Current Events in August 2021

In addition to the toll it’s taking on our mental health, the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on our physical health. Many consumers who exercised regularly before the pandemic struck have been unable to reliably return to those good habits, leading to weight gain and muscle loss. 

But results from a recent study suggest that some consumers shouldn’t worry about a long trek back towards fitness. The findings suggest that consumers who trained their muscles before the pandemic will be able to bring them back into shape more quickly than people who didn’t work out or exercise.

After reviewing the findings, lead researcher Keven Murach concluded that “it’s better to have worked out and lost muscle, than to have not worked out at all.”

Using “muscle memory” to get fit

The researchers came to their conclusions after conducting an experiment that measured skeletal muscle in mice. One group of mice was trained on a weighted wheel over eight weeks to build up their muscles before being taken off the wheel for 12 weeks to “detrain” them. After the 12 weeks were up, the researchers retrained the mice on the weighted wheel for four weeks and compared their muscle growth to another group of mice that had never undergone any training.

The team found that the group of mice that had prior training on the weighted wheel saw accelerated muscle growth when compared to the untrained group of mice. They theorize that this is caused by a sort of “muscle memory” that allows muscle cells to remember the kind of training they previously went through. This allows the muscles themselves to adapt to working out again, leading to better results over shorter periods of time. 

So what does this mean for consumers? In short, if you exercised and trained your physical fitness before the pandemic, it won’t take you as long to gain back the muscle you once had. For people who are worried about falling out of shape over the last two years, the findings may be the shot in the arm they need to get back to their exercise regimen.

The full study has been published by Oxford University Press and the American Physiological Society.

Is there anything Amazon can’t -- or won’t -- do? The giant of darn near everything is reportedly toying with the idea of opening department stores.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the company is adding to its existing brick-and-mortar landscape of bookstores, grocery stores, and cashless convenience stores starting in Ohio and California. In regards to size, the stores won’t have the footprint of a traditional department store like Macy’s. It will most likely be closer to the size of a Kohl’s or T.J. Maxx store, and it may be featured in strip malls rather than traditional shopping malls.

Why department stores?

If you’re the largest retailer on the planet and doing it all online, why do you need a physical catch-all presence like a department store? That’s a fair question. If you've been tracking Amazon’s every move, there are lots of little clues the company has dropped leading up to this. 

Little by little, the company has tried to create niches for itself, including its entry into the high-fashion world with “Luxury Stores,” the wide array of Alexa-centered tech, and all of its little private label products ranging from luggage to cleaning products. Those alone may be enough to fill up a department store.

Amazon’s decision to enter the department store game comes at an odd time. Thanks to the pandemic, shopping malls and anchor stores like JCPenney and Lord & Taylor shuttered or went bankrupt, and others like Macy’s and Nordstrom have been putting lots of money into trying to bring back consumers who have moved their shopping online.

But there are those who say the time is right for Amazon. Even though physical stores took a bit of a hit during the pandemic, foot traffic has slowly returned. 

“People are absolutely returning and shopping in department stores,” John Idol, the chief executive of the Michael Kors parent Capri Holdings Ltd., told analysts on a conference call last month.

PayPal said it is eliminating late fees for missed payments when customers use its buy now, pay later (BNPL) service. In the U.S., the new policy on new purchases with Pay in 4 will take effect on Oct. 1.

The company said it is adopting the policy to help consumers who are looking for ways to manage their finances and avoid fees. It cites a recent study showing that a third of consumers believe that having no late fees is an important feature in choosing a buy now, pay later payment option.

Pay in 4 is PayPal’s way of letting consumers make purchases on the installment plan. Instead of putting the purchase on a credit card that charges interest -- often with growing balances -- the purchase is divided into four interest-free equal payments made every two weeks. After the fourth payment, the item is paid for.

BNPL is an increasingly popular feature with young consumers. The study found that 57% of Gen Zers and millennials think the payment option is a smarter way to shop, with many saying it gives them more control over their budgets.

"We know that eliminating late fees delivers an even better buy now, pay later experience that provides incredible value to our consumers and merchant partners,” said Greg Lisiewski, vice president of Buy Now, Pay Later Products at PayPal. "This change is closely coupled with PayPal's mission and values as we seek to remove hurdles that provide financial services to customers of all types while helping our merchant partners succeed in the changing retail landscape."

