|
A NEW TWIST ON IDENTITY THEFT: STEALING YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE
BENEFITS Update February 15, 2012 Most of us think of
identity theft as a problem involving our credit cards, or crooks getting access to credit cards in our name and using our
social security number. But the Federal Trade Commission is now warning about medical identity theft. With medical
identity theft someone steals your identity to get medical treatment or insurance coverage using your insurance benfits. When you are a victim of medical identity theft several things can happen to you including getting bills
for medical services you didn't receive. You could also find there are dings on your credit score for bills that weren't
paid, and you could be contacted by debt collectors about bills you have no knowledge of. What could be worse is that
some new illnesses and disorders could be linked to you that you don't have and that could impact your medical insurance and
could affect your ability to get new medical insurance or even life insurance in the future. The FTC warns you could
be denied insurance because of medical conditions you don't have but that the identity theft crook does have.
THE CONTAINER STORE RECALLS SOME POWER STRIPS BECAUSE OF FIRE
HAZARD Update February 7, 2012 The popular and trendy Container
Store chain has recalled some of its brightly-colored power strips due to a potential fire hazard according to the Consumer
Product Safety Commission. About 7,200 of the Lush Life® power strips were sold. The CPSC says the power strips
have "undersized wiring, and the wiring and plastic strip fail to meet the requirements for fire resistance, posing a
fire hazard." So far no injuries or fires have been reported. This recall
involves three designs of brightly-colored, six-outlet power strips with model number 8001-6 embossed on the back. Power
strip designs include Pop Power Strip in Scroll (black with white scroll), Dot (blue with orange, white and lime green dots
and a lime green cord), and Zebra (black and white zebra stripes). The power strips have three-foot power cords. “Lush
Life® power strips by design” is printed on the product’s packaging. The power stripes were sold at
The Container Stores nationwide and on the firm’s website www.containerstore.com from October 2011 through December
2011 for about $15. If you have the power strips, you should stop using them immediately and return them to any of The
Container Store locations for a full refund plus a $15 merchandise card. Contact The Container Store toll-free at (888)
266-8246.
IKEA RECALLS 169,000 HIGH CHAIRS FOR KIDS Update January 19, 2012 IKEA and the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a
recall of about 169,000 baby high chairs sold in the United States and Canada with most of them sold in the USA. About
133,000 of the ANTILOP High Chairs were sold in the USA at IKEA
stores. The company and the CPSC say the high
chair's restraint buckle can open unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to the child. IKEA has received eight reports worldwide of restraint buckles that opened unexpectedly,
including three reports of children who received minor injuries after falling from the high chair. This recall involves ANTILOP high chairs sold in red, blue or white.
The CPSC says the plastic high chair has detachable silver-colored metal legs. The high chairs included in the
recall have a manufacture date between 0607 and 0911 (YYMM format) from supplier number 17389. The production date and
supplier number are molded into the underside of the seat. "ANTILOP," "IKEA" and the model number
are printed on a label affixed to the underside of the seat. Model numbers included in the recall are: ANTILOP high chair blue | | Model # 701.467.92 | ANTILOP high chair red | | Model # 501.467.93 | ANTILOP high chair white | | Model # 300.697.24 |
These chairs were sold at IKEA stores nationwide from August 2006
through January 2010 for about $20. If you have one of these chairs you should stop using it immediately and contact IKEA to obtain a free replacement seat restraint. Contact IKEA toll-free at (866) 966-4532 anytime, or visit
the firm's website at www.ikea-usa.com.
RECALL OF FLOOR LAMPS SOLD AT BIG LOTS Update January 16, 2012 There has been a recall of floor lamps sold at Big Lots, the
discount chain. These were called "Five-Light Floor Lamps" and close to 44,000 were sold. The Consumer
Product Safety Commission says that "the wiring for the lamp’s light sockets can become exposed, posing a risk
of electric shock to consumers. In addition, use of the recommended standard 40 watt light bulbs can generate excessive
heat, which can melt the double plastic shades over the bulbs." So far, Big Lots says it has received four reports
on the lamp shades melting but no injuries have been reported. This recall involves
Classic Quarters Five Light Floor Lamps. The lamps stand about five feet tall and have a gunmetal or chrome colored
metal pole and five adjustable lights mounted on flexible metal tubes at the top. Dark plastic or multi-colored double
plastic shades cover each of the five lights. Recalled lamps use standard incandescent or CFL bulbs and have labels
marked with the model number “G-1843-5” affixed to the underside of the lamp base. These lamps can be further
identified by SKU numbers 612007239, 612007829 or 612008982 at the beginning of the instructions. There are similar
lamps that are not part of this recall. The unaffected lamps are lamps that use candelabra bulbs and can be identified
by labels marked with the model number “G-1844-5B” and SKU numbers 612009036 or 612009037 in the instructions. The
lamps invovled in the recall were sold at Big Lots stores nationwide from April 2010 through November 2011 for between $30
and $50. Consumers should immediately stop using the lamps and return them to a Big Lots store for a full refund.
RECALL OF TARGET LED FLASHLIGHT SETS Update January 8, 2012 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary
recall of 6-piece LED Flashlight Sets sold by Target. About 55,000 of the sets were sold. The government agency
says that when turned on, the flashlights can heat up, smoke or melt, posing fire and burn hazards. Target has received
reports of four incidents with the flashlights, including two minor burn injuries to consumer's hands, according to the CPSC. This recall involves 6-pc. LED Flashlight Sets. They are made of silver plastic with black
rubber around the handle and light base. The flashlight sets have UPC code 490021010049 printed on the back of the package.
They were sold in sets of six, including two small flashlights measuring about 3 inches long, two medium flashlights about
6 inches long and two large flashlights about 7 1/2 inches long. They were sold at Target stores nationwide from October
2010 through December 2011 for about $10 per set. Consumers should immediately stop using the flashlights and return
them to any Target store for a full refund.
SOME TANKLESS WATER HEATERS RECALLED BY AN IRVINE, CALIFORNIA
COMPANY Update December 31, 2011 Tankless water heaters are
a good idea. They save energy and they save water and that means more money in your pocket. But these devices
must be properly maintained -- just as all household items must be properly maintained -- and sometimes there can be a defect
which poses a hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
announced a voluntary recall of some of the Navien Instantaneous
or Tankless Water Heaters. About 13,000 units were sold by Navien
America Inc., of Irvine, California. According
to the CPSC an unstable connection can cause the water heater’s vent collar to separate or detach if pressure is applied.
A detached vent collar poses a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer. So far, no injuries have been reported.
Navien tankless hot water heaters are white with “T-Creator”
and “NAVIEN” on the front. Recalled model numbers are CR-180(A), CR-210(A), CR-240(A), CC-180(A), CC-210(A)
and CC-240(A) manufactured in 2008. A label on the side of the water heater lists the model number along with the manufacturing
year in YYYY format. These were sold to in-home
installers nationwide from February 2008 through March 2009 for between $1,500 and $2,100. If you have one of the water heaters you should immediately contact Navien to schedule a
free repair. Navien will replace all Nylon 66 vent collar with PVC collars. Consumers who continue use of the
water heaters while awaiting repair, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of sleeping areas in the
home. Contact Navien at (800) 244-8202
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.navienamerica.com. And here is an important reminder:
Regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home should have a CO alarm outside all sleeping areas and consumers
should ensure that their CO alarms have working batteries. Keep in mind that some consumers put their tankless water
heaters in a garage or outside their home on an exterior wall, but it is still a good idea to have a CO alarm inside.
SOME BUILD-A-BEAR TEDDY BEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED Update December 27, 2011 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
and Health Canada, in cooperation with Build-A-Bear announced a voluntary recall of the Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears.
Officials of the government agencies say consumers should stop using the recalled products immediately and it is illegal to
resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Nearly
300,000 of the Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears were sold. They were imported by Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., of St. Louis,
Missouri. The CPSC says the teddy bear's eyes could loosen and fall out and that poses a choking hazard to children.
