One of the biggest challenges when flying with children is trying to book adjacent seats. Some major U.S. airlines now guarantee family seating—if possible—at no additional cost. Consumer advocates say more needs to be done.
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Herb Weisbaum
@TheConsumerman
My goal: Save you time and money help you avoid rip-offs & scams. Contributing Editor , Consumer Reporter
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NEW Consumerpedia podcast: AGING IN PLACE: Learn what’s important when remodeling/retrofitting your house, as well as other options that will let you stay at home as you grow older.
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Check washing has been around for decades, but it’s made a comeback in the last few years. Victims report losses ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. As mail thefts increase, you need to do a few things to foil the thieves.
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Happy National Consumer Protection Week. To celebrate, is sharing expert advice. Here are 7 tips to help you be a better consumer all year long.
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The FTC recently sent cease & desist letters to 24 eye care prescribers warning that they appear to have violated the Contact Lens Rule. Know your rights when it comes to getting your eyes examined for glasses or contacts.
Thanks to AgeWise King County for asking me to share some of the things I've learned in 40+ years of consumer reporting. Hopefully, these tips will help make you a smarter consumer.
Auto insurance companies offer discounts if you install technology that lets them monitor your driving. We discuss how it works and whether to consider trading your privacy for lower rates on .
Listen now at consumerpedia.org or wherever you find podcasts.
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Many auto insurance companies offer to reduce customers’ premiums by as much as 30 or 40 percent if they allow their insurer to monitor how, when, and where they drive, with little oversight on how they can use the data. Slow down! bit.ly/3SpDwIL
Thanks to & reporter for such a nice story. It's been a wonderful 40-year ride and this article captures many of the highlights. I'm so grateful to have chosen a career that let me help so may people.
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Millions of Americans have saved money on their prescription drugs by using coupons from GoodRx. But at what cost? Federal regulators have accused the discount drug provider sharing users’ health information with other companies without permission.
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The Podcast 113 - For The People with , Herb Weisbaum & , Tom Appel
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CONSUMERPEDIA, episode 32: The pros, cons, and costs of Grocery Delivery Services. How much do prices vary? Which services rate the best with Checkbook subscribers? Plus, tips to help you get the best prices should you decide to shop this way.
In his State of the Union Address last night, President Biden called on Congress to pass a Junk Fee Prevention Act that could save Americans billions each year. We just updated our recent story on Junk Fees with what lawmakers are being asked to do.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a rule that would cap ever-increasing credit card late fees at $8, and require financial institutions to justify future price hikes.
The Podcast 113 - For The People with , Herb Weisbaum & , Tom Appel
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Chances are you received a data breach notice last year - possibly more than one. Unfortunately, only 34% included details about what was stolen in the attacks, the lowest number in 5 years. This is critical info victims need to protect themselves.
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It's Identity Theft Awareness Week, so we updated our in-depth story on ways to protect yourself from these crooks:
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Many companies use hidden fees to obtain bigger payments from customers without having to increase their advertised prices. Via
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Americans lose billions of $$$ to fraud. The best way to fight back is to understand the tricks fraudsters use to manipulate you. In this episode of Consumerpedia, we talk to Sam Levine from the Federal Trade Commission.
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Millions of Americans will be disappointed to learn that they’ll get less money back than last year—or even owe money—as they prepare their federal tax returns for 2022.
Read 's article on to make sure you're not being tricked into buying a flood-damaged car.
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Buy a used vehicle that’s been inundated by flood waters, and you’re going to have problems down the road—no matter how nice it looks. Here’s how to protect yourself from getting stuck with a waterlogged lemon.
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FRAUD ALERT: To gain your confidence, con artists lie about who they are. They impersonate debt collectors, bankers, and IRS agents. These days, they’re also finding it lucrative to pose as customer service agents. Here’s how to protect yourself.
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Social media was designed to bring us together, but it often fosters scams, spreads misinformation, and amplifies hate. explains how to be a better consumers of what shows up on your feeds. Listen now at consumerpedia.org or wherever you find podcasts.
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Lost or damaged luggage following your holiday travel? explains what you can do. Via
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𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙚: 𝙁𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣
The freshest 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘥 is out now featuring Herb Weisbaum
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Did you get caught up in the holiday travel meltdown? Know your rights if your flight gets delayed or canceled, or if your luggage is lost or damaged via bit.ly/3XcMs58
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With the holiday travel meltdown still fresh in our minds, we decided to put together a list of the limited rights airline passengers have when things go wrong.
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The Podcast 103 - The First "For The People" of 2023 w/ &
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NEW CONSUMERPEDIA EPISODE: It seems like every big company sells home security services and equipment. In this episode, we’ll look at the pros & cons of professional systems vs. inexpensive DIY options.
In light of the ongoing holiday travel nightmares, this episode of Consumerpedia -- Dealing with a Broken Airline System -- is worth a listen.
Associate director of clinical innovation is lead author of a new study examining #healthcare costs based on physical activity levels. She spoke with at about the findings and how impactful #exercise can be. Listen!
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Smart toys are cool. But toys equipped with microphones, cameras, or sensors create all sorts of privacy and security issues. Here's what parents need to know.
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I shared some last-minute holiday shopping tips with WGN Radio's John Landecker: bit.ly/3BJ64Wh
You can find Checkbook's Top Holiday Shopping Tips at
Social media was designed to bring us together, but it doesn't always work that way. In this episode of Consumerpedia, I talk to Emmy-award winning sportscaster and journalist Bob Costas about how to become a better consumer of social media.
A recent study by U.S. PIRG’s Education Fund found that, incredibly, some recalled toys are still being sold online. Here's what you need to know: bit.ly/3UJyNB5 Via
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Did you know a credit freeze 💳🥶 can help you deal with a flood of data breaches? Thank you, and , for speaking with Eva Velasquez about this story! #IDTheftCenter
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Attention Holiday Shoppers: A recent study by U.S. PIRG found that, incredibly, some toys that had been recalled due to known safety defects are still being sold new online.
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