consumer alert

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Watch out for Medicare scams

  Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Medicare loses $60 billion to $80 billion a year to fraud, and this year, for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, your local Senior Medicare Patrol has good advice on how to spot a con. There are plenty of scams to be aware of. Karen Joy Fletcher, communications director with […]
Sunday, May 25, 2025

More consumers are buying electric vehicles, especially in California

  Terri Dee, producer, Indiana News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.     Supporters of electric vehicle ownership say there are several advantages to owning one. Studies show EVs can convert 85% to 90% of their energy into forward movement. Most of the electricity used in an EV vehicle is American-made, and an EV can be charged at […]
Saturday, May 24, 2025

Water safety should be a top priority during the Memorial Day holiday weekend

  Joe Ulery, producer, Indiana News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.     As Memorial Day kicks off summer across the country, Americans will flock to lakes, rivers, and pools, and safety should be on everyone’s mind. William Ramos, associate professor in the School of Public Health at Indiana University in Bloomington, said water safety depends on layers of protection, […]
Thursday, May 22, 2025

Medical debt relief coming for thousands of Los Angeles County residents

  More than 134,000  Los Angeles County residents with heavy medical debt will receive a special notice in the mail this week. The notice declares the recipient’s medical debt has been erased or retired. This is the first wave of a new program. Last December, the county joined forces with the national non-profit Undue Medical Debt to launch the medical […]
Sunday, May 18, 2025

Passenger complaints about US airlines soar

    Alex Gonzalez, producer,, Arizona News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.    The relationship between US airlines and air travelers is somewhat bumpy. Last year, flyers filed approximately 67,000 complaints, a 9% increase from 2023, according to a new report from the Education Fund of the Public Interest Research Group. The top grievances were cancellations and delays, […]
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

IRS Direct File can save taxpayers time and money

    Kathryn Carley, producer, Keystone State News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.    Across the country, from California to Pennsylvania, a growing number of states are offering residents access to the Internal Revenue Service’s free tax filing system, Direct File. The online tool was created to save people time and money.  It allows taxpayers to file directly […]
Thursday, March 20, 2025

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cuts put Americans at risk

  Eric Galatas, producer, Colorado News Connection, a bureau of Public News Service.   Americans with low bank balances would be on the hook for an extra $225 a year if Congress voted to roll back a new rule that would cap overdraft fees to $5. Some of these fees had been as high as $35. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, […]
Friday, February 28, 2025

Scams related to recent LA wildfires surging

Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.   Scams are rising in the wake of the Los Angeles fires, according to a warning on social media from the Pasadena Police Department – so experts have some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. There have been reports of people pretending to be fire victims, approaching shoppers […]