However, so far no injuries have been reported. The
Colorful Hearts Teddy is a stuffed animal about 16 inches high with black plastic eyes. The bear’s fabric covering
is printed with multi-colored heart shapes. It was sold at Build-A-Bear
Workshops nationwide and online at www.buildabear.com from April 2011 through this month for
about $18 in the U.S. and $23 in Canada. It was manufactured in China. Consumers
should immediately take the recalled teddy bear from children and return it to any Build-A-Bear store to receive a coupon
for any available stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear. For
additional information, contact the firm toll-free at (866) 236-5683 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday
through Friday, on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT and on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT, visit the firm’s
website www.buildabear.com or email the firm at colorfulhearts@buildabear.com.
HANDHELD MASSAGERS RECALLED BY FOURSTAR GROUP DUE TO
BURN HAZARD FROM LEAKING BATTERIES SOLD EXCLUSIVELY AT BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUBS Update December 13, 2011 Have you seen those cute "massage pets" that you hold and their four legs
do the massage work? Well, they've been recalled by the importer. About 25,000 of the Handheld Massage Pets were
sold at BJ's Wholesale Clubs after some complaints that the batteries can leak which could lead to a burn or skin irritation.
While there have been reports of batteries linking, no injuries have actually been reported by the little buggers that are ladybug
and bee-shaped massagers. Accoridng to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, "this recall involves ladybug and bee-shaped 'Massage Pet' handheld massagers. The ladybugs
are red and black and the bees are yellow and black. The massagers measure 3 1/2 inches tall and 5 inches wide and were
sold with two Kendal brand AA batteries. 'Massage Pets' and 'Dating code 1210A' are printed on the massager's hangtag
along with UPC 0 49696 60453 6 for the ladybug and UPC 0 49696 60454 3 for the bee. These were sold exclusively
at BJ's Wholesale Clubs from September 2011
through December 2011 for about $8. If you bought one you are advised to stop using it and return it immediately for
a full refund. For more information, contact Fourstar Group
at (866) 290-6191 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.fsgrecall.com/massagepets.html
A RECALL OF CHILDREN'S PAJAMAS IMPORTED BY BELLA BLISS Update December 8, 2011 The Consumer Product Safety Commission has
announced a recall of about 2,300 pair of Children's Henley Pima Cotton Pajamas imported by Bella Bliss of Lexington,
Kentucky. "The pajamas fail to meet the federal flammability
standards for children's sleepwear posing a risk of burn injury to children," says the CPSC. So far, no injuries
were reported. The pajamas are a two-piece, cotton
sleepwear set sold in sizes 2 to 12. The pajamas are white, blue, pink or red. "Bella Bliss" is written
on the neck tag and they were sold through the Bella
Bliss catalog and website, and specialty clothing retailers and online stores from January 2008 to June 2011 for about $48
to $58. Children should stop wearing the recalled
sleepwear immediately and consumers should return it to the retailer where the product was purchased for a refund, exchange
or store credit. For additional information, contact
Bella Bliss toll-free at (866) 846-5295 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's
website at www.bellabliss.com.
RECALL OF ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE TRAINER Update December 6, 2011 The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced
a voluntary recall of an Elliptical Exercise Trainer sold by
Nautilus Inc. of Vancouver, Washington. About 10,000
of the trainers were sold. The CPSC says the foot plates can detach from the machine during use and that can cause injuries.
Nautilus received nine reports of the foot plates detaching and one consumer reported an injury. The Elliptical exercise trainer equipment is sold under the model name Schwinn
460 and it is 73 inches tall and 54 inches long and is made of gray anodized aluminum with two moving and two fixed handlebars
all with black rubberized padding. The fixed handlebars have heart rate sensors on both sides. The machine has
a touch-screen console, an adjustable fan and an orange-colored, oversized water bottle holder. A medallion with the Schwinn
logo is on the bottom right side of the base of the machine. It was sold by Nautilus.com,
Amazon.com, Dick's Sporting Goods, AAFES, specialty fitness retailers and specialty sporting goods stores nationwide between
July 2008 and May 2011 for about $1,000. The CPSC
says consumers should stop using the recalled models immediately and contact Nautilus for a free repair kit that includes
an extended warranty. For additional information,
contact Nautilus toll-free at 800-259-9019 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, or on the
company's website at www.schwinn.com.