How merchants benefit

PayPal says merchants also stand to benefit from its Pay in 4 service. It says businesses that offer the service gain additional business from half the customers who use it.

Samsonite, a luggage manufacturer, began offering Pay in 4 shortly after the service launched last October. The company said it experienced a 25% increase in average order value when customers used it.

"We're very excited about PayPal's decision to no longer charge late fees, as it provides value for our consumers while also giving them the reassurance that a missed payment will not incur additional financial penalties," said David Oksman, vice president Marketing & Ecommerce, Samsonite. 

Pay in 4 is available through merchants that accept PayPal and have enrolled in the BNPL program.

Bowing to customer pressure, Wells Fargo is reversing a policy it announced just over a month ago that it would close customers’ personal lines of credit and not issue new ones.

Late Wednesday, the bank said it won’t open new credit lines but that customers with existing personal credit line accounts may keep them open. A Wells Fargo spokeswoman told CNBC that it would maintain active accounts and reopen closed accounts for customers who request it.

In July, the bank sent a six-page letter to customers who have one of the accounts, explaining its decision to eliminate that loan product so it can focus on the growing demand for its credit cards and personal loans.

The letter acknowledged that consumers’ credit scores could dip once the account is closed. That drew a sharp response from a frequent Wells Fargo critic, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

“Not a single @WellsFargo customer should see their credit score suffer just because their bank is restructuring after years of scams and incompetence,” Warren posted on Twitter last month. “Sending out a warning notice simply isn’t good enough – Wells Fargo needs to make this right.”

Got the message

“We heard feedback from our customers and that feedback is very important to us; we are responding by ensuring customers can keep these lines of credit open,” Wells Fargo said in a statement. 

Under the revised policy, customers who have been using their credit lines will continue to have access to their accounts. Customers who haven’t used their personal lines of credit for the last 12 months must call the bank or make a transaction to keep the account active.

“For those inactive customers who do not activate their lines in one of these ways, accounts will be closed on December 2, 2021,” the bank said.

Limits on lending

Wells Fargo faces limits on the amount of money it can lend, a penalty the Federal Reserve placed on the bank until it rectifies certain compliance issues. It stems from the bank’s 2016 fake account scandal when employees were found to be creating credit card and checking accounts in customers’ names without their knowledge in order to meet lofty sales goals.

Wells Fargo ultimately agreed to pay $3 billion to resolve civil and criminal charges stemming from that scandal. With limits on the amount of money it can lend, Wells Fargo would like to emphasize the most profitable loans, which are credit cards and personal loans.

Wells Fargo customers who have a personal line of credit account can expect to hear directly from the bank about the change in policy, either by email or by U.S. Mail.

BMW of North America is recalling 11,216 model year 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive & X5 xDrive35d, model year 2014-2016 535d ,& 535d xDrive, model year 2015 740Ld xDrive, and model year 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles.

The high-pressure fuel pump may fail and can cause an engine stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 20, 2021.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to pet owners regarding Midwestern Pet Foods. The agency said Tuesday that the company’s dry pet food products have been “associated with the illness or death of hundreds of pets.” 

More than 130 reports of pet deaths and 220 reports of pet illnesses are believed to have been caused by the consumption of Midwestern’s pet food products. The FDA said that count was only an approximation as of August 9 since they had not been checked through lab testing or veterinary record review. 

However, the FDA said inspections of the company’s facilities turned up evidence of safety violations. The agency said it found salmonella and potentially unsafe levels of a substance called aflatoxin -- a byproduct of mold that can be harmful to pets if consumed in large quantities.

"The FDA is dedicated to taking all steps possible to help pet owners have confidence that the food they buy for their animal companions is safe and wholesome," Steven Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. "Samples of dog food were found to contain high levels of aflatoxin."

‘Inadequate’ food safety program

Pets who have recently consumed Midwestern’s products should be monitored for symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning, which include sluggishness or lethargy, reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, and diarrhea.

Earlier this year, the FDA recalled several pet foods manufactured at Midwestern Food’s Illinois facility. In December of 2020, the company issued a recall of Sportmix dog food made at its Oklahoma facility. 

