank to prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive practices.”

NCLC criticized First Premier Bank in particular, taking issue with its fees. Over the years, a number of consumers have been critical as well.

“Many years ago, I was desperate to rebuild my credit due to a divorce,” Gerald, of Brownstown, Mich., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “I got my Premier credit card to start me back to a better rating. Working 12-hour days, I unfortunately didn't pay attention to fine print on the application. I believe the fees came to well over $200 just to have this 'wonderful' card with a $300 limit.”

Mike, of Flanders, N.J., says the cards are marketed to people with less than sterling credit, but that the fees just make their situations worse.

“The initial credit limit is so low and on top of what is a low initial limit, they charged me $130 in fees,” Mike wrote. “They charge you $4.50 to access your own account online, then to increase your credit after a few months of good payments, they charge you for increase as well.”

Different cards, different fees

First Premier Bank, like most banks that serve the subprime market, offers a number of different credit card products, each with different terms. The card with the highest fees currently assesses two fees of $75 and $55 to open an account. The $75 fee is an "annual fee" that drops to $45 after the first year.

“We also urge the CFPB, in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Board, to closely examine First Premier Bank and other issuers of cards targeted at consumers with poor credit records,and to bring any appropriate enforcement actions,” NCLC said in its comments. “In particular, the high default rates of the First Premier card, which is deliberately targeted at consumers with poor credit records, show that it is violating the ability to repay rule. A review of complaint reports posted online also indicates numerous other problems and high consumer dissatisfaction.”

The group said cards targeted at consumers with poor credit records that harm credit worthiness or do not live up to implications that they will improve credit should be considered unfair, deceptive and abusive.

As we have previously reported, consumers take growing offense at commercials they find annoying or that “scare the children.” The latest to draw consumers' ire are TV spots for Terminix pest control that some find just too graphic.

“Your commercials are atrocious and cause my grandkids to run and scream in horror,” Barbara, of Charlotte, N.C., wrote in a recent ConsumerAffairs post. “How could you put something that gross on the TV all times of the day for kids to see? My granddaughter is having serious nightmares about that ugly monstrous thing coming out of the sink and breaking up into roaches. She refuses to brush her teeth without my standing there with her. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Previous Terminix campaigns have been known more for humor than a horror movie approach. A long-running staple is the giant ant ringing the doorbell of a suburban home asking to use the telephone, glancing at the floor and stopping mid-sentence to ask “is that oak?”

But among the new commercials is one featuring a slimy slug that morphs into roaches pouring out of a cookie jar. Russell, of Evans, Ga., calls it a “middle of the day horror show” and admits to being unsettled by it.

“Watching a DIY show and glad my grandkids were not in the room,” he wrote to ConsumerAffairs. “I might have nightmares of ugly slugs coming out of the sink and turning into a mass infestation!! Like something from The Mummy returns! Have no interest in doing business with any company who thinks this is a good add campaign.”

If you aren't overly squeamish, check out the commercial below.

When you take a prescription medication, there may be warnings on the label that caution users about possible harmful side effects. Do we read them? Apparently, many of us never even see them.

A study at Michigan State University (MSU) has concluded that making sweeping changes to the design of prescription medication bottles and their labels could make a big difference, and perhaps avoid some of the estimated four million adverse drug reaction cases in the U.S. each year.

The study found that when patients are handed a new prescription, few read the critical warning labels such as “do not consume alcohol while taking this medication” or “for external use only.” MSU researchers used eye-tracking technology and concluded that one source of the labels’ ineffectiveness is an inability to capture patients’ attention.

The study, which appears in the current issue of PLoS ONE, found that only half the participants looked directly at the warning labels. Twenty-two didn't even look at the label at all. Laura Bix, associate professor in MSU’s School of Packaging, suggests that relatively simple changes could improve the labels’ effectiveness.

