Walmart Recalls DVD Players

Walmart has recalled a total of 4.2 million Durabrand DVD players they sold for $29 since 2006. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited consumer reported incidents where the Made in China DVD players were overheating and caused fires.

A Walmart spokeswoman told WalletPop the stores have stopped selling the players and if one inadvertently was left behind the cash registers have been programmed to block the sale.

Anyone who has purchased this DVD player should bring it to the customer service desk at their local Walmart store. They will receive a full refund, even without a receipt.

The Walmart spokesperson also states that they hope people do not resell them at yard sales or on online auction sites.

Consumers with questions about the recall can call Walmart at (800) 925-6278 Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST.

Babies R Us Cheated Consumers And Competitors

Babies R Us has been hit with a class-action lawsuit filed in 2006 with the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.  The lawsuit was certified by a judge last week.

The lawsuit claims the company threatened its suppliers forcing them to make sure no competitor would be able to beat their prices.  This hurt the business of many local shops and gave Babies R Us the ability to dominate the market.

The growth of e-commerce sites took it to another level which according to the lawsuit, caused the company to cheat its competitors and consumers.

Evidence has been presented showing that suppliers were also forced to stop selling to e-commerce sites.  They did so in an effort to protect the Babies R Us business and margin, therefore accepting legal risk.

Corporate spokeswoman Jennifer Albano said the company will not comment on pending litigation.

TripAdvisor.com Warning!

If you are going on vacation and looking for reviews on different hotels…don’t believe the hype!

Wallet Pop first reported last month TripAdvisor.com has started placing disclaimers on many of its hotel pages.  It seems that the hotels or people associated with them are trying to manipulate the popularity index.

So be warned that certain properties have learned how to use the site to steer you to them.

Credit Card Companies Keeping An Eye On Wear You Shop

Credit Card companies are using your purchases against you.  They are pulling your purchasing data and using that information to determine your whether or not your are a credit risk.

What you are purchasing or where you are using your card has played a part in the possibility of lowering your credit limit or increasing your interest rate.  Both affect your credit score.

The new credit card reform law that the President signed in May 2009 requires federal regulators to investigate this bias practice.  This investigation is to be completed in a year.

Source:  Wallet Pop

Retail Chains Selling Purses Made With Lead

The Center For Environmental Health has filed a lawsuit against 16 popular retailers (including Target, Forever 21 and Kohls).

They accuse at least 26 brands of manufacturing products containing a high level of lead.  High enough the group claims that it can pose a health risk when touched or handled.

Everyone is aware that lead is not safe for children, it is also unsafe for pregnant women.  Check the site to see if you have purchased handbags from any retailer on the list.

Calvin Klein’s Newest Controversy

Manhattanites are raising concern over a billboard from Calvin Klein Jeans Spring/Summer 2009 campaign, on the corner of Lafayette and Houston.  Many are calling it a form of pornography. 

This certainly isn’t the first time the CK company has been the center of debate, remember a young Brooke Shields telling us, “Nothing comes between me and my Calvin’s.”

However, many might agree that this time the company has gone too far.  The company’s television commercial has been banned in the United States.  The suggestive commercial spot in my opinion is every bit what the company intended it to be.  You be the judge, watch the video and view the photo campaign, then tell me what you think.

Taxes, Fare Hikes, Fines & Unfair Hearings – When Do We Win?

I have previously written about DMV tricks to get your money, but what I experienced today has proved once again in NY is that no one in this state is looking out for the best interests of the residents.

We all know that cops have been out and about in full force, handing out tickets like candy.  What some people don’t know is that they are doing it as down low as possible.  They are driving around in unmarked, old vans, checkered cars and black sedans, just to name a few.    

I received a ticket from an officer in an unmarked car last September.  His black sedan was  two cars behind me.  I answered my cell phone using the speaker function, the phone sat on my center console.  I was already pulled over when the cop pulled up behind me flashing his dashboard light.

He told me that because he pulled me over it is mandatory that he give me a ticket, which we all know is not true.  Just because a cop pulls you over does not mean they have to write you a ticket.  The cop told me to plead not guilty, see the judge and tell him it was an emergency.  He had already written the ticket there was no arguing.

I found out  the ticket was submitted 2 1/2 months later only because I happened to look online for the hell of it and due to no response my license was suspended.  I went to the DMV the next business day and was told I cannot reverse the suspension or see the judge unless I pay a suspension lift fee and a bond.  Those fees together were more than the actual ticket.  I refused and left.  In the end I had to write to Albany and have them overturn the decision and give me a fair hearing date.

That hearing was at 10:30 this morning and it was not fair at all.  It has taken me until now at 4:57 pm to write this because I wanted to be calm when I did.  Not only was the judge a half hour late, but I felt like the hearing was just a formality and no matter what I said he was going to find me guilty.  Especially, when the cop flat out lied, more than once and I called him on it.  The judge didn’t seem to care, even though the officer was under oath.

He claimed that I had the cell phone in my left hand, to my left ear.  First of all, as I stated above I had the phone on speaker on my center console which is on the right side of the drivers seat and even if I had been on the phone I am a righty.  It would have been in my right hand not my left. 

The officer also said that he was in pursuit of me, until he finally pulled me over in a safe location.  Really…hmm…Well, let’s go over this again, he was two cars behind me, so how could he even see if I was on a cell phone?  He didn’t pull me over I was already pulled over in a parking space and yes by that time you could visually see the cell phone.

The third lie was after he already said he saw the phone to my left ear and I had explained that it was on my center console on speaker, the cop claimed he told me even though it was on speaker that it was still illegal.  Uh..not if it wasn’t in my hands while I was driving it wasn’t and he had already said he saw it to my ear. 

So the judge asked him, did you see the phone close to her ear?  The officer said yes.  The judge said how close in proximity to the ear?  The officer said within 2-3 inches uh not true.  Now the judge had already heard him contradict himself, but that didn’t matter.  The officer also said that I was on the phone with my husband and it was not an emergency.  Convenient for him to say that now.

The judge didn’t seem to care that Albany agreed with me to the point that they overturned the original conviction.  It also didn’t matter that the call was an emergency and I explained why.  It didn’t matter that the cop lied or that his story didn’t make sense or that I pleaded a very convincing case.  He was going to find me guilty regardless and he did.  The best part is that the $40.00 fine comes with an $80.00 surcharge.  Imagine that, the surcharge is twice as much as the fine.

Unfortunately, I have to pay it or they will suspend my license again.  However, I will appeal it and I will continue to write about the unfair practices of NYC law enforcement.  New York lawmakers really should start looking out for us New Yorkers, because between traffic and parking tickets, raising tolls and fares and adding taxes to everything they can think of it’s getting really hard for people, especially those who lost their jobs, to make ends meet.

When are they going to realize this is not the way to make money.  The city has been hurting since September 11, 2001 and the economy has gotten worse.  Believe me we all understand that every state is in need of a bailout, but this is not the way to get it.  Ripping off your residents is not a way to boost the economy.  It’s only going to make everything worse.  Call AIG and get it from them.  They have gotten plenty from us.

New Cardholder Law

Please read this informative article at walletpop.com.  It explains what new cardholder laws are going to take effect and how those changes affect you.  Credit card companies are cracking down.  I’ve experienced it myself and not just a few months ago I was considered having great credit.  Well, along with these new changes, I’ve been reading the new “excellent” credit score is over 800.  As everyone has been saying 800 is the new 700. 

It also explains in detail a bill that may be passed by Congress.  It sounds good, but may also be too little too late.  If all this was done as fast as the corporation bailouts were, consumers might not be in the debt they are in now.

New DMV Tricks To Get Your Money

Here in New York alot has changed in the way the DMV collects fines for traffic and parking violations.  It used to be that if you did get a ticket for say an expired inspection ticket or a broken light and you can show proof that the issue was resolved (fixed) within 24 hours then you would not have to pay the fine.  That is no longer the case.

It seems that to collect so-called much needed funds for NY that if you receive such a fine and plead not guilty through the mail the DMV now sends a letter before a verdict from a judge has been granted in attempt to make a deal.  They agree to lower the fine if you agree to plead guilty and pay.  Then if you do not and the judge finds you guilty anyway, which it seems they always do now, well then you must pay before allowed to receive any appeal.  

It also seems that a cop is allowed to issue a traffic violation and wait three months to submit the ticket.  By that time you are found guilty due to not responding to the said ticket and your license is suspended.  Which now it seems costs you even more that the ticket would have in the first place.  If this happens and your license is suspended before you can receive a hearing you must pay a fee to lift the suspension and a bond fee.  I guess in the eyes of the DMV you are considered a criminal and a flight risk, otherwise why would they ask for a bond to make sure you appear at the hearing. 

Apparently, the powers-that-be forgot to inform some of their employees at the DMV of new rules.  According to several DMV employees if a ticket is not submitted by the officer who issued it within a month the ticket becomes null and void.  According to several employees you cannot pay or fight a ticket that is not in the system.  Also, if you receive a ticket like I mentioned above and show proof of fixing the problem within a 24 hour period you should not have to pay the fine.

Unfortunately, according to the judges this is not true and they don’t care what you have to say to plead your case.  For example, a ticket received due to an expired inspection sticker.  It does not matter that the car was not even a year old and the inspection sticker was not updated prior to the sale of the car.  I mean how many people really buy a car from a dealership and check the inspection sticker to make sure it’s a new one?  The dealership acknowledged this, updated the inspection free of charge to the customer and included a note of the mistake on the invoice receipt as proof.  As one judge stated this is not a defense and in order to receive an appeal to the decision the fine has to be paid. 

Now why would I pay the fine and then appeal it?  Like they are really going to give me my money back.  I can understand if NY is trying to enforce driving laws, but at the expense of the residents.  Maybe they should consider the person’s driving record, especially in a time where every penny counts.  If this was a person’s first offense there should be some consideration.  It just goes to show you where their priorities are.  They claim to want to keep money in the pockets of the people, yet they are taking money from us any way they can.