Current Events in February 2024

Here we go again. Disney+ has announced an update to its policies where it – like Netflix – intends to start charting an account-sharing fee to anyone who shares their account with someone outside their household.

During the company’s latest earning call, CFO Hugh Johnston said Disney's password crackdown will start in a matter of months. 

"Beginning this summer, Disney+  accounts suspected of improper sharing will be presented with new capabilities to allow their borrowers to start their own subscriptions," Johnston said.

"Later this calendar year, account holders who want to allow access to individuals from outside their household will be able to add them to their accounts for an additional fee."

Not a surprise

Surprised by this? You shouldn’t be. “Following Netflix’s implementation of its account-sharing clampdown, which has seen over 20 million new subscribers come on board, it’s not a huge surprise to see Disney following suit,” Roger Palmer from WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com, said. 

“Netflix charges $8 for each “extra member” subaccount, which is slightly more expensive than its ad-supported tier, which many account sharers might have moved over to.”

Where is this all going?

Disney+ probably didn’t come to this decision quickly. The Mouse recently raised its monthly subscription price by 27% to $13.99, which resulted in a loss of 1.3 million subscribers. Hulu, on the other hand, increased its subscriber count after raising its prices, indicating that the impact of price hikes can vary across different services.

Nor has raising rates hurt Netflix. After it lost more than a million subscribers in 2022, it came back with a roar in 2023, adding those 20 million Palmer referenced.

Then, it played its hand with a big price hike. According to The Streamable, anyone who wants to get all of Netflix’s best features on its top tier currently has to pay $22.99 per month – an increase of $15 per month (188%) in nearly 17 years. So, consumers must think it's worth paying for.

However, with the cloud of price hikes, a little programming sunshine might soon make an appearance, particularly for sports fans.

Just last month, Prime Video raised the price of ad-free streaming by $3 per month, bringing regional sports channels to its platform through an investment in Diamond Sports Group.

Major League Soccer moved its games primarily to streaming in 2023, as well. The NBA wants to sell its next rights deal to a streaming service, and HBO wants a piece of the sports action, too.

While artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easy for consumers to find recipes, write thank-you cards, or even do homework assignments, some chatbots have been designed for people to build relationships. 

These sites serve as a platform for consumers to build any kind of relationship – platonic, romantic, professional, etc. – with a chatbot. 

Though it may seem harmless at the outset to have an outlet to vent or share things, Mozilla’s *Privacy Not Included guide has done some deep diving, discovering that these platforms can actually be dangerous when it comes to consumers’ privacy and safety. 

The company analyzed data from 11 of the most popular relationship chatbots and determined that none provided adequate levels of privacy, security, and safety for users. 

“Today, we’re in the wild west of AI relationship chatbots,” said Jen Caltrider, director of *Privacy Not Included. “Their growth is exploding and the amount of personal information they need to pull from you to build romances, friendships, and sexy interactions is enormous. 

“And yet, we have little insight into how these AI relationship models work. Users have almost zero control over them. And the app developers behind them can’t even build a website or draft a comprehensive privacy policy. That tells us they don’t put much emphasis on protecting and respecting their users’ privacy. This is creepy on a new AI-charged scale.” 

Privacy and security are at risk

The data from this analysis will be in *Privacy Not Included’s 2024 Valentine’s Day buyer’s guide. The goal is to help open consumers’ eyes to the security and privacy risks that come with utilizing these services. 

For starters, Mozilla identified over 24,000 data trackers after using the Romantic AI app for just one minute. Once the app collects users’ data, they can share it with marketing companies, advertisers, social media platforms, and more. 

Another security flaw that Mozilla discovered: 10 of the 11 chatbots didn’t require users to make strong passwords. This makes users’ accounts even easier for hackers or scammers. 

It’s also important to note that consumers have no control over how their data or personal information is used by these platforms. This opens the door for these chatbots to utilize and manipulate users’ personal information as they please, which comes with several privacy and security risks. 

“One of the scariest things about the AI relationship chatbot is the potential for manipulation of their users, “Caltrider said. “What is to stop bad actors from creating chatbots designed to get to know their soulmates and then using that relationship to manipulate those people to do terrible things, embrace frightening ideologies, or harm themselves or others? This is why we desperately need more transparency and user control in these AI apps.” 

Americans lost more than $10 billion to scammers in 2023 and there is no reason to think that number will fall in 2024, without more consumer vigilance.

In its annual report, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) broke down the types of scams that victimized Americans throughout the year. Number one on the list is investment scams, costing consumers $4.6 billion.

These scams can take many forms, usually after the scammer has earned the victim’s trust. Think Bernie Madoff. Madoff ran a glorified Ponzi scheme for years, attracting investments from the rich and famous.

Only Madoff never invested the money. If someone wanted to withdraw some money he always provided it because he had a steady stream of new money flowing into his “fund.” It was only when the financial crisis of 2008 arrived that Madoff was exposed, since nearly everyone wanted to withdraw their money.

These days, investment scams often come in the form of “pig butchering.” That’s when a scammer makes contact with someone on social media and, after developing a relationship, casually mentions that they made a lot of money in a sure-fire Bitcoin investment and offers to help the victim make a killing as well.

Imposter scams

A variety of imposter scams also stole millions of dollars from victims. Scammers pose as government officials as well as well-known brands, such as Amazon, the U.S. Postal Service and Microsoft.

Other scam categories revolved around online shopping issues, phony sweepstakes and lotteries, and business and job opportunity scams.

"Digital tools are making it easier than ever to target hard-working Americans, and we see the effects of that in the data we're releasing today,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is working hard to take action against those scams."

Another shift worth noting is how scammers communicate with their victims. After years in which phone calls and text messages were the most common medium, scammers went back to using email in 2023.

Phone calls were the second most commonly reported contact method for fraud in 2023, followed by text messages.

The FTC said it received fraud reports from 2.6 million consumers last year, nearly the same amount as 2022. 

Louie and lilies? Daisy and daffodils? Not a good idea.

So say veterinarians who are warning pet owners – or boyfriends/girlfriends of pet owners – that as innocent as they might seem, not every flower is well suited for an environment where there are cats or dogs.

TrustedHousesitters worked with vets to learn about the biggest risks to pets and found five flowers all pet owners should avoid this Valentine’s Day:

Lilies

According to the Pet Poison Helpline Toxin Trends dashboard, lilies were the most common toxin that cats were exposed to on Valentine’s Day last year. Even though they may be gorgeous to admire, certified vet Amanda Takiguchi, DVM, warns that even eating a small amount of this flower can cause deadly kidney failure in cats. 

“While similar in name, Lily of the Valley flowers do not cause acute kidney failure like true lily species. Regardless, Lily of the Valley flowers are highly toxic to both dogs and cats. If ingested, this flower can cause seizures and dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and rhythm,” she said.

Daffodils

Daffodils are double trouble, affecting both cats and dogs. If your pet takes a bite out of a daffodil, have your towels and mops ready, because they’ll likely experience severe vomiting. Any part of the flower is dangerous, but the bulb is particularly poisonous. And you know how dogs like to root around!

Hydrangeas

A chemical called amygdalin is found in the leaves, flowers, and buds of the hydrangea plant. It is likely that your dog will experience an upset stomach and possible side effects like a high heart rate, high temperature, and vomiting if they eat this popular plant.

Tulips

Again, another double-whammy, extremely toxic flower. If a cat or dog gets their teeth into the tulip bulb, there’s a toxin in there that can cause excessive drooling, loss of appetite, vomiting, central nervous system depression, and even cardiac abnormalities.

Carnations

Carnations may work for a prom date, but as for a Valentine’s Day flower, they’re loaded with natural toxins that may cause mild gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea, as well as mild dermatitis in some dogs and cats. 

Pet-Friendly Valentine’s Day flowers

The interviewed vets advise that Valentine’s Day gift-givers either opt for pet-friendly flower alternatives or look for flowers that are considered safe, such as…

1. Sunflowers

2. Petunias

3. Pansies

4. Marigolds

5. Snapdragons

6. Violas

7. Freesia

8. Orchids

“If you’re lucky enough to receive a bouquet this Valentine’s Day, often it’s the popular flowers that look and smell great in the home, that are the most harmful to our beloved pets,” Angela Laws, head of Community, added.

“Make sure that anything you leave in reach of your pets is safe, should they get their paws on it, keeping an eye out to spot any abnormal signs that your pet has become unwell, in which case a vet should be consulted immediately.”

With just over two months until the official tax filing deadline – Monday, April 15, 2024 – it’s time for taxpayers to make a plan to file their 2023 tax returns. 

For many consumers, that process might just come at no cost. 

The IRS explained that eligible taxpayers can take advantage of several resources designed to eliminate the cost associated with filing taxes – regardless of whether they choose to file on their own or use a tax preparer. 

Free programs

Here’s a look at some of the ways taxpayers can file free this season, including the eligibility requirements: 

• IRS Free File: To utilize this program, taxpayers must have had an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less in 2023. This resource is one that consumers use on their own – tax preparers have made their programs available online for free, and taxpayers can even use their phones or tablets to file their taxes at no cost. 

• IRS Direct File: This program is currently in its pilot phase, as it’s the IRS’ latest way to file taxes for free. With Direct File, taxpayers will follow a step-by-step guide to learn more about their taxes, and free support from the IRS is available weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Currently, the pilot is only available in a dozen states, and only consumers with simple tax returns are eligible. The IRS plans to expand this program based on the information learned from this tax season. More information on availability can be found here. 

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): This program is for taxpayers with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers, and those who make under $60,000 per year. Typically, consumers can access this program at popular community centers, like malls, libraries, schools, and more. 

• Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): Seniors who utilize this service will meet with tax preparers who specialize in filing for older taxpayers. They’re trained to answer questions about pensions, retirement, and other related areas. 

• MilTax: Military veterans are eligible for free tax filing through MilTax. Through the Department of Defense, vets can file their federal tax returns and up to three state returns at no cost. 

• Free Fillable Forms: This free program is for taxpayers who make an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or higher. However, there is no formal assistance – taxpayers are responsible for choosing and accurately filling out the appropriate forms. This program is also only available for federal tax returns – not state returns, and taxpayers can’t make any changes to their returns once they’re submitted and processed. 

Inflation is still “sticky” as the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) didn't fall as much as expected in January. Prices rose 0.3% last month for an annual inflation rate of 3.1%.

That’s down from December’s 3.4% inflation rate but economists were expecting the annual rate to drop below 3%. Two reasons it didn’t are rent and restaurant meals.

The cost of shelter rose 0.6% in January and is up 6% over the last 12 months. That increase accounted for two-thirds of January’s CPI increase.

While grocery prices are rising at a much slower rate the cost of food consumed away from home – mostly at restaurants – continues to rise at a faster pace. The cost of food consumed away from home increased 0.5% from December and is 5.1% higher year-over-year.

Some groceries are getting cheaper

Grocery shoppers saw higher prices for cereals, produce and bakery products last month but there were significant price declines for meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products.

At restaurants, menu prices rose faster at fast food and fast casual places than at full-service restaurants.

A few things cost less last month. Consumers paid a lot less for energy in January. Natural gas prices are down more than 17% year-over-year while fuel oil prices have declined more than 14% during the same period.

Used car prices also declined, falling 3.4% in just 30 days. For the year, used vehicle prices are down 3.5%. New car prices were flat for the month and are up only 0.7% in the last 12 months.

Oliver Rust, head of Product at independent economic data provider Truflation, says the January CPI was a surprise.

“We expected a much more pronounced fall,” Rust said. “This small decline is out of line with the typical seasonal trend, which tends to see a spending slump following December’s exuberant consumption.”

Nissan North America is recalling 57,914 model year 2018-2022 LEAFs.

Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image.

A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

The remedy is currently under development.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 20, 2024.

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

In the consumer world, there’s not one single company that doesn’t want to own at least one advantage.

“Biggest” is pretty easy and Kroger’s pretty much got that competitive edge nailed down. But Kroger’s got a lot of traffic in its rearview mirror and one of those chains thinks it can own the “freshness” advantage.

Focusing on 5,000 of its stores nationwide, Dollar General (DG) thinks it's more geographically ready than it has ever been to realign its distribution. Plus, it claims it has a vast network that can efficiently distribute perishable goods like fruits and veggies.

The difference maker

To make gains on Kroger’s, Dollar General says it’s going to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to provide shoppers with the freshest food they can find in at least 5,000 of those stores. The company's plan to offer fresh produce in that many stores means it will have more individual points of produce distribution than any other retailer or grocer.

DG is partnering with Shelf Engine, allowing DG to forecast and order perishable food more efficiently. Having access to that advantage will help automate the ordering process. the company believes.

Thus, customers will – or should – get the freshest food possible. DG says that every store that carries tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, or salad mixes can beat any large competitor on 80% of the items that the big brands like Kroger or Giant Foods carry. 

Doubling down on underserved communities and value shoppers

In Placer.ai’s recent review of grocery store traffic, it’s evident that DG is investing in the right things. “Less affluent consumers, perhaps, [are] more likely to seek out lower-cost grocery alternatives like dollar stores,” Placer.ai’s Lila Margalit wrote.

