Consumers have a tendency to tune out recalls. The result is a lot of unnecessary injuries and deaths.

Particularly if you have children, check to be sure they're not sleeping in a dangerous crib or playing with a toy recalled because other children have been seriously hurt.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission makes it easy to keep track of recalls on its interactive site. You can even subscribe to get emails when a product is recalled.

To get the ball rolling, check out this list of 10 recalled products you might have in your home published on Time.com.

What you'll find are products blamed in deaths, mutilations and fires.

Massachusetts businesses are once again getting official-looking mailings from a company calling itself "Compliance Services" that make it appear as though you need to pay them to comply with corporation filing requirements.

Both the Better Business Bureau and Secretary of State's office are warning about these mailings, which requests $125 and cites state law for a company would need to fill out the paperwork. There is a disclaimer at the bottom of that section that says the request doesn't come from a government agency.

The Secretary of State's warning notes that the mailings have led to confusion and makes clear that no business is required to respond to these mailings or pay Compliance Services. "Despite the implications contained in the solicitation, Massachusetts corporations are not required by law to file corporate minutes with the Secretary of State," the warning states.

The Secretary of State asks that those who receive these notices inform them so they can collect them and present them, if they decide, to the Attorney General.

With warm weather soon turning into hot weather, air-conditioning time is approaching. And if you have central air conditioning, you’re going to get peppered with ads for duct cleaning and other services you might not need.

The shady companies usually start with the idea that you need a cleaning – whether you do or not – and they claim it can be done for less than $100. That’s just the way they get themselves into your home.

“Homeowners who want to have their ducts cleaned really need to do their homework and research any company before they hire,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “Beware the company that offers the $49 or $99 cleanings.”

She said that members of Angie’s List, which catalogs reviews and ratings of service providers in a variety of categories (including home improvement), report spending $300 to $500 on average for a legitimate cleaning.

Another warning sign you’re dealing with a less-than-reputable duct cleaner is if they try to convince you that regular use of their services will improve the air quality in your home and help prevent those inside from getting sick. This is the US Environmental Protection Agency’s take: “Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems.”

If you see your ducts are a big mess, with obvious signs of mold or infestation, you are a good candidate for a legitimate duct cleaning.

Here are some recommendations from Angie’s List before hiring a duct cleaner:

• Get three written estimates and check the companies’ references.

• Get it in writing that your contractor must commit to following National Air Duct Cleaning Association standards.

• Get the companies you interview to make a written checklist of what they will do.

There’s reason for concern: The folks at Angie’s List said they heard from a woman who had a $50 coupon for duct cleaning and ended up sitting through a two-hour sales pitch on why she needed $2,100 in services that turned out to be based on a phony mold test.

Don’t fall for the duct cleaning scam. And, if your ducts really do need cleaning, do it right – and expect to pay more than $99.

More than 800,000 Safety 1st cabinet locks and toilet locks that are intended to keep children from danger are being recalled after hundreds of parents reported that they don't work, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

This comes just two months after the same company recalled 900,000 Safety 1st Push ‘N Snap cabinet locks, also due to lock failure.

Dorel Juvenile Group, the parent company of Safety 1st, says it received 278 reports that cabinet locks either didn't properly secure cabinets and another 110 reports that the toilet locks didn't work right. Among those were reports of dozens of small children who were able to open the supposedly childproof locks.

Generally, companies are required by federal law to immediately report product failures with the potential to lead to serious injury. Consumers can report potential product defects on the government's SaferProducts.gov site.

The products being recalled are:

• Safety 1st Sure Fit toilet locks with model numbers 48003 and 48103. The locks attach to the tank behind the lid.


• Safety 1st cabinet slide locks with model numbers 12013 and 12014. These are slide locks that attach to cabinet knobs or handles. The model number is on the back of the locks.

The recalled products were made in China and sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Burlington Coat Factory, Great Beginnings, Home Depot, Target and Walmart. The toilet locks were sold from January 2005 through April 2010 for between $8 and $20 and the cabinet locks were sold between January 2000 through March 2009 for between $2 and $11. The CPSC said Amazon.com sold both locks through April 2012.

If you have any of the recalled products, you are asked to remove them - and any dangerous contents from the cabinets - and contact Dorel to get replacement locks.

For more information, call Dorel at (877) 416-8105 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time or go to their website.

The Federal Trade Commission just announced that Skechers, which claimed its Shape-ups shoes could do the exercise for you, will pay $40 million under a proposed settlement.

Claims included: “Shape Up While You Walk,” and “Get in Shape without Setting Foot in a Gym.”

"Skechers’ unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health," David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. "The FTC’s message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims."

A similar settlement was announced with Reebok in the fall.

If you bought Skechers between 2008 and 2011, you can file a claim here. This settlement, if approved, would also close out a class action lawsuit filed against the company.

Here's a recipe for disaster: Easy money. Secret Shopper. Summer job. Work from home. Stir them all together and you'll end up ripped off.

Who hasn't received a Secret Shopper email? If you haven't read through one of them, they're pitching the idea of a job that pays you money just to go shopping and share your experiences.

