Current Events in June 2012

Next to talking to your child about sex, probably the next most dreaded conversation is telling an aging parent you think they should move into a nursing home.

No one wants to do it because, not only is it unpleasant but it confronts a reality that most of us would rather avoid.

"The first time talking about this is going to be really, really hard because it's a painful subject to think about," said Gayle Doll, assistant professor in Kansas State University's College of Human Ecology and director of the Center on Aging. "However, it is also one of the most important conversations you can have."

Research at nursing homes

Doll is an expert on aging, having studied the subject through repeated visits to nursing homes where she talks with residents. She says in many cases, “the conversation” between parent and child isn't nearly as bad as it seems.

Doll found that many residents voluntarily chose to move into a retirement community that included a nursing home to protect their children from having to make the difficult and painful decision about caring for their parent.

"However, only a small percent of older adults are this forward-thinking, leaving many other families, especially now with an aging baby boomer population, to be involved in this important decision process," Doll said.

Don't put it off

Despite the fear and pain, Doll says the conversation should not be avoided. Otherwise, it sets up worse circumstances in the future.

"The most critical thing is to start this discussion before a crisis occurs," Doll said. "At the time of a crisis you're going to be looking at nursing homes and trying to make a decision. Without ample time, that decision may not be based on which home is the best, but rather which one has an opening. That's a factor nobody wants to have dictate a decision."

If you feel it's time for the conversation, here's what Doll suggests:

• Be honest and direct, beginning with the first conversation. "It won't be something easy to talk about, so that's why it's important to be direct," Doll said. "Say something like, 'I know we don't want to talk about this and I can't stand thinking about a time when our life can't be like it is now, but I want to make sure that when things change we do this the best way we can. The sooner we talk about this the easier it will be in the future and the more we'll get what we want from the situation when the time comes.'"
  
• Do not make unrealistic promises and promises that cannot be kept. "So often kids will say, 'I won't ever put you in a nursing home,'" Doll said. "Other times it may be the parent who will say something like, 'Kill me when the time comes' or 'Never put me in a nursing home.' Those are all such horrible things to say and may not be realistic."
  
• Make it an annual talk about the same time each year. "A lot can happen in a year, and it's common for people to change their mind a million times about something," Doll said. "By reassessing previous decisions on a frequent basis, you and your loved one can have the latest decision about what you want and don't want because those circumstances will have changed."
  
• Start discussing nursing home and end-of-life wishes earlier in life rather than later. Although these topics are affiliated more with older age, an unforeseen injury or crisis could happen, requiring an immediate decision, Doll said. Discussing these topics earlier in life will also help with addressing other difficult and complex issues in life.
  
• Do not assume that parents may have a stigma about discussing these topics. "In talking to groups of older adults I've found that they are much more comfortable talking about this subject than we may think," Doll said. "They read the obituaries and they have had friends who have died. The door is open to talk about it; they're just waiting for you to start the conversation."

It's bad enough having no health insurance, it's even worse to fall for a scheme that takes your money and returns nothing.

That's when the Federal Trade Commission alleged Health Care One LLC and three affiliated companies were doing. The agency said the companies tricked consumers who were seeking affordable health insurance into buying worthless medical discount plans.

The settlement orders with Health Care One, Americans4Healthcare Inc., Elite Business Solutions, Inc., Mile High Enterprise Inc., and their principals resolve a complaint filed by the FTC in August 2010 as part of an agency crackdown on scams targeting Americans without health insurance.

Health Care One and its affiliates allegedly deceived consumers by marketing medical discount plans as government-endorsed health insurance and claiming they would deliver substantial savings on consumers' healthcare costs.

According to the FTC's complaint, filed in Central District of California, the companies also falsely claimed that their program was widely accepted by healthcare providers in consumers' local communities. The Health Care One companies touted their services in television commercials and radio ads. They promised "100% satisfaction" and a money-back guarantee.

However, the FTC alleged that Health Care One's discount plans were not insurance, were not widely accepted by healthcare providers, and did not provide the promised healthcare savings to consumers.

According to the FTC's complaint, the companies did not inform consumers that their program was not health insurance until after consumers signed up for the program and paid hundreds of dollars in fees. Consumers who subsequently tried to cancel their enrollment found that the Health Care One companies made it difficult or impossible to obtain refunds.

Love. It's both the most coveted and elusive emotion of all time. Songs are sung about either finding it or recovering from it, screen writers send story lines on unrealistic tangents to secure romantic endings, and books are filled with characters searching and pining for it.

But in the last decade or so, the game of looking for love has gotten some new rules, with the venue moving from the bar world to the the cyber world.

Instead of men searching for the right verbal approach, many now search for the right photo to put on their profile page. Instead of women deciding between flats or pumps, many are now choosing between eHarmony or Match.com. It must be hard for cupid to get a decent arrow-shot when people now stay at home to begin their love quest.

But with recent reports about eHarmony passwords being hacked along with Linkedin passwords, people have to question: Are users really safe using dating sites when it comes to avoiding personal and financial harm? Whatever else may result from the hack attack, it sent consumers' perceptions about eHarmony into the cellar, as determined by a ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis of about 140,000 social media postings over the last year.

eHarmony sentiment

eHarmony attributes

Match.com seems to have profited from eHarmony's downfall, showing a distinct uptick over the last few weeks, as determined by a ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis of about 110,000 social media postings.

Match.com sentiment

Match.com emotions

$8,900 each

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans were robbed of $50 million in online dating scams in 2011. Simplified, each online dater that was scammed lost an average of $8,900 last year.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of cases filed with the IC3, only a small portion of victims went to the authorities. Some who were scammed felt embarrassed about being duped, while others didn't want to admit using a dating site.

Dating websites are the perfect place for scammers. While most users are searching for love, Internet scammers are searching for victims. Consumers use sites like Christian Mingle and Chemistry.com, much differently than they use Amazon or iTunes, for example.

If a customer is purchasing a store product from a website, they typically have their guard up, and look out for shady dealings and unrealistic claims. If a retail site requests personal information, most are reluctant to give it.

But when people use a dating site, they sometimes bring emotions, vulnerability, or feelings of loneliness along in their dating search. This is an ideal situation for the Internet scammer, as they typically count on people to be preoccupied with achieving positive online dating results.

The IC3 said it fields an average of 15 date-site-related complaints a day. According to the government agency, it receives calls that equal a daily loss of nearly $138,000.

IC3's 2011 Internet Crime Report consisted of 314,246 complaints last year. Out of those complaints, 115,903 spoke of a financial loss, and the monetary sum of those duped equaled $500 million. Sadly, many of those monetary losses were attached to romance scams. The IC3 report also showed that lonely, middle-aged, and elderly people are at equal risk of being tricked by a romance scam. People over the age of 40, those divorced, widowed, or disabled, are also common targets of dating site scammers.

Common crimes in dating site scams include users being asked for money. Both men and women have reported being asked for plane tickets, so the online companion can visit, and thrust the relationship towards a face-to-face interaction. Victims have also reported money requests for health issues, family funeral arrangements, and a host of other bleak sounding circumstances.

Fake personas

But dating site scams aren't always based on finances. The sheer invisibility of the Internet allows people to adopt all kinds of fake personas and intentions. Married men, registered sex offenders and convicted con artists have all been busted for using dating sites, so be extra careful.

Under new regulations recently enacted in California, dating sites like Sparks Networks, Match.com and eHarmony have agreed to start using background checks on its sites, and other dating sites will soon do the same. The background check will search if users had past identity theft crimes, sexual assault cases or records of violence.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris also said the sites will have "rapid abuse reporting systems," which is a safety tutorial that shows people how to avoid romance scams and how to meet people offline in a safe manner.

Reader reviews

How did major dating sites like eHarmony fare with ConsumerAffairs readers? Not that well.

Theresa of South Haven, Mich. sadly writes, "I give up. I don't have any luck connecting with someone and then when I do, they are scammers. I am a widow and these guys are breaking my heart all over again. I belong to a few other sites and it's the same thing. I want to cancel my membership, and i would also like to see if i could get some of my money back. I feel that I have been ripped off."

Other ConsumerAffairs readers have tried to get their money back, but were unsuccessful.

"I tried repeatedly to cancel membership, and was not only continually billed, but despite five phone calls and reassurance with each call that a manager "at headquarters" would call me to resolve matters, I was never contacted," said Belinda of Vermont. "It may be that I'm still erroneously being billed after not using the service for over three years."

Did eHarmony competitors Match.com do any better in our ConsumerAffairs complaints and review section? A big, fat, colossal-sized no.

Earlier this month, Steven of Ocala, Fla. wrote about eHarmony,

"I have received mostly scammers' winks, IMs and messages since I signed up 4 to 6 per day. Right away, they ask for a Yahoo address, or send me a link to look at their "photos." Yesterday, 6/8 2012, I received a dozen or so messages from a site called OurTime.com. First time I had ever heard from them or about them. They had my photos and profile from Match.com, and my credit card info. The same credit card I used to sign up for Match.com. Today, Saturday, I received a notice that they would be automatically billing my credit card $19.95 to renew my subscription".

Mind you, Steven never signed up to be on OurTime.com in the first place.

What to do

So the moral of the online dating story is:

1.) Be sure to think long and hard before jumping headfirst into a dating site.

2.) Before joining, be sure you are fully aware of the sites reimbursement and cancellation clauses.

3.) Be sure to not let any scam, whether it be by a dating site or any other entity, go unchallenged.

The last few years have proven that Republicans and Democrats really can't agree on much of anything at all. Apparently it even extends to choices in consumer products.

Buyology Inc., a business consulting group, has actually conducted a study to find what Democrats like and what Republicans prefer. Not surprisingly, they disagree on the majority of the 200 brands included in the study of more than 4,000 Americans.

For example, Democrats by and large prefer Starbucks for their morning coffee. Republicans, meanwhile, are partial to Dunkin' Donuts.

When asked that car they prefer to drive, Democrats choose a Jeep but Republicans selected a BMW. When it comes to consumer electronics, Democrats go with Sony, Republicans with Sharp.

Of all the choices in insurance companies, Democrats, naturally, go with Progressive. Allstate is the favorite of the GOP.

Relaxing in front of the TV, Democrats tend to tune into Animal Planet. Republicans, meanwhile, watch the History Channel.

Favorite sport? Professional football for Democrats, Major League Baseball for Republicans.

When it comes to fast food choices, Democrats favor Wendy's while Republicans like Subway. In an election year, some brands could end up winners or losers.

"Both candidates and brands have never fought harder for our affection and our votes," said Gary Singer, Founding Partner & CEO of Buyology Inc. "It's never been more important to understand why people make the choices that they do. Brands can learn a lot by having a deeper understanding of the deep-seated connections that drive our decision-making."

Despite the differences, the survey did find some bipartisan agreement on certain products. Both Democrats and Republicans pledged their allegiance to Coca-Cola, Visa, Google and Apple.

Here's another thing the parties can agree on: nobody likes them very much. A ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis of 7.5 million postings to social media over the last year found Democrats trending poorly, at around 0%.

And the Republicans? They're doing even worse ... and taking more heat. We found 16 million social media postings about Republicans, with even worse results, net sentiment below zero for most of the year.

