Current Events in September 2023

With the threat of a government shutdown, anyone traveling should take note that things could change in a hurry and in a big way.

To find out just where and how much, ConsumerAffairs reached out to Katy Nastro, travel expert with Going.com, and here’s her take: 

Areas within travel most impacted by the shutdown

Air travel: For those who are traveling in the near future, flight operations will appear business as usual. However, both TSA agents and ATC personnel will be working without paychecks until the shutdown ends.

National parks: Past shutdowns have led to parks closing or being kept open by a skeleton crew.

Passports: Passport processing is already at an all-time high of 10-13 weeks, and while operations will continue, certain agencies based in government buildings may be impacted.

What the implications are if the shutdown is long

“The biggest takeaway is that the longer this occurs, the greater the impact will be on the travel industry, even if people don’t see an immediate difference on October 1,” Nastro said. The biggest dominoes to fall could include the following: 

Air travel: As both workers feel the strain of no pay, we may encounter longer security lines and delayed flights if enough personnel decide to call in sick or are burned out.

Additionally, hiring and training Air Traffic Control personnel will be put on hold which will cause longer delays in this area that is already struggling with staffing issues. The Department of Transportation sees other possible air-related categories that could add further pressure such as field inspections and airworthiness directives.

National Parks: If there is a significant shutdown, parks will be left unmaintained, so things like trash pickup, snow removal, general safety for parkgoers and animals alike – all would be put on hold and may cause longer-term effects.

If you’ve been considering a trip this fall to a national park, you might want to consider alternate plans if this moves forward.

Passports: If the passport agency is based in a government-run building and that building should shutter due to the shutdown, this could add further delay and inconveniences to those looking to travel internationally.

The good news is that you can still mail in your passport or head to an acceptance facility to send in an application to begin the process. 

What anyone traveling should do to stay on top of the situation

If you are traveling anywhere in or outside of the U.S., the best method to stay abreast of what’s happening with your flight, train ride, etc. is to download the app of the airline or train (e.g. Amtrak) that you’re using. You can also use FlightAware.com.

And, don’t forget the weather. The Department of Transportation issued weather warnings that may also impact flight schedules for Boston (BOS), New York (EWR, JFK, LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington, DC (BWI, DCA, IAD), San Francisco (SFO), Florida (FLL, MIA, MCO), and Chicago (MDW, ORD).

You can stay on top of those via the FAA’s Daily Air Traffic Report or at FlightAware.com.

Make Believe Ideas of New York is recalling about 273,000 Rainbow Road Series Board Books sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The plastic binding rings can detach from the books, posing a choking hazard.

The firm has received two reports of the plastic rings detaching in the U.S. and one in Australia. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves seven board books under the Rainbow Road Series Board Books.

The children’s board books are bound together with plastic rings and were sold individually as well as in a book box with four books.

A list of the recalled board books and ISBN numbers may be found here.

The ISBN number is printed on the book’s right hand corner on the back above the bar code.

The board books, manufactured in China, were sold at Target, Barnes & Noble, Sam’s Club and other stores nationwide, online at www.amazon.com and other websites, and at school book fairs nationwide from March 2022, through August 2023.

Individual books sold for between about $10 and $11 and box sets sold for about $21.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled books and contact Make Believe Ideas to receive a refund in the form of a gift card by registering online at www.recallrtr.com/rr.

Following registration, consumers will be provided instructions on how to dispose of their book(s) and asked to confirm that they have disposed of them.

Consumers may contact Make Believe Ideas toll-free at (877) 206-1091 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday, or online at www.recallrtr.com/rr for more information.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 21,781 model year 2023 Tundras and Tundra Hybrids equipped with a spray-on bed liner accessory.

The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle.

An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 29, 2023.

Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA11.

If you’ve flown anywhere in the last year, you know what a drag flying has become. Long lines, cancellations, unruly passengers, and having to pay for everything except a visit to the bathroom has given cruise lines an opportunity to bring back the joy of taking a trip.

According to new research from Future Market Insights, cruising is growing 12% a year. The reason cruising is taking a chink out of airlines’ armor is because it incorporates all the aspects consumers want in tourism – transportation, accommodation, attractions, and hospitality.

