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Consumer News: Student loan report shows record number of complaints from borrowers

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Category: Consumer Daily Reports
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Loan servicers continue to make life difficult for borrowers

By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
November 15, 2024

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)has released its annual report about problems with student loans. Basically, companies that manage student loans (called "servicers") are making a lot of mistakes, and it's hurting borrowers.

Here are the main problems:

  • Servicers mess up payments: They make billing mistakes, incorrectly take money from accounts, and don't apply payments correctly. This can cause borrowers to owe more money than they should.
  • Servicers give bad information: Borrowers are getting wrong information about their loans and repayment options, which can lead to costly delays and confusion.
  • Customer service is terrible: It's hard to get help from servicers. Borrowers are getting the runaround, waiting months for answers, and receiving incorrect information.

This is causing serious problems for borrowers:

  • Financial hardship: People are struggling to pay their bills because of these errors.
  • Delays in loan relief: A new program called SAVE was supposed to help borrowers, but it's been delayed because of lawsuits.

The CFPB wants to hold servicers accountable for their mistakes and making sure borrowers get the help they need.

Student borrowers continue to face lengthy delays and costly errors because of servicer failures, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. The CFPB is working to ensure there is greater accountability and improvements in the student loan system.

Our analysis of over 18,000 consumer complaints shows that servicer errors with billing, customer service failures, and incorrect repayment information are causing severe financial and personal distress to borrowers, said CFPB Student Loan Ombudsman Julia Barnard.

As the federal loan system undergoes rapid changes, it is crucial that servicers immediately address these persistent issues," Barnard said."Policymakers should ensure that student borrowers can access the loan cancellation and lower monthly payments they are entitled to and implement new accountability measures to fix these long-standing problems.

18,000 complaints

Todays report focuses on the 2023-2024 Award Year (July 1, 2023 June 30, 2024) and analyzes more than 18,000 student borrower complaintsthe highest complaint volume the CFPB has received since it began collecting student borrower complaints in March 2012.

Many of the servicer failures detailed in these complaints are persistent problems that have been well-documented by the CFPB, including errors with billing and auto pay, servicers providing incorrect information about accounts and repayment options, and months-long delays in the processing of income-driven repayment applications.

Read the full report here.



Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images


Posted: 2024-11-15 16:40:18

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Consumer News: Dairy might be disturbing your dreams, study finds

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:07:08 +0000

Researchers explain why lactose intolerance could be haunting your sleep

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs
July 7, 2025

  • A survey of over 1,000 students reveals a clear link between lactose intolerance, digestive upset, and more frequent nightmares.

  • Only around 5.5% believe food affects their dreams, but sweets and dairy are the top perceived triggers.

  • Feeling gassy or in stomach discomfort at night seems to mess with sleep quality and increase the chances of disturbing dreams.

If youve ever blamed late-night pizza or cheese for a weird dream, youre not alone.

Researchers at Universit de Montral and MacEwan University dug into whether food especially dairy can really affect sleep and dreams.

They surveyed 1,082 students, asking about their eating habits, overall health, sleep patterns, dream recall, and any food intolerances or allergies to determine if there's a genuine link between dairy and bad dreams.

Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies, researcher Dr. Tore Nielsen said in a news release.

These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams!

The study

Participants, mainly undergrads around age 20, completed an online questionnaire between January and April2023. It covered:

  • Personal info (age, gender, health conditions)

  • Diet habits (evening eating, snacks, food choices)

  • Any intolerances (lactose, gluten) or allergies

  • Sleep quality (using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)

  • Nightmare frequency and severity (using a trimmed-down Nightmare Disorder Index)

They also asked if students thought certain foods or late meals affected their sleep or dreams. Statistical analyses looked for connections between food, physical symptoms, sleep quality, and dream experiences.

The results

Heres a look at what the researchers found:

  • Many feel food affects their sleep. About 40% believed that eating late or certain foods influenced their sleep; 25% thought it made sleep worse. But only 5.5% said food affected their dreams directly.

  • Dairy and sweets get the blame. Among those few, most blamed desserts/sweets (31%) and dairy (22%) for weird dreams or nightmares.

