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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2009 had record consumer complaints
Attorney General Richard Cordray released his office’s consumer complaint numbers today, Jan. 12, indicating that 2009 had a historically high number of consumer complaints in Ohio.
And these are just the complaints his office heard about.
The AG’s office received 30,259 complaints in 2009, which was a 20 percent increase from 2008.
The results were published in the 2009 Consumer Annual Report.
“Last year was extremely challenging financially for many Ohioans,” Cordray said. “We’re counting our pennies and weighing each purchase. There is no tolerance for companies that fail to deliver on their promises. Ohio consumers have had enough, and we’re seeing them speak out in numbers we haven’t seen in the past.”
Through the office’s complaint resolution process and legal action, the office noted, approximately $7 million in consumer restitution, civil penalties, costs and other relief was generated in 2009.
But what was everyone complaining about?
According to the report, the year’s top 10 complaints concerned:
Motorized vehicles (buying a car, auto repair services, receiving titles from dealers)
Collections, credit reporting and financial services (wrong information on credit reports, credit repair services, collection calls for debts not owed)
Household goods and property improvement (roofing, driveway repair, general contractors)
Internet and phone
Shopping, food and beverages
Mortgage (lenders, servicers, foreclosure rescue companies)
Computers and electronics
Professional services
Health and beauty
Utilities
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Consumer interest
Beavercreek woman finds new career in bargain-hunting
Since losing her last job in October, Sharon Shackleford has not been sitting around waiting to be rehired.
The 46-year-old has been cultivating the myriad bargain-hunting skills she learned growing up and is now sharing her skills with others.
“I’ve always been budget-conscious,” Shackleford said. “I am one one of four sisters. My mom and dad divorced when I was 12, and I saw some of the struggles (my mom) went through.”
Shackleford, who lives in Beavercreek with her husband, worked for NCR in project management, at Standard Register as a report analyst and finally at New Page as a human resource information specialist.
Due to a reorganization of the business, Shackleford was laid off from New Page in October.
At the same time, her husband had retired from Delphi and started his own house-painting business.
“Thank goodness I had put back a little money and had gotten into the habit of shopping (at bargain places),” she said. “I still buy impulse things at times, but I still think about it before I buy it.”
For Christmas, Shackleford shopped Black Friday sales and made many items for friends and relatives.
She also built on her bargain-hunting abilities.
“Some people get into a funk (when they get laid off),” she said. “They think their jobs make them who they are. I go to church every week, and try to get out with people. As a result, I have been able to remain positive.”
Between her attitude and her instincts, Shackleford said the couple has been able to maintain their standard of living.
“Even if you save,” she said, “your bills are going to be (in line with) what you used to make.”
Therefore, she added, you have to find other ways to save.
During this time, Shackleford also started sharing her money-saving tips with others; alerting people to tips on restaurant deals, Disney ticket finds and other coupon strategies via Facebook and word-of-mouth.
“I love finding the best bargains out there that I can possibly find,” she said.
Ultimately, she said, she would like to use her skills to become a personal shopper.
“Getting back to basics is always good,” Shackleford said.
For more information, call (937) 429-3756.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Consumer interest, Savings
“$5 Dinner” cookbook signing today at The Greene
Centerville mother of three and expert money-saving cook Erin Chase will be signing her “The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook,” at 7 p.m. today, Jan. 12, at Books & Co. at The Greene in Beavercreek.
The book is a compilation of Chase’s work on her blog, 5dollardinners.com, and has 200 quick, delicious meals families can make for less than $5 each.
Chase, who has made Dayton news many times this year for winning a year’s worth of groceries from Walmart and for appearing on “The Rachael Ray Show” (both due to her savvy money-saving tips), also will be featured in Wednesday’s Columbus Dispatch.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Consumer interest
Children’s book recalled due to lead
It is rare that books are recalled for lead exposure, but at least one is bucking the trend.
More than 200,000 “Big Rex and Friends” cloth books have been recalled due to a risk of lead exposure, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The books, which were imported by St. Martin’s Press LLC, have a red plastic dot sewn in the book contains the high levels of lead.
As it is well-known these days, lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
The books were sold at Barnes & Noble, Toys R Us, Amazon.com, Borders and other bookstores and retailers nationwide from May 2004 through October 2009 for about $9.
Consumers are advised to take the books from kids.
For more information, call (800) 347-9411 or visit www.priddybooks.com/recall.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Recalls
