Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan
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consumerman.bsky.social
Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan
@consumerman.bsky.social
Contributing Editor at Checkbook.org, the non-profit that helps consumers get good service and low prices. I also host Checkbook's Consumerpedia.org podcast. My goal: Save you time and money, and help you avoid rip-offs & scams.
Enjoyed being on the Talking Real Money podcast today to discuss the latest robocall scam attack, how AI-enabled fraud is becoming increasingly difficult to spot, my nightmare airline experience, and some early holiday shopping tips. bit.ly/3JVKbdE
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Holiday Shopping Tips 2025: Checkbook asked shopping experts for their advice on how to find the best deals and avoid the bogus sales. Plus, the smart ways (and the really costly ways) to pay for your holiday purchases.
bit.ly/49OXHKy
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 AM
On this month’s visit with Nick, we talk about cryptocurrency and why it remains a high-risk gamble, how long-term car loans can quietly drain your wallet, and the growing problem of fake loan approval robocalls targeting unsuspecting borrowers. radiomisfits.com/ndp400/
Nick D - For The People, Nov 2025
Herb Weisbaum tackles consumer scams and crypto risks, while Tom Appel covers EV trends, tariffs, layoffs, and vintage car ad oddities.
radiomisfits.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Joined John Landecker on @wgnradio.bsky.social last night to talk about LONG car loans and those $!#%@$ robocalls!
wgnradio.com/john-landeck...
November 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Despite warnings about volatility, scams, and lax regulatory oversight, digital currencies have gone mainstream. While this modern-day gold rush has made people (mostly insiders) incredibly rich, many others have lost money to scams. bit.ly/3WxBhWE
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
New Instagram Reel about my latest Consumerpedia podcast -- all about the risks of investing in digital currencies. instagram.com/p/DQcGPNlkbjj/
October 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM
NEW Consumerpedia episode: Cryptocurrency: Coins, Cons, & Chaos. It's a modern day gold rush. Millions of Americans are buying digital currencies despite the known risks. Hear why experts warn that many are going to get burned. bit.ly/3L2IKup
October 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Lengthy Car Loans Can Cost You Thousands: To lower their monthly payments many car buyers are taking out longer loans. But that will drive up the total interest you'll pay, and you'll be upside-down on that loan for much longer. bit.ly/43uj005
October 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Thanks to John Matarese @wcpo9news.bsky.social for sharing our bizarre experience with Delta Airlines. “Nearly stranded: Couple denied flight home because they didn't have correct credit card.” bit.ly/3WdsnNV
Nearly stranded: Couple denied flight home because they didn't have correct credit card
When you travel, do you bring all your credit cards with you, or leave some home? One couple was almost stranded overseas because they didn't take a certain card with them on their trip.
bit.ly
October 21, 2025 at 6:18 AM
My new Instagram reel previews the latest Consumerpedia episode: Smart picks from Checkbook’s editors—websites and apps that save you time & money. www.facebook.com/share/r/1Ctg...
October 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Scam Alert: Fake Loan Approval Robocalls: Identity thieves have found a new way to steal our personal financial information: By calling with an “update” on a loan you never applied for. These scammers are aggressively targeting consumers nationwide. bit.ly/4h9k4fB
October 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
New Attempt to Stop the Robocall Epidemic: Nomorobo, a robocall blocking service, has taken the unusual step of suing four companies—all debt collectors—it claims are “significant violators” of a federal law that bans most robocalls. bit.ly/48jOsS5
October 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
NEW Consumerpedia podcast episode: Our Editors’ Favorite Websites & Apps. We'll share some of the apps and websites we use and trust, and explain why you may find them valuable tools. bit.ly/4q3NdN6
October 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Soaring premiums and inadequate claims payouts push many Americans to cut back or skip homeowners insurance. Watch my recent segment on @komonews.bsky.social
bit.ly/46TSb6p
Soaring premiums and inadequate claims payouts push many Americans to home insurance crisis
