Action: Two magazines not better than one

The enclosed copy of a letter written to Good Housekeeping magazine on April 23, in reference to my daughter's mixed-up subscription, is a matter I cannot resolve: Perhaps you can.

On Nov. 28, 2000, I sent in a check for a one-year subscription for my daughter. The problem is the magazine's inability to keep her name straight, or the expiration date.

The magazine has her listed as both Kimra Eiser and K. Meiser. She started receiving duplicate copies of the magazine with different expiration dates, as well as letters urging her to renew, which had already been take care of by me. I asked the magazine to correct the label error and continue the magazine beginning June 2001, through July 2002.

I have not even received the courtesy of a reply to my April letter, or the first one I sent in February.

Thank you for your attention. Judith Paige

Response: Two letters and 21/2 months later, we finally heard from Good Housekeeping.

Virginia Jones with Hearst Magazines subscription service department in Red Oak, Iowa, said your daughter's gift subscription has now been entered in the correct name for the full number of issues, beginning with the January edition.

Her subscription will be extended by four issues to compensate for the inconvenience, for which Jones apologized.

Recent recalls

The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between Jan. 18 and 24:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a recall affecting 45,314 Purolator Products' Purolator Fuel Filters, Purolator Pro-Fuel Filters and NAPA Fuel Filters; the polymer used for the housing in the suspect fuel filters may not be compatible with some chemicals sometimes found in fuel systems, and prolonged exposure can eventually weaken the filter housing, causing a possible leak and fire.

Affected fuel filters were shipped by ArvinMeritor from June 19 through Sept. 28. NHTSA advises consumers with a Purolator Products fuel filter to inspect it for leaks and return it to the place of purchase for reimbursement or replacement. Suspect filters are identified by Purolator part numbers, 804, 805 and 806, and NAPA part numbers 624804, 624805 and 624806 (for eight-character date codes, check NHTSA Web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov, click on red car).

Note that part numbers, etc., are often stripped during installation or removal. Call ArvinMeritor LVA toll-free at 1-800-637-0580.

Fresh marinated pork loin products by Swift & Co.; undeclared ingredient (hydrolyzed milk protein). Affected are 31/2- to 5-pound packages of "Armour premium Marinated Pork Loin half, onion and garlic," with product code "56610" and the sell by date "use or freeze by Feb. 13" or any prior date and establishment code "EST. 995" located inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were produced through Jan. 11, 2002. Check refrigerators and freezers and return to place of purchase. Call (402) 595-5392.

Lisy brand Mini-Jelly Candies, all flavors, by Lisy Corp.; the product contains konjac, also known as conjac, konnhaku, yam flour, or glucomannan, which does not dissolve as easily as common gelatin, and therefore presents a choking hazard. The product is packaged in clear plastic bags, containing six sealed cups, the size of a single coffee creamer. Return to place of purchase for refund. Call (305) 836-6001.

50,000 Black Cat electric pressure washers (model numbers BC-2000 or TW-1750) by MCM International; some of the units, imported from China, have counterfeit ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), devices intended to protect consumers against shock or electrocution. These pressure washers were sold at Target and Menard's stores from August to September. Call toll-free 1-800-304-1316 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays to arrange to have inspected.

About 1,300 reconditioned cordless electric lawn mowers by Black & Decker; the clips holding the control cable to the handle may be missing, which could cause the blade control device to fail and keep the mower blade running when it should stop, posing potential injury to consumers. Affected lawn mowers have an orange deck, a charcoal black motor cover, model number CMM1000R and date codes between 0043 M.N.D.C. and 0121 M.N.D.C. Take lawn mower to a Black & Decker service center for a free repair. Call toll-free 1-866-229-5570 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Lawn mowers sold at locations other than Black & Decker factory stores are not included in this recall.

About 345,000 Ross Root Feeders by Easy Gardener Inc.; the mixing chamber caps on these feeders can detach during use and strike nearby consumers, causing injuries. The recall includes model 1200C Ross Root Feeders with "24207" or "24208" imprinted on the top of the clear plastic chamber caps. Ross Root Feeders with the number "24208-A" caps are not part of the recall. Call toll-free 1-800-621-4769 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays for free replacement cap. Web site: www.rosscap.com.

Sources: SafetyAlerts at www.safetyalerts.com; Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov.; government food safety information at www.foodsafety.gov.

- Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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