07/03/2009 Ford's 'My Key' aims to keep teen drivers safe A new product about to hit the market may make handing over the keys to your teenager a little bit easier.

06/29/2009

Miles worth less as airlines change policy
If you're planning to use your airline miles for a trip this summer, you may find it's more difficult than it used to be.

06/23/2009

BBB: 19 complaints against Charlotte mortgage consultant
The Better Business Bureau wants to warn you about a Charlotte mortgage consultant.

06/22/2009

Study: Toyota still king in quality
Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have made strides in new vehicle quality over the last year, but they still lag behind their foreign competitors, according to a closely watched study released Monday by J.D. Power and Associates.

06/19/2009

Nestle recalls Toll House cookie dough products
Nestle USA on Friday voluntarily recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after a number of illnesses were reported by those who ate the dough raw.

06/16/2009

FDA says Zicam nasal spray can cause loss of smell
Consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell, federal health regulators said Tuesday.

Contractor: 'I got caught financially, got behind'
The home improvement contractor accused of cheating people out of their money breaks his silence to NewsChannel 36.

06/11/2009

BBB warns about local home improvement contractor
As the high season for home improvement projects gets underway, the BBB is warning consumers about doing business with home improvement contractor, Randy Briel, of Matthews, N.C.

Fearing E. coli, SC company recalls beef products
A South Carolina meat processor has recalled some beef products because of possible contamination by E. coli bacteria.

TV goes digital, affecting mostly antenna users
More than 2 million households are in danger of seeing their major broadcast TV channels disappear into a fuzz of static when analog service ends Friday, according to surveys.

06/10/2009

Elon to host DTV call center June 12-13
Students in Elon University's School of Communications will be hosting a DTV transition call center for North Carolina broadcasters on Friday and Saturday (June 12-13, 2009). 

06/03/2009 Business booming for consignment stores We may be in a recession but you wouldn't know it at some area consignment shops.

06/02/2009

AAA says SC has lowest gas prices, NC 19th
Gas prices may be rising across the nation, but South Carolina motorists can say they're paying less than anyone else.

06/01/2009 What does GM bankruptcy mean for vehicle owners, buyers? What does all this bankruptcy talk mean if you own a GM vehicle or you're thinking of buying one?

Which cars are worth your money?
GM is in bankruptcy. So what does that mean if you're in the market to buy a car?

05/27/2009 Survey: Most economists see recession end in '09 More than 90 percent of economists predict the recession will end this year, although the recovery is likely to be bumpy.

05/21/2009 Is your drywall toxic? There could be a health concern lurking in your walls, and it's so serious Congress is now getting involved.

05/22/2009

DTV Help Center offers free home installation
The DTV Help Center of Charlotte (a partnership with the Federal Communications Commission) is now offering FREE in-home installations and support for anyone experiencing D-TV complications.

05/14/2009

BBB warns of companies selling extended auto warranties
Because major auto manufacturers including Chrysler and GM are either contending with bankruptcy or fighting off the threat of bankruptcy, consumers are confused about the status of their auto warranties.

05/12/2009 New identity theft scheme surprises victim A new type of identity fraud is catching some by surprise.

05/07/2009

BBB Warning: Magazine sales scams go door-to-door
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that magazine sales crews will be out in force this summer going door-to-door trying to earn money.

05/04/2009 Charlotte woman invents 'Mumoocie' cuddling pillow Have you ever seen a product and said, "Man, I could have thought of that." We found one Charlotte woman who thinks she may have the next big thing.

How to identify a U.S. Census Bureau worker With nearly 5,000 census workers combing streets in North Carolina, the U.S. Census Bureau wants residents to be able to recognize its employees.

04/28/2009

Tips to cut your grocery bill in half
You know the drill. You buy a paper, clip the coupons and save. But what if you changed a few things in the process? How much could you save then?

04/24/2009 Home loans with no money down In this economy, everyone is looking for a good deal.  And one local mother found it in an unlikely place. It ends up the United States Department of Agriculture backs a special kind of home loan that lets you buy with no money down.

04/15/2009

BBB offers free shredding Saturday
Tax day is a perfect time to think about all those boxes and bags stuffed full of old receipts, tax returns, credit card statements and other documents that are cluttering up your garage, attic and closets.

