Consumers Group Consumer Protection

Thipwajee asked:


My laptop and my desktop crash at the same time. Both computers can’t turn on. I went to the small local shop around the house. Then they give me a piece an unofficial invoice saying that the diagnostic was $40. Then we talked on the phone and he said that both mother board are broken and the costs of installing the new mother board for labour was $150, so I decided not to fix the computer since the costs of everything will end up the same price as buying the new one. One week later, I went to pick up my useless computer and the guy give me an invoice of $250? He told me that he had to charged $60/ hour for 4 hours of working. This is such a rip off. The guy did not tell me from the beginning that he has to charge me this much and we been talking about the progress throughou the week. Can I report this to consumer protection? What should I do? Should I just pay the guys or report this scam?

Elmer

Jackoff asked:


On Monday, just before 10 o’clock in the evening, Pelosi submitted a previously unseen 294-page bill to Congress and using procedural shenanigans available to the Speaker of the House, she demanded a vote take place within 24-hours. And on Tuesday evening, 15 Republicans joined 221 Democrats to actually PASS THIS FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
No amendments were allowed and only limited debate took place.
But wait! It gets worse.
Pelosi claims her bill was a compromise… a change of heart that ALLOWS off-shore drilling.
What Madame Pelosi didn’t tell you (and what the liberal media isn’t reporting) is that her SHAM bill — H.R. 6899, the so-called “Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act” — only allows drilling in those areas where THERE IS NO OIL and effectively extends the moratorium on domestic drilling where THERE IS OIL !
What Madame Pelosi also didn’t you — other than the fact that the bill does the EXACT OPPOSITE of what she says it does and effectively CUTS-OFF domestic drilling at a time when Americans are struggling over the escalating costs of gasoline — is that her “sham bill” also RAISES YOUR TAXES , and is LADEN WITH ENOUGH PORK TO CHOKE A GOAT!
Expect more of this Soviet-style hi-jacking of the legislative process if Barrack Hussein Obama is elected President and Nancy Pelosi is his Speaker of the House.
That’s why NOW is the time to tell our elected officials in one resounding avalanche of  FAXES that WE WON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!

Don

acko asked:


I have rudely learned that health care/insurance is broken in U.S. A podiatrist has charged over $3200 for cutting out warts on my feet, which I could have treated myself with wart remover from Rite Aid or CVS. He has also called his office where he does his visits as “Surgical Center” on my insurance claim resulting in higher facility fee and etc. Also, the name of his “Surgical Center” was counted as “out-of-network” by the insurance, even though the podiatrist himself is in network.
Insurance is trying to give me $1200 as my responsibility
The podiatrist has given me a letter saying that “his SURGICAL CENTER will hold me liable for my co-pay and deductible, and will accept insurance payment as payment in full. I will not be charged for facility fee that insurance doesn’t cover”. I think that letter should cover me, but I’m concerned about the meaning of facility fee.
If the podiatrist charges me anything resembling $1200, I will have no option but to take it to my State Podiatry Board and/or Consumer Protection. If I’m put in a situation to contest this, how can I do it?
How can I contest:
1) outrageous charge
2) the podiatrist calling his office where he does visits as “Surgical Center” on my insurance claim
What (government or any other) agency can I go for help or contesting?
Podiatrist did NOT give estimate before this small procedure to cut out the warts. It took him no more than 30 min to do the whole procedure, and he’s charging over $3,200 for 30 min of work. Think about that! My goodness!!!!

Bernice

Barth S asked:


Why on the BIG issues that were put before him in office, did he choose NOT TO VOTE. But he voted and pushed for little meaningless things like “Congratulating the White sox on winning the World Series??”

Examples:

2/28/08 Vote 35: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R.3221; New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 : NOT VOTING

2/26/08 Vote 33: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2633; A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. NOT VOTING

2/7/08 Vote 10: H R 5140: H.R. 5140 As Amended; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 : NOT VOTING

4/10/08 Vote 95: H R 3221: Ensign Amdt. No. 4419; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would result from a lapse in the tax law. NOT VOTING

4/4/08 Vote 91: H R 3221: Voinovich Amdt. No. 4406 As Modified; To protect families most vulnerable to foreclosure due to a sudden loss of income by extending the depreciation incentive to loss companies that have accumulated alternative minimum tax and research and development tax credits. NOT VOTING

4/3/08 Vote 87: S RES 501: S. Res. 501; A resolution honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. NOT VOTING

Yet he did vote in between all those votes for things like:

3/14/08 Vote 82: S CON RES 70: DeMint Amdt. No. 4339; To provide for a deficit-neutral reserve fund for providing an above the line Federal income tax deduction for individuals purchasing health insurance outside the workplace. VOTED NO

3/13/08 Vote 77: S CON RES 70: Kyl Amdt. No. 4372; To protect small businesses, family ranches and farms from the Death Tax by providing a $5 million exemption, a low rate for smaller estates and a maximum rate no higher than 35% VOTED NO

Im confused, if he is so for or against these like he says, why didnt he vote? And if he is for small business and families and those needing insurance, why did he vote against them?? Any help ??