A RECALL OF A MOBILE BATTERY CASE FOR SOME iPHONE MODELS Update December 4, 2011 The Consumer Product Safety Commission and
Best Buy Stores have announced a voluntary recall of the Rocketfish™ Model RF-KL12 Mobile Battery Cases for iPhone 3G
and 3GS. About 32,000 units were sold. The CPSC says that the
battery case can overheat while charging, posing a fire hazard. There are reports of three consumers suffering minor
burns. This recall includes the Rocketfish™
Model RF-KL12 Mobile Battery Case. The battery case is made of black lightweight, soft-touch rubberized material designed
to hold the phone securely, and comes with a built-in battery. The model number “RF-KL12” appears on the
front of the product’s packaging, on the packaging barcode, and in white print on the curved inner surface of the product.
If you bought one or have one you should immediately
stop using it and contact Best Buy for instructions on returning the product and receiving a Best Buy gift card for $70
or $105 in Canada. Contact Best Buy toll-free at
(800) 917-5737 or go to www.BestBuy.com for information.
CHILDREN'S SLIPPERS RECALLED BY FAMILY DOLLAR STORES Update November 17, 2011 The Kidgets®
Animal Sock Top Slippers have been recalled by Family Dollar Stores. About 160,000 pairs of the children's slippers
were available for sale, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission says the animal's eyes can detach from the slippers and
could pose a choking hazard. So far, Family Dollar reported one case of the eyes detaching and no injuries were reported. "FD9619108020690611" is printed inside the slippers on the side.
They were sold until last month for about $5 a pair. Consumers should return them for a full refund. Call (800)
547-0359 or go to www.familydollar.com for information.
RECALL OF CERTAIN KEDS GIRLS SHOES Update November 17, 2011 A voluntary recall of the KEDS® "Know It All" Girls' Shoe has
been announced, and about 45,000 pairs are involved in the recall. It seems that some of the star ornaments on the shoes
can come lose and cause cuts, scratches and lacerations and about 27 cases have been reported. This recall involves KEDS® girls' rubber soled shoes. The
shoes are black and pink with white trim and a pink loop on the heel. "KEDS" appears on the tongue and heel of the
shoe. The style number KY40098A is printed on the underside of the tongue. The shoes were sold in girls' sizes 12 to 5.
These shoes were sold at various department
stores and online retailers from June through October 2011 for about $23 a pair and were manufactured in China. Consumers should take these shoes away from children immediately
and contact Collective Brands, the parent company, to receive a gift card for $30 redeemable at Stride Rite stores or
www.striderite.com. For additional information,
contact Collective Brands at (800) 365-4933 between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and
between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday, Email kedskidsrecall@collectivebrands.com, or visit the firm's website www.collectibebrands.com.
RECALL OF GLASS VASE SOLD AT MICHAELS Update November
15, 2011 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Michaels, the arts and crafts chain, announced a voluntary
recall of the Ashland™ Glass Vase and consumers should stop using it immediately. The CPSC says It is
illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. About 28,000 of the glass vases were sold in the
U. S. and another 1,800 were sold in Canada. The CPSC says the glass vases can break or fracture if you pick them up
and so far at least four persons were injured when the vase broke in their hands and the four verified cases all suffered
hand lacerations. These lacerations were serious, and one consumer had to undergo
surgery for the injuries. Lacerations of the hands can affect tendons, muscle control and of course, veins and arteries. The CPSCS says "the vase is rectangular and made of clear glass.
It is 12 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep. The SKU number "425827" and UPC number "6-927619-661665"
are printed on a label on the bottom of the vase." These vases were only sold at Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores
until last month and were priced about $20. Michaels will give consumers a complete refund when returned and handle
it carefully and put it in a bag for transport back to the store. You
can contact Michaels at (800) 642-4235 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT or
visit the firm's website at www.michaels.com for information.
|
