Teething jewelry is one of the latest trends.

“I don’t wear jewelry because I didn’t want [my child] to eat it, so it’s kind of nice they make this stuff that she can chew on,” said one mother of two shopping at Day One Children’s boutique in San Francisco. “I’ve seen people at restaurants use these to entertain their kids”

There are various lines of stylish silicone jewelry made to go from mom’s neck to baby’s mouth. But there are also products intended to utilize mom’s mouth. Nurse Nancy Held explains the Nose Fida is the latest creation to suck snot out of bays nose. She said moms insert one end into the baby’s nose and the other end into her mouth, and then she literally sucks the snot. While it may seem counterintuitive, Held said the Nose Fida is more sanitary and more effective than alternative options. And no, moms don’t end up with mucus in their mouth.

“It stays in the container and it goes in the dishwasher…it works much better than the bulb thingy” raves a mother of two.

Now when it comes to feeding, every new mom hears that breast is best, and now there are a series of products aimed at helping mom breast feed longer.

“Milk screen does just that” says nurse  Nancy Held, also the President of the Day One center for new and expecting parents. “I think a lot of women stop breast feeding a lot sooner than they might have wanted because they wanted to drink a glass of wine, so these are great because you can be reassured that there isn’t any alcohol in your milk.”

Held explains moms can test their breast milk for traces of alcohol and simply “pump and dump” until it comes out clean.

For multitasking moms, Held also recommends the breast pump bustier that allows for hands free pumping.

While it may go without saying that parents have survived for centuries without these and other new products – like eco-friendly diapers and formula mixers that double as a cappuccino maker – many parents today will tell you they’re happy they don’t have to, though.

“Some stuff is excessive,” said a mother of two as she hands her screaming child a teething necklace, “But at each age there are some things that have become kind of crucial.”

https://dayonecenter.com/shop/at_our_centers

http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/

http://store.chewbeads.com/

http://www.etsy.com/market/teething_jewelry

http://www.fridababy.com/

http://www.milkscreen.com/

http://www.simplewishes.com/

http://www.shrinkxhips.com/

http://www.warmze.com/

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

“This is a big problem for fans,” said Ticketmaster’s Jacqueline Peterson. “We know who originally purchased the tickets from us but that doesn’t necessarily mean that is the same person who sold these tickets to this fan.”

A Music fan, who asked to be identified only as Jay, experienced this scam firsthand. This April Jay bought concert tickets on Craigslist to see Rihanna at San Jose’s HP Pavilion. The tickets were hard copies and looked real. They also set Jay back about $240 bucks.

Unfortunately, she never got to see Rihanna’s show. Jay was turned away at the door. A scan of the bar code on the bottom of the hard copy ticket alerted the doorman that the seats were already in use by another party.

“I was just in shock and I really didn’t know what to say or do at the time,” said Jay.

Peterson said that this happens too often. Scalpers will re-sell the bogus tickets again and again through sites like Craigslist and other third party re-sellers. Peterson said Ticketmaster advises consumers to buy tickets directly from the on-line retailer itself, the box office, or a reseller that offers a money back guarantee.

“I am sure that there are thousands of people that experience the same thing,” said Jay.

In the meantime, Ticketmaster has offered Jay a $240 credit so she can catch another concert. And Ticketmaster said it will continue to work with law enforcement to stop the scalping of lost or stolen tickets.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The Forester, along with the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which earns acceptable, are the latest vehicles to qualify for the Institute’s recently inaugurated top honor – top safety pick.

Each of the other 11 SUVs earns either a poor or marginal rating.

• Complete IIHS Crash Test Results

“With the redesigned Forester, Subaru’s engineers set out to do well in our new test, and they succeeded,” said Joe Nolan, the Institute’s vice president for vehicle research. “This is exactly how we hoped manufacturers would respond to improve protection for people in these kinds of serious frontal crashes.”

IIHS added the small overlap test to its lineup of vehicle safety evaluations last year. It replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a vehicle’s front end on the driver side strikes a 5-foot wall at 40 mph. A dummy is belted in the driver seat.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Everyone has the so-called BRCA genes, it’s only when there is a problem – or specific mutation on them – that the risk of breast or ovarian cancer increases. And even those cases are not an exact correlation.

“We think that maybe 15% of all women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a mutation like that,” said Breast Cancer Surgeon Dr. Lisa Bailey of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. “So the vast majority will have breast cancer for some other reason.”

The test that determines if a woman has the genetic mutations linked to heightened breast cancer risk costs close to $4,000. But insurance experts indicate the entire cost should be covered for patients under the terms of the Affordable Care Act, provided they meet certain conditions.

Nancy Kinkaid of the California Dept. of Insurance said that’s because the test for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes is considered “preventive care.” “There should be no-copay and no out-of-pocket cost for that consultation and evaluation,” Kinkaid told KPIX 5.

But that doesn’t mean just anyone can or should go out and get the test. The preventive care clause applies only to “non-grandfathered” insurance plans, which coverage started after March 2010 when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. The test will also only be covered for patients with a qualifying family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer.

And for those who do test positive for the gene mutation, Kinkad said there’s no need to worry about being denied coverage or skyrocketing insurance rates.

“Genetic testing can not be considered. It is not a rating factor under the Affordable Care Act,” she explained.

Kinkaid said the Affordable Care Act does not address whether the mastectomy itself is covered. And when it comes to disability or life insurance, the law doesn’t reference genetic testing at all.

Kinkaid said Californians who believe they have been unfairly denied coverage for the genetic test that can and should contact the State Department of Insurance’s Consumer Helpline at 1-800-927–HELP or online at: http://www.insurance.ca.gov/contact-us/0200-file-complaint/index.cfm

(Copyright 2013 CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved.)

From pumps, to classes, to all of the supplies, breastfeeding can be both complicated and costly. New mom Shermina Takar said so far she’s spent, “a little over a thousand on equipment, not including supplies.”

Lactation consultant Nancy Held said she hears a lot of confusion about the new mandate. She said each new parent who comes into her center seems to be getting a different answer from their insurer. Some will cover hospital-grade pumps, while others will only over cheap hand pumps.

“We’ve had instances where someone has a primi in the intensive care nursery and their insurance company gave them a hand pump, and we need to be able to say no you need the hospital grade pump” Held said.

Insurance broker Steven Bauer said the confusion isn’t surprising considering the vague language of the law. He said that, because the law doesn’t specify breast pump type or brand, some insurers are deciding on their own.

“They all have to agree to cover lactation devices; it’s the implementation that’s under review,” he said.

According to Bauer, often times insurers are requiring less than suitable pumps and even mandating where they must be purchased.

“There’s really no one championing the member at this point. The insurance companies default answer many times will be ‘no,’” said Bauer.

When asking for help, even the state department of insurance said its hands are often tied. Coverage is dependent on the language of your contract, instead of the intent of the law.

While lactation consultants should be fully covered under preventative care, breast pumps are considered medical equipment. That means coverage varies by policy. Lactation consultants advise new moms to call their insurer before their baby is born in order to find out what’s covered and where it needs to be bought.

Takar said her insurer wasn’t much help.

“They said they don’t cover breast pumps specifically, but they said you can try to submit your receipts for what you do purchase. You can try,” Takar said.

If your insurer doesn’t give you the answer you’re looking for, first ask to speak to a supervisor. If that doesn’t work, tell them your going to file a request for assistance with the Department of Insurance. This advice is for PPO policies. HMO patients would report to the Department of Managed Health Care).

The Department of Insurance is asking that consumers call in if they believe their insurers are not in compliance with the Affordable Care Act, which mandates that they cover the rental equipment associated with Breastfeeding as of Jan 1, 2013.

That number is 800-927-4357 (800-927-HELP)

Often, simply telling your insurer that you’re going to file a request for assistance with the Department of Insurance is enough to get action.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Last Wednesday, an Assembly budget subcommittee voted 4-0 to impose “zero-based budgeting” on the C.P.U.C.

