Consumer World Blog by MrConsumer

Debt Settlement Companies are Bad News for Most Consumers

2009-11-08T12:03:00.003-05:00

They promise you will only have pay 60 cents on every dollar owed. The trouble is, most companies that say they will lower your total debt fail to deliver on that promise. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

In Search of Higher Bank Interest Rates

2009-10-31T12:53:00.002-04:00

What we are being paid by online banks for our deposits seems to keep getting less and less. The NY Times offers some tips on finding the highest interest rates available (but they are still pretty low). For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Sometimes You Lose After Winning a Net Auction

2009-10-24T14:12:00.001-04:00

Most auctions are legit, but sometimes problems arise after winning an online auction. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Unredeemed Gift Cards Benefit State Coffers

2009-10-18T07:43:00.001-04:00

Some eight billion dollars a year goes unused on gift cards each year, and abandoned property offices in many states are the beneficiaries. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

10 Riskiest Foods for Food Poisoning

2009-10-10T14:21:00.001-04:00

Here is a list of foods that cause the most people to get food poisoning every year. (One in four Americans get food poisoning annually.) For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Feds Draft New Rules for Credit Cards

2009-10-03T11:42:00.000-04:00

Come February, the second part of the CARD act goes into effect further regulating credit card issuers' practices. The Federal Reserve has now published draft rules to implement the new law. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

So You Want to Buy a Foreclosed Home...

2009-09-27T07:20:00.002-04:00

Here is information on how to find foreclosed homes listings, and how to make sure you don't get stuck with a clunker. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

FCC to Push for Net Neutrality

2009-09-19T09:13:00.002-04:00

The FCC is expected to announce rulemaking to prevent Internet providers from slowing down connections for certain content. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

7 New Rules for First Time Homebuyers

2009-09-13T07:48:00.001-04:00

It is back to the future when buying a home for the first time. Some of the old prudent rules, like putting 20% down, are back. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Health Insurance Blues? Write the CEO!

2009-09-05T08:36:00.001-04:00

Some consumers who run into a stone wall dealing with their health insurance company have discovered that writing to the CEO can often bring results. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Mortgage Rates Return to About 5%

2009-08-29T12:03:00.002-04:00

At least for the moment, mortgage rates have returned to about 5%, just in time for the fall real estate selling season. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

More Ways to Call Home Cheaply When Away

2009-08-22T15:06:00.001-04:00

A travel reporter for the NY Times reviews several ways to call home from overseas and not have it cost you an arm and a leg. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

PayPal Unveils Student Accounts w/MasterCard

2009-08-16T15:42:00.001-04:00

PayPal has just unveiled an account for students, funded by parents (who can also set limits, and view transactions. It comes with a debit MasterCard that cannot be overspent. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Some Doctors Give Discounts for Cash

2009-08-09T06:12:00.002-04:00

Do you think that doctors' bills are negotiable? Some are, particularly for those who don't have insurance. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

High-end Retailers Offering More Deals

2009-08-02T16:44:00.001-04:00

Don't look now, but the likes of Bloomingdale's are offering deep discounts to lure buyers in this tough economy. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Stopping Automatic Debit Payments is Not Easy

2009-07-26T14:13:00.002-04:00

You join a gym or get car payments automatically deducted from your bank account for simplicity. What happens when those withdrawals should stop because your contract is up? Sometimes, they don't stop. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

They Allege Babies-R-Us Got Mfrs to Help Eliminate Net Competition

2009-07-18T09:29:00.002-04:00

A class action lawsuit has just been certified that alleges that Babies-R-Us used its market power to get baby products manufacturers to set minimum prices for its goods (thus meaning that net baby products sellers could not undercut B-R-U. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

This Collect Call Cost $32.39

2009-07-12T18:32:00.001-04:00

Read the saga of a man who received a bill for over $32 for a two-minute collect call from his mother. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

New Rules Let You Dispute Credit Errors Differently

2009-07-04T08:27:00.002-04:00

Historically, if there was a credit error in your credit report, you could challenge that data with the credit bureau itself. Next year, you will also be able to contact the credit grantor directly that is furnishing erroneous information to the credit bureau. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

This Travel Protection Plan Does Not Refund Cash

2009-06-28T10:39:00.002-04:00

You buy "travel protection" for an expensive trip and expect if you get sick and can't go, you'll get a refund, right? That's not the case with this travel company. See why. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Testing Travel Websites for Low Fares, Hotel Rates

2009-06-21T12:06:00.001-04:00

A NY Times blogger decided to test various travel sites to see which offered the lowest fares. See who won! For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Competitors, FDIC Gang Up on Ally Bank's "High" Rates

2009-06-13T11:39:00.003-04:00

Last week, MousePrint.org told you about Ally Bank, the renamed GMAC Bank, that was offering very attractive interest rates. Guess what? Competitors and the FDIC got involved, and that may explain the lowering of some of their rates. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

The Other Digital TV Conversion: Cable

2009-06-06T11:41:00.001-04:00

While over the air broadcasts will all be converted from analog to digital on June 12, there is a second digital conversion going on that few people talk about. Your cable company is going all digital... and that means you may have to rent a settop box for each TV in your home. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Be Careful of High Deductible Medical Insurance Plans

2009-05-30T12:58:00.002-04:00

If you have a high deductible medical insurance plan, you are more likely to skip doctor visits if you have to pay out of pocket for those services. You may also be getting less than you think in coverage. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.

Sunscreen Claims Deceptive; Rules in Limbo

2009-05-23T07:02:00.002-04:00

The federal government promised to require better labeling on sunscreens two years ago to prevent consumers from being misled, but that hasn't happened. Watch video. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.