  • Lactose intolerance stands out. The strongest link emerged for students with lactose intolerance: they reported more GI symptoms (like gas or stomach pain), poorer sleep quality, and more frequent or intense nightmares. Statistical models showed GI discomfort acted as a bridge between lactose intolerance and nightmares meaning the digestive issues likely trigger sleep disturbances and, in turn, bad dreams. Other food issues like general food allergies or gluten intolerance also connected to dream concerns, but the link was strongest for lactose intolerance.

  • Overall eating habits matter. Healthier eating patterns like less evening snacking and using hunger cues were tied to better dream recall. Less healthy habits late meals, disregarding hunger signals, and experiencing GI symptoms were linked to more nightmares and negative dream content.

Nightmares are worse for lactose intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted, said Nielsen. This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming.

"Nightmares can be very disruptive, especially if they occur often, because they tend to awaken people from sleep in a dysphoric state. They might also produce sleep avoidance behaviors. Both symptoms can rob you of restful sleep.

What this means

If you suffer from lactose intolerance and find yourself waking up stressed after a disturbing dream, dairy late at night could be a culprit and not because of superstition, but because night-time stomach discomfort interferes with restful sleep.

For some, simply adjusting evening meals like avoiding dairy before bed might lead to calmer sleep and fewer nightmares.

We need to study more people of different ages, from different walks of life, and with different dietary habits to determine if our results are truly generalizable to the larger population, said Nielsen.

Experimental studies are also needed to determine if people can truly detect the effects of specific foods on dreams. We would like to run a study in which we ask people to ingest cheese products versus some control food before sleep to see if this alters their sleep or dreams.


Read More ...

Consumer News: COVID-19 pandemic stress fuels surge in digestive disorders, study finds

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:07:08 +0000

What our guts reveal about life in a pandemic

By Kristen Dalli of ConsumerAffairs
July 7, 2025

  • Digestive issues like IBS and functional dyspepsia rose among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Researchers surveyed over 160,000 people from May 2020 to May 2022 using standardized gutbrain disorder criteria.

  • The study found an 11% increase in Rome IV digestive disorders, linked to pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes.

A team at CedarsSinai set out to investigate whether digestive disorders became more common during COVID-19.

Despite most attention being on respiratory symptoms, anecdotal reports hinted that stress, quarantine, and illness might also affect gut health.

With the study, the researchers measured trends over time using clinical definitions and large-scale survey data to confirm if digestive issues truly surged during the pandemic.

Using data from a national online study, we found that rates of digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation rose significantly, researcher Christopher V. Almario, M.D., MSHPM, said in a news release.

These findings underscore the significant toll the pandemic has taken on digestive health.

The study

This was a longitudinal, national survey that tracked U.S. adults from May 2020 to May 2022. More than 160,000 participants completed periodic questionnaires based on the Rome IV criteria a gold standard for diagnosing gutbrain interaction disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and others.

The Rome IV tool identifies symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, discomfort, and altered bowel habits.

Participants answered the same questions repeatedly over two years, enabling researchers to measure prevalence trends and correlate changes with stages of the pandemic.

The findings

Overall, the researchers learned that digestive disorders have been on the rise since the pandemic IBS specifically.

In May 2020, rates of IBS were at about 6% among U.S. adults. That figure nearly doubled to 11% by May 2022.

The incidence of chronic idiopathic constipation had a slight increase from 6.0% in 2020 to 6.4% in 2022.

The researchers explained that pandemic-related stress is likely a key driver: isolation, health fears, loss of routine, and shifts in diet/exercise.

Its important to note that this study didnt look at infection status, so the rise appears more tied to societal stress than direct effects of COVID infection.

What It Means for You

Based on these findings, if you've been experiencing ongoing gut issues like bloating, irregular bowels, or discomfort it's worth talking to your health care provider.

Standard treatments for functional gut disorders (e.g., dietary changes, stress management, medications) are still relevant and mental health support may play a key role.

This research calls for a renewed focus on gastrointestinal health in the post-pandemic era, researcher Brennan Spiegel, M.D., MSHS, said in the news release.

