The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Watch out for common holiday travel scams

People love traveling during the holidays.

It’s likely AAA's 2011 estimate, about 91 million people traveling at least 50 miles during the holidays, will be topped this year.

The Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington is reminding consumers who are traveling to watch out for common scams:

• ATM skimming: When paying at the pump for gasoline, keep an eye out for unusual-looking card readers, false keypads, and suspicious cameras.

• E-mail chain letters: Inboxes are flooded with free or cheap offers for five-star accommodations, airline tickets, or cruise passes, but clicking links may install malware or viruses. Avoid unsolicited too-good-to-be-true offers.

• Front desk calls: Hotel guests receive calls from “the front desk” asking them to verify payment information, but the callers are actually scammers.

• Sketchy cab drivers: Be wary if drivers claim that certain hotels or motels are closed and “suggest” other locations. There may be incentives for drivers to create business for less-than-ethical companies. Check bbb.org to find reliable taxi services.

• Social engineering: Swindlers use social media to obtain personal information about travel plans. Avoid posting specifics that entice thieves to loot temporarily vacant homes. Also, be wary of sudden calls or e-mails regarding flights or vacation packages. Never provide personal information or credit card numbers to unsolicited inquirers.

Best wishes for your holiday travels.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Chariot Carriers bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits due to injury hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd., doing business as Chariot Carriers, is recalling about 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits.

The bicycle trailer’s hitch mechanisms can crack and break, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement. This poses an injury hazard to children in the bicycle trailer.

The firm has received 24 incident reports worldwide, three of which occurred in the United States, involving the bicycle trailers and the conversion kits. No injuries have been reported.

Recalled trailer's versa wing

Chariot Carriers convert to strollers, jogging strollers, and bike, hike, or ski trailers. The recall involves Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits. Recalled trailers have serial numbers from 1205-xxxx to 0710-xxxx – representing manufacture dates December 2005 through July 2010 – located on the left side on the frame.

Upgraded versa wing

Recalled conversion kits have hitch arms that attach the carrier to the bicycle with model number “20100503” printed on a label attached to the aluminum tube next to the warning label. Older conversion kits without a label, but with a release push button located where the hitch arm inserts into the carrier, are also being recalled.

Manufactured in Canada, the bicycles trailers and conversion kits were sold at specialty bicycle stores nationwide and on various websites from December 2005 through August 2010 for between $400 and $925 for Chariot bicycle trailers and from October 2002 through August 2011 for between $40 and $70 for bicycle trailer conversion kits.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits and contact Chariot Carriers for a free repair kit, which the consumer can install, the company and the commission advise.

For more information, contact Chariot Carriers at 800-262-8651 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.chariotcarriers.com.

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

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

12 ways to go green in 2012

By Rita R. Robison

Is going green among your New Year’s resolutions for 2012?

If so, the Worldwatch Institute, an environmental research organization, has these suggestions for you:

1. Recycle

Put a separate container next to your trash can or printer, making it easier to recycle your bottles, cans, and paper.

2. Turn off the lights

Turn off lights during bright daylight, or whenever you’ll be away for an extended period of time.

3. Make the switch

Use compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs because they use only 20 to 30 percent of the energy required by incandescents to create the same amount of light, and light emitting diodes or LEDs use only 10 percent, helping reduce both electric bills and carbon emissions.

4. Turn on the tap

Fill up your glasses and reusable water bottles with tap water.

5. Turn down the heat

Turn down your thermostat when you leave for work, or use a programmable thermostat to control your heating settings.

6. Support food recovery programs

Encourage your local restaurants and grocery stores to partner with food rescue organizations, such as City Harvest in New York City or Second Harvest Heartland in Minnesota. Go through your cabinets and shelves and donate any non-perishable canned and dried foods that you won't be using to your nearest food bank or shelter.

7. Buy local

Consider farmers markets and local farms for your produce, eggs, dairy, and meat instead of relying only on large supermarkets. Food from these sources is usually fresher and more flavorful, and your money will be going directly to these food producers. 

8. Get out and ride 

Use your city's bike share program to run short errands or commute to work if one is available in your community. Check out Bike Belong.org to find a listing of bike sharing programs in the United States. Take advantage of the bike lanes many cities and towns are providing, making it easier and safer to use your bike for transportation and recreation.

9. Share a car

Join a car share program. See Zipcar.com for information on car share programs in the U.S.

10. Plant a garden

Start by planting some lettuce in a window box. Lettuce seeds are inexpensive. When planted in full sun, one window box can provide enough lettuce to make numerous salads throughout a season. Move on to planting seedlings in pots on your patio. Next, investigate where in your yard you could create a raised bed garden.

11. Compost

See websites such as HowToCompost.org, which provide easy steps to reuse your organic waste.

12. Reduce your meat consumption

Cut down on the amount of meat you consume by substituting one meal day with a vegetarian option. Websites such as Meatless Monday and Eating Well offer many vegetarian recipes that are healthy for you and the environment.

For more and more people across the world, the impacts of hunger, poverty, and climate change are felt every day, according to the Worldwatch Institute. Simple practices, such as recycling or riding a bike, can have great impact on making 2012 a healthier, happier, and greener year for all.

 

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: E-Z-GO golf cars, shuttle vehicles, and off-road utility vehicles due to crash hazard

By Rita R. Robison

E-Z-GO, a Textron Company, is recalling about 21,900 TXT golf cars, Cushman shuttle vehicles, and Bad Boy off-road utility vehicles

The threaded end of the rack rod ball joint can break and the ball joint may become displaced, causing the driver to lose steering control. Thus, a crash could occur.

E-Z-GO is aware of 71 reports of the ball joint breaking, 13 of which resulted in the ball joint displacing, the firm and the U.S. Consumer Product Commission said in a joint statement. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled vehicles are gas- and electric-powered, four-wheeled vehicles with bench seats for the driver and passengers.

The brand and model names are printed on the side and front panels of the vehicles. Serial numbers are printed on a plate or label located on the exterior of the vehicle below the driver’s seat. Click here to see the model numbers involved in the recall.

Manufactured in the United States, the vehicles were sold at E-Z-GO and Bad Boy dealers nationwide from February 2011 through July 2011 for between $6,650 and $10,650.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact E-Z-GO or an authorized dealer for a free repair, the company and commission advise. E-Z-GO and E-Z-GO dealers are contacting known owners.

For additional information, contact E-Z-GO toll-free at 800-774-3946 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s website at www.ezgo.com.

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

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tailgating too expensive in tight money times? Use these thrifty tips to get back in the game

By Andrea Woroch, Consumer Writer

Guest Blogger, Kinoli Inc.

Fire up the grill and get ready for kickoff; football season is here. What goes hand-in-hand with football season? Tailgating, of course. Fans everywhere are honing secret recipes and stocking up on supplies to make their party dominate the parking lot.

It's important, however, to be mindful of spending, as the festivity's cost can quickly add up, from team memorabilia to beer and food.

Before you put the finishing touches on your tailgate plans, try out a few of these thrifty tips.

1. Team up

The atmosphere at a major tailgate party is all about community, but don't be fooled; there are plenty of freeloaders floating around. Avoid overspending by getting some friends in on the action. Assign a couple of people to drinks, several to snacks, and you take care of the grill and meat. Consider it a sports-centric potluck that cuts costs for everyone. Need some culinary inspiration? Tailgating.com has dozens of free, fan-submitted recipes perfect for game day.

2. Carpool

With fuel prices at an all-time high, it's wise to carpool so you can split the costs of gas and parking. Depending on how often your posse goes to games, devise a schedule and assign driving duties fairly. Otherwise, search for ride share opportunities at sites like CarpoolConnect or CarpoolWorld.com. You can also post a ride and charge a small fee to cover gas and mileage for each seat.

3. Fan gear for less

The signs of a high-quality tailgate include a team flag flying high and jerseys as far as the eye can see. Even if you don't have a jersey, there's no excuse for not wearing team colors. If it seems like these items are too expensive, you can always use coupons to get free shipping at such stores as Finish Line from sites like FreeShipping.org.

4. Smart food choices

Pre-made salads, sandwich platters and cubed meats may be easy choices, but they're also much more expensive, with mark-ups reaching nearly 100 percent. You can save a lot on food by preparing your own before leaving home. Buy larger slabs of meat from the butcher and cut them up yourself. Depending on the number of people participating in the tailgate, consider buying some food items like cheese, chips, condiments, and hot dogs in bulk from stores like Costoco for savings up to 30 percent.