Melissa

andronikosxx asked:


Is there a local place that I can go to where someone can teach me how to complete my html project while I pay them. I have building a website from scratch on photoshop and now it is time to add the e-commerce section and integrate html into everything. I am wondering if anyone has a good idea of where I could go to sit down and have someone show me how to do it all. I just need someone to show me how to use the slicing tool in photoshop and saving it to html and image so that I can open it up in Dreamweaver… and as far as e-commerce gos…I dont get it. How do you provide consumer protection? I dont even want to see the credit card information I want a independent party to just do it all.

Erica

BenG asked:


Us government please help!?
this is for a study guide and i need some help, i did some research but couldn’t find out the answers please answer what you know, thanks alot. its (multiple choice) some have more then 1 answer, would greatly appreciate the help, thanks

1. All of the following explain the proliferation of interest groups EXCEPT
(A) America is diverse, with countless immigrants, races, & religions.
(B) Contributions to some nonprofit groups are tax deductible.
(C) political authority is shared by several branches of gov’t, each of which might be targeted by interest groups.
(D) interest groups often run candidates for office to give their supporters a voice in gov’t.
(E) political parties are relatively weak, which helps explain the strength & number of interest groups.

2. Throughout American history, which of the following conditions has led to an increase in interest groups’ activity? Check ALL that apply; there are multiple answers.
(I) a strong economy with low inflation
(II) the rise of professional societies, such as the American Medical Association (AMA)
(III) gov’t policies that create new groups, such as veterans
(IV) leaders who are willing to make personal sacrifices

3. “Free riders” occur when interest groups fight for benefits to the public as a whole, such as consumer protection. How can interest groups prevent the free-rider problem?
(A) by ensuring that the benefits they seek will help only their members
(B) by providing people an incentive to join the interest group, such as a subscription to a magazine
(C) by limiting membership to a few carefully screened members
(D) by lobbying members of Congress only in the district where the interest group operates
(E) there is no practical way for interest groups to prevent the “free-rider” problem

4. Environmentalists, women, & union members have worked over the years to advance their interests. What is the best description of these causes?
(A) They are social movements that have spawned several related interest groups.
(B) They are PACs, which give money to political campaigns.
(C) They are social movements because all of them have liberal goals.
(D) They are interest goups because they lobby Congress for favorable legislation.
(E) They are social movements because they do not take strong positions & tend to support moderate policies.

5. Why are lobbyists useful to members of Congress in considering legislation?
(A) because most lobbyists are lawyers & can draft bills using technical legal language
(B) because lobbyists have bigger research staffs than members of Congress
(C) because lobbyists are policy generalists who have knowledge about a broad range of topics
(D) because members of Congress must listen to lobbyists in order to get electoral support
(E) because members of Congress are policy generalists & lobbyists are policy specialists with expert knowledge in their area

6. An interest group would use grassroots lobbying on all of the following issues EXCEPT
(A) abortion
(B) Medicare
(C) Social Security
(D) complex tax legislation affecting a few people
(E) affirmative action

7. A group representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest that raises & spends campaign contributions on behalf of candidates or causes is a . . .
(A) special interest group.
(B) grassroots lobbying committee.
(C) political action committee.
(D) social movement.
(E) tax-exempt entity.

8. Which of the following are sources of funding for interest groups? I. foundation grants II. federal grants III. federal contracts IV. direct-mail solicitations
(A) I, II, and III
(B) I and II
(C) II, III, and IV
(D) I and III
(E) I, II, III, and IV

9. Which of the following is a concern about the influence of lobbyists on gov’t?
(A) Many lobbyists are former federal officials who gave up their positions in gov’t to work for interest groups.
(B) Many lobbyists are attorneys who have undue influence because of their legal expertise.
(C) Many lobbyists also work as congressional staff members.
(D) Many members of Congress are former lobbyists who still have strong connections with interest groups.
(E) Because lobbyists do not have to register with the gov’t, it is difficult to control their activities.

Victor