Nationwide Credit Services agrees to stop making false claims, says FTC
Nationwide Credit Services has agreed to stop making false claims and charging up-front fees under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement is part of "Operation Clean Sweep," an ongoing crackdown on scams targeting financially strapped consumers. Most involve taking hundreds of dollars in fees to purportedly remove negative information from consumers' credit reports.
Pfizer recalls Lipitor for a third time since August due to moldy smell
For the third time in as many months, Pfizer has issued a recall of its blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor in response to consumer complaints of unusual moldy odor.The drug giant said the smell poses minimal health risk to patients, but it is recalling two lots -- approximately 38,000 bottles of Lipitor 40mg tablets -- out of caution. An internal company investigation, triggered by two customer complaints, found the odor was related to Tribromoanisole, a chemical used as a wood preservative. Pfizer suggested a third-party bottle manufacturer had applied it to packaging for the shipment of its medicines.
Disney hotels discount on Priceline.com to shore up sales
Walt Disney World is marking down its rooms. For the first time ever, the resort has grudgingly agreed to offer its Disney-owned hotel room on the discount site Priceline.com. Starting in mid-November, Mickey Mouse can be had at a deeper discount than before.While Disney has sold its theme park tickets on Priceline for about four years now (and not at a deep markdown), it held off on expanding its nearly two dozen high-dollar hotels -- such as the Polynesian Resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Beach Club -- to the site. Priceline, which offers both standard booking engine results and blind name-your-own-price bidding services, is a budget traveler's friend, but the perception of bottom-scraping discounts chafes against the premium image Disney strives to cultivate for itself.
Man sentenced to six months in jail for charity scam
A Michigan man who set up fake collection boxes for missing children programs has been sentenced to serve six months in jail.According to the attorney general's office, Joseph Carr placed donation boxes at 88 retail locations across the Lansing area between February and June 2009 and collected between $1,500 and $2,000 a month. Consumers were told their money would go to an organization called the Beacon Project to help find missing children. But Carr pocketed the money and allegedly used it to pay his personal living expenses.
Seniors going destitute because of credit card bills
Credit card debt is something many Americans struggle with, but a new study shows that senior citizens are particularly at risk for crushing debt, so much so that an increasing number are turning to bankruptcy for relief. According to research done by the University of Michigan Law School, a whopping two-thirds of older Americans say that high credit card debt is a reason behind their choice to file for bankruptcy. In addition, the total credit card debt of senior bankruptcy filers is 50% higher than that of younger people seeking debt relief through bankruptcy.
Illegal sales of color contacts spur warnings
Over-the-counter sales of fake contact lenses spike during the holidays, but are illegal in most states and can cause permanent eye damage and blindness, warn consumer interest groups on the Better Business Bureau's web site.The reminder, originating from the Ohio attorney general's office, addresses a sharp increase in the number of consumer complaints and resulting cease-and-desist orders to businesses selling color contacts on the black market - at gas stations, beauty supply stores and Halloween costume shops.
Show me the car fraud: Tips to protect yourself from scams in online auto malls
I did a good deed this week. I caught a shyster trying to sell a car that likely didn't exist and in the process learned a few things about how to protect yourself when buying a car online.It's been a while since I last bought a car. Back then, the idea of completing the entire process online from search to sale was still pretty far out. Now of course, it's not. Gone are the days when all you had to worry about was a single slippery salesman in an auto showroom. Online car sales have brought their own special set of hucksters and charlatans, just aiming to drive away with your hard-earned cash.
I met one last week.
Costumed kids eat at Chili's free with purchase
Bring your kids (ages 12 and under) into Chili's in costume on Halloween and they'll get a free Halloween meal for every adult entree you order. Valid from 3 p.m. to close on Oct. 31, 2010. The free meal must be ordered off the Kids Menu. Make sure to print the coupon available through the above link to get this deal. Caveats: cannot be combined with any other discount. Valid at participating restaurants only. Excludes tax and gratuity. Valid only at Chili's in the United States.
Check back later today and through the week for more great deals at WalletPop.
Tricks, trends and budget-friendly tips for Halloween treats
Americans gobbled up 24.3 pounds of candy per person last year, according to statistics from the Bloomington-based Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC), with most of the sweet stuff being devoured around Halloween. It's the candy industry's biggest holiday and the latest survey by the IBRC revealed even more of us (65%) plan to party with pumpkins, costumes and candy than last year's recession rocked revelers (62.1%).The difference, however, is more enthusiasm, not more stuff.
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