While there might really be a job sort of like that, the ones that come by email or through overly rosy ads are fraught with peril. There are some clear-cut giveaways.

MoneyGram, which along with rival Western Union, is a frequent conduit for these scams is warning consumers to watch out for the Secret Shopper come-on.

“With the promise of fast money, it’s no mystery why a consumer might be lured into a fraudulent mystery shopper scheme, but that easy money could turn into a difficult financial lesson,” warns Kim Garner, senior vice president of global security and investigations for MoneyGram.

These scams typically play out like this: After responding to the ad or email, you'll be sent a check to cash. You are to use some of the proceeds to shop, keep some for yourself as payment and then wire the rest back to the service that hired you.

Here's the problem: They sent you a phony check, something you might not find out until a week or more after you've cashed it. Meanwhile, you've sent some and then sent them real money. Your real money. Money you're not going to get back.

Garner offers the following tips to help tell the difference between a real job and a scam:

Look for hints that the employer might not be legitimate, including not displaying a physical address or phone number.
Research the company and see what others have said and whether complaints have been filed.
Be very suspicious of any opportunity to make easy money.
Don't pay anyone money to receive money.
Don't wire money (you're sending cash) to anyone you don't know.

For more tips, check out MoneyGram’s anti fraud site.

Q. Last fall my husband and I traveled on AirTran Airways from Boston to Orlando. Our flight was rerouted and landed in Orlando two hours later than scheduled. To compensate us, AirTran gave us a free roundtrip for any route they operate. After learning they flew from Boston to Seattle, we decided to visit our son on the West Coast and tried to book a flight.

AirTran told me they no longer had service to Seattle, and that Southwest had taken over that route, but I could book a flight on a route they still serviced. I then called Southwest and was informed that they had purchased AirTran, but were not fully merged and would not accept the voucher. My husband and I do not fly a lot, so I would appreciate your advice.

Diane Monigle, Beverly

A. You seem to have fallen in a crack between the two airlines. AirTran’s offer still stands. But they’re just not flying where you want to use it.

So, I reached out to Southwest so see what they were willing to do.

Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz explained that the airlines are still in the process of becoming one and operating separately for the time being. Southwest offered two $100 vouchers to fly on their airline, if flying on AirTran isn’t going to work for you.

“When this was brought to our attention, we worked quickly to give the customer several options for redeeming the travel credit, and we look forward to seeing her onboard again soon,” Mainz said.

Given the original situation that yielded the vouchers, it seems like a reasonable option. You just have to decide which is worth more to you – the credits on Southwest or free flights that won’t get you where you want to go.

When you’re being denied compensation for an inconvenience, not something you paid for, it can be a tough fight. But some companies realize it’s a lot less expensive to offer some sort of credit than to have an unhappy customer who could alter the views of other potential customers. It’s called goodwill.

Your persistence in this case at least resulted in a solution that you can take advantage of.

Q. I have $100 in Piccadilly Pub gift cards. The chain abruptly shuttered their restaurants earlier this spring. My attempts at contact have met with no success. My latest attempt of an email to their posted email address was returned as undeliverable. Can you help? Or is there no hope?

Richard Morin, Hudson

A. Several readers have written in recently about problems with restaurant gift cards. The problem’s always the same: The restaurant – or the company issuing the gift cards – went out of business.

Such was the case with Dinegift, a restaurant gift card service that folded a couple of years ago, and still has consumers peeved. There was some talk about an investigation by the state attorney general, but nothing appears to have come of that.

Christopher Loh, a spokesman for Attorney General Martha Coakley, said “as a matter of policy we can neither confirm nor deny investigations.” He did say, though, that Piccadilly Pub had no complaints filed against it until this year, when 29 were lodged. The main issue: gift cards.

So, is there no hope? Not much. If the gift card was purchased with a credit card, you could file a dispute with your credit card company. Normally, you’ve got 60 days to file such disputes. Given that Piccadilly Pub shut down in February, you’d really be counting on luck.

So, let’s look at this as a cautionary tale. Gift cards and, even more so, discount vouchers like those sold by Groupon and Living Social, are built around infusing a business with cash. You’re paying them in advance with the expectation that they’ll be there when you’re ready to use your certificate or voucher. Piccadilly Pub spent your cash, but there’s no one there to cook or serve a meal.

Restaurants typically run on thin profit margins, so they’re opening and closing all the time. Paying anyone in advance for anything is a risk. In the case of the discounts, you’re taking the risk (some of the coupon sites will guarantee your investment) with the potential reward of extra buying power. The best strategy if you’ve been given a gift card or certificate is to use it right away.

Q. I have an issue regarding a new hot tub I bought in September. I have had multiple issues that have resulted in multiple warranty service calls. The dealer has been responsive, however no response alleviates the frustration of owning something that doesn’t work the way it is supposed to. The hot tub’s stereo feature stopped working and after waiting four weeks for replacement parts it was repaired. The dealer charged me a $49 travel fee to come and make the warranty repairs. Apparently the manufacturer does not reimburse the dealer after a certain number of days for travel, so they are passing that cost to me. This charge seems unreasonable in light of the spa having had multiple issues since I owned it. I did inquire in detail about the warranty prior to purchasing and this travel fee was not disclosed.

