In states that allow high-cost loans, excessive interest rates can trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. Caps on interest rates and loan fees are the main way states can protect consumers from predatory lending. Forty-five states cap interest rates and loan fees for some consumer installment loans, depending on the loan size. Read more →
Sienhua Group is recalling about 580,000 WarmWave and Hunter oscillating ceramic tower heaters in the United States and about 37,580 in Canada. The ceramic tower heater’s cord and plug can overheat when in use, posing fire and burn risks. The firm has received eight customer reports of fire at the plug or cord. Read more →
For some reason, the former owners of my home planted 40 rhododendrons and 12 azaleas before they sold the house. I don’t know why. What I do know is that, once I noticed I had so many rhododendrons, I had to learn how to take care of them. Read more →
Only a small number of funeral homes allow consumers to look at their price lists on their websites so they can compare prices. Just 191 of 1,046 funeral homes or 18 percent in a survey posted their prices online, according to a report by the Funeral Consumers Alliance and Consumer Federation of America. Read more →
July is one of the better months for sales. The 4th of July is a big shopping holiday so compare prices and see what bargains you can find. Also, be on the lookout the next few weeks because the back to school sales are coming up. Here are suggestions from DealNews.com on what to look for at the July sales: Read more →
The weather’s been so cold here in the Seattle area that I haven’t gotten out in my yard for as much spring yard work as I would have liked. My garden is growing well and so far I’ve enjoyed lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and one strawberry. Read more →
Schneider Electric is recalling about 1.4 million Square D QO Plug-on-Neutral load centers, also known as breaker boxes and electrical panels, in the United States and 289,000 in Canada. The electric panels can overheat, posing thermal burn and fire risks. The firm has received one report of an incident of a loose wire. Read more →
Best wishes on Father’s Day. I hope you and your loved ones will have a great day with your plans for brunch or dinner, an outing, and/or gift giving. My dad, Minor H. Slingsby, passed away in 1990 at age 80. A farmer, he died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which is linked to pesticide exposure. Read more →
Although the idea of Father’s Day was conceived in 1909 by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, to honor her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm, it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Read more →
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is looking at how consumers can get better customer service from big banks. Consumers have the right under federal law to get timely responses when they ask for information about their accounts at large institutions. Read more →