Consumer Protection

Recall of the Week: Fu San Machinery low lead ball valves installed in flammable gas lines due to fire and explosion hazards

Rita R. Robison / December 17, 2012

Fu San Machinery Co. Ltd. Is recalling about 163,000 low lead ball valve/shut-off gas valves. The valves can crack and […]

Eating lamb is my best consumer experience this week, while looking for a new store for a bakery is frustrating

Rita R. Robison / December 16, 2012

The holiday season is here. Like many people, I'm busy, busy trying to get a lot of things done. My

Sandy Hook Elementary School: This senseless gun violence must stop

Rita R. Robison / December 15, 2012

It’s difficult to know what to say. Tuesday, I wrote about the killings at the Clackamas Mall near Portland, Ore.

With another mass murder Tuesday, it’s good to know that gun control is gaining attention

Rita R. Robison / December 12, 2012

Photo: Steve Morgan Following the mass murder at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater during a violent batman movie, I wrote

Recall of the Week: Dream On Me bath seats due to drowning hazard

Rita R. Robison / December 10, 2012

Dream On Me Inc. is recalling about 50,000 bath seats The bath seats fail to meet federal safety standards, including

Affordable Care Act saved consumers $1.5 billion last year, but stronger rules may be needed to get more savings passed on to consumers

Rita R. Robison / December 6, 2012

Consumers saw nearly $1.5 billion in insurer rebates and overhead cost savings in 2011, due to the Affordable Care Act’s

Recall of the Week: Harbor Freight Tools cordless drills due to fire and burn hazard

Rita R. Robison / December 3, 2012

Harbor Freight Tools is recalling about 108,000 cordless drills. The black trigger switch on the 19.2v cordless drill can overheat,

Verizon ranks high, AT&T low in this year’s Consumer Reports survey

Rita R. Robison / November 29, 2012

Who’s your cell phone provider? Are you satisfied with the service? I know friends and family members who have AT&T

EPA temporarily bars BP from new federal contracts

Rita R. Robison / November 28, 2012

While some people complain about government regulations, it’s good public policy that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is temporarily suspending

This week's top 10 money tips

1. Take a look at this list of unique Father’s Day deals.

2. Be sure to take the time to check out the new requirements for student loan borrowers before July 1, 2026.

3. Save money on tomatoes – which have gone up 40 percent over the last year – by shopping local, comparing tomato varieties, using canned for cooking, and stocking up when prices drop.

4. Look at Costco for recent price cuts on some of its Kirkland products.

5. Use of cash or a debit card rather than a credit card results in higher costs for those consumers unlike credit card users who get rewards to offset the increased prices companies need to charge to pay for credit card swipe fees.

6. Get three written estimates, ask for itemized pricing, and do minor plumbing fixes yourself to keep plumbing costs down.

7. Check out these recommendations on what not to keep in your purse or wallet to avoid financial loss and identity theft.

8. Watch out for mortgage assistance relief companies who mislead consumers into paying unlawful upfront fees and don’t help with mortgage problems.

9. Compare mortgage rates when you buy a home so you don’t make a $62,000 mistake – the cost of not comparing mortgage rates.

10. Check out this list of items not to put in your will.

Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. Tell your friends and co-workers about it so they can make savvy money choices, too. Here’s the sign up: https://tinyurl.com/makeyourmoneywork. And, for a big bonus, they’ll also get my free e-book on how to optimize their personal finance decisions.

June 11, 2026