“Given our results, we are recommending a complete overhaul of the design and labeling of the ubiquitous amber bottles, which have seen little change since their introduction some 50 years ago,” Bix said. “Our initial recommendations would be to move all of the warnings from the colored stickers to the main, white label, which 100 percent of the participants read, or to reposition the warnings so that they can be seen from this vantage point.”

Older consumers

Bix and her colleagues say improving the design of prescription medicine bottles and labels could be of special help to older consumers. They, after all, tend to be the ones that take the most prescription medicine.

On average, more than 30 percent of those 65 and older take 10 different medications daily. Taking multiple medications increases the odds of adverse reactions.

The study reveals that is older consumers who are less likely to notice or remember warning labels. Not surprisingly, when consumers saw the stickers they could recall them better, suggesting that enhancing the labels’ visibility is a key factor for people remembering the warnings.

At MSU, the school of packaging and school of psychology are collaborating to find ways to draw more attention to medication warning labels.

Cambridge Who's Who is a vanity publisher that creates a directory of business leaders and professionals. While it provides a free online listing, it also sells enhanced listings and other products like press releases and videos.

Its sales of those additional products are what brought it into conflict with Oregon's very tough telemarketing laws.

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger says the company has agreed to pay approximately $15,000 in restitution to Oregon consumers, and has changed its sales script to comply with Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA). In particular, Cambridge Who's Who will comply with Oregon's "30-second rule."

That rule requires the telemarketer to clearly communicate the total cost of goods or services in the first 30 seconds. If the consumer says they aren't interested, the call must be ended immediately.

Cambridge Who's Who advertises a free listing both online and through the mail, then personally follows up with a phone call. Kroger's office got involved after receiving about half a dozen complaints from Oregon consumers.

Company records obtained by the Oregon Department of Justice indicated that Cambridge Who's Who would call consumers who expressed an interest in the free listing and, during those calls, the company would attempt to sell memberships that cost several hundred dollars. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will now remind consumers that a free listing is available to them.

The publisher will also pay more than $15,000 to two Oregon consumers. The company had already issued refunds to a number of consumers prior to the settlement under which the company admitted to no wrongdoing.

The company has also agreed to pay $13,500 to the Oregon Department of Justice consumer protection & education fund. Kroger says the Better Business Bureau of New York gives Cambridge Who's Who a "C" rating, citing 354 consumer complaints nationwide.

More than two years after a 69-page petition from the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) spelled out the problem, federal safety regulators are expanding their probe into gas-tank fires involving Jeeps, blamed for  at least 270 fatalities.

The investigation had previously centered on 1993-2004 model Jeep Grand Cherokees but has now been expanded to include 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty models, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) said.

"The tragic question is how many more fatal fire crashes will it take before Chrysler recalls this Pinto for soccer moms," said Clarence M. Ditlow, the executive director of the CAS, a Ralph Nader-founded non-profit organization, in a November 17, 2011, letter to Chrysler Group LLC Chairman Sergio Marchionne.

"The known toll now stands at 185 fatal fire crashes with 270 deaths and numerous burn injuries," Ditlow said.

Behind the axle

The Jeeps involved in the probe all have their fuel tanks installed behind the rear axle, which could make them more likely to burst into flames following a rear-end collision. Fuel tanks in newer Jeeps are located ahead of the rear axle, a change that Chrysler Group LLC insists was made for design reasons, not because of safety concerns.

"The 1993-04 Grand Cherokee has a fatal crash fire occurrence rate that is about four times higher than SUVs made by other companies," Ditlow said in his October 2, 2009 petition to NHTSA asking for an immediate safety recall. "Comparing the 1993-04 Grand Cherokee with the exposed rear fuel tank to the 2005 and later Grand Cherokee with the shielded fuel tank in front of rear axle in the first five years of use for both vehicles so that it’s an apples to apples comparison, the defective old Grand Cherokee has a fatal fire rate six times higher than the new Grand Cherokee."

The expanded review is the final step in NHTSA's process of determining whether a recall will be required. A recall could affect up to 5.1 million Jeeps.

