Thursday, May 31, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Compare Texting Plans to Avoid Huge Bills
If your teenager lives on his or her cellphone, and sends dozens of text messages a day, you could be in for a shock when your cell bill arrives. Here is what it will cost for unlimited texting on the major carriers. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Police Lure Crooks with Promise of Free Flat TVs
The crooks finally got a dose of their medicine. Police in Buffalo, NY decided to do a little sting. They lured a bunch of crooks to a convention center by sending them an offer of receiving a free flat panel TV just for coming. It worked! For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.94% of Kids Don't Wake to Smoke Detectors
A recent study found that traditional smoke detector alarms are not effective in waking most kids from a deep sleep. So what's a family to do? For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Trump in Court Over Apprentice $10,000 Game
The Apprentice promoted the chance to win $10,000 during most episodes if you made a premium text messaging call voting for the contestant you most wanted to be banished to the backyard. Turns out that that 99 cent call to play the game may constitute illegal lottery. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.How to Make Your Cellphone Act Like a Blackberry
Why buy a Blackberry (or "crackberry") when you cellphone might be able to do the same things, more or less? For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Insurers Testing Fixing Cars Themselves
Imagine a one-stop process when you have a car accident -- the place that evaluates your car's damage is also the place that fixes it. This concept is currently being tested by several large insurers. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.CT-AG Sues Best Buy Over Lookalike Website
Imagine shopping online, then going to the store to buy the same item, but finding the in-store price was higher than the net price. It was no accident according to the Connecticut AG's office, who just sued Best Buy for maintaining different prices on their in-store kiosks that mimic the look of the website. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Concentrated Liquid Detergent to Return
Remember 30 years ago when Dynamo first came on the market, and you only had to use 1/4 cup of that concentrated detergent per load? P&G is following the lead of some other brands and will begin rolling out Tide 2X, that allows you to use half the current amount per wash load. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Some Kids Run Up $1000 Text Messaging Bills
Imagine your darling children running up a cell bill to over $1000 because of excess text messaging charges. Whewww. It is happening to families around the country. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Seniors are Targets of Fraudulent Telemarketing Calls
It is sad, but you can actually buy phone lists of senior citizens who will likely fall for telemarketing scams. And crooks, many outside the US, are snapping them up. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.This Hospital's Surgery Has a 90-day Warranty
In an effort to improve the quality of health care, on hospital has been experimenting with offering its patients a 90 day guarantee. If they need follow-up care after surgery, there is no additional charge. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.NY-AG Sues Dell Over Consumer Practices
Responding to over 700 complaints lodged with his office, the New York Attorney General has sued Dell Computer Company for trying to skirt its warranty obligations and for switching people away from zero percent financing offers. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.GE Recalls 2.5 Million Dishwashers
Now it is GE's turn to recall a ton of dishwashers because the rinse agent compartment may leak fluid onto electrical wiring. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.25 Cities with the Rudest Drivers
Miami has the distinction of having the rudest drivers in the country. See the other 24 nominees. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Texting While Driving Now Illegal in Washington
This first in the nation law applies in Washington state, and enforcement is only "secondary" to another offense. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wal-mart Encouraging Mfrs. to Reduce Packaging
Spurred by Wal-mart, major manufacturers are reconsidering how they package goods to help reduce environmental waste. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Splenda Settles With Equal at 11th Hour
Just as the jury was to announced it verdict in favor of the sugar substitute Equal in a false advertising suit it filed against the makers of Splenda, Splenda offered a secret settlement to Equal which it accepted. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Tracking You in Supermarkets May Speed Checkout
Big brother may soon be watching you at your favorite supermarket to determine when to add more cashiers at the register. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.This Travel Insurer First Refused to Pay Claim
It is maddening to buy travel insurance, and then in the unlikely event you need to you use it, the company refuses to pay the claim. This happened to one consumer, but he fought back publicly. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Is Travel Insurance Worth the Cost?
You are going on a cruise, or just taking a regular airline trip, should buy travel insurance? The NY Times says for some people the answer is "yes" and for others the answer is "no." For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Carfax Reports Not Complete History of Vehicles
The New York Times reports that a class action lawsuit is about to be settled against Carfax -- the company you contact to get a used vehicle's prior history. Underlying the suit was the fact that Carfax did not have access to accident data from many states, and therefore its reports were (and are) incomplete. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.FCC Requires Retailers to Issue Analog TV Warning
In less than two years, analog TVs will no longer function when TV stations will only be sending out digital TV signals. As of May 25, the FCC is requiring retailers to warn shoppers of the change. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Want Milk? Got More Moolah?
Not only is the price of gasoline going up, so is milk. Here's why. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.New Phone Fee: For NOT Calling Long Distance
Having exhausted all the ways to nickel and time consumers on their phone bills, some companies are now charging you a monthly fee for what you don't do -- make long distance calls. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Compact Fluorescent Blubs Slow to Catch On
Only 6% of households in the US use compact fluorescent bulbs to save up to 75% on their lighting energy costs compared to conventional bulbs. In some other countries, usage is up to 80%. Why haven't we accepted them? This story says they fail the "wife test." For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
