By Susan Barnett

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It’s a 3 On Your Side Investigation. A teenager is injured by a spa treatment that millions of women and men get all the time. It seems like it would be simple treatment but it left a Philadelphia girl hurt and in tears. CBS 3 Anchor Susan Barnett reports.

The picture Carole Rocchi took of her daughter’s face shows a lip that is terribly bruised and swollen.

“It hurt so bad,” said 16 year old Maria Rocchi.

The day before her winter formal Maria says she went to Cindy’s Nails in Northeast Philadelphia to get her upper lip waxed.

“The wax felt a little hotter,” said Maria.

She’d had the treatment there before but this time something went wrong during the waxing.

When they ripped it off they actually ripped off my skin, I could like feel it burning,” she said.

Her lip was bleeding and by the time Maria got home, the lip began to swell.

“It just was getting bigger and bigger and it was kind of scary,” Maria said.

“She slept in my bed that night crying the whole night she was very upset,” said Carole. “They really hurt her and that’s very upsetting to me.”

Not only was Maria going to miss the dance, she was headed to the emergency room.

But before that, Maria and her mom went back to the salon.

“I just wanted them to see what they did and we didn’t know how bad it was until that night,” said Carole.

But the salon had nothing to say according to Carole. So, 3 On Your Side paid a visit to Cindy’s Nails to see if anyone would talk to us.

When we asked to see the owner or a manager we were told neither the owner nor the manager was there. And when we asked to see a license, no one could show us one.

It turns out that Cindy’s nails was not licensed to perform waxing when Maria was there in December 2011.

In fact, state records obtained by Eyewitness News show the shop’s license expired in January of last year.

“What’s expected to come off is hair not skin,” said Ani White, a licensed cosmetologist at Deme.

She says the key to preventing skin damage from waxing is the texture of the wax.

“The wax consistency should be thick, if it’s too watery that means the wax is too hot,” said White.

White says she tests the wax temperature by applying it to the inner wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.

And a barrier cream should be used to protect the skin.

“Waxing isn’t just a simple technique,” says Main Line Dermatologist Doctor Victoria Cirillo-Hyland.

Dr. Cirillo-Hyland has treated waxing injuries like burns, allergic reactions and infections.

“You need to have some medical background before you just launch right in to waxing somebody,” she said. “We always ask about using acne medicines because a lot of them contain retinoids and retinoids make the skin more sensitive to the wax.”

Maria says she was not using any medication or creams.

It’s unclear why she was injured.

Her lip is healed now but Maria can still see where the damage was done.

“It’s a little scar from the burn,” she said.

Cindy’s Nails which has been cited for waxing violations in the past did not respond to our request for an interview.

Incidentally the salon’s license was reactivated the same day we were there asking questions.

In all 3 states in our area, salon licenses are supposed to be on display.

You can also ask to see the license of an employee.

You can check a salon’s status online on the links we’ve set up.

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/licensing/12483
http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/index.shtml
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/cosmetology/

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Imagine getting paid to watch TV. That’s what a new iPhone and iPad app promises its users. 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan has the news on the tube.

It may look like Sean Luxton and his son Charlie are simply watching TV.

“It’s cool to earn rewards for watching TV,” said Charlie.

You’ve heard of pay per view. This is more like get paid to view.

Sean explained, “You’re always watching TV. You always have your smart phone with you, and all you’re doing is, all Viggle is doing is knitting the two together.”

Here’s how Viggle works: You download the free Viggle app. You hold up your iPhone or iPad, and Viggle registers whatever program you’re watching.

Jason Reindorp, Viggle vice president of marketing, said, “Viggle is able to identify the show you’re watching, and it checks you in and you get points for that.

“You have loyalty programs for taking trips on planes, for renting cars, but think of all the time that you watch TV. Why shouldn’t you get rewarded for that?” Reindorp said.

You can earn even more points by playing games and taking quizzes. The points then earn you gift cards to Starbucks, fast food restaurants, department stores, movie tickets, or you can elect to donate to a favorite charity.

The list of shows that reward you for your couch potato status seems endless

“What we are able to see is patterns in the way that people are checking into shows,” said Reindorp. “All of this really helps the advertisers that we we work with (to) target appropriate advertising to the individual.”

Is this a violation of privacy?

“We are super, super focused on making sure that no personal information is gathered or shared in any way,” said Reindorp.

Viggle users earned points for watching the Grammy awards, although it might have been too popular. Some people on Viggle’s Facebook page complained the servers crashed. Viggle says it will help people restore lost points.

When you accrue enough points, you select which gift card you want, and Viggle sends it to you in the mail. An Android version is in the works.

For now, Viggle requires an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

RELATED LINK:

www.Viggle.com

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – To refinance or not to refinance, for many homeowners these days, that’s the question. The interest on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now averaging 3.87 percent. So does it make sense to refinance? Or if you already have refinanced does it make sense to do it again? 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan is here to tell us what you need to consider.

When Whit and Beth Clay bought their home in New Jersey last May they locked in a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 5 percent. Whit says, “I couldn’t believe that interest rates would go any lower than they were, I mean 5 percent is pretty low.” But rates did go lower. A few months later, the couple refinanced at 4.25 percent, saving $300 a month. According to Whit, “The closing costs were wrapped into the mortgage so we had no closing costs and ultimately what we ended up having was simply an appraisal fee and the cost of applying for a mortgage.”

Melissa Cohn, President of The Manhattan Mortgage Company says, “If the rate is at least 3/4 of a percent lower and they expect to be in their property for the long haul then it’s definitely a good idea.” But before you refinance it’s important first to do the math. Figure out how much you’ll save in lower payments versus what you’ll pay in closing costs and fees.

To pay for the payroll tax cut, Congress has ordered mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase their fees and turn them over to the U.S. Treasury. Those fees will get passed along to homebuyers in the form of higher rates, at least a tenth of a percent. On a $200,000 mortgage , that’s an extra $5,400 over the life of a 30-year loan.

With the latest dip in interest rates, more homeowners are rushing to take advantage. According to The Mortgage Bankers Association, refinance activity climbed nearly 9.5 percent last week alone.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The price of electricity is dropping in our area.  But why is that the case?

Is it because Pennsylvanians can now choose their electric supplier, so suppliers are dropping prices to encourage customers to switch?  Or is it because the cost of producing power is less?

Ritchie Hudson, Pennsylvania chair for the Retail Energy Supply Association, says it may be a combination of both factors.

“Energy prices are at historic lows due to several factors,” he tells KYW Newsradio, “(including) the increased natural gas supplies made available by the Marcellus shale exploration.  And that has been timely with the implementation of competition; as competition increases, this puts downward pressure on prices.”

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher says shopping for electricity is easy — and in your best interest.

“Would you walk by a hundred dollars on the sidewalk and leave it there?  You wouldn’t! And for ten minutes on line, you can save yourself $100 a year,” she says.  More information is available at www.papowerswitch.com.

See the KYW Regional Affairs Council report, “Your Electricity Buying Guide“

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – They’ve been around for centuries, catering to people who need money fast. Long before there were banks and ATM machines, pawn shops were the answer. And as 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan finds, there is a new twist.

Pawn Stars, it’s one of the hottest shows on cable TV.

Millions of viewers tune in each week to watch people strike a deal.

They’re offered quick cash loans, using personal property as collateral.

Which got Damion Pugh thinking.

“Pawn Stars put the idea in my head,” said Pugh.

When he needed to come up with some money fast, his Breitling watch was the answer.

“Maybe I should try a pawn shop and see what I can do with that,” said Pugh.

But instead of going into a local shop Damion used Pawngo, a web based pawn shop.

“The more I read, the more and more it appealed to me,” said Pugh.

“We’re going to loan 50 to 75 percent of current market value. The high end watches really hold their value,” said Pawngo CEO, Todd Hills.

“The price they gave me was very solid price,” said Pugh.

First, you enter a description of your item online and Pawngo sends you a preliminary offer.

If you accept it, you print a fed ex label and send your items to Pawngo, which pays for the shipping and insurance.

That’s important, since they’re dealing with high value items.

“Our average loan is 2,000 dollars versus the brick and mortar average loan is about 200 dollars,” said Hills.

Items are evaluated at their Denver headquarters and a formal offer is prepared. If you accept, the money is wired into your bank account.

In exchange for his watch Damion received a loan of $1125. At monthly interest rate of 6 percent.

“My payments are roughly 67 a month,” said Pugh.

After 90 days he can repay the loan, and get his watch back.

Extend the loan for another 90 days.

Or let Pawngo, keep the watch and sell it.

“85 percent of the people who come to us to get a loan actually pay the asset, pay for the loan and get their asset back,” said Hills.

That’s Damion’s plan.

“If I can get my watch back, I will get my watch back,” said Pugh.

“It’s safe it’s secure, it’s private,” said Hills.

That exactly what chiropractor Alexis Ferguson was looking for when she was selling a ring.

“I tried Craig’s list and it was a little scary, I didn’t want to meet with strangers. I tried a brick and mortar pawn shop and they offered me an insultingly low amount for it and then I tried Pawngo and they gave me very fair offer,” said Ferguson.

Pawngo offered her four times what local shops had offered her.

“I upgraded some equipment, I bought some gym equipment and I’m really happy with the results,” said Ferguson.

