Current Events in November 2017

The U.S. Justice Department has filed an anti-trust lawsuit to block the merger of AT&T and Time Warner, saying the combination would hurt consumers.

The government's concern focuses on the combination of AT&T/DirecTV’s video distribution system and Time Warner’s television content, with regulators arguing that the union would raise prices.

Under the merger, the AT&T/DirecTV system would have at its disposal Time Warner content producers -- such as TBS, TNT, CNN, Cartoon Network, HBO, and Cinemax. That programming includes the popular series Game of Thrones, NCAA’s March Madness, and MLB and NBA regular season and playoff games.

“This merger would greatly harm American consumers," said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department’s Antitrust Division.

Higher bills for consumers

Delrahim said the merger would lead to higher monthly television bills without the emerging innovative options that have begun to draw viewers back to pay TV.

“AT&T/DirecTV’s combination with Time Warner is unlawful, and absent an adequate remedy that would fully prevent the harms this merger would cause, the only appropriate action for the Department of Justice is to seek an injunction from a federal judge blocking the entire transaction,” Delrahim said.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said the government's opposition to the deal "defies logic" and has raised the possibility of political motives, since President Trump is a vocal critic of Time Warner's CNN.

Agreeing with the Justice Department

But the Free Press Foundation, a frequent critic of the Trump Administration, nonetheless is siding with Trump's Justice Department on this question, saying the proposed merger is indeed bad for consumers.

“Blocking this merger is the right thing to do, and we hope the Justice Department is doing it for the right reasons,” said Free Press CEO Craig Aaron in an email to ConsumerAffairs. "This deal would give AT&T way too much power to undercut competitors and raise costs on TV viewers and internet users everywhere."

Aaron says the merger is driven by what he called "Wall Street’s insatiable desire for short-term growth at any cost." Like Delrahim, he predicted a union of the two companies would be good for Wall Street, but ordinary consumers would get stuck with higher TV bills.

A new long-term study suggests electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have no negative health outcomes when used daily by young adults who have never smoked.

After tracking nine e-cigarette users with no history of smoking and twelve lifetime non-smokers and non-vapers over several years, researchers from the University of Catania concluded that vaping had “no impact” on participants’ health.

“In spite of previous health scares, our study shows for the first time no risk in long-term vapers who have never smoked in their life,” said lead author Dr. Riccardo Polosa.

No long-term health consequences

A growing body of research has attempted to answer the question of whether or not e-cigarettes are safe to use. Detractors have pointed out that heavy e-cigarette use, or vaping, can lead to increased frequency of smoking and heavier smoking overall, especially among teens.

The safety of these products has also been called into question by researchers who say that e-cigarette liquid contains high levels of toxic metals and other dangerous chemicals.

But despite these findings, Polosa and his colleagues say that relatively few long-term studies have investigated how safe e-cigarettes are for humans. Their study found that young people who had never smoked showed no marked difference in blood pressure, heart rate, lung function, or other health metrics after using the products for three and a half years.

While two years of cigarette usage was enough to fuel changes in spirometry and CT scans in young people, the CT scans of vapers did not reveal any signs of lung damage, lipoid pneumonia, or popcorn lung. The researchers say this finding held true even among participants with the highest consumption of e-liquid.

More research needed

Despite the positive findings, the researchers noted that even longer-term research is needed to rule out any possible negative impacts of vaping. However, they argue that the results of the study suggest fears about the impact of vaping on nonsmokers may be unwarranted.

In an interview with ConsumerAffairs, pulmonary specialist Dr. Mario F. Perez said he believes it’s too early for researchers to say that vaping is a “safe” alternative to smoking.

“I think more research is necessary in order to answer this question and that is something that we are currently doing,” he said.

“I believe that we are still discussing their safety both in the general population and in those who currently use conventional cigarettes and are attempting to quit through electronic cigarettes, but the current data does not allow us to really recommend these products quite yet for that purpose.”

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has fined Conduent Business Services, formerly known as Xerox Business Systems, $1.1 million for erroneous information it sent about consumers to the three credit bureaus.

The CFPB said the company's software errors resulted in the incorrect information being placed on one million consumers' credit reports, which lowered their credit scores and could have impacted their ability to borrow money.

