The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

The Best of Boomer Blogs, mid-winter edition

Laura Lee Carter of the Adventures of the New Old Farts is the host for this week’s Best of Boomer Blogs #435.

Carter writes she’s stuck in a beautiful snowstorm in the foothills just east of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Southern Colorado. It’s beautiful, as her photo shows.

Other boomer bloggers are writing about what to do about too many timeshares, how to prevent kitchen fires, how older adults can avoid hypothermia, and the difficulties of finding great restaurants when on a road trip.

To read some or all the articles, click on the second link above.

Copyright 2016, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

30 million Americans drew money out of retirement savings for emergencies last year, while 21 million didn’t save anything for retirement

Thirty million Americans took money out of their retirement savings for an emergency during the past year, according to a Bankrate.com report. The report also found that 21 million Americans aren’t saving for retirement at all.

Millennials were the least likely to withdraw their retirement funds early, with only 8 percent doing so over the past 12 months. They’re also the age group with an improved overall financial situation over the past year; 40 percent say they’re better off while 11 percent say they’re doing worse.

For 50-64 year-olds, 26 percent say their financial situation has deteriorated over the past year – more than any other age group – and 17 percent recently took money out of their retirement savings to pay for an emergency.

Half billion dollars donated to Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief builds six new houses

Did you hear the story on National Public Radio or read it on the ProPublica website about a half billion dollars in donated funds to the American Red Cross building only six permanent houses in Haiti after the devastating earthquake five years ago?

It’s shocking.

The news organizations said they found a string of poorly managed projects, questionable spending, and dubious claims of success.

As winter storms engulf the nation, EPA launches an analytical energy saving tool for consumers

As huge winter storms batter each coast this week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the launch of a new tool, the Energy Star Home Advisor, to help Americans save money and energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through home-improvement projects.

The timing seems ironic. Winter isn’t exactly the time to be studying your energy uses and hiring a contractor. A spring launch would have been much better. Consumers could undertaken the projects or hired a contractor in the summer.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy visited Durham, N.C., with local officials Friday for the agency’s Energy Efficiency Action Week and a tour a new Energy Star-certified Habitat for Humanity home. The home tour included blower door and duct blaster tests.

Durham was a good choice. It’s 53 degrees in Durham on Friday.

Today’s consumer tip: Think safety to avoid accidents as you celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day of joy. The kitchen is bustling, and kids love to be involved in holiday preparations. However, accidents can happen before you know it.

Some tips to avoid disasters are: keep children away from the stove, stay in the kitchen when you’re cooking on the stovetop, stay home when cooking a turkey, don’t leave kids alone in a room with a burning candle, and make sure your smoke alarms are working.

See the National Fire Protection Association’s “Thanksgiving Safety” for details on these tips and for other suggestions.

In addition, see the NFPA’s “Kids in the Kitchen” guide for ideas on what different age groups can do around the kitchen as you prepare your holiday meal.

Note: The NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: 3-in-1 flashlights distributed free by Marlboro cigarettes due to burn and injury hazard

Altria Group Distribution Co. is recalling about 365,000 3-in-1 flashlights that contain a compass and match holder in addition to the flash light.

Matches inside the match holder can ignite when they come in contact with the striker pad under the compass cap, posing burn and injury hazards to consumers, according to the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The firm has received 11 reports of the matches igniting inside the flashlight, including two reports of the flashlight exploding. One consumer reported receiving minor burns, and one reported receiving medical attention for injuries to his hand.

Operation using robocalls to pitch medical alert devices to seniors shut down

A U.S. district court has temporarily halted an Orlando-based operation that used robocalls to pitch “free” medical alert devices to senior citizens, telling them that the devices had been purchased for them by a relative or friend. The firm’s frozen the assets also have been frozen.

The defendants also allegedly led consumers to believe that the devices were endorsed by various health organizations and that they wouldn’t be charged anything before the devices were activated.

Agency action

The Federal Trade Commission and Florida Attorney General's Office are seeking a court order permanently banning the defendants from using the allegedly fraudulent practices and providing restitution to consumers.

“These telemarketers used illegal robocalls to make a sales pitch that was 100 percent false,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “They lied about the product, about whether health organizations had endorsed it, and about its cost. And all the while, their M.O. was to take advantage of older people's concerns about their health.”

