Current Events in August 2021

A new study conducted by researchers from King’s College London explored how age may play a role in consumers’ COVID-19 symptoms. 

According to their findings, COVID-19 symptoms can be drastically different for those younger than 60 years old and those older than 60 years old. The team said symptoms may also differ for both men and women. 

“It’s important people know the earliest symptoms are wide-ranging and may look different for each member of a family or household,” said researcher Claire Steves. “Testing guidance could be updated to enable cases to be picked up earlier, especially in the face of new variants which are highly transmissible.”

Identifying early symptoms

For the study, the researchers analyzed reports from consumers about early symptoms they experienced after being infected with COVID-19. They found that different age groups reported different early symptoms of COVID-19, and they noted the biggest differences in those aged 16-59 and those aged 60-80. The study showed that diarrhea was a common early symptom for those in the older group, while loss of smell was more prevalent in the younger group. 

There were also differences in early symptoms between men and women. The researchers learned that women were more likely to report a loss of smell and chest pains, while men experienced chills and shortness of breath. Overall, early symptoms of COVID-19 included blisters on the feet, persistent cough, unusual muscle pain, loss of smell, abdominal pain, and eye soreness. 

The researchers hope both consumers and health care professionals can use these findings to better identify those who may be presenting with early symptoms of COVID-19. This can be helpful in determining who needs to get tested and when consumers should stay home to slow the spread of the virus. 

“As part of our study, we have been able to identify that the profile of symptoms due to COVID-19 differs from one group to another,” said researcher Dr. Marc Modat. “This suggests that the criteria to encourage people to get tested should be personalized using individuals’ information such as age. Alternatively, a larger set of symptoms could be considered, so the different manifestations of the disease across different groups are taken into account.” 

Foot Locker announced Monday that it will buy two shoe store chains for about $1.1 billion in cash. The first store, U.S.-based WSS, will be purchased for $750 million. The second, Japan-based Atmos, will be purchased for $360 million. Both deals are expected to close late in the third quarter. 

Foot Locker said both transactions will help it extend its reach beyond malls and tap into other consumer bases -- specifically, the Latinx-consumer base and the Asia-Pacific consumer base. WSS has a large Hispanic consumer base at its stores across California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. Atmos, which is headquartered in Japan, has grown in popularity as a result of footwear collaborations with brands like Nike. 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Inc., Richard A. Johnson, said Atmos is “uniquely positioned through its innovative retail stores, high digital penetration, and distinctive products that have made it a key influencer of youth and sneaker culture.” 

“With atmos, we are executing against our expansion initiative in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific market, establishing a critical entry point in Japan and benefitting from immediate scale,” Johnson said. 

Both deals “reflect our commitment to our growth strategy and engaging with new and incremental consumers,” he continued. “With our ongoing investments in the business, we are confident in our ability to continue creating significant long-term value for our shareholders, consumers, vendor partners, and other stakeholders.” 

Zoom has agreed to pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that it violated user privacy by sharing personal data with several social networking sites and allowing hackers to disrupt virtual meetings through a practice called “Zoombombing.”

The settlement money will go toward funding refunds to Zoom users who used the service between March 30, 2016, and the date of the settlement. 

Participants in the proposed suit would be eligible for 15% refunds on their subscriptions or $25, whichever is larger. Those who used the free version of Zoom without a subscription may be able to claim up to $15. The settlement filed on Saturday still requires approval by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California. 

Boosting security

In addition to agreeing to pay the fine, Zoom has agreed to enhance its security measures through changes "designed to improve meeting security, bolster privacy disclosures, and safeguard consumer data.” 

In the suit, Zoom was accused of sharing user data without permission with companies including Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn. While Zoom agreed to settle, it has not admitted any wrongdoing. 

“The privacy and security of our users are top priorities for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust our users place in us,” the company said in a statement. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) explored the benefits of drinking tap water over bottled water. Their findings, which specifically examined outcomes in Barcelona, suggest that drinking tap water may be the healthier and more sustainable choice.

“Tap water quality has increased substantially in Barcelona since the incorporation of advanced treatments over the last years,” said researcher Cristina Villanueva. “However, this considerable improvement has not been mirrored by an increase in tap water consumption, which suggests that water consumption could be motivated by subjective factors other than quality.” 

The benefits of tap water

For the study, the researchers combined two methodologies -- one used for assessing environmental risks and benefits and the other for measuring health outcomes. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) gauges the environmental impact of bottled water, while the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) looks at the health-related outcomes. Using data from the Barcelona Public Health Agency, the team explored how bottled water and tap water impact the environment and consumers’ health. 

Ultimately, tap water proved to be more beneficial to both the environment and consumers’ health than bottled water. The researchers estimated that if the entirety of Barcelona switched exclusively to bottled water, the cost of materials would be 3500 times higher and the burden on the environment would be 1400 times higher than if the city only used tap water. They said bottled water production on this scale would also impact the safety of ecosystems and contribute to the loss of some species of plants and animals. 

Making a city-wide shift to tap water would also yield health benefits. The researchers found that tap water could add years onto residents’ life expectancies, especially if it was supplemented with filtration devices. 

The researchers explained that the public perception of tap water and the perceived damages to consumers’ health are what drive most people to choose bottled water over tap water. However, they hope these findings help to shift that notion. 

