Mostly Cloudy 27°
Tag:

Consumer protection

News
Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul
Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul New Yorkers can now enjoy fairer access to coveted restaurant reservations. A new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Dec. 19, prohibits third-party reservation platforms from arranging reservations without a restaurant's consent. The platforms often charge consumers additional fees, creating a costly “black market” for popular dining spots and making it harder for diners to secure tables without paying a premium. “We’re putting an end to the predatory black market for restaurant reservations — protecting consumers and businesses, and giving everyone a chance to get a seat at the …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement
NY Baby Formula Suppliers Accused Of Price Gouging Agree To $675K Settlement Thousands of cans of baby formula are being distributed to families in need across New York after a settlement was reached with two companies accused of illegal price gouging. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Monday, Dec. 18, that her office had secured $675,000 worth of baby formula from Marine Park Distribution Inc. and its affiliate, Formula Depot Inc., following an investigation into price gouging during the nationwide formula shortage in 2022. The companies allegedly raised formula prices by more than 60 percent in some cases, with costs doubling for certain product…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency
Five New Laws Save New Yorkers Money, Offer Transparency Five new laws signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will make it easier for residents to do everything from canceling health memberships to learning about restaurant sanitary inspections while saving them money. “At a time when New Yorkers are experiencing the devastating effects of rising prices, it’s important that I do everything I can to put more money back in their pockets,” Hochul said.  Here are the five new laws: Canceling health club memberships: Health clubs must accept the cancellation of membership within 10 days of receiving the request. The previous law gave them 15 days.…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Business
NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing
NYers To Receive Cut Of $4.8M Settlement With SmileDirectClub Over Improper Billing Thousands of New Yorkers will benefit from a $4.8 million settlement with the now-defunct SmileDirectClub over improper billing practices. The former Nashville, Tennessee-based teledentistry company agreed to the move after it continued to charge more than 28,000 consumers despite filing for bankruptcy and stopping services in September 2023. Multiple complaints were filed with the New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) after consumers were told to keep making monthly installment payments despite no longer receiving aligner treatment. In December 2023, OAG sent a cease-and-de…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
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
AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding
AG On Lookout For Price Gougers Cashing In On Recent Long Island Flooding State leaders are on the lookout for businesses hoping to cash in on the recent flooding that hit Long Island. New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert warning businesses against price gouging on essential items in Suffolk County.  It comes after a federal emergency was declared in response to widespread flooding that damaged several homes and washed out roads. “As families in Suffolk County recover from the devastating aftermath of last week’s storm, I am warning businesses not to use this as an opportunity to unfairly raise prices,” James said. Earlier Report:&nbs…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know
Scammers Are Creating Fake Customer Service Numbers In Google Searches: What To Know New reports reveal that scammers are trying to trick Google into showing their fake numbers pretending to offer reputable services, and many are getting away with it. Google sometimes highlights impostors during searches for airlines, banks, as well as local businesses, according to a brand-new report in The Washington Post. A victim who called what Google listed as Coinbase customer support was scammed out of $100,000 in 20 minutes by an impostor, Fortune reports. Google told The Washington Post that it uses several methods to determine whether business listings are legitimate, inclu…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Business
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall
Boar's Head Facing NY Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall Boar’s Head's massive product recall is going from the delicatessen to the courtroom. After an initial recall last month of around 200,000 pounds of deli meat due to possible Listeria contamination, the company expanded it on Tuesday, July 30, to approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  Click here for a new, updated story: Third Death From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat A lawsuit filed on Thursday, Aug. 1 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York accuses Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo will pay dozens of states, including New York, for failing to ensure customers knew that promotional videos on its site were actually paid endorsements. Baron App Inc., owner of the popular celebrity-shoutout-ordering website, agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties to 30 states as part of a settlement agreement reached Wednesday, July 24. New York will receive $25,000 of that, state Attorney General Letitia James said. Cameo found itself in hot water after launching its “Business Cameo” service in 2020, allowing companies to hire celebrities to record videos endorsing their services. A…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness' Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness'
Internet Providers Would Be Forced To Issue Outage Credits Under NY Bill: 'Matter Of Fairness' New York lawmakers are considering legislation that would force internet providers to compensate customers for service outages. Under the “Internet Service Outage Consumer Protection Act,” providers would be required to issue prorated bill credits to customers for any service outages lasting more than an hour. The bill was introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who represents the 111th Assembly District covering parts of Schenectady County. “In today’s digital age, reliable internet service is not just a convenience, but a necessity,” he said. “When service is disrupted,…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream
NY Woman Sues Cold Stone Over Lack Of Pistachios In Ice Cream A New York woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Cold Stone Creamery, claiming that the company falsely advertised a number of its flavors. The lawsuit, filed by Nassau County resident Jenna Marie Duncan, may soon move to court, according to documents. Duncan, who is from Farmingdale, claimed that in July 2022, she visited a Levittown Cold Stone for a frozen treat. She ordered the pistachio ice cream under the guise that it contained pistachios. However, Duncan later looked at ingredient lists on the Cold Stone website, which revealed that the pistachio ice cream did not list…

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
Business
Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers
Nissan Dealers Fined $350K For 'Junk Fees' Levied On Long Island Lease Customers If you purchased a Nissan vehicle on Long Island, you may have some cash coming your way. Two Nissan dealerships in Amityville and Patchogue have agreed to pay over $350,000 for charging customers “junk fees” when they purchased their leased vehicles. An investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office found that South Shore Nissan, in Amityville on Sunrise Highway, and Route 112 Nissan, in Patchogue on Medford Avenue, for years added unnecessary fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that consumers bought when their lease ended. Route 112 Nissan was also found to have…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn