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Last Updated: Aug 19, 2011 - 5:48:55 AM |
Announcements
Office Depot Recalls 34,000 Desk Chairs Due to Pinch Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of 34,000 chairs following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Aug 19, 2011 - 5:24:00 AM
Consumer Tools
Lost Your Wallet? How to protect your money, your credit record - and your sanity
But weeks later you receive past-due notices on bills for merchandise you never purchased, and a few months later your application for an auto loan gets rejected because someone has used your name and Social Security number to open new accounts and run up thousands of dollars in debt.
Mar 10, 2011 - 10:05:40 AM
Consumer Tools
Social Networking Sites Attract Online Criminals
Social networking sites are popular among consumers who keep in touch with friends and relatives by chatting online and sharing pictures, Web pages, video clips and other information.
Mar 10, 2011 - 9:58:58 AM
Announcements
Community Dispatch Gears up for the 13th Annual National Consumer Protection Week
This year, Communitydispatch.com will focus on identity theft prevention, government fraud alerts, and internet scams, to show consumers how not get ripped off.
Mar 3, 2011 - 11:02:04 PM
Credit and Money Management
Bank Overdraft Fees Policy: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Overdraft Fees
An overdraft can occur when you try to spend more money than you have available in your checking account. For example, let’s assume you have $40 in your account. You ask the phone company to electronically deduct $35 from your checking account to pay the bill. You now have $5 available. Next, you use your debit card to make a $10 purchase.
Feb 16, 2011 - 8:22:18 PM
Announcements
Avoiding Internet Scams:10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud
Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret
Dec 29, 2010 - 6:39:17 PM
Announcements
Can You Spot a Scam?
Con artists are very good at tricking consumers into parting with money or divulging personal information that can be used to steal funds or run up thousands of dollars in fraudulent credit card charges. How good are YOU at telling a scam from a legitimate offer or advertisement?
Dec 8, 2010 - 8:18:52 PM
Identity Theft
Identity Theft: How to Deter, Detect and Defend Against ID Theft
This is National Protect Your Identity Week, and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has information to help consumers, businesses, and law enforcement officials safeguard personal information and take action if an identity thief strikes.
Oct 19, 2010 - 7:09:58 PM
Announcements
Debt Relief: Debt Negotiation Scam Victims Receive Refund Payments
An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing checks to 360 consumers who were victims of Innovative Systems Technology doing business as Briggs & Baker, an operation that claimed it could "drastically" reduce consumers’ debt by negotiating directly with creditors.
Sep 30, 2010 - 3:25:08 PM
Credit and Money Management
Credit Card Security: Dave & Buster's Settles FTC Charges it Failed to Protect Consumers' Credit & Debit Card Information
Entertainment operation Dave & Buster's, Inc. has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the company left consumers' credit and debit card information vulnerable to hackers, resulting in several hundred thousand dollars in fraudulent charges
Mar 25, 2010 - 12:15:37 PM
Consumer Tools
Money Making Scam: FTC Seeks Scam Marketer’s Assets in Bankruptcy Court to Repay Money Owed to Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in bankruptcy court
seeking assets from the operator of a defunct money-making scam, so that those
assets can be used to help pay more than $17 million that he owes consumers as a
result of a court judgment against him.
Dec 22, 2009 - 10:00:03 AM
Consumer Tools
Top 20 Top Consumer Complaints in 2008
The Federal Trade Commission today released the list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2008.
Mar 3, 2009 - 9:14:40 AM
Announcements
Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center
U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).
Jun 19, 2008 - 8:45:01 PM
Announcements
FCC Approves Transfer of Control of Direct TV to Liberty Media Subject to Conditions
Four years ago, I strenuously dissented to the Commission’s decision to allow News Corp. to acquire DirectTV. At the time, I said that the consolidation of so many media properties under News Corp.’s control could not be good for localism, diversity and competition. Nothing in the past four years has alleviated my concerns.
Feb 27, 2008 - 10:33:49 AM
Announcements
Consumer Fraud: FTC Releases List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2007
The FTC today released the list of top consumer fraud complaints received by the agency in 2007. The list, contained in the publication “Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data January-December 2007,” showed that for the seventh year in a row, identity theft is the number one consumer complaint category. Of 813,899 total complaints received in 2007, 258,427, or 32 percent, were related to identity theft.
Feb 13, 2008 - 9:14:58 AM
Announcements
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (Coupon Program), as authorized in the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005.
Jan 2, 2008 - 10:29:07 AM
Announcements
Free Virtual Tours from the U.S. Government
Free online U.S. virtual tours
Dec 12, 2007 - 10:22:15 PM
Consumer Tools
FTC Offers Tutorial for Businesses on Protecting Personal Information
Protecting the personal information of customers, clients, and employees is good business. The Federal Trade Commission has a new online tutorial to alert businesses and other organizations to practical and low- or no-cost ways to keep data secure
Dec 4, 2007 - 7:03:22 AM
Consumer Tools
Renting a Car for the Holidays? The I.I.I. Provides Rental Car Insurance Tips
With so many people planning to visit family and friends over the holidays, there are likely to be long lines at rental car companies across the country. Properly insuring a rental car can be tricky. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Nov 26, 2007 - 11:00:15 AM
Insurance Related Press Releases
Thinking About Buying an Expensive New Bicycle?
Almost 1,000,000 bicycles were stolen in the U.S in 2006, according to the FBI and most of them were never seen again. With the increasingly popularity of cycling as both a sport and a means of transportation, bicycles have become a target for thieves, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Oct 11, 2007 - 8:27:31 AM
Consumer Tools
Holiday Shopping Countdown -Returns and Exchanges: Know the Rules Before Buying
Attention, Holiday Shoppers. It's important to learn about a retailer's return policies before buying gifts.
Dec 19, 2006 - 2:52:10 PM
Consumer Tools
Renting a Car for Thanksgiving? The I.I.I. Provides Rental Car Insurance Tips
With so many people traveling to visit family friends over Thanksgiving, there are likely to be long lines at rental car companies across the country, Properly insuring a rental car can be tricky. Unfortunately, many consumers don't even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Nov 22, 2006 - 6:53:45 AM
Consumer Tools
190,500 Target Toys Recalled due to Laceration and Lead Hazards
Some of these toys contain lead paint, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Also, some of the toys have sharp points, posing laceration or puncture wound hazards.
Nov 19, 2006 - 12:06:03 AM
Consumer Tools
Residential Natural Gas Prices: What Consumers Should Know
Typically, residential natural gas consumers have some basic questions as the winter approaches: How much will natural gas cost and will enough be available this winter heating season?
Nov 18, 2006 - 2:11:02 PM
Consumer Tools
Update: California Car Buyer's Bill of Rights
A new law establishing the Car Buyer's Bill of Rights substantially impacts the purchase of new and used vehicles. This new law, which takes effect July 1, 2006, affects retail vehicle sales handled by licensed car dealers in California. This new law does not apply to transactions between private parties, motorcycles, or off-highway vehicles.
Nov 8, 2006 - 2:50:03 PM
