Consumer alert!

Those automated telephone calls telling you the warranty on your car is expiring and trying to sell you an extended warranty should become a thing of the past following a federal settlement with the company that was making the calls.
Read details about the federal action by clicking here.

State officials have ordered Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp., a national mortgage company, to immediately cease and desist from operating as a mortgage lender or servicer in Michigan. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) suspended Taylor Bean’s approval to make FHA loans and the company’s status as an approved Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae mortgage servicer was terminated due to questionable business practices and disclosures. Last week, federal investigators raided Taylor Bean’s headquarters in Ocala, FL.
As of Dec. 31, 2008, Taylor Bean made nearly 4,000 mortgages in Michigan totaling more than $500 million and serviced more than 10,000 mortgages totaling over $1.2 billion.
“Consumers who have mortgages with Taylor Bean should continue to make their payments as usual and if they have any questions or complaints they should contact OFIR.” Commissioner Ken Ross said.
Consumers can contact OFIR toll-free at 877-999-6442.

The Federal Trade Commission is charging four textile companies with misleading consumers into thinking their products were made from bamboo when they actually were made from synthetic rayon.
To read the article and see the complaint, click here.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler vehicles showed big improvements in the latest initial quality study on new vehicles by J.D. Power and Associates, although imports still led in overall initial quality. Learn more by clicking here.

Federal officials are warning consumers against using three different over-the-counter Zicam cold remedies because they can lead to permanent or temporary loss of smell.
For details, click here.

The Federal Trade Commission has halted the activities of a telemarketer touting extended auto warranties.
Read the details by clicking here.

The Food and Drug Administration has sent a warning letter to General Mills advising it that its Cheerios Whole Grain Oat cereal is mislabeled and must be considered an unapproved drug due to prominent claims on the packaging that it can cut cholesterol in the blood.
Apparently, a labeling change will have to be made.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published a handy guide for buyers and sellers of secondhand goods to keep them from doing business in recalled or tainted consumer products.
It outlines the new rules that apply to secondhand stores, garage and yard sales and consignment and thrift shops.

Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats do not improve the attentiveness of kids, contrary to the company’s advertising claims, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The federal agency and Battle Creek cereal-maker this week settled their dispute over the matter. Read about it here.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging consumers to do a little homework before purchasing meat or poultry from a door-to-door salesperson.
“Door-to-door meat sales offers Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens the ease of being able to shop at home, but it also provides an opportunity for some bad actors to take advantage of them,” said Don Koivisto, MDA Director. “I’m urging consumers to do a little homework before making a purchase to safeguard their health and their pocketbooks.”
Consumers should follow these tips when buying meat or poultry from a door-to-door salesperson:
–Be an informed buyer. Know exactly what you are buying and from whom.
–Make sure all receipts and accompanying documentation are complete including the seller’s name and address; and keep a copy for your records.
–Never buy meat from an unrefrigerated vehicle or from the trunk of a car.
–All food must come from an approved source, have the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal of inspection, complete and intact labeling that identifies the product, cuts, lists ingredients, and a net weight declaration.
An MDA issued decal must be conspicuously displayed on each side of the vehicle so as to be visible when in transit and while serving the public. Decals are issued each licensing year in different colors – yellow for 2009.
The name and address of the business must be affixed to the exterior side of the vehicle in letters not less than 3″ high x 3/8″ wide and in colors contrasting the background color of the vehicle.
Many communities require a vendor’s permit to operate door to door. This is a business license and is not a replacement for the required MDA mobile food establishment license.
Call your local Better Business Bureau to see if you are doing business with a reputable firm.

Unemployed Michigan workers will begin collecting an extra $25 a week in unemployment benefits starting next week.
The extra federal-funded benefits are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was enacted in February.
Unemployed workers will receive a retroactive lump sum payment for any weeks they claimed and were eligible for going back to the week ending February 28, when the benefit increase became effective. The lump sum payment could be $25 to $75. These back payments are expected to be issued in April.
The added benefits will temporarily increase all state and federal unemployment benefit payments and temporarily boost Michigan’s maximum weekly benefit from $362 to $387. The $25 is a temporary payment that will be applied to weeks of unemployment for those with current claims and those who establish claims before the end of 2009. FAC payments will be phased out by the week ending July 3, 2010, according to the state Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Michigan’s unemployment rate in January soared to 11.6 percent from 10.2 percent in December, boosted by a decline in auto sales and rise in auto-related layoffs.
The Detroit-Livonia-Warren area rate rose to 11.9 percent. And average weekly wages plunged statewide.
Learn more here.
Rates for individual labor markets, such as Monroe County, probably will be issued sometime next week. Anybody want to bet the county’s rate will top 12 percent?