5. Get your game on

There are only so many things to do in a parking lot, so it's key to include a few simple games in your plans, like a football to toss around. Lawn games like Corn Hole and Washers are also entertaining choices and can be found at reasonable prices among major retail chains like Sports Authority or Sears. For those with a crafty hand, consider building a board game from scratch for a fraction of the cost. You can get building tips at CornHoleHowTo.com. Otherwise, download the free NFL Football Trivia App on your smartphone to test the football knowledge of your tailgate buddies.

6. Borrow before buying

Tailgating requires a lot of supplies, from oversized coolers and pop-up canopies to folding tables and chairs. Before heading to the store to buy whatever gear you're lacking, find out if you can borrow from friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Otherwise, scope out used goods on Craigslist or try trading items at Swap.com.

7. Bring the tailgate home

There's nothing like attending the game among other screaming fans, but when budgets are tight it's time to bring the tailgate home. You'll save on gas, parking, and game tickets. Don't forget, sometimes it's just more fun to watch a big game at home, anyway: You get the benefit of multiple hi-def replay angles and a comfy couch seat while you avoid fighting traffic of a crowded parking lot after a long day of tailgating.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Bell Sports bicycle helmets due to head injury hazard

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Bell Sports is recalling about 31,100 bicycle helmets in the United States and about 2,500 in Canada.

The plastic buckle that connects the chin straps can fail, causing the helmet to come off the wearer's head. This poses a head injury hazard to riders if they fall.

The firm has received one report of a buckle failing during an accident, resulting in an injury that required stitches below the wearer's eye.

The recall involves Bell Exodus full-face helmets with a plastic buckle on the chinstrap. The helmets have an angled visor and were sold in youth size. The model and part number can be found on a removable sticker located on the side of the helmet.

Manufactured in Taiwan, the helmets were sold by Wal-Mart stores nationwide and Amazon.com between August 2009 and March 2011 for $50 to $60.

Consumers should stop using the helmets immediately and contact Bell Sports for a replacement or refund, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a joint statement.

For additional information call Bell Sports at 866-892-6059 highlighting between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, via email at answer_desk@bellsports.com or visit the firm's website at www.bellsports.com.

Information on Health Canada's recall is available at here.

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

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Should you refuse to be x-rayed by an airport body-scanning machine?

The Transportation Security Administration plans to have 450 body-scanning machines operating at 33 airports by the end of the year. The agency would get another 500 next year, under President Barack Obama's proposed budget.

The machines can detect non-metallic threats, such as weapons and explosives.

But the question is, “Are the airport x-rays machines safe?”

American College of Radiology says the increased cancer risks from the x-rays is unlikely: “Both types of scanners used by the TSA use low level rays that pose essentially no cancer risk.”

The group claims the devices use such low level radio waves that DNA won’t be damaged. It says travelers would need to have 2,500 scans to raise cancer risk by even a tiny amount.

However, health care providers and manufacturers of radiation emitting diagnostic equipment in this country have always downplayed the dangers of x-rays. Recently, concerns have been expressed about the wide usage of CT scans. Groups also are looking at the link between radiation exposure and breast cancer.

Scientists say radiation from the scanners has been underestimated and could be particularly risky for children, reports the Mail Online’s “Airport Body Scanners ‘Could Give You Cancer,’ Warns Expert.”

They say that the low level beam does deliver a small dose of radiation to the body but because the beam concentrates on the skin – one of the most radiation-sensitive organs of the human body – that dose may be up to 20 times higher than first estimated.

David Brenner, M.D., head of Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research, said in the article that although the danger posed to the individual passenger is “very low,” he is urging researchers to carry out more tests on the device to look at the way it affects specific groups who could be more sensitive to radiation.

Brenner said children and passengers with gene mutations – around one in 20 of the population – are more at risk as they are less able to repair x-ray damage to their DNA.

You don’t have to be x-rayed at the airport. People may refuse, but if they do, they are required to go through a metal detector, plus be subject to a physical pat down.

That’s what I’ll be doing. Rejecting the x-ray and opting for the alternative.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Are you flying with high- or low-performing airlines?

With fewer flights and fewer passengers, airlines are performing better.

For the second year, the performance of the nation's leading carriers improved, according to the 20th annual national Airline Quality Rating report. It was the third best overall score in the years researchers at Purdue University and Wichita State University have tracked the performance of airlines.

Below is numerical ranking of the nation's leading 18 airlines for 2009, according to the Airline Quality Rating, with the 2008 ranking in parentheses:

1. Hawaiian (1)

2. AirTran (2)

3. JetBlue (3)

4. Northwest (4)

5. Southwest (6) 

6. Continental (8)

7. Frontier (7)

8. US Airways (10)

9. American (9)

10. ExpressJet (not ranked for 2008)

11. Alaska (5)

12. Mesa (14)

13. United (11)

14. SkyWest (13)

15. Delta (12)

16. Comair (15)

17. Atlantic Southeast (17)

18. American Eagle (16)

The industry improved in on-time performance, baggage handling, and customer complaints, but declined in denied boardings or bumpings.

More bumpings occurred because airline companies tightened up on the number of seats that are available, researchers said. Airlines are focused on generating revenues, not necessarily on customer service.

The overall rankings changed very little from 2008 to 2009, as the top four airlines remained the same, the researchers said.

Hawaiian repeated as the overall No. 1 ranked airline by a narrow margin over AirTran. The biggest change was Alaska, falling from a No. 5 ranking to No. 11.

Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance – 92.1 percent – for 2009, and Atlantic Southeast had the worst –71.2 percent.

JetBlue had the lowest bumpings rate at 0.00 per 10,000 passengers. American Eagle had the highest rate at 3.76 per 10,000 passengers.

AirTran had the best baggage handling rate – 1.67 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers – of all airlines, and Atlantic Southeast had the worst baggage handling rate – 7.87 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

Southwest again had the lowest consumer complaint rate – 0.21 per 100,000 passengers – of all airlines. Delta had the highest consumer complaint rate – 1.96 per 100,000 passengers.

Customer complaints per 100,000 passengers decreased from 1.15 in 2008 to 0.97 in 2009. The majority of complaints were for flight problems – 23.8 percent; baggage – 18.7 percent; reservations, ticketing, and boarding – 15.1 percent; and customer service – 13.9 percent.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

With number of flights down, airline performance improves in 2009

With the economy still in a slump, a less stressed airline industry with fewer travelers improved its performance in many areas in 2009.

For 2009, U.S. airlines carried 5.2 percent fewer domestic passengers and 6.3 percent fewer international passengers in 2009 than in 2008. Airline travel still hasn’t returned to prerecession 2007 levels.

On-time performance

The nation’s largest airlines had an on-time performance rate in 2009 that was their best since 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report.

The 19 airlines had an on-time arrival rate of 79.5 percent in 2009, an improvement over 2008’s rate of 76 percent. It was the best since the on-time annual record of 82 percent in 2003.

Mishandled baggage

The report also shows that the airlines’ rate of mishandled baggage last year was the lowest since 2004.

Airlines had a mishandled baggage rate of 3.91 per 1,000 passengers in 2009, an improvement over 2008's 5.26. It was the best rate since 2002’s score of 3.84.

Flight delays

On flight delays, airlines reported 18.64 percent of flights were delayed in 2009, compared with 25.82 percent in 2008.

Bumping

The 19 airlines reported an involuntary denied boarding rate, or bumping rate, of 1.19 per 10,000 passengers last year, up from 1.11 for 2008.

Complaints about airline service

For all of last year, the department received 8,819 complaints, 17.2 percent fewer than the 10,648 complaints received in 2008.

Complaints about treatment of disabled passengers

For 2009, the department received 517 disability complaints, up 8.4 percent from the total of 477 received in 2008.

Complaints about discrimination

For 2009, the department received 132 discrimination complaints – such as race, religion, national origin, or sex – up 14.8 percent from the total of 115 filed in 2008.

Consumers can file complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590; by voice mail at 202-366-2220 or by TTY at 202-366-0511; or on the Web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Toyota vehicles due to gas pedal problems

A new Toyota recall was announced this week, affecting about 2.3 million vehicles, due to gas pedals that could become hard to depress, slow to return, or stick.

In a separate recent recall, about 4 million Toyota vehicles were recalled over concerns that accelerator pedals could become lodged under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration.

These Toyota models are included in this week's recall:

• 2009-2010 RAV4

• 
2009-2010 Corolla

• 
2009-2010 Matrix

• 
2005-2010 Avalon

• 
2007-2010 Camry

• 
2010 Highlander

• 
2007-2010 Tundra

• 
2008-2010 Sequoia

In an announcement about the recall, Toyota said the accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash. It further explained the problem as follows:

Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation – without air conditioning – when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.

Toyota has not yet provided a remedy plan or an owner notification schedule.

Owners may contact Toyota at 800-331-4331. They also can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or TTY 800-424-9153, or go to www.safercar.gov.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist