Consumer Reports

The Internal Revenue Service today announced the opening of a special telephone line for taxpayers affected by the Gulf oil spill. Individuals who have questions about the BP payments or who are experiencing filing or payment hardships because of the oil spill should contact the IRS at 866-562-5227. The special services phone line will operate weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. In certain cases, the IRS can assist oil spill victims by suspending collection and examination actions. Taxpayers who need this assistance must request it. Others may decide to continue making payments because interest will continue to accrue on outstanding balances, even if some penalties are abated. Read more…

Burglars who break into your home this summer may be after more than your jewelry and electronic equipment - they may also steal your identity. As you prepare to leave on vacation, it is important to protect yourself against both a physical and a virtual break-in. Read more…

USDA is reminding consumers that following safe food handling steps are the key to making your cookout safe and healthy for your guests and has four basic steps to help you Be Food Safe and declare independence from foodborne illness any time of year. Read more…

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), with the cooperation of seven firms, announced voluntary recalls of more than two million cribs to address drop-side hazards and other hazards that affect the safety of young children. The recalling firms are providing consumers with free repair kits to immobilize the drop sides or other remedies. Do not attempt to fix these cribs with homemade remedies. The drop-side and fixed-side crib recalls announced today are of units manufactured between 2000 and 2009 Read more…

The recalled entertainment centers’ shelves can detach and fall onto consumers when the entertainment centers are moved. The recalled entertainment centers with model names “Arts and Crafts”, “Vineyard Manor”, “Lake Cottage”, “Studio One”, “West Indies” and “Plantation Cove” were sold in various colors including dark brown, natural, black and white with fixed or adjustable shelves. Read more…

The Kroger Co. said today it is recalling select containers of Kroger Deluxe Chocolate Paradise Ice Cream sold in 17 states because it may contain tree nuts not listed on the label. Customers should return the product to stores for a full refund or replacement. The product was sold in Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Read more…

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., is recalling five product lots as an addition to the list of products included in the company’s January 15th, 2010 product recall. The additional lots involved are four product lots of BENADRYL

In the wake of any disaster, many reach for their checkbooks and donate money to aid and rescue organizations. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance cautions, however, that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is unlike previous disasters and offers specific advice to potential donors and volunteers. Read more…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today proposed new consumer protections for air travelers, building on the Department of Transportation’s recent rule banning carriers from subjecting passengers to long tarmac delays and other deceptive practices. “Airline passengers have rights and should be able to expect fair and reasonable treatment when they fly,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “With this rulemaking, we’re proposing to strengthen the consumer protections enacted last month and raise the bar for airlines when it comes to treating passengers fairly.” Read more…

Memorial Day weekend marks the start of road trip season, when families all across the nation pack up their cars, trucks and SUVs and take off for destinations across the country. Why do they drive? To save money on airfare, airport parking and the stress of air travel, instead packing multiple family members into one over- cramped vehicle. But with gas prices reaching an average of nearly 60 cents more than this time last year, do the savings really add up? At the current national average of $2.86 per gallon of regular gasoline, budget-conscious consumers will want to take steps to avoid filling up more often than necessary. So whether you’re traveling to the Rocky Mountains or to the grocery store for some Rocky Road, heed these efficient driving tips to avoid that old seasonal affliction - pain at the pump. Read more…