Consumer Reports: Fiber-Optic Providers Are Leading Choices for Internet, TV, Phone Service

Consumers looking to cut costs without sacrificing satisfaction for Internet, television, and telephone service should consider bundling with Verizon FiOS or AT&T U-verse. In Consumer Reports' latest survey of major telecom providers and bundled services, featured in the February issue, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse, whose networks are fiber-optic based, were the most consistently satisfying providers for their Internet, television, and telephone services.

Because Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse are not available everywhere, many consumers must consider other options for Internet, phone and TV services. The Consumer Reports article also includes ratings of these three services, which are typically bundled, from various providers.

In areas where telco-delivered service is not available, a highly-rated cable company is the next-best choice for many households. Consumers may not have an option when choosing a cable provider because a majority of homes only have one cable company available in their area. According to Consumer Reports' survey, better cable companies include Cox, Cablevision and the smaller Bright House and Wow, which are fine alternatives to fiber-optic service providers for all three services in areas that they are available and also offer Internet and telephone services.

If television service is a priority and fiber-optic service isn't available, satellite service may be a fine option. Consumer Reports suggests opting for a bundle that includes DirecTV. It scored higher than all the major cable companies and Dish Network, the other major provider of satellite service, for TV picture, sound and channel selection. It is also offered in hybrid bundles along with DSL Internet and landline phone service from some telephone providers.


Bundling Prices Decline


Intense competition for cable and satellite customers between AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS high-speed fiber providers has driven down rates for Internet, phone and TV service and is likely the reason that companies allow these savings to continue past the promotional period. In the past year, bundles of the three services have dropped in price by up to 20 percent, to as low as $80 a month.

Bundling makes sense for many households, especially for those consumers who are served by one of the fiber carriers or one of the better cable companies. Consumer Reports' latest survey found that subscribers were very satisfied with Internet, phone and TV from the best telecom providers. However, bundling doesn't come without some problems. The survey revealed a high incidence of complaints about billing, and fees with some providers' triple-play packages. Despite its high marks overall, Verizon FiOS was below average for customer service to its triple-play customers. Cable companies that bundle services had fewer customer-service problems overall.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports Survey: Nearly Half of Adults Won't Get Flu Vaccine, Citing Poor Excuses Like 'I Don't Get Sick'

According to a new survey from Consumer Reports Health, just 52 percent of Americans plan to get the flu vaccine this year, despite its being the best option for prevention. The Consumer Reports Health survey uncovered a long list of poor excuses for not getting the vaccine, including 5 percent of people who say they would rather get sick than go to work.

The vaccine is available for free for many (65 percent of those who have already been vaccinated reported no out-of-pocket expense for the vaccine), and at nominal cost for others, and requires very little time, Consumers Reports says.

The survey was conducted in early October by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, right as the flu season was getting underway this fall. Flu season typically begins in late October and can run through early May. Some 67 percent say it was better to build your own natural immunities.

"There is no evidence that people who get flu shots have lower natural immunities or that people who don't get flu shots have higher immunities," says Dr. John Santa, M.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. Those surveyed cited the following other reasons for not getting the vaccine: They do not get sick (45 percent), they have themselves or know someone who has gotten sick from the vaccine (41 percent), or they believe the vaccine is ineffective (26 percent).

Other consumers not planning to get a flu vaccination said that they were worried about side effects (35 percent), medication is now available to treat the flu (28 percent), they don't like getting shots (27 percent), or they don't like going to the doctor (23 percent). And some (5 percent) even say that they'd rather get sick than go to work. "Sounds like a lot of excuses and misconceptions to avoid a quick and inexpensive, if not free, shot," says Santa.

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that, in milder cases, can make people sick for several days, and at times can lead to death. Nearly all adults who responded to the Consumer Reports survey (83 percent) report that they have had the flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized each year from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu. Older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious flu complications.

"Despite the prevalence and potential seriousness of the flu, we found that many adults are surprisingly misinformed about both the flu and flu vaccination," says Santa. "People need to know that getting a flu vaccination every year is the best way to prevent the flu. The vaccine will not make them sick or give them the flu. Without it, they and their families are at higher risk for getting the flu. If they get the flu they may transmit it to vulnerable people for whom the consequences may be serious."

Fewer than half of those surveyed (49 percent) by Consumer Reports knew that the government recommends that everyone over 6 months old get vaccinated against the flu.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports Names 12 Best and 3 of the Worst Credit Cards

Consumer Reports analyzed hundreds of credit cards and named a dozen that are worthy of consumers' consideration -- and three to stay away from.