The company was also cited for its failure to tell all of its auto loan clients about the problem in its software. In addition to agreeing to the fine, Conduent has agreed to fix the software and explain the problem to its clients, CFPB said.

“We have entered into a consent order with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau stemming from a 2014 investigation," a company spokesman said in an email to ConsumerAffairs. "We are focused on maintaining open communications with customers regarding any changes our partners make to their software that may impact their reporting.”

Flawed software

The government's complaint alleges that Conduent used "flawed, unreleased loan-servicing software" that resulted in inaccurate and incomplete information about consumers being sent to credit reporting agencies.

In some cases, CFPB said consumers’ credit files were missing the date of the borrowers’ first delinquent payment, or had an incorrect date. Other missing or incorrect information included the amounts of payments and past due amounts.

Mistakes on credit reports have plagued consumers for years. Often consumers don't learn of incorrect information in their credit reports until they apply for a loan.

Now easier to correct errors

However, attorneys general from 31 states reached a settlement with the three credit reporting agencies in 2015 to make it easier for consumers to correct errors in their credit reports.

The investigation examined how the credit reporting agencies investigate consumer disputes about errors on credit reports and increased accountability for the companies that provide credit information, known as data furnishers.

The agreement required the credit bureaus to hold data furnishers to higher standards, provide greater protections for consumers who dispute information on their credit reports, limit the kinds of information that can go on a credit report, and provide additional consumer education.

Consumers can review their credit reports from all three credit agencies once a year at no charge by going to www.annualcreditreport.com.

Trafon Group of Puerto Nuevo, P.R., is recalling approximately 297,828 pounds of chicken and pork products.

The products were not presented at the U.S. point-of-entry for inspection.

The following ready-to-eat pork and chicken and raw intact pork items, produced between April 26, 2017 and Sept. 27, 2017, by multiple Canadian establishments, are being recalled:

• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing 10 franks of “Harvest Creek CHICKEN FRANKS” with “Best by/Use by” dates of 12/07/2017 with lot code 93023.
• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing 10 franks of “Harvest Creek CHICKEN FRANKS” with “Best by/Use by” dates of 12/10/2017 with lot code 93023.
• 48-lb. cases containing 8 6-lb. logs of “OLYMEL PLUS IMPORTED PORK SHOULDER PICNIC AND HAM” with lot codes of 71160.
• 24-lb. cases containing 2 12-lb. logs of “Polean Fully COOKED Imported Ham” with lot codes of 727025.
• Cartons containing 4 plastic wrapped frozen pork loins with random weights.
• Cartons containing 4 plastic wrapped frozen pork loins with random weights and case codes of Cert. 828131/Canada 80.
• Cartons containing 4 plastic wrapped frozen pork loins with random weights and case codes of Cert. 828132/Canada 80.
• 2.29-lb packages containing center cut pork chops labeled "CHULETA DE CERDO CORTE CENTRO CANADA" with "Best by/Use by" dates of 10/31/2018.

The recalled items were shipped to retail, hotel, restaurant and institutional locations in Puerto Rico.

In addition, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert regarding roughly 6,907 pounds of chicken products produced by Productos Dany of Hatillo P.R., that may contain products that have been recalled because they contain previously recalled ingredients.

These products were imported by the Trafon Group, but were not presented for FSIS re-inspection and are subject to recall.

The following not ready-to-eat chicken items, produced and packaged from October 30, 2017, through November 7, 2017, are subject to the public health alert:

• 6.72-lb. plastic wrapped cases containing 24-count of individually wrapped “Productos Dany Inc., Cheese Dog” with lot code(s) 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 309 or 310.
• 9.10-lb. plastic wrapped cases containing 24-count of individually wrapped “Productos Dany Inc. Doggie Pizza” with lot code(s) 302, 304, 305, 306, 309 or 310.

The products, bearing establishment number “P-45932” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations in Puerto Rico.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of any of these products.

What to do

Consumers who have purchased the above products should not consume them, but throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Javier Pietrantoni at (787) 342-7272 or at Javier.pietrantoni@trafongroup.com.

Holiday travelers should use caution when paying at the pump this week. 

The FBI is warning of an increase in the use of so-called credit card skimmers that can steal card data.

The agency reports the arrests of eight people in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana on charges of aggravated identity theft and says the investigation is still underway.