Health care providers must be vigilant in recognizing and addressing the long-term effects of the pandemic on digestive health.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Boston drivers are the most accident-prone, Allstate study finds

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:07:08 +0000

Brownsville, Texas, is the safest city for drivers

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs
July 7, 2025

If youre hoping to keep your car free from dents and dings, you might want to steer clear of Boston. A new study has named Massachusetts capital as the city where drivers are most likely to get into an accident.

According to fresh data from Allstate, Bostonians can expect to drive an average of just 3.1 years between crashes, significantly below the national average of 10.5 years and far behind the nations safest city. The findings place Boston at the top of the list for fender benders and other roadway mishaps.

Northeast leads

Boston isnt alone in its dubious distinction. The northeast corridor, in particular, is a hotspot for collisions. Here's the rundown from worst to not-quite-so-bad:

  1. Boston, MA
  2. Washington, DC
  3. Baltimore, MD
  4. Worcester, MA
  5. Springfield, MA
  6. Glendale, CA
  7. Los Angeles, CA
  8. Oakland, CA
  9. Providence, RI
  10. Philadelphia, PA
  2. West coast not immune

The West Coast isnt entirely off the hook. California cities Glendale, Los Angeles, and Oakland also rank among the nations worst for accident frequency, though Allstate notes these urban centers have seen marginal improvements compared to the previous 2025 study.

Where drivers behave

At the other end of the spectrum, drivers in Brownsville, Texas, enjoy the longest accident-free stretches in the country, averaging an impressive 14.2 years between crashes.

  1. Brownsville, TX
  2. Boise, ID
  3. Fort Collins, CO
  4. Cary, NC
  5. Laredo, TX
  6. Olathe, KS
  7. Scottsdale, AZ
  8. Port St. Lucie, FL
  9. Madison, WI
  10. Eugene, OR

While regional traffic, road conditions, and driver behavior all contribute to these numbers, the stark differences across the map suggest that geography still plays a major role in your chances of keeping your bumper intact.

So if youre planning a road tripor considering a movechoose wisely. Your car (and your insurance premium) may thank you.


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Consumer News: Continuing-care retirement home failures leave seniors and their families bereft

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:07:08 +0000

At least 16 facilities have gone bankrupt since the pandemic, survey finds

By James R. Hood of ConsumerAffairs
July 7, 2025

  • Bankruptcy filings among continuing-care retirement communities have surged since the pandemic, eroding residents promised refunds.

  • Seniors have lost significant portions of hefty entrance fees meant to secure lifelong care.

  • Industry experts warn weak regulation and ties to the housing market leave retirees financially vulnerable.

When 89-year-old Arlene Kohen moved into Harborside, a continuing-care retirement community in Port Washington, N.Y., she believed she had secured peace of mind. The community offered independent living along with the promise of nursing, memory, and assisted care should her health decline. Like many seniors, she paid a steep price for that security: a $945,000 entrance fee and $5,700 in monthly charges by the end of her stay.

But that promise unraveled as Harborside went bankrupt multiple times. Ultimately, Kohen, who sold her family home to afford the entrance fee, was forced to leave when the new owner scaled back services. Her family now expects to recover less than a third of the $710,000 refund they were promised a scenario increasingly common across the nations retirement communities.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, at least 16 continuing-care retirement communities have filed for Chapter 11 since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, wiping out more than $190 million in residents savings from over 1,000 families. Harborside alone affected 212 families.

These communities, which often rely on residents home sales to fund hefty entrance fees, became financially strained when the pandemic halted new move-ins and roiled the housing market.

Religious roots,modern complexities

The business model of these facilities which blend housing, healthcare, and insurance-like future services has roots in religious organizations dating back a century. Though most are nonprofits, many depend on upfront entrance fees not only for future services but to pay off construction debt and fund daily operations.

When cash flow dries up, residents, as unsecured creditors, often come last in bankruptcy proceedings, behind bondholders and other secured lenders.

Regulation remains spotty despite past warnings. Following the 2008-09 financial crisis, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging flagged these communities as especially vulnerable during economic downturns. Yet many states lack the expertise to regulate facilities whose financial models resemble complex insurance products.

