Current Events in July 2023

If you’re a parent who has purchased school uniform pieces from The Children’s Place, you may want to get rid of them sooner than later.

A new class action lawsuit, filed by Angala Garland, found that the clothing store was selling and marketing these items to parents, though they contained dangerous chemicals – per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals.” 

PFAS got the name “forever chemicals” because they never degrade in the environment – they contaminate drinking water, soil, air, food, and just about everything. This exposure becomes problematic for consumers’ health – especially young kids. 

A lower price could come with health risks

Garland brought the case to Bradley/Gombacher LLP after purchasing the uniform for her child at The Children’s Place. The pieces are available in-store, online, and on the company’s Amazon storefront. 

In 2022, she purchased: two multi-packs of boys uniform polos, one multi-pack of boys uniform long-sleeve polos, two multi-packs of boys pull-on chino uniform cargo pants, one multi-pack of boys boys uniform chino shorts, a boys uniform stretch chino pant, a boys uniform zip-up mock neck sweater, two multi-packs of boys uniform active fleece joggers and two boys uniform zip-up hoodies. 

Garland went with The Children’s Place because they were offering uniform pieces at a good price. She read through all of the tags and labeling, read through the company’s website, and never saw any disclosures related to PFAS or other dangerous chemicals.

After her four-year-old child wore the uniforms through the 2022-2023 school year, she had the items tested at a third-party lab to confirm the presence of PFAS. Ultimately, the results showed that the clothes contained some amount of the chemicals. 

Now, Garland is seeking restitution from The Children’s Place for herself, as well as any other parents across the country who have purchased these items. 

Kids are at a higher risk 

According to the official complaint, children wear these uniforms five days a week for 40 hours a week. The complaint says this is consistent exposure to these chemicals that come with a number of related health risks. 

“The young children who wear [these] school uniforms are uniquely vulnerable and susceptible to the adverse health incomes associated with PFAS due to their low body weight, sensitive development, prolonged periods of wear during the school week, and direct oral exposure due to frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors,” the complaint reads. “The levels of PFAS in the school uniforms pose a greater body burden and higher health dangers to children than to adults exposed to the same levels of PFAS.” 

The lawsuit alleges that The Children’s Place was aware of the presence of chemicals in the uniforms, and hasn’t stopped selling them or made any changes. 

Long-term dangers from PFAS

PFAS are found in everything from fast food packaging, water- and stain-resistant children’s products, and many personal care products.

PFAS have been found to significantly affect consumers’ hormone levels, which can have an effect on women’s reproductive health or developmental concerns in children. Long-term, there is also a higher risk of obesity, high cholesterol, cancer, and a compromised immune system.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 870,701 model year 2021-2023 F-150 pickup trucks with a single exhaust system.

Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.

Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while the vehicle is being driven increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 11, 2023.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S35.

Unjust? Misleading? Ruthless? Who,  lenders? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sure thinks so.

The agency has released a new report which found “unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices” across many consumer financial product categories. Ones that the agency feels violate federal law.

That car is worth how much? C’mon, now…

The most serious concern the CFPB may have uncovered comes from vehicle loan companies. The agency says some have originated loan balances above the actual value of the car or truck being purchased and went as far as engaging in illegal collection practices while servicing these loans. 

This feeding frenzy appears to be an offshoot of the pandemic when a shortage of new and used vehicles led to unrealistic price hikes. The dominoes fell from there – larger loan amounts, higher monthly payments, and ultimately, a higher rate of loan delinquencies.

The CFPB said another hook auto lenders used was their marketing materials. Researchers found that auto lenders misled consumers about the quality of the car they were eligible for under the terms of auto loans.

In many cases, the advertised loan offers were for much larger, more expensive, and newer cars than the pictured cars.

'Multiple instances of unfair or abusive acts'

Adding to the chicanery, the CFPB’s report said that some lenders went too far in charging fraudulent interest on inflated loan balances, as well. 

“Servicers charged interest on loans based on fraudulent representations by dealers that the vehicle had options and enhancements that it did not actually have,” the agency said.

“When servicers identified discrepancies, they did not reduce the amount that consumers owed on the loan agreements and continued to charge interest tied to the financing of the nonexistent options.”

In addition, the agency found instances where lenders canceled automatic payments without sufficient notice, resulting in unavoidable late fees.

One little trick servicers allegedly employed was not properly notifying consumers that the final payment of an auto loan often had to be made manually to close out the loan. And there’s nothing as unsavory as being surprised when you’re hit with late fees even though you had automatically paid your balance for years.

Medical debt comes into question, too

Unlawful debt collection attempts on medical debt is another across-the-line matter that the CFPB took issue with recently, and it’s taking another swing at it again.

For example, despite receiving sufficient information to render the debt uncollectible under state workers' compensation laws, the agency found there were debt collectors who continued to attempt to collect work-related medical debt. 

“The debt collectors violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by collecting an amount not permitted by law or agreement, by falsely representing the character, amount, or legal status of a debt, by engaging in conduct which had the natural consequence of harassing, oppressing, or abusing the consumer, and by using false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt,” the agency said.

The companies behind medical debt may be formidable, but the CFPB thinks it can be just as tough and is partnering with other agencies to determine how these high costs are impacting consumers.

If you are someone impacted by medical debt in a way that you feel is unfair, calling the CFPB might help. Consumers can submit complaints about financial products or services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

While most students are enjoying their summer break, parents and teachers are gearing up for the imminent back-to-school season. 

To help consumers stock up on a budget, Dollar General is hosting a back-to-school sale that features hundreds of items available for just $1. 

“Dollar General has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 80 years – helping them save time and money by offering access and affordability to everyday essentials through a convenient shopping experience and this back-to-school season is no exception,” Katie Ellison, senior PR manager at Dollar General told ConsumerAffairs. 

“Customers can take advantage of our incredible back-to-school deals in-store right now! As an example, this upcoming week (7/30-8/5), shoppers can get a 24-pack of crayons, ruler, and pencil sharpener all for $1 and 2 one-subject notebooks for $1,” Ellison said. “With 100+ back-to-school items priced at $1 or less, there’s no better place to stock up on quality supplies for school-aged kids.” 

What’s on sale?

Dollar General’s back-to-school sale is expected to run through the first few weeks of September, giving parents and teachers plenty of time to check everything off their lists. While hundreds of items are priced at $1, shoppers can also score supplies for even less than that. 

Here are some of the sale items: 

• 24-count Crayola Crayons: $0.50 

• Two-pocket plastic portfolio folder: $0.33

• 1-Subject wide ruled notebook: $0.50

• 8-count #2 pencils: $0.75

• 12-Count Crayola pre-sharpened colored pencils: $1.00

• 7-Count mechanical pencils: $1.00

• 125 sheets of filler paper: $1.00

• 2-Pack of invisible tape: $1.00

• 2-Count gel pens: $1.00

• 5,000-Count pack of staples: $1.00

• 3-Count composition notebooks: $1.00

• 10-Count black pens: $1.00

• 5-Count dividers: $1.00

Shoppers can find more deals on school supplies over the next few months at Dollar General. As back-to-school season ramps up, the discount store will be offering shoppers $2 off school supply purchases of at least $10, while myDG rewards members will get more discounts and coupons to use on school supplies. Additionally, sales and coupons change on a weekly basis, so shoppers should keep their eyes peeled if they’re waiting on discounts for specific items. 

Teachers can save too

Dollar General is also offering exclusive discounts for teachers. Teachers who verify their active status in the myDG rewards program will receive a 30% off coupon for all school supplies and housewares purchases. 

In addition, teachers can save on their classroom favorites. Everything from art supplies to cleaning supplies will be on sale through September 15 – Lysol wipes, storage bins, paper towels, tissues, Sharpies, bulletin board decorations, poster boards, scissors, chalk, and more. 

For consumers weary of inflation, gasoline prices have been one area of the budget that has seen a little relief in 2023. That may be about to change.

Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, took to Twitter this week to report some sudden and significant moves in prices, with some states seeing larger increases than others.

DeHaan said 20 states have seen average gas prices rise by over 10 cents a gallon compared to a week ago. Here are some of the biggest moves:

• Iowa +20 cents
• Texas +18 cents
• Georgia +16 cents
• Indiana + 16 cents
• Florida +16 cents
• Tennessee +16 cents
• North Carolina +15 cents
• Kansas +14 cents
• South Carolina +14 cents
• Minnesota +14 cents

DeHaan says some stations in some of these states have seen prices rise 25 cents to 50 cents a gallon – and they’re still going up.

"On our current trajectory, it seems the national average could rise to $3.85/gal, and we could even get close to $4/gal on the first potential of a storm aiming for the Gulf," DeHaan tweeted.

Prices are still lower than a year ago

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.73 a gallon, about 15 cents a gallon more than a week ago. But compared to a year ago, prices are relatively cheap. A year ago the national average was $4.28 a gallon.

Why are gasoline prices suddenly going up? One reason is the price of oil. A barrel of oil now costs between $70 and $80. The war in Ukraine continues to play a role in the oil market, with recent fighting damaging a major port facility.

The extreme heat, both in the U.S. and in Europe, may also be a factor. Because of sweltering temperatures, refineries have been forced to curtail operations, reducing output.

And then there’s OPEC, which has teamed with Russia to cut oil production in an effort to keep prices elevated.

Walmart+ members are used to getting perks with their memberships: free delivery from Walmart stores, nationwide gas discounts, returns from home, mobile scan and go, a Paramount+ subscription, free shipping with no order minimum, video streaming with Pluto TV, early access to online sales, and Walmart rewards. 

Now, the retailer is adding to that list: travel benefits. 

Walmart has partnered with Expedia Group’s White Label Template to offer Walmart+ members exclusive deals on their next getaway. 

“We’re bringing together the ultimate savings membership and vacation booking site to deliver a first-ever travel-focused benefit for Walmart+ members,” said Venessa Yates, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart+.

“Combined with our other efforts – including free delivery, streaming, and savings on fuel – we’re creating a membership that saves customers time and money, whether they’re at home or having fun at their favorite vacation destination.” 

Earn Walmart Cash for booking your next trip

Walmart+ members can book their next vacation with Walmart+ and immediately start earning as much as 5% Walmart Cash for their trip. 

The booking site has a wide range of options for hotels, airlines, and car rental companies, both in the U.S. and overseas. There are offers for last-minute hotel deals, hotel specials by the beach, family-friendly options, popular road-trip destinations, tours and activities, and more. 

The amount of Walmart Cash varies depending on what members book. Reserving a hotel, car, vacation rental, or activity yields 5% Walmart Cash, while flights offer 2% cash back.

When booking both a hotel and a flight, Walmart+ members will receive each respective Cash Back percentage – 5% for the hotel and 2% for the flight. 

Walmart Cash is the latest version of Walmart Rewards, which members accumulate when they purchase certain items that are flagged with a Walmart Cash icon. That Cash can be redeemed towards future purchases in-store or online, or those with at least a $25 balance can receive cash at their local Walmart store. 

A seamless booking experience

The partnership with Expedia makes it easy for Walmart+ members to navigate the booking process. This includes making changes to their itinerary, answering travel questions, or assisting in the reservation process. 

“We’re connecting Walmart’s customer base with Expedia Group’s extensive array of travel supply partners from around the world,” said Ariane Gorin, president of Expedia for Business. “What’s exciting is that with this collaboration, Walmart customers will benefit from Expedia’s ongoing innovation through TravelOS, our AI-powered travel operating system, as we continue to add new products and feature updates to drive the best traveler experience.”

Walmart+ members can book their next getaway straight from the Walmart app or at WalmartPlusTravel.com. Once they officially book their vacation, the Walmart Cash balance will reflect the changes, and members can utilize their rewards 30 days after their trip. 

For the last half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, YouTube pundits professing knowledge of the housing market predicted a crash in home prices. It didn’t happen.

In fact, for the last few months, home prices have actually started going up again, defying mortgage rates that are twice what they were just two years ago. In June, the average new mortgage payment hit a record-high of $2,656.

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller’s home price index is a lagging indicator of home prices but its latest report shows U.S. home prices rose for a fourth consecutive month in May. But it noted that regional price differences are getting wider. Some markets may be losing ground but others are making gains.

On a national, seasonally-adjusted basis, home prices rose 0.7% from April’s home prices. Compared to May 2022, however, prices were 0.5% lower.

‘Broad-based rally’

"The ongoing recovery in home prices is broadly based,” said Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Before seasonal adjustment, prices rose in all 20 cities in May as they had also done in March and April. Seasonally adjusted data showed rising prices in 19 cities in May, repeating April's performance.

The outlier is the Phoenix housing market, which saw huge price gains from 2020 to 2022. All of this is happening as mortgage rates continue to flirt with 7%, compared to just under 3% in late 2021.

So the question should be asked – is now a good time to buy a home? If you ask a real estate agent, you can bet the answer will be “yes.” But what about asking someone a bit more objective?

Reasons to buy now

In an interview with investment website The Street.com last month, personal finance guru Dave Ramsey said he thought now is a good time to buy, under certain circumstances. Ramsey said buyers need to have little debt and have an emergency fund available.

Because of high interest rates, Ramsey said there is less competition to get the home you want. He also notes there continues to be a housing shortage.

In a recent interview with ConsumerAffairs, Christopher Stout, principal at StoutCap, a real estate investment firm, said that lack of inventory has made it hard for buyers.

“The market has been generally frozen now, for almost a year,” he told us. “From what we see, values have changed so rapidly that there is an emotional reaction to not want to believe what the ‘new normal’ is. More inventory will hit the market and buyers will determine value. From there, values will climb over time.”

Another bullish indicator are the national home builders. As they reported second-quarter earnings their stocks soared because profits were up and so were margins.

In spite of predictions they would be unable to sell expensive homes in a high interest rate environment, they seem to be selling everything they build.

Pottery Barn Kids of San Francisco, Calif., is recalling about 310 Pottery Barn Kids Penny Convertible Cribs.

The cribs’ end panel can become loose exposing sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard.

The firm has received two reports of the end panels separating from the crib. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Pottery Barn Kids Penny Convertible Crib, with model number (SKU) 2850473 on the underside of the crib.

The crib, made from radiata pine, can convert to a toddler bed and is French white with scalloped details.

The cribs, manufactured in Indonesia, were sold online at www.potterybarnkids.com from September 2022, through April 2023, for about $900.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact Pottery Barn Kids to schedule delivery and installation of new end panels and removal of the old ones, or a full refund.

The firm is contacting all known purchasers.

Consumers may contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (855) 801-9300 from 7 a.m. to midnight (ET) daily or online at https://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/recall-penny-crib.html for more information.

Nissan North America is recalling 11,824 model year 2021 Versa and Kicks.

An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.

Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly -- if necessary -- free of charge.

These vehicles were previously recalled, but did not receive a steering column replacement.

Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners September 8, 2023.

Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Before you know it, going to Europe won’t be quite as easy as showing your passport at the airport.

Starting in 2024, the European Union (EU) will require citizens of 60 different countries to get pre-approval through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) if they want to cross its borders.

As the EU explains it, the process is pretty simple. An applicant must submit travel documentation – typically, a passport – along with the following:

• Personal information including your name(s), when and where you were born, nationality, home address, parents’ first names, email address and phone number;

• How much education you’ve completed;

• Your current occupation;

• What EU countries you’ll be traveling to; 

• Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country

Applicants will also have to fork over $8 as part of the process. Applicants who are under 18 or above 70 years of age are exempt from payment. 

Hurry up and wait?

The EU’s announcement is pretty clear as to its intentions, but the announcement failed to specify when in 2024 this requirement will begin. Could be January, could be August -- who knows at this point?

But, like many new government processes, travelers should expect some fits and starts. The EU said its best advice is for visitors to apply “well in advance” just to be safe.

It said that most applications should be processed within a matter of minutes and responded to within four days, but some could take much longer. That could be as much as 14 days if an applicant is requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if they are invited to an interview.  

Once you jump through those hoops and authorization is rubber stamped, however, you’re set for three years or until your passport expires.

In the meantime, U.S. passport processing times continue to lag

Since going on record in March about the trainwreck the State Department admitted it was experiencing processing passport applications, the department has gone mum. 

However, a nudge from ThePointsGuy got an agency representative to take that question mark off its page for the moment. The officials said that, as of July, passport applicants can expect routine passport service to take anywhere from 10 to 13 weeks, expedited service seven to nine weeks, plus two more weeks for processing and mailing the passport to the applicant.

"We are working hard to get back to our pre-pandemic processing times by the end of... 2023 [by] increasing hiring and training, authorizing overtime, and investing in automation and other technologies," the State Department official said.

"We are also working to improve our communications with the public so that U.S. citizens apply earlier and understand the passport application process."