Credit card skimmers are electronic devices designed to look like real credit card readers. Identity thieves place them over the actual card readers on gas pumps, or in some cases switch the fake readers with the real ones.

When consumers swipe their cards on the skimmer, it records the data, which the thieves retrieve later. It's an old tactic, but one law enforcement is seeing more and more.

“As advances in technology influence almost every aspect of our daily lives, it is important to remember these same advances allow the unscrupulous to prey on unsuspecting members of the public,” said Amy Hess, FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Western District of Kentucky.

Self defense steps

Motorists can protect themselves by being especially observant when they prepare to fill their tanks. Before inserting a card into a gas pump card reader, look at it closely–skimmers are not always that easy to spot.

Blogger Krebs on Security notes that some skimmers are very small and are attached to the front of the card slot. When a consumer inserts a card, the skimmer captures the data, along with the real card reader.

The thieves come back later and remove the skimmer and retrieve the stolen credit card information. They use it to create clone cards that can be used to make numerous unauthorized purchases.

Advances in skimmer technology have made the scam even more dangerous. In addition to capturing the data, newer devices use wireless technology to transmit the data to a remote location, meaning the thieves don't have to return to the gas pump, making them less likely to be caught. 

The FBI says some of the newer skimmers will even text the stolen data to the thieves.

Cheap and extremely common

Sparkfun, an electronics component company, said it was recently contacted by law enforcement to retrieve data from some newly discovered skimmers. These particular skimmers, it said, broadcast over bluetooth as HC-05.

It describes the bluetooth module on the skimmers as cheap and extremely common. It concludes that the electronic components make gas pump skimmers themselves cheap and increasingly common, becoming “more of a nuisance across North America.”

This nuisance is a good reason to always use a credit card–never a debit card–at gas pumps. If your credit card data is stolen, you can limit your liability to $50 by immediately contacting the card issuer.

If your debit card data is stolen, the thief could clean out your bank account. You may get your money back, with limited loss, if you notify the bank immediately. But if your account has no money for several days, you could miss important obligations like rent or bills and potentially overdraft on automatic debits.

With AAA predicting record holiday travel over the Thanksgiving period, the safest course of action is to pay inside when you stop for gas wherever possible.

Thanksgiving is a time for family members to come together, but sometimes holiday reunions can be a recipe for conflict.

The stress of travel, longstanding disagreements between family members, and today’s contentious political climate can give way to arguments that can put a damper on the event.

To keep your family’s Thanksgiving get-together free of quarrels and conflict, experts recommend following a few key rules.

Don’t talk politics

In an interview with ConsumerAffairs, gerontologist and professor of human development Karl Pillemer offered a few tips for keeping holiday gatherings from turning into a political debate.

• Avoid hot-button issues. “Thanksgiving is not the time to try to show your parents, for example, that their political views are all wrong. That’s the idea behind the ‘politics-free holiday,’” said Pillemer.

• Squash potential conflict early. “When Uncle Bob, a football fan, is gearing up to spout extreme political views, jump it with ‘How about those Broncos/Jets/ Patriots/Bears?’ Lead people away from the hot-button topic.”

• Find another activity. “If a heated debate starts up, that’s the time to toss the football in the backyard with the kids, help with the dishes, or go for a walk,” Pillemer says.

Spark intergenerational dialogue

Thanksgiving is an event that often brings multiple generations together under one roof, which makes it a perfect opportunity for younger family members to reap the wisdom of older family members.

Younger family members can ask older family members to share their advice for living, says Pillemer. Asking about advice for living can be even more powerful than asking for life stories, he says.

“Don’t just ask: ‘What was it like to be a child in the Great Depression,’ but follow it up with: ‘What did you learn from that experience that would help a young person like me?’”

Avoid bringing up the past

Avoid bringing up a past incident that may upset another family member, such as a divorce or separation, to keep dinner conversations positive.

However, if an elder family member touches on a sensitive topic -- the death of a child or surviving a terrible experience like the Holocaust, for instance -- the best thing to do is to let the elders set their own limits and listen sympathetically, says Pillemer.

“In my hundreds of interviews, I found that older people pick and choose what they will share with a younger person in these ‘wisdom interviews,’ and often steer clear of the most traumatic events in their lives if they can’t handle discussing them.”

