Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Kodak Pulls Out of BBB Before Pending Expulsion
Rather than possibly being kicked out of the BBB for allegedly not responding satisfactorily to consumer complaints, Kodak has withdrawn its membership from the Better Business Bureau. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.New Postal Rates Effective May 14th
The US Postal Service has approved rate increases effective May 14, but they include a new "forever" stamp that will be good for mailing a one-ounce letter today and fifty years from now. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Sell Your Used Designer Clothing for More Than You Paid!
It sounds impossible... but clothing in your closet may be worth more than you paid. Savvy sellers of used designer clothing are selling hot styles on eBay for a huge profit. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.How Airlines Handle Consumer Complaints
Believe it or not, some airlines will not take your complaint over the telephone. The Wall Street Journal looked at how different airlines handle customer complaints, and found that your mileage may vary. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Consumer Reports Explains Goof in Car Seat Tests
An independent panel has just released its report of how Consumer Reports' tests of infant car seats could have possibly flunked most seats on the market. The magazine had withdrawn its story and ordered this review after evidence surfaced of a major error in their testing procedures. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Auction Fraud is Number One Net Crime
The FBI just released its statistics for 2006, and it shows that complaints about online auction fraud is the number one complaint about online issues. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.40 Losing Arguments that the IRS Won't Buy
The IRS has come out with a list of 40 claims that it routinely rejects when a taxpayer is claiming he or she is not obligated to pay taxes. Don't even try these. [ in .pdf format] . For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.List of Dog and Cat Food Brands Recalled
One the biggest recalls in recent memory was just announced covering dozens of brands of cat and dog food. Here are the specific products to check for in your cupboard. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Who Really Wants to Stop ID Theft?
In a word... retailers. When a crook buys stuff with your stolen information, it is the retailer who usually gets stuck holding the bag. Most consumers don't lose a penny if their ID is stolen. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Float Time for Check Clearing Gets Shorter
You can thank the wizardry of technology for getting less float time on checks that you right. Here's why it is happening. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Is Your Office Copier Keeping Secret Copies?
And now there is another threat to your privacy to worry about. Many modern office copy machines contain hard drives, and unless programmed correctly or encrypted, they may help crooks commit identity theft (based on things you have copied). For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Contractor Sues Homeowner Who Posted Negative Review on Angie's List
Can you imagine being sued for $6 million by your contractor? That happened to a Washington, DC family after they wrote a negative review on Angie's List about the contractor. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Comcast's "Unlimited" Broadband Internet Not Unlimited
The Internet has generally been an all you can eat service. Now some providers are trying to curb the appetite of some bandwidth-hungry customers by cutting off their service. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Five Ways to Boost Your Home's Resale Value
If you are planning to put your house on the market this spring, here are five things you can do to get more money from its sale. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Senate Hears of Credit Card Overcharges
A hearing was held this week by a Senate committee on the practices of various credit card companies. The committee heard of one man's plight of charging $3200 on his credit card, and then having to pay back more than an additional $10,000 when all fees and charges were added on. He was over the limit three times, but was charged 47 over the limit fees. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Study: Freq. Flier Seat Availability Varies
Have you noticed how hard it is to use your accumulated frequent flier miles even when you try to reserve a seat months in advance? The Wall Street Journal did a quick test of availability, and found very often seats magically became available if you agreed to pay twice the normal number of miles for the seat in question. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Some Antioxidants May Shorten Your Life
In the never-ending world of conflicting medical studies, a new review of existing data says that some common antioxidants (like vitamins A and E, and beta carotene) not only do not do much to improve your health, they may actually increase your risk of death. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Citi Dropping Credit Card Universal Default Clauses
In a surprise move, last week Citibank dropped "universal default clauses" from its credit cards. Those provisions punish you (rate-wise) if you fall behind in any other consumer debt. They also are dropping the provision that lets them raise rates "any time for any reason." Has hell frozen over? For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Are You Raising a Million Dollar Kid?
A child born a couple of years ago will cost parents over a quarter of million dollars to raise until age 17. Wealthier parents may be raising million dollar kids, however. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Coaxing More Bars Out of Your Cellphone
If they can't hear you now, then you need these tips from the NY Times about getting a stronger signal with your cellphone. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