04/13/2009 Many credit card companies increasing rates Just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse, some of the big banks we're bailing out appear to be sticking it to consumers.

Environmental group wants to stop junk mail A national environmental group is pushing for an end to junk mail, but it's not a welcome idea to everyone.

04/08/2009

Web site helps diagnose car problems
There are approximately 250 million cars on the road in the United States and eventually all of them will break down.

Seized furniture on auction block About 300 pieces of furniture seized from a manufacturer in Catawba County will go on the auction block Thursday in Raleigh.

02/17/2009

Watch out for fraudulent employment schemes
Thousands of people across North Carolina have been victims of recent layoffs and are looking for work. But watch out for schemes that seek to take advantage of job hunters, Attorney General Roy Cooper warned consumers.

03/25/2009

FTC sues Dish Network over do not call complaints
Satellite TV provider Dish Network is being sued by the federal government for alleged violations to the national Do Not Call Registry.

03/24/2009 Fisher Price recalls 24,000 high chairs Fisher Price and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission have announced the recall of roughly 24,000 3-in-1 High Chair to Booster seats.

03/19/2009 Recall: Nordstrom girls' shoes with lead paint Department-store operator Nordstrom Inc. on Thursday voluntarily recalled 31,000 pairs of shoes for girls after it found in random testing that the shoes violated new national standards for lead content in children's products.

03/16/2009 Mystery shopper scheme regains popularity in recession Don't be fooled by promises of easy money. An old employment scheme is getting a lot of mileage during this tough economy.

Officials investigate gas redemption program
Who wouldn't want free gas? It was a promotion being offered locally last summer. But come to find out, that promotion delivered nothing but empty promises.

03/10/2009

Company recalls bacteria-tainted bird food
A Kentucky-based manufacturer is voluntarily recalling 20-pound bags of bird food after tests revealed the presence of Salmonella bacteria.

03/04/2009 'Purse Pal' could deter purse snatchings A Cornelius woman is fighting back against purse snatchers. She's invented a way to keep purses safe.

Mortgage relief advice for homeowners
If you need to modify or refinance your mortgage, the BBB has the following advice:

02/26/2009

Attorney general warns of text message phishing scams
Attorney General Roy Cooper's office says thousands of North Carolina residents who have accounts with the State Employees' Credit Union may have received messages through their cell phones soliciting private financial information.

02/24/2009 Thieves target potential victims on Craigslist More people are turning to the classifieds to make a little cash, but that also means more thieves are turning there to prey on people.

02/16/2009

Mooresville Ice Cream recalls product in salmonella scare
An ice cream company in Iredell County is recalling some of its products as part of a nationwide scare over salmonella.

Local realtors offer foreclosure bus tours
In housing markets where neighborhoods are filled with foreclosures, realtors rent a bus and gather together investors and other buyers looking for a deal. 

02/05/2009

Charlotte company recalls products because of salmonella
Tropical Nut & Fruit of Charlotte is recalling select snack products, because they could be contaminated with salmonella.

02/02/2009 Liquidation deals put to the test Liquidation sales sound enticing, but don't get caught up in the hype. If you're not careful you could end up getting ripped off.

01/27/2009

What to do when businesses close their doors
Due to the economic downturn, more businesses are closing their doors and leaving some consumers in the lurch.

01/26/2009 Leaky pipes could land homeowners money for repairs If you've had property damage because of leaky PB pipes, then you may be entitled to part of a class action settlement.

01/22/2009

BBB releases list of 12 worst businesses in Charlotte
It's your money and a lot of local businesses went belly up in 2008, taking your hard earned cash with them.

01/14/2009

Baby cribs recalled for safety defect
More than 1,000,000 Stork Craft baby cribs have been recalled in the U.S. and Canada.

01/13/2009

14,972 complaints filed against area businesses in 2008
In 2008, consumers filed 14,972 complaints against area businesses with The Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont.

01/08/2009 New safety law won't impact thrift, consignment stores Some viewers have been e-mailing NewsChannel 36 worried about a new safety law that affects children's clothing.

Peak Fitness to improve customer service
Peak Fitness will make major changes to benefit members of its health clubs thanks to a comprehensive agreement announced by Attorney General Roy Cooper.