Flaming Fords

Other manufacturers, most notably Ford, have experienced similar problems with fuel tanks mounted behind the rear axle. Ford faced numerous lawsuits because of fires in Crown Victoria sedans equipped as police cars and taxis. At least 14 law enforcement officers died in Crown Victoria fuel-fed fires after being rear-ended at high speeds, one lawsuit claimed.

The Jeep design is eerily similar to the fire-prone Ford police cars.

"The fuel tank of the Grand Cherokee is plastic and extends below the rear bumper so there is nothing to protect the tank from a direct hit in a rollover or by a vehicle with a low front profile or one lowered by pre-impact braking," the CAS petition said. 

"The design is so bad that Chrysler frequently settles lawsuits without extensive discovery and subject to confidentiality agreements. A search of NHTSA’s FARS files for fatal fire crashes where there was a fire occurrence in a 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee from calendar year 1992 through 2008 found 172 fatal fire crashes with 254 fatalities," the 2009 CAS petition alleged, noting that, by comparison, the infamous Ford Pinto -- another ill-fated Ford model with a behind-the-axle fuel tank -- was implicated in only 26 fire deaths.

"The fuel system in the 1993-04 Grand Cherokee is defectively designed in that it contains a plastic fuel tank subject to rupture, degrades in performance over time, a fuel filler neck that tears off in a range of crashes, a hostile environment with sharp objects such as suspension bolts that can puncture the tank, extends below the bumper and is unshielded although Chrysler offers a optional 3/16-inch steel shield as a 'skid plate' for off road use which would protect the tank in rear impacts where there is pre-crash braking of the striking vehicle," the 2009 CAS petition continued.

Mercedes takes action

The petition notes that Jeep took no action until Chrysler merged with Mercedes. DaimlerChrysler then moved the fuel tank in board of the rear axle in 2005 and shielded it. "Since the relocation of the fuel tank in 2005 and later Grand Cherokees, there has only been one fatal fire crash in the redesigned vehicle. And that fire occurred after both occupants had been ejected in a rollover of a 2008 Grand Cherokee so that the deaths were not caused by fire," CAS said.

In its 69-page petition, CAS cites several court cases that, unlike most, were not blocked from public view. Auto manufacturers frequently settle fatal injury cases on the condition that the case is "sealed," protecting the company from bad publicity and making it impossible for consumers to know whether they are driving a vehicle with known safety hazards.

One case cited by CAS involved a crash on New York's Long Island on September 1, 1999, when a stopped 1997 Grand Cherokee was struck from behind by a braking Toyota MR2. Two sisters in the back of the Grand Cherokee were severely burned when they could not get out of the Jeep due to jammed doors. The driver of the MR2, a gardener, was fatally burned as he was enveloped by the burning fuel from the ruptured tank of the Grand Cherokee, CAS said.

Another crash occurred in New Jersey, when a a 1996 Grand Cherokee was struck from behind by a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The doors on the Jeep jammed in the impact. The driver climbed from the driver side to the passenger side trying to get out of the burning vehicle but was unsuccessful. Her skeletal body was found in the passenger seat.

CAS said in its petition that those two cases "both demonstrate the unique hazards of an unshielded tank extending below the rear bumper where it can be engaged by the lowered front of a striking vehicle and shoved up into the structure of the vehicle above the tank and ruptured."

And CAS said the low-hanging, exposed fuel tank of the 1993-04 Grand Cherokee is also particularly vulnerable in rollover crashes where it can strike fixed objects as it rolls.

Although quick to settle some cases, Chrysler has tried to escape liability for future Grand Cherokee crashes which occurred after Chrysler went through bankruptcy in cases where the vehicle was sold before the bankruptcy. 

What's interesting about the music business is that on the outside looking in, it appears there are many record labels around the world. Everyday a new a record company pops up, naming itself such and such records, or whatever catchy name its owners can think of.

But in actuality, there are only four record labels in the world, and the rest are merely subsidiaries. Some smaller labels are subsidiaries of other subsidiaries, and it goes on and on. It can get kind of tricky.

