Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Six Million Children's Necklaces Recalled
Just in time to check for small holiday gifts, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Stravina Operating Corporation are recalling
six million children's necklaces and zippers.
According to the federal agency, the recalled jewelry and zippers have high levels of "accessible lead", which can be toxic to children if ingested. The agency also said that no incidents or injuries had been reported.
The recalled necklaces are silver-colored with individual names painted in variety of colors. The nameplate on the necklace hangs from a 16-inch black cord. The necklace packages are marked “Personalized Necklace” and “Stravina”. UPC Code 0-35203-00039-7 is on the necklace package.
The recalled zipper pulls are silver-colored with individual names that come in various colors. The zipper pull hangs from a silver-colored metal clip designed to attach to a backpack, a keyring, and zippers on clothing. Printed on the zipper pull’s packaging is “Personalized Zipper Pull,” “Great for Backpacks and Keyrings too” and “Stravina.” UPC Code 0-35203-00038-0 is written on the package.
The recalled metal necklaces and zipper pulls were sold at discount, toy, party, grocery and drug stores from March 2002 through September 2005 for between $2 and $4. All of the jewelry was manufactured in China.
Consumers should immediately take this metal jewelry away from children and contact Stravina for a free replacement product at (800) 964-0029 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Gov't Now Says Consumers Buying Cable TV By Channels Could Be More Beneficial
Federal Communications Chairman Kevin Martin, whose term expires in June, raised eyebrows across the nation today when a
Wall Street Journal report said he would take on the cable indstry's pricing practices. According to the paper, Martin would tell a Senate panel today that selling cable television by channel rather than in bundles "could be economically feasible and in consumers' best interests".
Known as a la carte pricing, the methodology is rejected by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. That trade group's web site states, "In November of 2004, the FCC issued a report that found that “government intervention through a la carte regulation likely will hurt MPVDs (multichannel video programming distributors), program networks, and especially MVPD subscribers.” This report followed on the Government Accountability Office findings in 2003 that a la carte could result in higher prices for fewer channels."
Martin's comments do apparently contradict those studies, including the one led by then-chairman Powell in 2004. The FCC does not have authority to mandate pricing and can only advise in such matters.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Store Credit Cards No Bargain Even With Discount Says Schumer Study
As we rush into the intense holiday shopping season, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer released a study today showing that interest rates charged by store credit cards in New York City are significantly higher than those charged by bank-issued credit cards. Schumer is calling for increased vigilance by shoppers to make sure they are not being lured by ‘too good to be true’ deals in a broad range of stores around the city.
"A store credit card is like a wolf in sheep's clothing," Schumer said. "You might think you're getting a real bargain at the register but just wait until the bill comes. Consumers could be in for an unwelcome New Year's surprise if they fall prey to these high credit card rates. As the holiday shopping season revs up, shoppers must beware of the pitfalls of these high-rate cards."
According to the Schumer survey, several retail stores in New York City offer consumers a modest discount at the register in order to lure consumers into accepting store credit cards. Typically, these retailers knock off 10 to 15 percent on the first purchase. Those savings can quickly turn into a big loss if the customer does not pay off the credit card balance in full each month, or if payments are made late, which results in additional fees.
Schumer's survey of 23 New York retailers includes data on store credit card interest rates and grace periods, including stores selling men’s and women’s clothing, electronics, furniture, and house wares. Almost all of the stores charge rates over 20%, well above the average bank-issued credit card rate of 10-13%.
The highest rate in the survey was found at Sears, which charges 24.15%, on all purchases on its store-issued credit card. Six different stores -- Ann Taylor, Express, Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Lerner New York – each offer credit cards at 22.8%. Only four of the 23 stores surveyed offered an interest rate below 20% -- Banana Republic, Crate & Barrel, Filene’s Basement, and Kohl’s.