“It is probably one of the loudest wake-up calls that the state legislature can give to a state agency,” said Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park.)

The matter now goes to the full Assembly budget committee for a vote, which Gordon expects will also ratify the measure.

“At some level – it’s justify your existence,” said Gordon of the budgeting tactic, which “is a request and a requirement that we look at every penny that is being spent.”

A similar measure to increase oversight on the C.P.U.C. is being discussed in the state Senate.

Consumer advocate Mark Toney of the watchdog group The Utility Reform Network (TURN) says it’s long overdue.

“The P.U.C., over the past several years, has simply been asleep at the wheel,” Toney told ConsumerWatch.

Among the agency’s failures, according to Toney,  are deregulating telephone rates and overturning the Wireless Consumer Bill of Rights.Toney also says the C.P.U.C. played a role in the 2011 San Bruno pipeline explosion.

“It’s very clear from the National Transportation Safety Board that the epic negligence in keeping track of pipeline safety absolutely contributed to the San Bruno accident,” Toney said.

He’s not the only one heaping blame on the agency. At last week’s hearing Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Van Nuys) offered a scathing lecture to C.P.U.C. president Paul Clanon.

“The P.U.C. has not been doing the right things,” Blumenfield said. “We will reform an institution run amok from its core mission of safety, reliability and affordability. We will rebuild it brick by brick,” Blumenfield promised.

The C.P.U.C. did not respond to several requests for comment.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Majesh Rajan found out how important when his bulldog Luigi began vomiting blood one Saturday night. Rajan rushed Luigi to the nearest emergency vet near his South Bay home.

“I went into panic mode,” said Rajan. But Rajan was in for a surprise when he learned the costs of the visit.

“They were charging me so much it almost like a dare. I even thought about bringing him home, but they said he could die of lack of oxygen,” said Rajan.

When he received his bill 24 hours later the $2,000 quote had increased to more than $3,600, and he said the vet still hadn’t diagnosed Luigi.

The veterinary clinic suggested that Luigi be kept overnight, but Rajan took his dog home, where he made a full recovery without further treatment.

Rajan then found other similar price gouging complaints online about the emergency vet as well as others.

KPIX5 went undercover to find if the vet was indeed exploiting vulnerable situations.

Allie, a cute little Bijon, was the test animal. She was first examined by her regular vet, who diagnosed her with an ear infection and treated her with ear cleaner and ointment. The cost was $64.

A visit to the same emergency clinic that treated Luigi came up with a different and more expensive treatment which included a steroid injection and pain killers. At $86, the emergency vet’s prescribed treatment for the same ailment cost 40 percent more than Allie’s vet. ConsumerWatch called five other vet clinics and found costs for the same injection and pain killers were significantly lower.

Rajan said the lesson he learned is that pet owners should do their homework and research emergency clinics and costs before their pet needs emergency treatment.

There are many outstanding emergency vets and while you should expect them to be a bit more expensive than the regular vet due to higher overhead, they should not perform unnecessary treatments in order to rack up the bill.

Ask your vet to recommend a reputable clinic before you need one and read online reviews so you know what to expect.

The Bay Area Consumers Checkbook rated 192 Bay Area veterinary clinics for price and quality. The magazine advises pet owners to:

• Seek out a vet who will let you inspect the entire hospital, including treatment areas,cages, and runs at any time during regular office hours.

• Look for an office where you can get prompt advice by phone, and avoid vets who push unnecessary services and medications.

• Make sure there are arrangements for emergency care outside of regular office hours.

Through special arrangement with nonprofit Bay Area Consumers’ CHECKBOOK, KPIX 5 viewers can access CHECKBOOK’s ratings of 192 local veterinary practices without a subscription until Wednesday, May 22, and can view CHECKBOOK’s veterinarians advice indefinitely via this link: www.checkbook.org/kpix5

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The vehicle involved in the fire Saturday that killed five women on a bachelorette party is listed as a public charter vehicle and is not regulated by the California Highway Patrol, but rather by the California Public Utilities Commission. The CHP that physically inspects limos for safety, but vehicle code only requires it inspect limos with 10 passengers or more.

In a press conference, the CHP asserted that, due to the car’s size, the CPUC was responsible for this specific limo, but that the CPUC’s only responsibility is to issue a license.

While there were 9 passengers Saturday night, this 14 year-old in 8-seater was not required to undergo any inspection.

“Once you reach a 10 passenger limit, your entire company comes under the scrutiny of CHP,” said Bill Wheeler, president of a Bay Area-based limo company. “Smaller companies run smaller vehicles, so they’ve don’t have to be put under that scrutiny.”

While the company involved, Limo Stop, said it has larger limos on its website, the PUC has confirmed it only ran 8-seaters.

“Companies that run small equipment really have no regulation,” said Wheeler.

Joan Claybrook, the top federal auto-safety regulator under President Jimmy Carter, said the stretch limousine industry is poorly regulated because the main agency that oversees car safety doesn’t have enough money to prioritize investigating the small businesses that modify limos after they leave the assembly line.

“I think the oversight is pretty lousy, because the modifications are so individualistic, and there are not that many companies out there that do this. Mostly, they are mom-and-pop operations,” said Claybrook, a former administrator at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who previously led consumer group Public Citizen. Instead, the agency tends to focus more on problems with new cars and major recalls.

U.S. Department of Transportation data shows five people died in three separate stretch limo accidents in 2010, and 21 people died in another three stretch limo accidents in 2011.

Stretch limos are typically built in two ways.

In the first process, one car maker builds the limousine’s body, then another company customizes or stretches the vehicle. The second company has to issue a certification that the car meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety standards for new vehicles, and that all safety equipment is working as required before it can be sold to the public, said Henry Jasny, an attorney with the Washington-based nonprofit Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

In the second process, a customer buys the limousine directly from the car maker, then takes it to be customized. But modifying the car after it has been sold is considered a retrofit, so is not something NHTSA would regulate, Jasny said.

Many older models such as the 1999 Lincoln Town Car that caught fire Saturday were modified after they left the factory, said Jerry Jacobs, who owns a boutique limousine company in in San Rafael with a fleet that includes two stretch limos.

“There is nothing wrong with having these older models on the road. Many have low mileage and immaculate interiors because we take care of them. But when these cars start getting older and the rubber boots wear out, they start running hot,” Jacobs said. “The key is you have to keep doing all the right maintenance to make sure they’re running smoothly.”

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

“Men are actually facing what working women are facing and there’s a lot more pressure to be an active dad” said East Bay resident Jim Arby, is full-time dad with a full-time job.

When Arby first became a father four years ago, he began searching for outlets to connect with other dad’s. When he couldn’t find one, he created the East Bay Dad’s group; a community of dads that meet up for play groups, camping trips, and the occasional dads only night out.

Today these groups are becoming more common, and the TheBump.com’s Alison Bernstein said that’s due in part to an increase in the societal pressured to be both provider and caretaker.

“I think dads are having children later in life in many cases. And by the time it comes around for their time to be a dad, they’re really ready for that moment” said Bernstein.

She said there’s been a recent influx of dad’s on The Bump, which traditionally catered to moms. With thousands of new dads per month, they’re now tracking emerging daddy trends like dadchelor parties.

“That wasn’t even a word a couple of years ago” said Bernstein.

Today, the bump finds 1 in 5 dads have a last hurrah in the form of a dadchelor parties or man showers.

“If you have a bachelor party to say you are no longer single, you kind of have a dadchelor party to say you are no longer able to just go out do whatever it is you want to do,” said Arby.

What he ‘wants to do’ changed after having kids and he’s grateful for the influx of daddy-centric products that now help him do it in style.

In addition to the dude diaper bags, there are other products like the diaper vest, designed to hold diapers, wipes, bottles, cell phones, and comes with built in changing pad. Fatherhood is becoming a booming business for retailers which Araby believes demonstrates a cultural shift in what Dad’s are expected to be and do.

“Being a fully engaged dad is becoming cool.”