In its latest warning, FDA compliance officers told Midwestern Pet Foods that a recall alone is not enough to prevent more tainted food entering the animal food supply.

“The FDA found that Midwestern’s food safety program appears inadequate to significantly minimize or prevent Salmonella in its pet food,” the agency wrote. 

T-Mobile says its investigation of a breach of its network shows that hackers were able to access data on 7.8 million of its postpaid customers, along with the records of 40 million former and prospective customers.

“We were able to verify that a subset of T-Mobile data had been accessed by unauthorized individuals,” the company said in a statement. “We also began coordination with law enforcement as our forensic investigation continued. While our investigation is still underway and we continue to learn additional details, we have now been able to confirm that the data stolen from our systems did include some personal information.”

The company said the access point used by the hacker was located and closed. It said no financial or credit card information was compromised. However, officials confirmed that hackers apparently stole customers’ first and last names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license/ID information. In short, criminals obtained the information needed to steal customers’ identities.

T-Mobile offers assistance to compromised customers

T-Mobile said it is taking the following steps to support customers whose data may have been compromised:

• Immediately offering 2 years of free identity protection services with McAfee’s ID Theft Protection Service.

• Recommending all T-Mobile postpaid customers proactively change their PIN by going online into their T-Mobile account or calling the Customer Care team by dialing 611 on their phone. This precaution is being taken despite the fact that we have no knowledge that any postpaid account PINs were compromised.

• Offering an extra step to protect mobile accounts with Account Takeover Protection capabilities for postpaid customers, which makes it harder for customer accounts to be fraudulently ported out and stolen.

• Publishing a unique web page later on Wednesday for one-stop information and solutions to help customers take steps to further protect themselves. 

T-Mobile said it was also able to confirm that approximately 850,000 active T-Mobile prepaid customer names, phone numbers, and account PINs were compromised in the breach. 

“We have already proactively reset all of the PINs on these accounts to help protect these customers, and we will be notifying accordingly right away,” T-Mobile said. “No Metro by T-Mobile, former Sprint prepaid, or Boost customers had their names or PINs exposed.”

Other steps consumers can take

T-Mobile customers affected by the breach may also take other steps to prevent identity theft. The first step should be placing a freeze on credit reports maintained by Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.

The freeze should be placed with all three companies. Someone using a stolen Social Security number will not be able to open new credit accounts as long as the freeze is in place. Fortunately, the process has gotten less complicated over the years. Here are the links to freeze credit information at the three companies:

• Equifax

• Experian

• TransUnion

Freezing credit reports prevents a criminal from opening a credit account in your name, but it prevents you from doing so as well. All three credit agencies make it possible to establish a PIN or password so that your credit can be unfrozen when you are applying for a loan or credit account.

With the COVID-19 Delta variant getting stronger by the day, the Biden administration is calling for booster shots to be made available to Americans to bolster their original vaccinations. The White House says the launch date for that initiative is September 20. 

In a press briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration has had booster shots in its planning processes for months and that the U.S. has “enough supply” to serve the “eligible population.”

Who gets the booster shot first?

In a joint statement, the top echelon of the Biden health team said people would need boosters starting eight months after they received their second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

There’s currently no official pecking order once the boosters begin on September 20, but those who were fully vaccinated early on during the pandemic -- including many health care providers, nursing home residents, and other seniors -- are likely candidates, the officials said. They added that the plan is for booster doses to be delivered directly to residents of long-term care facilities.

"Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout. For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability," the officials said in a statement.

The only two hurdles

The move is expected to be rubber-stamped by each agency, but it is subject to an independent evaluation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assure that the safety and success of a booster dose of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are "based on a thorough review of the evidence."

While a final determination is yet to be made, officials said they expect booster shots will likely also be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. However, they said that determination should be made in the next few weeks. 

The timeline on that won’t throw anything off for recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it was not made available until March -- so booster shots wouldn’t be needed until at least November.  

Coronavirus‌ ‌(COVID-19)‌ ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 37,033,445 (36,902,721)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 623,418 (622,529)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 208,833,116 (208,109,987)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,386,814 (4,376,019)‌

Troubling data pushes CDC toward recommending boosters

Administration officials were reportedly undecided about whether to recommend COVID-19 booster shots, but new and troubling data apparently helped them reach a consensus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that, over time, there is a decline in vaccines’ ability to prevent infection.

