We’ve been writing for quite some time about the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck (or as the TSA obnoxiously insists on writing, “Pre✓™”) program, which allows vetted travelers to go through an airport security screening process. To enroll, consumers need to be a member of certain airlines’ frequent flier programs or already part of other trusted-traveler services, but starting this fall, the TSA will open up online enrollment in PreCheck… with one major catch. [More]
Government Policy
Apple, Google, Facebook & Other Tech Giants Pen Letter Asking For NSA Transparency
By 7.18.13
In the wake of that whole thing where the National Security Agency is reportedly snooping on people, a whole bunch of tech industry giants have banded together with privacy advocates to send a letter to the lawmakers and President Barack Obama asking for some transparency when it comes to government surveillance. [More]
Sears Re-Announces Recall Of Dehumidifiers Because No One Prefers Fires Over Humidity
By 7.17.13
Would you rather have a humid living environment, or one that’s on fire? Ding ding — we’re pretty sure the owners of 800,000 dehumidifiers sold by Sears would agree with you. The retailer is again reminding consumers of a recall for a product line that had issues last summer, again, over fires linked to using the Kenmore dehumidifiers. Now might be a good time to check on your dehumidifier. [More]
Senate Finally Confirms Richard Cordray As CFPB Director
By 7.16.13
Pop the bubbly and take a deep breath of relief, Richard Cordray. The Senate finally reconfirmed Cordray today as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a post he’s held since the bureau’s creation in January 2012. It’s about dang time, as the vote had been idling along in light of a stalemate among some lawmakers who wanted changes to be made to the CFPB first before any nominee was even considered. [More]
Survey Says: 74% Of Consumers Support Approving A CFPB Director
By 7.15.13
This week the Senate is preparing to vote on whether or not to confirm Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, something that’s not a shock considering he’s been overseeing the bureau for the entirety of its existence, since January 2012. And while there has been some pushback against his confirmation, a survey from the Consumer Reports National Research Center shows 74% of consumers support the approval of a director. [More]
Skechers Shape-Ups Magic Workout Shoes Refund Checks In The Mail
By 7.15.13
If you bought Skechers Shape-Ups shoes and filed with the Federal Trade Commission for a refund, get ready to go shopping for some new sneakers: your check will be in the mail soon. Skechers hasn’t admitted that they did anything wrong, but did reach a $40 million settlement with the FTC for putting out ads that claimed walking around in their shoes is a workout. [Previously] [More]
Australian Smokers Think Plain Packaging Makes Tobacco Taste Worse
By 7.12.13
Plain tobacco packaging is a global movement aimed at undoing decades of ads and branding messages. Tobacco products get sold in identical plain boxes with only plain letters on the front: no logos, no pictures. Well, that’s not true: there are gruesome pictures of smoking-related illnesses. Plain packaging is now the law in Australia, and smokers don’t like it. Because they say their tobacco tastes different now. [More]
FDA Bans BPA From Infant Formula Packaging (Because Manufacturers Have Already Stopped Using It)
By 7.11.13 — Updated: 4.1.14
Fresh off patting itself on the back for only approving two new cigarette products (because they’re basically the same as the cigarettes already on the market), the Food and Drug Administration is continuing to show its willingness to take a timid stance on a controversial topic, by banning the use of the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) in the packaging of infant formula… because packagers have all stopped using it anyway. [More]
After 80-Year Ban, SEC Says Hedge Funds Can Now Advertise
By 7.11.13
Isn’t that one huge billboard for that hedge fund just so incredibly annoying? No, it isn’t, because until just about now, hedge funds and other firms that rely on private investments haven’t been able to advertise for investors publicly. That’s all about to change, as the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new rule yesterday that ditches an 80-year ban on ad restrictions. [More]
Big Meat Sues USDA Over Country-Of-Origin Labeling Requirement
By 7.10.13
In May, new USDA regulations went into effect that require meat processing plants to label not just the original country of origin for each item sold, but also which countries that product might have stopped at along its way from farm-to-store. The rules also prohibit the commingling of meats from various international sources. But now a group of meat industry associations have sued the USDA, claiming that this rule violates their Constitutional rights. [More]
World’s Largest Debt Collector To Pay $3.2 Million Penalty For Harassing Consumers
By 7.9.13
It’s highly possible you’ve never heard of Expert Global Solutions, but it’s the largest debt-collection operation in the world. It also is the subject of a recent Federal Trade Commission complaint alleging that the company and its subsidiaries violated federal law by harassing consumers. [More]
The TSA’s Instagram Of Confiscated Items Exhibits Quite An Enthusiasm For Hashtags
By 7.3.13
If you have had it up to here — and I mean, all the way up here — with baby and food and baby food photos on Instagram, we’re here to let you know there are other options. The Transportation Security Administration’s new Instagram of confiscated items will likely not have any of the aforementioned pictures, unless your baby is actually a grenade. [More]
Pepsi Scolded For Continued Use Of Controversial Caramel Coloring Considered A Carcinogen In California
By 7.3.13
A couple years back, the state of California declared that a caramel coloring agent, 4-methylimidazole (or 4-MEI), was a carcinogen and said that any beverages containing certain levels of 4-MEI would have to carry a warning label. With the most populous state in the nation effectively telling them to find another coloring agent, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi promised to change their respective formulas. But while Coke has made the switch nationally, Pepsi has only stopped using 4-MEI in California, says a new report. [More]
Forget The NSA’s Hi-Tech Snooping, The USPS Has Been Scanning Our Mail For Years
By 7.3.13
Many people are upset — and with good reason — with the National Security Administration’s concerted and secretive efforts to obtain wireless and Internet data about a wide range of users, but what many people don’t know is that the U.S. Postal Service has been scanning the outside of every piece of mail it processes and making that information available to law enforcement without a warrant. [More]
Can I Legally Light Off Fireworks In My State? What About Sparklers?
By 7.2.13
Though some of you will mark the July 4th holiday by illegally tossing cherry bombs off your roof, we know that most of you want to do things the safe and legal way. Of course, the particulars of what you’re allowed to set off depends a lot on where you live. [More]
Soleus Air And Kenmore Dehumidifiers May Catch Fire, Pulled From Stores
By 7.2.13
Our venerable sibling publication Consumer Reports gave a dehumidifier from Soleus Air their “Best Buy” rating. Now it’s off the list and off store shelves after the manufacturer sent a stop-sale notice to retailers. There’s no consumer recall yet, but Amazon did reach out to customers and let them know about the issue. [More]
Ford Recalls 13,100 Vehicles Because Child Locks Don’t Keep Children Locked In
By 7.1.13
Some model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured in late 2012 have a little problem: the child safety locks don’t always safely lock children inside. Child safety locks prevent passengers in the back seats from opening car doors from the inside. In the affected vehicles, these locks can turn themselves off. [More]
June Recall Roundup: Not Even Buff Baby Can Save Us Now
By 6.28.13 — Updated: 12.18.13
In this month’s recall roundup, we bring you a chicken dance that will hurt your ears, buff babies, toppling bath seats, and machetes so sharp that they slice through their own sheaths. [More]