Schumer's analysis showed that, over time, consumers who make purchases on store-issued credit cards can easily pay hundreds of dollars more in interest payments. A shopper who spent $300 using a retail store credit card with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 22.8% and only paid the minimum monthly payment on their Ann Taylor credit card would pay up to $115.28 over 39 months. The average APR for these store-issued credit cards is almost 22%.
Shoppers who charged on their regular bank credit card would pay far less in interest.
"You don't need to be Albert Einstein to know that higher interest rates mean bigger bills," Schumer said. "Consumers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. When you sign up for a store credit card because you’re getting ten percent off your first purchase – after the bill comes it can turn into a ten percent additional cost if you don’t pay it off right away."
Schumer said that consumers must beware of the high rates and urged shoppers to take steps to protect themselves:
• Shoppers should avoid using store-issued credit cards whenever possible;
• If a consumer is interested in signing up for a store credit card, the consumer should be sure to ask the sales representative about the details of the credit line's interest rate and fees;
• Bills should be paid in full and on-time if customers are to avoid paying exorbitant interest.
Schumer will send a letter tomorrow morning to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the agency to examine the lending practices of retail credit cards. In the letter, Schumer will ask the FTC to formally recommend specific steps that retail stores could take to protect their customers:
• Retail store promotional material should advertise the store's credit card interest rate and terms as prominently as they display the initial discount;
• Sales representatives should inform consumers verbally of the credit card's interest rate, and explain that the rate is higher than a typical bank-issued credit card;
• Retailers should avoid luring college students and young adults who do not have established credit ratings into accepting store credit cards.
Click here to view study.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
FBI Warns Of Virus In Email Scheme, Letter Not From FBI
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning the public to avoid falling victim to an on-going mass e-mail scheme wherein computer users received unsolicited e-mails purportedly sent by the FBI. These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the FBI and that they have accessed illegal web sites. The e-mails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions.
The e-mail appears to be sent from the e-mail addresses of mail@fbi.gov, post@fbi.gov and admin@fbi.gov. There may be other similarly styled addresses. The recipient is enticed to open the zip attachment which contains a variant of the w32/sober virus. If the program within the zip attachment is executed then the virus is launched and may affect the user's computer.
The text of the email is as follows:
Dear Sir/Madam,
We have logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal Websites.
Important: Please answer our questions! The list of questions are attached.
Yours faithfully,
Steven Allison
Federal Bureau of Investigation-FBI-
These e-mails did not come from the FBI. Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that the FBI does not engage in the practice of sending unsolicited e-mails to the public in this manner.
Opening e-mail attachments from an unknown sender is a risky and dangerous endeavor as such attachments frequently contain viruses that can infect the recipient's computer. The FBI strongly encourages computer users not to open such attachments. For detailed information on the effects of running this virus please log onto http://www.cert.org.
The FBI is investigating. Users are instructed to delete the e-mail without opening it.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Toyota To Include Free CARFAX Report With Certified Vehicles
Toyota Motor Sales announced today that it would include a free CARFAX Vehicle History Report with every new certified vehicle it sells.
CARFAX is the country's leading supplier of such data and is used by virtually all manufacturers and major web sites. Toyota also announced that if the vehicle did not have a satisfactory CARFAX report that it could not be sold as a "Toyota Certified" vehicle.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Consumer Group Attacks Government's Auto Roof Standards
A proposed roof crush rule – the first change in vehicle roof strength standards in more than three decades – is so grossly inadequate that 70 percent of existing vehicles already meet it. The proposed change would require vehicle roofs to be only marginally stronger than they are today.
The current standard requires a vehicle roof to withstand the force of 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight. Because of certain provisions in the proposed standard, the agency will effectively require a roof to withstand just 1.64 times the vehicle weight – a paltry improvement.
Rollover crashes kill 10,000 people each year, accounting for one-third of all occupant deaths in vehicle crashes. Many deaths and injuries that stem from rollover crashes occur when the roofs of vehicles crush in, killing or paralyzing the occupants of the vehicles. In many cases when the roof crushes, the windows of the vehicle crush or blow out, seat belt and side air bag systems fail, and doors spring open, causing people to be ejected and killed.