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

They are known as “gray charges,” and Bay Area-based financial advisor David Hollander estimates that one-in-four consumers are currently paying them in the form of unwanted subscriptions, auto-renewals and rewards programs.

Marilyn Maffly recently found a slew of grey charges buried in her credit card statements. Earlier this week, the retired R.N. discovered two separate charges of $14.95 for “rewards” programs from two of her favorite on-line retailers, Appleseed’s and Draper and Damon.

Related Link:
BillGuard

When Maffly reviewed her bills from the past year, she noticed 15 identical charges from the same retailers, totaling about $260. “They were familiar companies and I didn’t pay enough attention,” Maffly told ConsumerWatch.

It turns out Maffly inadvertently got enrolled in the program while making purchases, thinking she was getting free shipping. But she said neither of her purchases was actually shipped for free. “I’m not getting any rewards,” she said.

Dealing with the charges has been a headache for Maffly. When she called the 800 number listed next to the charge on her credit card bill, she said a representative offered sympathy, but no help.

“She said that was the best she could do. [The representative] did say ‘well, I order things from Amazon, and they pay all the shipping and return it if it isn’t right, there’s no problem with Amazon,’” Maffley recounted.

Maffly is not the only one complaining about recurring $14.95 fees from online clothing company’s rewards programs. ConsumerWatch found hundreds of complaints online from consumers who say they are also getting monthly bills for reward programs they don’t want and didn’t sign up for.

Many of them were billed by a third party called “Encore Marketing International,” that has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. Encore did not return ConsumerWatch’s request for comment.

Ken Abbe of the Federal Trade Commission said these types of charges can be illegal if the company does not clearly disclose the conditions of the offer.

“It’s the law, if you’re going to charge someone for something, you have to disclose that upfront in a way that people can understand,” Abbe said.

Abbe suggested as soon as you notice an unwanted charge to call the 800 number on your bill, as Maffly did. If that doesn’t work, contact your bank or credit card company and have them dispute the charge.

Since Maffly contacted Consumerwatch, we contacted the parent company of the two clothing companies involved. The company agreed to give Maffly a full refund.

Some consumer advocates recommend a free product called BillGuard that monitors your statements and flags suspicious charges.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

But two weeks before the event, the couple discovered the caterer that the city required they use, was no longer in business. Now the pair says they’re out over $4,000 in deposit fees and other costs.

“I was in a panic mode. I didn’t know what to do,” said Lopa Sengupta. “We thought we wouldn’t have any food at the wedding.”

The couple was required to select a caterer from San Jose’s list of mandatory, preapproved, insured caterers. They picked Taj Palace.

“There were 3 Indian caterers on this list, and the one that we contacted was the only one that was available to do a wedding of our size”, said Lopa Sengupta.

Ten days before the wedding, the couple was informed by the City that Taj Palace no longer carried the required insurance policies to operate at the Rotunda, and that the restaurant could not serve the Sengupta’s 300 guests. Worse yet, the couple then paid a visit to Taj Palace and discovered the restaurant had had gone out of business, taking the couple’s cash with it.

The City of San Jose’s Director of Communications said that while the couple was required to choose a caterer from the City’s preapproved list, San Jose provided no guarantees.

“That list was accurate at the time that we discussed it,” said San Jose Communications Director David Vossbrink. “We don’t go through and check all the people on that list on a regular basis.”

The City declined to reimburse Hott and Sengupta citing an indemnity clause. The couple sued the City in Small Claims Court stating they would be eligible for reimbursement through the restaurant’s insurance, if The City had ensured that the restaurant’s on its list of approved insured caterers were actually insured .

The court expects to issue a decision by the end of the month.

Taj Palace remains closed. The newlyweds have not been able to locate Taj Palace’s owner but have filed criminal charges.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

When Bryce Martens of Foster City purchased a Target gift card for his son at Safeway, he did exactly what the retailer advises you do to protect from fraud; He kept the activation receipt and checked to make sure the silver security panel on the back had not been tampered with.

But when his son tried to redeem the gift card on his smart phone app he discovered that the numbers underneath the silver security panel were missing and the card had already been used.

According to Captain Joe Pierucci of the Foster City Police Department, it’s a new form of gift card fraud that is occurring across the country. In the Marten’s case, the card “was most likely in the store for a period of time, stolen, compromised, and then placed back in the store by the unknown suspect,” said Pierucci.

Nationwide, law enforcement believes Crooks have figured out a way to replicate the silver security panel on gift cards so consumers have no way of knowing that it has been tampered with or used. Once the unsuspecting consumer activates the card, the scamsters spend the money via mobile app or online before the consumer has a chance to use it.

In the Martens case, Target and Safeway told police that the card had already been used but that there was no way to track who used it. In response, police are calling on retailers to remove the cards from public access and put them behind the customer service counter to ensure they aren’t compromised or removed by thieves.

In a statement, Safeway said it has no intention of removing the cards as its research shows “consumers shop the gift card mall on average for over 2 minutes (very high for a grocery category) and they enjoy the wide variety and selection of cards available. Removing the cards so consumers cannot browse and shop all the cards easily is not good customer service.”

The Martens have learned it may be best to avoid buying unsecured gift cards all together, because not only did the silver security panel failed them, but it turned out keeping the activation receipt, a Safeway suggestion, was pointless as well.

“I went back to the store with the gift receipt and they told me that they were not authorized to issue refunds or exchanges on gift cards,” said Martens.

After the Martens contacted ConsumerWatch, Target agreed to replace the card and Safeway gave them a $20 dollar gift card for their trouble. Safeway says “ If a customer does experience a problem and the store is unable to solve the issue, we suggest the consumer call the store’s customer service number and they will contact Blackhawk Network. Blackhawk will then work with the customer, the retailer and the content partner to resolve the issue as well as notify law enforcement if needed.”

Blackhawk is the division of Safeway that manufactures gift cards sold at retailers nationwide.

See Blackhawk’s full statement below:

Blackhawk Network Response

April 25, 2013

Blackhawk Network is committed to providing our customers with the best possible experience and we take the security of our gift cards very seriously. We work closely with our partners to develop quality packaging and to do everything possible to protect against any potential fraud. We have found this issue to affect a very small fraction of our millions of cards but if an issue does arise, we work closely with law enforcement to address the problem and do everything we can to make the customer whole.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Purina, the maker of Beneful, said the food is safe. It also said “false, unsupported and misleading allegations,” are causing undue concern and confusion for Beneful consumers.

San Francisco veterinarian Leah Del Rosso said she has not seen any dogs who’ve gotten sick from Beneful. But she said she does see a lot of animals suffering from digestive problems.

“We do see a lot of upset stomach cases in dogs and cats, and sometimes we don’t know what causes it.”

Possibilities can include tainted food, as well as switching to a new brand of food too quickly, or parasites from food eaten off the ground.

Dr. Del Rosso biggest concern is pet food recalls.

“I’m so frustrated, so frustrated. Every time I turn around there is another recall,” Del Rosso told ConsumerWatch.

According to the F.D.A.’s website, there were hundreds of pet food recalls in 2012. Purina’s Beneful has never been recalled, according to a Purina spokesman.

So, what can a pet owner do insure their animals food is safe and healthy? Dr. Del Rosso advises pet owners shop at smaller pet food stores where owners “vet” the products they sell, and stay up-to-date on recalls. Jonathan Truong, owner of Pet’s Corner in San Francisco does just that.

“We do a lot of research outside of what the vendors tell us because all they’re going to do is tell you the positive,” Trong told ConsumerWatch.

Several Independent websites, like Dogfoodadvisor.com, rate dog food with a one-to-five star rating system. The site also thooughly explains the ingredients in about 900 commercially sold dog food recipes.

Do-It-Yourself pet food is also an option. A growing number of pet owners are now making their animal’s food to save money and make sure they contain quality ingredients. But Dr. Del Rosso warned anyone doing that should consult their vet first. She said each pet has different nutritional requirements and it’s likely the pet will need a supplement to get a complete diet.

