Consumer Warning

Performance results mixed with Vista Service Pack 1

Microsoft's newly released Service Pack 1 may solve some of the performance glitches that have annoyed Windows Vista users.

Microsoft's newly released Service Pack 1 may solve some of the performance glitches that have annoyed Windows Vista users and discouraged others from adopting the OS, but it doesn't appear from our initial tests to be a panacea.

In our first tests of the service pack, file copying, one of the main performance-related complaints from Vista users, was significantly faster. But other tests showed little improvement and in two tests, our experience was actually a little better without the service pack installed than with it.

Read full story [PC World]

Arkansas Consumer Alert: Don't Be a Victim of "Vishing"

Most Arkansans are familiar with "phishing" schemes, in which con-artists typically solicit personal, financial information via email. In these phishing schemes, the consumer is directed to a fake Web site where they are asked to input their bank account number, Social Security number or other information the con-artist can use to commit fraud.

Phishing schemes such as these have been widely publicized, forcing scammers to come up with new ways to rip people off, which they have done. Thus, today, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued this consumer alert to warn Arkansans about "vishing" scams.

Vishing scams are phone-based; consumers receive an automated call or text message alerting them to a "security problem" and urging them to call their bank to reactivate their debit or credit card. When the consumer calls as instructed, she is asked to input her debit or credit card number in order to resolve the security problem. She may even hear a "Welcome to the Bank of…" message when she calls; unfortunately, the number provided by the scammer is not that of the consumer's bank, but rather to a phony call center run by the con-artist.

Read full story [all american patriots]

Recent Recall Alert

The following products and vehicles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unless otherwise indicated, discontinue use of the products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information about the products, call the manufacturer or CPSC's toll-free hot line, 800-638-2772. Only some cars or trucks recalled are affected. Contact a dealer for your model to see if it is included in the recall. The dealer will tell you what to do.

Dewalt Cordless Drills (models DC920, DC930, DC935, DC936 and DC940 with select date codes), sold for $180 to $280 at wholesale distributors and retailers from about June 2006 through December 2007.

    Problem: The trigger switch can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Consumers should stop using the drills and contact DEWALT to receive a free inspection and repair. For more information, contact DEWALT at 888-742-9168 or go to www.dewalt.com
   

2005 -'08 Honda Acura RL
   
    Problem: High under-hood temperatures might cause the power-steering hose to leak power-steering fluid. Dealers will install a new heat-resistant hose free of charge. For more information, call Honda at 800-382-2238.

U.S. group seeks Botox warning after 16 death reports

Botox and a similar injection should come with strong warnings following reports of 16 deaths and other serious problems after the botulinum toxin spread inside the body, a U.S. consumer group said on Thursday.

Public Citizen asked U.S. authorities to require the strongest possible warning, highlighted in a "black box," on Allergan Inc's Botox and Solstice Neuroscience Inc's Myobloc.

Botox is famous for smoothing facial wrinkles but also has approved medical uses such as treating cervical dystonia, or rigid neck muscles. Myobloc is cleared only for the neck condition.

Both injections are made with forms of the botulinum toxin, which can paralyze muscles.

Public Citizen said it reviewed 180 reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration by manufacturers involving patients injected with Botox or Myobloc. The reports detailed cases of muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing or aspiration pneumonia, a serious condition caused by breathing a foreign material into the lungs.

Reports to the FDA do not prove a product caused a particular problem, but the agency uses them to look for patterns of potential complications.

Officials at Allergan, Solstice and the FDA could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sixteen of the cases reported were fatal, including four involving children under 18, Public Citizen said. Some patients were hospitalized.

Read full story [Reuters]

FDA: Cold remedies risky for kids under 2

Parents should not give sniffling babies and toddlers over-the-counter cough and cold medicines -- they're too risky for children so young, the government will declare Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration still hasn't decided whether the remedies are appropriate for older children, officials said. Expect a decision on that by spring, the deadline necessary to notify manufacturers before they begin production for autumn's cold season.

For now, the FDA is issuing a public health advisory to warn parents to avoid these drugs for children under age 2 "because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur."

Read full story [chicagotribune.com]

Early warning signs of tire failure

A vehicle's tires play a crucial role in a car's safety. As the only parts of the car that physically touch the ground, they are one of the key factors affecting a vehicle's handling and braking, and overall highway safety. What steps can you take to ensure that your tires stay in optimal condition? Performing regular checks is quick and easy, and a worthwhile investment of time in your and your family's safety.

