Complaint resolution service publishes case studies, recall information and consumer news.

Coolibar Inc., of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, announced the recall of 3,000 Children’s Sun Block jackets and hoodies. These jackets and hoodies where sold from February till April 2008 via Coolibar’s catalog and their site, Coolibar.com.

While no incidents or injuries have been reported, The Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC) cited that the drawstring around the neck is a strangling hazard to Children. This stems from a set of guidelines that the CPSC introduced in 1996 to prevent children from strangling on clothes. Fortunatly, you can fix the problem by simply removing the drawstring from the jacket or hoodie. You may also get a full refund by contacting Coolibar at recall@coolibar.com or by phone from 7:30 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 am till 5:00 p.m

Posted under Recalls

Westminster Inc. of Atlanta recalled 102,000 “Thunder Wolf Remote Controlled Indoor Helicopters”, model number T0996, today. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited that the Chinese-made toy is prone to melting or catching fire, which can lead to injury.

There have been seven reports of overheating and melting, including one that caught fire and two that caused minor property damage. Only the models without “Made In China” stamped on the bottom are subject to the recall. Westminster inc. said that owners of this toy should stop using it immediately and contact them for a refund. Retailers will not accept returns or refunds for this product. To contact Westminster Inc., call (800) 618-0023 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET Friday. You may also sent an email to info@thunderwolfhelicopter.com or visit their website at www.thunderwolfhelicopter.com.

Posted under Recalls

Dollar Tree has announced the recall of 470,000 “Crafters Square Hot Melt Glue Guns,” after four incidents involving an electrical problem. This causes the guns to smoke, which can pose a fire hazard. There have been four such incidents reported, with no injuries.

These guns where being sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, Only One $1, and Deal$ stores nationwide. Dollar Tree says to immediately stop using the guns and return them to the store it was purchased at for a full refund.

Posted under Recalls

Four children have been trapped by a crib sold through Babies “R” Us and its affiliated stores. The cribs, manufactured in China and Vietnam and sold for more than six years, pose a “trapping hazard” according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  More than 320,000 childrens’ cribs are affected, the governmnet agency said.

The cribs in question are multiple models manufactured under the brand name Jardine. The government agency said that it had collected 42 reports of the crib’s slats or spindles breaking, allowing a child to be trapped.

Affected model numbers, which can be found on the inside of the bottom rail, are listed below.

BC-23, BC-36B, BC-36G, BC-36P, BC-007, BC-010, BC-010C, BC-010HP, BC-010W, BC-017, BC-107C, BC-107CR,BC-110C, BC-110HP, BC-110W, DA617BC, DA620BC, DA770BC, DV730N, DV730W, DV830-N, DV830-W, 0113B00, 0113K00, 0303B00, 0303C00, 0303G00, 0309K00.

Consumers have been instructed to stop using the cribs and contact Jardine for a full credit. The company can be reached by phone at (800) 646-4106 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Jardine has also created a website to help handle recalled crib claims.

Posted under Recalls

As a peak travel time begins again, some consumers may have forgotten about the “311″ rule regarding liquids in carry-on luggage in an airport.  Infrequent travelers may especially need a reminder about the rules.    Time has traveled fast — this year’s college freshman class was in elementary school when the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. changed US air travel rules  Those rules  were changed again after a man was arrested while attempting to ignite an explosive concealed in his shoes.

The 311 rule is illustrated below.  If you plan to travel by air this summer, you need to know and follow this rule.  If you do not, you will be stopped at security and you will lose your items there.  Everything in a liquid or gel form counts, even when sealed.

The rule says that you may have 1 quart-sized zippered bag.  That bag can include up to 3 ounces per bottle of as many liquids as fit.    3 ounces, 1 bag, 1 person.  That’s it.  And just like personal computers, that bag has to be removed from your carry-on luggage and placed on the conveyor belt to be X-rayed.

