Things are busy, here in my corner of the USA. I’m behind in reporting on what’s happening for National Consumer Protection Week. A lot of my time has been taken up since the first of the year taking part in the Dean Ornish heart health program. It ends Wednesday. I’ll be reporting on its many benefits soon. Read more →

Most landlords and property managers use tenant background checks to decide whether to rent to someone. Two federal agencies want to hear about your experiences with background checks used to screen tenants. The CFPB and FTC have received thousands of complaints about the background checks. Read more →

Presidents’ Day sort of sneaked up on me this year. At times in the past, I’ve written about Presidents’ Day as a time to appreciate our democracy and celebrate the many freedoms we have as a result. As thoughts of democracy come to mind, the war in Ukraine looms large. Read more →

Before you spend money on that “Shark-approved” miracle invention, weight loss product, or keto diet pill, make sure it’s really been featured on the “Shark Tank” program. Scammers are using fake “Shark Tank” celebrity testimonials and endorsements – along with fake photos and videos – to generate publicity and profits. Read more →

Until this week, I hadn’t heard about a potential safety problem with electric bicycles or “e-bikes.” An article in The Washington Post, “A Child’s Death Prompts Questions About Brake Safety on E-bikes,” caught my attention. A lawsuit has been filed against Rad Power Bikes by the parents of a 12-year-old girl who was killed in an e-bike accident. Read more →

American consumers spend more than $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day each year. It makes the holiday the third-priciest on the calendar for U.S. consumers. Valentine’s Day spending for 2023 is estimated to be $192.80 per person celebrating, according to a Valentine’s Day survey by WalletHub, a personal finance website. Read more →

A friend of mine recently received a $300 gift card under Comcast’s reward program. She thought she got it because she’s been a long-time customer. Since I’m a long-time Comcast customer, too, I thought it would be great to get $300 to spend, too. I went to the Comcast website and signed up for its rewards program. Read more →

How do you pick out a bank? It’s more difficult than it seems. Many people choose a branch near them. But, banks can have practices that are detrimental to consumers who want to spend money wisely. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or FDIC has downgraded Transportation Alliance Bank or TAB Bank to “needs to improve,” a low rating that few banks get. Read more →

February is a month of possibilities for sales: Some for Valentine’s Day and some for Presidents’ Day. Here are some ideas on what to look for from Dealnews.com: Valentine’s Day – It’s likely that you’ll find some Valentine’s Day sales. Look for bargains such as 30 percent off on candy. Read more →

It’s positive to see government agencies working to curb monopoly power. The U.S. Department of Justice and eight states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday charging Google with operating an unfair monopoly scheme in markets for advertising technology. The lawsuit alleges Google leverages control over advertising technologies. Read more →