The four record labels, often known as the "Big Four," are Sony BMG, Universal Music, Warner Music Group, and EMI. These four root labels contain branches upon branches of smaller labels that of course get a smaller cut of the profits. In most cases, the smaller the label, the smaller the cut. And never mind the artist getting their fair share.

Last November it was revealed that the Big Four may turn into the Big Three, as Universal Music said it had strong interest in purchasing EMI.

If the $1.9 billion deal is finalized, it would make Universal Music, which is owned by Vivendi, one of the most powerful record labels in the world, or as critics say, just about the most monopolistic record label in the world.

Watchdog barks

On June 14th, two consumer watchdog groups, the Consumer Federation of America, and Public Knowledge, released a report that encouraged government regulators to halt the $1 billion deal, or at least look into the possible negative repercussions.

The report, The Role of Antitrust in Protecting Competition, Innovation and Consumers As The Digital Revolution Matures, makes the claim that the buyout would ultimately cause a major blockage in the competitive world of digital record sales. It's possible the deal could impact physical record sales too.

With huge artists including everyone from Diana Ross to Rihanna, Universal Music Group doesn't really need a corporate power boost.

But if anyone knows anything about the music business, they know record companies leave no financial stone unturned, and will do questionable things to maintain the bottom line first,  everything else second.

The two consumer groups also believe the buyout could negatively impact the music-buying public. If one label owns the lion share of the decision making, it could unfairly dictate prices for albums when your favorite music is released, and possibly control the amount of song freebies consumers get through downloads or promotions.

Congressional hearing

On June 18, authors of the report will give a briefing on Capitol Hill to explain the specific potential dangers of allowing one label to posses a disproportionate level of authority.

Just to really put the buyout into perspective, Universal would have the rights to the music of not only its own impressive artist catalogue, but that of Pink Floyd, David Bowie and The Beatles, all EMI artists.

Back in May of this year, it was reported that over 30 employees at Universal made a yearly salary of $1 million or more. The report of the ultra-high salaries came at a bad time for Universal's parent company Vivendi, as the deal drew unwanted attention to Universal's overall finances. Vivendi sent a financial regulator to Universal in order to clean house.

The European Commission has already filed an antitrust complaint against Universal, and in the U.S., the Senate Antitrust Panel will hold a hearing to look into possible problems with the colossal sized deal.

How much will the possible deal actually affect consumers? It's hard to estimate at the moment, but one should apply the same possibilities of any other global company possessing an abundance of power and influence.

Worst case

The worse case scenario for any one record company having majority say, would be a level of musical control that gets to the listeners. Historically, record labels have been known to force annoying trends and musical perspectives onto the public.

In the past, record labels had a desire to develop artists and release music that was groundbreaking. Today, there is too much money to be made for labels to be solely interested in art for art's sake, which is why a lot of the popular music you here today sounds similar to all the other popular music.

The debate on whether the Universal deal should go through or not, is just in its beginning phases. After the Capitol Hill briefing next week, and the upcoming panel hearing, we'll have a better idea on which way this road of battle will shift.

ConsumerAffairs reached out to the authors of the report in attempts to get additional insight into what the potential deal could mean for music consumers, and the music business at large.

Upon their response, more of this story will be forthcoming.

Once upon a time, if you received a check as payment you could take it to the bank on which the check was drawn and receive your money. It was a pretty straightforward transaction.

But these days banks are looking for new sources of fee income and one place they've identified is non-customers. And for many reasons, there are a lot more non-customers these days, as consumers are fleeing the banking system because of fees.

While a check-cashing fee might be understandable if they were providing a totally unrelated service for a non customer, Melody, who operates a paper route in Lowell, Mass., simply wants the banks to honor the checks issued by her customers without her having to pay a hefty fee.

A big bite

“I went to the bank with checks that were made out to me from my newspaper customers and most of them were for $20 or less,” Melody wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “Because I don't have an account with their bank, Bank of America takes $6 and TD Bank takes $5 from each check as a processing fee!”

