Michael Finney's Consumer Blog

Free samples from Kashi

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff: You choose: free Toasted Berry Crumble cereal or free Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit & Grain bar!

Choose your sample

This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

NOTE: More freebies to come! Watch ABC7 News at 5 PM for Finney's Friday Free Stuff. Details regarding those offers will be posted at ABC7NEWS.COM at 5:30 PM.

Free pure and natural Huggies diapers

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff:  Free pure and natural diapers. Don’t need them? Send in for friends and family!

Free Huggies sample offer

This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

NOTE: More freebies to come! Check the blog again at 4 PM!

Free uni-ball Super Ink pen

Finney’s Friday Free Stuff: Breakthrough new ink stops bad guys from changing your checks. Get the uni-ball Super Ink pen for free!

www.uniballsuperink.com

This giveaway is not conducted by 7 On Your Side. If there are technical problems or issues with the product, concerns should be directed to the offering supplier.

NOTE: More freebies to come! Check the blog again at 2 PM!

Credit card points for Haiti

The airlines, banks and other providers of mileage and reward point programs are making it easier to give to Haiti relief. Here's how to help without dipping into your bank account. Many of us have a secondary rewards account where we will never accumulate enough points to get a ticket or a night's stay, so consider giving those points to Haiti or another charity.

New York Times: Donating Credit Card Points to Help Haiti

New-car smell: Is it toxic?

The truth about new-car smell. Is it toxic or are do-gooders trying to ruin the fun?

Details in this Edmunds.com article

Urine, anti-freeze found in fake perfumes

How bad is fake perfume? Way bad. Urine and poisons are being found in these knock offs.

Dealing with debt collectors

Bill collectors can sound petty tough on the phone demanding payments, but they live by a special set of rules and aren't allowed to lie, cheat or even call you... if that is what you want. Here's a great video that easily explains the rules and what you can do to make the harassment stop.

FTC: Dealing with Debt

Which country eats the most chocolate?

Valentine's Day Quiz: Which country eats the most chocolate per capita?

Here’s a map showing the top 10

Toyota suspending US sales of 8 models to fix accelerator pedals that stick

Following my report and other media scrutiny, Toyota is suspending U.S. sales of eight recalled vehicle models to fix accelerator pedals that stick.

As part of the plan, Toyota is halting production at five manufacturing facilities for the week of Feb. 1 "to assess and coordinate activities."

There are 2.3 million vehicles involved in the recall, which was announced last week.

The Japanese automaker says the sales suspension includes the

2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the

2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the

2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The recall came months after Toyota recalled 4.2 million vehicles due to gas pedals that could become trapped under floor mats, causing the vehicle to accelerate.

More on ABC7 News at 5 & 6 p.m.

 

>> More details here

Want a call back? Call mid-morning

If you have business with one of your professional advisors (attorney/stock broker/accountant), always call mid-morning, say 9:30 -10:00. That is when they are most likely to have time to talk. They have arrived at the office, read e-mail, put together their to-do list. If they are too busy to talk right then, no worries, because it is early in the day you make it on to their to-do list and you will hear back from them sooner rather than later. Most professionals like to return their calls on the day they are received. Because you called early your name is at the top of the list.