Every year, taxpayers try to slip things into their taxes as deductions, things they might deem necessary business expenses that can be written off. Some of these things fly with tax preparers and subsequently, the Internal Revenue Service, while others, say, a subscription to Playboy, just don’t. [More]
Government Policy
Unsafe Kitchen Appliances Account For 1 In 3 Consumer Complaints
By 3.9.12
It’s been one year since the Consumer Product Safety Commission launched its SaferProducts.gov portal for consumers to post reports of unsafe items. With thousands of complaints filed in the last 12 months, it’s already become clear that kitchen appliances dominate consumers’ safety concerns. [More]
U.S. Adds 227,000 New Jobs While Unemployment Remains Steady
By 3.9.12
Everyone is all abuzz this morning with the latest numbers from the U.S. Labor Department, which show we’ve boosted the job count by more than what was forecast in February. While the unemployment rate stayed the same at 8.3%, we added 227,000 jobs, up from the predicted 210,000. [More]
Wine Dealer Arrested For Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Bottles
By 3.9.12
A California wine collector allegedly played off his respected reputation to pawn off cheap imitations of expensive products on unsuspecting customers. Feds arrested the collector, accusing him of selling fake vintages at high-profile auction houses. [More]
Bloggers: TSA "Strongly Cautions" Against Writing About Security Loophole
By 3.9.12
It seems the TSA isn’t so happy about the dissemination of a blogger’s contention that you can sneak dangerous stuff through security by placing it along the side of your body. The blogger says reporters complained that the TSA tried to get them not to write about the story. [More]
Lawmakers Push For Companies To Disclose Ratio Of CEO Pay To That Of Employees
By 3.8.12
Section 953(b) of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires publicly traded companies to disclose the ratio of CEO pay as a proportion of the median-paid employee at the firm. And yet, the Securities & Exchange Commission has yet to even propose a regulation for public comment, which would get the ball rolling on enforcing the act. So more than two dozen members of the Congress and Senate have written the SEC asking the agency to act immediately. [More]
Recall Roundup: Beware Of The Dancing Teapot
By 3.8.12
In this edition of the Recall Roundup, a scary number of bicycle parts are recalled, grass cutters might cut humans, and we learn that a “dancing teapot” (pictured) is a lot less fun than the name makes it sound. Especially when it burns you. [More]
What Is "Pink Slime" And Why Is It In 70% Of Supermarket Ground Beef?
By 3.8.12
Earlier this year, McDonald’s made headlines when it said it would stop using ammonia-treated beef trimmings lovingly known as “pink slime” in its burgers. Now the former USDA scientist who coined the phrase is speaking out against the widespread use of the stuff — not because it’s unsafe, but because he feels like consumers are being deceived into paying for cheap filler. [More]
Sorry You Can't Vote: You're Dead
By 3.8.12
A bureaucratic mixup led to a very confusing Super Tuesday for one Boston-area woman. The 84-year-old showed up to vote in Tuesday’s primary election, only to be told that she couldn’t vote: she was dead. [More]
Toyota Recalls Another 681,000 Camry, Venza, Tacoma Vehicles
By 3.7.12
It’s been a few months since the last big Toyota recall, so it probably comes as no surprise to some of you that Toyota has issued recalls a grand total of 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma vehicles. [More]
Man Claims You Can Beat TSA Scanners By Placing Contraband Along The Side Of Your Body
By 3.7.12
Since the TSA began rolling out its full-body scanners a few years ago, much has been made about possible safety and invasion of privacy concerns, but one blogger claims the devices are completely ineffective because all you need to do to sneak something past security is to place it along the side of your body. [More]
FDA Warns Makers Of Inhalable Caffeine Against False Labeling
By 3.7.12
The Food and Drug Administration is issuing what amounts to a “hey, hey, not so fast, guys,” to the makers of a new inhalable caffeine product called AeroShot Pure Energy. They’ve been under the FDA’s eye for awhile, since Sen. Chuck Schumer brought up his concerns that the canisters could be used as a kind of party drug. [More]
FCC Reminds Everyone That Cellphone Jamming & Jamming Devices Are Illegal
By 3.6.12
Even while the Federal Communications Commission is asking for comments on the temporary blocking or disabling of wireless signals by law enforcement, it wants to stress to everyone that there is no legal gray area when it comes to cellphone jamming and jamming devices. [More]
How Much Have The Big Banks Been Penalized Over Mortgage Mess And Where Is All That Cash Going?
By 3.6.12
The last few years have seen numerous settlements between the nation’s biggest mortgage lenders and various federal and state authorities. And while we hear numbers like “a total of $25 billion,” exactly which banks are responsible for the biggest chunks of these settlements? [More]
Got A Student Loan Complaint? Take It To The CFPB
By 3.6.12
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has opened up its latest portal for American consumers to register their complaints with various types of lenders. Now people with issues regarding their federal or private student loans have a place to connect — and hopefully reach some sort of resolution. [More]
You Might Have To Pay Taxes On That Canceled Credit Card Debt
By 3.6.12
That credit card debt you had was canceled or forgiven — yay! But you might have to pay the Internal Revenue Service taxes on it anyway, so — boo. You’ll find out you owe money when a 1099-C tax form comes in the mail from your lender, and probably not before then. [More]
Students Seeking Financial Aid Beware: "FASFA" Is Not The Same As "FAFSA"
By 3.5.12
Students seeking financial aid from the government to go to college can apply for free online — that is, if they make sure they’re actually on the federal site, and not one that’s really close and charges a fee. [More]
CFPB Now Taking Complaints About Checking, Savings Accounts
By 3.5.12
Seven months after launching its credit card complaint portal, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has started taking complaints from checking and savings account customers — and actually expects banks to respond. [More]
