Inquiring Consumer http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2F Jeff Gelles covers consumer topics and writes the Consumer 10.0 column for The Inquirer. He welcomes comments in this blog — he hopes it will become a forum for reader conversations. en-us Thu, 17 May 2012 18:54:31 GMT Jeff Gelles 2012-05-17T18:54:31Z en-us Comcast drops controversial data caps http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=151915035&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FComcast-drops-controversial-data-caps.html Critics have complained that data caps imposed by Comcast and other Internet service providers are an end run around network-neutrality rules. Comcast says it is dropping them. Thu, 17 May 2012 18:54:31 GMT 74f3060e71e3e250aabfc3b2144f3bf5 Jeff Gelles 2012-05-17T18:54:31Z CFPB looks into 9 banks' overdraft practices http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=148268255&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FCFPB-looks-into-overdraft-practices.html Report says a focus is on tactics some large banks are using to get customers to opt into potentially costly programs. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:43:39 GMT c096d1b060b6d1cf8d1c6071cc96883b Jeff Gelles 2012-04-20T20:43:39Z On 'bill shock' (and racy ads), T-Mobile leads the way http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=148133275&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FOn-bill-shock-response-T-Mobile-leads-the-way.html See how the wireless carriers are responding to the FCC's crackdown on surprise cell-phone charges. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:13:17 GMT 7d284d8fa3b3e75bee9e31ff1380d85a Jeff Gelles 2012-04-19T18:13:17Z Health care: We're number 17! http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=147004445&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FHealth-care-Were-number-17.html Canada gives itself a B in its latest report card on health care. Guess what country gets a D? Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:16:12 GMT 556aba1e1930b1accd24ffca420a0f9b Jeff Gelles 2012-04-11T17:16:12Z Pressed by audit Apple sought, Foxconn agrees to changes http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=145158965&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FPressed-by-audit-Foxconn-plants-agree-to-changes-.html The Fair Labor Association found "serious and pressing" violations of its own standards and Chinese law at three Foxconn plants. This morning, Foxconn promised changes. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:12:41 GMT a7f2a6750687e4b941fbb3c04180979f Jeff Gelles 2012-03-30T21:12:41Z Product-injury database: 6,000 reports in 10 months http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=144919315&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FProduct-injury-database-A-1-year-report-card.html In the new database's first 10 months, more than 6,000 people reported injuries. The sky didn't fall in. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:51:28 GMT 719807a05c6d07b223def5f8eb0a4d35 Jeff Gelles 2012-03-29T20:51:28Z FTC chief confident on 'Do Not Track' progress http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=144249115&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FFTC-chief-confident-on-Do-Not-Track-option.html With the threat of congressional action, the FTC's chairman says he expects industry to implement an effective "Do Not Track" option by the end of the year. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:48:11 GMT 096f3082cbe7f74ab8e0ade0102beaa5 Jeff Gelles 2012-03-27T14:48:11Z Apple in China: Real problems vs. fabrications http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=143041456&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FApple-in-China-Real-problems-vs-fabrications.html Like other high-tech manufacturers, Apple accepts labor standards in China that its customers in the West would recoil at. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:00:27 GMT 8a96d075622e4770cb4816158bb98ed5 Jeff Gelles 2012-03-19T18:00:27Z Why consumers choose credit unions over banks? http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=141191703&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FWhy-consumers-choose-credit-unions-over-banks.html Credit unions added more than 1.3 million customers last year, more than twice as many as in 2010. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:36:34 GMT 5a3aa0a352f40e64c45cbe866b1c6aeb Jeff Gelles 2012-03-02T19:36:34Z AT&T (sort of) explains its wireless-data throttling http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=141118163&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FATT-wireless-data-throttling-explained.html The wireless carrier still doesn't say exactly what it's doing. But at least it's making clear which customers are affected. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:22:32 GMT e154881beef846a26e4254790d023bab Jeff Gelles 2012-03-02T16:22:32Z Comcast's clampdown on broadband 'data hogs' http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=141069673&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FWhy-does-Comcast-cut-off-data-hogs-rather-than-charge-them.html Comcast's hard cap on "excessive use" raises questions, a customer says. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:48:48 GMT f9847aefe6782d22aa51db7ae116e08d Jeff Gelles 2012-03-02T00:48:48Z How to delete your Google, YouTube histories - before midnight http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=140908403&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FHow-to-erase-your-Google-YouTube-histories---before-March-1.html Google's new unified privacy policy goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, and you'll lose this option. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:45:42 GMT 705c3b5f41d89730978101e8b310a0b7 Jeff Gelles 2012-03-01T02:45:42Z Subaru overtakes Honda in Consumer Reports ratings http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=140748183&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FSubaru-overtakes-Honda-in-Consumer-Reports-ratings.html For the first time, the smaller Japanese automaker outguns one of Japan's Big Two. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:23:59 GMT d0142a4fcc325410f07b1c559b511e58 Jeff Gelles 2012-02-28T22:23:59Z AT&T's new plan: Charge app-makers for phone data http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=140628623&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FATT-plan-to-charge-appmakers-for-phone-data.html The Wall Street Journal says AT&T plans to charge app-makers for smartphone data. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:06:10 GMT 020c797e5cc11846e4584782623a74d9 Jeff Gelles 2012-02-28T01:06:10Z Privacy: Can anything stop the creepy intrusions? http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=140168623&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FDepartment-of-Easier-Said-Than-Done.html Even without congressional action, President Obama is trying to push forward with new privacy protections, including a "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights." Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:36:20 GMT bf6af28e292e0f0d52b14fcc859904cd Jeff Gelles 2012-02-23T21:36:20Z Arsenic found in infant formula, cereal bars, 'energy shots' http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=139441798&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FArsenic-found-in-more-childrens-foods.html First it was arsenic in apple juice. Now new studies show worrisome levels of arsenic in infant formula and cereal bars. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:45:11 GMT 20479b15b51dbf332a36e0359950f629 Jeff Gelles 2012-02-16T21:45:11Z The dirty little secrets of auto-insurance premiums http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=139363968&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FThe-other-reason-for-all-those-auto-insurance-ads-.html Hidden behind Flo and the Geico Gecko is a pricing system that's utterly opaque. The only answer: Shop around for quotes. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:04:20 GMT 80984ffc3ec7ee2b6003934d26740c18 Jeff Gelles 2012-02-15T18:04:20Z Apple in China: Shades of the 19th century? http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=137897508&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FApple-in-China-Theres-a-word-for-this-and-its-not-labor.html How can a free society compete with one where workers have so few basic rights? Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:06:50 GMT 8b5b1e076517121fc4f585ef004f114d Jeff Gelles 2012-02-14T02:06:50Z Report: Banks pay cash to homeowners to avert foreclosures http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=138855484&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FReport-Banks-paying-sellers-big-incentives-in-short-sales-.html Short sales are crucial to clearing the post-bubble housing market. A Bloomberg report says some banks are finally embracing them - big time - without advertising the fact. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:14:46 GMT de8638ac651bc1542f5f81daea59b011 Jeff Gelles 2012-02-07T18:14:46Z How financial sector rules the roost in D.C. http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=526557&44=138790934&32=3796&7=640304&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fconsumer%2FBig-money-in-politics-Is-there-a-payoff-.html Only the wealthiest citizens can afford to give $10,000 or more during a political campaign. Is there a connection between the concentration of such donors in the financial sector and the bipartisan reluctance to regulate its behavior? Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:19:21 GMT 94a4c391fe49932822a5fd203de865ed Jeff Gelles 2012-02-06T21:19:21Z