Have you ever had a problem because of data a company has collected on you? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is launching an inquiry into companies that track and collect information on the details of people’s personal lives. It’s seeking input on data brokers and how their business practices impact people’s daily life. Read more →

Republicans doing the bidding of Wall Street for years led to the current banking crisis. In 2018, Republicans led an effort, lobbied heavily by the financial industry, that resulted in a law, signed by former President Donald Trump, that gutted Dodd-Frank’s risk assessment safeguards for midsize banks. Read more →

When you take two consumer problems, telemarketing and extended warranties, and put them together, it can result in disaster. The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement Friday in its case against American Vehicle Protection – who it charged last year with running a telemarketing extended auto warranty scheme that cheated people out of more than $6 million. Read more →

YETI is recalling about 1.9 million coolers and gear cases in the United States and 40,760 in Canada. If the magnet-lined closures fail and the magnets fall out, serious injury or death can occur if they’re ingested. When two or more high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and get stuck in the digestive system. Read more →

Since I avoid the use of harsh, toxic chemicals in cleaning, I often use vinegar in cleaning. However, Consumer Reports says it shouldn’t be used in nine cases: Clothes irons. Vinegar could damage the inside of the iron. Countertops: Vinegar is an acid, and it can etch and dull natural stone such as marble and limestone. For granite, it can break down sealers. Read more →

Last week, it was great news when EPA announced proposed limits on the toxic “forever” chemicals known as PFAS as a way to reduce drinking water contamination. The proposal targets six PFAS. While these are the first federal proposed drinking water limits for PFAS, 10 states already have final or interim enforceable drinking water limits for PFAS. Read more →

One of the best consumer actions in recent years is the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2011. Established after the Great Recession of 2007-08 to set up one federal agency to help consumers with their financial issues, the CFPB has made great strides in improving the position of consumers in the marketplace. Read more →

I love Ireland. I was so fortunate to travel there with my daughter Lisa in 2016. So, I decided a good way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day Friday is to post some of the photos from our trip. We were fortunate to meet with some of my grandmother Laura Baylee Slingsby’s relatives. Laura was born in 1877 and died in 1939. Read more →

It’s important to reduce the amount of pesticides in food that you and your children are exposed to. One way to do that is to be aware of the amount of pesticides that may be on the fruits and vegetables you buy. Thirty years after warnings of the dangers to children from pesticides, 75 percent of U.S. non-organic produce still contain potentially toxic chemicals, Read more →

In addition to recalling products, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues warnings about hazardous products. A recent warning from the agency is to immediately stop using black TureClos bicycle helmets. The helmets don’t comply with federal safety standards. They can fail to protect riders if a crash occurs, posing a head injury risk. Read more →