Keep it light

Relax your expectations for the event and remember to enjoy your time with family members. If your family isn’t too competitive, you could play a group game like Charades or touch football.

If children will be in the mix, have them participate in small tasks like setting the table or hanging up hats and coats. Expect them to spill or break things and to have loud moments of silly fun.

For guests who will be staying more than one day, consider planning a fun activity to do each day -- but make it optional. Too much togetherness can sometimes create conflict.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 12,429 model year 2018 F-150s equipped with a 3.3L engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever.

Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display, and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral before the vehicle achieves Drive function.

Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin November 20, 2017.

Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.

With Black Friday a week away, retailers are trying to beat each other’s door-buster deals by getting an early jump on the competition.

Amazon today began marking down toys and electronics, including $20 off the Echo Dot, dropping the price to $29.99. It's also taking $20 off the Echo and $30 off the Echo Plus.

Amazon has also started selling a 40-inch smart TV for $279.99 and a Sony 55-inch 4K Ultra smart TV for $999.99. The sale prices are good now until Black Friday, when the retailer will roll out another set of deals.

Walmart has also cut prices on TVs a week ahead of the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. It's now selling a Samsung 55-inch class curved 4K smart TV for $597.99, more than $400 off the regular price.

It has also cut prices on laptop computers, with the Lenovo Ideapad 320, with a 15.6 inch screen, selling for $259. For those needing more computing power, the Acer Aspire VX 15 gaming notebook is $899, $111 off the list price.

This week Target and Sam's Club showed their Black Friday hands, publishing deals that will be available on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. Best Buy is advertising a "beat the Black Friday rush sale," with up to $200 off the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus through Saturday, November 18.

Black Friday now a “season”

"Black Friday is now a season and it seems like the season starts November 1," Tom Arnold, professor of finance at the University of Richmond, told ConsumerAffairs. "The ones that seem to jump right in there seem to do the best. I thought Target did a very good job rolling out their early deals."

Arnold has been watching the growing competition between Walmart and Amazon that has heated up with Black Friday's approach. So far, he gives Walmart high marks.

"They want to take a significant swipe at Amazon and so far it looks like they've been reasonably successful," Arnold said.

This competition is likely to work in the consumer's favor as the holiday shopping season unfolds. Holiday shopping site BestBlackFriday, which has obtained leaked ad slicks, says Black Friday prices for TV sets this year are the lowest it's seen.

Challenge for local merchants

Local merchants can sometimes get overlooked in the competition between big box retailers, but Arnold says they still have the opportunity to compete, especially with online retailers.

"The local business has to offer something the online vendor can't," he said. "It could be in the form of service or better shopping experience."

He said that may be especially important to consumers making last minute gift purchases, worried about potential delivery issues.

Amid an endless string of holiday parties and food-filled celebrations, it can be all too easy to veer off course with regard to diet and nutrition. But in order to avoid the post-holiday bulge, it’s important to make sure you don’t overindulge.

The average person puts on about a pound from November to January. While it might not seem like a lot, that extra pound can linger -- sometimes well into the next year.

Research shows some of the weight people tend to gain over the holidays isn’t lost until five months later –and some people don’t shed their winter weight the following year. In the case of the latter, holiday weight gain can continue to accumulate year after year.

To avoid starting the New Year off with weight to lose, nutrition experts recommend making a plan to help yourself avoid extra sweet treats and rich meals around the holidays. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Eat before the party

Eat healthy in the hours leading up to the holiday party you plan to attend. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends focusing on lean protein, whole grains, and simply prepared fruits and vegetables.

And make sure you eat enough. Consuming too few calories in hopes that it will give you leeway to indulge later is a bad idea, experts say. Similar to grocery shopping on an empty stomach, showing up to a party hungry can result in going overboard on food.

Count your drinks

It’s no secret that alcoholic beverages are full of calories. If you’re trying to maintain your ideal weight, go easy on alcohol -- especially if you have more than one social gathering to attend per week.

"If you choose to consume alcohol this holiday season, opting for a light beer or a glass of dry wine, which comes in at about 100 to 150 calories, is a far better option and contains less sugar than homemade cider or a seasonal beer, which can often have as many as 200 calories per drink," Courtney McCormick, Corporate Dietitian at Nutrisystem, told ConsumerAffairs.

