Pandemic-related problems are among the top 10 complaints made to state and local consumer agencies in 2020, according to an annual survey by Consumer Federation of America. They also topped the lists of worst, fastest-growing, and new complaints. “COVID-19 generated complaints about everything from appliance repairs to childcare, trash pick-up... Read more →
Criminals may use Child Tax Credit scams to steal money and personal information, the Internal Revenue Service warns. While millions of American families started receiving the advance Child Tax Credit payments last week, criminals were looking for ways to take advantage of unaware victims. Read more →
Harbor Freight Tools is recalling about 350,000 One Stop Gardens 15,000 and 30,000 BTU Tank Top Propane Heaters. In windy weather, the flame can be directed to the back of the heater, which can melt the “tip switch” safety shut off feature at the back of the heater. Read more →
More than a third of consumers who recently checked their credit reports found mistakes in them, a survey found. Many of the nearly 6,000 consumers who participated also reported having difficulty getting their free credit reports online, while others said they were unfairly charged for services. Read more →
After another death of a young child in a residential elevator, the CPSC Tuesday asked vacation rental platforms, AirBnB, Vrbo, and others, to take steps immediately to protect consumers. Small children can be crushed to death in a gap that may exist between the doors. Read more →
What can we as consumers do about the future of food and agriculture systems? There’s no one answer, no one starting point, and certainly no one silver-bullet solution, said Danielle Nierenberg, president of Food Tank, a think tank on food. Read more →
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filed an administrative complaint Tuesday against Amazon.com, the world’s largest retailer, to force Amazon to accept responsibility for recalling potentially hazardous products sold on its website. Read more →
My garden is in near full production. This year is a good year for zucchini. In fact, I’ll need help in a few days getting them eaten. It’s exciting. Some years, the zucchinis don’t produce. There’s Swiss chard, kale, and collards. Read more →
Two Florida companies and their CEO will be barred from offering payment-processing services to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that they aided a criminal student debt relief scam that bilked $62 million from thousands of students and their families. Read more →
Gramr is recalling about 92,135 brushed gold tea kettles in the U.S. and about 12,865 in Canada. The kettles can expel hot water and/or excessive steam, posing a burn hazard. Gramr has received 122 reports of the kettles expelling hot water and/or steam, including 18 reports of minor burn injuries. Read more →