Monthly Archives: January 2012
Consumer 101: What to Say When a Debt Collector Calls
With the Federal Trade Commission cracking down on debt collection methods, consumers are less likely to experience harassing calls from debt collectors. misrepresentation or harassment when debt collectors call. The Federal Trade Commission recently made an example out of Asset Acceptance, LLC., with a nine-count complaint against the large debt collector, for which Asset Acceptance [...] Continue reading
Trade Commission, Courts, End Employment Services Scam
A company that has allegedly scammed consumers by charging them for employment guarantees they couldn't make, has been ordered to stop selling any employment products or services. The businesses reportedly told customers they would charge $29 or $38 for employment services including background checks, posting their services on job sites, and promising employment opportunities. While [...] Continue reading
CEOs, Company Founders More Likely to Have Advanced Engineering Degrees
The “nerds” are running our companies. According to a data analsys by Identified, a professional database on Facebook which gathers information on 50 million users, company CEOs and founders are more likely to hold advanced engineering degrees than MBA degrees. Part of an on-going research series, nicknamed “Revenge of the Nerds," the study found that [...] Continue reading
Mobile Outdoorsy Type? Check These Recalls
It's apparently a bad day to be an mobile outdoors enthusiast. The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued three recalls today that are bound to make the more sporty among us take note. Arctic Cat is voluntarily recalling about 19,000 snowmobiles. The lower steering tie-rod attachment can loosen and cause loss of steering control, posing a [...] Continue reading
Virginia Moves to Mandate Insurance Coverage for Autistic Children
After more than 11 years of debate, the Virginia Senate passed a bill on Jan. 30 that will provide insurance coverage for children with autism. The bill, which passed the Virginia House of Delegates last year, required insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment including applied behavioral analysis, occupational, speech therapies for children ages [...] Continue reading
Debt Collector Agrees to $2.5 Million Penalty for Misleading Consumers
One of the largest debt collectors in the U.S. has agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges, the agency reported today. “Most consumers do not know their legal rights with respect to collection of old debts past the statute of limitations,” David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau [...] Continue reading
‘Made in America’ Maybe Not
Jason Notte wrote an article for The Street highlighting 10 products that are seemingly synonymous with America. The irony, of course, is that these “American” products are not in fact, made in America. Notte begins highlighting how drawn American consumers on to the “Made in America” tagline – which many times is more public relations [...] Continue reading
Mislabeled Packaging Could Spell Allergic Reaction, Walgreens Says
Drugstore giant Walgreens is recalling 13-oz Walgreens-brand chocolate covered raision because the product may actually contain Walgreens bridge mix with peanut, almod and soy ingtedients. The packaging error means consumers could be exposed to allergins. Walgreens discoverer the mislabeling when it received a consumer complaint. The product manfacturer, GKI Foods, is cooperating with the voluntary [...] Continue reading
Faculty Project Continues Free College Course Trend
Following the recent trend in public access to free college courses taught by esteemed professors, the Faculty Project launched today, bringing together professors and experts in their fields from top schools around the country. Courses offered through the Faculty Project will combine videos, Power Point presentations, documents, articles, and links to teach students. Students can [...] Continue reading
Daily Deals: Teeth Cleaning, Spa Treatments, Ambulance Chasers
Groupon, the daily deal giant, is about to get a new source of revenue. As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, lawyers in New York state will be permitted to peddle their legal services via deal sites. The New York State Bar Association committee on professional ethics said that attorneys may market legal services [...] Continue reading