TROUBLE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR

Visually inspect your tires on a regular basis. If you note any of the following early warning signs, have a professional inspection performed, check and correct items that may be causing the condition, or replace your tires.
Cracking or cuts in the sidewalls.
Uneven tread wear. This can be caused by improper inflation, misaligned wheels, damaged tires, or by problems with suspension parts.
Excessively worn tread. Most modern tires have tread-wear indicator bars running across the tread, which signal the minimum allowable tread depth of 1/16-inch. When the tread wears down to these bars, it's time for new tires. Inexpensive tread-wear gauges are available at auto-parts and tire stores.
Alternatively, you can use a Lincoln-head penny as a tread-wear indicator. Insert the penny into a tire groove with Lincoln's head toward the tire. If you can see the top of Abe's head, the tread is too worn.
Bulges or blisters. If you see a bulge or blister on the sidewall, replace the tire at once. These signal potential weak spots that could lead to tire failure.
Excessive vibration. Tire vibration may be a sign a wheel is misaligned, unbalanced, or bent. It could also signify internal tire damage. Don't ignore vibration: Have the vehicle serviced at once.

Read full story [Consumer Reports]

Too much sugar-free gum linked to bowel problems

Consuming too much sorbitol, a sweetener widely used in "sugar-free" chewing gum and sweets, can cause serious bowel problems, German doctors said on Friday.

The warning follows the cases of two patients who suffered chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and severe weight loss after ingesting large amounts of sorbitol.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the doctors from Berlin said the patients -- a man and a woman -- had consumed some 15 to 20 sticks of chewing gum a day. When they kicked the habit, both regained normal bowel function.

Read full story [Reuters]

USDA CONSUMER ALERT: Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations to the regions affected by severe winter weather and flooding in Western states. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to food spoilage from power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events.

"Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be restored to residential areas," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "Without electricity or a cold source, foods stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, and if these foods are consumed, people can become very sick."

Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:
Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.
Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below.
Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out.
Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer.

Steps to follow after the weather emergency:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power.
Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below when checked with a food thermometer.
Never taste a food to determine its safety!
Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.
If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe to refreeze.
If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
Drink only bottled water if flooding has occurred.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

FSIS has available a Public Service Announcement (PSA), available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during, and after, a power outage. Consumers are encouraged to view the PSA at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_Videos/.

News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education Staff in FSIS' Office of Public Affairs Education and Outreach by calling (301) 344-4757.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Check the small print in your credit card mail

In the midst of all the reports of home foreclosures and credit failures in 2007, an investigation that could affect anyone who has a credit card slipped under the radar.

Spearheaded by Michigan Senator Carl Levin, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Hearing: “Credit Card Practices: Unfair Interest Rate Increases” met twice this past year, in March and December. While the senator doesn’t have another hearing scheduled soon, the investigation isn’t over, an office aide in Washington told me Thursday.

What this is about is what Levin describes as arbitrary decisions by credit card companies to increase the rates on consumers’ cards, on what often seems like an inexplicable whim. The problem is, you agree to this whim when you get your credit card (read the fine print in your cardholder information packet).

Citing a litany of personal examples where credit card issuers like Chase, Discover and Capital One and others raised consumers’ rates for almost no reason at all, Levin announced that he was taking on the industry and its rate-raising-for-no-real-reason practice.

One woman said she’d never been informed her rate had gone up, Levin said. More than one person said that, even though they’d never been late on their payments, their FICO score had gone down. Why FICO scores go down is another whole issue — often, they go down if you simply apply for credit somewhere. They also go down if you get too close to maxing-out your card.

But for whatever reason their score dropped, the credit card companies deemed that was a good excuse for doubling or even tripling someone’s interest rates.

Read full story [KPC Media Group]

The Better Business Bureau said gift cards are targets for thieves.

It's easy for somebody to pick a few of them up, go into the back of the store, either use a scanner or write down the number, and then they'll put them back on the display case so someone could buy them, " said Jerry Shipman of the Better Business Bureau.

Thieves will hold on to the number on the back of the gift card, and keep checking to see if the card has been bought and activated.
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Now a lot of stores are taking extra security measures when it comes to buying a gift card, like having to scratch off the card in order to get the number.

So the Better Business Bureau said to make sure the PIN on the back of the card hasn't been scratched off.

They also suggest asking the clerk to scan the gift card before your buy it, also buy from a merchant instead of auction sites on the Internet, and always, always keep your receipt.