According to the joint agency complaint, consumers who pressed one “1” on their phones for more information were transferred to a representative who allegedly continued the deception by saying that the medical alert systems are recommended by the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and National Institute on Aging.

In addition, the telemarketers falsely stated that the monthly monitoring fee for the system will be charged only once the medical alert system has been installed and activated, the agencies said.

The defendants

The defendants include:

• Worldwide Info Services Inc., also doing business as The Credit Voice.

• Elite Information Solutions Inc., also d/b/a The Credit Voice.

• Absolute Solutions Group Inc, also d/b/a The Credit Voice.

• Global Interactive Technologies Inc., also d/b/a The Credit Voice Inc.

• Global Service Providers Inc.

• The Credit Voice Inc, also d/b/a TCV

• Live Agent Response 1 LLC, also d/b/a LAR.

• Arcagen Inc., also d/b/a ARI.

• American Innovative Concepts Inc.

• Unique Information Services Inc.

• Michael Hilgar, Gary Martin, and Joseph Settecase.

The photo avoce shows the top and bottom views of the LifeWatch alert device that the FTC said was involved in the sales pitch.

Information for consumers

The FTC has tips for consumers and two videos explaining robocalls and describing what consumers should do when they receive one. See ftc.gov/robocalls for more information.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Related articles

FTC stops company from using threats to get consumers to pay for medical alert devices

Mental health, retirement jobs, midlife growth, airport timing, and a fraud warning are the topics for this week's Best of Boomer Blogs, it's 300th offering

Think about elder safety during winter storms

Over on the blog Time Goes By, Ronni Bennett writes about the importance of helping elders in the winter.

The topic is on Bennett's mind because her 92-year-old grandmother froze to death many years ago in her home. She wrote about her grandmother's death four years ago in the article, “The Terrible, Lonely Death of an Old, Old Woman.”

Check out Bennett’s tips for winter weather, including preparing for power outages, being careful of icy sidewalks and steps, and checking on elderly friends and neighbors during cold snaps.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Denver Global Products multi-purpose yard vehicles due laceration, fire hazards

Denver Global Products is recalling about 11,000 multi-purpose yard vehicles.

The mower blades can detach during use or start without being activated by the operator and the vehicle can move forward unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard, said the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition, the fuel lines can leak, posing a fire hazard.

Denver Global Products has received 82 reports of blades detaching, one of which resulted in lacerations and bruising to a bystanders legs, and three reports of mower blades starting without the operator activating them with no reported injuries. There have also been three reports of unintended vehicle movement with no reported injuries and 34 reports of fuel leaking with no reported injuries.

The recalled products are Raven multi-purpose yard vehicles manufactured between December 26, 2012 and May 7, 2013. The vehicles are gas-powered four-wheeled vehicles designed to be used as a lawn mower, garden tractor, or portable generator.

The recalled vehicles have a cargo bed and a detachable 46-inch cutting deck. The vehicles are black with red grab-rails on either side of the rear cargo bed, red center panels on the seat and hood, and red front suspension components.

The first six digits of the serial number indicate the manufacture date in a MM/DD/YY format. The serial number is on an identification plate attached to the lower right-hand chassis rail near the front wheel. “Denver Global Products Inc.,” “Model # MPV710-001,” “1-888-321-5700,” and “www.denverglobal.com” can also be found on the identification plate.

Manufactured in the United States, the yard vehicles were sold only at Lowe’s Stores nationwide between January 2013 and May 2013 for about $3,000.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles, the company and commission advise. Turn off the key switch and remove the key, apply the parking brake, and remove the green and the yellow fuses from the white plastic fuse holders on the right hand side under the seat.

Return the unit to the nearest Lowe’s store for a full refund. The firm is contacting consumers directly.

For more information, call Denver Global Products at 888-321-5700 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit www.denverglobal.com and select Partner Websites, then click on MPV-710 Refund Program, or go to www.thempv.com and click on the MPV-710 Refund Program at the bottom of the page.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Today’s consumer tip: Don’t put flammable items on the top of the stove

Recently, I met a woman who put her fanny pack on the stove and left the kitchen. Somehow, the burner was accidentally turned on. The result? A big kitchen fire.

It’s been a good reminder to me. When I’m done using paper towels or napkins, they go right in the compost. Boxes of crackers and other flammable items are placed far from the stovetop.

Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist