Another reason why our health insurance goes up by double digits every year: Doctors performing unproven surgeries that could hurt patients more than help. Bloomberg News tells the story of truck driver Mikel Hehn, who…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN: I want to make 2011 better than 2010. Every January, I make resolutions, but by December, nothing has changed. What can I do to differently this year? STUCK YEAR AFTER YEAR DEAR…
If Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s investigation into the controversial Better Business Bureau’s grading system is an indication as to how effectively his office probes critical consumer issues, the next Attorney General will have to…
In one of the more bizarre foreclosure cases, Bank of America is threatening to throw a West Hartford family out of their home even though they couple never missed a mortgage payment.
The largest bank in the United States earlier this month notified Shock Baitch and his wife Lisa Freedman that foreclosure action will start today – Christmas eve – unless the couple agrees to put their home up for a forced sale.
Why?
Because another unit of Bank of America erroneously reported to credit agencies that the family was seeking a loan modification, ruining their credit rating and as the result putting their mortgage into default.
All this is happening even though the bank – after admitting it erred and sent a letter of apology in September – handed this case to a special unit at Bank of America that is charged with dealing with severe customer issues. It promised in writing to notify the credit reporting agencies that the couple were not deadbeats, but were good credit risks “I have never seen a case like this,” said Manchester attorney Wendell Davis, whose office handles many foreclosures.
Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to pay record fines totaling $32.425 million for failing to notify safety regulators of potential safety defects, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. The department, according to the LA Times, accused…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, My family has so much, and yet it’s Christmastime, the season of giving. I want to give my children presents from Santa (they are 5 and 6 and still believe!), but I…
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that DIRECTV will provide restitution to consumers for numerous alleged violations of consumer protection laws, including deceptive advertising, contracts, pricing and promotional offers, as well as failure to clearly…
Hartford Ct. Superior Court Judge Marshall K. Berger, Jr. has approved a settlement between Best Buy and Conn Attorney General Richard Blumenthal that requires the Minnesota based company to immediately pay Conn $399,000 and provide…
by Sasha Chavkin ProPublica A house under foreclosure that is now bank-owned in the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas on Oct. 15, 2010. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Many foreclosures have been thrown into question [1]…
Within hours that a Hartford Superior Court trial was to start, Best Buy and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal have agreed to settle out of court. The settlement must still be approved by Superior Court…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. My entire life is focused on food. I have been anorexic since the age of 14, and now, at the age of…
by Robin Fields ProPublica, Dec. 9 (iStockPhoto) Patients treated at dialysis clinics run by the largest U.S. for-profit chains have a higher risk of death than patients treated by the biggest nonprofit chain, a study…
In this season of giving, many people are making contributions to groups and causes that promise to make a positive difference in the world. As you consider a holiday donation or year-end tax-deductible contribution, the…
by Marian Wang ProPublica An Abbott Laboratories logo is visible on a security gate near its headquarters in Abbott Park, Ill. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) After a Baltimore hospital barred a cardiologist for allegedly performing unnecessary…
With the recent media attention on the Better Business Bureau’s two-year-old Pay To Play marketing scheme, the 99-year-old nonprofit will either self-destruct or become a great institution for consumers AND businesses.
Ever since early last month when ABC’s 20/20 aired its outstanding investigation into the BBB – which not only included the criticism that I and other consumer advocates had about the A+ to F grading system – but proof that businesses could BUY A+ grades.
LIFE GOES ON: MOMMY, DADDY, ARE WE POOR? DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, My heart was broken the other day when my 8 year-old son asked, “Are we poor?” I said “No, honey, why would you ask?…
Hartford Superior Court Judge Marshall Berger ruled this week that my wrongful discharge against the Courant and its parent Tribune company can go forward. In a major victory for me, Berger said that I have…