Partially funded by the founders of Groupon, Pawngo has made over 2,000 loans since June. With jewelry and watches the top two items they receive on a regular basis.

RELATED LINK:

www.pawngo.com

By Jim Donovan

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (CBS) – This weekend love will be in the air as many celebrate Valentine’s day a few days early, including brides-to-be.No matter what shape the economy is in, the cost of getting married doesn’t come cheap. But 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has found a way to save.

Normally, designer bridal gowns cost a pretty penny, but not tomorrow! That’s when the Goodwill on Route 70 in Pennsauken, New Jersey will host it’s 4th annual bridal gown sale. Juli Lundberg of Goodwill says, “We actually spent all year soliciting from area bridal stores. They donate past-season, sample models, surplus that sort of thing, and this year we were very fortunate Alfred Angelo donated about 130 brand new gowns so we are just thrilled about that.”

Over 200 brand new wedding gowns will be on sale at a fraction of their original cost. Lundberg says, “The lowest price for a brand new gown is $99.99 the highest price point is $299.99.” Gently used wedding dresses will be sold too, the average price $49 or less! “I have seen size 4 and I’ve seen size 26 and everything in between. So I really think that we do have something for everybody,” says Lundberg. The Goodwill sale will also feature wedding vials, bridesmaid dresses in every color and style, and hundreds of shoes priced at $19.99 a pair. Lundberg says, “This is just a good way for Goodwill to fundraise for our own mission and it’s a way for brides to save some money on a dress that they’re going to wear exactly once.”

Goodwill’s wedding gown sale runs all day, Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In past years the line starts forming at 6 a.m., so the earlier that you get there the better the selection. Also, they only have a handful of dressing rooms. You may want to wear a body suit, swim suit or something that will cover you up appropriately so that can you try on the gowns right out in the open.

For more information, and address information visit: http://www.goodwillnj.org/

By Jim Donovan

LIMERICK, Pa. (CBS) – They call them the “stick homes” in one Montgomery county neighborhood. Homes with just the framing up, for over a year.

The construction has come to a halt but a local couple says the builder won’t return their calls or their money.

It’s not the only complaint to 3 On Your Side about this builder. So Jim Donovan went to his office to demand answers.

When 3 On Your Side visited the offices of home builder John McGrath in Newtown, Bucks County, we weren’t exactly greeted with open arms.

We asked a man in the office if we could speak with John McGrath and were told he wasn’t there. When we asked the man if he could reach Jonh McGrath by phone on our behalf, he said no.

That comes as no surprise to Carol Purdy.

“Well we’ve called the builder constantly, I at least called two or three times a week,” said Purdy.

She and her husband put down $21,000 in deposits for McGrath to build a home for them at the Villas at Linfield in Montgomery county.

She says she was told the house would be completed in six months.

“We signed the contract in November 2010 with the anticipation of moving in April 2011,” said Purdy.

But so far they don’t have much to show for it.

“The people up there call it the stick homes, because that’s all that’s been up there for a year, stick framing,” said Purdy.

Framing for a cluster of four homes that Limerick township has ordered the builder to knock down since it’s been sitting exposed to the elements for over a year.

While McGrath introduced new models and continued to build in other developments.

“They can build a sample home but they can’t build my home,” said Purdy.

A clause in the contract gives McGrath two years to finish the Purdy’s home.

“They have my money and I can’t go anywhere else to put a deposit down on something else,” said Purdy.

Carol wants answers. But she can’t seem to get any.

“No one has called me back,” said Purdy.

Mary Maloney knows the feeling.

“We went there in person. We e-mailed and we left phone messages continually,” said Maloney.

Looking to downsize, Mary contracted with McGrath to build a home in this development.

But when she couldn’t sell her old home she was released from the contract and promised a refund of her $20,000 deposit.

“Within 30 days we would have our refund, and that was in January of 2011,” said Maloney.

But then the excuses started and persisted for nine months.

“Somebody now needs to put a deposit down on the house. Now they need to make settlement. He was having trouble with the banks and that he was working on it. I know what our agreement was. I’m due my money back,” said Maloney.

After 3 On Your Side got involved, Mary finally got her money back.

“I have my full $20,000 dollars back thanks to you guys,” said Maloney.

But Carol is still left waiting.

“I just want my money back,” said Purdy.

While at McGrath homes, where they use the slogan “building on integrity”, we couldn’t even get the man there to give us his name.

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation’s top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But consumer advocates countered that far too few people will benefit.

As 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds, the deal will reduce loans for only a fraction of those Americans who owe more than their homes are worth. It will also send checks to others who were improperly foreclosed upon. But the amounts are modest.

The five big banks that are involved in this multi-state settlement are Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally/GMAC. They had been charged with using predatory lending practices, lending money to borrowers who weren’t qualified, and then selling those mortgages to make profits.

