Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The Federal Trade Commission has requested a contempt order against BlueHippo from a federal court. The company collected more than $15 million from consumers based on claims they would finance purchases of new computers, but delivered neither computers nor financing.

According to the FTC, less than 1% of the consumers who signed up with BlueHippo received the computers they applied for. They also allege that undisclosed conditions required to redeem store credits were designed to discourage customers from using them.

The FTC lodged the contempt motion with the court Thursday saying that the company has ignored a settlement reached with the agency last year and continued to deceive thousands of financially strapped consumers. The FTC is asking the court to order BlueHippo to compensate consumers and bar similar conduct in the future.

“Years of broken promises by BlueHippo have left consumers seeing red,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “We’re putting companies like this on notice: If you mistreat consumers and thumb your nose at the courts, we will hold you accountable.”

The settlement between BlueHippo and the FTC, reached last April, required the company to pay $3.5 million for customer redress and barred them from further deceit. The commission alleged that BlueHippo had often never delivered the computers in the time promised, or ever.

The FTC says that even after that settlement, the company continued to cheat customers. They allege that more than 35,000 customers contracted BlueHippo for the computer financing deal. But the company provided, at most, a single financed computer, failing to provide financed computers even for 2,477 customers who managed to meet the companies’ conditions.

In April 2009, the FTC told BlueHippo that they were violating the settlement and they began ordering computers. However, only 1,462 consumers ever received a computer, and BlueHippo did not even order – let alone ship – the computers within the three- to four-week time frame the company had advertised. On average, it took about six months.

Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - They've got thousands of complaints against them and have been fined millions of dollars.  Despite that, BlueHippo, a company that markets new computers to low income folks, still isn't delivering.

We’ve talked with a number of customers who have paid thousands to this company and have nothing to show for it, and the Attorney General's office is now looking into the way BlueHippo does business.  
 
“I saw commercial after commercial, and finally I was dumb enough to bite on it,” says Jynna Brown.

Being on a fixed income, she couldn't afford to just go to the store and buy a computer, so she signed up with BlueHippo. She paid them nearly $80 every two weeks for a year – over $2,000 total – and she’s got nothing to show for it.
 
“’Oh good news,’ “ says Brown, referring to the person she spoke with at BlueHippo. “I can remember so specific, ‘Oh good news, you're all paid up, we're going to be shipping it out in one to two weeks.’ “

One or two weeks have come, and again, and so have another one or two weeks -- and Brown is just one of many we've heard from in the same situation

“Over $1,100 so far, and now when I call them they're not even answering my calls,” says Amanda Hartranst.

BlueHippo is ignoring our repeated calls for an explanation too, but they may soon have to answer to the state Attorney General's office. The AG tells us they have a significant number of complaints about BlueHippo and are in the middle of a full scale investigation.

Brown hopes that uncovers what she already believes – “I feel like I've been taken to the cleaners.”

If you have ordered and paid for merchandise through BlueHippo and the company hasn't delivered, you need to file a complaint with both the Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission.

Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov

Attorney General's Office: www.oag.state.ny.us

BlueHippo not delivering: The Real Deal 9/18/08

Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - The company appeals to people with less than perfect credit, promising to deliver brand new computers to customers who stick to a weekly payment plan. 

We're talking about BlueHippo -- you've probably seen their ads on TV. 

The problem is, customers say the company's not holding up their end of the bargain. Here's The Real Deal on how after months of paying, some still have nothing to show for it. 

Amanda Hartranst saw a commercial for BlueHippo and thought it seemed like a pretty good deal.

“I've always wanted a computer and I don't really have good credit, so I figured I'd try it, help build my credit,” Hartranst says.

She put down a deposit, and was supposed to get her computer after she made 13 payments of $34 a week. BlueHippo has now withdrawn 40 payments from her checking account, but still hasn't sent the PC.     

“I'm very frustrated. I work hard for my money, and $34 dollars might not seem like a lot, but it adds up every week,” she says.

Amanda's heard plenty of excuses as to why she hasn’t gotten her computer yet; she’s just a few hundred dollars away from paying off the computer and now when she calls, she gets a message, telling her that they’re experiencing a high volume of calls.

