By Rita R. Robison Over the last year or so, I’ve received dozens of robocalls from Cardholder Services and other companies. Lately, the pitch from a frequent caller is to take a 30-minute political survey and get a free trip to the Caribbean. The calls keep coming on both my... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison The most memorable sunsets I can recall were in Tacoma, Wash., Sacramento, and Florida. The one above is in Tacoma. Sunrises? I’m an evening person, so I don’t have many photos of the sun coming up. AARP, The Magazine, gives its opinion on the topic in... Read more →

Companies that insure homes paid about $35 billion in loss claims last year, and auto insurers say they’re alarmed about higher claims costs. So consumers need to be extra careful to get their due from auto, home, and life policies. If you have to file a claim on your auto... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison Toyota is recalling nearly 500,000 Tacoma trucks, manufactured from Sept. 14, 2004, through Aug. 29, 2008. Over time, steering wheel vibration may damage the spiral cable assembly that powers the driver’s air bag module, Toyota said in a statement on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison My best consumer experience this week, was finding two sales on Valentine’s Day candy. My worst was trying to use my frequent flyer miles with American Airlines. My best: Getting a good deal on Valentine’s Day candy When I went to Rite Aid and Target, I... Read more →

Most consumers don’t take the time to file consumer complaints. That’s not good for the economy, as business and government aren’t alerted to problems and the level of difficulties in the marketplace. And, although complaints are now easier to file because you can do it on a company or government... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison Today is International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. In some places, such as China, Russia, Vietnam, and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday. Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The... Read more →

Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole or 4-MI, a known animal carcinogen, a new chemical analyses has found. The carcinogen forms when ammonia or ammonia and sulfites are used to manufacture the “caramel coloring” that gives these sodas their brown colors, according to the... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison This week, March 4 through 10, is National Consumer Protection Week. Here are some suggestions from consumer groups and government agencies on what consumers can do during this important consumer week to improve enhance their consumer lives. NCPW.com This is the website for the National Consumer... Read more →

By Rita R. Robison Worthington Cylinders Wisconsin is recalling more than 29 million Map Pro, Propylene, and MAPP Gas Cylinders in the United States and more than 1.3 million in Canada. The seal on the cylinders can leak after torches or other fuel consuming equipment are disconnected from them, posing... Read more →