Keep a tally in your head of how many drinks you have had, or use a calorie-counting app. To pace yourself and stay hydrated, have a glass of water between drinks.

Choose healthy options

If you’re not confident there will be a healthy holiday dish available at the party, bring your own. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes can be a nice swap for a traditional Mashed Potato dish, McCormick said.

Be sure to load up on healthy food options (like fruits and vegetables that may be set out as appetizers) first, even if that doesn’t leave much room for the main course. Avoid reaching for too many calorie-dense appetizers, like mixed nuts or mini hot dogs.

While eating healthy is the goal, you don’t have to forgo holiday treats altogether. Lindsey Joe, a registered dietitian and nutritionist has one key rule for holiday parties: “eat what you love, leave what you like.” Avoid nibbling on food that doesn’t give you true enjoyment.

Be social

Another way to keep yourself from overeating? Socialize–and do so away from the buffet or appetizer trays to minimize unconscious snacking.

Spending the party socializing can help you avoid the temptation to eat too many diet-sabotaging foods. If you’re still hungry after the party, you can always get a healthy snack or meal at home.

A survey by venture capital firm Blockchain Capital shows growing enthusiasm for digital currencies–Bitcoin in particular–has real traction among younger generations.

The survey found the most awareness, sentiment and conviction in Bitcoin is among millennials. While 30 percent of U.S. consumers have heard of Bitcoin, 42 percent of millennials describe themselves as at least "somewhat familiar" with the currency.

"Millennials are the driving force behind of all this," financial columnist Patrick Graham told ConsumerAffairs. "Bitcoin and the blockchain technology are the manifestation of how coding and the power of the crowd can come together to create new products, services, and things."

Graham says millennials also like the revolutionary and disruptive nature of Bitcoin and the fact that nobody owns it or its blockchain, which is a growing list of encrypted transactions.

The people who control Bitcoin are ordinary people, not bankers. So-called "miners" who produce Bitcoins through their work, investors, consumers, merchants, and entrepreneurs own the technology.

'Scary stuff for baby boomers'

"This is scary stuff for older baby boomers who are still trying to figure out the internet," Graham said.

Maybe not so much scary as confusing. Luckily for those who aren’t familiar with it, digital currency basics are fairly straightforward

"To buy bitcoin, you must create an online wallet, much like a PayPal account," Graham says. The most popular is Coinbase – which also runs a cryptocurrency exchange where you can buy and sell hundreds of digital currencies."

The account is linked to a savings or checking account, allowing your to transfer dollars back and forth. To make a transaction in Bitcoin, both buyer and seller must have an account.

"It’s a simple peer-to-peer transaction that’s no different than exchanging cash," Graham said.

Cutting out the middleman

Digital currency also cuts out the middleman. There is no credit card company or bank taking a small cut of every transaction. 

Graham says it's also safer. The transactions are encrypted and stored in an open source blockchain that everyone can see in real time, but no one can change.

The transactions are verified by a decentralized army of computer scientists, data experts, software developers and computer geeks. These people are called "miners," because their work is rewarded with a small fraction of a Bitcoin, which comes from a transaction fee paid by the seller.

"Once verified, the transaction is sealed forever – no one can modify it and it is added to the blockchain," Graham said.

Mining is how “new” Bitcoins are created and added to circulation. But unlike U.S. dollars, there is a cap on the number of Bitcoins that can be created, protecting the currency from inflation. For some, that is part of its appeal.

Early on, Bitcoin was a favored transaction vehicle among hackers running ransomware scams, since they could receive their ransom in untraceable digital currency. But Bitcoin is beginning to win converts among mainstream businesses. Demand for the currency pushed its value to a high of more than $7,000 before a steep sell-off.

Graham says an interesting question is whether traditional financial services firms will copy the safer blockchain technology to make their products safer. So far, he says he has seen no signs that they will.

Birds fly south for the winter, but Monterey County, California, beckons travelers to head west.

The region, with its mild year-round climate, is promoting itself as a "winter getaway for couples," featuring romantic B&Bs, award-winning wineries, outdoor nature activities, and spectacular Pacific Coast scenery.

Situated on California's Central Coast, Monterey County includes Big Sur to the south and the picturesque communities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel By The Sea on the Monterey Peninsula, which juts into the Pacific Ocean.

The famous Pebble Beach Golf Links is on the southern end of the peninsula, the site of many famous golf tournaments that draws both celebrities and professional golfers.

Pacific Grove

Jessica Keener, spokeswoman for the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, says wintertime visitors will avoid the crowds and might enjoy staying in one of the B&Bs in Pacific Grove. She says the Centrella Inn provides romantic accommodations and is conveniently located near other attractions.

"The location is great because you're just steps away from Lighthouse Avenue, which is in downtown Pacific Grove, where there are antique shops and restaurants, and you're also close to Lover's Point and the coast," Keener told ConsumerAffairs.

Lover's Point is a four-acre park used for picnicking, fishing, swimming, water sports, and surfing. It also provides a nice view of the ocean.

Restaurants with a view

In fact, a big part of Monterey County's attraction is the view of the rugged coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Restaurants strategically located to provide those views tend to be popular dining spots.

For breakfast, Keener recommends the California Market at Pacific's Edge, at Carmel Highlands. "I like to have one of their breakfast dishes on their 1,200 square foot deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean," she said.

For lunch, Keener suggests heading down to Big Sur to dine at Nepenthe. She recommends their signature ambrosia burger. For dinner, Keener is fond of The Beach House at Lover's Point, in Pacific Grove.

"It has a nice view of Monterey Bay where you can watch the sunset from their massive windows," she said.

Diners are also likely to catch sight of the hundreds of sea lions and sea otters that seem to be everywhere along the coast. If you take a ride on a whale-watching cruise, you are likely to spy much larger sea creatures. This week, one whale watching boat reported spotting more than 60 blue whales off the Monterey County coast.

Wine country

Monterey County also lies in the heart of one of California's most prolific wine-growing regions. A three-day tour will allow visitors to experience the tasting rooms of River Road, the country charm of Carmel Valley, and the coastal views of Monterey and Carmel.

Monterey County has been a backdrop in literature and motion pictures. John Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row" is set in Monterey County, and to honor the writer, Keener says a street was renamed Cannery Row in the 1950s. Today, Cannery Row is lined with shops and restaurants and is one of Monterey's biggest attractions.

The area's year-round moderate climate and spectacular views has also drawn Hollywood over the years, with many famous directors choosing Monterey as a location to film. "From Here To Eternity" was produced there in 1953, with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr's famous kissing scene filmed in the surf of Big Sur instead of Hawaii.

Getting there

Monterey County Regional Airport has connections to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other western cities.

Travelers might find cheaper fares by flying to San Francisco, renting a car, and enjoying the two-hour drive along scenic Highway 1, which hugs the Pacific coastline from the Bay Area to Monterey County.

The average credit score of approved rental applicants in the U.S. is getting higher, a new analysis from apartment search website RENTcafe suggests.

Renters who applied and were approved for an apartment in 2014 had an average credit score of 638, while those who applied and were approved in 2017 had an average score of 650. However, credit score requirements are even steeper for those trying to rent in high-end buildings.

In 2017, tenants approved to rent an apartment in a Class A building had an average credit score of 683;in Class B buildings, the average score was 647. Meanwhile, low-end buildings like Class C and D accepted renters with average scores of 624.

Highest average credit scores

Some markets have higher credit requirements compared to others, according to the research. In Boston, where renters pay north of $3,000 per month, tenants have an average credit score of 737 -- the highest among the 50 U.S. cities studied in the analysis.

San Francisco has the second-highest renter credit scores in the country, where renters have an average score of 724. Those renting in Seattle, Wash. had the third-highest average scores at 711.

Varies by location

But high credit score requirements aren’t only found in pricey rental markets. Even cities with less expensive apartments have high credit standards, the study found.

In Minneapolis, Minn., renters have an average credit score of 711 -- the same as those in Seattle. As market competition drives up the cost of renting in some cities, many buildings now have higher credit score requirements.

Another example is Oakland, Calif., where the average credit score for those renting an apartment soared to 707 in 2017. Renters in Philadelphia, Pa. also had average scores in the 700s.

“Basically it is an issue of competition. As there are more applicants than properties in many markets, landlords can increase the requirements of hurdles applicants need to meet,” financial expert Peter Neeves told ConsumerAffairs.

“Increasing competition in tight real estate markets can result not only in higher rents, but also in more stringent rental standards. This can be seen by landlords requiring higher credit scores or other new or increased burdens on applicants,” Neeves said.

