Happy Income Tax Day. I’m happy because my tax return has been filed. What I’m not happy about is that many big corporations pay nothing or very little in taxes. Did you know that? The United States loses approximately $100 billion in tax revenues every year due to corporations and... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Redken 5th Avenue NYC is recalling about 1 million spray mousse foam cans. The aerosol container's liner can corrode over time, posing a risk of the cans rupturing and expelling its contents, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in an announcement made in... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Completing my income tax return Thursday, I e-filed my taxes to the IRS. It was... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Two men and their companies are being charged with billing consumers without their consent and not providing promised refunds. A federal court temporarily halted the defendants’ alleged deceptive practices, froze their assets, and appointed a receiver to take control of the business and its... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Whether you’ve filed your taxes or not, be on the lookout for tax scams. If you still need to file, it’s important to choose a reputable tax preparer. If you’ve already filed, beware of strange communications about your refund that appear to come from... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Accelerated Mentoring, a Boise company that sells services to assist consumers in operating their own Internet-based businesses, has signed a settlement agreement with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office that requires the company to change its business practices. For more information, see my WalletPop article... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Consumers filed 1.1 million complaints against North American businesses in 2010, reflecting a 10 percent increase over the previous year, according to an annual report released today by Better Business Bureau. See my WalletPop article, “Cable and Satellite TV, Cell Phones Top List of... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist About 69,000 stained glass soldering irons are being recalled by Cooper Tools. The power cord can break at the flex point where the cord attaches to the handle, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Cooper Tools has received three reports of the power cord... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week? Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Attending a rally at the... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist A recent e-mail that takes advantage of Coca-Cola's well-recognized name and logo to convince consumers they've won a foreign lottery prize has been forwarded to Better Business Bureau. For more information see my AOL Consumer Ally article “Not the Real Thing: Beware of the... Read more →