Kathy French, Framingham

A. Consumers have a right to expect that the things they buy work the way they’re supposed to. Massachusetts has laws to protect that right even when the manufacturer doesn’t include such protections.

While warranties (and rarely seen guarantees) are what manufacturers offer to provide some measure of protection – an assurance that they’ve got it covered if something goes wrong in a specified time – that doesn’t always mean the same thing from product to product. All warranties are not created equal and neither are all companies.

As much as the notion of the lifetime guarantee has become a rarity, so has the idea that a warranty will cover everything. The state’s law of implied warranty, a consumer protection that is supposed to cover you if an item is defective, says you are entitled to your choice of a replacement, refund, or repair if you receive a defective product.

But, notes state Consumer Affairs spokesman Dan Rosenfeld, a warranty can spell out entirely different terms – including various fees that you could be subject to. The salesperson might not have mentioned that detail, but the company’s warranties do include such a provision.

That being said, many companies would never subject their customers to such fees. Goodwill can be more valuable than $49.

A Boston-based airport transportation firm, Quicklivery, which claims to be able to hook up consumers to car services nationwide is building up a mounting collection of unanswered complaints, the Better Business Bureau said.

The business received an "F" rating for a track record of failing to provide services to customers and not responding to complaints. Quicklivery has been offering discount vouchers on deal sites, which are paid for in advance at a cost savings, but consumers then complain they can't actually use them.

A phone call and email to Quicklivery seeking comment were not immediately returned.

"With more people using discount sites it is imperative people check out a business and read the fine print," said Paula Fleming, vice president of the BBB of Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont. "BBB encourages consumers to not always go with the lowest cost when considering a service as the quality may not be up to your standards."

On the review site Yelp, all seven commenters gave the company the lowest possible rating. They cited the company's unwillingness to accept the vouchers, demands for extra money, being picked up in a personal vehicle, and mainly for never showing up at all. All-in-all, not the kind of service you'd like when you're going to or from an airport.

Q. I have a question about a so-called fund-raiser for a school using GotBooks.com. Now I am hesitant to give my books to this fund-raiser and would like to know what you think about this outfit. In the past, I have donated to church flea markets, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army and have felt 100 percent comfortable. But this one bothers me. What do you think?

A. The question you raise is a good one – not just regarding GotBooks.com, but the entire genre of outfits like it.
First, let’s be clear. These are businesses, not charities, although they typically donate some of what they make to schools, churches, and other non-profits that commit to collecting books, CDs, and DVDs (or something else) by using boxes placed on their property.
Quite a few other businesses, such as the Savers thrift-store chain, solicit clothing and other donations. Some sort and ship clothing around the world, often to poor nations, to be sold.
These businesses are becoming quite common. Drop-off boxes you might see around town – even those with the name of a charity on it – will often be the tool of a for-profit business that gives a percentage of its earnings to that charity.
Instead of sharing a percentage with charities that host its drop-boxes, GotBooks pays by the pound, with the average non-profit earning about $1,500 a year in the program, said owner Bob Ticehurst. “They don’t have to do any work for it.”
A lot of consumers don’t realize that companies are making money from their donations. These companies respond that they are taking things you don’t want and giving at least something to charity. It certainly isn’t the same, though, as simply giving your stuff to he Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Because these are businesses – GotBooks sells what it collects through its Used Book Superstore chain and online sales – they don’t have to be transparent, as charities do. In other words, you don’t know whether 1 percent or 50 percent of the proceeds go to the cause you’re supporting.
The next time you donate, figure out to whom you’re really giving your stuff. You can then decide if helping someone profit should be part of your charitable donation.

What do you think of when you hear the word “spring?” Crocuses sprouting? Buds on trees? Warming temperatures?

How about home improvement scams?

Spring was but a few days old when the Worcester Police Department issued a scam alert about pavers going door-to-door with a story about having leftover asphalt so they could fill your driveway potholes -- cheap. Then, surprise, they tell you that you owe them a lot more money. They tend to target seniors, who are often more likely to succumb to face-to-face pressure.

No need to think only about pavers. They just as easily could have been sketchy roofers or shady jacks of some other trade.

To avoid a scam contractor, there are a few simple steps to take. The best place to start is the state Department of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation list of contractor registrations. To get the protections provided by law, you need to be sure the contractor you want to use is on that list.

Home improvement contractors are required by state law to be registered with the state. The contractor should apply for and obtain (rather than you doing it) a municipal permit for any job that requires one. Permitting is another step that gives the consumer some oversight – making both a record of the work and bringing an inspector to check that it’s done according to code.

The state does not require contractors to have liability insurance, so it’s on you to be sure they’re covered in case of an accident on the job. Be sure to ask for a copy of the cover sheet of their policy. Evaluate who you’re planning to hire. Ask around for recommendations. Check the Better Business Bureau complaint database.