Linda, of Boonton, N.J., reports her husband encountered the same problem when he cashed his paycheck, drawn on a Wells Fargo account, at a nearby Wells Fargo branch.

“He was told that if he didn't open an account with them, he would be charged $5.00 every time he cashed a check,” Linda wrote.

It is indeed policy now at most major banks.

New policy

“A payee presenting a check that you issued may be assessed a fee if the payee is not a Bank of America customer,” according to a posting on Bank of America's website. “Business Checking account holders can agree to assume the responsibility for this fee on behalf of their payee(s) — an analyzed account is required to do so. Please visit your banking center or call the number on the front of your deposit statement to learn more about alternatives.”

Melody could refuse to accept checks from her customers but that might not be the wisest business decision. Linda's husband has even fewer options. He can't very well require his employer to pay him in cash.

While a “check-cashing” store also charges a fee for cashing a check, Melody and Linda point to one big difference; the bank is simply being asked to honor it's customer's check. They say it's only right.

In the meantime, both Melody and Linda's husband need some type of bank account. Their best bet is at credit union, where there are fewer fees. They can then deposit checks into their accounts without being assessed a fee.

When did washers and dryers start looking so snazzy?

This is the question I was asking in my head, as I wandered around an appliance showroom getting an up close gander at the new LG washer and dryer.

The LG 3.6 cu ft. Large Capacity Front Load Washer, and the LG 7.1 cu. ft. Extra Large Capacity Electric Dryer, were released earlier this year, and are among the newest of LG's laundry appliances.

On first glance, both the washer and dryer look kind of futuristic in a good way. But who needs futuristic if the appliance of the past works better? Looks are nice, but are only the start.

The washer

The coolest thing about this large-sized front load washer is its "ColdWash" feature, that allows clothes to be washed strictly in cold water with warm water washing results. Here's how it works:

The washer has a water heating component that turns cold water warm. This differs from most washers, as users normally only have the ability to select between hot and cold settings. LG has released washers with this feature in the past, but now the heater is supposed to be better and work more efficiently.

Using only cold water for washing clothes will save you some money, as using warm water can become quite pricey. Especially for those who do laundry a few times a week, or have huge families which necessitates washing bundles and bundles of clothes. Also, cold water is gentler on your garments.

But on the opposite side of the laundry coin, the heating component could extract more electricity, which would raise your bill a little, and tap into those warm water savings.

The LG Front Load Washer also has the standard warm water button, along with five other wash temperatures and motions, for those who won't use the heating mechanism. How much money ColdWash will really save you is unclear, and if there are savings, one could probably bet the savings aren't of life-style-changing proportion.

The washing machine is also supposed to automatically set water levels and wash times, so users won't have to do the actual setting. LG certainly gets points for the machine having the George Jetson, automatic pilot factor.

The huge buttons, resembling the size of a 50 cents coin, provides a user friendly feel to the machine. The washer's six cycles are supposed to provide a deeper clean, but what washing machine company wouldn't say that? What's the advertising alternative? 'The LG Large Capacity Front Load Washer washes like any other machine'? Just a healthy splash of consumer skepticism, that's all.

The dryer

The LG 7.1 cu. ft. Extra Large Capacity Dryer has the same type of electronic laundry sensors that the LG washing machine has. Its "Dial-A-Cycle" feature is supposed to remove the guess work out of doing laundry." Pretty big claim, huh?

The dryer is equipped with moisture sensors to determine when clothes are dry, so the machine will automatically turn off. This feature is also supposed to save you money.

If you set the timer for too short of a period, and the clothes are still damp, the machine will continue to operate.

The 7.1 cubic feet the dryer has will allow users to do multiple loads, or dry big items like rugs or comforters simultaneously. And like every other newly released dryer, LG says new technology allows the machine to be quiet and completely void of shaking and rumbling.