Among the best credit cards for low-rate/low-fee are: Capital One Platinum Prestige, Clear from American Express, and Iberiabank Visa Classic. The best cash-back cards included Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards, Chase Freedom Visa, and Discover More. Among the best gas cards
were Chase PerfectCard MasterCard, Discover Open Road, and Hess Platinum Visa.

Three cards to avoid were First Premier Bank, HSBC American DreamCard and New Millennium Visa or MasterCard.

Although some consumers have avoided any direct effect from the storm clouds in the economy, the credit-card industry is changing in ways that could affect cardholders. Consumer Reports' experts advise consumers to do a credit card checkup to make sure their accounts haven't changed for the worse.

"Whether you have good credit or bad, you should check your account terms with your credit cards," says Greg Daugherty, executive editor, Consumer Reports. "Several card issuers have doubled or tripled interest rates for some customers in recent months, even though many were current on their bills and have good credit."

The full report is available in the redesigned October issue of Consumer Reports, on sale Sept. 2 on newsstands and online.

CR reports that consumers' credit card balances are up from $825 billion at the end of 2005 to $962 billion in May. At-risk borrowers are facing tightened credit lines and higher interest rates. Periods for teaser rates are becoming shorter, and balance-transfer fees are becoming standard
while fixed rates on cards are as high as ever.

All news is not bad news however, as variable interest rates have come down, which can help consumers who carry a balance. Those with excellent credit scores can earn lower rates, higher credit limits and good rewards, according to the report.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports: Children Could Be Carrying Too Much Weight in Their Backpacks

When parents are sending their children back to school this fall, they should check their backpacks to ensure they aren't too heavy. Consumer Reports found some sixth graders who carried an average weight of 18.4 pounds in their backpacks -- about 17.2 percent of their body weight. A loaded backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's total weight, but Consumer Reports recommends staying closer to 10 percent.

To gauge how much weight children are carrying around, Consumer Reports' technicians visited three elementary schools in Amityville, N.Y., and weighed 56 kids from second, fourth and sixth grades both with their backpacks and without. Not surprisingly, the sixth-graders had the heaviest load at an average backpack weight of 18.4 pounds. Next came the second-graders' backpacks at 5.3 pounds and finally the fourth-graders had the smallest average backpack weight at 4.6 pounds.

To ensure a child's backpack is as safe as possible, Consumer Reports advises that the pack should sit about 2 inches above the waist, and with shoulder straps close to the body. Also, the straps should be shortened (and the excess length fastened securely out of the way) so they can't get stepped on or caught in doors. Below are some of the features Consumer Reports recommends looking for when shopping for a new backpack this fall:

-- Shoulder straps that are contoured and padded to soften the load of the pack on a child's back. -- A waist belt to stabilize the pack and transfer weight to the hips.
-- A padded or quilted back or one with mesh fabric to make the bag less sweaty on steamy days.
-- Compression straps on the sides of the pack to tighten a partially-filled backpack.
-- Reflective trim on the back and sides of the pack to add visibility in the fall and winter months, when kids may travel to and from school in near darkness.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports' Survey: Verizon FiOS a Leading Choice for Internet, Television, Telephone Service

Consumers looking for Internet, television, and telephone service should consider Verizon FiOS. In Consumer Reports' latest survey of several major telecom providers, featured in the February issue, Verizon FiOS, whose network is fiber-optic based, received superior scores for reliability and performance for its Internet, television, and telephone services.

Because the availability of Verizon FiOS is as yet limited, many consumers should also consider other options for these services. The article also includes Ratings of services typically bundled from various providers based on reader scores.

Consumers interested in services provided by a cable company may not have an option when choosing a provider because a majority of homes only have one cable company available in their area. According to CR's survey, better cable companies include Cox, Bright House and Wow, which are fine alternatives to Verizon FiOS in areas that they are available and also offer Internet and telephone services.

If television service is a priority, satellite service may be a fine option. DirecTV scored significantly higher than all the major cable companies and Dish Network, the other major provider of satellite service. It also offers hybrid bundles of its TV offerings and DSL and phone service from telephone providers Qwest and Verizon. DirecTV's television service stacks up well against services offered from the best cable companies and requires getting a satellite dish and other equipment, typically free or at discount in exchange for a contract agreement.

For Internet service offered through a cable company, Wow and Bright House did well in CR's Ratings. Cincinnati Bell, which offers a DSL Internet connection, was one of the higher scoring providers due to its high marks for value and reliability. Verizon's DSL Internet service was average for value, reliability and support, but scores for performance were lagging.

Although landline phone service offers a more reliable connection, especially in cases of an emergency, VoIP phone service scored higher in overall satisfaction in CR's Ratings. Cox was among the leaders especially because of its reliability and performance. Skype was noted for its superior value, but its scores were worse than average when it came to reliability and performance.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports Rates Toyota Highlander Tops Among Three-Row SUVs

The redesigned Toyota Highlander received top scores in a new Consumer Reports test of four midsized three-row SUVs, though it did not earn the organization's Recommended designation. Still, the Highlander now tops a field of 14 similar vehicles. The Buick Enclave and Ford Taurus X didn't score as well in this test, but both bested the Subaru Tribeca.

In a test extra, the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans proved disappointing. Details are available in the January issue of Consumer Reports magazine, on sale tomorrow.

The Highlander is the first model to feel the effects of a decision by Consumer Reports that it would no longer automatically award Toyotas with its Recommended designation because its Annual Car Reliability Survey showed several other models had problems. In the past, Consumer Reports automatically Recommended new and redesigned Toyotas based on the company's excellent reliability history. If the reliability of Toyota vehicles improves to those levels for a sustained period, automatic Recommended designations could return.

Consumer Reports only applies its Recommended label to vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on Consumer Reports' Annual Car Reliability Survey of its seven million subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

"All four of the SUVs scored 'Very Good' or 'Excellent' in our testing," says David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. "But because we recommend only models with sufficient data to predict average or better reliability, only the Ford Taurus X and Subaru Tribeca are Recommended from this group."

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:



Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

FTC Report on ID Theft Shows Need for Stronger Consumer Protections

A new report released by the Federal Trade Commission today estimates that 8.3 million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2005. The report underscores the need to provide consumers with stronger protections against identity fraud, according to Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

"Identity theft is a huge headache that continues to plague millions of Americans every year," says Gail Hillebrand, director of Consumers Union's Financial Privacy Now campaign. "It's time to require businesses and government agencies to safeguard sensitive personal data and to give
consumers the protection they need."

While the FTC's estimate of identity theft victims is lower than its 2003 report, the agency noted that the decline was not statistically significant. The FTC found that 37 percent of identity theft victims reported that they experienced problems beyond the time and money spent
recovering from the fraud, such as harassment by debt collectors and denial of new credit. Sixty-eight percent of new account fraud victims reported experiencing these kinds of problems. The report found that nearly one-quarter of new account fraud victims did not find out about the misuse of their information until at least six months after it started.

As of Nov. 1, consumers nationwide have the ability to thwart new account fraud by freezing access to their credit files. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws requiring credit reporting agencies to allow consumers to protect their credit files with a security freeze. The credit reporting agencies are now making this safeguard available to consumers in the remaining states.

Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:

Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.

Consumer Reports Identifies Most, Least Problematic Used Vehicles

New-car reliabilityis one thing, but how well will your car hold up three, five, even 10 years from now? On average, Toyota and Honda vehicles age best while those made by Volkswagen fare worst, according to new survey information from Consumer Reports.

For the first time, Consumer Reports has reported on the reliability of vehicles built in the past 10 model years (1997-2006). In addition, Consumer Reports has also identified vehicles that are most prone to specific problems to give used-car buyers more information than ever when making a purchase decision, the magazine says.

Detailed reliability ratings of 248 makes and models can be found in the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine, available March 6, or by logging in at http://www.ConsumerReports.org.

Among 10-year-old vehicles, owners of Japanese cars report the fewestproblems overall, the magazine says.

Toyota, Honda, and Subaru lead the way with an average of 65, 89, and 90 problems per 100 vehicles reported, respectively. Theaverage of all 10-year-old vehicles is 132 problems per 100 vehicles.

Of the domestic 10-year-old vehicles, those from Ford (including Lincoln and Mercury) remain most reliable, at about 120 problems per 100 vehicles. Ten-year-old vehicles from GM and Chrysler are nearly neck-and-neck with about 160 problems per 100 vehicles. Volkswagen (including Audi) owners reported about 175 problems per 100 vehicles, by far worse than anyother brand, the magazine says.

The oldest Korean vehicles (eight years old) from Hyundai (including Kia) that Consumers Reports says it has sufficient reliability data for are problematic, faring worse than all domestics and half of some European brands. Newer models, however, show improvements, the magazine adds.

Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.