“Over $1,100 so far and now when I call them, they're not even answering my calls,” says Hartranst.

Others tell us they've received their computers from BlueHippo, but got none of the free stuff – such as a color printer and a flat screen TV -- the company promises once the PC is paid off.
  
So what's The Real Deal? After days of trying to get through to the company, a BlueHippo spokeswoman finally returned our calls, only to say they're looking into Amanda's account.  As for the printers and TVs customers have been waiting months for, she admits they're way behind in mailing them out. 

BlueHippo has more than 2,500 complaints against them with the Better Business Bureau for failing to deliver merchandise in a timely manner.  They've also been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for not disclosing that customers can't get refunds once they start making payments.
 
We will, of course, keep the pressure on BlueHippo to deliver Amanda's computer.

If you've had an experience with this company, we want to hear from you!  Call us at 446-9900 or e-mail the details to yourstories@9wsyr.com.

Albany (WSYR-TV) – The State Department of Motor Vehicles Tuesday unveiled the new “Empire Gold” license plate which will be issued to most vehicles registered in the state beginning in April. 

The new plate is gold in color with dark blue letters and numbers in the central part of the plate, separated by a small dark blue state silhouette. There is a dark blue banner across the length of the top of the plate, with “New York” printed in gold in the center. “Empire State” is in dark blue letters across the bottom.

Officials say the new plate will bring in an expected $129 million in revenue over the next two years.

"This project will benefit law enforcement efforts, and therefore enhance public safety, in several ways," said Denise E. O'Donnell, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. "For instance, nearly 300 police agencies in New York State are currently deploying approximately 500 computerized license plate readers (LPRs) that enable authorities to quickly identify vehicles that have been stolen or used in a crime. These new plates will ensure that the LPRs are as effective as possible."

The DMV will begin issuing the new plates for registration renewals that expire in May 2010. Customers renewing their vehicle registrations in person in a DMV office, over the phone, by mail or through the Internet, will receive their new Empire Gold plates in the mail. Customers completing an original over-the-counter registration transaction will receive their plates immediately. The replacement will take place as part of scheduled vehicle registration and renewal and will take two years to complete. There are currently 12 million registered vehicles in New York State.

A plate fee of $25.00 will be added to the registration renewal fee. Single plate registrations (e.g. motorcycles) will be charged a plate fee of $12.50.

The most recent New York license plate design was issued in 2001.

Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website.

DMV COMMISSIONER UNVEILS NEW EMPIRE GOLD LICENSE PLATES
New Plate Will Improve Highway Safety and Generate Needed Revenue

New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee David J. Swarts today unveiled the “Empire Gold” license plate which will be issued to most vehicles registered in the state beginning in April, 2010. 

“The bold colors of the new license plate reflect New York’s force and its resilience,” said Commissioner Swarts. “These new plates, in the official colors of the State of New York, will help  maintain highway safety, reduce the number of unregistered and uninsured vehicles on our roads, and generate $129 million in General Fund revenue over two years, which will help address the State’s financial crisis.”

The new plate is gold in color with dark blue letters and numbers in the central part of the plate, separated by a small dark blue state silhouette. There is a dark blue banner across the length of the top of the plate, with “New York” printed in gold in the center. “Empire State” is in dark blue letters across the bottom.

State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, "License plates are a fundamental tool of law enforcement that has been enhanced in recent years through a variety of technologies that improve their readability, especially under low light conditions. The State Police has worked cooperatively with DMV to ensure that the new plates will continue to serve the law enforcement community effectively."

  Periodically re-issuing plates is important for overall safety, law enforcement and the general integrity of the plate. License plate visibility tends to decrease as license plates lose their reflectivity and become marred and damaged from use.  The legibility and reflectivity of the current Empire plate, which was issued beginning in 2001, was only guaranteed for up to 5 years. Current plates will have been in use for 10-11 years by the time they are replaced by the new Empire Gold plates.

