Posts Tagged With ‘ Consumers ’

In 2016, I had H&R Block prepare my taxes. It was upsetting because neither the receptionist nor the tax preparer would give me an estimate of what it would cost to prepare my taxes. The tax preparer said he’d do my taxes, then, at the end, if I thought it was too expensive, I could reject the work. I paid $472, which I thought was too high. However, I paid it and left because I was tired of dealing with my taxes. I wrote in an article on my blog that said I thought H&R Block was using a form of bait and switch advertising; it wanted to get you in the door, then it would spring the... Continue Reading

About 100 infants have died in Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play infant sleepers. And, unfortunately, kids are continuing to die because the deadly sleepers are still being used and sold second hand. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is upset with Mattel and Meta for not doing enough to keep the dangerous infant sleepers away from consumers. “At best, CPSC is catching these unlawful products after they have been listed for sale and made available to the public,” CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric said in a letter to Meta. “Facebook is uniquely positioned to identify recalled and violative... Continue Reading

As a researcher, I was surprised several years ago when I ran across a study on pets that are allowed to sleep in their owners’ beds. It found E.coli, a bacteria that can cause illness, on the pillows, sheets, and blankets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking precautions to help reduce the risk of getting sick from germs pet can carry whether you’re playing with, feeding, or cleaning up after your pet. Wash your hands with running water and soap. In addition, make sure your pet gets regular veterinary care. Provide your pet with a good diet, fresh water, clean... Continue Reading

Happy Easter if Easter is a day you celebrate. For me, I’m trying to concentrate today on the wonders of spring and the yearly renewal of the earth. Here are some recent photos: In late February, we have a snow storm, but fortunately, the power didn’t go out at my house. In early April, I head to the capital grounds because I read in the newspaper that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Not true. Only a few of the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. However, the magnolia tree, in past days called the sine die tree meaning when the tree blooms the legislature should adjourn, is blooming. ... Continue Reading

Sixty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 43 percent plan to attend church on Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Easter is a big donation day for U.S. churches, as it usually has the year’s highest attendance rates. It’s also a significant money-maker for candy companies. Projected Easter spending on candy is $3.3 billion, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website. Total Easter-related spending expected in 2023 is $24 billion, with $192 per person celebrating. More than half of parents will make Easter baskets for their kids and... Continue Reading

April isn’t one of the best months of the year to look for deals, but, as always, compare prices to see where and how much you can save. Check out this list of the best things to buy in April from DealNews.com and also several items you should hold off on until later. Cookware With graduation and the wedding season coming up, expect retailers to offer a decent number of deals. Athletic shoes With renewed interest in getting outdoors and exercising more as the weather warms up and new items being released, April is a good time to look for athletic shoes. Air conditioners If you need a window... Continue Reading

It was upsetting to deal with possible leak in the water pipe that goes from my house to the meter box near the street. I had a repair made in 2019 for a leak and I didn’t know if that repair had failed or, since my home is about 45 years old, the water pipes were splitting due to age. Plastic pipes have a life span of about 50 years. The city notice On Saturday, March 11 at 4:20 p.m., I received a letter from the city indicating I might have a leak from my water pipes. I was furious. There’s nothing that you can do on the weekend to try to figure out what to do about the problem. I tried... Continue Reading

As a fan of the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement, I thought I’d try a side hustle, one of the FIRE recommendations. Since I have pinecones that fall on my driveway all year around, I decided to collect them and sell them on craigslist. I have two kinds of pinecones; those from European pine and Douglas fir trees. I collected about a dozen boxes of pinecones, checked out what people were selling them for, and advertised them on craigslist. One woman came before Christmas and bought a small box. She was very happy to get them, saying the pinecones at hobby stores were extremely... Continue Reading

Have you ever had a problem because of data a company has collected on you? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is launching an inquiry into companies that track and collect information on the details of people’s personal lives. It’s seeking input on data brokers and how their business practices impact people’s daily life. Companies that collect and monetize peoples’ personal data can pose significant harms, including privacy and security risks, the facilitation of harassment and fraud, and the spread of inaccurate information. People often have little choice on whether to do business... Continue Reading

Photo: Minh Nguyen Republicans doing the bidding of Wall Street for years led to the current banking crisis. In 2018, Republicans led an effort, lobbied heavily by the financial industry, that resulted in a law, signed by former President Donald Trump, that gutted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s risk assessment safeguards for midsize banks. The effort, led by House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry, gave federal agencies discretion in regulation, which paved the way for banks such as Silicon Valley Bank to take huge risks beyond their means without... Continue Reading