“This is what moved the needle,” one senior administration official told Politico. 

The CDC today said it recommended booster shots for people who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, with shots beginning next month. Health officials believe the third shot will prolong the vaccine’s durability against the virus.

Mask mandate for travelers extended into early 2022

If you plan on traveling by air, rail, or bus over the next few months, keep a mask handy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed that travelers will be required to wear masks at least through Jan. 18.

Reuters reports that major airlines have been briefed on the extension and were told the rule is being extended to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Airlines, meanwhile, are debating whether to require all employees to be vaccinated against the virus. United has said that all 67,000 of its employees must be vaccinated, but other airlines have declined to take that step so far.

NFL cracks down on COVID-19

The National Football League is among the organizations that quickly took a strong position on COVID-19 prevention, and teams appear to be falling into line. The Las Vegas Raiders have announced that fans attending home games can watch the game without a mask if they can prove they have been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons have become the first NFL team to announce that 100% of its players have been vaccinated. That’s notable because several high-profile players on other teams have refused to get vaccinated.

The NFL has made it clear to teams that it’s in their best interest to have all players vaccinated. It says no games will be rescheduled because of an outbreak among unvaccinated players. Instead, that team will forfeit and players on both teams won’t get paid.

Around the nation

• Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed an executive order barring cities and counties from imposing mask mandates, has tested positive for COVID-19. A statement from the governor’s office says Abbott has been isolated and is receiving the Regeneron treatment.

• California: State health officials are cautiously optimistic that California may have blunted the spread of the Delta variant. They report that the number of positive tests and severe illnesses is lower this week. The good news comes as schools around the state get set to reopen.

• Kentucky: By the end of this week, Gov. Andy Beshear says the state’s hospitals will be treating more COVID-19 patients than at any time during the pandemic. “We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 patients across our hospitals as the delta variant continues to spread,” said William Haugh, CEO of Georgetown Community Hospital. 

• Arkansas: Hospitals in Arkansas are adding intensive care units (ICU) and surge beds to deal with severe cases of COVID-19 caused by the fast-spreading Delta variant. Gov. Asa Hutchinson says half of all ICU patients in the state are being treated for the virus.

• North Carolina: The number of severe cases of COVID-19 has risen sharply in the last six weeks. State health officials report that at least 2,828 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday. On July 9, hospitals were treating 409 patients.

Just weeks shy of its original plan to remove the mask requirement on airlines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the mandate until January 18, 2022.

In announcing the change, the TSA said the mask rule will continue to apply to employees on planes and public transportation -- including airplanes, trains, and buses -- as well.

Mask controversy continues

Masks have become a lightning rod for bad behavior on airplanes. They’re a point of contention between passengers who don't want to wear them and flight attendants who are asked to enforce the mandate. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says airlines have reported close to 3,000 incidents involving passengers who refused to mask up.

In an email to ConsumerAffairs, U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes applauded the TSA’s extension. “Extending the federal mask mandate for travel makes sense for the current health environment and has the travel industry’s full support,” she said.

“The universal wearing of masks in airports and on airplanes, trains and other forms of public transportation is both an effective safeguard against spreading the virus and boosts public confidence in traveling—both of which are paramount for a sustained economic recovery.”

Blame the Delta variant

The TSA’s decision is most likely a response to the rising number of new COVID-19 cases that have been attributed to the Delta variant.

While the TSA was updating its mask mandate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was also modifying its own policies. In an update on its website, the agency said all consumers over the age of two who are not fully vaccinated should wear a mask. It also included vaccinated consumers who have weakened immune systems in that request.

“To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission,” the agency said.

Fitness trackers and other types of wearable technology have gained a foothold with consumers in recent years. Whether it’s a Fitbit, an Apple Watch, or some other device, people tend to like being able to track their daily activity. But researchers say devices like these can also help patients with serious health conditions. 

Researchers from UBC Okanagan recently conducted a study to test whether wearable devices could help doctors deliver better care to patients with Parkinson’s disease. They found that these devices’ tracking capabilities helped deliver more timely and accurate information that could be used to tailor health care, even from a distance.

“Even prior to the pandemic, telehealth helped deliver specialized care to patients living in remote and rural settings,” said Dr. Daryl Wile. “But with the complex nature of Parkinson’s, we wanted to enhance these appointments to better understand how movements vary throughout a patient’s entire day."

Using devices to tailor care

The researchers came to their conclusions after working with Parkinson’s patients who developed tremors or other involuntary movements. The participants were divided into two groups -- one that wore wearable devices and one that relied only on traditional face-to-face appointments.

The group of participants who wore the devices had their movements tracked throughout the study, and the information was sent throughout the day to their health care providers. That data was then analyzed and reviewed during telehealth appointments so that experts could identify the peak times that patients experienced Parkinson’s symptoms.

“With the integration of accurate and reliable data from wearable devices, we were able to tailor a patient’s medication to better manage their symptoms throughout the day,” said Wile.

Wearing the devices also wasn’t seen as a burden by the patients. They mostly reported positive experiences by being able to use them in conjunction with their telehealth appointments. The researchers say the results could help inform future health care options.

“There’s definitely a strong case to leverage multiple technologies to improve a patient’s quality of life and limit the added stress and cost associated with travel,” said study co-author Joshua Yoneda.

COVID-19 vaccinations have been a hot-button issue around the globe. Health officials have largely advocated for widespread vaccinations to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and the emergence of the Delta variant, but many anti-vaxxers simply refuse to be inoculated due to safety concerns. 

Many pregnant women, for example, have opted not to get vaccinated because they fear that they’ll have a much worse reaction to the shot. However, a recent survey suggests that those concerns may be off-base. A team from UW Medicine recently found that pregnant women did not have reactions to COVID-19 vaccines that were “beyond what is expected from a vaccine.”

“Pregnant people do well with the vaccine,” said lead author Dr. Alisa Kachikis. 

Evidence of safety

The researchers surveyed over 17,000 pregnant and lactating consumers who received a COVID-19 vaccine. They were asked to describe their reactions to the shot, including any side effects they experienced after the first dose.

The most common effects from the vaccination included pain at the injection site, fatigue, and a slight temperature that averaged 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A very small percentage (between 5% and 7%) also reported a decrease in milk supply. Based on the responses, the researchers say their findings support the idea that COVID-19 vaccines are not dangerous to pregnant women.

"We hope that this data will be another reassuring piece of information ... about why pregnant individuals need to get vaccinated against COVID-19," said senior author Dr. Linda Eckert. "Not only is the vaccine safe, our research shows just how well the vaccine is tolerated in pregnant individuals -- which is a common fear I hear from my patients. In contrast, we are continuing to learn more and more about just how dangerous COVID-19 infections are in pregnancy."

The full study has been published in JAMA Network Open.

The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a new mask mandate that will apply to all visitors, employees, and contractors. Effective immediately, masks will be required inside buildings and in outdoor areas where it’s difficult to physically distance from others. 

The service said everyone is required to follow the rule, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission levels. Officials say the new mandate is based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will stay in effect until further notice. 

"Visitors to national parks are coming from locations across the country, if not across the world. Because of this, and recognizing that the majority of the United States is currently in substantial or high transmission categories, we are implementing a service-wide mask requirement to ensure our staff and visitors' safety," NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge said in a news release. 

The NPS added that being vaccinated is the “most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of the coronavirus” and that wearing a mask provides an even greater level of protection. 

“Masking in addition to being vaccinated will help prevent the spread of new variants and protect those who are more at risk of severe disease. This simple act of kindness allows us to be safe while we continue to enjoy the benefits of our national parks," said Capt. Maria Said, an epidemiologist in the park service's Office of Public Health and a member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Two Democratic senators have sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asking for an investigation into Tesla’s marketing of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. 

Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ed Markey of Massachusetts alleged in Wednesday’s letter that Tesla employs “potentially deceptive and unfair practices” in its advertising of the technologies. 

“We fear that Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD features are not as mature and reliable as the company pitches to the public,” the senators wrote. “Tesla drivers listen to these claims and believe their vehicles are equipped to drive themselves — with potentially deadly consequences.”

Crashes and other incidents 

The lawmakers’ letter comes just a few days after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the launch of a probe into Tesla’s Autopilot system. 

The agency said it has reason to believe that the automated system has difficulty spotting parked emergency vehicles, particularly at night. In recent months, Tesla’s have crashed into vehicles that had flashing lights, flares, and other features. 

“Most incidents took place after dark and the crash scenes encountered included scene control measures such as first responder vehicle lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board, and road cones,” the NHTSA said. “The involved subject vehicles were all confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control during the approach to the crashes.”

Not fully autonomous

Tesla has stated that its Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” systems still require a human driver to be behind the wheel who is ready to take over if necessary. But the senators argued that Tesla’s marketing of the technologies is misaligned with its actual capabilities. 

CEO Elon Musk’s “tepid precautions tucked away on social media are no excuse for misleading drivers and endangering the lives of everyone on the road,” the senators said. 

“Tesla and Mr. Musk’s repeated overstatements of their vehicle’s capabilities — despite clear and frequent warnings — demonstrate a deeply concerning disregard for the safety of those on the road and require real accountability,” they wrote. “Their claims put Tesla drivers — and all of the travelling public — at risk of serious injury or death. 

The lawmakers then called on the FTC to launch a formal investigation into the matter.

“In light of these concerns, we urge you to swiftly open an investigation into Tesla’s repeated and overstated claims about their Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features and take appropriate enforcement action to prevent further injury or death as a result of any Tesla feature.”

T-Mobile ranks highest among wireless networks, and Spectrum Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile tied as the top mobile virtual network operators, in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction survey.

It’s the first time Spectrum Mobile, or any cable provider, has claimed the top spot in the company’s survey of the satisfaction of wireless customers.

The survey found one area where all wireless companies appear to be challenged -- providing customer service to their clients. As has been well-documented during the pandemic, wireless companies -- as well as most enterprises -- are having difficulty hiring and retaining customer service personnel.

“Maintaining a fully staffed, highly trained customer service and sales organization in pandemic times is no small feat—the decline in many of the attributes we measure across the purchase experience is not surprising given the number of open positions across the industry,” said Ian Greenblatt, managing director at J.D. Power. 

But Greenblatt said carriers appear to be investing in highly trained store representatives who are committed to customer success because it’s a major factor in whether consumers remain with a company.  

Good customer service often equals a 5-star review

Reviewers posting on ConsumerAffairs are usually quick to cite poor customer service as a big part of their frustration with any company they are dealing with. At the same time, they often cite good customer service when they award a company a 5-star review.

“That was the best customer service I’ve ever had with T-Mobile,” Fred, of Jacksonville, N.C., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review last month. “Thank you Jim for taking the time to call me but most importantly LISTEN to my concerns with my business with T-Mobile! That coming from me is really saying a lot.”

While T-Mobile took the top spot in customer satisfaction for the eighth year in a row, AT&T was second. 

Cricket Wireless placed third behind Metro and Spectrum among mobile virtual network providers that bulk-lease capacity from major wireless operators. Consumer Cellular also turned in a strong showing, according to this year’s survey. 

Able Groupe is recalling products used as infant formulas, intended as a complete or partial substitute for human milk for children 12 months old and younger.

The products have insufficient iron levels required for infant formula in the U.S., and do not meet other FDA requirements.

A list of the recalled products, imported from Europe and sold to consumers by mail, may be found here.

The products were not available at any retail store.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not use them as infant formula, but discard them immediately

Consumers with questions may contact the company by email at recallquestions@ablegroupe.com

General Motors is recalling two model year 2021 Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons.

Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.

This may compromise overall braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will recalibrate the brake system control module free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 13, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1202 and GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340970.

Zen Magnets of Denver, Colo., is recalling about 10 million Zen Magnets and Neoballs Magnets sold individually and in magnet sets.

When two or more high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning, and death.

The company is aware of two children who ingested Zen Magnets and required surgery to remove the magnets and parts of their intestines and bowels.

In addition, CPSC is aware of other reports of children and teenagers ingesting high-powered magnets and requiring surgery.

A 19-month-girl died after ingesting similar high-powered magnets.

This mandatory recall involves all Zen Magnets and Neoballs magnets, which are high-powered 5 mm spherical magnets.

Zen Magnets were sold individually and in sets of 72, 216 with 6 spares, and 1,728 with 8 spares.

Neoballs were sold individually and in sets in the following colors: silver, gold, red, orange, green, red, blue, and purple.

“Zen Magnets” or “Neoballs” is printed on the packaging.

The magnets, manufactured in China, were sold online at Neoballs.com and ZenMagnets.com and the Colorado retailers listed below beginning in January 2009 for between $12 and $264 per set, or individually for 6 to 10 cents per magnet:

Colorado Retailers of Zen Magnets:

• Botanico, 3054 Larimer Street, Denver, Colo.80205
• Chronic Life, 12 Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colo. 80219
• The Glass Hut, 1350 South Sheridan Boulevard #9, Denver, Colo. 80232
• The Hemp Center - Colorado Springs, 2501 West Colorado Avenue #106, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80904
• The Hemp Center – Littleton, 2430 West Main Street, Littleton, Colo. 80120
• Herbal Alternatives: New Broadsterdam, 2568 South Broadway, Denver, Colo. 80210
• Herbal Dazed, 6525 Federal Boulevard, Denver, Colo. 80221
• Hobby Town – Aurora, 1915 South Havana Street, Aurora, Colo. 80014
• Hobby Town – Lakewood, 3355 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colo. 80227
• Lightshade on Holly, 3950 North Holly Street, Denver, Colo. 80207
• Lyon's Finest 2, 11080 East 47th Avenue, Denver, Colo. 80239
• Meadowlark 64, 2701 Larimer Street, Denver, Colo. 80205
• MK Vapor, 10273 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora, Colo. 80247
• Nimbus Smoke Stop, 2960 South Federal Boulevard #7, Denver, Colo. 80236
• Octpipe, 5303 Leetsdale Drive, Denver, Colo. 80246
• Science Toy Magic, 11 Old Town Sq., Fort Collins, Colo. 80524
• Secret Stashh Gifts, 3655 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, Colo. 80216
• Soldis, Colorado Mills Mall, Lakewood, Colo. 80401
• Vaper Jungle, 7033 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colo. 80220

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled magnets and contact Zen Magnets LLC for a refund.

Consumers may contact Zen Magnets toll-free at (844) 936-6245, by email at contact@zenmagnets.com, or online at https://zenmagnets.com/public-releases/surprise-recall-from-cpsc/ for more information.

Consumer uproar over ancillary hotel fees is finally getting heard. MCR Hotels -- the fourth-largest hotel owner-operator in the U.S. -- is testing a new angle on prices and fees. 

Instead of lumping every amenity together under one price, the company is planning to only charge guests for the services and amenities that they want to pay for. The idea mirrors what the airline industry does by charging for extra legroom, meals, Wi-Fi, and baggage. 

Tyler Morse, chief executive of MCR Hotels, told the Wall Street Journal that the concept is being tested at roughly a dozen of his company’s independent hotels. He laid out some of the add-ons like this: 

If a guest wants to check in earlier or check out later, they can do so for a $20 fee. For things like the pool, the pricing varies depending on the day. On Tuesday, when there are fewer guests, using the pool might be free. But if they want to use it on the weekend when there are more people, it might cost them as much as $25. Breakfast and workout facilities are also available for an upcharge. 

As part of MCR’s beta test, the properties are also adjusting room rates lower to give the notion of some additional balance. 

Warming travelers up to the idea

MCR is taking this innovation in baby steps. Morse senses that it may take a while for guests to warm up to the a la carte pricing, but he feels good about its chances.

“Not every guest wants every product, and they don’t want to pay for something they were never going to use anyway,” he said. “Other owners are fully behind me, but there’s always a fear of change.”

Morse is also aware that MCR’s previous resort fee structure may have been a turnoff -- one so big that some guests swore off MCR properties completely. But when comparing the old and new pricing model, Morse said his hotel staff reports that customer complaints related to a la carte pricing are lower.

Hotel prices are rising

There’s little doubt that the Wyndhams, Marriotts, Hiltons, and Hyatts of the world are watching what MCR is doing and taking notes, but whether or not they’re ready to implement a similar system remains to be seen.

On top of the fee shakeout, travelers should be aware that the cost of staying at a hotel in the U.S. is not only going up, but it’s hitting a record high. HospitalityNet reports that the average daily rate for a hotel was $142 headed into August, the highest ever on a nominal basis.