What's behind this trend?

The researchers said one of the key aspects influencing the cruise business is a change in thinking. "Several businesses are emerging, offering a range of amenities to draw clients to meet the need for maritime cross-border travel," they wrote. 

And these companies are putting ships on the seas like there's no tomorrow. In December 2022, 239 ships entered commercial service, a 15-fold year-over-year increase.

MSC Cruises, with 13 ships and 50,326 beds, is ranked first on the list of ships at sea; then Carnival (17 ships,  54,364 berths); and Royal Caribbean (20 ships, 71,800 berths).

Cruising is no longer a ‘70s “Love Boat” thing, either, but loaded with things airlines can’t provide. Cruise companies these days offer in-room spa treatments, skydiving simulators, pickleball, and Pilates. And many sweeten the deal with hundreds in on-board credit, lots of dining choices, and free drinks.

Travel experts give their thumbs ups

ConsumerAffairs asked travel aficionados and experts both why they think cruising is turning into a travel favorite. Here’s what they had to say:

It’s a better deal than flying.

When you factor in everything that’s included – food and drink, entertainment, rooms, etc. – cruising is about ten times cheaper than air travel because it uses bigger vessels with a higher capacity,  Alexandra Dubakova, Travel Expert and CMO of FreeTour.com, told ConsumerAffairs.

“You get to explore the sea, tour different countries, enjoy different dining experiences, engage in other activities, and shop around, making cruising more fun and enjoyable,” Dubakova said.

If you need a thumbnail idea of what the daily cost of a cruise plays out to be, Cruise Critic Executive Editor, Chris Gray Faust, told us that $75 is the average. “It’s hard to think of a land-based option that’s comparable – especially when you consider what that cost includes.” 

However, consumers trying to “cheap out” might find themselves disappointed. “The cruising ‘experience’ is not a standard thing,” Dubakova reminds cruise newbies.

“Your cruising experience will depend on what you choose, so do not be tempted with the cheapest deal. Know what experience you are looking for before hunting for deals.”

Relaxation and low price. What's not to like?

One cruise option many don't know about are "repositioning" cruises. Because the cruise lines have to take their boats from the Caribbean back to Europe in late Spring for journeys there, most offer repositioning cruises at hard-to-believe prices.

For example, ConsumerAffairs saw a 14-day repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome for under $800 (interior room). 

Besides the plus of the price, you're also relaxing on the ocean for the first seven days before you hit the Azores, and then, you're off to Spain, then Italy.

It’s not an 'old people’s' thing anymore

If you have a preconceived notion that cruises are nothing but fading baby boomers, youmight have to rethink your position. The average cruise passenger these days is 47 years old, with the three largest demographic groups being: 40 to 49 – 15%; 50 to 59 – 18%; and 60 to 69 – 19%.

The first words out of travel guru Rocky Trifari’s mouth were “Unlike air travel, you only need to unpack once on a cruise.” Whew, that’s a relief.

“From that point on, your hotel essentially moves with you even if you visit multiple destinations. This effectively eliminates the potentially stressful hassle of constantly repacking and unpacking if you have an itinerary that involves visiting more than one destination.”

Opposed to flying, Trifari gives a thumbs-up to the social aspect of cruising, “If you are fortunate enough to meet some new friends aboard the ship, you can spend the rest of the time visiting various destinations with a group of travelers you’ve gotten to know on board.” 

However, cruises are not perfect

Now that you’ve heard the pluses, you need to know the minuses of cruising. 

Who’s in charge? You’re not in charge of the itinerary – you’re going where the ship’s going. If you want to go to  Mexico City or Switzerland, you’re better off flying. 

If you want to spend a few days at a certain place, you’re not likely to get that, either. Cruises try to hit as many places as they can and it’s usually a day in a port and you’re gone. That means, if you want to absorb Barcelona from A-Z, you should plan to go there 3-4 days before you set sail.

A la carte can eat you alive.You’d be smart to get all the perks you can up front, too. Anything not included is expensive, such as internet or cocktails.

“Those with sea sickness should be warned that cruises often travel through rough waters, depending on the time of year and conditions,” David Triana, avid cruiser and account executive with Delight Labs, said.

It's also wise to confirm all the details upfront. In ConsumerAffairs reviews of travel agencies, we found a number of complaints about promise vs. performance. Many of those concerned travelers not getting everything they thought they'd get. Our number one takeaway is to get everything you think you’re supposed to get upfront, detailed in an email, before you put the charge on your credit card.

Finally, big ships can be overwhelming. If a big ship in the middle of the Atlantic with thousands of others seems a bit too much, first-time cruisers might want to try and go the river cruise route. 

The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (Fed) ended its September meeting without increasing the federal funds rate but made clear its battle with inflation isn’t over.

“We want to see convincing evidence really that we have reached the appropriate level, and we’re seeing progress and we welcome that. But, you know, we need to see more progress before we’ll be willing to reach that conclusion,” said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

Other statements and documents suggest that even if the Fed doesn’t raise rates one more time, as expected, the policymakers plan to keep the rate where it is for months, making it more expensive to finance a car or truck purchase and pay down credit card balances.

Oliver Rust, head of product at independent inflation data aggregator Truflation, says the Fed’s decision shows it is being cautious.

“Overall, the economic picture remains murky, which explains the decision to pause,” Rust told ConsumerAffairs. “According to Powell, the Fed is now ‘in a position to be more careful’ and getting ‘fairly close’ to where it needs to be on interest rates. Faced with arguably the most important monetary policy decision since the rate hiking cycle began, this pause gives policymakers the chance to avoid a blunder, with Powell saying that achieving a soft landing still remains the Fed's primary objective.”

A soft landing would be a reduction in inflation without triggering a recession – historically, something hard to achieve.

Soft landing?

“However, with the economy on a strong path and unemployment stuck at historic lows, there is little chance of avoiding another interest rate hike,” Rust said. “At Truflation, we also expect inflation to remain sticky this year and maintain our projection of 4% CPI by year-end, which will put further pressure on the Fed.”

With new and used car prices expected to rise because of the United Auto Workers strike, higher financing rates may limit the kind of vehicles consumers can afford. Current rates range from 5.5% to over 28%.

The average credit card interest rate is 24.45%, with consumers with excellent credit paying less but those with poor credit paying a much higher rate. Both auto loan rates and credit card rates are based on the Fed’s federal funds rate.

Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., is recalling about 23,000 model year 2022-2023 MATRYX PRO RMK and MATRYX RMK KHAOS snowmobiles sold in the U.S and Canada.

The handlebar hooks on the snowmobiles pose a puncture hazard and risk of serious injury if the rider’s body hits the handlebar hook in a crash.

The firm has received four reports of puncture wounds caused by impact with the handlebar hooks.

This recall involves Polaris model year 2022-2023 MATRYX PRO RMK and MATRYX RMK KHAOS snowmobiles sold in black and custom color combinations.

“POLARIS” or “KHAOS” is stamped on the front side paneling of the vehicles. The VIN and Model Number are located on the right side of vehicle’s frame.

The snowmobiles, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from December 2019, through April 2023, for between $13,300 and $22,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snowmobiles and contact Polaris or an authorized Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair.

Polaris is offering consumers free replacement handlebar hooks that can be self-installed or installed by an authorized Polaris dealer. Polaris is notifying all dealers and registered owners directly.

Consumers may contact Polaris Industries at (800) 765-2747 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road-recalls/ to check if their vehicle identification number (VIN) is included in any recalls.

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands who attended the for-profit University of Phoenix, there may be a gift waiting for you: a big fat student loan forgiveness.

A new crop of University of Phoenix students (UOP) have just been approved for full forgiveness of their federal student loans by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

If you attended the school anytime between September 21, 2012 and December 31, 2014, and were misled by the school’s claims and submitted a valid application for relief through ED’s Borrower Defense program, there’s a high probability that you’re eligible for the agency’s loan relief. 