Even Florida, one of the few states treating such facilities as insurance entities, failed to prevent losses for about 100 seniors when Unisen Senior Living in Tampa collapsed last year.

Industry insiders say the underlying issue is structural. You need expertise thats equivalent to insurance commissioners expertise if youre going to regulate that, said Katherine Pearson, a law professor at Pennsylvania State Universitys Dickinson Law, speaking to the Journal. But few states have such expertise.


Read More ...

Consumer News: Ford, Nissan and Honda announce major vehicle recalls

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:07:08 +0000

Ford recalling 200,000 cars and trucks to fix rearview cameras

By News Desk of ConsumerAffairs
July 7, 2025

Automakers Ford, Nissan, and Honda have issued new safety recalls this week, covering hundreds of thousands of vehicles across various models and years. The recalls address serious defects ranging from malfunctioning rearview cameras to potential engine failures and faulty airbags.

Massive Ford Recall Over Rearview Camera Glitch

Ford has launched the largest recall of the week, affecting over 200,000 vehicles due to a software error that can disrupt the rearview camera display. In some cases, the camera may show a blank image while reversing, reducing the drivers view and increasing the risk of a crash. In other cases, the camera image might remain on the screen even after the car shifts out of reverse, creating a potential distraction.

Affected vehicles span numerous Ford and Lincoln models, including:

  • Ford Bronco Sport (2021-2024)

  • Ford Escape (2020-2022)

  • Ford Explorer (2020-2024)

  • Ford F-150 (2019-2020)

  • Ford Mustang (2019-2023)

  • Lincoln Aviator (2020-2023)

  • Lincoln Navigator (2020-2021)

  • and several others from model years 2018 through 2024.

Ford dealers will update the rearview camera software free of charge. Owners should expect notification letters starting July 28, 2025. For assistance, contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, referencing recall number 25S72.

More details: NHTSA Recall 25V442

Ford Recalls Expedition and Navigator for Airbag Issue

In a separate action, Ford is recalling certain 2025 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles because the passenger-side airbag may have been improperly manufactured. The defect could cause the airbag to deploy with excessive force in a crash, potentially increasing the risk of injury.

Only 171 vehicles are affected. Dealers will replace the faulty airbags free of charge. Owners should receive notification letters starting August 11, 2025, followed by a second letter when repairs are available. For questions, call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 and refer to recall 25S51.

More details:

NHTSA Recall ID Number : 25V439

Ford F-150 Lightning Faces Brake Hose Hazard

Ford has also issued a recall for the 2025 F-150 Lightning BEV due to a risk that front brake hoses could rub against the tire if bracket screws become loose or detach. This could lead to a brake fluid leak and increase stopping distances, raising crash risk.

The recall affects only five vehicles. Dealers will inspect and replace the hose bracket screws at no cost. Owners should expect letters by July 14, 2025. Fords recall number is 25S71.

More details: NHTSA Recall 25V438

Nissan Recalls Nearly 444,000 Vehicles Over Engine Defect

Nissan is recalling 443,899 vehicles because of possible engine bearing defects that could cause engine failure, stalling, or even fires in rare cases. The recall affects both Nissan and Infiniti models with either a 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L VC-Turbo engine.

Impacted models include:

  • Nissan Rogue (2021-2024)

  • Nissan Altima (2019-2020)

  • Infiniti QX50 (2019-2022)

  • Infiniti QX55 (2022)

Dealers will inspect engines for metal debris and repair or replace them as necessary. Repairs are free. Notifications are set to begin August 25, 2025. Owners can contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

More details: NHTSA Recall 25V437

Honda Motorcycles Recalled for Tire Defect

Honda is recalling 112 units of the 2024 NC750X motorcycle due to front tires that may have been manufactured improperly. The inner structure of the tire could unravel, potentially causing loss of vehicle handling and control.

Dealers will replace the tire free of charge. Honda plans to notify owners by August 25, 2025. For more information, call Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870 and refer to recall KS4.

More details: NHTSA Recall 25V435

Owners are urged to check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website or their vehicle manufacturers site for further details and to see if their vehicles are affected. Timely repairs can prevent accidents and ensure safety on the road.


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