Posts Tagged With ‘ Government ’

Financial institutions are increasingly using chatbots, which put out human-like responses using computer programming, to communicate with customers to save money. Chatbots sometimes have human names and use popup features to encourage interaction. Some chatbots use more complex technologies such as “artificial intelligence” to respond to customers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received hundreds of complaints from frustrated customers trying to receive timely, straightforward answers from their financial institutions or to raise a concern or dispute. “To reduce costs, many... Continue Reading

Another huge recall with dozens of injuries points out once again the importance of keeping up on product recalls. About 469,000 self-cleaning juicers are being recalled by Empower Brands in the United States and with an additional 10,900 recalled in Canada. The juicers can rupture during use, striking consumers and causing lacerations, or they can leave small particle shavings in the juice. Empower Brands is aware of 261 reports of incidents including 47 reports of injuries, some involving: severe cuts requiring emergency treatment, stitches, bruises, and swallowing of small particles requiring... Continue Reading

More than three quarters of adults have used a payment app, called a P2P or peer-to-peer or person-to-person app. Widely used nonbank payment apps include PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App. The apps can be used on a computer or mobile device to send money to someone else without writing a check or handing over cash. Young adults use payment apps even more frequently. Eighty-five percent of consumers aged 18 to 29 have used one of these apps, according to a Consumer Reports survey. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers the following information on the pitfalls of using payment apps: Money... Continue Reading

It’s not surprising what last year’s top consumer complaint was. I’ve seen it many times as No. 1 on annual consumer complaint lists. It’s auto sales and repair. “Consumers rely on cars to get to work, school, doctors’ appointments and more,” said Erin Witte, director of consumer protection for the Consumer Federation of America. Complaints related to the sale and leasing of new and used automobiles – pricing, advertisements, and mechanical defects – as well as issues related to the repair of vehicles. It’s the seventh year in a row that auto sales, leases, and repairs are... Continue Reading

Whether you’re remembering a loved one who passed away in their service to the country, going to a parade, visiting a cemetery, having or attending a barbecue, shopping, or working, I hope your Memorial Day is going well. Many people also see the Memorial Day weekend as the beginning of summer and are enjoying outings and picnics. I’m remembering my uncle Frank Gilliam who died in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. I’ll be observing the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. today. I won’t be traveling over the Memorial Day weekend like 42.3 million Americans. With so much holiday... Continue Reading

Remember when 125,000 Peloton Tread+ treadmills were recalled after the death of a child and dozens of incidents of children, pets, and objects being pulled under the rear roller? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Peloton have finally agreed on a rear guard repair for the recalled Tread+ treadmill. The repair eliminates possible entrapment near the treadmill’s rear roller. The guard features a breakaway design that moves it away from the treadmill when it comes into contact with a person or object, shutting off power to the treadmill and slowing down the belt. While the guard... Continue Reading

An “investment opportunity” extremely popular on the social media platform WeChat stole millions from the Chinese community in the United States. Social media posts urged people to “invest” in various household goods and electronics, promising returns of 20-40 percent in one to three months. But it was really a scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Using WeChat groups, scammers heavily promoted the investment with pictures and stories about supposed successful investors. To invest, people agreed to over-pay upfront – as much as three times the retail price – to buy items... Continue Reading

This huge recall is getting a lot of media attention and it surely is adding to Peloton’s financial problems as people head back to the gym after staying home during the covid-19 pandemic. The company is recalling about 2.2 million exercise bikes, Model No. PL01, because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards. Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries including a fractured wrist, lacerations, and bruises due to falls from the bike. The exercise bikes were sold... Continue Reading

Although Mother’s Day is highly commercialized, I like remembering my mom on this special day and I enjoy visiting with my daughters over WhatsApp. Maybe next year, I’ll be able to travel to Spain again in May. Since my birthday is May 4 and my daughter’s is May 23, we have so much fun celebrating our birthdays plus American Mother’s Day and Spanish Mother’s Day in May in Spain. The photo is of my mom. It’s her high school graduation photo. She graduated when she was 16. Mother’s Day spending Consumers plan to spend a total of $35.7 billion on Mother’s Day this year, nearly $4... Continue Reading

No. What ended on Thursday was the covid health emergency on public health and safety measures in the United States. In addition, the World Health Organization recently ended the covid related global health emergency. The U.S. ended the covid health emergency because Republicans would no longer support funding for it. What does the end of the public health emergency mean for you? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this list of changes: Vaccines will remain available. Access to covid-19 vaccines will generally not be affected for now. The U.S. government is currently distributing... Continue Reading