ED’s decision is based in part on the FTC’s 2019 court action against the University of Phoenix for using trickery in advertising practices to get students to enroll. At the time, the FTC alleged that UOP tried to attract students by claiming that it had relationships with employers such as Microsoft and could assist students in getting jobs once they got their UOP sheepskin.

The agency said these ads were specifically targeted at people in the military, veterans, and military spouses.

Already submitted a claim? Already got one?

If you’ve already submitted a borrower defense claim, you may be in luck. Just check the status of your application on the borrower defense page under “Manage My Applications” at StudentAid.gov. 

If you haven't submitted one yet, then time’s a-wastin’ so file your claim… now. The agency says that if you’ve already received a refund from the FTC’s settlement, don’t sweat it because you’re still eligible for loan forgiveness through ED’s borrower defense program.

Sweet, huh? The agency just asks that you mention that fact when you apply. Find out more at ftc.gov/UOP.

Starting on Monday, September 25, consumers will once again be able to order four free COVID-19 test kits. 

The program for free tests ended back in May of this year when the virus was officially no longer considered to be a public health emergency and the supply of tests was running low.

Now, the Biden Administration has invested $600 million in a dozen different test manufacturers across the United States, and the program will officially reopen on September 25. 

“Manufacturing COVID-19 tests in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, reduces our reliance on other countries, and provides good jobs to hard-working Americans,” said Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response. 

“The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s (ASPR) investments in these domestic manufacturers will increase the availability of these tests in the future.” 

Detecting the new variants

Along with new boosters to tackle the new COVID-19 variants, the latest version of these tests, which will be available to order from COVIDTests.gov, are also designed to detect the most recent strain of the virus. 

Because of this, it’s important that consumers use them in a timely fashion. Experts are encouraging consumers to use this latest batch of free tests before the end of the year. 

Each box will have clear instructions on how to administer the tests, as well as expiration dates and how to see if your test has an extended expiration. 

It’s also important to note that you may want to hold on to any old tests you have sitting around at home. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has created a list of all the at-home tests and their extended expiration dates so consumers know what to save and what to get rid of. 

All tests will be mailed through the USPS starting October 2, and consumers can leave their email addresses when placing their orders to receive shipping updates on their test kits. When your order ships, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number and estimated delivery date. 

Each household will be limited to four tests per residential address, and consumers can place their orders starting on September 25 here. 

Used car prices may have fallen from their record highs, but your money still doesn’t go nearly as far as before when you visit a used car lot.

A new study from automotive marketplace iSeeCars.com found $23,000 could purchase a three-year-old used car in 2019, the year before the pandemic. But today, $23,000 doesn’t even buy a six-year-old used car in good condition.

The study’s authors call it a “hangover” from the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain issues vastly reduced the supply of new cars and trucks, sending used car prices to record highs. While used car prices have fallen for three straight months, they apparently still have a long way to go.

Researchers at iSeeCars.com analyzed over 21 million used cars sold in 2019 and 2023 and found that the average age of used cars sold increased from 4.8 years to 6.1 years, while the average price across all ages increased 33 percent, from $20,398 to $27,133.

“Plant shutdowns and limited new car production during the pandemic is still playing havoc with the used car market,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “With 28% fewer one- to three-year-old used cars today compared to 2019, today’s buyers have to shop 6-year-old – or older – cars to find a comparably priced vehicle.” 

Not as many three-year-old cars

Not long ago there were plenty of three-year-old used cars on lots, mainly because that’s the typical length of a new car lease. However, a decline in auto leases has reduced the number of three-year-old cars and trucks hitting the used car market.

“The impact of restricted new car production during the pandemic has come home to roost in the used car market,” said Brauer. “With one- to three-year-old used car supply down between 20% and 45%, buyers that previously shopped for late model year used cars now have to spend much more or consider much older vehicles.”  

And now we have an auto workers strike that, if lengthy, will sharply reduce the number of new cars available for purchase, sending more consumers to the used car market. An increase in demand could send used car prices back up again.

According to iSeeCars.com, the average price of a three-year-old used car in 2019 was $23,048. Today, the average price is $32,493. To purchase a vehicle for less than $23,000, buyers have to shop for 2016 models, according to the study.