FDA’s Response:

The Food and Drug Administration cares about the well-being of both people and animals, and strives to ensure that the food Americans eat and feed their pets is safe, wholesome and properly stored and labeled. FDA is currently investigating complaints about Beneful. While we generally do not comment on an open investigation, our normal practice is to follow up on every complaint to try to determine whether an illness or other adverse event can be conclusively linked to a cause. FDA is also aware of press coverage surrounding this product, which have triggered reports of new complaints to FDA. It is common for us to see a spike in complaints after publicity such as this. Not all of these were linked to illnesses or adverse events. It is very important to note that the existence of a complaint does not mean that the outcome was caused by the suspected product.

Purina’s Response:

At Purina, we’re pet owners and pet lovers, and the foods we make for pets are the same foods we feed to our pets. The quality and safety of our products is our top priority and nothing is more important to us. Beneful is a 100 percent complete and balanced, high quality, nutritious food that is fed in more than 15 million U.S. households every year. We carefully monitor and review all information provided to us by consumers and are confident there are no product quality or safety issues with Beneful.

Any consumer product, including commercial pet foods, can be the subject of social media misinformation, and false rumors about pet foods can lead people to inaccurate conclusions about their pets’ health. It’s important to consider the source, and to rely on factual information from credible sources.

Purina’s quality control procedures are among the strictest – if not the strictest – in the industry, and our products are formulated by professional pet nutritionists and veterinarians. To that point, suppliers of ingredients for Purina products must meet our stringent standards for ingredient specifications, product safety, sanitation and manufacturing practices. We closely monitor each step of the pet food production process, from raw ingredients through finished goods. And we have a comprehensive food safety program, which is specifically designed to prevent food quality or safety issues from occurring in the first place.

There are many high quality pet food choices that will keep pets healthy and happy, and the key to finding the right food for a consumer’s pet is to look for a 100% complete and balanced diet for the pet’s life-stage, and to look for high quality ingredients like those found in Beneful and all other Purina pet foods. Consumers should also make sure their pet food’s manufacturer has a comprehensive food safety program and rigorous quality controls, as is true with all Purina pet foods. Purina has been helping pets live long, healthy lives through high-quality, nutritious products for more than 85 years.

We take all comments from consumers seriously. We encourage any consumer with a question or comment about one of our products to call and speak with us directly at the toll free number on every package.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

“It’s incredible that the same chemical that was taken from kids pajamas back in the 70’s is still in all these baby products,” Blum told ConsumerWatch. Blum said the issue is a result of TB117, the state’s soon-to-be discarded flammability standard, that requires products with padding to withstand an open flame for 12 seconds without catching fire.

Many manufacturers meet that standard by embedding chemicals in the foam, that Blum said can cause serious health problems.

“These chemicals impact brain development and reproductive organ development, and some of them like TRIS are associated with increased rates of cancer,” Blum said.

Concern about the effects of flame retardants has led to a new market for chemical-free baby products. Products without chemicals will often carry labels saying they do not abide by California’s flammability law. Blum contends that, overall, products that do not conform to the state law are safer.

The state’s flammability standard is currently being rewritten to exclude most baby products. Nursing pillows and strollers are already exempt.

For more information see:

Green Science Policy Institute’s Baby Product Research

Green Science Police Institute’s Safe Kids Buyers Guide

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Now, the fix is a phone call away. Redwood City-based company iCracked has figured out a way to fix iPhones with issues from cracked screens, water damage, and battery problems.

iCracked CEO AJ Forsythe said that he got the idea for the mobile technology repair company in college after his own iPhone screen cracked.

“I took it apart and repaired it myself and it really blossomed into a growing business,” Forsthe said.

The 24-year-old entrepreneur now has 350 iTechs spread across the globe, offering iPhone and iPad owners a second chance with their devices through fully warranted repairs.

iCracked takes house calls for about $100 or offers a do-it-yourself iCracked repair kit for $65. The kit contains everything you need to fix your phone in three easy steps.

But for the technically challenged, using a repair kit is not always as easy as it appears. Our fix-it experiment started out simple enough, but quickly went downhill. It took two hours to reassemble the cracked phone. Turns out we missed a minor step and had to call iCracked repair manager Joe Mravca who came to the rescue and fixed the phone.

Icracked makes house-calls to offices and can fix most phones in less than 20 minutes or even during a lunch break.

There are a variety of other iPhone repair options ranging from $79 to $100. But in most cases, you have to bring your phone to them. If you attempt the do-it-yourself kit, ConsumerWatch suggests you watch the instructional video first and give yourself a couple of hours. Our issue was simply a loose connector that required a simple fix.

Keep in mind, any outside iPhone repair will void the warranty. These options should only be used for phones that are no long under warranty.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

During a four-year investigation by local and federal authorities, investigators found hundreds of customers who Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Martha Donohoe said were “hooked” by the lowball quotes offered by a company that operated under multiple names, including ASAP Relocations Inc.

Once the moves were in progress, the customers were told their furniture and other belongings would be taken to storage unless they paid the higher bills that were jacked up by additional fees for packing and packaging supplies, Donohoe said.

The owner of the companies, Roni Hayon, 36, and his wife and office manager, Adii Therese Karter, 32, used the money to fund a “luxury lifestyle,” including buying his and hers Mercedes-Benz automobiles, Donohoe said.

Hanyon, Karter and three former employees were facing warrants for their arrest, Donohoe said. It was believed they fled the area.

Three other former employees of the company were in court Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to grand theft and other charges.

Attempts to reach Hayon and Karter through their companies were unsuccessful. The telephone listing for ASAP Relocations was disconnected, while listings for the other names the company operated under — America’s Best Movers, Champions Movers, Fast Moving Van Lines Inc., Fast Moves, Quick Quotes for Moving Inc., and Encore Movers — were either disconnected or no listings were available.

For more information on protecting yourself during a move, visit https://www.protectyourmove.gov/

See the list of licensed movers from the CPUC.

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“Websites broadcast where you’ve been and what you’re looking at,” said Seth Rosenblatt of CNET.

Those crumbs of information also include where you are located and your computer’s IP address. Rosenblatt said lots of people are willing to buy that information, including data brokers, advertising agencies and tracking firms. That’s why, Rosenblatt said, ads for products you’ve expressed an interest in follow you around the internet for days.

“They use that information to determine what kind of ads to show you next,” he said.

Wednesday in San Francisco, the new chairwoman of the FTC called on the advertising industry to give consumers “effective and meaningful privacy protection,” by coming up with a standard way for consumers to make it known they do not want their on-line activity tracked.

In the meantime, Rosenblatt recommends anti-tracking software. He likes Abine’s DoNotTrackMe program, which is available at http://abine.com/dntdetail.php. The free software prevents your computer from passing along information about your computer activity.

“You know when I was a kid, we didn’t have a lot of money, so me and my family had to watch the money that we spent,” Bieber said in a video for the card.

Bieber’s deal with Spend Smart nets him $3.75 million for the 14 month deal plus royalties. The company claims its mission is to teach teenagers financial responsibility. The card sends users and parents instant alerts anytime it is used.

Consumer advocates are concerned about the fees attached to the card. The Bieber card includes a monthly fee of $3.95, loading fee of $2.95 and ATM withdrawal fees of $1.50, a $7.95 replacement card fee and $3 inactivity fee.

Michelle Jun, an attorney with Consumers Union, has concerns.

“Prepaid cards to not have federal protections yet against fraud and loss,” Jun said.

She suggests a traditional debit card from a bank or a credit union which usually come with fewer fees and helps users establish a credit history.

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The EWG’s analysis tested store bought meat and found the antibiotic resistant bacteria in 81 percent of raw turkey, 69 percent raw pork chops, 55 percent ground beef and 39 percent are raw chicken parts. EWG researchers found evidence of e-coli and salmonella in the raw meat tested.