Renters and homeowners struggling through the pandemic are facing new challenges. The federal eviction moratorium expired Saturday, and mortgage forbearance programs that have helped some homeowners avoid foreclosure are beginning to be phased out.

Of the two groups, homeowners may be in a better position. Mortgage rates are at historic lows and home values have increased during the pandemic, making it easier to refinance and reduce payments.

A new mortgage servicing rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) allows mortgage servicers to move all missed payments to the end of a loan term but prevents them from modifying the loan in a way that increases monthly payments. 

High marks from consumers

A new J.D. Power study finds that mortgage servicers earned higher marks from consumers over the last 12 months as they worked with homeowners. The study found that in particular, high-risk borrowers who were more likely to be in a forbearance program had the highest opinions of their loan servicers.

Rocket Mortgage, which includes Quicken Loans, was the highest-ranked mortgage servicer for an eighth consecutive year in the J.D. Power survey, with a score of 860. Guild Mortgage ranked second with a score of 825 and Huntington National Bank was in third place with a score of 824.

A check of reviews posted on ConsumerAffairs shows our reviewers have opinions that closely match J.D. Power’s findings. Of the three companies, Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage was ranked number one with 4.0 out of 5 stars but Huntington Bank was second with 3.7 stars with Guild Mortgage third with 3.5 stars.

“Working with Rocket Mortgage was a great experience, they kept me informed throughout the entire process,” Ed, of South Jordan, Utah posted last week 

Non-bank servicers performed best

The J.D. Power researchers say non-bank loan servicers won consumers’ affections during the pandemic. Bank-affiliated servicers, which have historically outperformed non-banks by a large margin, gain just four points in satisfaction this year.

"Mortgage servicer satisfaction was buoyed by the industry’s response to the pandemic, with some of the biggest gains in customer satisfaction being driven by at-risk and moderate-risk customers who participated in forbearance programs,” said Jim Houston, director of consumer lending intelligence at J.D. Power.

But now that the economy is recovering from the pandemic and programs to help homeowners are ending, Houston said that increase in satisfaction may not last that long.

“Mortgage servicers will really need to up their customer engagement games as the marketplace stabilizes,” he said.

To shop for a mortgage servicer check out the thousands of verified ConsumerAffairs reviews from mortgage customers here.

Ford Motor Company is recalling approximately 40,995model year 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviators with 3.0-liter gas engines.

The battery cable wire harnesses is not secured properly, allowing contact with the A/C compressor pulley.

Over time, the A/C pulley may rub through the wire harness insulation and contact the unfused battery positive (B+) circuit, resulting in a short circuit and potential fire.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and if there is no evidence that the battery cable has contacted the A/C compressor pulley, they will add a tie strap near the frame rail between the battery cable harness and the engine compartment harness.

If any of the small gauge circuits are damaged, dealers will add a tie strap near the frame rail between battery cable and engine compartment harnesses and replace the A/C compressor belt.

If any of the four large gauge circuits are damaged, dealers will inspect the wire harness and replace the battery cable harness and will also add a tie strap near frame rail between battery cable harness and engine compartment harnesses and replace the A/C compressor belt.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S34.

BRP U.S. of Sturtevant, Wis., is recalling about 34,400 model year 2020 – 2021 Can-AM Defender HD10 side-by-side vehicles.

The stock CVT air intake can become completely obstructed with snow causing the drive belt to overheat and break, posing a fire hazard.

The firm has received three reports of incidents involving fires. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves model years 2020 and 2021 Defender HD10 side-by-side vehicles.

The 82 HP engine vehicles were sold in various colors and are equipped with track kits, the Apache 360 LT and the Apache Backcountry track systems, sold separately by BRP.

The model name and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is printed on a label under the glove box.

A list of the 20 vehicle models being recalled may be found here.

The vehicles, manufactured in Mexico, were sold at Can-Am dealers nationwide from February 2019, through July 2021, for between $12,500 and $22,500 for the vehicles, and between $4,700 and $4,900 for the track systems sold separately.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using track kits on the recalled vehicles in snow conditions and contact a Can-Am dealer for a free repair.

Consumer contact BRP toll-free at (888) 272-9222 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Sunday, or online at https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/owner-zone/safety-recalls.html. BRP is contacting all purchasers directly.

Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., is recalling about 1,800 model year 2021 RZR Pro XP and RZR Pro XP 4 Recreational Off-Road Vehicles (ROVs) sold in the U.S. and Canada.

A raised edge on the machined surface of the turbocharger castings can result in an oil leak, posing a fire hazard.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall involves model year 2021 RZR Pro XP and RZR Pro XP 4 ROVs sold in black, blue, gray, red, sand, silver, titanium and white. The vehicles have two or four seats.

POLARIS is stamped on the front grille and POLARIS and RZR are printed on the sides of the vehicle. A limited number of the turbocharger assemblies were sold as service parts.

Part number 3023738 appears on a rectangular area on the passenger side of the turbocharger.

The ROVs, manufactured in Mexico, were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from November 2020, through June 2021, for between $23,000 and $34,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. Polaris is notifying dealers and contacting registered owners directly.

Consumers may contact Polaris at (800) 765-2747 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.polaris.com and click on “Off Road Safety Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.