Invite at least three to evaluate the job and provide estimates in writing. You’ll have a chance to compare their personalities, approach and what they’re charging. Specifics should be in writing (materials, dates, and the like) with payment at various stages of completion and no more than one-third paid upfront. Pay with a credit card or by check so you have a written record of your payments.

More fees? Now all the major cell phone carriers are charging a fee, on top of any other charge they might dream up, to upgrade your phone.

After all the fuss over bank fees - the fuss, that, if you don't remember, stopped Bank of America from charging for the privilege of having one of their debit cards - it is unfortunate that another enormously profitable business has gone the fee route.

How about making a fuss about this? It stinks. Doesn't it?

Who hasn't looked forward to the end of the two years or so of their cell phone contracts and making an additional commitment to get a new - and free - phone. Thank you Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint, for ruining the fun.

Verizon this week became the last of the biggies to charge this new fee. AT&T and Sprint are the priciest at $36. Verizon undercut them by $6 and is charging $30, while T-Mobile looks practically generous levying half the fee of AT&T and Sprint. That's still $18 more than they were charging before this fee-fest.

"I am very concerned that consumers have little choice in the cellular phone marketplace except to pay this new activation fee when upgrading to a new phone," state Consumer Affairs chief Barbara Anthony said. "With the announcement this week by Verizon, all four cellular phone carriers are charging upgrade fees – in addition to the price of a new phone."

The idea of long-term cell phone contracts has always been a risk for consumers - with the reward being the free phone - so Anthony cautions consumers to be particularly attentive to what they are agreeing to.

Here are some tips from her office:

• Ask for all information in writing up front.


• Understand what you are buying.


• Try to negotiate the most consumer-friendly plan.


• Don’t sign any documents without fully reading all the material.


• Pay special attention to cellular phone contract terms.

Q. I believe I am in a “Catch 22” with my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. The company advertises the Elantra as getting 29 mpg. I complained of getting 16-18 miles per gallon with mine. Its analysis, however, indicated that it was getting only 15.3 mpg. According to the company, my car is operating as designed. At that mileage rate, I will be using 100 percent more gasoline -- about $7,000 over the life of the car at today’s gas prices. Hyundai has just finished its “final repair” and I have filed a Lemon Law complaint. I hope that you can help me.

SUSAN MILLER, Somerville

A. Having your car’s performance that much lower than what the window sticker suggests is certainly cause for concern. If you buy a car because it’s supposed to be fuel efficient, your expectations aren’t likely to be hovering around the 15 miles per gallon range.

Still, the Lemon Law is really intended for vehicles with mechanical defects, and at least a first blush, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

But Jim Trainor, a spokesman for Hyundai Motor America, said your fuel number is so far out of the norm that the company will send a “higher level field engineer” to check out the car.

“We’re happy to look at her car to make sure there’s nothing seriously wrong with it,” Trainor said. “This is not typical of the mileage that most drivers get with their Elantras.”

He said he drives an Elantra that performs far better and is sympathetic to your plight.

But Trainor also pointed out something that many consumers might not understand: the EPA miles per gallon estimates advertised on the windows of new cars aren’t based on actual driving. Someone who drives in Boston rush-hour traffic, for example, will typically fare far worse. As the the EPA’s fuel efficiency disclaimer notes, “Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.”

The question in this case is just how much worse than that estimate is acceptable? And what can – or should – Hyundai do about it? Stay tuned.

Here's some rough news Red Sox fans: If you want to go to a game, you'll have to shell out more than the fans of any other team in baseball.

That's if you don't already have a ticket or manage to score one from the box office. On the secondary market, which trades vigorously in Red Sox tickets, the average price of a seat at Fenway is $151, according to the ticket aggregator TiqIQ.com. (You can see more about other teams in my story for Time.)

That's not all. Sox tickets top pretty much every category: Most expensive Opening Day ticket and the five priciest single game tickets in all of baseball.

A seat at Opening Day next week at Fenway is already averaging $306 a seat. Averaging. TiqIQ presents a collection of seats that are on sale through vendors including StubHub, TicketsNow, TicketNetwork and eBay.

Opening Day may be the highest priced ticket for every other team in baseball. Not the Sox.

How about paying an average of $509 for the first match-up of the season with the Yankees on April 20? That would be more than $2,000 for four seats, if you get the average priced ticket.

You can still do it on the cheap, by comparison, and get a seat in the bleachers for between $100 and $150 a ticket for that game. And, if money is no object, there are field box seats going for more than $2,000 apiece.

Here are the five priciest games so far (all at Fenway), according to TiqIQ:

• April 20 against the Yankees ($509)
• July 6 against the Yankees ($356)
• July 7 against the Yankees ($335)
• April 13 against the Tampa Bay Rays ($306)
• Sept. 12 against the Yankees ($278)

So, if you've got money to spare or you've saved up for the privilege, you, too, can go to Fenway to see the Sox. Or you can make every effort to be one of the lucky ones who actually gets a ticket from the box office (or a friend with season tickets). Still not cheap, but a lot less than the open market can bring.

Q. I received a notice in the mail stating that I owe $28.74 to the “Legal Successor of Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery Inc. and that debt has been placed with Universal Fidelity LP, a national collection agency. My credit score is excellent. I have never received a prior notice that I owed any money to Hollywood Video. I was a customer of Hollywood Video and left them in 2006 for Netflix. The notice says I rented three movies in 2009. I hate to pay for something that I have no responsibility for, but for about $29, should I just do it to protect my credit?

Lisa Karol, Pembroke

A. Short answer: No.

If you’re sure you didn’t watch those movies – and you certainly seem to be – don’t pay for them. On Universal Fidelity’s website is an email address to file an appeal of the debt. Object to the collection notice and that’s it. It isn’t usually that simple.

Collection of old debt on the books of Hollywood Video, which filed for bankruptcy and shut down in 2010, has been a big problem for a lot of consumers. The original, very aggressive attempt to collect – those who owed a few dollars of late fees were having credit reports tarnished - led to action by all 50 attorneys general and a settlement that changed the way the debt could be collected.

One of the changes is that collection agencies working on behalf of the bankruptcy court, such as Universal Fidelity, can no longer report unpaid debt to a credit agency. Nor can they add interest, additional late fees, or collection charges. Still, thousands of consumers have complained about attempts to collect these old debts, which many have said they didn’t owe.

About 4,000 have complained to Universal Fidelity after getting notices, according to Paul Farinacci, the company’s chief executive. About 40,000 of the 400,000 accounts that Universal Fidelity is pursuing have paid outstanding bills, he said.

“The one hurdle we haven’t been able to get over are these complaints that ‘I don’t owe this. I don’t remember,’” Farinacci said. “If a consumer truly believes they don’t owe this, they should dispute it. If you owe you should pay it, if you don’t, you shouldn’t.”

Q. In September 2010, I had taken flowers from my brother-in-law’s funeral and sent them to Keepsake Rosaries to have two rosaries and a wristlet made. I have not received any of the items. I have left countless messages and emails. The owner provides only automated email responses and never returns phone calls. My frustration is beyond words right now.

Doreen Quinn, Holbrook

A. There is no doubt this is an absolute mess. Keepsake Rosaries, which operates from Garnerville, N.Y. and takes orders via a website, has a long list of consumers dealing with the same issues.

Attempts to resolve this were met with phone calls that didn’t go through and emails bouncing back with messages that the mailbox was full. A note on the website reads: “Thank you for your continued patience, we are working very hard to get orders out quicker.”

But there’s no evidence that’s the case. The business, which, unfortunately, is built around preserving memories of loved ones, seems to collect money – and religious items – from customers and then cut off contact.

Keepsake has had an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau since at least 2010. Claire Rosenzweig, chief executive of the Better Business Bureau serving Metropolitan New York, said her organization hasn’t had any better luck dealing with this outfit, with 60 complaint letters going unanswered. She said she hopes that consumers seeking to place an order with Keepsake check the company’s complaint history on BBB.org.

“We try to get people to understand this is a resource available to them” Rosenzweig said. “If we have a company where there are just no responses, we post it so people can see it.”

She added her office would look into the matter further. The Better Business Bureau can only mediate disputes and publicize its experiences with businesses.

Consumers who’ve placed orders with Keepsake can file complaints with the attorney general’s office or consumer affairs office to see whether government intervention might shake something loose. The more people that complain, the better that a government agency might take on the case.

Meanwhile, Keepsake should have the decency – if it can’t do the work – to return customers’ keepsakes and give them back their money.

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers about a group of children's charities that funnel only a small percentage of donations to the causes they're supporting.

An investigation by BBB said the charities, which solicit nationally, used professional fundraisers to raise cash that gave less than 20 cents on the dollar - some as little as 1 penny per dollar donated - to the actual cause.

The charities used as examples by the BBB in St. Louis, where a direct-mail marketer is located, include Kids Wish Network, Children's Cancer Fund of America, Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, National Cancer Assistance Foundation -- which operates Children’s Cancer Dream Network, Children’s Cancer Assistance Fund and Breast Cancer Assistance Fund.

The most extreme case the BBB investigation found was for the Children’s Cancer Dream Network, which is part of the National Cancer Assistance Foundation. The charity reported raising $1.2 million in 2010 and spending $15,600 directly on cancer patients and their families.

"It's a sad reality that there are children’s charities that feel they have to contract with expensive outside fundraisers to bring in money,” Jim Judge, the BBB's director of charity review said. “Profit-making fundraising companies sometimes take $8, $9 or more from every $10 donation, leaving the charities with pennies.”

Here's what the BBB found about those charities:

• Kids Wish Network of Holiday, Fla., a wish-granting charity for ill children. The charity reported that 10 fundraising companies raised nearly $16 million on behalf of the charity in 2010, the most recent year in which information is available. Of that, about $1.9 million went to the charity, or 12 cents of each $1 donation.


• Children’s Cancer Fund of America of Powell, Tenn., a charity that assists families of children with cancer. The charity reported that six fundraising companies brought in $8.4 million in 2010. About $1.6 million of that total – or 19 cents of each dollar – went to the charity.


• Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation of Schererville, Ind., a charity that addresses childhood autism issues. The charity reported that its three fundraisers raised nearly $2.6 million in contributions in 2010. Total to the charity: $164,000, or about six cents of each $1 donated.


• National Cancer Assistance Foundation of Sarasota, Fla., . Two fundraising companies took in $1.8 million in donations on behalf of the charity in 2010. The total paid to the charity: $143,000 or eight cents of each $1 in donations. Precision Performance Marketing, a St. Louis County-based business that does direct mail fundraising work for the charity, kept $792,000 of $817,000 it raised for the charity, leaving the charity with three cents of each dollar donated.


• National Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Brooklyn, N. Y. which says it funds leukemia research, family outreach and other programs. The 2010 990 report says three fundraisers brought in nearly $3 million. The charity ended up with 20 cents of each $1 raised.

And the BBB had this advice for donors:

1. Find out if the fundraising campaign of any charity that solicits you is being run by a profit-making fundraiser. Ask how much of your contribution will go to the charity and how much will be retained by the fundraising company.
2. Before donating, ask for written information about a charity’s programs and finances – especially if you are unfamiliar with the organization.
3. Don’t bend to pressure to give money immediately. A charity that wants your money today also will welcome it at a later date.
4. Be cautious about charities that use names similar to well-known national organizations. Sometimes, an organization will choose a name hoping that donors will confuse it with the better-known charity.
5. Make sure a charity’s website has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal information.
6. Check a charity’s IRS “Form 990” report by visiting www.guidestar.org. The Internal Revenue Service requires most tax-exempt organizations to file a Form 990.
7. For more information on a charitable organization check www.bbb.org.

The anti pink slime in ground beef juggernaut has pushed another grocery chain, Wegmans, away from using the meat scrap mixture that has grossed out consumers nationwide.

The high-end chain of mega grocery stores, with its first New England location now open in Northborough, defended the slurry but said the "sensationalism" of the issue forced its hand.

Here's a statement from Danny Wegman, CEO, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.:

“We’ve made a decision to stop selling ground beef that contains Lean Finely Textured Beef. Having grown up in the meat business, we have always been proud of our ground beef and eat it ourselves. Because of the sensationalism of this issue it has become a concern for our customers. Every decision we make is with our customers in mind. Our commitment remains the same. We will continue to source the best quality ground beef, now without lean finely textured beef.”

Krogers, the nation's largest supermarket chain, has also said it will no longer sell "Lean Finely Textured Beef," better known by the pejorative "pink slime." The filler is made of leftover and otherwise inedible beef scraps that are heated and then treated with an antibacterial.

McDonald's has said it stopped making burgers with pink slime last summer.

Krogers' announcement followed that of Safeway and Supervalu (owner of Shaw's) - the second and third largest grocery chains. Walmart, not technically a grocer, but the biggest food retailer in the country, did not follow suit. However, the retail behemoth said it would offer alternatives wherever it carried beef made with pink slime. Consumers would have to ask to find out which packages have the mixture and which don't.

UPDATE (March 23): More developments on this issue can be found here.

The idea of heated scraps from the butchering process, often treated with ammonia, being used as filler in ground beef understandably conjures up a negative response for most consumers. That the substance has been dubbed "pink slime" doesn't make it go down any better.

Recent awareness of the issue has led grocery stores to mark their turf as consumers increasingly are expressing their concern and displeasure over the use of the filler, which can't be easily detected. There is no labeling requirement that would show that nor is it visually obvious. However, organic ground beef, which is regulated, cannot contain the concoction.

Pink slime in ground beef isn't new (watch chef Jamie Oliver explain about it in this video last year), but a recent report by ABC News finally caught the public's attention and grocery stores are reacting.

Shaw's yesterday announced it was going slime-free. Oh yeah, it should be pointed out that the industry doesn't call it pink slime. They call it "finely textured beef."

"While it’s important to remember there are no food safety concerns with products containing finely textured beef, this decision was made due to ongoing customer concerns over these products," Shaw's said in an emailed statement. "All current beef products in our stores meet strict safety and quality standards approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Shaw's (part of the Supervalu chain) isn't the only grocer to take a position. Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky, who runs ConsumerWorld.org, asked a dozen retailers who serve Massachusetts (many are national operations) where they stand on slime.

Foodmaster, Roche Bros., Whole Foods, and Costco said they do not use the filler in their ground beef products. Price Chopper said it does not use pink slime in its fresh ground beef, but has asked its suppliers whether they use it in the frozen products the chain carries, Dworsky said.

BJ’s Wholesale Club currently sells ground beef, fresh and frozen, made with the substance but will stop carrying slime-laced fresh ground beef on April 7 and frozen on April 20. Hannaford said it, too, will abandon use of the filler.

At least three regional chains that serve the area acknowledge they do use the filler. "Stop & Shop, Market Basket, and Wegmans say that except for some varieties mostly of the organic type, much of their ground beef contains pink slime, but that their processing plants use a safer antibacterial agent on the meat scraps," Dworsky said.

Big Y did not immediately respond to the survey, Dworsky said.

Q. I spent $2,805.73 at Jordan’s Furniture during their heavily promoted “Monster Hit Bounceback,” where a Jordan’s sign was placed in Fenway Park. If a Red Sox player hit the ball on the sign, everyone who bought furniture at Jordan’s would get their money back and if nobody hit the sign, you’d get 20 percent of your total qualified purchases back as a credit toward a future purchase.

I received a coupon in the mail for $561.15. Awesome. The coupon expired on Feb. 29th. I realized this on March 4th. Not so awesome. I emailed Jordan’s ASAP to see if they had some flexibility. They replied within a day and reminded me that the coupon expired on Feb. 29th. Any chance you can make a few phone calls for me?

Brendan Lafferty, Taunton

A. Sadly, I struck out, which isn’t a surprise. But it should serve notice to others who have something of value that could expire.

It’s also pretty clear this isn’t the only case of money going down the drain. Stores can bank on a good number of consumers losing track of coupons like this one – even if they are potentially worth hundreds of dollars. Jordan’s spokeswoman Heather Copelas wouldn’t say what percentage of those who received the coupons didn’t redeem them.

“Our Monster Hit coupons were distributed via mail to customers at the end of the 2011 regular Red Sox season,” Copelas said. “Each coupon clearly stated terms and conditions, including expiration date. Customers had the opportunity to use their 20 percent rebate from October 2011 through Feb. 29, 2012 – a five month time frame.

“It is unfortunate that Mr. Lafferty did not have an opportunity to redeem his coupon. We hope that he understands that Jordan’s, in fairness to all of our customers, is obligated to abide by terms and conditions of this promotion.”

The state Consumer Affairs office noted that since customers didn’t pay for the bonus – it was a prize promotion – the store could set the terms of expiration as long as it was upfront about it. It was.

“While I appreciate that they took the time to call (thanks to your help),” Lafferty said, “the expensive lesson is learned. Use those coupons/gift cards/credits quickly,”.

Well said.

This is the notice posted by the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding Direct Air's ceasing service, including information on their escrow account and surety bond:

Southern Sky Air Tours, d/b/a Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Tours (Direct Air) ― a public charter operator ― announced on or about March 13, 2012, that it ceased operations. Set forth below are certain alternatives available to Direct Air customers.

Air Transportation

Direct Air was authorized by the Department to operate public charter flights between numerous cities and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and points in Florida. Under Department regulations, Direct Air was required to have in place an escrow account into which all charter participant funds were to be deposited until payment was made to the airline that was to perform their charter flights. The Department is investigating the handling of that escrow account. In addition, as required by Department rules, Direct Air has in place a surety bond in the amount of $200,000 protecting charter participant payments.

The company has announced that it intends to restart operations as of May 15, 2012; however, the company currently does not have authority to do so and that announcement does not affect consumers who currently are in mid-trip or who had paid for but had not yet begun travel under the current program that has been canceled.

At this time, it is unclear whether consumers who have completed the outbound portion of their trip and need to return home will be provided return transportation by Direct Air but we have been advised that the company is working with the airlines involved with its charter program to provide return flights. Direct Air has established a toll-free number that should be operational at the time of publication of this fact sheet or shortly thereafter to provide consumers more information about this matter. That number is 1-855-888-8090.

Obtaining a Refund

Consumers affected by Direct Air’s cessation of service who are due a refund need to be able to prove to the escrow bank and surety bond company that they purchased charter air transportation or an air charter tour package from Direct Air. Documents that may accomplish that might include a Direct Air receipt or invoice, or possibly the consumer’s credit card purchase record.

Under Department rules, consumers may request a refund from Direct Air by writing to the company at 1600 Oak Street, Suite B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, with copies sent to the company’s escrow depository bank, Valley National Bank, 1455 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470, and to the holder of its surety bond, Platte River Insurance Company, Alejandro Navarro, Attorney-in-Fact, 700 A Lake Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446. Claims made under the surety bond must be made within 60 days of the date of the originally-scheduled return air transportation. Claims are limited to the amount paid by the consumer for the charter air transportation or air charter tour package.

Credit and Debit Card Refunds

Customers who paid Direct Air by credit card may be entitled to a credit from their credit card company under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Write to your credit card issuer, being sure to state your account number. Enclose a photocopy of your credit card statement, if you have received one, and a photocopy of your ticket, itinerary or receipt if possible, or indicate the price of the transportation and the date it was purchased. State that Direct Air has ceased operations, that you will not receive the product that you charged to your account (i.e., the comprehensive tour), and that you are requesting a credit pursuant to the Fair Credit Billing Act.

The credit card issuer must receive this notice no later than 60 days after the date that you received the first monthly statement that listed the Direct Air charge, although credit card companies sometimes waive this deadline for future transportation. If you have a paper ticket or other evidence of your transportation, some credit card issuers may ask for the original unused ticket or other documentation. If this is requested, keep a photocopy and send the original by certified mail. Do not send the original documentation unless it is requested. However, it would be a good idea to enclose a copy of any confirmation or itinerary sheet that you may have received.

There are no federal protections for debit card purchases of the type described above for credit cards. However, some debit card issuers voluntarily provide some or all of those protections. If you paid by debit card, check with your debit card issuer regarding your refund rights.

It's just getting worse for Direct Air customers. The only air carrier to serve Worcester Regional Airport has cancel all its flights through at least May 15, the company announced today.

Here is the company's statement posted to its website:

"Direct Air finds it necessary to suspend flight operation from Tuesday, March 13, 2012 until May 15, 2012. This decision was made to address operational matters. We are currently evaluating strategic alternatives for Direct Air.

Direct Air is committed to our passengers, employees, and the communities we serve.

Passengers holding reservations for Direct Air flights departing between Tuesday, March 13, 2012 and Tuesday, May 15, 2012 are directed to contact their credit card company to arrange for a refund.

Please check back here for more details.

Very Truly Yours,
Direct Air"

In other words, they are not going to deal with consumers and going to make them dispute charges for non-service. What the statement doesn't address is all the people they sucked into paying them upfront for either their Friends and Family vouchers (Disclosure: I bought a pair for my in-laws) or the club-like arrangement they recently set up.

Direct Air has exhibited all the indications of a cash-strapped operation and unfortunately, spring vacation is messed up for thousands now because of it. When the top executives of the company told me how upsetting it was for them to hear the doubts of New Englanders, it's pretty clear whose radar was working. New England consumers could smell the weakness of the company and the company protested a wee bit too much.

Now that it's clear who was right, everyone's a loser - all the people whose vacation plans are in a shambles (you can't code share a charter flight) and have to start all over - and certainly Direct Air. If that outfit every came back to life it would have to a no reservation pay-as-you-go service since no one would trust them with their money.

Q. On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I briefly powered up my phone – never using it for calls, texting, or Internet and arrived back to home to find my phone had been disconnected by Verizon Wireless because of roaming charges that amounted to $599.58. After some discussions with customer service, I was told I would be charged $30 to be retroactively put on a plan that would have covered the roaming and then receive a $569 credit. I disagreed with the fee, but found it a reasonable solution. Three weeks later, after not seeing the credit, I was told the charges were valid and I again owed the full amount. It is unfair to treat a customer like this. Can you help?

Bob Spellane, Worcester

A. Just when you think you have a problem solved, it’s a problem all over again. The solution did seem reasonable compared to the alternative.

Given the about-face (a good example of why you need to get these sorts of promises in writing) and how common this sort of issue is, I asked the folks at Verizon Wireless to revisit the situation and offer some advice for those planning to travel outside the country. Verizon’s policy is to not discuss customer-specific issues, but it appears they will honor that offer of charging $30 for the basic “Global Data” plan.

The lesson here is that while your phone might work outside the United States, you could end up paying through the nose if you don’t make arrangements in advance. With today’s smart phones, as soon as a device is turned on, it starts looking for updates for email, social networks, and applications of all sorts that are quietly running in the background. It doesn’t take long to collect a lot of data and get charged for it.

Verizon Wireless spokesman Michael Murphy suggests that customers planning an international trip should get in touch with their carrier and find out whether their devices will work where they’re going and how much it might cost to use them – as well options available to keep costs manageable. Similar information is available at www.verizonwireless.com/global.

Avoid a surprise bill when you get home and sort out your wireless situation before you leave.

(CLICK HERE for follow-up post updated at 2 p.m. March 13.)

Direct Air, the charter carrier that has been flying to Florida and South Carolina from the little-used Worcester Regional Airport, canceled all flights Monday night without warning.

Consumers have had a love-hate relationship with Direct Air - which actually has no planes of its own, but leases them from a collection of other carriers. Since service started in 2008, Central Massachusetts residents have had an option to avoid the busier area airports (Direct Air has been the only carrier serving Worcester).

Direct Air only runs routes from Worceter to a handful of locations, primarily Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Sanford, Fla. and Punta Gorda, Fla. Sheduling problems with the leased planes, mechanical issues and frequent complaints about poor communication when something goes awry, have dogged Direct Air.

Passengers on the scattered routes served by Direct Air, from Rockford, Ill., to Niagara Falls to its home airport in Myrtle Beach complained late into the night that they couldn't get an explanation for why every flight Monday evening was canceled. The carrier has no scheduled flights on any of its routes on Tuesdays and the next flight in or out of Worcester isn't scheduled until Thursday.

A growing list of posts on the company's Facebook page from frustrated customers disappeared shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The company did not immediately respond to a request to explain the cancellations and the apparent sanitizing of its Facebook page.

In an interview in November when I discussed with them their cancellation of new service planned for Puerto Rico (due to a claimed unavailability of aircraft to lease), the company's top officials told me of their commitment to the market and were dismayed that Massachusetts consumers had questioned their staying power.

It's question time again.