Buy a better, SAFER blender! Nearly 5 million portable blenders recalled because of potentially serious safety issues
Nearly five million popular portable blenders were recently recalled because of potentially serious safety issues. Now, Consumer Reports puts the newly designed replacement to the test and offers some advice for blender buyers before making a purchase.
Buy now, pay later holiday gift regret
For Christmas shoppers that signed up for those buy now, pay later plans, the holidays are over and itโs time to pay upโmaybe more than you expected. So, Consumer Reports is here to make sense of these short-term loans with important advice on how to dodge costly fees and what to do next time.
Consumer Report finds chemical levels that are โnot OKโ in wide variety of packaged foods
Take a trip through the grocery store or stop at a fast-food restaurant. From packaged produce to meat, canned foods to fast food, you name it, it probably contains some form of a chemical used to make plastic.
Consumer Reports taste tests nonalcoholic sparkling wines
With the holidays also comes holiday partiesโat work, at friends or family, or perhaps at your own homeโand that means stocking up on drinks. Wherever it is, it might be a good idea to have some nonalcoholic beverages on hand, because not everyone will necessarily feel like drinking alcohol. Consumer Reports taste-tested nonalcoholic sparkling wines to find you the best substitute for those Champagne toasts.
Paycheck to paycheck: Consumer report tests over-the-counter hearing aids
Nearly one-in-six adults have trouble hearing, but few people who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid use one. The availability of over-the-counter devices means that getting a hearing aid is now easier than ever, but where to begin?
Here is how you can save money on car insurance
HOUSTON โ When you shop around for car insurance, you probably realize your driving record and what you drive will determine how much youโll pay for coverage. Now, a new study shows some auto insurance companies are charging customers more based on their education level and their job. Consumer Reports got quotes from eight different insurance companies for a 30-year-old woman with a clean driving record driving a 2016 Toyota Camry LE. Which companies are charging more for customers with no college degreeThree companies charged more when the only difference was the lack of a college degree. In its study, Consumer Reports found Allstate, State Farm and Travelers do not ask prospective customers about their job or education levels.
Mazda No. 1 in Consumer Reports 2020 auto reliability survey
DETROIT โ Mazda beat traditional winners Lexus and Toyota to win top honors as the most dependable auto brand in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey. Mazda took top honors for the first time in the survey, which this year included Consumer Reports organization members who own more than 300,000 vehicles from model years 2000 to 2020. Consumer Reports said that the Ford Explorer SUV, redesigned for the 2020 model year, is among the lowest-scoring models of any manufacturer with transmission, electronic, and engine issues. Only the company's Model 3 small car was rated as reliable and recommended by Consumer Reports. Nearly half of the new models have much worse than average reliability, Consumer Reports said.
Here are the video doorbells that put you and your family at risk
HOUSTON โ Millions of homeowners use video doorbells for added security, but the technology may actually put you at greater risk of getting hacked. Consumer Reports tested 24 video doorbells to find out which are the safest and what you can do to make your system harder for hackers to get through. Even if hackers get your password, they wonโt be able to get into your system. Consumer Reports found only five brands of video doorbells that offer two-factor authentication. Consumer Reports says these doorbells are most vulnerable because they expose email addresses, passwords and wifi names and passwords:
Mortgage relief: What you need to know before you call your lender
HOUSTON โ Many homeowners that are having a hard time paying their mortgage during this pandemic can ask their mortgage company for help. But Consumer Reports researchers said many mortgage companies were giving homeowners who called inaccurate information. There are four options homeowners and mortgage companies can choose to repay those skipped payments back when the homeowner gets back on their feet. You can find out if you have a federally-backed mortgage, by using Fannie Maeโs look-up tool or calling 800-232-6643. If your mortgage is federally backed, and you need help, call your mortgage company back and ask for it.