A can of soda or bottle of water won’t be allowed.  Even a to-go cup from a restaurant inside the airport won’t be allowed.  Worse, expensive cosmetics or a perhaps a bottle of wine intended as a gift won’t be allowed through either.  And the TSA employee who stops you from entering the secure area can’t do anything more than sweep those bottles of liquids into the nearest trash can.

Remember this rule applies to carry-on luggage only, but also remember that it is not optional or subject to negotiation.   You’ll be stopped, and you will lose your belongings.  Just remember 311, remember the bag and take the bag out of  your luggage.

Security lines are already reported to be long this summer as airlines attempt to reduce flights to cope with rising fuel costs.  We observed multiple consumers in Chicago and Washington this week not only lose items to the 311 Rule, but also undergo close examination of their identification.  Along with that zippered, clear bag, don’t forget your drivers license, passport or other id.

You won’t be leaving home without them.

Posted under Travel

Perhaps the most frustrating issue of any food recall is that consumers may not know if the food was used as an ingredient in another type of food.  This happened earlier this year with beef recalls and is a major issue now with a salmonella threat looming over certain tomatoes.

In a signal to food suppliers and buyers, the Food and Drug administration issued multiple statements indicating which tomato crops were deemed safe.    The agency falls woefully short, however, on consumer advice, suggesting that consumers ask restaurant servers or other food personnel about the tomato’s origin.

That is a nice thought, but more than a little naive.  Note to restaurant owners:  you can stop laughing now, but make sure your staff doesn’t give false information.  When they don’t know, the correct answer is “I don’t know” or “I’ll find out”.

Meanwhile, nearly 400 consumers have now been confirmed to have contracted salmonella from tainted tomatoes.  Of that group, more than 10% have required hospitalization.

The fast food chains performed admirably, pulling the fruit-not-a-vegetable from their shelves.  With guidance, the chains have now added the tomato back on their burgers and gone back to spooning up salsa.

Until a better rationale is found, however, I’m all for “hold the tomato” at home and when dining out.

Posted under Recalls, Safety

Congratulations to Laura Lowell on her upcoming release of 42 Rules for Working Moms. There are some great rules in there about work-life balance and some good consumer information too.

We’re proud that our very own Joan was one of the moms selected. While raising three kids, she also managed to co-found Consumer Help Web and has been the company’s main point of contact regarding consumer complaints for five years. Sure, we’re small enough to all be happy, and I’m willing to admit to bias, but it was a great idea that Laura asked about online some time ago, and is a great read.

If you’re interested, the book is out this week on Amazon.  Click on the cover to head there.

New Book For Working Moms

Posted under Finance, Health

Inova, a hospital chain quickly reaching throughout  Washington, D.C.’s wealthy Virginia suburbs, has dropped its plans to acquire another hospital.

Last year, Inova announced a plan to acquire a hospital in Manassas, Virginia, a formerly exurban community that has quickly become a part of the Washington suburban area.  The acquisition would have given the company more than 80% of the available hospital beds in Northern Virginia, and the Federal Trade Commission quickly announced it would oppose the move.

This week, faced with a legal complaint from the agency, Inova abandoned its plans to acquire the hospital.  We spoke with some area residents about the loss of promised new facilities and expansion.  One told us that he goes to Inova’s Fairfax Hospital whenever possible.  “For a broken arm or something basic, [Prince William]…hospital is fine, but if I want a team ready to help me 24/7, I’m going to a place with top trauma teams and more facilities and money.”

We agree that competition is ultimately good for consumers and that the economic barriers to entry for a new hospital are staggering.   Since so much health care is actually dictated by a very small group of insurance companies, however, we wonder about the wisdom of letting the accountants dictate the quality of care versus a hospital.  There are potentials for abuse on both sides, but if more resources means the quality of care increases for some Virginia residents, we have to question whether the FTC’s actions in this matter really benefited public health.

Posted under Health