BBB Consumer News and Opinion

blog header

The BBB Consumer News and Opinion blog serves as your source for real-time news and hot marketplace topics of the day.

Bookmark & Share
  • FacebookFacebook
  • Post to MySpaceMySpace
  • Delicious Delicious
  • StumbleUpon logoStumbleUpon

Consumers Lose on Hair Loss Company
Monday, November 23, 2009
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The National Hair Growth Institute based in Chicago is being sued by customers who tried their products but did not see results as expected, according to American Consumer News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Prevent Holiday Headaches With These Gadgets
by Elaine Roxane Winter

If you're traveling by car this holiday season with your kids, it's important to keep them entertained not only so they can enjoy the ride, but you as well. Portable DVD player with the kids favorite movies? Ipods? Check. But now, there are even more gadgets to keep your kids busy, according to ABC7.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Retailers Face Chilly Holiday Season
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The final countdown to Black Friday begins today but many consumers may find that several retailers are offering Black Friday promotions before Thanksgiving, according to Detroit News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
BBB Tips for Cyber Monday
by Alison Southwick

In the wake of Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, one of the busiest online shopping days and BBB has advice for online shoppers.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Still Searching for Black Friday Deals? Try the New iPhone App
Friday, November 20, 2009
by Elaine Roxane Winter

There’s an app for everything – and now there’s an app for comparing Black Friday deals, according to I4U News.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
10 Ways You Can Save for Your Baby's Future
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Life for first time parents can be crazy but if you’re financial smart from the beginning, you can end up saving thousands or more for your child’s future, according to Fiscal Geek.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Fake IRS Tax Refund E-mails
by Elaine Roxane Winter

No one likes paying taxes but consumers should beware of a new e-mail phishing scam, according to Las Vegas Now.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Amtrack Extends Fare Promotion on Northeast Regional Service Into the New Year
by Elaine Roxane Winter

This past Tuesday, Amtrack announced that they are extending their Northeast Regional fare promotion service between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Federal Reserve Board Announces New Rules for Gift Cards
Thursday, November 19, 2009
by Amy Decker

This holiday season many of us will be purchasing gift cards to give to friends and loved ones. The Federal Reserve Board this week announced new rules that apply to gift certificates, retail store gift cards, and branded prepaid cards, such as Mastercard and Visa, that can be used at any merchant that accepts the card brand.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Black Friday Tips to Stay Safe and Shop Savvy
by Alison Southwick

Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving and the kick-off to the Holiday shopping season—is right around the corner. BBB has tons of great advice for consumers on how to stay safe and shop savvy this Holiday season.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
University E-mail is Ideal Target for Spammers
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Because e-mail systems are so vast, it’s easy for spammers to slip through and flood student and staff e-mail account, according to student newspaper The Manitoban.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
5 Tips for Staying Debt Free This Holiday Season
by Elaine Roxane Winter

FiLife offers five money saving tips for how to stay debt free this Christmas season, such as Parents coming up with an inexpensive or funny holiday tradition the whole family can enjoy.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
10 Worst Toys to Give to Your Kids This Holiday
by Elaine Roxane Winter

A Boston-based consumer watchdog group, World Against Toys Causing Harm came out with their ‘Top 10 Worst Toys” list yesterday, according to KOMO News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
New Rules for TVs Sold in California
by Greg Hudson

There are new rules in place for televisions sold in California. Approved by the California Energy Commission, the new regulations mean that by 2011, all TVs up to 58 inches must use a third less power and by 2011, 50-percent less, the San Jose Business Journal reported.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Follow These Tips for Contracting Snow Removal
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
by Greg Hudson

snow plow With the weather growing colder and the winter season just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about snow removal (I know ... sigh).

For consumers planning to hire a snow removal contractor, Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington recommends the following tips.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Cable Company Overcharges Customers: Are You Affected?
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Charter Communications announced on Monday that they overcharged their Upstate customers on their recent bill, according to Channel 7 News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
How Traveling is Different This Holiday Season
by Elaine Roxane Winter

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, traveling home can be hectic. But surprisingly, 84% of travelers are optimistic about traveling this season, according American Consumer News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen Top Insurance Industry's Annual List of Safest New Vehicles
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded today their top safety picks to nineteen passenger cards and eight sport utility vehicles. Among those, Ford received the most awards, with Subaru in second, followed by Volkswagen and Audi, according to The Detroit News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
President Obama Establishes Interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Yesterday at the Department of Justice, the Attorney General and other officials announced that President Obama established by Executive Order an interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to further fight financial fraud, according to the FBI.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Small Businesses: Before You Go Social, Talk to Your Customers
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
by Greg Hudson

Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Tweetdeck. The list of social networks and tools continues far beyond those mentioned. For a small business owner, the biggest question you're likely going to face is not whether you can afford social networking, but do you have the time to invest.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended Through June 2010
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The government has not only extended the first time home buyers tax credit but also introduced a $6,500 credit for current homeowners, according to FiLife.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Fed Unlikely to Hike Rates Soon
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Yesterday, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said significant economic challenges remain, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Web Site Reveals Black Friday Deals
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The countdown to Black Friday continues and deals are popping up all over. But there is one site consumers can check out to find the best deals, according to ABC7.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
Some Vonage Consumers Might Be Eligible To Receive Refunds
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Internet-based phone service, Vonage, announced today that they will give refunds to customers who complained it was just about impossible to cancel their phone service, according to Dayton Daily News.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
The Buzz on Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Monday, November 16, 2009
by Amy Decker

The Food and Drug Administration is assessing the health risks of energy drinks that contain alcohol. In a letter issued November 13, 2009, the FDA challenged companies who make alcohol-infused energy drinks to prove their beverages are safe.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Dangerous Counterfeit Electronics A Growing Problem
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Dangerous counterfeit electronics made in China and Mexico can electrocute or set your house afire, if you're not careful according to KOMO News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Simmons Bedding Co. Files Chapter 11
by Greg Hudson

Simmons Bedding Co. filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
What to Look Out For When Hiring Tree Removal Contractors
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Often, strong thunderstorms can cause trees to collapse into yards. The Better Business Bureau wants to remind consumers when looking up companies to remove trees or debris, you should first check them out online, according to Charlotte News.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
How You Can Stop Unsolicited Company Catalogs From Flooding Your Mail
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Around this time of the year, companies send their holiday catalogues and often, they can flood up consumer's mail boxes. Thankfully, there is a way to stop those catalogues from coming in, according to Action Line.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Apple To Open Dozens Of Stores Next Year
Friday, November 13, 2009
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Apple plans to open 50 new stores next year, two in Shanghai as well as stores in London and Paris. The Apple Stores are distinctive for selling only its own products such as the Ipod, Iphone and Apple Notebooks, according to The San Francisco Business Times.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
Ohio BBB Will Offer Free Financial Event
by Elaine Roxane Winter

The Better Business Bureau is hosting a free event in Dayton, Ohio – The BBB Financial & Health Fair scheduled for December 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. At the Charles R. Drew Community Health Center at 1323 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Online Advertising Scams Keep Popping Up
by Elaine Roxane Winter

You can't believe everything you see on the Internet and with millions of ads on various websites, a lot of people still fall pray to advertising scams, according to ABC7.


Read the full post.

Comments (6)
Keep an Eye Out for Phony Olympic Rentals
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Next year, the Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, Canada but yesterday, The Better Business Bureau warned consumers looking for places to rent online to be cautious, according to The NorthShore Outlook.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Beware Of Online IQ Tests
Thursday, November 12, 2009
by Elaine Roxane Winter

You think you're smart? That is the challenge of the latest IQ test, to see if you as a consumer are smart enough to see if you can spot a scam. IQ tests are very popular online, on facebook and other social media. But if consumers are not careful, they could end up being billed $10 a month for text messages, according KOMO News.


Read the full post.

Comments (3)
Banks Will Need Customer Consent on Overdraft Fees
by Greg Hudson

Rules that prohibit financial institutions from charging consumers fees for paying overdrafts on ATMs and one-time debit card transactions were announced today by the Federal Reserve Board.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
How Do You Know if Your 401K Target Date Fund is Appropriate?
by Elaine Roxane Winter

A target date fund is a fund of funds that allows you to link your investment portfolio to your expected retirement date. Issues like withdrawal rate, savings rate and risk tolerance are based on averages, reducing your exposure to risky assets, mainly stocks, as you age, according to FiLife.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Beware: Free Wi-Fi May Not Be Secure
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Recently, google announced that they are giving travelers this holiday free WiFi internet access at airports in Las Vegas, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Charlotte, according to the San Jose Business Journal. But Symantec, maker of Norton Antivirus, cautions users that unless your network is properly secured, it is very easy for hackers to get access, according to abc7.


Read the full post.

Comments (0)
Big Recall Issued for Swing Sets
by Greg Hudson

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Adventure Playsets, announced a voluntary recall of about 275,000 (6,800 in Canada) Adventure Playsets Wooden Play Sets.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
The Hidden Drawbacks of Store Credit Cards
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
by Elaine Roxane Winter

Store credit cards have always been popular but consumers need to be aware of what they are actually signing up for before opening one, according to KOMO News.


Read the full post.

Comments (1)
Zynga CEO Admits to Being a Scammer
by Elaine Roxane Winter

If you've been following online news regarding facebook's crackdown on scams through their gaming community, then it might come as a shock to gamers who play MafiaWars or Farmville, but Zynga - the company behind those games - used scamming practices to conduct business, according to The Escapist.


Read the full post.

Comments (3)