The cost of home insurance is soaring, far exceeding the rate of inflation. As a result, millions of homeowners are cutting back on coverage or going without it, putting their finances at risk. The Federal Reserve estimates that seven percent of American homeowners didn’t have insurance last year; 43 percent of that group said they couldn’t afford a policy. It’s easy to see why: The average annual premium for a policy for someone with mid-range credit and a house that would cost $350,000 to rebuild is now $3,303, according to a recent report from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA). While inflation rose 11 percent from 2021 to 2024, the average homeowners' insurance premium increased by $648, a 24-percent rise, CFA’s report noted. In some states, the rate hikes in 2024 were significantly higher: Utah (59 percent), Illinois (50 percent), Arizona (48 percent), and Pennsylvania (44 percent). -------------------------------------------------- For more on the story: https://komonews.com/news/consumer/consumer-checkbook-california-wildfires-home-insurance-crisis-soaring-premiums-and-inadequate-payouts-for-damage-claims _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: KOMO News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KOMONews/ KOMO News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/komonews KOMO News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/komo4 KOMO News on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@komo4seattle Subscribe to KOMO on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC__2_0RJ8XnHt2angfw6S1Q/?sub_confirmation=1 Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G97AyNO_3IE&list=PLZm7uq7_dyY6qhFFIwgXRvYpkaOnZEabc&index=2&t=0s For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.komonews.com/ Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://komonews.com/watch Download our iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/komo-news-mobile/id433508161?mt=8 Download our Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newssynergy.komo&hl=en Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: tips@komonews.com Call the Newsroom: 206.404.4000 KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area, including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities. Tune into ARC Seattle Monday-Friday 7-10 a.m. and 10-11 p.m. on KUNS, The CW Network. #komo #komonews #komo4 #komo4news #seattle #seattlenews #washingtonnews The insurance industry attributes skyrocketing premiums to more frequent climate-related disasters, rising material costs, high labor costs, and increased litigation. Consumer advocates say corporate greed and lax oversight at the state level are also to blame. This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information, contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
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October 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
This month’s visit on the Nick D podcast: The home insurance crisis, plans to weaken airline passenger protections, Delta’s head-scratching credit card policy, and Amazon’s $2.5 billion settlement regarding Prime memberships.
*** I start at 9:35 into the show *** radiomisfits.com/ndp392/
Nick D - For The People, Oct '25
Nick talks with Herb Weisbaum about insurance, airline protections, and Amazon’s settlement, then Tom Appel covers EV tax credits and classic cars.
radiomisfits.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Home Insurance Crisis: Soaring Premiums & Inadequate Payouts. The skyrocketing cost of home insurance far exceeds the rate of inflation. How can you lower your premiums? Find money-saving tips in my new @checkbook.org story. bit.ly/3IVOnJZ
October 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Check out the new Instagram reel about the new Consumerpedia podcast episode. t.co/UF13tZd6gE
October 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Thanks to Nydia Han at Action News in Philadelphia for sharing our horrible experience with Delta at Heathrow airport: bit.ly/4mLCgwW
Travel warning after credit card policy nearly strands couple | Troubleshooters
We have an important alert for airline travelers. Besides your Real ID or passport, there is something you need to take with you to avoid problems.
bit.ly
September 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
FTC secures historic $2.5 billion settlement from Amazon: The company will pay a civil penalty of $1 billion and refund $1.5 billion to approximately 35 million customers harmed by what the FTC described as “deceptive Prime enrollment practices." bit.ly/4mEZFjG
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Talked about passenger rights with John Landecker on @wgnradio.bsky.social this week. The DOT is planning to roll back or eliminate some of these rules for what airlines must do for you when something goes wrong. bit.ly/4nV4oPm
September 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Here's my latest Instagram Reel about the latest @consumerpedia.org podcast. www.instagram.com/reel/DO64G14...
September 24, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I joined the morning team at @kironewsradio.bsky.social to talk about airplane passenger rights and my PANIC at Heathrow airport when I couldn't get our boarding passes. bit.ly/423B1BS
The End of Airline Passenger Protections?
ConsumerMan Herb Weisbaum joins the show to break down what the end of airline passenger protections could mean for travelers — from refunds and delays to basic rights in the air. What should passenge...
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September 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Delta’s Bizarre Credit Card Policy Nearly Stranded Me in London: My wife and I were blindsided by a poorly disclosed policy by Delta Airlines that nearly cost us thousands of dollars. And as I discovered, this was not an isolated case. bit.ly/3Vovcv5
September 21, 2025 at 1:43 AM
The Trump Administration Wants to Gut Airline Passenger Protections: The Department of Transportation plans to scale back or eliminate some of the airline passenger protection rules enacted under the Biden administration. What’s on the chopping block? bit.ly/420b06p
September 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM