Current Events in August 2023

Chrysler is recalling 162,000 model year 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokees, model year 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ls, and model year 2022-2024 Jeep Wagoneers and Grand Wagoneers.

The Central Vision Park Assist module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility of the rear view, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the CVPAM software free of charge.

Notification letters to owners are expected to be mailed October 3, 2023.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 56A.

College students go deep into debt to get a degree that qualifies them for a high-paying job. But thanks to a recently-negotiated contract with the Teamsters union, some delivery drivers for United Parcel Service (UPS) will earn up to $172,000 without spending a day in a classroom.

“I have never seen a national contract that levels the playing field for workers so dramatically as this one,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “The agreement puts more money in our members’ pockets and establishes a full range of new protections for them on the job.” 

Thinking about applying for one of those jobs? You aren’t alone. Bloomberg News recently reported that searches on job site Indeed for jobs at UPS rose 50% after the historic contract was signed.

Danelle McCusker Rees is president of human resources and operational training at UPS. In an interview with CNBC, she said she began her UPS career in 2002 as a part-time driver helper. 

“Every UPS job – even one that is part-time – is an opportunity for a career,” she told the network. “I’m an example of that.”

Between 2018 and 2022, McCuster Rees said 38,000 part-time UPS employees were promoted to full-time positions.

What UPS is looking for

So, how do you get a job there? McCuster Rees said the company seeks people who have a  “customer-focused mindset."

“Agility is important as well ... as a company, we have the ability to quickly adjust to changing market conditions, and our employees have to be flexible too,” she said.

Being a good driver and always showing up when you’re supposed to are also traits the company likes. And now it’s paying a premium price for those individuals.

In addition to delivery drivers earning up to $172,000 in salary and benefits, a couple of other driver jobs pay well, too. 

Tractor-trailer drivers earn $162,000 on average while long-haul drivers earn an average of $172,000 in salary and benefits. Neither job requires a college degree.

Under the Affordable Care Act, many states expanded Medicaid eligibility so that the number of people covered by that low-income health insurance program surged. Then, in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic came along.

As a result, the U.S. Government required states to keep people enrolled in Medicaid so they didn’t lose their insurance. Now that the pandemic has ended, people eligible for Medicaid have to re-enroll in their state’s program or find new insurance if they are no longer eligible.

Where large-scale change and uncertainty exist, it’s a perfect environment for scammers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns there are several ways the bad guys are attempting to exploit this.

If you have been on Medicaid or are now eligible, here’s information that will protect you from growing Medicaid scams:

Here’s what to know

• Medicaid won’t charge you to renew or enroll. Your state Medicaid agency may call, text, or send an email with information about enrolling in the program. However, the real Medicaid program won’t ask for money or personal information like your credit card or bank account number. Learn more about eligibility for Medicaid in your state at Medicaid.gov. 

• Visit HealthCare.gov to compare insurance plans, coverage, and prices. HealthCare.gov lets you compare prices on health insurance plans, check your eligibility for healthcare subsidies, and begin enrollment. HealthCare.gov will ask questions about your age and income. It will not ask for your credit card or bank account number. If someone does, it’s a scam. 

• Scammers will also try to sell you medical discount plans that are not major medical. Medical discount plans charge a monthly fee for supposed discounts on some medical services or products from a list of providers. They’re not a substitute for health insurance, though some plans do give actual discounts. But others just take your money for very little in return. If you’re considering one, find out if your doctor participates in the plan. Check what coverage it gives for major events. And be sure to get the plan’s details in writing before you sign up. If anyone pressures you to sign up quickly or insists you’ll miss out on a special deal, they’re running a scam.

The FTC is trying to get ahead of these scams by arming consumers with information. You can help by spreading the word. You can start by sharing this article!

Nissan North America is recalling 236,238 model year 2020-2022 Sentras.

The left and/or right tie rod may bend and break, causing a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Owners should contact their dealer for transport assistance if they're experiencing an off-center steering wheel or vibration.

As an interim repair, dealers will inspect and replace any bent or broken tie rods free of charge.

Once newly designed parts are available, dealers will replace both left and right tie rods free of charge.

Interim letters are expected to be mailed October 5, 2023. A second letter will be mailed once the final remedy is available.

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

Nissan's number for this recall which replaces and expands an earlier recall, is R23B

Vehicles previously repaired under the earlier will need to have the new remedy completed.

Security experts have documented a significant rise in travel scams during the spring and summer as more people decided to get out of the house. And it seems some travel scammers are specializing, targeting airline passengers.

For example, a random phishing email claims that you are getting a $500 travel credit from Delta Airlines that you can apply to a future trip. A great deal, right?

But to claim your voucher, which doesn’t exist, you have to click on a link in the email. Doing so might download malware onto your device. If the link takes you to an actual website, you’ll be required to provide lots of sensitive personal information.

Scammers are also posing as United Airlines. As with the Delta scam, the email recipient is told they are getting two free round-trip tickets. And as with the Delta scam, they are told to start the process of claiming their tickets by clicking on a link.

Jon Clay, vice president of Threat Intelligence at Trend Micro, says scammers are taking advantage of the surge in air travel this summer.

“Recently, Trend Micro has seen an increase in scams involving airlines where they offer travel vouchers or round-trip tickets to their victims,” Clay told ConsumerAffairs. “Consumers should beware of unsolicited emails or texts where they are offered these incentives and they should confirm with their airline that anything from them is legitimate.” 

Be skeptical of ‘too good to be true’ offers

Consumers should also be skeptical of things like free airline tickets. That definitely falls in the “too good to be true” red flag category.

As we reported in July, scammers have targeted airline passengers by buying ads on Google searches, pretending to be the help desks at these airlines.

If a United passenger is stranded at O’Hare looking for options and sees one of these ads, then dials the phone number listed, that call is probably headed to scammer and not to the real United service center.

If you recently attempted to call one of the major airlines using a phone number posted on Google, you may want to check your credit card statement to make sure you weren’t a victim of a scam.

A strong economy with low unemployment is usually a good thing but that combination is helping to push mortgage rates to their highest level in two decades, creating challenges for homebuyers.

Freddie Mac reports the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has an interest rate of 7.09% and some housing economists suggest the rate could reach 8%.

That might not have been a problem 20 years ago when the average home sold for less than $250,000. Today, however, many homes sell for well over $400,000.

“The economy continues to do better than expected and the 10-year Treasury yield has moved up, causing mortgage rates to climb,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The last time the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage exceeded seven percent was last November. Demand has been impacted by affordability headwinds, but low inventory remains the root cause of stalling home sales.”

Though rates briefly touched 7% a year ago, 7.09% is the highest rate since April 2002. Rates have steadily risen as the Federal Reserve has tightened a key interest rate over the last 18 months to slow inflation.

Eroding affordability

The current mortgage rates are more than double what they were at the end of 2021. Today, people buying a $350,000 home with a 20% down payment would have a mortgage payment of $1,880 a month, compared to $1,159 two years ago.

With fewer consumers able to afford today’s payment, why haven’t home prices fallen?

"There are simply not enough homes for sale," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "The market can easily absorb a doubling of inventory."

In July, NAR reported the median existing-home price for all housing types was $410,200, the second-highest price of all time and down 0.9% from the record-high of $413,800 in June 2022.

The monthly median price surpassed $400,000 for the third time, joining June 2022 and May 2022 ($408,600). Prices rose in the Northeast and Midwest but softened in the South and West.

The next time your utility bill comes in the mail, don’t lose your wheels. According to the latest data available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average residential U.S. electricity price increased by 7.8% compared with 202 – or about 16.14 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

As a result of record-breaking temperatures across the country and skyrocketing utility bills, many people are tempted to blame their air conditioners, but another utility hog in the house needs to share that blame – your laundry washer and dryer.

Cyndi Bray, household energy savings expert and inventor of Wad-Free, tells ConsumerAffairs that using laundry machines correctly can unlock new ways to save on monthly expenses.

Washers and dryers aren't the energy guzzlers that water heaters and air conditioners are, but they can account for close to 6% of people's utility bills. According to Energy Star, the average American family spends $2,060 per year for utilities, so playing out that 6% factor, that’s about $120 back in your pocket. 

“It’s one of life’s unending tasks: no matter how diligent you are about doing laundry, it will never end,” Bray told ConsumerAffairs. “With a few tweaks to your laundry routine, you can drastically cut your energy consumption, and save time and money in the process.”

Bray’s utility-saving tips

We probably don’t even think about how a kilowatt hour breaks down, but Bray says that 90% of the energy consumed in the clothes washer goes toward heating the water and if you wash in cold water instead, you can save up to 50 cents per load in energy costs.

You may be saying, “But hot water gets out stains better!” Bray suggests you should rethink that position, however.

“Don’t fear clothes and sheets not coming out clean. Most of today’s laundry detergents are formulated to clean best in cold water, and most of the fabric care tags of your clothes and sheets call for cold water anyway,” Bray said.

Another washing machine insider tip is to only run full loads or schedule your laundry routine during non-peak hours. When are those? According to PowerWizard, the cheapest time of day to use electricity is late nights and early mornings – the times of day when most folks are in their beds and not hogging electricity watching TV or washing dishes.

When it comes to the clothes dryer, Bray says that’s somewhat of an uphill battle because the dryer is often the least efficient appliance in the household and the average dryer can use more energy than the refrigerator, clothes washer, and dishwasher combined! 

“An easy way to save energy is to select a low heat setting. Even if you have to run the dryer for a longer period of time, consumers save a lot of energy over running the dryer on high. The bonus is your clothes and sheets will last longer, too,” Bray advises, adding that if you dry loads consecutively, the heat of the dryer is used one load after another and doesn’t have to do a complete reset.

Now that summer vacations are pretty much in the books, what places hold possibilities for 2024? Maybe you want to vacation in the U.S. and get a great return on your dollar and not have to worry about safety issues?

Two new studies show that travelers are thinking about mixing it next year and looking for perks and places they typically haven’t in the past.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of YMT Vacations, one survey revealed that 51% of respondents seek relaxed vacations, 43% prioritize cultural exploration, and 38% look forward to visiting historical sites.

The number of people traveling to different destinations is expected to increase in 2024. France, Mexico, and Canada were the top three candidates, each with 42%. In second place was Spain with 40%, Italy with 32%, and Greece with 21%.

The American Revolution and Ancient Egypt were the top historical scenes travelers (46%) desired to see. The Greek Golden Age (40%) and Viking Age (38%) followed closely behind. In addition to Renaissance Italy (30%), 28% would like to explore World War II-era Europe.

An interesting trend is that some travelers are so caught up in the movies and shows they’re watching, that nearly half (44%) want to go there and savor that slice of life firsthand. The streaming shows "Emily in Paris" (21%) and "The White Lotus" (16%) were the popular choices.

Movies were also influential (36%), with "Triangle of Sadness" (16%) and "Top Gun: Maverick" (13%) mentioned as notable films that travelers would like to visit the sites where the movies took place.

Safety and uniqueness – the best of both worlds

Another study conducted by Vivint – one that scoured subreddits of travelers nationwide – shows that home-sharing vacationers are prioritizing security as a top factor when booking a rental. On average, home-sharing renters would go over budget by 33% for a safer rental.

Breaking that down, the cities with the most secure short-term vacation rentals include Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, CA, and Bakersfield, CA. As for the cities with the most positive reviews about home-sharing rentals, the top three were Tulsa, Okla., Milwaukee, Wis., and Louisville Ky. – places that offer some uniqueness that many travelers haven’t sampled yet.

With 67% positive comments on Reddit, Tulsa, had the most positive home-sharing sentiments. There are plenty of short-term vacation rental options in Tulsa, which is home to first-class museums – like the new Bob Dylan Center – a zoo, and the Center of the Universe.

With nearly 60% of the comments positive, Milwaukee, located on Lake Michigan, was the second-most friendly home-sharing city according to the subreddits surveyed. Beer, baseball, bikes, Summerfest, and where the average summer day never gets past 77 degrees. What’s not to like?

Another rarely-visited gem is Louisville. Not only did it rank number three on the Vivint survey, but according to Airbnb, the Derby City was the number one trending destination in the U.S.

Like Milwaukee, it’s got baseball with the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, but also a whole section of town devoted to bourbon. Plus, there’s the Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and it’s a foodie haven.

Where not to go? As for the cities at the bottom of the list, reviewers hardly had any positives to share about their stays in Portland, Oregon (26%); Raleigh, North Carolina, received only 20% positive mentions; and Wichita, Kan., bottomed out with only 15% positive comments.

“If you plan on visiting any of these three locations, you may want to skip the home share and book a hotel instead,” the researchers said.