“Under the terms of this settlement, America’s biggest banks, banks that were rescued by taxpayer dollars, will be required to right these wrongs,” said President Obama today.

The terms of the settlement between 49 states and the nation’s five biggest banks applies only to privately held mortgages issued from 2008 through 2011 and does not cover mortgages owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

$17 billion of the settlement will be used to provide immediate aid to homeowners needing loan modifications. In some cases the banks will write off principal to help lower a homeowner’s monthly payment. $3 billion will be set aside for borrowers who are current on their loans, but owe more than their house is worth, to refinance at current low rates. Finally, checks of approximately $2,000 will be issued to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2008 and 2011.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, “This isn’t just about punishing the banks for their irresponsible behavior, it’s also about requiring them to help the people that they harmed by funding efforts to help homeowners stay in their homes.”

Under this deal the States have agreed not to pursue civil charges, but homeowners can still sue their banks in civil court on their own and Federal and State authorities can still pursue criminal charges. These banks have three years to fulfill the terms of the deal.

For more information on the settlement visit: http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/

To see if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, visit:

http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/

https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A community group says Comcast Corporation needs to do more to bridge the digital divide for low-income families.

About a dozen people — along with the activist organization Action United — dropped off complaints this morning with federal officials in center city Philadelphia.

Comcast’s “Internet Essentials” is restricted to certain low-income families, but cuts the cost of getting online to $9.95/month.

“I feel as though the Internet service will help my son to progress in math, reading, spelling,” says Dawn from North Philadelphia.  But she says she couldn’t sign up:

“They told me I had a back bill from 10 years ago, so I was not qualified.”

Another barrier, says Marvin from West Philadelphia, is the apparent lack of publicity about the special offer for low-income families.

“None of the schools in my community know nothing about it,” he said today.  “That’s a major problem.”

The program, created as a condition of Comcast’s merger with NBC-Universal, is aimed at families of kids who qualify for free and reduced-cost school lunches.

Charlie Douglas, senior director at Comcast, says the company is trying hard to reach that group.

“We publicized the program in 4,000 school districts, 30,000 schools,” he told KYW Newsradio today.

Douglas says the company is “proud” of Internet Essentials, and says praise for Comcast’s efforts has come from Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter and from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

You can find out if you are qualified and sign up by calling toll-free, 1-855-8-INTERNET or going to internetessentials.com.

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – In this tough economy it seems that everyone is looking for ways to save. So it’s no surprise that the popularity of dollar stores are the rise.

But just because something is inexpensive doesn’t always means it’s a good buy.

As you try to get the most bang for your buck, 3 On Your Side consumer reporter Jim Donovan shares some dollar store do’s and don’ts.

Many dollar stores today are bigger and better than ever.

“They’ve really upped the quality of the products that they’re carrying so you get a lot of good products there,” said Caroyln Forte, director at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

“We certainly advocate going there but just know what it is that you’re buying,” said Forte.

When it comes to paper products like paper towels?

“I think the dollar stores and the discount stores are a very viable place to buy paper goods // many get many name brands,” said Forte.

The same goes for wrapping paper.

“As long as you like the styles and designs and the colors we say definitely go for gift wrapping,” said Forte.

Take greeting cards for example. You can get two cards for a buck at the Franklin Mills Dollar Tree. You save money and remember, it’s the thought that counts.

It might be worth trying cleaning products too.

“What you see at the dollar store very much mirrors what you see in the super market.

I mean there are brands in the supermarket, some are better, some are not. It’s going to be trial and error if it’s a brand your not familiar with,” said Forte.

But there are some things you need to look out for before you throw the items in the cart particularly when it comes to food for example.

“If you don’t see an expiration date we say don’t buy it because you want to make sure the foods you’re buying are fresh,” said Forte.

Pay close attention to makeup too.

“You should be buying makeup that’s fresh so if for any reason it doesn’t look fresh, if packaging looks a little mangled or whatever, dusty or old we say stay away from it,” said Forte.

Extension cords and power outlets could also pose a risk.

“We say be careful with this. Make sure that they are safety tested,” said Forte.

Look for a UL label or tag on the packaging.

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com

http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Wednesday was one of the first days this warm winter that we’ve had to think about ice and how to get rid of it. A Bucks County company promises its product will do so super safely.

Safe Paw is a salt-alternative ice-melter plus traction ingredient from Richboro-based Gaia Enterprises.

Director of Operations Steve Vernik said salt is not only corrosive, but heats up as it does its work, creating a hazard for pets.

“When they walk on it, it gets in between their paw pads and then it starts heating up and then it can burn them because they got the moisture from the outside,” said Vernik. “Then they generally will start licking it and they’ll start burning their mouths.”

But Vernik said Safe Paw is safe.

“It is the only ice-melter that is 100% safe for the environment,” he said. “Safe for property and surfaces and safe for pets and children, even if ingested.”

It’s made in York Pennsylvania, in a factory that employs 150 adults with disabilities, an outgrowth of a dual commitment to the product’s safety and to provide some good jobs for people who have a tougher time than most in finding them.

“We happen to have that in our family,” added Vernik. “So we decided that this product is so safe that we could employ a lot of people and give them decent pay and great benefits to produce this product.”

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Jersey shore realtor received a number of phone calls last week about a home she had listed for rent this summer. That doesn’t seem unusual, but it drew attention because the rent posted was half of what it was supposed to be.

Maria Schrenk, a realtor for Coldwell Banker at the Shore in Brigantine, explains, “I was getting phone calls and they were asking about the rental. After a while, I was wondering if they realized if it was $1495 per month and they said it was $700. When I asked them whether they saw it on one of our sites or on Craigslist, it always referred to Craigslist.”

Schrenk says if it looks like it’s too good to be true, it probably is. One couple did get duped into sending money for a shore rental, never to see it again.

“We know our market, we know our neighborhood, we have the listings, the keys, we know what’s available. We are readily available to help anybody.”

She says many are under the misconception if they deal with a realtor, then the rent is higher, which is not true.

By Chris May

WOODBURY, N.J. (CBS) – Finding a job is tough enough. Imagine finally getting that job, working for weeks, but not getting paid. That’s what happened to a New Jersey man and many others all over the country. One of them emailed 3 On Your Side, and we started digging to find out what was going on.

Dave Berardy of Woodbury has been looking for steady work for two years. He answered an ad on Craigslist from a temporary staffing agency called Sentury Staffing out of North Carolina.

“So everything seemed kind of on the up and up,” said CBS 3′s Chris May.

“Yes, yes,” said Dave.

The temp agency told Dave to report to Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics in Mickleton, NJ. The job was machine operator, $13.50 an hour.

Saint-Gobain is a manufacturer of construction materials employing nearly 200,000 people in 64 countries. Dave worked the night shift making plastic tubing.

“There was no issue with the work you were performing,” said CBS 3′s Chris May.

“Right,” said Dave Berardy.

“The only issue was?” asked May.

“No pay,” said Dave.

No pay after working for more than three weeks. So Dave quit, still owed $1900. He says he asked his managers for help.

“Did they seem to care at all about the fact that you weren’t being paid for the work you had provided for them?” asked CBS 3′s Chris May.

“Nope,” said Dave. “They told me it was between me and the temp agency.”

Saint-Gobain actually outsources temp management to another company, SourceRight Solutions. That company hired Sentury Staffing, which hired Dave. He should have been paid by Sentury, but he wasn’t.

“Somebody is paying them, and I’d like to know what they’re doing with their money,” said Dave.

“I can only work so long for free,” said Terry Lee Upton Of Kentucky, another Saint-Gobain temp who didn’t get paid by Sentury. There are 17 that we know of across the country.

Terry was owed $1500. When he complained, he says he received an email from Sentury’s president, saying in part: “God is in charge, and he knows exactly what is going on, not you […] as of today, you should quit.”

CBS 3 has learned that Sentury’s president, Michelle Brown, filed for bankruptcy in December. Court documents say she owes thousands on student loans, a car loan, and more than $45,000 to a business finance company.

“The best I can say about it is, she just didn’t wanna pay,” said Terry. “Unless she was using the funds for something else, robbing Peter to pay Paul, and Peter was already broke.”

“I have never seen anything like this in my life,” said Cathy Ferrante, Saint-Gobain vice president of human resources. “We felt that they did a fair day’s work for us and we wanted to make sure they got their full wages.”

Saint-Gobain says they had already paid Sentury for the temps and were investigating. But they decided to pay again, this time directly to all the workers. Dave received his check and a note of apology.

“You guys aren’t kidding when you say CBS 3 is on your side,” said Dave.

SourceRight says it had forwarded all the funds to Sentury Staffing and is investigating what happened.

When reached last week, the president of Sentury told CBS 3 “no comment” and to talk to her lawyer. When we asked who her lawyer was, the line disconnected. She hasn’t responded to our emails or phone calls since.

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Do you feel like every time you turn around there is another fee to pay or a cost that you’re held responsible for? You’re not alone. But as 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds, making some small changes when it comes to your money matters, could result in big savings.

By now, extra fees may seem like a fact of life. Janet Bodnar of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance says, “People are very keyed in to fees nowadays because there are bank fees, there are airline fees, there are cell phone fees, that sort of thing. But there are ways to avoid those.”

