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Government Policy

Dialing 911 Could Be Dangerous

By consumeristcarey 11.25.07

Dialing 911 sets off a loud alarm on newer Verizon phones, potentially putting customers in danger. Imagine dashing under your bed at the sound of an intruder breaking through the front door, only to wonder if you should call 911 from your cellphone because it would reveal your location. A Texas woman was forced to make a similar decision when she discovered that the security chain guarding her vacant property was missing.

She grabbed her new Casio G’zOne phone from Verizon Wireless, which to her horror made an audible alarm when she called 911.

airlines

Speed Airport Security By Packing Neater

By consumerist.com 11.23.07

Instead of cramming your carry-on with crap, the TSA says we can all make security lines go faster if we pack neater. They want you to pack in layers; a layer of clothes, then a layer of electronics, then a layer of any heavier items. This way, the security folks can more quickly determine the bag does not contain an explosive device. For once, something the TSA said actually makes sense.

crime

More Warnings About The Increasingly Popular *72 Phone Scam

By Meg Marco 11.21.07

The *72 phone scam is growing in popularity, according to the Houston Chronicle, and Comcast is warning consumers about it.

crackdowns

China Will Not Be Banned From Exporting Toys To EU

By cwalters 11.21.07

Here’s something everyone can be thankful for—the Chinese, Europeans, and tangentially everyone in America and the rest of the world who have spent the better part of last year dodging lead bullets from the factory nation. The European Union’s consumer chief has said that China has made “quantum leaps” in improving its safety protocols, and will therefore not face a ban in the EU.

recalls

By Meg Marco 11.21.07

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RECALLS: Baja Motorsports ATVs (lack of tire pressure gauge), L.L. Bean Snow And Sandcastle Kit (sharp edges), Family Dollar Metal Jewelry (lead),Cooper Lighting Fluorescent Shop Lights (electrical shock),Discount School Supply Paint Brushes (lead),Metal Jewelry Sold at Michaels Stores (lead),La Femme NY Inc. Children’s Necklace and Earring Sets (lead),Children’s Metal Jewelry (lead),Cherrydale Fundraising Bracelets (lead),Buy-Rite Children’s Metal Jewelry (lead),Children’s Pencil Pouches Sold In Schools Nationwide (lead), Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows (choking and lead), Visual Presenters (fire), Flashing Pacifiers (choking)Heartland® Brand Graham Pie Crusts (undeclared almonds, milk and coconut), Charlemagne Dark Chocolate Organic Bars (undeclared milk), True Man’s Sexual Energy Max, Dietary Supplement (secretly Viagra).

lawsuits

Walmart Pays For Brain Damaged Employee's Medical Bills, Then Sues For The Money Back

By consumerist.com 11.21.07

A Walmart employee was hit by a semi, leaving her permanently brain-damaged and in a wheelchair. Walmart paid for her medical fees and her family successfully sued the trucking company. Now Walmart wants all the money she got from the trucking company. The family only has Social Security benefits and medicaid to pay for her 24 hour medical care. The company health plan contains a clause that allows it to recoup medical expenses it paid if the person also wins damages in an injury suit. This cost-effective management of the employee health plan is just another way Walmart delivers America everday low prices.

TSA

TSA: Pies Are OK, But May Be Subject To Additional Screening

By Meg Marco 11.21.07

The TSA has a holiday food travel guide up on its website and the verdict is in: Pies and cakes are OK, but “be advised that they might be subject to additional screening.”

lawsuits

Couple Loses 25% Of Property To Litigious Neighbors

By consumerist.com 11.21.07

A Boulder couple lost 25% of their property after a neighbor used the legal principle of “adverse possession” to west control of it. For 25 years, Richard McClean and Edith Stevens used part of a vacant lot owned by their neighbor, the Kirlins. They extended their rock garden into it, held parties, and stacked wood upon it. Recently they filed to suit to take control of the land. The judge ruled that since the Kirlins hadn’t contested the Stevens use before, they were less attached to the property, and awarded the claim to the litigants. Naturally, the case has caused an uproar in the Boulder community who are delighted to have discovered a land grabber within their midst. The Kirlins plan to appeal, and the Boulderites plan to hold protest picnics among the lots scrabbly grass and weeds.

lawsuits

California Sues Toy Companies Over Lead

By cwalters 11.20.07

This week, California’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against 20 companies implicated in the various lead-tainted toy fiascos of 2007. The lawsuit “alleges that the companies violated the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986… because they didn’t notify customers of toys in the marketplace that contained high concentrations of lead.” The federal government doesn’t require such labeling, but California does.

lawsuits

TJX Proposes One-Day Sale As Part Of Class Action Settlement

By cwalters 11.20.07

When TJX revealed earlier this year that they’d failed to keep safe over 45 million customer credit card accounts, they were hit with both consumer and bank class action lawsuits. Now they’ve submitted a proposed settlement for the consumer class action suit that includes a strange, somewhat insulting offer: a “one-day sale” for victims of the theft. Attorneys general from eight states have filed an objection against the proposal, citing that even if it’s a well-intentioned goodwill gesture, it doesn’t belong as part of any official, legal settlement, which should be designed to benefit the victims rather than the retailer.

lawsuits

No Refunds For Poisonous Aqua Dots

By consumerist.com 11.20.07

The distributor of children’s toy Aqua Dots, which contained beads that turned into a date rape drug if ingested, is refusing to give refunds to parents. Instead, they want to offer a replacement toy. Some parents are mad as they don’t understand why they should forced to accept another toy from a company that sold them poison the first time around. Here comes the lawsuit! Parents who would rather get a different toy can go to aquadotsrecall.com.

california

Man Breaks Into Carl's Jr. To Make Own Cheeseburgers

By Meg Marco 11.19.07

Here’s a bad idea: If the fast food restaurant of your choice is closed, simply break in and cook your own food.

kolaches

Double B Foods Recalls 98,000 Pounds Of Sausages On Fears Of Listeria

By consumeristcarey 11.18.07

Double B Foods is recalling 98,000 pounds of their pastry-covered smoked sausage rolls called Kolaches on fears that they may be contaminated with listeria. Listeria monocytogenes is a nasty bug that can kill babies and the elderly, while leaving everyone else stricken with fever, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and other assorted abdominal pains. A full list of affected products and states, after the jump.

mascara

$160 Mascara Seized By FDA Because It Can Cause Blindness

By cwalters 11.17.07

Earlier today, U.S. marshals seized over 12,000 tubes—about $2 million dollars worth—of Age Intervention Eyelash, sold by Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc. The FDA considers the product “adulterated” and potentially dangerous, and has urged “consumers, dermatologists and beauticians” who have already bought the $160 product to stop using it. So what’s the big deal? According to this lawsuit site, it contains bimatoprost, “an active ingredient in an FDA approved drug to treat elevated intraocular pressure.” Oops.

recalls

Toys R Us Advertising Date Rape Drug Laced Aquadots As A "Door Buster"

By Meg Marco 11.16.07

We’ve been getting several complaints today about Toys R Us’ “Door Buster” newspaper ad. They’re still advertising the GHB-laced Aquadots, despite the recall. (Right next to some ominous-looking Thomas & Friends toys, we might add.)

cincinnati/northern kentucky international airport

New TSA Screening: Empty Out All Your Electronics

By consumerist.com 11.16.07

The TSA is testing a new level of security screening at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and it requires you to take every electronic component out of your carry-on luggage and put it in a separate bin, reader John tells us. He writes:

recalls

By consumerist.com 11.16.07

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Recalls: Jetmax Children’s Wooden Storage Rack (death by falling over and landing on child’s neck), 1998-2007 Honda Civics (rupturing, exploding, ejecting natural gas tank), 2007-2008 Forest River Flagstaff and Rockwood camping trailers (cable shaft breaking), GEM NEV 2007 Electrical Cars (parking brake failing), Thule utility trailers (axle falling off), 2008 Polaris Victory / Vision motorcycles (stalling),

readers

By consumerist.com 11.15.07

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Are companies that offer free e-filing of IRS tax returns, linked from the IRS website, actually charging customers? [6abc]

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