http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/traffic-congestion-badly-hurts-baltimore-area Nationwide Study Shows Cost and Need http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/traffic-congestion-badly-hurts-baltimore-area Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:25:58 -0500 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/traffic-congestion-badly-hurts-d_c_-metro-area Nationwide Study Shows Cost and Need http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/traffic-congestion-badly-hurts-d_c_-metro-area Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:33:54 -0500 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/students-overwhelmingly-support-fair-campus-credit-card-marketing-principles-to-rein-in-out-of-control-credit-card-company-marketing-nationwide-survey-finds University of Maryland, College Park, MD—Students overwhelmingly support limits on campus credit card marketing, according to the results of a nationwide USPIRG survey of over 1500 students at 40 colleges in 14 states including the University of Maryland College Park. “Campus credit card marketing is simply out-of-control,” said Chris Leuchten, Maryland PIRG campus chapter, “At tables on or off campus, or on your phone or in your mail, there’s a credit card company making a pitch to get into your wallet, even if you cannot afford to pay the bill.” The survey findings come as state attorneys general and Congress are also investigating the enticements that the credit card companies rely upon to trap college students into applying for credit cards that have bad terms and conditions, Leuchten said. “Credit card companies are desperate to expand their already massive profits and the best two ways to do that are either to gouge existing customers with tricks and traps or recruit new customers,” added Lauren Kim, Maryland PIRG Campus Chapter Chair. “Colleges are a mother lode for finding new customers because students live close together, are in need of credit and, like everyone else, are attracted to free food, free t-shirts, and other free offers. The catch is sometimes they get a card they don’t need or cannot afford.” Among the key findings of the “Campus Credit Card Trap,” were the following: n Three of four students (76%) reported stopping at tables to consider offers or apply for credit cards. Of students who reported stopping or applying at on-campus tables for credit cards for free gifts ranging from t-shirts to blankets to “sandwiches” or “pizza” or even “an iPod shuffle.” n Four in five (80% of students supported one or more fair marketing principles. Nearly three-in-four students (74%) asserted that only cards with fair terms and conditions should be marketed on campus. Students also overwhelmingly (67%) opposed the sale or sharing of student lists (which can include home and dorm addresses, email addresses and land line and cell phone numbers) with credit card companies. n Nearly two in three students (66%) reported that they had at least one credit card. Of these, 30% reported that their parents paid the bill. Thirty-six percent (or just over half of the remainder) reported that they paid the full balance on their primary card each month and just under half (34%) reported carrying a balance from month-to-month. n Of all respondents, whether they had a card currently or not, one in four (25%) reported paying at least one late fee; 15% reported paying at least one over-the-limit fee and 6% reported that a card had been cancelled for non-payment. Leuchten said that the release of the survey was part of Maryland PIRG’s ongoing truthaboutcredit.org campaign to rein in unfair campus credit card marketing. In addition to the release of this survey and other future reports, the group’s activities include: n A FEESA (Sounds like VISA) campus credit card counter-marketing campaign. “Our representatives dress like credit card vendors and set up tables, too, but instead of handing out free gifts, we give out credit education factsheets and “don’t be a sucker”” lollipops,” Leuchten said. n Ongoing efforts to urge college administrations to adopt the Maryland PIRG campus credit card marketing platform, which calls for a ban on free gifts, a ban on selling or sharing student lists, a ban on campus sponsorship of marketing and increased financial education. “Even though some schools or states have restricted campus credit card marketing, it’s clear that more needs to be done,” concluded Leuchten. “Without concerted efforts to keep the marketplace on campus fair, then banks will keep finding new ways to get bad credit products into students’ wallets.” http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/students-overwhelmingly-support-fair-campus-credit-card-marketing-principles-to-rein-in-out-of-control-credit-card-company-marketing-nationwide-survey-finds Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:46:08 -0500 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/a-gift-for-the-new-year-protection-from-identity-theft http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/a-gift-for-the-new-year-protection-from-identity-theft Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:59:38 -0600 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/consumer-group-alerts-shoppers-to-hidden-toy-hazards2 Consumer Group Alerts Shoppers to Hidden Toy Hazards-- Calls passage of strong reforms “best holiday gift for America’s littlest consumers”–Baltimore - Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 22nd annual toy safety survey released today by the Maryland Public Interest Research Group (Maryland PIRG). “While we have seen progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, we still found trouble in Toyland this holiday season,” said Maryland PIRG’s David Kosmos. “But recent high profile product recalls have given us a chance to urge Congress to pass strong product safety reforms and give kids the best holiday gift of all.” According to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), toy-related injuries sent almost 73,000 children under the age of five to emergency rooms in 2005. Twenty children died from toy-related injuries that year. For 22 years, the Maryland PIRG Trouble in Toyland report has offered safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards. Among the findings of the 2007 Trouble In Toyland: Lead in Toys and Children’s Jewelry: Children exposed to lead can suffer lowered IQ, delayed mental and physical development and even death. In 2006, a four year old died of lead poisoning after he swallowed a bracelet charm that contained 99% lead. U.S. PIRG researchers went to just a few stores and easily found four children’s toys or jewelry containing high, actionable levels of lead. One piece of jewelry we found was 65% lead by weight, or over one thousand times current CPSC action levels. “We’ve known for decades that lead poses serious health risks to children, yet consumers can still find lead-laden children’s jewelry and lead painted toys on store shelves,” said Kosmos. Magnetic Toys: Toymakers have started using powerful magnets in building toys, magnetic jewelry and children’s playsets. If a child swallows more than one magnet, they can attract each other in the body and cause a bowel obstruction or life-threatening perforation. A 22-month old boy died in 2005 and many others have needed life-saving surgery after swallowing magnets. This year, the CPSC has recalled popular Mattel toys, including Barbie and Polly Pockets, for poorly designed magnets that fall out. Listed in the report are several examples of sloppily-designed or poorly-labeled magnetic toys found by PIRG researchers this fall. “Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny. Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body,” said Kosmos. Choking Hazards: In 1979, the CPSC banned the sale of toys for children younger than three if they contain small parts. The 1994 Child Safety Protection Act required an explicit choke hazard warning on toys with small parts for children aged between three and six. U.S. PIRG found toys for children under three with banned small parts and toys with small parts for children under six without the required choke hazard warning. Other toy hazards found this year included toys containing other toxic chemicals, excessively loud toys, and strangulation hazards. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, is a little agency with a big job it simply cannot do,” said Kosmos. “Congress needs to give it the tools it needs to do that big job better.” Kosmos called on Congress to pass the strongest possible product safety reforms under consideration: Congress should ban lead except at trace amounts. The PIRG-backed HR 3691, the SAFE Consumer Product Act, sponsored by Rep. DeLauro (Conn.)and 150 co-sponsors, would reduce all lead levels – in paint or in the product -- to the level recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 40 parts per million or 15 times less than the current allowable level of 600 ppm. Congress should increase the budget and staffing of CPSC as much as possible. CPSC has only one toy tester and a tiny force of 15 inspectors to check millions of toys at hundreds of ports of entry. Congress should require companies to guarantee that their products have been subject to independent third party testing before they put them on toy store shelves. Congress should also give CPSC more tools to punish companies that break the law. “It doesn’t matter whether a toy is made in China or made in Kansas,” said Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler. “Companies need to make sure that the toys our children play with every day are safe.” Kosmos also reminded parents that the toy list in the U.S. PIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves. “Shoppers should remember that no government agency tests toys. You should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before you make a purchase this holiday season, and watch for further recalls,” said Gansler. http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/consumer-group-alerts-shoppers-to-hidden-toy-hazards2 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:03:25 -0600 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/maryland-pirg-applauds-senate-commerce-committee-passage-of-comprehensive-product-safety-bill CPSC will be strengthened; Consumers will be better http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/maryland-pirg-applauds-senate-commerce-committee-passage-of-comprehensive-product-safety-bill Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:21:08 -0500 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/statement-of-u_s_-pirg-consumer-program-director-ed-mierzwinski-on-latest-mattel/china-recall The http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/statement-of-u_s_-pirg-consumer-program-director-ed-mierzwinski-on-latest-mattel/china-recall Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:34:56 -0500 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/general-assembly-passes-pro-consumer-bills Annapolis—The http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/general-assembly-passes-pro-consumer-bills Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:00:18 -0600 http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/retailers-misleading-consumers-on-the-digital-television-dtv-transition http://www.marylandpirg.org/news-releases/protecting-consumers-news/protecting-consumers-news/retailers-misleading-consumers-on-the-digital-television-dtv-transition Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:45:10 -0600