If you let your Costco membership lapse, then 2 months later renew it, Costco will backdate it to day it lapsed instead of the day you renew. The result: your 12 month membership suddenly shrinks to 10 months for the same price. Consumer Reports notes that Costco used to backdate renewals by as much as 5 months before a recent class-action settlement.
Government Policy
Want NFL Network, Comcasters? That'll Still Be An Extra $60 (Or $200) A Year
By 7.6.09
Comcast-subscribing NFL fans did the Ickey Shuffle back in May when the NFL Network and Comcast revealed that they’d made nice and the channel would made available to Comcasters on the “Digital Classic” package for no additional charge Aug. 1.
Recall Roundup – Pretty Much Everything Is Catching Fire
By 7.3.09
The big news in recalls this week was continuing recalls of Simplicity drop-side cribs. Since the company is no longer in business, in order to get the crib away from your children, return it to the retailer where it was purchased. Also, check your home for other problematic recalled Simplicity products.
Marketers Announce They Will Bring More Transparency To Personal Data Collection By 2010
By 7.3.09
Several major advertising trade groups announced yesterday that starting in 2010, they will implement a new set of self-imposed guidelines on how they collect and use your personal info, in an attempt to prevent the government from handing down federal regulations.
ASCAP Wants Royalties On Ringtones
By 7.3.09
Not content to let the RIAA get all the recent publicity for stupid lawsuits, ASCAP has sued AT&T over sales of ringtones, saying each time a ringtone plays it’s a public performance and royalties should be paid. Luckily (?) for consumers, ASCAP wants AT&T, not individuals, to pay—although we wonder what they’ll say when you take a track from your own library and make a ringtone out of it.
How To Deduct Ponzi Scheme Losses On Your Taxes
By 7.2.09
Step 1: Trust your life savings to a man who seemed nice at the Beth-El potluck supper.
FTC Brings The Thunder Down On Shysters
By 7.2.09
The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department are going all Batman on scam artists who bilk unemployed people by offering phone jobs and money-making schemes with Operation Short Change, a crackdown that involves dozens of cases in at least 13 states, USA Today reports:.
FDA May Take Vicodin And Percocet Off The Market
By 7.1.09
Bad news for Dr. Greg House and other, non-fictional chronic pain patients. The FDA advisory panel that met yesterday about the effects of excessive doses of acetaminophen made another recommendation to the FDA—to take popular painkillers Vicodin and Percocet (and their generic versions) off the market because of the effect both drugs can have on the liver when taken for extended periods. The FDA will most likely follow this recommendation.
FDA: Hey America, Stop Overdosing On Painkillers!
By 6.30.09
Look, we know this recession is tough and all, but you’ve gotta lay off the NyQuil and Theraflu or the FDA will stuff them behind a counter, ok? Seriously, an advisory panel is meeting today, and already voted to reduce the maximum daily dose of Tylenol and other painkillers. They might even slap scary “black box” warnings on all over-the-counter painkillers to dissuade you acetaminophen addicts from overdosing.
Have You Received Your Dell Multi-State Settlement Check Yet?
By 6.29.09
Did you file a claim form in the Dell multi-state settlement earlier this year? Have you received your check yet? According to the FAQ posted by the attorneys general of states participating in the suit, Monday, June 22 was the deadline for Dell to mail checks to consumers.
Lead Paint To Cost OKK $655,000
By 6.29.09
The OKK Trading company has agreed to pay a $655,000 fine for violating the federal ban on lead in children’s toys. Over the past two years, the California-based company has issued six recalls spanning almost 18,000 toys and baby products.
New Survey Says Less Than 20% Of Consumers Trust Food Supply
By 6.26.09
Is it any surprise that after the past few years of outbreaks and recalls, almost no one trusts products from food manufacturers anymore? IBM recently completed a survey of shoppers in the 10 largest cities, and found that a lot of consumers want more information than they currently can get about their food choices.
Walmart Greeter Who Was Attacked During Receipt Check Gets $20,000 Settlement
By 6.26.09
Remember the Walmart greeter who was attacked by a police officer when he tried to check the cop’s receipt? His lawsuit has been settled for $20,000.
Acai Berry Drink Company Agrees To Give $350k Back To Bilked Customers
By 6.26.09
One of the acai berry’s most miraculous powers is its ability to filch hundreds of dollars from consumers who are seeking new ways to lose weight and live forever. Now one company known for marketing an acai elixir has settled a lawsuit from the Arizona Attorney General over charges of deceptive practices.
How Did E. Coli Get Into Nestle's Cookie Dough?
By 6.24.09
USA Today is reporting that the FDA is “stumped” by the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 in Nestle Tollhouse Cookie Dough, which was recalled last week. How does bacteria normally associated with raw ground beef find its way into our buckets of delicious cookie dough? Some speculation, inside.
Black & Decker Spacemaker Coffeemakers Recalled
By 6.24.09
This is too big to save for a recall roundup – 670,000 Black & Decker coffeemakers sold at K-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com have been recalled. Hot water can overflow out of the carafe, and some owners have sustained second degree burns. [Consumer Reports] [Recall Site]
Company Offering Paid Security Lines For Special People Fails
By 6.23.09
Members of the service, called “Clear”, paid as much as $199 a year and underwent background checks in order to access awesome security lines at participating airports. These security lines apparently led to the same checkpoints as everyone else uses. The company claims to have signed up 260,000 travelers.