Nutritionist Dawn Undurraga of the Environment Working Group said that, “These organisms can cause food borne illnesses and other infections. Worse, they spread antibiotic-resistance, which threatens to bring a post-antibiotic era where important medicines critical to treating people could become ineffective.”

Factory farms produce 8.9 billion animals for meat in the US, which makes them the leading cause of the superbug crisis. According to the EWG, these factory animals are given antibiotics to mature faster than the average animal – preparing them for slaughter sooner. Factory animals are also given these antibiotics to prevent infections that are caused by stressful crowded unsanitary living conditions.

The FDA and the Animal Health Institute said that in 2011, pharmaceutical makers sold nearly 30 million pounds of antibiotics for domestic food-producing animals.

Researcher Renee Sharpe of the Environment Working Group said that, “Slowing the spread of the antibiotic resistance will require concerted efforts, not only by the FDA and lawmakers, but by pharmaceutical companies, doctors, veterinarians, livestock producers and big agribusiness.”

Health experts are concerned antibiotics could become less effective because of their overuse. CDC has said there is a definitive link between the routine, non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics in food animal production and the crisis of antibiotic resistance in humans. This position is supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other leading medical groups who all warn that the injudicious use of antibiotics in food animals presents a serious and growing threat to human health because the practice creates new strains of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

For now, the FDA responses to the antibiotics are followed by a voluntary guidance document since there are no laws and regulations to enforce.

The EWG suggests consumers can prevent getting superbugs by eating less factory-farm meat, buying meat raised with out antibiotics, using separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables, and following EWG’s Tips to Avoiding Superbugs in Meat.

It’s important to note that thoroughly cooking your meat will kill the bacteria.

Meat industry groups say the report failed to mention that the data also shows that drug resistant bacteria in meat are on the decline. They point out that antibiotics in livestock are regulated by the FDA, which also tests to ensure “food at the grocery store does not contain antibiotic residue.”

In response to the report the California Poultry Association made he following statement:

Antibiotics used in poultry are generally not used in human medicine, and the most important human class of antibiotics fluoroquinolones is banned in the raising of poultry.

In California antibiotics are not used for growth promotion as alleged in the report.

California poultry products reach the market free of antibiotics because we observe the mandatory withdrawal period; in short California raised poultry, has always been, and continues to be safe to consume, and the industry continues to place the highest level of importance on food safety.

Consumers must remember however, that with raw poultry, they must maintain safe handling and cooking procedures. Any bacteria that may be found in raw poultry is fully eliminated when cooked to the correct temperature.

We encourage consumers to maintain safe handling and cooking procedures. More information is available at www.fightbac.org.

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A number of websites allow users to listen in on police scanners and view live street cameras. CNET Editor-At-Large Brian Cooley said while the views are unfiltered, they may not present a full picture of what is going on.

Broadcastify.com allows users to listen in on first-responders radio transmissions. The site calls itself “the world’s largest source of public safety, aircraft, rail and marine safety audio streams.”

For a real-time look at what’s happening on the roadways, Caltrans and many other transportation agencies have put live video from traffic cameras up on the web. Caltrans site is http://video.dot.ca.gov/. The agency said it has 1,000 cameras keeping an eye on freeways across California.

To learn the whereabouts of a loved one who is unaccounted for when disaster hits, Google and the Red Cross both provide up-to-the minute status reports on people at or a near a disaster scene. Google’s Person Finder lists people who have and have not been heard from since Monday’s explosions. The Red Cross’s Safe and Well Registry provides a similar service.

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It’s known as the “Speaker Scam” and the “White Van Scam.” And KPIX 5 photographer Elliott Mendoza experienced it firsthand recently at the Hilltop Mall parking lot in Richmond. Mendoza said two men approached him, saying they had been hired to deliver a speaker system, but couldn’t make the delivery because of a mix-up.

“They said ‘we have the address, but there’s nobody at this address, so we have to get rid of these speakers,’” Mendoza recalled.

The men presented a box containing a “RolkOlsen,” home theater system, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,799. But they were willing to bargain, and offer to sell the box for just $200. He took them up on the offer just to see what scam was all about.

Eve Edelson, author of the book “Scamorama,” said it’s a common scam that has been taking place in parking lots around the world for decades.

“Usually the cover story is ‘It was overstock, and our boss says we have to unload this and we have to make a deal, please help us out,’” Edelson told KPIX 5 ConsumerWatch.

The products are sold under a wide variety of names, but are not well-known brands.

And while most people assume the goods were stolen, Edelson said, most of it is not.

“This is stuff that is imported in bulk from China and then farmed out to individuals to hawk on a commission basis,” Edelson said.

Additionally, anyone selling electronic equipment, or anything else subject to state sales tax, is required to have a seller’s permit.

So, what do buyers get for their money? ConsumerWatch asked audio expert Hatch Archouniani to evaluate the “RolkOlsen,” system. Archouniani was concerned about the system’s poor-quality wiring and materials. And unlike most home theater systems, this one did not come with an amplifier.

He also gave the sound poor reviews. “You’re basically getting the high end, and some of the low end, and nothing in between,” Archouniani said.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse maintains a database of data brokers that collect information from public records and display it, sometimes for a fee. But, the organization’s Kim Gough said the majority of data brokers don’t allow individuals to opt-out. And those that do often require additional information, such as phone numbers or driver license numbers, to verify identity.

“It’s a Catch-22,” Gough told ConsumerWatch.

Even if you do opt-out of one site, activist Adi Kamdar of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said your personal information could soon appear elsewhere.

“There are quite a few of these sites, and more of them pop up every week,” Kamdar said.

Kamdar said databrokers are protected because “it’s within their first amendment rights because this is public information.”

Kamdar also said that’s why some people turn to reputation management companies, which, for a fee, automatically generate removal requests. Some even have relationships with data brokers that can make opting-out easier.

Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearing House would like to see a one-stop opt-out system, where individuals could make a single request to have their information removed from data brokers sites. But that might only tackle part of the problem, Givens admits, because much of the information is also in public records.

Related Link: Privacy Rights Clearing House Data Broker List with Opt-Out Policies.

“I almost got killed for a ticket that I didn’t deserve,” Stephanie Jacobi told KPIX 5 ConsumerWatch. She found the smoking parking ticket wedged underneath her motorcycle’s gas tank.

Adding insult to injury, Jacobi said she had plenty of time left on the meter, even though it said it was expired.

Another motorcyclist shot video of the malfunctioning meter and provided it as evidence when he protested his ticket, only to have his appeal denied.

Two months later, KPIX 5 discovered the meter, still malfunctioning. While the meter itself shows there is enough time left on the spot, a red dot appears, indicating it’s expired.

Jacobi contacted the parking authority, and even left a note. But she and others continue to receive tickets.

According to California state law, it’s illegal for a city to issue tickets on a broken meter, unless the city passes a special ordinance and posts signs. San Francisco has not.

KPIX 5 asked Paul Rose of the SFMTA: “If it’s a broken meter, you’re not allowed to give a ticket. So if they send you video evidence, isn’t that enough proof it’s a broken meter?”

Rose responded, “This information was shared with the meter shop, the enforcement team. And in this case, it looks like it’s operational sometimes and not operational others.”

Rose said they have now determined spiders may be to blame for the malfunctioning meter and others in the area. They are replacing the meters with sealed housing, but won’t commit to dismissing the tickets.

“You have to go through the hearing process to make sure we’re looking at all bases,” Rose said.

It’s a process that may take two or three appeals before your ticket is actually dismissed, for tickets that may violate California law.

A bill in the Assembly could expand the law, making all tickets at broken meters illegal.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

While California has long provided free or heavily discounted landline service to low income Californians, it’s one of the last states to offer subsidized cell phone service to the poor.

Doris Sermone is taking advantage of the program, known as Lifeline. The Sunnyvale resident—who gets by on $800 a month from Social Security—has a landline, but worries when she leaves her apartment.

“These days you just never know. (A cell phone) would be a security blanket for me,” she told ConsumerWatch.

Last week, Sermone contacted Assurance Wireless, one of four wireless providers approved to offer free or low fee cell phone and cell phone service to needy Californians. The other three providers are Reachout, Telscape and Cricket.

“California is a little late to the party,” consumer advocate Joe Rideout said. “This is for the four million Californians who are living in poverty,” Rideout said.

His group, Consumer Action, has compared all four providers plans and Ridout said there are significant differences.

“Some of them will require you to pay for a phone from them to get things going. Others will provide a phone for free, but you may have to pay an activation fee,” Rideout said.

To qualify for the Lifeline cell phone program, individuals have to earn less than $14,700 a year. The program is financed by Universal Service Fees, mandatory charges tacked on to most every phone bill in California.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Bay Area taxpayer, Ray LaRance, was charged a hefty fee by California Check Cashing in Dublin to file his state and federal income taxes.

He was told the tax preparation fee was about $70. He expected a tax refund of $536, but he was shocked when he received his check and learned that it was two hundred dollars short.

“They came up with this e-filing fee. $100-200 e-filing fee that was undisclosed,” LaRance said. In California, tax preparers are supposed to disclose all fees upfront, including those for preparation, e-filing and bank fees.

“If I would have known that a $200 fee was there I would have never did the income tax here,” said LaRance.

California Check Cashing told KPIX 5 that employees in the Dublin office did disclose all fees. Employees said they have no control over the fees because they use a third-party tax preparer, E-Tax. E-Tax blamed a miscommunication at the California Check Cashing store for the problem and it told ConsumerWatch that LaRance should have been given a full list of fees. E-Tax agreed to refund all of the fees to LaRance.

Free Tax Preparation Help:

Free tax preparation is available to low and moderate income Bay Area families making less than $51,000 a year. Trained volunteer taxpayers staff more than 215 sites around the Bay Area. Earn it! Keep it! Save it! is a United Way sponsored program made up of a coalition of Bay Area community organizations and tax preparation provider. The group processes more than 64,000 returns every year.

The tax advisers work hard to make sure eligible taxpayers claimed the Earned Income Credit which can amount to as much as $5,800 per family. Click here for more on the program.

Find forms and tips for your filing at in CBSSF.com’s complete guide to tax season.

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Confidence in the ability to afford a comfortable retirement remains at the same record low level recorded in 2011, and is slightly lower than last year, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, which has conducted the study the past 23 years.

Nearly half of workers surveyed in January had little or no confidence that they’ll have a financially comfortable retirement, EBRI said Tuesday. Twenty-eight percent were not at all confident – the highest level recorded since the survey began in 1991 – with 21 percent saying they were not too confident.

About 13 percent were very confident and 38 percent somewhat confident, figures that weren’t substantially greater than the record lows in the 2011 survey.

Related Links:
5 Best Web Sites For Retirement Planning
AARP Retirement Calculator
Fidelity Investments

The survey also shows how many workers live on the edge, with little savings besides the equity they may have if they own a home, and besides any expected income from a pension. Fifty-seven percent said the total value of their household savings and investments was less than $25,000, excluding any home equity and pension benefits. Among that group, nearly half had less than $1,000 saved.

If there’s any positive takeaway, it’s that researchers believe workers who are the least prepared for retirement have become increasingly aware that they need to save more.

In 2007, for example, confidence numbers were substantially higher before the economy sank into a recession. Seventy percent were either somewhat confident or very confident that year.

The decline in confidence in recent years suggests “a much higher degree of realism” about the need to increase savings rates, said Jack VanDerhei, EBRI’s research director, and co-author of the report.

That could explain why confidence remains low, despite the economy’s gains since the recession and a market rally that lifted the Dow Jones industrial average to a record high two weeks ago.

Despite the realization that they’re not saving enough, short-term financial needs are so pressing that long-term goals become secondary.

“Job security and financial security continue to be Americans’ major concerns, not retirement,” VanDerhei said.

In addition to worrying about their retirement savings, workers “lack confidence in their ability to pay for medical expenses, and even basics such as food, clothing and shelter,” he said.

The survey was co-sponsored by EBRI, a private nonprofit research organization, and Matthew Greenwald & Associates, a market research firm. Two-dozen public and private organizations, including financial services companies, provided funding. About 1,000 U.S. workers aged 25 and older and 250 retirees were randomly chosen for telephone interviews in January. The statistical margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.

The researchers concluded that fewer than half of workers appear to be taking basic steps needed to prepare for retirement. For example, 46 percent of those surveyed reported that they or their spouse had tried to estimate how much they’ll need to save by retirement to ensure that they could live comfortably. The rest made no such calculation.

Two percent of workers and 4 percent of retirees said that saving or planning for retirement was the most pressing financial issue that most Americans face. Both groups were most likely to identify job uncertainty as the most pressing concern (30 percent of workers and 27 percent of retirees) followed by meeting day-to-day needs (12 percent for each group).

Participants cited the cost of living and daily expenses as the key reasons why workers either don’t contribute to workplace savings plans such as 401(k)s or don’t contribute enough.

Fifty-five percent of workers and 39 percent of retirees reported having a problem with their debt levels. About half said they could definitely come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose within the next month.

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Shirley Hill of Pinole found out firsthand. Last month, she got an email from the “American Pay Day Loan Company” saying she’d been approved for a loan. “I wanted to do something good for my mother-in-law because she was having a hard time,” Hill told ConsumerWatch. But when Hill called the phone number on the email she was told that first, she’d have to prove she’d be able to pay the loan back.

Hill said the person on the other end told her to buy three Green Dot MoneyPak cards and load them with $1,400 dollars. Something, Hill did, at a local Wal-Mart, “Then he says ‘scratch off the number on the back and give me the number,’” Hill recalled.

It was a move Hill now deeply regrets. Within moments, her money was gone, most likely forever. Prepaid cards are just like gift cards. Anyone who has the number on the back can get immediate access to the funds and the money becomes untraceable.

“If a con artist is looking to take advantage of somebody, this is one way for them to be successful at it,” said Lori Wilson of the Oakland Better Business Bureau. Wilson said prepaid cards have become the payment method of choice for scammers. “We’ve seen this situation with sweepstakes, lotteries, work at home, people purchasing something off a website,” Wilson said. It’s happening so often the BBB has issued a warning along with a wide variety of state law enforcement agencies.

The Green Dot package also comes with a warning saying the company is not responsible for paying you back if someone steals the funds.

A bitter disappointment for Shirley Hill, who’s now deeper in debt than before. “After I thought about it, I was so darn stupid. But we needed the money.”

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Scott Cleland, president of Internet privacy consulting firm Precursor LLC, told ConsumerWatch that Google was able to obtain passwords, account numbers and emails from unsecured routers.

Cleland said small-time crooks are accessing personal information in the same way, by driving slowly through neighborhoods with laptop computers trying to find open Wi-Fi signals, a practice called Wardriving.

“There are many people who do it on a small scale, small-time crooks,” Cleland told ConsumerWatch.

Cleland, and others, have said the best defense is to secure your router, with a robust password. In fact, most routers come with a standard password, that many people don’t bother to change.

“If you don’t encrypt your Wi-Fi router, people like Google can come in and eavesdrop. That’s the big takeaway,” he said.

Google’s agreed to pay a $7 million dollar fine and make educational videos instructing the public about how to guard against privacy violations.

For more information on securing your network, watch this CNET Video.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The Investor Justice Clinic at the University of San Francisco School of Law has students who help small investors fight back. The clinic has helped return more than a million dollars to small investors.

“It’s a two-way street. They get free legal advice and we get to help them,” said Brian Keegan, a student at USF.

Linda Soltis, a school-teacher, turned to the clinic for help after she invested some money from an inheritance. Soltis told the financial advisor at her bank to put her money into something low risk. When the investment went bad, she lost $43,000.

“It turned out it was mostly comprised of high-yield bonds, which I later found out were junk bonds,” Soltis recalled.

She turned to USF’s program for help because most practicing lawyers won’t take cases where investors have lost less than $100,000.

“A lot of our clients don’t have anywhere else to go,” said Keegan.

Clinic founder Robert Talbot said brokers in California are required by law to act in their clients’ best interest.

“Brokers obligation is to know their customers,” Talbot said,

But not all brokers do.

“Maybe because they’re making a higher commission or they haven’t paid attention,” Talbot said.

All of Soltis’ money was retuned to her, plus interest.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see that money again,” said Soltis.

The clinic takes about a dozen cases every year from all over the Western United States. There’s no fee to the client. Losing money in an investment doesn’t mean the broker did anything wrong, but it has to be an unsuitable investment for the client.

Form more information, see the program website.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

KPIX 5 has learned that James Troy Wilson will be ordered to serve a year in county jail and pay restitution to people who were duped into renting properties that he didn’t own.

In 2011, Wilson operated a scheme where he took over foreclosed properties, made false claims of ownership on Craigslist and then took thousands of dollars from unsuspecting renters, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators said Wilson, 46, was also linked to similar activity in San Joaquin and Contra Costa Counties.

“This whole situation has been stressful to me and my children, not knowing if we were going to get kicked out of our house,” said victim Dixie Tribble, who rented a home in Los Gatos from Wilson, and had police come to her door accusing of her trespassing. “It scared my children to death.”

In a number of cases, prosecutors said the owners of the properties actually called the police on the renters, not realizing that they were also victims of the scam.

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Allstate Insurance has denied claims by policyholders whose homes were damaged from last week’s water main break, refusing to cover the repairs, and blamed the city for the damage.

“Good hands with Allstate. We didn’t get good hands, we got the finger!” said Allstate policyholder and homeowner Ray Moreno.

Allstate spokesman James Klapthorn said in a statement, “Standard homeowners’ policies generally do not cover damage from a broken water main,” adding that “policies can, and do, differ.”

The City of San Francisco said it expects insurance companies to cover such damage and later make arrangements with the city for compensation.

The city was working on paying homeowners as soon as possible, and hoped to make payments within a week or two.

Until then, homeowners with denied claims were left with little recourse.

Related Coverage:
Lee Meets With Residents Devastated By Water Main Break

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Covering health costs or items related to health care are now the fastest-growing type of appeal.

Michelle Turner, a single mom battling breast cancer, made a public appeal for money on Go Fund Me asking for help paying her rent and medical expenses while she underwent treatment. “Within 15 minutes of posting on the site, there was a response,” said Turner.

Similarly, Maria Joffrian used money raised on Go Fund Me to buy a new van to transport her son to medical treatments. Joffrian said the money will absolutely help.

Go Fund Me’s founder Brad Damphousse said, “Never before has there been an easier way to raise money for the things that matter to you.”

According to Damphouse, some people try to cheat the system with phony appeals, but most get ferreted out quickly. He said, “When you’re crowd funding online, you have a lot of visitors coming to your page and often the wisdom of the crowd can exceed that of the individual.”

Public health professor Alan Sagar said perhaps patients who are more photogenic and who are members of some racial and ethnic groups may be more likely to draw money than patients who are members of other groups.

Some experts worry about the issue of privacy. Experts say posting a public plea for help may come back to hurt people. Go Fund Me’s solution is to give users the option of keeping their appeals private by only letting people they know see them.

Damphouse, the site’s founder said, “Much of the activity on Go Fund Me is actually private and hidden from public view.”

With medical costs rising and co-pays declining, Sagar said many people with illnesses these days need all the help they can get. “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness,” said Dr. Sagar.

Although Go Fund Me may not be the solution, for Michelle Turner it was a huge help. “It means so much and has shown me this web of support that’s there in the universe to help people,” said Turner.

Go Fund Me gets five percent off the top of every donation. Payment processing costs an additional three percent. The money is not tax-deductible, unlike funds given to a charity.

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Nearly four million people submitted their ideal flavors last fall. The top three: Chicken & Waffles, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and the popular spicy Thai chili sauce, Sriracha. Lays has been selling the chips since early February.

In the past few weeks, the company has been drumming up social media buzz by having people buy their product and then vote for their favorite on Facebook.

In KPIX 5’s random, on–the-street testing, consumers seemed to like the Sriracha flavor chip the most. One taster said it tasted like “spicy barbecue.” Others thought Chicken and Waffles tasted like “chicken and waffles.”

Consumers have until May 4th to put in their vote on FritoLay’s Facebook page. The flavor getting most votes will remain selling in stores. The winner whose flavor is chosen will win one million dollars or 1% of the chips 2013 sales.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Investigations by the state’s Price & Quantity Verification program have led to dozens of lawsuits against nationwide retailers, amounting to millions of dollars in fines and fees. Not only did the lawsuits serve as a deterrent for overcharging, but they often result in new consumer protections.

A 2008 lawsuit against Safeway included an injunction that now requires the store to provide most overcharged items for free (items overcharged more than $5 are subject to a $5 gift card).

Similar injunctions were recently issued in settlements with other retailers including CVS, Walgreens, Fresh and Easy, Staples, and Wal-Mart. But these lawsuits may be the last of their kind.

Following cuts to the state’s general fund, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross convened a Weights and Measures-specific consortium to decide which programs should face funding cuts and which, if any, should be defunded completely.

The consortium, including representatives from Wal-Mart, The California Grocers Association, California Retailers Association, and Proctor and Gamble, chose to defund the Price Quantity Verification program that had previously led to numerous lawsuits against its members.

The groups are now meeting to debate whether to fund the programs themselves with industry-paid fees. The state has denied KPIX 5 access to those meetings.

Director of Measurement Standards Kristin Macey said the industry groups that were hand picked by Ross need privacy to speak freely. “They’re helping to work with us to replace the general funds that were lost,” said Macey.

While Macey and other state representatives defend the industry groups and insist that they are actively working to fund the program, sources inside the consortium said before they agree to fees, some industry representatives want to water down regulations.

The requested tradeoffs include increasing the acceptable error rate to one in 50 items. Currently any overcharge is against the law. They also want to put an end to the statewide lawsuits for overcharging.

Internal memos revealed the California Grocers Association and the California Grocery Manufacturers Association have been “vocal opponents” of the program.

Representatives from the California Grocers Association declined to speak on camera.

In a statement they said: “We appreciate the opportunity to provide input”… and “look forward to future discussion.”

Macey denies industry opposition. “They’ve been very supportive,” said Macey.

However, she made contradictory statements in a speech at a Weights & Measures conference last month. Macey was quoted as saying “The Grocers Association refused to discuss any funding” and that they believed “they were capable of policing themselves.”

When asked if she believed the grocers association is capable of policing themselves, Macey responded, “Well, obviously the lawsuits…referenced indicate otherwise.”

While 21 of 58 California counties have local Weights and Measures departments which can still investigate overcharges at individual stores, their fines are capped at $1,000. Investigators said many stores consider that a cost of doing business and are not motivated to make meaningful changes based on $1,000 fines.

The law that allows the state to investigate overcharges expires later this year.

As a result of the KPIX 5 investigation, California State Senator Jerry Hill is now authoring legislation that could increase the county fees and penalties to help fund the state program. Hill expects industry opposition to the legislation.

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San Francisco product designer Thom Hayward estimates as much as 25% of lotions get left behind in pump containers.

“The viscosity will create like a vortex,” Hayward said.

It’s estimated that between two and ten percent of product gets left behind in tubes, jars and squeeze bottles.

So Hayward created mybotto, a little device that holds bottles upside down to let gravity do the work. He estimates he uses three to four fewer bottles of lotion every year thanks to the device, which can be sold with a small plastic cap to replace the pump top.

The Every-Drop makeup spatula scoops out the last bits of makeup from small containers.

It didn’t fit easily into a makeup bottle, but it was effective in removing some stuck bits of moisturizer from a small container.

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The issue? A single line at the bottom of the restaurant’s menu that says “Service Charge 17%.” Interviews with more than a dozen people who’d recently dined at the restaurant indicated they believed the service charge is a tip. “I thought it went to the waiter,” a diner told us after a meal with his daughter.

But it’s not. Unlike a traditional tip or gratuity, or the service charges imposed at many other high-end restaurants, Chez Panisse’s service charge money goes to back to the restaurant.

“It’s intentionally deceptive,” according to a former Chez Panisse employee, who doesn’t want to be identified because he still works in the restaurant industry. The employee, who we’ll call “Jim,” says servers, bussers, and other so-called “front of the house” workers who traditionally get a share of a waiter’s tips are getting short-changed. “On a nightly basis, you’re making less than half of what you would elsewhere.”

So, where does the money go? In an email to Consumerwatch, Chez Panisse said its service charge goes to a “general fund,” which helps pay for a variety of benefits and higher-than-average wages for all staff, not just servers. The restaurant says bussers, typically the lowest-level job in a restaurant, start at $13 an hour. Servers average between $19 and $20 an hour.

Jim’s concern? That diners are in the dark and servers and other front of the house staff aren’t getting their due. “The problem is the lack of transparency,” he says. In addition, Jim says he’s seen hosts and managers give misleading explanations to diners who inquire about the service charge. “A lot of the long time employees will just say, ‘yes, don’t worry about it, No further tipping is necessary.’”

Added to the fact, that in many high-end restaurants, the “service charges” imposed on parties of six or more, do go directly to servers.

Consumerwatch producers dined undercover at the restaurant twice, and both times asked the host about the service charge. Both times the producers were told the “Money is in lieu of a tip.” One time, the host went on to add to the explanation: “it goes to the house, we’re all paid higher wages, healthcare and a lot of other benefits.”

The second producer got this further explanation: “It actually goes to the house. There’s no obligation beyond that 17% if that answers your question.”

Jennifer Sherman of Chez Panisse says the restaurant’s staff practices their explanations of the service charge, and strives to give accurate information.

Rob Black of the San Francisco Restaurant Association wouldn’t comment on the situation at Chez Panisse, but says explaining the purpose of a service charge can be tricky. “How do you describe all that in one sentence on the menu?,” Black said.

Jim’s response? Rather than explain to diners what the service charge is — why not tell them what it isn’t? “All that needs to happen is one line on the menu describing in clear terms the 17% is not a gratuity.”

Chez Panisse Response:

-Service compris was instituted at Chez Panisse in 1989. It was of paramount importance to Alice Waters and the board of directors that the whole staff be paid a living wage, from the waiters, to the kitchen, to the dishwashers, to the office, to the maintenance staff. They also felt that having supported health, vacation, and retirement benefits for the staff was an essential part of building a stable Chez Panisse community. The system that made that possible was the European style service compris- an automatic addition to the diner’s check which would then go to wages and benefits for the entire staff. It is a philosophy that has served Chez Panisse well with many long term employees in all departments (some as many as 25-30 years), minimal turn over, and a healthy corporate culture for everyone.

-Yes, the 17% charge goes to our general fund and not directly to the waiter. This in turn goes to the following:

-Health insurance: CP provides comprehensive health, vision, and dental plans. We pay 75% of the employees premium

-Paid vacation for all employees

-sick pay for all employees

-401k plan and match

-Living wages to BOTH the front and back of the house. Our entire staff is paid significantly higher than industry standard.

-Large end of year bonus to all employees

-average 3% across the board raise budget every year

-We don’t cut waiter shifts or hours even when business slows.

-Letting the customer know about service compris

-We indicate on the menu that we add a 17% charge to every bill

-The itemized bill presented to the customer shows the 17% charge and the summary bill has a line with a plus indicated so that the customer can add a gratuity if he/she wishes before he/she writes the total.

-We work with the waiters on a regular basis to help with language and explaining the service compris to customers. The specific
wording is: “Service compris is a 17% charge included on the bill which goes to pay wages and benefits to the front and back of the house. It is not a gratuity that goes directly to the service staff.”

-Between the announcement on the menu, the gratuity line on the bill, and the explanation from the service staff, the customer is
well informed about our policy.

The system definitely is not for everyone: Waiters used to making lots of cash from tips have a more difficult time reconciling a lack of daily cash with their other benefits (health insurance, high hourly rate of pay, paid vacation, and stable employment.) Also not as easy to see but definitely there are the intangibles of working in a place where everyone is paid well and valued- there is almost no front versus back of house resentment about earnings. Overall the service compris policy works very well for the employees here at Chez Panisse and we are proud of creating and maintaining a healthy working environment where people feel well-cared for and stable in their employment.

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Recruiting firms such as Workbridge Associates told KPIX 5 there are so many tech jobs right now , the agency is turning down some employers and carefully choosing who they recruit for.

Workbridge sees about 100 new positions a month.

LinkedIn is looking for nearly 200 new Bay Area employees. The company said it prides itself on employee development and work life balance. According to their recruiters, passion is the number one prerequisite for getting a job at the social networking firm. A degree is not necessarily required, but a robust LinkedIn profile is.

It is no secret LinkedIn is also likely the best job hunting tool around. The company’s membership has soared to 200 million and its stock is at a record high.

Smaller tech companies such as mobile app developer Tango are also looking to hire fresh college graduates to help fill their 20 open positions. Tango said the company’s fast paced environment and its growing user base of 95 million people is a good way for mobile app developers to get experience.

Anyone interested can apply at the websites for LinkedIn, Tango or Workbridge.

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Solar City
San Mateo-based SolarCity is a solar panel installation company with plans to hire more field installers and salespersons.

The firm is looking to hire nearly 300 new employees every business quarter, even as the unemployment rate in California hovers around 10 percent.

PG&E
Looking to replace aging infrastructure, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is set to hire 5,500 employees. The utility said they are especially interested in women and veterans to fill those jobs.

California’s largest utility provider is working to overhaul its aging gas line system. That massive project, coupled with an aging work force, prompted PG&E to start its own job training program called Power Pathways.

Whole Foods Markets
Whole Foods started in 1980 with just under 20 people at its flagship store in Texas. It now has 73,000 employees, with 400 stores in 3 countries. The chain is now expanding with three new Bay Area stores…resulting in about with 500 new jobs.

Genentech
Genentech expects to fill nearly 600 new positions this year, many at their South San Francisco headquarters. The Bay Area biotech giant consistently lands on Fortune Magazine’s list of top companies to work for.

Positions vary from the expected M.D.’s and Ph.D.’s to IT classifications and salespeople.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is likely the best job hunting tool around, but it’s also a major Bay Area employer looking to increase staffing as membership soars. The Mountain View tech giant has nearly 200 job openings in the Bay Area alone.

Home Depot
The Home Depot is looking to hire 80,000 seasonal workers, and several hundred of those jobs are expected to land in the Bay Area.

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Positions vary from the expected M.D.’s and Ph.D.’s to IT classifications and salespeople.

The company reported that it has a staggering “785,000 square feet devoted to research, more than 10,000 patents received and 35 medicines on the market.”

College degrees are generally required to be considered for employment at Genentech, but a background in biotech is not mandatory.

The company does promote heavily from within so Genentech representatives say that many openings can be attributed to internal promotions. Some current openings pay $70,000 to $80,000 a year but the company reported that “salaries do vary by position.”

Anyone interested can go to Genentech’s website to check out the company’s available jobs.

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California’s largest utility provider is working to overhaul its aging gas line system. That massive project, coupled with an aging work force, prompted PG&E to start its own job training program called Power Pathways.

The utility is partnering with local colleges, community groups, and unions to teach courses such as advanced welding and electrical power systems.

Prospective job applicants do not need a college degree, but previous construction experience is a plus. The average starting wage is $20 to $25 an hour. Positions are available at the company’s offices and in the field.

Anyone interested can apply at http://www.pge.com/about/careers/index.shtml.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)