It also has a speed dry cycle that dries a few garments in 15 minutes or less, and also comes equipped with a wrinkle free button, when you don't feel like ironing. And just like the LG washing machine, the 7.1 dryer has colossal sized buttons, and bigger sized lettering for easier use.

Both the washer and the dryer ring in for $799.99 each.

Is it worth it?

Is it worth a buy? Based on research, showroom visits, and speaking to a couple of appliance experts, I would say a high maybe, depending on the type of frequency and size you wash and dry with. A unequivical yes would be premature, since the item is still new and hasn't stood the test of appliance time.

If you look at overall consumer feelings about LG appliances, the picture is fairly encouraging. A ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis found about 3.6 million postings to social media over the last year, with net positive ratings hovering around the 60% mark, as shown in this chart.

What do consumers like and dislike about LG? The most common comments are pretty general, but here's what we found:

While that all looks fairly encouraging, before you go sprinting towards a Sears or Best Buy, it's also worthwhile to take a look at these reviews from our loyal ConsumerAffairs readers. Because a consumer should always combine their current appliance need with past customer experience.

"I purchased the LG WT5101HW Wave Series Ultra Large Capacity High Efficiency Top Load Washer with LED display, ColdWash technology, 1100 RPM, energy star compliant on January 1,2011," Joann of Terra Alta, W.Va wrote.

"I purchased the machine from Appliance Connection and even though they encouraged me to purchase the extended warranty, I did not. I now have an EO error that will not go away. I checked on the LG website and the only remedy was to remove the hose and look for blockages and to check the filter."

That's  a lot of work for Joann to do, for an appliance that's not even two years old yet. Although the machine is another model from the washer and dryer currently being reviewed, the customer's experience is still telling.

"I bought my LG washer, model # WM2016CW, on 5/17/2008, said another consumer. I have noticed all along that the clothes have this odor to them, and then it transfers to the dryer but I kept doing the cleaning cycle and it worked for about a week, then back to that smell. I tried every detergent I could find but the same results."

The best thing to do when purchasing a large appliance is to hang onto the warranty information. However, just get the basic warranties with nothing too crazy in the way of service contracts, as salespeople love to scare consumers into shelling out unnecessary amounts of money.

Both the new version of the LP washer and dryer are impressive in its design and technological features, but based on past LG reviews, it's possible the company still needs to make a couple of tweaks.

If you think about it, many people don't just have one electronic device nowadays. Between their laptop, mobile device, and  smartphone, many people are walking, breathing, gadget conventions.

And let's say a consumer has preference for devices that come from different companies. Or, the gadgets that they like all use different carriers. One could be multi-billed for each electronic. This is where the Asus PadFone comes in. (Yes, it does sound like something you'd order in a Thai restaurant but, trust us, it's not edible).

The idea of combining two separate conveniences is sort of a trend in modern technology. With hybrid cars, DVD/Internet video players and washer-dryer combos, consumers are getting used to the idea of getting two combined technologies for the price of one.

The Asus PadFone is both a smartphone and tablet together. The smartphone slips into a back compartment of a display screen, and turns the basic control panel into a tablet. The user can also attach the tablet onto a docking station, and use it like a computer or laptop, complete with a real keyboard.

The system is only available in Taiwan for the moment, but those interested can go online and purchase the display panel and the smartphone for $859.50, without the docking station. However, the website shows the product is currently on back order.

Who knows when?

ConsumerAffairs phoned the Asus company to get an idea if the device will be available in the United States anytime soon. After being shuffled from department to department, a representative said they had no specific date as to when the PadFone would sail to U.S. shores.

It would be safe to believe that the company does have a date in mind, and knows exactly when the device will be rolled out, but is keeping mum in the interest of making a grand announcement.

The good news for interested consumers is that AT&T just signed on to be Asus' first official U.S. carrier, which makes a U.S. launch seem like it will happen sooner than later. Also, the fact that the PadFone is being released in Australia this July provides more hope for those who want to get their hands on the innovative yet pricey device.

Or is is pricey? Since it combines the functions of a smartphone, tablet and laptop and uses only a single data feed, the PadFone could be a bargain for those who make full use of it.

Not everyone's a fan

Regardless, there is a definite contingent of gadget users that won't share the same type of  anticipation for the PadFone's release, as many Asus customers encountered troubling experiences with the Taiwan-based electronics company.

Take Denise of Minnesota, for example, who received an installation from Asus, only to have that installation infect her computer.

"They sabotaged my computer!" she wrote. "Asus installed 'Fancy Start' that is supposed to speed things up. Instead, I was not able to open my files or create a document. After a few calls to tech support and attempts to fix the problem, I was instructed using F9 to wipe everything off my computer.

"Hours of time and frustration," she added, "and I have lost everything from when I purchased it a year ago, thanks to what the manufacturer sent to my computer.

Other Asus users have complained that although the Taiwanese company does have some decent products, laptops and mobile devices may not be its specialty. Some customers said  Asus makes its laptops unable to properly cool down after heating, and many have reported their computers shutting down with malfunctions within the first year or two of buying it.

Some ConsumerAffairs readers have also noted that Asus can use a bit of improvement in the area of customer service.

"Asus computers -- a lot of big talk and promises before the sale, but nothing behind the talk. Don't buy one," wrote Chris of Springdale, Utah. "I've owned Dell, Toshiba, HP and Sony and all give customer satisfaction when it comes to repairs. With Ausus, the support is not there. My computer was sent to the wrong repair center and placed on a shelf for two weeks. If I not called as to its status, it would still be there."

We'll see if Asus makes some improvements as it continues to roll out its PadFone.

In actuality, the PadFone could have been going through a number of tweaks already, as Asus, has been talking about the device for quite some time. The company has already missed a few scheduled rollouts, but is now hoping to make a ripple in the mobile device waters that Apple and Samsung currently control.

Although Apple or Samsung haven't  announced any plans for releasing a similar product,  it's safe to assume designs are already in the making, so these two companies can maintain its global hold on the gadget industry.

But back to the PadFone. It's about 4.3 inches in length, has an eight-megapixel AF camera with LED flash, an the company says the device is scratch and crack resistant and should remain intact when dropped.

With no definitive dates in site for the PadFone, consumers can take the time to think if they'd like to combine a few of their technologies, or keep their gadgets just like they are. Plentiful.

The price of gasoline continued to drift lower for another week, with the average price three cents a gallon less than it was a week ago.

The national average price of self-serve regular today is $3.524 per gallon, down from $3.555 last Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey. Fuel prices are 20 cents a gallon lower than they were a month ago.

The average price of diesel fuel today is $3.795 per gallon, down from $3.850 a week ago.

“The multi-month slide in gas prices has been largely the result of bearish global economic news and declining crude oil prices, which have fallen more than $20 per barrel since the beginning of May,” said Avery Ash, AAA's manager of federal relations. “As a general rule-of-thumb, a one dollar per barrel decline in crude oil prices results in a decline in gas prices of about 2.5 cents per gallon. However, these lower gas prices at the pump usually lag cheaper crude prices by a week or two, as the less-expensive crude oil makes its way through the supply chain to consumers.”

Relief in the west

Among the states, prices dropped most sharply in states that have among the highest average pump orices. In both Washington State and Oregon the average price fell more than 15 cents a gallon during the week. The average price fell 12 and a half cents a gallon in California and, for the first time in memory, New York dropped out of the 10 states with the highest gasoline prices.

Meanwhile, the price decline was much slower in the Midwest with the average price in Michigan actually jumping more than a nickel a gallon. Eight of the ten states with the lowest average price are all in the southeast.

The states with the highest gas prices this week are:

• Hawaii ($4.446)
• Alaska ($4.350)
• Washington State ($4.055)
• Oregon ($4.015)
• California ($4.035)
• Michigan ($3.828)
• Idaho ($3.776)
• Nevada ($3.775)
• Illinois ($3.761)
• Connecticut ($3.744)

The states with the lowest gas prices this week are:

• South Carolina ($3.098)
• Mississippi ($3.175)
• Alabama ($3.179)
• Tennessee ($3.186)
• Arkansas ($3.232)
• Louisiana ($3.267)
• Georgia ($3.279)
• Virginia ($3.284)
• Missouri ($3.287)
• Oklahoma ($3.338)

Wonder why your smartphone battery runs down, even when you aren't using the device? Chances are, it's not getting enough sleep.

Because smartphone functions are energy hogs, reducing battery life in normal operations, manufacturers have aggressively built in “sleep” functions. When the device detects no activity, the smartphone goes into sleep mode to save power.

But it's not entirely asleep. Various functions need to run in the background, such as checking with the email server to see if any new messages have arrived. While the phone is sleeping, an app springs into action every now and then and wakes up the phone just to see if it needs to perform a function.

And therein lies the problem. Under normal circumstances the app will do its job, then let the phone go back to sleep. But Charlie Hu, a Purdue University professor of electrical and computer engineering, says sometimes there's a glitch in the software and the phone stays awake.

Silent battery killer

"These energy bugs are a silent battery killer," Hu said. "A fully charged phone battery can be drained in as little as five hours."

Researchers have now proposed a method to automatically detect a new class of software glitches in smartphones called "no-sleep energy bugs."

Smartphone manufacturers have designed in application programming interfaces, or APIs, available to app developers. The developers insert the APIs into apps to instruct the phone to stay awake long enough to perform necessary operations.

Bad code

"App developers have to explicitly juggle different power control APIs that are exported from the operating systems of the smartphones," Hu said. "Unfortunately, programmers are only human. They make mistakes when using these APIs, which leads to software bugs that mishandle power control, preventing the phone from engaging the sleep mode. As a result, the phone stays awake and drains the battery."

Hu and his team of researchers are working on a tool to automatically detect the presence of these power-wasting glitches in smartphones.

When traveling from one country to another, a credit card often makes it easier to navigate. Whatever the currency, plastic makes it nearly universal.

It can also save you money. A currency exchange study by Card Hub shows no-foreign-fee credit cards are the best spending tools for international travel, saving consumers an average o 8.1 percent over banks and16.2 percent compared to airport exchange services.

“Exchanging currency tends to be an important pre-trip task for international travelers, but as this study illustrates, doing so is not only unnecessary, but it will also cost you quite a bit of money,” said Card Hub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou. “Using a Visa or MasterCard credit card with no foreign transaction fees, on the other hand, allows you to save as well as avoid undue hassle, given that currency is converted automatically whenever you make a purchase.”

Fees are usually low

Even if the traveler uses a credit card that does assess a foreign fee, it's usually not that much. The study found the average foreign transaction fee is 2.38 percent. That's still a net savings of 5.72 percent compared to banks and 13.82 percent compared to exchange services provided at airports. While the cost of converting currency at banks and airport kiosks increased over last year, the cost of doing it with a credit card actually decreased, thanks to a decline in the average foreign transaction fee.

As for banks, the study finds that Northern Trust and Harris Bank are the least expensive when it comes to currency transactions. The most expensive are U.S. Bank and Fifth Third Bank. Banks' currency conversion fees are largely unchanged from last year, with the exception of Wells Fargo, which dropped its fee from $12 to $7.

Debit cards

When traveling in another country, it's also helpful if your debit card has low international ATM withdrawal fees.

“A debit card with low foreign transaction fees will also come in handy because you will need cash for certain travel expenses, such as cab fare, Papadimitriou said. “You’d rather get the low Visa/MasterCard exchange rate and withdraw cash as needed than have to trade in dollars at an unfavorable rate and risk getting pick-pocketed while carrying more cash than you need.”

And before taking your trip, Papadimitriou suggests notifying your bank and credit card company that you are leaving the country. Otherwise, they might suspend your credit and debit cards when they see what may appear to them to be suspicious activity.