The current roof crush rule was issued in 1971. The agency originally called for testing both sides of the roof, but General Motors Corporation (GM) argued that testing both sides of the roof was unnecessary. Years later, it was revealed in litigation that GM had used NHTSA’s proposed two-sided test on six of its production model vehicles and that only one vehicle had passed. GM withheld its testing results from the agency but nevertheless argued for the one-sided test. NHTSA’s final rule called for testing just one side of the roof.
In 2000, after news of the Ford Explorer-Firestone tire rollover tragedies broke, NHTSA began mulling over a strengthening of the roof crush rule. But its proposed changes, released five years later, would do little to change the status quo. Even NHTSA says its proposed rule will save only 13 to 44 additional lives annually, an admission that the proposal is de minimus. Since 2000, 50,000 Americans have died in rollover crashes, making this one of the largest single causes of deaths in the new century. Today is the deadline NHTSA set to receive comments on its proposed rule. A copy of Public Citizen’s comments is available here.
“NHTSA is squandering an unprecedented opportunity to save lives by reducing rollover deaths,” said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. “This is an egregious betrayal of the public trust. It is technologically feasible and cost-effective to make vehicle roofs much, much stronger. The government has an obligation to require auto manufacturers to do so. It is unconscionable that the agency has punted.”
Internal auto industry documents in NHTSA’s possession show that auto manufacturers know the dynamics of rollover crashes and understand how, using feasible, light-weight and cost-effective technology, to make much stronger roofs. NHTSA should make these Volvo XC-90 documents public because they show how one small company led the way in rollover safety, Public Citizen said.
The proposed rule also contains a “pre-emption” provision that would prohibit people from suing manufacturers for injuries sustained from crushed roofs if the vehicles meet the government standard. This would effectively shut the courthouse doors on consumers and would remove incentives for manufacturers to make safe vehicles when minimal government standards are insufficient or outdated, or are not well enforced, Public Citizen argued. It also would burden the taxpayers with the costs of these crashes.
At a press conference today, the Rev. Lawrence Harris, a Pittsgrove, N.J., resident who is now a quadriplegic as a result of a rollover crash, denounced the new rule. The vehicle he was in when the 1997 crash occurred, a 1987 Ford Econoline van, would have passed the proposed new test. His injuries show how inadequate the proposed rule is.
“I have to live with the consequences of a government roof strength standard that is way too low,” Harris said. “It’s time for citizens like us to be heard and for the government to enact a law that forces auto manufacturers to build vehicles that are safer, stronger and will increase the chances of people walking away from an accident.”
NHTSA is proposing to increase the force that a vehicle’s roof must withstand in tests to 2.5 times the vehicle’s unloaded weight, up from the current 1.5 times. The increase is misleading, however, because NHTSA also has proposed changing the test requirements to allow greater roof intrusion. According to an analysis by Steve Batzer, a professional engineer and director of the Engineering Institute in Farmington, Ark., the average required increase in roof strength under the proposed rule amounts to requiring a roof to withstand just 1.64 times the vehicle weight, as measured by the current standard.
“This proposed standard does not meet the public’s expectation that solid science is used as the basis of new safety standards,” Batzer said. “Further, it does not ensure that the solid majority of average-height, belted occupants can be protected from significant roof crush in the event of a high-speed rollover.”
The agency contends that strengthening roofs will add weight to vehicles and increase the propensity for rollover, but this is a canard, Claybrook said. The agency has been unable to document that an increase in vehicle weight would increase the risk of rollovers. Further, manufacturers can strengthen roofs without adding weight, because many light-weight materials exist.
Other key problems with the proposed roof crush rule include:
It largely ignores the fact that a strong roof is crucial to preventing people from being ejected from vehicles that roll over. Including the benefits of preventing ejection would justify a much more stringent standard on a cost-benefit basis.
The new test does not apply force to the roof in a manner that ensures injuries would be prevented in a real-world crash. It continues to use a static test in which weight is pressed on one side of the roof. Instead, NHTSA should require a dynamic “dolly roll” test, in which vehicles are rolled off a fast-moving dolly, to simulate the injuries that occur in real-world crashes. This is the best way to test what happens in rollover crashes to a vehicle’s roof, windows, belt system, side air bags and occupants. The dolly test is already routinely used by auto manufacturers and is spelled out in FMVSS 208 (air bags, belts) as a voluntary standard since the 1970s.
The proposal fails to comply with an August 2005 congressional mandate for safety upgrades to both the driver and passenger sides that requires both sides of the roof be tested. Instead NHTSA calls for just one side to be tested. This measures what happens only in the first two quarter turns of a rollover. But the most serious injuries occur in the third and subsequent quarter turns.
The agency proposal relies on windshields to support roofs in rollovers, but in real world rollover crashes, windshields shatter, drastically reducing roof strength.
The cost-benefit analysis is riddled with errors.
The proposal lacks a scientific basis. The agency looks at vehicles after rollover crashes, analyzing roof intrusion, rather than analyzing what happens during a crash. Roofs are elastic and spring back, so analyzing post-crash intrusion is irrelevant to understanding how occupants are injured.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Sony Continues Stumbling Over Failed Copy Protection
In another series of gaffes, Sony Music admitted today that its second round of uninstall software to remove spyware from unsuspecting consumers' computers exposed thos computers to hacker attacks.
The company claims that less than 300 people have downloaded the second program after many more had downloaded the first which exposed their computers. The latest round of errors was found by Princeton University computer science professor Edward Felten and researcher Alex Halderman. According to ZDNet.com, Professor Felten has agreed to review any subsequent releases by Sony.
Consumer Help Web
reported the initial round of problems to consumers on November 3, the day after blogger Mark Russinovich disclosed the problems in Sony's music CD copy protection to the world.
Less than three weeks ago we wrote, "SonyBMG has placed an onerous burden on consumers that should be immediately lifted". Sony has not only failed to lift that burden but has endangered the computer safety of the most proactive consumers who followed the company's directions.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Delta Seeks To Void Pilots Contract, Union Cites "Bone-Crushing" Fatigue
Airline pilots continue to stay in the news as beleagured and bankrupt Delta Airlines attempts to wring concessions from its unionized pilots. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) had initially offered a conecssion package approaching $100 million, but stating that it needed much more, Delta filed a motion this week to have the Bankruptcy Court void its agreement with the pilots. If granted, Delta's pilots will lose the collective bargaining agreement they had and the airline will be able to force wage concessions.
Even more troubling was the recent testimony on Capitol Hill from ALPA President Captain Duane E. Woerth, a Northwest Airlines pilot. Captain Woerth testified before a Senate committee that "“Bone-crushing pilot fatigue, and the mental errors it leads to, is still one of the largest threats to aviation safety. Sixteen-hour domestic duty days--even longer with more transpacific international operations--are facts of life for airline pilots. Irregular shifts, all-night operations, and significant circadian rhythm challenges all contribute to pilot fatigue.
“With all the contractual work rule concessions that have occurred since 9/11, a higher percentage of pilots are flying more hours and working more days with longer duty periods than at any other time in recent history. No matter what this committee or the Senate may decide to do with the Age 60 Rule, the current flight and duty time rules affecting pilot fatigue need to be enhanced, not weakened.”
Add disgruntled over pay to the "bone-crushing fatigue" cited by the union and one wonders how friendly the skies will be.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
FCC Continues Pushing 911 Service for VOIP
In May 2005, the FCC adopted rules that respond to the threat that such misunderstandings pose to public safety. The FCC adopted rules requiring providers of interconnected VoIP services to supply 911 emergency calling capabilities to their customers as a mandatory feature of the service by November 28, 2005. "Interconnected" VoIP services are VoIP services that allow a user generally to receive calls from and make calls to the traditional telephone network. Under the FCC rules, interconnected VoIP providers must:
--- Deliver all 911 calls to the local emergency call center;
--- Deliver the customer’s call back number and location information where the emergency call center is capable of receiving it; and
--- Inform their customers of the capabilities and limitations of their VoIP 911 service.
The United States Distict Court of Appeals denied a motion this week that would have delayed these regulations from being put in place.
Consumer Help Web reported on this issue in March when
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed suit against Internet company Vonage for failing to disclose that the service did not exist.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Postage Price Set To Rise
The U.S. Postal Service announced yesterday that the price of a first class stamp will rise just over 5% from 37 cents to 39 cents. The government agency said the increase was the first since 2002. Other services are also due to increase, including the cost of priority mail, postcards and certified mail.
The changes take effect in January 2006.
Labels: USPS
Monday, November 14, 2005
Medicare Drug Coverage Changes Tomorrow
There is a gult of information and advice about the new Medicare prescription changes that take effect tomorrow with coverage beginning January 1.
For all the
official news and advice on this topic, Consumer Help Web recommends you use the government's easy-to-navigate and consumer-friendly site.
You can get there at
http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp.
"This is too important an issue to leave up to other organizations," said Consumer Help Web President Joan Bounacos. "The government has done an excellent job in presenting this information in a clear and easily understood manner. We urge any Medicare eligible person to simply visit the official site only to have their questions answered."
Monday, November 07, 2005
Free CARFAX Reports on AutoTrader.com
Used car shoppers looking for vehicles on AutoTrader.com now have access to free Carfax Vehicle History Reports on hundreds of thousands of cars. AutoTrader.com automatically links its vehicle listings to free Carfax reports on vehicles for sale from participating dealers. The two companies joined forces in September of this year to help used car buyers and sellers make better decisions by improving online used car listings.
"Carfax Vehicle History Reports are now available with the simple click of a mouse," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "Like photos, every used car seller should include a Carfax report and consumers should expect them. Along with a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic it's the best protection when buying online."
"Listing vehicles on AutoTrader.com enables sellers to reach the largest number of potential buyers," said Chip Perry, president and chief executive officer, AutoTrader.com. "Carfax Vehicle History Reports enhance the overall value of used cars for both buyers and sellers and provides prospective buyers with more robust information."
Carfax and AutoTrader.com are among two of the most popular automotive Web sites. Tens of thousands of dealers rely on the services these two companies provide to help maximize the value of their used cars. Now the more than 10 million in-market car shoppers who look at these cars on AutoTrader.com each month have free access to on-the-spot vehicle history information provided by Carfax-subscribing dealers.
Consumers should note that the seller must first purchase the report, but it is then available for any consumer to see.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Blogger's Pressure Forces Sony To Reveal Files Hidden On Consumer Computers
After an explosive blog entry at
Mark Russinovich's highly technical blog Sony Music announced yesterday that it would release a patch to reveal copy protection code it secretly installed on consumer's PCs.
Some Windows experts quickly claimed the files were security breaches while consumer and privacy advocates geared up for a battle. Just as quickly as the furor was created, however, the company backed down and issued a patch that would uninstall the software.
Consumers can visit SonyBMG at http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/faq.html. After wading through a series of carefully worded talking points, consumers will be able to uninstall the software from their computer -- with the provision that the CD will no longer be playable on their computer. The company also requires a questionnaire be filled out before advancing to the download page.
Consumer Help Web believes in protecting intellectual property rights, but also believes that SonyBMG has placed an onerous burden on consumers that should be immediately lifted. The option to use the computer as a playback device without the installation of hidden tracking software should be a given, not a privilege.
