Trouble reading this? See
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/newsletters/0000.html
By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com
SHOULD YOU
BUY A USED PRIUS?
 Hybrid cars such as the Prius are all the rage,
and the demand is pushing up prices even faster than the skyrocketing cost of
gas. Buying a used or second-hand Prius may be the only way some car buyers can
afford these vehicles, but be careful -- used Priuses can have more than their
fair share of problems under the hood. Joe Benton
reports on some common problems faced by used Prius owners, including a look
at the many complaints submitted by Prius drivers to ConsumerAffairs.Com.
This week's automotive news...
• Gas
Prices Hit New High ... Again National average price hits $3.303,
diesel still over $4.
• Feds Have
Safety Concerns About Smart Fortwo Minicar Driver door came
unlatched in crash test.
• Hybrid
Parking Perk Under Fire in Los Angeles Growing budget problems
prompt closer look at hybrid perks.
• No Joke:
Gas Prices Climbing Once Again Another record set as April
begins.
MENU
FOODS SETTLES PET FOOD CLASS ACTION; PET OWNERS DISPLEASED
Barely a year after Menu Foods announced a recall of 60 million containers
of tainted pet food, the company has announced
a tentative settlement with pet owners. The company claims the settlement
will cover costs incurred as a result of the recall, but did not provide
details. Grieving pet owners say that Menu Foods should
have done more to reimburse them for the care of their sick pets, and do not
believe that the settlement will be fair to them.
More consumer safety news...
• Congress
Moves To Tighten Tobacco Controls FDA would get power to regulate
tobacco products.
• Be Careful
Using Over-the-Counter Creams, Ointments Overuse, misuse can be
dangerous, FDA warns.
• Electronic
Payment Industry Touts Its Green Benefits Bill-paying doesn't have
to be environmentally expensive.
• Dole,
Chiquita Join Honduran Cantaloupe Recall Melons may carry
Salmonella, FDA warns.
• Big
Box Retailers, Not FEMA, May Be First Line Of Defense Remote,
top-down federal management falls short of meeting urgent needs.
• Junk Mail
Relief How to get your name off marketers' mailing lists.
This week's recalls....
• Evenflo
Discovery Restraint Systems
• Mitsubishi
Recalls 120,000 Endeavors
• Honda
Motorcycles
• Imaginarium
Activity Centers
• A.O.
Smith Gas Water Heaters
• Wal-Mart
Candle Holders
• Children's
'Main Street Draq' Sunglasses
• Cabot
Composite Deck Cleaner
• Children's
Hooded Sweatshirts
• 'Lock and
Leash' Locks
• Hydropool
Serenity Series Spa Hot Tubs
NCAA STANDS FOR
"NO CHANCE AT ADMISSION" THANKS TO TICKET LOTTERY SCHEME
Basketball fans always have an uphill climb ahead of them to get tickets to
NCAA championship tournaments, but now the organization has added insult to
injury by instituting a nonrefundable
service charge of as much as $9 just to enter into a competitive lottery to
get the tickets. Joseph Enoch reports that frustrated buyers are finding their
money stuck for months, and if they don't get a ticket, the NCAA only refunds a
portion of the money paid while pocketing the rest.
More scams and outrages....
• Losses From
Cybercrime Nearly $240 Million in 2007 Agencies find new trends in
Internet fraud.
• TJX To Pay
Mastercard $24 Million For Data Breach Will set aside money to
provide restitution for victims.
• Key
Lawmaker Wants FAA 'Housecleaning' Agency's oversight of airline
safety in question.
• ATA Stops Flying,
Files Bankruptcy Two airlines park their fleets in one week.
• Carnival Cruise
Lines to Refund $40 Million in Fuel Surcharges Florida goes after
cruise lines for retroactive charges.
• Apple
Sued Over 'Millions of Colors' Claim MacBook actually displays only
262,144 colors.
• Connecticut
Wants Craiglist to Pull Prostitution Ads Popular site violates its
own rules against promotion illegal activity, state alleges.
• Missouri
Sues Kennel Operator Sick dogs shipped to consumers nationwide.
• 419 Scams
Never Go Away Like cicadas, they come and go with the seasons.
• TJX Settles
with FTC Over Data Breach Nearly 100 million consumers may have
been affected.
• Some Old
Debts Never Die Luebke Baker pursues old magazine subscription
debts.
CONSUMER
DEBT THE REAL ROOT OF COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC TROUBLES
Pundits who
blame the country's economic troubles on the housing crash and high gas prices
are only getting part of the story. One of the biggest problems consumers are
facing is the high
level of debt incurred from using their credit cards as the all-purpose
spending tool. As banks use any excuse to increase interest rates on credit
cards and consumers fall further behind on even making minimum monthly payments,
economists recommend setting strict budgets and paying down as much debt as
possible.
More economic and financial news...
• Loan
Payment Delinquencies Rise Credit problems spread to auto loans,
credit cards.
• Mortgage
Applications Plunge 29% in One Week Good rates available for
qualified borrowers, but few are applying.
Consumers
Taking Out Fewer Instant Tax Loans But low-income taxpayers still
lose hundreds of millions in unnecessary costs.
RESEARCHER:
CELL PHONES "MORE DANGEROUS THAN SMOKING"
Health experts have
battled back and forth over the years regarding the question of whether or not
frequent usage of cell phones can lead to health risks. Now British health
researcher Dr. Vini Khurana has raised the stakes by claiming that extensive
cell phone usage could be more dangerous than exposure to asbestos
or smoking. Mark Huffman reports that the report dovetails with increased
concern in the United Kingdom over usage of Wi-Fi networks, which may cause
similar health hazards.
More health news...
• Study:
Gymnastics Lands Thousands in the ER Interest in the sport spikes
during the Olympics.
• Senior Years
Aren't Always Serene One in five seniors suffer from anxiety
disorders, it's estimated.
• Diabetics
Share Same Risks as Heart Attack Sufferers Early and persistent
treatment necessary.
• Study
Discounts Usefulness of Home Defibrillators No difference in
survival rates found.
• Study: New
Blood Pressure Rx Has Fewer Side Effects Study also finds orlistat
helps relieve hypertension.
• Study:
Doctors Favor National Health Insurance Support has grown 10% over
the last 5 years.
• Doctors Warned
About Vytorin No better than older, cheaper drugs, another study
finds.
• FDA
Seeks Civil Penalties from Hearing Aid Maker Advanced Bionics
cochlear implants pose risks, agency charges
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
Consumers News & Alerts is published by ConsumerAffairs.Com
Inc., which is solely responsible for its content
|
Profile
Photos
Comments