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has a list of tips in their February issue that you can do in 15 minutes or less. For example if you’re prone to overdraft fees, have your bank link your checking account, and a savings account. Bodnar says, “They will simply transfer money from the savings account to the checking account. It might cost you $10, maybe as much as $20 to make the transfer, but that’s a lot less than the $35 charge for insufficient funds.”

If you’re grappling with paying federal student loans, give yourself a break. Go to the student loan website www.myedaccount.com and put your account on automatic debit. “What you can do is authorize an automatic transfer to pay your student loans, and you get a lower interest rate, .25% comes right off your interest rate,” says Bodnar.

The savings might seem small month to month, but when you think about what you’ll be saving over the course of a year and how that money might be put to better use, those changes probably are worth your effort.

To check out more ways to save from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, visit: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/save-thousands-in-15-minutes-or-less.html

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Some electronics stores are finding that lots of folks are in the market to buy a television this week.

If you’re looking to buy a television for Super Bowl Sunday, folks who sell electronics are ready for you.

Adam Aharoni, the manager of Stereo Sound  here on  Market Street, says they’ll have extra staff on hand this weekend.

“This is probably the biggest weekend of the year to the people who buy televisions.  It’s income tax season and its also the Superbowl.”

And he says prices of televisions are lower than usual this week.

“Because there’s so much competition between the big companies — Samsung, Panasonic and LG are giving instant rebates for this week only.  It happens like a Black Friday weekend, Superbowl weekend and Christmas week.  So those are like the three best times of the year to buy the TV.”

He says he’s used to folks coming into his store in a panic before the big game.

“Ah, yes.  Every year it’s always the last-minute shoppers, too — ‘I need a TV and I need the biggest one and I need it for right now!’”

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (CBS) — Pennsylvania health officials are investigating the possible contamination of unpasteurized milk that may have sickened a dozen people in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Pennsylvania health officials are looking into an outbreak of bacteria called Campylobacter, which has been linked to raw milk.

Dr. Stephen Ostroff, the acting physician-general of Pennsylvania, says a dozen people have been sickened; all said they consumed raw milk sold under the “Your Family Cow” label.

Ostroff says the farm is cooperating and has stopped production.  In addition, he says, “We are recommending that anyone who has this product since January 1st should discard it, or if they are ill should make sure they alert their health care provider to look for this particular infection.”

Signs of infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, and fever.

The milk is from a farm in Chambersburg, southcentral Pennsylvania, but is sold in the Philadelphia area.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The New York Times recently reported that many Apple products, including iPads and iPhones are manufactured overseas where workers must endure low wages and hazardous conditions. But the question is, do consumers care?

“I have a PowerBook, I have about three iPods and an iPhone.”

Millions of Americans enjoy Apple technology each day. But when asked, most have no idea where they come from.

“I actually don’t know where they’re made,” said one Apple user. “If Chinese children are making them, it would be a problem for me.”

Sunil Wattal teaches outsources at Temple’s Fox School of Business. He says American consumers are socially responsible and usually avoid products where workers are exploited during the manufacturing process. But, tech companies like Apple, many times do not directly control manufacturing.

“The product not only has to be good, but they have to feel good about buying the product.”

He says companies can influence manufacturing practices through close monitoring and creating guidelines for workers.

By Cherri Gregg and Bob Kelly

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia Auto Show will return to the Pennsylvania Convention Center beginning on Saturday.

A quarter of a million people are expected to attend this year’s auto show, which will showcase more than 700 vehicles from 40 manufacturers worldwide.

“It’s bigger, bolder than ever before,” said Kevin Mazzucola, Executive Director of the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia.

He says the auto show is boasting a bigger space so that visitors can see, touch and experience the latest rides all on one level, side by side, organized by category.

“It’s 600,000 square feet, 10 football fields, three city blocks. I can say all those stats, but it means one thing- we are poised to have the best Philadelphia show in our 110 year history.”

Mayor Michael Nutter checking out the Philadelphia Auto Show (credit: Cherri Gregg)

And for the first time ever there will be an indoor ‘Ride and Drive’ where attendees can test drive the latest line of Toyota Prius models.

The auto show runs through February 5th.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Google wants to do more with the information it collects about your web habits.  The search giant says the changes, coming in March, will improve your web-surfing experience.  But privacy advocates are crying foul.

Few people ever read those Internet privacy policies, but Google is trying to be explicit about its intent to link the e-mail, search, video viewing, and social data that it collects about you as you move about the Web.

“There are 60 products (owned by Google), and most people use one or more of them,” notes David Jacobs, a consumer privacy fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Say you’ve been browsing photos of cute puppies on an image search.  When you open your Gmail, the ads could suggest dog breeders or pet stores, and your next visit to YouTube (owned by Google) might spotlight fuzzy puppies.

