Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Suit Claims Nutrex Contains a Dangerous Stimulant

DMAA is becoming the next ephedra, safety advocates fear

By James R. Hood, ConsumerAffairs.com

Nutrex must face class-action claims that its body-building diet supplements contain a powerful stimulant banned in professional sports, a federal magistrate has ruled.

The case arises out of a complaint by Stephen Rush, who charged that Nutrex Research and its founders violated California's fair business laws by marketing the supplements as safe muscle builders despite their alleged knowledge that the products were ineffective and dangerous because of the use of the chemical stimulant DMAA, Courthouse News Service reported.

Several countries and Major League Baseball have banned DMAA or geranamine, which is growing in popularity among young people as a designer "party pill."

Read the entire article here.

University of Phoenix Still a Complaint Magnet

Online education doesn't always live up to consumers' expectations


By Daryl Nelson, ConsumerAffairs.com

College is a lot of fun. Whether one goes away to a campus or commutes to a local college -- the partying, the learning, and the socializing can all be life-changing experiences.

But not everyone can go to college right after high school, as we all know that life has an interesting way of temporarily knocking you off your planned path. Thankfully, getting a degree online these days is as easy and accessible as downloading a song.

The University of Phoenix is generally regarded as standing at the top of this particular area of higher education. It advertises heavily and markets itself as the primary go-to for those who need a more flexible college schedule.

But, like everything else in life, it doesn't always work out just the way consumers expect.

Read the entire article here.

How To Reduce Or Eliminate Your Student Loan Balance

It isn't easy, but some federal student loans can be forgiven


By Mark Huffman, ConsumerAffairs.com

Crushing student loan debt is a growing threat to the economy. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports total student loan debt in the U.S. now exceeds $1 trillion, placing a huge financial burden on new graduates.

New education programs warn students and their families of the dangers of running up college loan debt, but what about the millions of former students already struggling to make payments?

Student debt doesn't have to be a lifelong burden. It turns out there are ways to reduce or eliminate that debt, but it takes time and you must meet certain criteria. But for graduates with federal student loan balances the size of a home mortgage, the student loan forgiveness programs may offer hope.

Read the entire article here.