Sunday, December 31, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Do You Need a Living Trust?
The Wall Street Journal says that living trusts are great under certain circumstances, but a waste of money in others. Here is when it does and does not make sense (and dollars). For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Man Tries to Steal $75-mil NY Hotel
How does one steal a $76 million hotel in NYC? This Brooklyn man tried to do it by filing a phoney deed. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.FDA Approves Sale of Meat, Milk from Clones
If you thought the steak you ate last week was great, you might be able to buy the same one again next week. The FDA has just approved the sale of cloned meat and milk, and does not appear to require that it be labeled as such. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.10 Simple Things to Do to Go Green
Want to be more environmentally conscious? Here are some easy things you can do. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Verizon to Allow Ads on Cellphone Screens
Next time you check the weather on your cellphone, the forecast maybe accompanied by a banner ad if you are a Verizon wireless customer. Starting in 2007, the company is going to allow advertisers to place such ads. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Beware Surprise Rental Car & Hotel Fees
Lurking in the fine print of rental car contracts are some nasty fees you might not expect. Here are some of them. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Where to Sell or Swap Gift Cards
Here are some sites that let you sell or swap your unwanted gift cards. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Higher Priced Medical Care Not Always Better
If you think paying more will get you better medical care, think again, according to several recent studies. Where you live may play a bigger role. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Price for 12 Days of Christmas Increases
Have you seen the price of lords a leaping lately? Whoaa. But thank goodness for the eight maids a milking -- they haven't raised their prices in a while. All in all, the 12 days of Christmas is more expensive than ever. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.New Online Banking Safeguards Begin January 1
What was the name of your pet goldfish? If you don't know, you might not be able to access your online bank account beginning January 1. Here's why. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Aspirin, Tylenol to Get New Warning Labels
The FDA wants better warnings on over the counter pain relievers, including notification of deadly risks. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.IRS to Offer "Split Refund" Option
Soon you will be able to divide your income tax refund among several accounts by having the IRS deliver some money to each. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Complicated Return Policies Mean Fewer Happy Returns
Consumer World's annual survey of retail return policies suggests that stores are continuing to enforce complicated and restrictive return policies including checking a "black list" of "serial returners" or by imposing unexpected restocking fees. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Which One's From Hell? The Landlord or the Tenant?
Some tenants hate their landlord. Some landlords hate their tenants. When both of them won't take no for an answer, they wind up in a five year legal battle as have this NY landlord and tenant have. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
He Tells People How to Avoid Cheats and Scammers
If you want to keep your hard-earned money out of the hands of scamsters, it would do you well to follow this fellow's advice. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.How to Escape Credit Card Debt
USA Today and ABC News offer tips on getting a handle on your (over)use of credit cards. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.AT&T Tests Free Directory Assistance With Ads
Soon you may be able to dial 1-800-YELLOWPAGES and get free directory assistance from AT&T. The catch? You must listen to a short ad first. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Continental and United in Merger Talks
Could United Airlines swallow up Continental? It could happen as a part of a new wave of potential airline mergers. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
AOL to Pay Floridians for Bad Service
AOL has settled a case brought by the Florida AG's office alleging consumers were charged improperly, or could not cancel their service. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.New EPA Rules Will Cut Mileage Estimates
It has always been annoying to see the high EPA mileage per gallon estimates on new car stickers, and then get many fewer miles in real life driving. Now they are changing their test procedures for the 2008 models, to be better reflect actual mileage. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Before You Buy that Giftcard...
You better check the fine print for loopholes that can sap the value of the card over time. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Beware Fine Print in Home Builders' Contracts
If you just eagerly sign a contract for a newly built home without careful study, you could get tripped up by a number of clauses that your contract is conveniently missing. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Unconventional Advice When Calling to Complain
According to the NY Times, more customer service lines are staffed with representatives who can solve your problem without having to escalate the problem to a supervisor. Find here also some unusual advice for getting to "yes." For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Study: We Want Privacy, But Don't Take Steps to Protect Ourselves
When it comes to privacy, a new study says we talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Nokia, Motorola to Sell Unlocked Cellphones
Soon, it will be easier to switch cell carriers without having to buy a new phone. These two leading cellphone makers say they will begin selling unlocked phones that can be used on the networks of more than one company (but not all). For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Sony Conducts Secret Sale of HDTVs
Only if you happened to visit Sony.com, or looked at a display of Sony HDTVs during Black Friday weekend in some stores might you have noticed huge price cuts on their TVs. Sony didn't advertise the sale. (Circuit City did, at least for the 40 inch Bravia. It was $1199 for a brief time, and now it is back up to $1799.) For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Rebate Sites Add Extra Savings for Shoppers
If you just go directly to most online stores, you are foregoing an extra 1%, 2%, 5% or more rebate on those purchases. It is easy to save a few extra bucks with just a few extra clicks. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Shoppers Outraged as Store Employees Snap Up Black Friday Bargains First
Talk about justified consumer outrage. On Black Friday, some shoppers who waited hours outside a Home Depot for deeply discounted HDTVs found that store employees were allowed in early, and snapped up nine out of the 10 TVs available for themselves. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