“People should be concerned anytime they lose the ability to control their information,” says Jacobs.  “The burden has to be on the company to protect this information and to give control to users.”

But Google says there will be no way to opt out, unless you don’t sign in when using Google or YouTube.

“But that’s not an option for Gmail, and it’s not an option for anyone who has an Android phone,” Jacobs points out.

“You also have to think about what the government might want with this information,” he adds.  “Law enforcement agencies gather data from Google on search terms, and to have all this in one place makes it a lot more tempting for them, too.”

Google says whatever it collects won’t be personally identifiable — unless, of course, you are signed in with an account that contains personal information.

The folks at ProShred Security are teaming up with local organizations to host these shredder events. Most of the events are free as they are sponsored by a specific organization, but in some cases, where noted, a small donation is requested to defer the costs of the event.

Sat. March 31, 2012
Whitemarsh Township
8AM – noon
4021 Joshua Rd.
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444

Sat. April 21, 2012
Amity Township Crime Watch
9AM – Noon
Redners Market
Rte. 422 and Rte. 662
Douglasville, PA 19518
***Donations Welcome***

Sat. April 21, 2012
Friends of Easttown Library
Easttown Library
9AM – Noon
720 First Ave.
Berwyn, PA 19312
***Donations Welcome***

Sat. April 28, 2012
Representative Duane Milne
9AM – 1 PM
Penn State Great Valley Campus
30 E. Swedsford Rd.
Malvern, PA 19355

Sat. April 28, 2012
Prudential Fox and Roach
10AM – Noon
1600 N. Bethlehem Pike
Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002

Sat. May 5, 2012
Sanatoga Ridge Community
9AM – Noon
At Beulah Land Park
2675 E. High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464

If you wish to receive a monthly list from ProShred of the community shredding events in the tri-state area you can send an e-mail to
luisa.savidge@proshred.com

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Thinking about applying for a credit card? New government regulations have touched off a battle possibly affecting millions of women. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan tells us how new rules designed to protect some, may end up hurting many more.

Jenn Mandelenakis gave up the corporate life for a life at home with her two children. She says, “My husband and I have worked very hard to build a situation that’s secure, that’s financially stable.” But all that planning won’t do her any good the next time she applies for a credit card in her own name. She’ll be denied. She says, “It’s really frustrating and upsetting.”

It’s a consequence of The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, a law that cracks down on all kinds of bank fees but also requires that lenders consider a person’s ability to repay what they borrow. That means no income, no credit card.

Financial Advisor Dana Levitt says, “It was really intended for young people who were just getting out of college and establishing huge amounts of credit lines and getting in over their heads. But unfortunately it had a much bigger net than it was ever intended to.”

That net includes stay-at-home parents like Jenn, who just months ago could claim household income and had no problem getting a credit card. According to Levitt, “So if she doesn’t have income now, she’s out of luck.” Jenn says, “It really makes me feel frustrated with how hard I’ve worked and this choice that I’ve made to be home with my children.”

Some retailers aren’t happy about the new regulations either. They often make big money by offering discounts to shoppers who open instant credit cards. Stay-at-home moms are a large part of their customer base. But it’s that ability to obtain instant credit that some consumer groups believe gets people into trouble. That’s why The National Consumer Law Center and Consumers Union support the ability to pay rule.

For Jenn, it’s about fairness and family values. She days, “I feel as through the federal government is placing a zero value on my contribution here.” Women’s groups say this regulation could be devastating for those who are widowed or divorced. Some members of Congress agree, so there might be some changes coming down the road.

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Looking to apply for credit? You may find that lenders now know more about you than ever before. As 3 On Your Side Consumer Jim Donovan finds, a new kind of credit report is packed with information about how you handle everything from your electric payments to your past rent.

Most people realize their credit report will dictate whether they get a loan for anything from a car to a house, and if so, what interest rate they’ll pay. But now, a new kind of credit report, called Core Score, contains information that digs deeper than ever into your payment history. According to Chi Chi Wu with the National Consumer Law Center this information includes, “rental applications and evictions, pay day loans, auto title loans, rent to own transactions.” It’s all intended to give a lender a better idea of who is asking for money and the likelihood of it being paid back.

So where do they get the information? John Ulzheimer with SmartCredit.com says, “From the public records system, and traditionally credit reports only hold three types of public records; bankruptcy, tax liens and judgments.”

Woo is concerned that people who had legitimate reasons for not paying certain bills will now be penalized. She says for example, “If there are mice running around, if you don’t have any hot water, you’re allowed to not pay your rent under some jurisdictions. Is the new credit report going to reflect that?” Another concern is what else could be added to these reports. According to Woo, “With the push of a button you can aggregate billions of pieces of information about anything and turn it into a consumer report.”