And you can expect more where that came from, says Placer.ai’s Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of Marketing, who tells ConsumerAffairs that alongside DG will be Grocery Outlet, Aldi, and Lidl, all jumping on the low-cost grocery bandwagon.

Individually, they may not be a dragon slayer, but collectively they will give consumers breaks that the big grocers can't, but may be forced to if their heels get nipped at enough.

“The ultimate success will come down to creating a retail experience that presents true value to the consumer. Critically, it is not a binary situation where these chains rely on a full shift in shopping patterns to succeed. Simply carving out more or the visit share should suffice to drive steady and ongoing success.”

Inflation eased a bit at the grocery store in January. The ConsumerAffairs Datasembly Shopping Cart Index, based on 25 commonly purchased grocery items, rose just $0.67 from December.

But the Index was up $5.52 over January 2023. That's an annual increase of 3.6%.

Many grocery items didn't change much at all. Most of the increase can be traced to just three items.

The price of a 2-liter bottle of cola rose from $2.87 in December to $3.11 in January. It was $2.72  in January 2023.

A 30 oz. jar of mayonnaise cost $5.85 in December -- and in January 2023 -- but sold for $6.10 last month.

The price of a 16.3 oz. jar of peanut butter cost $3.31 in December but rose to $4.02 in January -- a 2.1% increase in just one month.

Meanwhile, the price of some items continued to fall. A 16 oz. package of bacon cost $7.84 last month, down from $8.26  in December. The price of a 12 oz. package of whole bean coffee last month was $12.56, down from $12.91 in December. It's down 1.2% from January 2023.

The Shopping Cart Index

Robocalls continue to plague consumers, and with the latest technology, these calls have become even more deceptive. 

Scammers have taken to using AI-generated voices of popular celebrities, public figures, politicians, or even close family members to try and sway consumers to vote a certain way or share personal financial information. 

Now, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to make these AI-generated voices illegal. 

“Bad actors are using AI-generated voices in unsolicited robocalls to extort vulnerable family members, imitate celebrities, and misinform voters,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “We’re putting the fraudsters behind these robocalls on notice. 

“State attorneys general will now have new tools to crack down on these scams and ensure the public is protected from fraud and misinformation.” 

Keeping consumers safe

The FCC ruling to make AI-generated voices illegal was unanimous, with the agency citing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). 

Under the TCPA, the FCC can set restrictions on telemarketing calls, prerecorded voice messages, automatic telephone dialing systems, and more.

When telemarketers do call, they must have written consent from consumers before calling. With this new ruling, AI-generated calls now fall under these rules, too. 

Previously, state attorneys general were able to go after those who were trying to scam consumers with robocalls. However, they were limited in their actions; lawmakers were only allowed to go after the scam itself. Now, the FCC is giving attorneys general the opportunity to pursue legal action against the scammers themselves for using AI-generated voices. 

Maintaining integrity in elections

The decision to ban AI-generated robocalls came after an incident with such calls that targeted New Hampshire residents. 

The call utilized the technology to simulate President Biden’s voice, and the message on the call was urging voters to sit out of the upcoming presidential primary election. Investigators have since linked the calls to two companies in Texas; however, under the new ruling, calls like these will be illegal. 

It’s been 50 years since Burger King (BK) wooed consumers with its “Have it your way” pitch. Remember?

“Special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way!”

Giving the customer some power was a smart marketing ploy, then, and the chain thinks it can re-tool that idea now that it has generative artificial intelligence (AI) on its side.

More than half of BK guests already doctor up their Whopper and the fast food chain has come up with a new idea that plays right into the hands of those folks. Any BK customer who thinks they can dress a burger in a way that will capture the hearts and tongues of others can enter their idea in the Million Dollar Whopper Contest.

If their creation is good enough,  there's a $1 million prize waiting for them and the honor of having their creation sold in restaurants nationwide for a limited time.

Entering the Million Dollar Whopper contest

If you think you can out-burger the rest, all you have to do to sign up for the Burger King Million Dollar Whopper contest is visit BK.com/MDW or the BK App (no purchase necessary). You have until Sunday, March 17. 

Customers can follow the prompts to submit their Whopper sandwich concept, which can feature up to eight toppings from the 200,000 combinations the company said are possibilities. By the way, this reporter’s got dibs on the spinach, mayo, mushrooms, bacon Whopper so hands off that idea, okay?

Once you submit your custom Whopper idea, artificial intelligence (AI) takes over and shows each entrant an AI preview of their flame-grilled creation.

From there, you can top off your entry with a personalized AI generated-jingle, and a thematic background. The final image or video can then be shared across their social media platforms. 

And, lest we forget, every entrant can claim a free Whopper with a $1 purchase in the Offers tab of their BK app. Terms apply.

How do you win? Well, you’re at the mercy of a panel of judges who will select three finalists, call them to BK headquarters in Miami and give the finalists one last once to tweak their masterpiece.

Then, those three burgers will go on to Burger King menus nationwide to let foodies try them out for themselves. Those diners will have the chance to vote for their favorite and the finalist who receives the most votes will take home the $1 million prize. 

The U.S. government really wants you to buy an electric vehicle (EV). That’s why it is offering a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of some EVs.

But a number of states also offer some financial incentives, including state tax credits, on the purchase of an EV. If you happen to live in one of those states, an EV might be more affordable than you think.

For example, Washington is launching incentives, including rebates and sales tax exemptions if you purchase a new or used EV. It also applies to plug-in hybrids. Rhode Island is handing out rebates for eligible new battery or plug-in hybrids. Massachusetts also provides EV tax rebates.

Connecticut offers up to $7,500 in tax credits through the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate program when they buy or lease an eligible battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicle.

New York recently launched an incentive program called "Drive Clean" that offers rebates of up to $2,000 on EV purchases or leases. There’s a new proposal in New Mexico to offer a $3,000 tax credit on new EVs, $1,500 for used ones, and $2,000 for new hybrid cars from 2024 through 2026. 

Pennsylvania residents who meet eligibility requirements can qualify for a rebate of up to $3,000 on the purchase of a plug-in hybrid and an electric motorcycle. In neighboring New Jersey, the state tax credit is as much as $4,000.

Tax breaks

Other states are offering encouragement by not taxing your EV, or at least not as much as other vehicles.

The District of Columbia offers a reduced auto registration fee for the first two years of owning a hybrid or EV. Some Florida residents may get a $50 gift card from the Orlando Utilities Commission just for test-driving an EV.

Some states actually charge motorists more if they own an EV or hybrid. That’s because a lot of state revenue for road maintenance comes in the form of the gasoline tax. State bean counters figure that if you aren’t buying as much gas, you’re shortchanging the state, so they charge an extra fee.

But a number of states don’t charge that extra fee. In addition to the states listed above, here are the states that don’t impose an extra registration fee on EVs:

• Alaska

• Arizona

• Delaware

• Maine

• Maryland

• Montana

• Nevada

• New Mexico

Perch of Boston, Mass., Amusty of Staten Island, N.Y., and Bingo Deals of Harriman, N.Y., are recalling about 205,000 Litti City premier doctor playsets and teacher purse sets, Litti Pritti stylist handbag sets, and Prextex slime eggs.

The dress-up playsets and the slime eggs contain levels of certain phthalates that exceed the federal phthalate standard.

In addition, the Litti City teacher purse dress-up playset, the Litti Pritti handbag playset, and the slime eggs contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban.

Lead and phthalates are toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall involves two Litti City dress-up playsets, one Litte Pritti dress-up playset and Prextex-branded DIY take-along slime eggs.

The Litti City premier doctor playset (Amazon ASIN B07WMX25SV) consists of a white doctor outfit and accessories, including blue glasses, yellow stethoscope and bandages, and a book.

The Litti City teacher purse playset (Amazon ASIN B08MB3CJD6) consists of a green purse and accessories, including glasses, markers, rules, eraser, hall passes, learning charts and stickers.

The Litti Pritti handbag playset (Amazon ASIN B06XQXMQFD) includes a pink purse, wallet, make-up, keys and cell phone.

The 12 clear plastic slime eggs are filled with slime in varying colors and come in a blue plastic egg container with www.prextex.com embossed on the top. The set includes seven mini bottles of shaped beads and 12 straws.

The playsets and slime eggs, manufactured in China, were sold online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com, with the Litti Pritti handbag playset also sold at Ocean State Job Lot stores in the northeast, from July 2021, through April 2023, for between $9 and $45.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled playsets and slime eggs and contact Perch for more information on how to dispose of the product and to get a full refund after providing proof of destruction.

Perch, Amazon and Walmart will contact all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact Perch toll-free at (888) 359-4676 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday, by email at playsets@realtimeresults.net, or online at www.recallrtr.com/playsets for more information, or at https://www.prextex.com/ and click on the recall banner at the top of the page for more information.