Interestingly, those accepted to lease an apartment in New York -- the most expensive rental market in the U.S. -- had very “average” credit scores of 654.

The top cities where applicants can get by with relatively low credit scores are Las Vegas, Memphis, Tenn., Milwaukee, Wis., Mesa, Ariz., and Arlington, Texas.

Certain California, Pennsylvania and Arkansas Walmart shoppers may encounter a surprise in the form of a two-foot tall, mobile machine scanning the inventory. 

How well do these robot workers navigate the often chaotic environment that is Walmart? Customer feedback has yet to surface online, and the robot’s creators say the store is not ready to publicly disclose the actual store locations deploying their robot workforce. 

According to Bossa Nova Robotics, testing is going well. The robots have not hit anybody. 

"We have been hit by shopping carts driving into us but we have never had a collision that was initiated by the robot,” Bossa Nova Robotics CEO Martin Hitch tells ConsumerAffairs. “That's testament to the way we developed this.” 

Hitch feels early test results indicate that Walmart is a good fit. Shoppers are typically curious when they see the robot and then go about their day, he says. 

Walmart recently announced that it was deploying the shelf-scanning robots to a total of 50 locations, news that helped Bossa Nova raise an additional $17 million from investors.

Job security for Walmart’s human employees

A staggering 1.5 million Americans work at Walmart, representing one percent of the country's working population. The retailer has told the public that its experiments with robots (and potential implementation) will not replace any human’s job. 

Hitch agrees, adding that the point of a shelf-scanning robot is to help employees do their jobs quickly and more efficiently.  

“We're capturing more data than has ever been captured before in the stores. And as a result, we're creating many more paths to keep those stores optimized. It’s all about the shopping experience. We use the data to improve the shopping experience.”

Bossa Nova Robotics was born out of Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, a division of the university’s computer sciences school. When the company was still developing prototypes, Hitch says he quarried different industries to gauge business interest in robots. 

He remembers receiving an emphatic response from retailers, who wished the process of scanning inventory and organizing the front end of the store could be automated. 

Robots are already part of the workforce for many companies, but they’re typically bolted down and working behind the scenes in a factory. Bossa Nova's robot is unique in that it can be seen by consumers. "We operate around people. There is inherent risk in that on the surface,” Hitch acknowledges.

Given their ability to record images and capture data, the robots naturally may spark concerns about customer privacy. 

“The reality there is that you would have to try and get in between the robot and the shelf to even be caught in the images,” Hitch says. “Before you even get close to the robot, it stops and turns the lights off."

Well over half of U.S. consumers who have car insurance policies think they are paying too much for them, according to a recent survey.

Kyle Nakatsuji, CEO and founder of online insurance startup Clearcover, says there are a variety of reasons why many car insurance customers are paying more than they need to. It starts, he says, with the things that go into the cost of an insurance policy.

In setting your rate, an insurance company must measure your risk -- the likelihood that it will have to pay a claim -- and add in the cost of operating the company.

"There are a number of opportunities to reduce the costs of running an insurance company, and these operational expenses can cost consumers quite a bit of money," Nakatsuji told ConsumerAffairs.

Cost of advertising

One of the biggest expenses that insurance companies pay for is advertising. Most of the major car insurance companies have created humorous TV commercials that saturate the airwaves. Nakatsuji says these commercials are designed to make consumers think about car insurance.

"If you ask people, they will generally tell you they would like to think about insurance less, not more," he said. "But insurance companies tend to spend a lot of time and money paying for things intended to make you think about them and insurance more often."

Unfortunately, all those expensive advertising campaigns can add to the cost of your insurance policy. Choosing a company without a big ad budget might provide a better quote.

Deductibles

Deductibles can also make a big difference in what you pay for car insurance. By selecting a high deductible, a consumer agrees to pay for more of the damage out-of-pocket. Since that reduces the risk to the insurance company, it is willing to lower the premium.

But consumers who agree to a high deductible in exchange for a low rate must have the necessary money to meet the deductible in case of an accident. While a high deductible policy is almost always cheaper, Nakatsuji says it isn't for everyone.

"We use machine learning inside of our technology to help make smarter coverage recommendations," he says. "It's similar to what you would get if you were sitting in a local agent's office. They'd listen to information about your life, your car, and your coverage needs and make recommendations based on that."

Unnecessary coverage and shopping around

Consumers can also overpay for insurance when they purchase expensive coverage that may not be necessary. An insurance company may advertise that your rates won't go up after an accident, but Nakatsuji says consumers must pay for more than just a basic policy to get that kind of coverage.

Another way consumers can save on car insurance costs is to regularly shop around for a better deal. Nakatsuji says it's easy to get an auto insurance renewal bill and just pay it without looking to see if it has gone up significantly.

"Some companies have a rating system in which your rates go up over time, even though there has been no change in your risk profile," he said.

The Insurance Information Institute puts "shopping around" at the top of its list of ways to reduce insurance rates.

Watch your credit score

Other factors that are largely beyond consumers’ control -- such as age, marital status and Zip Code -- may also affect what you pay for car insurance. In most states, many insurance companies will also look at your credit score to determine your risk and set your rate.

Improving your score by paying all your bills on time and reducing your levels of debt can raise your credit score and help get a better rate from your car insurance company.

A record number of consumers are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If you’re not among those who will be traveling, you may have weary travelers headed your way.

There are a number of things you can do to get your home ready for guests before they show up on your doorstep. Even those who are short on time can turn their home into a comfortable and relaxing place to spend the holidays.

From leaving empty shelves for guests’ belongings to stocking up on toiletries, here are a few low-hassle ways to help guests feel welcome in your home.

Ways to prepare

• Corral clutter. Declutter guest rooms and main living areas. Clear away anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans. Don’t have much time? Simply bag up the clutter, store it in an out-of-sight place (such as a closet or basement), and wait until after your guests leave to go through and organize it.

• Create space for guests’ belongings. Make room for your guests’ belongings by clearing out closets or racks for coats and setting out baskets to hold shoes and purses. Additionally, make sure there’s a spot for guests to set down their bag or suitcase. If you don’t have a luggage rack, a small table or chair will do.

• Move your coffee station. To prevent guests from clogging up the kitchen when you’re busy cooking, move your coffee preparation station to a family room. Better yet, consider putting a small coffee pot or water heater for instant cider or tea in your guest’s room. This can help ensure early risers don’t wake anyone up while getting their morning caffeine boost.

• Create a kid-friendly space. If your guests have small children, you may want to kid-proof your home. Add outlet covers, put breakables out of reach, and secure window treatment cords. To keep kids entertained, fill a safe play area with toys, games, pillows, and perhaps a TV/DVD player for playing movies.

• Stock up on supplies. Prepare for guests by making sure you’ve got plenty of toilet paper and other necessities, and keep them out in plain sight so guests can find them easily. Keep towels color-coordinated and distinct from others. Finally, add a bath mat to each tub to prevent falls and make sure there is a plunger near each toilet.

• Print out your wifi password. Amid the holiday hustle and bustle, your guests may not remember to ask for your wifi password until everyone has gone to bed. For a polished way to display wifi information, consider printing out an editable PDF with your network name and password. You might also want to provide instructions on how to operate your TV and sound systems.

Toyota Motor North America is recalling about 28,600 model year 2018 C-HR vehicles and 39,900 model year 2012 - 2015 Prius Plug-In Hybrids.

C-HR

There is a possibility that the electronic parking brake (EPB) in the C-HR vehicles may not operate properly, causing the parking brake to not disengage after it is applied or prevent it from being applied.

If the electronic parking brake cannot be applied, this could result in a potential noncompliance with a federal safety standard.

What to do

Toyota dealers will update an electronic control unit’s software to correct the EPB issue at no cost to customers. All known owners will receive a notification by first-class mail starting in late-November.

Prius Plug-In Hybrid

The Prius Plug-In Hybrids contain an Electric Vehicle (EV) fuse that may malfunction if the vehicle is repeatedly operated in EV mode under high-load driving conditions, such as during a long hill climb.

If the fuse malfunctions, warning lights and warning messages will illuminate. In some cases, the vehicle can be driven, but with reduced power. In other cases, the hybrid system could shut down, resulting in the loss of motive power. Power steering and braking will not be affected.

Loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota dealers will replace the fuse with an improved one at no cost to customers. All known owners will receive a notification by first-class mail starting in January 2018.

Owners with questions regarding either recall may call Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331.