Ulzheimer believes the new reports will help both lenders and consumers. He says, “Now consumers who deserve the credit are going to get it. those who deserve it at competitive terms are going to get competitive terms, and those who frankly don’t need to be saddled with that type of debt are going to be denied.”

Core Logic, the company behind the Core Score Credit Report says that borrowers with insufficient credit histories may be able to benefit when this additional information is included in their reports. To get a free copy of your Core Score Credit Report you can call 1-877-532-8778.

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – We’re all looking for products that make our lives easier. But in some parts of the world the simplest of tools have the potential to save lives as well. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan often tells us about interesting gadgets, but today as many in our area perform community service in honor of Martin Luther King Day, he takes a look at some innovations helping people world wide.

All across the country students, inventors, and nonprofits are using their creative talents for good, creating simple, inexpensive products to help those living on less than $2 a day. The Hippo Water Roller allows African women to change the way they carry water. Instead of a five-gallon bucket on their head, they can roll 25 gallons across the ground. While the Soccket Ball harvests the energy of a soccer game and turns into useable electricity after the game.

Kayla Springer of Global Envision says, “Families who live on a dollar a day consume very few products and so small inventions that can improve their lives really can make a big difference.” A $20 stove made from simple steel requires less wood to cook food. 20,000 have been distributed, creating local jobs for communities. Andree Sosler from the Darfur Stove Project says, “So each one might seem to be small, but when you look at all of them together the impact is enormous.”

They’re just a few examples of inexpensive products that pack a life-changing punch. According to Springer, “The anti-poverty pioneers, as they’re called, who create these inventions are really people like you and me. You don’t have to be an Albert Einstein or an Alexander Graham Bell to change the world. You just have to have the passion and make the right kinds of partnerships to make that happen.”

Since none of these inventions cost a lot of money, experts say small donations can make a big impact and news of these innovations are often spreading through social media. For more information you can click on the links below:

Soccket Ball: http://www.soccket.com/

Darfur Stove Project: http://darfurstoves.org/

Hippo Water Roller: http://www.hipporoller.org/

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – They’re being pressured to accept medical supplies that in many cases they don’t want or even need! 3 On Your Side has a warning for seniors and their families. Consumer reporter Jim Donovan tells us this involves telemarketing calls and the promise of free diabetes testing supplies.

These scammers often ask for your Medicare card number or Social Security number. Armed with that information they can run up thousands of dollars in fraudulent insurance bills and in some cases they could even steal your identity.

Jacqueline Jefferson is certain of at least one thing. She says, “I’m not diabetic.” But that didn’t stop telemarketers from calling her multiple times a week pitching diabetes products that she didn’t need or want. According to Jacqueline, “First is was a free monitor, and then you would receive the supplies to go along with the monitor, then came the cookbook.” All she would have to do is provide her insurance information and the supplies would be delivered to her door.

“What we try to impress upon people not be afraid to say no and simply hang up the phone,” says Rebecca Nurick with the Senior Medicare Patrol at CARIE, The Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly. She says, “What they’re not telling people is that once those individuals get the beneficiaries Medicare number, Medicare can be billed for just about anything. What is important to note is that if Medicare pays for something that you don’t need, it may not pay for something you really do need in the future.”

RELATED LINK: http://www.carie.org/

Jacqueline hangs up the phone when the telemarketers call and believes that other seniors should too. She says, “It affects us all, our premiums go up, our co-pays go up because of these scams and a lot of seniors on fixed incomes can’t afford these increases.”

On some occasions telemarketers or even door-to-door salesman have been known to identify themselves as being with Medicare or Social Security. Neither agency will ever call or visit you to sell you something or to get your personal information. If some one does call you or visits you asking for that information, hang up or shut the door and file a complaint with the Senior Medicare Patrol in your state. Here is a link to assist you: http://www.smpresource.org

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Consumer Electronics Show is wrapping up out in Las Vegas.

TVs kept their New Year’s resolution to slim down. Samsung and LG both showed off 55″ OLED models.  The latter goes home with CNET’s Best in Show award.

“It’s a much brighter, much truer color technology that’s razor-thin, and basically has pure black.  Thin as you can possibly imagine.”

Four millimetres thin, says CNET senior editor Scott Stein (on Skype, from the convention floor).  They picked the LG because it adds streaming video and social media access, and passive 3D — which means you don’t need those heavy, battery-powered glasses to see the special effects.

It’s not expected in stores until late fall, and you might need that long to save up.  The price to be an early adopter should be in the $8000 range — though it’s expected to fall to earth over the next several years as this technology wins more eyes.