Welcome to Consumers’ Notebook, where we feature news-you-can-use and other timely information to help you become a more informed consumer. Check back often to read the latest pieces in our Notebook.
Black Dollar Index Shines a Light on Corporate Commitment to Diversity
Corporate America raced to publicly embrace the social justice movement during this summer's Black Lives Matter protests. But are they? Is anyone keeping score? The Black Dollar Index (BDI) aims to hold these companies accountable for their promises.
Major Retailers Respond to COVID-19 with Expanded Holiday Gift Return Policies
Dealing with returns during a pandemic can be a challenge. A few prominent national retailers are trying to make the process easier.
Online Pet Scams Soar During Pandemic—Here’s How to Protect Yourself
Pet adoptions have skyrocketed during the pandemic, as people stuck at home decided it was a good time to add a furry family member. Scammers are trolling the internet looking for people who will pay hundreds of dollars to buy a pet that doesn’t exist.
Should You Upgrade to a 5G Phone? Checkbook Cuts Through the Marketing Hype
5G is breakthrough technology, but right now, in most parts of the country, it hasn’t yet arrived—and it won’t for several years. That hasn't stopped wireless companies from spending heavily on ads urging their customers to buy new smartphones.
Why You Should Delete Online Accounts You No Longer Use
Chances are you have online accounts that you haven’t used for years. These old and abandoned accounts can be a major security risk.
Con Artists Capitalize on Online Shopping Surge, Send Bogus Delivery Notices to Trick Consumers
Scammers are capitalizing on record e-commerce orders with a fresh wave of email and text message phishing attacks that look like they're from legitimate retailers and package delivery services.
Grocery Prices Are Up. Here’s How to Save at the Supermarket.
If you do the grocery shopping in your family, you’ve probably noticed that the grocery bills keep going up. Blame the pandemic for pushing up the prices of many staples. Here are some simple tips to help lower your food bills.
Drowning in Debt? Here Are Your Options, Good and Bad
The number of people saddled with excessive debt is growing. Help is available in the form of debt management, debt settlement, consolidation loans, and bankruptcy attorneys. Some are good choices; others could make your financial situation worse.
Financial Toolkit: How to Survive the COVID-19 Recession
Stimulus payments, expanded unemployment benefits, government loans, and payment accommodations from lenders have helped keep many families and businesses afloat so far. But as these programs end, millions will find their budgets stretched to the breaking point.
Latest Results from the American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey of Cell Phone Customers
Every wireless company claims to be the best, but consumer surveys tell a different story—some carriers are clearly doing a better job of delivering network quality, customer service, and value.
Your Car Needs Some TLC During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Driving patterns have changed dramatically because of the coronavirus outbreak. While you’re staying safe at home, your car sits for long stretches of time, and that can cause some mechanical problems.
Amazon Ends Its ‘Sold by Amazon’ Program to Settle Price-Fixing Investigation
Amazon settled a lawsuit brought by Washington state’s Attorney General by permanently shutting down its “Sold by Amazon” program. The lawsuit alleged Amazon used the program to unlawfully fix prices to boost profits.
Important Tax Law Changes That May Affect Your 2021 Tax Return
In 2021, as in most years, tax laws were revised and tweaked, possibly impacting your return. Here is what to expect as we head into tax season.
Get Ready for a Weird Black Friday This Year
Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the pandemic are shaping this year’s Black Friday promotions, limiting the number of products retailers can advertise and the size of discounts they can offer.
Should You Use Buy Now, Pay Later for Your Holiday Shopping?
BNPL services market themselves as the consumer-friendly alternative to credit cards, but they don't offer the strong consumer protections you get from credit cards, and there is growing concern that many rely on profits from late fees from struggling consumers.
Fraud Alert: Scammers Target Those Looking for Work
Job scams increased dramatically during the pandemic––and they’re expected to flourish as America gets back to work. Last year, more than 16,000 people reported being victims of employment scams to the FBI.
Workers in Washington Start Contributing to State-Run Long-Term Care Fund in January. Deadline to Opt-Out is Rapidly Approaching.
Washington is the first state in the country to create a fund to help its aging population pay for long-term care.
Fraud Alert: Malicious QR Codes Now Used by Online Scammers
The rapid acceptance of QR codes during the pandemic has been good for restaurants and retailers, but it’s also provided cyber criminals with a powerful new tool.
Data Breaches Skyrocket; Here’s How to Safeguard Your Online Accounts
Data breaches are up 58 percent in the first half of the year and are on a record-setting pace, according to a new report from the Identity Theft Resource Center. While that’s a staggering figure, you can still protect yourself by adopting some basic security habits.
FTC says Customers Have a 'Right to Repair' Products They Buy
When you buy a product and it breaks, your ability to repair it is often limited or prevented by the manufacturer or seller. The Federal Trade Commission announced it's going to fix this broken system by cracking down on illegal repair restrictions.