| Volume 57 Number 8 |
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This will be the last Consumer News Alert of the year. Have a great holiday season and a happy new year!
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Federal law prohibits a debt collector from calling you at work, but only after he knows your employer prohibits such calls. If a debt collector calls you at work, let him know that your employer does not allow such calls and that you assume he will never call again. If the debt collector calls back, he has violated federal law and you could be entitled to a penalty of up to $1,000. Click here for more.
Cheapest Holiday in History
According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes in the price level of consumer goods over time, this is the cheapest holiday season in history. Toys are 55% cheaper today than they were in 1980. Small appliances are down 30% since 1998. Televisions are down an astonishing 93% compared to 1980. Advances in technology, manufacturing, retailing, and the global economy account for the lower prices. Click here for more.
Kroger Issues Recall for Pet Food
Kroger is recalling numerous packages of cat and dog food, citing a potential health risk to animals. Pet Pride Cat Food, Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food, Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food, Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food, Kroger Value Cat Food, and Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food are all included in the recall. Some of the products may include aflatoxin, a fungus-produced carcinogen found in some corn. What should you do if your product is included in the recall? Click here for more.
Your Money
How do return rates affect your retirement income? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Job applicant could not sue for “bankruptcy discrimination.” The Third Circuit held that a plaintiff could not sue for discrimination based on an allegation that he was denied a job because of his prior bankruptcy. The court noted that section 525(b) of the Bankruptcy Act does not create a cause of action against private employers who engage in discriminatory hiring. Click here for more.