With 31 percent of American consumers planning to spend less during the 2024 holiday season compared to 2023, WalletHub, a personal-finance website, released a report Wednesday on the “Best Things to Buy on Black Friday in 2024.” WalletHub found that 41 percent of items offer no savings compared with their... Read more →
On my landline, yes, I still have one, I’m still getting unwanted calls. However, not as many as in the past. The police organization, with the man or men with Texas accents, keep calling, although I told them once to take me off their list. I told them I’d never... Read more →
At last, government officials are doing something about the harm media is causing children. For years, I’ve written about violence in the media. Research shows children who are persistently exposed to violent images learn aggressive behaviors, become desensitized to violence, and develop an exaggerated fear of becoming victims. Now, social... Read more →
These days, October is the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Make your list and start comparing prices. You may find prices in October that are as good as Black Friday deals. And, you won’t need to worry as much that the store will be out of what you’re looking... Read more →
August marks the beginning of the end of summer, as well as a new school year for many people. Because of that, it may not seem like a good time for shopping anything other than pencils, notebooks, and backpacks. However, August has much more than back to school deals and... Read more →
When I’ve had a consumer complaint recently, several times the customer service representative has said to me “I’m sorry that you feel that way.” The “sorry,” but I’m not sorry response it like getting an emotional slap in the face. One time it happened when I didn’t get information about a credit union fee, and I also mentioned lacking customer service at a local branch. Read more →
Recently, when I traveled to Madrid, I noticed that more people weren’t using headphones or earbuds when listening to audio on their phones and computers. At the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a man was sitting with his leg propped up on his suitcase listening to YouTube videos. It was really irritating. Another man had his phone on speaker. Read more →
Another industry is being exposed for years-long tricks it engaged in to fool consumers and make more money at their expense. Major U.S. wireless carriers agreed to a $10.25 million settlement Thursday after an industry-wide investigation by a coalition of 50 state attorneys general of misleading advertising practices. Read more →
Recently, when I looked at my Comcast bill, it said my monthly bill would be going up $22.60 a month. I was upset. My bill already is high. I pay about $200 for TV, internet, and landline. For years, I had argue with Comcast every couple of years when my contract expired. I had the bundle: $33 for TV, $33 for internet, and $33 for the landline. Read more →
Junk fees – those hidden and bogus charges that have found their way into a wide variety of transactions – are on consumers’ minds. After receiving more than 12,000 comments about how these fees impact consumers and businesses, the FTC announced on Oct. 11, a proposed rule on deceptive fees. It's now looking for further feedback. Read more →