That's just the beginning, of course. We found a lot more, which we'll reveal in a later story. Stay tuned.

My colleague Truman Lewis recently covered Apple's new MacBook Pro, and discussed how the new laptop was all the buzz at this year's World Wide Developers Conference. He inspired me to take a journey on the DC Metro.

On a crisp June afternoon, I made a beeline on the Red Line to an Apple Store in Bethesda, Maryland, just to see how much thinner, lighter and better the new device really was. Also, with the laptop's new Retina display feature, I was eager to put it next to the previously released MacBook Pro, to see how much more visually appealing the new model really is.

Luckily, upon arrival at the Apple Store, I noticed an older version MacBook Pro next to the newly released one. Perfect. Now I can just swing the old one around and set it right by the side of the new laptop for a perfect side-by-side  test. Hopefully no one grabs and escorts me out of the place for messing up the display.

Okay, here we go ... Success. Security didn't tackle me.

Before looking at the older version, I simply stared into the current model. I didn't operate anything, didn't do a comparison, I just gazed at the screen to get my eyes accustomed to the new desktop view.

Off the bat, I couldn't tell if it was the sheer brightness of the screen, or the caffeine swimming in my system, but I found my eyes growing in size with each second I stared. It was like the ultra clarity of what I was viewing made a gentle but strong attack on my optic nerve.

I quickly noticed that my eyes simply weren't used to seeing a laptop this clear. But hey, the previous model looked amazing too, and maybe the recent acclaim, along with my sheer excitement, made me view the laptop with an added amount of consumer optimism. It was time to visually compare both Macs side by side.

Getting cloudy

Imagine yourself enjoying the sunshine, basking in its bright loveliness, only to notice seconds after the sky darkening because of a grey cloud. That's what it felt like upon shifting my eyes from the new MacBook Pro to the old one.

What once appeared to be high definition, the old MacBook Pro now looked visually dated. The screen was darker, less detailed, and the icons appeared less prominent. But then I thought, duh ... maybe I should adjust the laptop's brightness control, yeah -- maybe that's it.

Wrong. Both laptops were set to the recommended levels, and the new MacBook Pro simply beat out its older sibling by tremendous strides. Talk about delicious eye candy. Better yet, delicious retina candy.

Besides the life-like clear resolution, the new MacBook Pro seemed to move a lot faster than the older version, as its glass track pad was smoother and much more responsive. It clearly operated at a higher and more efficient level than the older version.

Lighter but not wimpy

I also picked up both laptops, and found the new Pro was noticeably lighter, but barely thinner. I couldn't really tell the two apart in terms of density. Although the new MacBook is lighter, it didn't feel delicate. It actually felt quite firm and secure.

A few changes to the newer laptop include the CD/DVD drive and Ethernet port being removed, although they're still on the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros. The device also has two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI port, SD card slot, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.  I also ran a quick YouTube video and noticed the speakers were louder and clearer on the new Mac.

As the older version, the laptop is equipped with soft chiclet keys that will be easier on the fingers and joints after extended use.

So as far as touch, feel and basic functionality, the laptop is a winner, but I'm sure upon ownership, users will find annoying designer flaws since no device is perfect. But in my 35-minute MacBook experience, Apple comes pretty close to achieving perfect.

But I say that with consumer caution, knowing that what seems like perfection is seldom long-lasting.

There are an increasing number of credit cards that offer various amounts of cash back on your purchases. Selecting the best one might not be that easy, however, since cards offer bigger rewards for some purchases than others.

"We did an analysis of the typical U.S. consumer's spending habits and designed a calculator that will help them find the cash-back credit card that will be more most beneficial for them," Erik Larson, President of NextAdvisor, told ConsumerAffars. "Everyone's spending is different."

 And the cards are all different too. Some might pay you more for gasoline purchases. Others might pay the most on travel. If you travel a lot in your business, then it would serve you to have a rewards card that paid the most for travel charges rather than one that rewarded you for grocery purchases.

"We calculated the savings over two years instead of one because usually, in the first year, there will be some kind of bonus for opening the account," Larson said. "By including the second year we can provide a more realistic picture of the rewards."

First year bonus cash

For example, the Capital One Cash Rewards card includes a $100 bonus when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. That means you will probably get more back in the first year than the second.

The Capital One Cash Rewards card, which ranks first in NextAdvisor rankings of cash-back cards, offers a straight one percent cash back on all purchases, but also includes a 50 percent annual cash back bonus. This bonus nets cardholders 50 percent of the cash back they earn each year.

NextAdisor's calculator ranks 12 different cards, most without an annual fee. While an annual fee will cut into a users net cash back rewards, Larson says it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker.

"For example, the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express has an annual fee, but if you spend a lot each month in it's prime categories, it's worth it to pay the fee," Larson said. "On the other hand, if you don't spend a lot each month, selecting a card with an annual fee might not pay off."

For many credit card customers, the whole idea that more card issuers would be offering you cash instead of hitting you with fees is a refreshing change from just a few years ago. The CARD Act has been in force for two years now, and Larson says he thinks generally it has improved the credit card landscape for many consumers.

Using the NextAdvisor calculator, consumers are not only able to identify the cash-back card that is best for them but can go to the company's website where they can apply. But Larson says consumers should do their homework before applying.

"Look for a card with a program you can understand," he said.

Overall, the level of customer satisfaction with air travel took a dip in the latest J.D.Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study.

But when you break it down by low-fare carriers and the so-called "legacy" airlines, customers rate the little guys higher in overall satisfaction. In fact, satisfaction with low-cost carriers improved for a third consecutive year, increasing 3 index points from 2011 to average 754, while satisfaction with traditional carriers declined 4 points to 647.

"The airline industry is caught between trying to satisfy customers who demand low prices, high-quality service and comfort, and contending with the economic challenges of profitably operating an airline," said Stuart Greif, vice president and general manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Passengers want it all, but they are not necessarily willing to pay for it all. Carriers often must make decisions for financial reasons that they know will negatively impact passenger satisfaction, and therein lies the conundrum."

Afraid to raise fares

Carriers also often feel they cannot significantly increase published fares, since consumers generally choose flights based on the lowest fare. While adding fees for checked bags have helped improve airlines' bottom lines, consumers often feel blindsided by the extra fees.

"Delta displays on the website that the first check in bag is free," Gee, of Snellsville, Ga., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "Once you arrive at the airport, you are told that only American Express holders have free bags. Also I was told that if I read the fine print online I would see the details. I was very upset to be tricked into fees."

Passengers reviewing airlines at ConsumerAffairs mostly complain about service issues. Gwendolyn, of Portland, Ore., recently recounted her problems getting home from Tulsa on United.

Not going to happen

"My flight on United Airlines was scheduled to leave early evening on April 2," she wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "I could get to Denver later, but I would miss my flight to PDX and have to stay overnight there. No problem, these things happen. I opted to stay in Tulsa (no offer for a hotel room was made by United staff). I was booked for an early morning flight. So I left and came back 12 hours later on for my second scheduled flight.

"When I arrived, I was told that the flight had been canceled the previous evening and that I had been notified by phone (I had not been). I was then booked for an evening flight. So I left the airport and came back 12 hours later for my third attempt to get home to PDX. This time, I made it through security before it became known that this flight too was delayed to the point that I would miss my connection. I was told to come back in the morning to try for a fourth time. I was told there was no way for me to get back to PDX that night."

The J.D. Power study measured overall customer satisfaction based on performance in seven factors: cost and fees; in-flight services; boarding/deplaning/baggage; flight crew; aircraft; check-in; and reservation.

Checked bag fees

Checked baggage fees are a customer sore point and have a notable impact, with satisfaction averaging 85 points lower among passengers who pay to check bags. For example, two carriers with the highest satisfaction scores in the study — JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines — do not charge passengers to check the first bag.

While the cost and fees factor is important, more than 70 percent of passenger satisfaction is driven by other parts of the overall experience. The study finds that customer service – whether personnel are perceived to be helpful or rude - play a big role in whether the passenger intends to fly with an airline again in the future.

"Despite the need for some carriers to charge unpopular fees, they can gain a competitive advantage by focusing their efforts on process efficiency and positive interactions with the staff and crew," said Jessica McGregor, senior manager of the global travel and hospitality practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Carriers that find innovative ways to provide passengers with greater control, save them time, reduce hassles and make the airline experience more enjoyable and comfortable will reap satisfaction benefits."

Top airlines

Alaska Airlines ranks highest in the traditional network carrier segment for a fifth consecutive year, performing particularly well in four of the seven factors: boarding/deplaning/baggage; flight crew; check-in; and reservation.

JetBlue Airways ranks highest among low-cost carriers for a seventh consecutive year, performing particularly well in two factors: in-flight services and aircraft.

Southwest Airlines follows closely behind, performing particularly well in four factors: cost and fees; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and reservation. Despite Southwest performing higher in more factors than JetBlue this year, JetBlue's strong performance, broadly combined with its large advantage in aircraft and in-flight services over Southwest, has enabled JetBlue to retain its highest ranking.

Pet owners over the years have reported major illness and even death when they switched to a new brand of dog food. In most cases the consumer blames something in the pet food.

While mold or bacteria can attach itself to dog food and make animals sick, it's not always a problem with the food itself that is causing the problem. Debbie, of Orlando, Fla., runs a non-profit animal rescue shelter and sees a problem in many of the dog food reviews, especially ones concerning Pedigree, which she said she uses in her operation.

“We have had over 6,000 dogs that we have rescued and placed in that time frame,” Debbie wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “We have not had any issues with the dogs eating Pedigree. It seems that a lot of the complaints on this site are from people that bought the food and started feeding their dog for the first time. As with any food change, it can cause severe intestinal upset, to the point of the dog having to be hospitalized. When changing foods, you need to do it slowly and mix it together with the old food and gradually switch the dog over. Vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, etc. are all possible if the dog is not switched over correctly.”

Careful transition

Debbie is correct. Veterinarians recommend changing a dog's diet gradually. Some breeds will be more sensitive to change than others. The ingredients in some brands of dog food might also require a careful transition. Also, puppies may be especially sensitive to change.

Dry food, especially, may all look the same but the ingredients can be very different. For example, the old brand may have a heavy concentration of meat products while the new food is mostly grain.

This can be a problem when your dog is allergic to corn, as some are. Corn can be quite common in low-priced dog food.

Most veterinarians say the change to a new dog food is best accomplished over about a two-week period. You might want to start off with a mixture of 3/4 cup of the old brand to 1/4 cup of the new brand and see how that goes.

Watch your dog carefully and if problems develop, consult your veterinarian.

Cooper is recalling about 10,000 tires because of possible tread separation. The recalled tires are listed below. Cooper will notify owners and dealers will replace the tires free of charge. Consumers may contact Cooper at 1-800-854-6288.

Kolcraft is recalling about 36,000 Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers. A child or consumer’s finger can become caught in the opening formed when locking and unlocking the hinge mechanism which is used to adjust the handlebars on the strollers. This presents an amputation and laceration hazard to children and the adults handling the stroller.

Kolcraft and federal safety regulators have received five reports of injuries involving the hinge mechanism, including reports of three children whose fingertips were amputated and two adults whose fingers were either smashed or lacerated.

This recall involves Kolcraft Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers. Strollers included in the recall have model numbers starting with ZL002, ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018. On the ZL002 model, the model number and date of manufacture is printed on a sticker above the left wheel. On the ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018 models, the model number and date of manufacture is printed on a label sewn into the edge of back of the stroller seat pad. The strollers were manufactured from January 2006 through November 2009 and sold in various color schemes.

Juvenile product specialty stores sold the strollers nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Target.com and ToysRUs.com from January 2006 and June 2012 for between $150 and $160. They were made in China.

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company to receive a free repair kit.

For additional information, please contact Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673 between 8 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. ET Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.kolcraft.com

There are two ways to look at the current state of foreclosures. On one hand, activity spiked between April and May, but is down on a year-over-year basis.

In its monthly report, foreclosure marketing firm RealtyTrac says foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 205,990 U.S. properties in May.

That's an increase of nine percent from April but when compared to May 2011, it's down four percent. It means the forecast surge in foreclosures, now that the multi-state settlement with mortgage lenders has been ratified, has yet to materialize.

“U.S. foreclosure activity has now decreased on a year-over-basis for 20 straight months including May, but the jump in May foreclosure starts shows that it’s going to be a bumpy ride down to the bottom of this foreclosure cycle,” said Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac.

Going foreward, Moore thinks we could see fewer foreclosures and more short sales. In a short sale, the homeowner is allowed to sell for less than the current mortgage balance, meaning the mortgage holder loses money.

An about-face

Mortgage servicers have been reluctant to do short sales in the past, but Moore says there has been a definite change in their thinking.

“Disposing of distressed homes by pre-foreclosure sale can also benefit lenders and servicers because pre-foreclosure homes sell at a higher average price point than bank-owned homes,” Moore said. “Our first quarter foreclosure sales report showed that the average price of a pre-foreclosure home was more than $27,000 higher than the average price of a bank-owned home — which quickly adds up given that there have been an average of 1.6 million nationwide foreclosure starts per year for the past five years.

In essence, banks have finally recognized that treating the problem of delinquent mortgages with short sales rather than bank repossessions can help them minimize their losses and also avoid taking on more REOs, which they then have to manage, maintain and market for sale.

If this trend actually holds up, it could be encouraging news for the housing market. Homes will sell for slightly more than they would have otherwise and avoid going to foreclosure, which often depresses the value of surrounding homes.

What is it about eating out that's so nice?

On the surface that may seem like a stupid question. I can already hear the more sarcastic readers saying, 'ummm.....the food maybe? 

But let's dig a little deeper than that. What really draws us away from our stovetops, and using those refrigerated groceries that were carefully written down and purchased? With new cooking shows, and entire cooking channels being birthed by the millisecond telling us to cook, cook, cook, Americans are eating out in increasingly high numbers regardless of their income level.

Although it's widely known that eating at home is healthier, eating out is still the highest weekly expenditure for U.S. consumers, according to a 2010 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Whether it be a high-end restaurant where presentation sometimes supersedes portion or taste, or a fast-food joint where you gaze at the wall menu though it hasn't changed in decades, eateries aren't  that concerned with how healthy you're eating.

Sure, many restaurants now list nutritional information next to the menu items, but only because they have to. In 2010, legislation was passed that forces restaurant chains to list its calorie counts next to their products.

Fancier restaurants and fast-food chains share an equal amount of fluctuation when it comes to healthy and unhealthy menu options. But let's face it, the majority of U.S. consumers prefer restaurant chains over the white-table-clothed expensive variety. Waiting 50 minutes for a Saturday night Chang's table is proof.

Although we like to occasionally dabble in the culinary unknown, there's something comforting about going to a familiar chain, and knowing what you're getting is something you've had a million times already but love each go around. But at what nutritional cost does that love come?

Not the top concern

Most consumers don't go to restaurants to seek out healthy menu options, because it's all about satisfying the pallet. I mean eating out is supposed to be at least partially recreational, right?

But what about when eating out isn't connected to fun, a date, or an evening out with friends? When we're on our way to the work, and stop to get that quick bite, are we eating healthier then? Many are not.

Eric Hudson, a 37-year old computer program designer told ConsumerAffairs that he doesn't really have the time to think about health when grabbing something to quick to eat.

"It's mainly because of time constraints," he said. You're rushing on the way to work and looking for a quick bite to eat, rather than something that's going to be nutritious. I'll get a sausage Mcmuffin, greasy hash browns, and some orange juice from Mcdonalds."

So even if you have to grab that quick bite, what can you get that won't rock the nutritional boat too much?

Well, Dunkin' Donuts offers an Egg White Turkey Sausage Wake-Up Wrap that's only 150 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 400 milligrams of sodium. Not the absolute healthiest, but healthier than the eatery's powdered jelly donuts. At Dunkin' Donuts consumers can also opt for the "Bacon, Egg and Cheese Wake-Up Wrap", at 210 calories and 12 grams of fat.

And who doesn't love a good ole' bagel every now and then? But one still must be selective when going to places like Einstein Bagel, as many of the bagels are high in salt, and fattier than other menu choices.

The healthiest options at this bagel chain, owned by Boston Chicken, is the Plain Thin Bagel with 140 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 240 milligrams of sodium. If you prefer a little sweet with your healthiness, Einstein's Honey Whole Wheat Bagel comes in at 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 120 milligrams of sodium. Rounding out the top five of Einstein's healthiest menu items are the multi grain bread, the Everything Bagel, and the Ciabatta Bread.

If your breakfast stop is Starbucks, as it is for millions of people, there are obviously healthier menu choices than others. Among the top five are the Clover Brewed Coffee, which has 5 calories, 0 fat, and 10 milligrams of sodium.

Starbucks, Iced Skinny Flavored Lattee comes in second among its menu items at 110 calories, 4 grams of fat and 85 milliegrams of sodium. Rounding out the top five of healthiest Starbuck menu choices are the Iced Cafe Lattee, Starbucks' Perfect Oatmeal, and the Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop.

Sit down and eat something

But let's say you're not grabbing a quick bite and you actually want to sit down and dine instead of just eat?

Some of the healthier menu options among popular chains like PF Chang's offer an Asian Grilled Salmon at 320 calories, 6 grams of fat and 575 milligrams of sodium. Not the lowest sodium content, but in a restaurant known for its heavily seasoned dishes and sauces, 575 of sodium per one serving isn't that bad. The Egg Drop Soup and the Hot and Sour Soup, along with the Buddha's Feast Steamed, are among the healthier ways to go at this Asian-fusion  restaurant. And brown rice is always suggested over white, or the fried versions.

At the popular chain Applebee's, the healthiest food option on its menu is the 7 oz House Sirloin Steak with 250 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 860 milligrams of sodium. Many of  Applebees' dishes are plagued with salt, so it'll be hard to avoid it when you eat there.

If you're really making an effort to go healthier, one should just stick with the Applebees' Weight Watchers selections, or salads. Rounding out the top menu options at Applebee's are the Trios Classic Wings, or Classic Buffalo Wings, at 360 calories, and 25 grams of total fat.

The Asiago Peppercorn Steak contains 380 calories, 14 grams of fat and 1520 millegrams of sodium. And the Roasted Garlic Sirloin at 450 calories, 18 fat, and 1910 sodium completes the best way to go at this relatively inexpensive eatery. But it'll be hard to avoid high sodium counts at this place.

For those who like to sit down to an iHOP breakfast, the Create Your own Omelet, Plain with Egg Substitute is among the healthiest food options on the menu, at 140 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 320 milligrams of sodium.

The Simple and Fit Veggie Omelet with Fresh Fruit, is the second healthiest iHOP menu option. The low fat dish comes with 330 calories, with 10 grams of fat and 420 milligrams of sodium.

iHOP's other omelet dishes like the Simple and Fit Spinach, Mushroom and Tomato Omelet, the Turkey Omelet, and the Create Your Own Omelet, Plain with Regular Eggs, completes the top five of the pancake house's healthiest food options.

Restaurant chains are fun and relatively inexpensive to go to. And it sometimes is the perfect no-brainer when you're trying to figure out exactly where to eat. But continuing to select  menu items blindly can really lead to poor health in the future, especially because we U.S. consumers like to dine out so much.

So think about it a minute: Would you want to live your life as a pipe, doing nothing but moving everybody else's slush around?

No, of course, you wouldn't and the Justice Department reportedly suspects that Comcast, Time Warner and other cable companies don't like the idea either and is said to be investigating whether they have conspired to squash competition from the likes of Netflix and Hulu.

Cable and phone companies know what being a pipe is like, after all. They've been there, done that. If you'll recall, cable companies originally did nothing but capture distant television signals and transport them to the homes of subscribers who lived too far out in the boonies to pull in a decent over-the-air signal.

Phone companies were also pipes.  They played no role in the "content" that their subscribers generated when they called each other.

Three-legged stool

Ah, but that was then. Now, the cable and phone companies are basically in the same business. They provide lowly old telephone service, broadband data and the programming packages that consist of clumps of network and local stations and the output of HBO, AMC, CNN and all the other program producers out there.

So, the cable and phone companies have gotten a grip on two of the three legs of the stool -- the pipes and the distribution rights to  programs produced by third parties. Comcast has gone even further and added a third leg with its purchase of NBC Universal, a program producer.  

But the stool is getting a little wobbly lately, thanks to such interlopers as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and the other services that distribute third-party programs over the Internet, which basically consists of the pipes owned by the big cable and phone companies.

Consumers like this because it lets them pick and choose. Instead of paying $100 or more to subscribe to 173 channels to get access to the four or five shows they watch regularly, they can buy a very inexpensive (or, in some cases, free) subscription to a streaming service that lets them watch some stuff for free and pay a few bucks for premium stuff, like recent movies and TV shows. 

The Wall Street Journal reports today that it has learned that Justice Department officials have been talking with various players in the industry, asking probing questions about such issues as data caps, the limits that cable and phone companies impose on their subscribers.

Could it be, the investigators wonder, that the cable and phone companies are worried that their subscribers will figure out that as long as they have the pipe, they don't need the distribution services they now pay so dearly for.

Just to be clear about this, not all program producers are crazy about scrapping the present set-up. As it works now, a cable company works out a deal to distribute -- let's say -- AMC, a movie channel. It then pays AMC a certain amount each month for every household that subscribes to the package that includes AMC, even though many of those households will most likely never watch AMC.

This is not a purely hypothetical example. Dish Network is currently threatening to drop AMC, claiming it's too expensive and not enough subscribers watch it.

There are quite a few cable channels out there that might find themselves going back to beans and rice if they got paid only when somebody actually watched one of their shows. It would be like the  Internet sites that try to get by on those pay-per-click ads the newspapers complain so bitterly about. (Newspapers are kind of an early version of cable pipes, more like buckets really, but that's another story).

Where all of this goes is anybody's guess.  After all, when you take cable, telecommunications and broadcasting, you're talking about three of the most heavily-regulated (i.e., governmentally protected) industries out there, so expect some heavy lobbying before anything much happens.

What happens when an automaker decides to discontinue a model? Chances are the manufacturer and dealer will be willing to make deals to clear out their inventories.

Kelly Blue Book (KBB) reports that in 2012, 10 auto models have reached the end of the line, meaning price-motivated consumers might find some attractive bargains.

"Because 2012 marks the final year of these 10 models, savvy in-market consumers likely can swing really good deals on some of the cars we identify," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "In addition, the automakers that produce them are making interesting changes in their new-car lineups to fill the space left by these departing models."

Here are the 10 vehicles making their final appearance in the 2012 model year:

• 2012 Dodge Caliber
• 2012 Kia Sedona
• 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse
• 2012 Mitsubishi Galant
• 2012 Mazda CX-7
• 2012 Lexus HS Hybrid
• 2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
• 2012 Hyundai Veracruz
• 2012 GMC Canyon
• 2012 Chevrolet Colorado

Resale value

Of course, buying a model that is no longer in production can have an impact on the vehicle's value. KBB says the 10 vehicles headed for retirement this year fall into two camps of expected depreciation.

First, the Dodge Caliber, Kia Sedona and Mitsubishi Galant start out as relatively inexpensive cars. Consumers can expect their values to slip over time.

"The Caliber and Galant are two models overdue for discontinuation, and with previous model years 10 percent more affordable than their closest competitors," said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for KBB. "We expect this discount to increase one or two percent each year as they age."

Some models shouldn't take much of a hit

But KBB said it does not expect a significant drop in value for the Kia Sedona as it also is considerably cheaper than its segment counterparts. In fact, a 2010 Sedona is nearly $5,000 cheaper than a comparable Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.

KBB likens them to the used versions of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and Hyundai Veracruz, as being far more affordable than similar vehicles in their respective segments, with little additional drop in value expected as a result of being discontinued. Values will likely remain firm since these vehicles could present buying opportunities for consumers seeking a good deal in the full-size and luxury crossover categories, KBB says.

It is not all bad news for owners of soon-to-be discontinued models. If you drive the Lexus HS, Mazda CX-7, Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon, KBB says you likely will see little impact to your vehicle's value.

Motorists have seen prices at the pump fall steadily since early April. After peaking around $3.93 a gallon, the national average price of self-serve regular has fallen to $3.54, as measured by AAA.

What's behind the free-fall? It turns out we have something of an oil glut. Consumers around the world are buying less fuel while oil producers, including the U.S., have continued to pump oil.

A recent survey by Platts found oil production from OPEC nations rose 40,000 barrels per day to 31.75 million in May.

The highest since October 2008

The May production marks a rise from April's output level of 31.71 million barrels a day and is the highest level since October 2008 when OPEC volumes averaged 32.26 million barrels. That's when, you will remember, the economy went into a nose dive.

"The number that really matters is the jump from January to May this year, which shows that OPEC output rose from 30.87 million barrels a day in January to 31.75 million barrels a day last month," said John Kingston, Platts global director of news. "This has occurred even as Iranian supplies were being squeezed by a drop in the number of customers willing to take its oil. We can now assume OPEC members at least will discuss at their upcoming meeting a possible paring of production. This scenario was almost impossible to fathom just a few months ago, as OPEC continues to surprise the world with its ability to put oil on to the market."

In fact, there's some dissension in the OPEC ranks over how much oil the cartel should be pumping. Iran and Venezuela, for example, accuse Saudi Arabia of undermining the price of oil by pumping too much of it.

Saudis think oil too expensive

But the Saudis, echoing many U.S. motorists' sentiments, argue the price of oil is artificially high. Remember, prices began to spike earlier this year when oil investors believed there was a risk of a confrontation with Iran over nuclear issues leading to a supply disruption. The Saudis have argued that oil prices should be below $100 a barrel for the overall health of the global economy.

Sentiment in the oil market has turned "bearish," meaning traders no longer think prices are headed higher, and are thus unwilling to bid up the price of crude. In addition to the lessened risk of conflict with Iran, there are worries about a slowdown in the global economy, brought on by Europe's debt problems.

That leads economists like Joel Naroff, of Naroff Economic Advisers, to conclude that the price of just about everything the U.S. imports could get cheaper, or at least not go up in price.

Supply and demand

"Import prices are falling as everyone around the world is trying to sell into the one market where there is some demand, the U.S.," Naroff said, "That means they are willing to take lower prices to sustain their sales."

As a result, he says oil prices are down, further declines in gasoline prices are coming and the U.S. economy is not growing strongly enough for any firm to have much pricing power. At the same time, the value of the U.S. dollar is rising, meaning things that are purchased in dollars - like oil and gold - are getting cheaper.

That fact is underlined in the U.S. Labor Department's Producer Price Index (PPI) for May, which took its biggest drop since 2009. The main factor in the decline? A 4.3 percent decline in the price of energy.

Will the trend last? Who knows? But for the rest of the summer, at least, consumers should enjoy falling prices at the pump.

For the last 24 years the World Health Organization (WHO) has believed diesel exhaust to be a "probable" source of cancer. Now the agency has removed the world "probable" from the statement.

After input from international health experts, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer.

It also found a "positive association" between diesel exhaust and development of bladder cancer.

Diesel exhaust's cancer-causing potential has been the source of intense study over the last two decades, especially because of findings in epidemiological studies of workers exposed in various settings. Earlier this year health researchers published the results of a large US National Cancer Institute/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study of occupational exposure to such emissions in underground miners, which showed an increased risk of death from lung cancer in exposed workers.

Compelling evidence

“The scientific evidence was compelling and the Working Group’s conclusion was unanimous: diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in humans.” said Dr Christopher Portier, Chairman of the IARC working group. “Given the additional health impacts from diesel particulates, exposure to this mixture of chemicals should be reduced worldwide."

Because of growing environmental concerns over the past two decades, governments in North America and Europe have already taken some action to tighten emission controls on both diesel and gasoline engines. Among the changes have been reductions in the sulfur content of diesel fuel, as well as changes in engine design to promote efficiency.

The researchers concede that recent changes in diesel fuel and engine technology may have mitigated the risk somewhat, but said more research is needed to determine just how much. Meanwhile, they say that gasoline exhaust remains a suspected carcinogen, but current research has not offered conclusive proof that it is.

White sand beaches, plentiful sun, reggae music…and international phone scams?

When most people think of Jamaica, they imagine a tropical paradise, not a scammer’s paradise.  But time and time again, Jamaican scammers call U.S.  residents looking for easy money through phony stories about Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes winnings, lottery prizes and free cars, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The Wisconsin agency says it has already received more than a dozen written complaints this year from Wisconsin residents who were contacted by Jamaican scammers.

One telling sign of a scam is if your caller ID notes that a questionable call is coming from a phone number with an “876” prefix – this is the area code for Jamaica.  The process for making a call to and from the island is just like calling state-to-state, so many call recipients may not realize that the contact is actually coming from overseas.

Mega Millions

The scammers often claim to represent Publishers Clearing House, “Mega Millions” or a similar organization.  Their goal is to convince American residents to wire money or send the card number from a MoneyPak “Green Dot” pre-paid debit card overseas to cover the fees on a phony lottery sum that is supposed to be delivered to their home.  The scammers request anywhere from $20 to more than $1,000 for these delivery fees.

In other variations on the scam, callers have claimed to be from Bank of America or have used an opening line about “lowering interest.”  The scammer may also engage the call recipient in a conversation about religion or family in order to earn the person’s trust.

The scammers are not simply cold calling – they are using online mapping technology to add legitimacy to their calls.  When scammers claim that the “prize patrol” is in the call recipient’s neighborhood right now, they can describe the area in detail using free web-based mapping tools.

To avoid being the victim of a Jamaican phone scam, Consumer Protection offers the following tips:

• If you receive a phone call from an 876 area code that asks you for payment in order to secure a prize, hang up immediately and file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Bureau.  If you have caller ID, record the incoming phone number and the time of the call.
• If the scammers reach you once they may call repeatedly, so check your caller ID before you pick up.
• Any request for a wire transfer or pre-paid debit card for a product or service is likely a scam.
• The scammers will not provide any legitimate documentation prior to requesting your prize delivery fees.  This is illegal in Wisconsin.  A promoter who represents that a consumer is eligible or has been selected to receive a prize MUST provide the consumer with a written prize notice with specific disclosures BEFORE requesting or accepting any payments.

Recent data shows that credit card debt is down. Maybe it's no coincidence that there are also fewer credit card offers clogging your mailbox.

The cool-off in credit card mail that began in the winter of 2011 looks set to continue, at least for now, according to Mintel Comperemedia.

For example, In April 260 million offers for new credit cards were received at US households, down 33 percent from the 390 million offers US households received during April of last year. This is the lowest estimated monthly mail volume tracked in the past 25 months, according to Mintel Comperemedia.

"April marks a new low for the credit card direct mail decline that began in December 2011," said Andrew Davidson, senior vice president at Mintel Comperemedia. "The last time volumes were lower was back in March 2010. At that time a come-back in direct mail was gathering steam following severe cut backs during the recession. That come-back turned into a two-year period of expansion that peaked in June 2011 when 497 million offers were received by US households."

Lenders more cautious

While there is no evidence to suggest that consumers have lost their appetite for credit, Davidson says it appears that lenders have become more cautious again. However, he says it might just reflect a cycle and not be part of a long-term trend.

Once the long term outlook for the economy gains more solid footing, he predicts confidence and direct mail volumes will return. When they do, Davidson predicts the offers will be more competitive, as companies look for ways to stand apart from their competitors.

"Credit card direct mail volume will be significantly lower in 2012 than 2011," Davidson said. "For credit card issuers this is a great time to be in the mail. The mailbox is less cluttered and it is easier to get consumers to notice your message."

Consumers, of course, should exercise discipline and discretion before applying for new credit cards. Routinely lenders use the offer of lower-interest balance transfers to gain new customers. Consumers should read the terms and conditions carefully.

Is financial literacy education worthwhile? There was always the assumption that it could be helpful and now, USA Funds, a non-profit financial education organization, says there's research that suggests just how powerful it can be.

The organization commissioned a survey of 1,522 college students who had received personal finance education through their college or university. Nine of 10 respondents said what they learned changed how they manage their personal finances and college life in some way.

Of those students reporting changes in their personal finance behaviors, the respondents reported making an average of 10 behavioral changes. Here are the top five new behaviors:

• I consider if an item is a need or want before purchasing it and spend less on wants. (885 respondents.)
• I established educational, financial and/or career goals. (879 respondents.)
• I researched and understand the requirements to complete my program of study. (813 respondents.)
• I spend more time on activities that help me achieve my educational, financial and career goals. (728 respondents.)
• I use new or different strategies to manage stressful situations. (718 respondents.)

USA Funds invited all students who had completed at least one USA Funds Life Skills lesson between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, to complete an online survey. Respondents could choose from a list of 25 possible personal finance behavior change statements, including topics related to managing school life and student loans, managing student finances and managing personal life issues.

Regular exposure

"These results indicate that regular exposure to personal finance education can help college students adopt habits that promote completion of their college programs, as well as sound spending and saving practices and wiser use of credit," said Denise B. Feser,USA Funds senior vice president, School and Student Services.

Schools have begun placing new emphasis on financial literacy in the wake of the credit crisis and the growing problem of college loan debt. While financial literacy education is particularly helpful for young people, everyone can benefit from it.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the entity that guarantees bank deposits, offers Money Smart, a financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream develop financial skills and create good banking relationships. It's helped educate over 2.75 million consumers since 2001.