Fair 45°
Tag:

Consumer protection

Business
Southwest Airlines Sued, Frontier Fined For Chronic Flight Delays: Feds Southwest Airlines Sued, Frontier Fined For Chronic Flight Delays: Feds
Southwest Airlines Sued, Frontier Fined For Chronic Flight Delays: Feds The federal government is suing Southwest Airlines and fined Frontier Airlines, accusing the carriers of illegally operating multiple chronically delayed flights and causing significant problems for travelers. The U.S. Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit against Southwest on Wednesday, Jan. 15, the DOT said in a news release. The suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeks maximum civil penalties against the airline. Federal regulators said they're cracking down on "unrealistic scheduling practices" by Southwest. "Airlines have a l…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Business
H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC
H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC H&R Block will pay $7 million in federal fines for deceptive practices and must implement sweeping changes to its filing services in time for the 2025 tax season, officials said. H&R Block reached the settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency announced in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The order requires the company to revamp its services and pay $7 million to compensate its customers. The settlement stemmed from a February 2024 complaint accusing H&R Block of forcing users to contact customer service to downgrade products. The tax filer was also a…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Business
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on a sophisticated new imposter scheme designed to steal your money and personal information.  These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, but learning to spot the red flags can help you stay protected. How the Scam Works Initial Contact: Scammers pose as representatives from well-known companies, such as Amazon or a tech support service. They’ll claim there’s a routine issue, like suspicious charges on your account, a computer virus, or an account breach. Escalation: The scammers lie, saying your name is tied to serious …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk
Nationwide Recall Issued For Brand Of Eye Drops Over Contamination Risk A nationwide recall has been issued for a specific lot of eye drops due to potential fungal contamination, which could cause serious eye infections. The recall involves lubricant eye drops under the Systane brand, manufactured by Alcon Laboratories, following a report of fungal material found in a sealed vial.  No illnesses have been reported, but fungal contamination can pose vision-threatening risks and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications for immunocompromised individuals. Details of the recall: Specific brand: Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Maryland Home Builders Ordered To Pay Nearly $1 Million For Defrauding Buyers: AG Maryland Home Builders Ordered To Pay Nearly $1 Million For Defrauding Buyers: AG
Maryland Home Builders Ordered To Pay Nearly $1 Million For Defrauding Buyers: AG A Maryland homebuilder and his companies have been ordered to pay over $950,000 after being found guilty of hundreds of consumer protection violations involving unfinished modular homes and misappropriated funds, officials announced. Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Krystal Q. Alves affirmed a Final Order against Finish Werks Corp., Finish Werks Custom Builders, Inc., and their owner, William Karl “Harris” Woodward, for violations impacting families in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Montgomery counties, according to Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. The companies committed…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Business
Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported
Fire Pits Sold At Retailers Nationwide Recalled After Multiple Burn Injuries Reported Nearly 90,000 popular fire pits sold at major retailers nationwide are subject to a federal recall due to concerns about flames escaping from their containers and causing critical injuries. Homeowners have been advised to stop using several Colsen-branded fire pits after receiving multiple reports of serious burn injuries suffered by users, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "Alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when refilling the fire pit reservoir," a CPSC notice states.  "Flame jetting is a serious event that can occur while pouring …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Business
Recall Issued For Popular Ice Cream Product Sold In NJ Due To Undeclared Allergens Recall Issued For Popular Ice Cream Product Sold In NJ Due To Undeclared Allergens
Recall Issued For Popular Ice Cream Product Sold In NJ Due To Undeclared Allergens A popular ice cream product sold throughout the region is being recalled due to reported undeclared allergens, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. Weis Markets has issued a voluntary recall of 48-ounce containers of its “Weis Quality Sea Salt Caramel Ripple Ice Cream,” which could potentially contain undeclared soy and coconut allergens. Officials say that anyone who has an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or coconut allergens could run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they are consumed. According to the FDA, the products may have been distributed in…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Maryland AG Reaches Massive Settlement with Google Over Location Tracking Practices Maryland AG Reaches Massive Settlement with Google Over Location Tracking Practices
Maryland AG Reaches Massive Settlement with Google Over Location Tracking Practices Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has announced that his Consumer Protection Division as well as 39 other attorneys general have reached a $391.5 million multi-state settlement with Google over its location tracking practices relating to Google Account settings.  The settlement will also require Google to make it easier for consumers to manage their privacy settings when using Google products, according to Frosh. Maryland’s share of the massive settlement is $8.6 million. “Google misled Marylanders about its location tracking practices. It built de…

SHARE

by Annie DeVoe
News
Thrifty Furniture Sellers Settle In Frederick County For Shifty Scam Thrifty Furniture Sellers Settle In Frederick County For Shifty Scam
Thrifty Furniture Sellers Settle In Frederick County For Shifty Scam Several business owners in Maryland will face no further prosecution after reaching an agreement to refund payments for work that was unfulfilled or failed to match expectations, the Attorney General's Office announced. The AG’s Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement of the civil charges against Christopher Engel, Karol Engel, Matthew Dihel, MOCHA Furniture Limited Liability Company, Urbana custom décor Limited Liability Company, and Farmstead Custom Furniture LLC in Frederick County, according to AG Brian Frosh. Frosh said the group was "collectively charged with v…

SHARE

by Zak Failla