"This project will benefit law enforcement efforts, and therefore enhance public safety, in several ways," said Denise E. O'Donnell, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. "For instance, nearly 300 police agencies in New York State are currently deploying approximately 500 computerized license plate readers (LPRs) that enable authorities to quickly identify vehicles that have been stolen or used in a crime. These new plates will ensure that the LPRs are as effective as possible."

Periodic re-issuance also helps to ensure compliance with motor vehicle registration and insurance requirements.  As new plates are issued, motorists that are driving with suspended or revoked registrations become more conspicuous.  

“By helping to reduce the number of uninsured motorists, the new Empire Gold plates will help keep auto insurance costs down for all New Yorkers during these difficult economic times,” said  New York State Superintendent of Insurance James J. Wrynn.
 
 DMV will begin issuing the new plates for registration renewals that expire in May 2010. Customers renewing their vehicle registrations in person in a DMV office, over the phone, by mail or through the Internet, will receive their new Empire Gold plates in the mail. Customers completing an original over-the-counter registration transaction will receive their plates immediately. The replacement will take place as part of scheduled vehicle registration and renewal and will take two years to complete. There are currently 12 million registered vehicles in New York State.

A plate fee of $25.00 will be added to the registration renewal fee. Single plate registrations (e.g. motorcycles) will be charged a plate fee of $12.50. Motorists registered in the Passenger (PAS), Commercial (COM), Motorcycle (MOT) or Trailer (TRL) registration classes will have the option to keep their current plate number/letter combination. Those with vehicles registered in other classes may also have this option. The registration renewal invitation will tell motorists if this option is available. Those choosing to keep their current plate number/letter combination on the new Empire Gold plate will be required to pay a $20.00 fee. Those motorists holding a personalized plate will automatically be re-issued the same number/letter combination on their new plate. Because they currently pay an annual personalized plate fee, they will not be required to pay the $20.00 fee. Most plates with the New York skyline banner across the top of the plate will begin to be replaced by the new Empire Gold plate in April.  Custom picture plates will be replaced at a later date. The DMV will also be electronically sharing updated plate number information with EZ-Pass so that motorists who participate in that program will not have to do so.

Additional information on the new license plates can be found by visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles website at www.nysdmv.com.

No matter how you heat your home, it should cost you less to do it this winter.  That’s a bit of a relief, but it still doesn't mean it's going to be cheap to stay warm. 

If you use natural gas, you can expect to pay about 68 cents per therm, which is actually down 23 cents from last winter. 

Since the average household uses about 830 therms during heating season, your total supply cost should be around $565 -- but keep in mind, you've still got to add at least another $200 or so for delivery and taxes.

If you're worried about keeping up with your bill, consider getting on a budget plan.  It won't get you any special discounts, but it spreads your payments out through the entire year, not just the heating season.

In terms of heating oil prices, which we’ve been tracking over the past year, the average cash price right now is about $2.46 per gallon, which is down nearly 40 cents a gallon from this time last year. 

Over the past several weeks, the price has been slowly creeping up, so if you haven't had a fill-up yet, now is the time to do it. 

For propane customers out there, your average price per gallon today is about $2.15, down nearly 60 cents from a year ago.

Propane customers have a harder time shopping around, since you likely don't own your own tank, but if you get lower quotes from other suppliers, try to negotiate with your dealer. 

Heating oil and propane customers wonder every year whether they should lock-in their price. That's always a gamble, and more often than not, it doesn't pay off.

Supply is up this year, so prices shouldn't jump dramatically. CLICK HERE for our Energy Center to compare prices right now.

Folks who use propane to heat their homes want to know if new tank rental fees appearing on their bills are The Real Deal.

Propane companies are allowed to charge tank rental fees, but they have to be upfront and honest about it in your contract.

If they haven't charged it in the past, they have to give you at least a 30-day notice before they add it to your bill. 

There are some suppliers who build this rental fee into the actual propane price, so you never see it, but there are others who break it out on the bill.

The last propane company to fill up your tank is technically liable for any issues or problems with it; that's why companies typically keep ownership of the tanks and customers essentially borrow them.

It's maddening to open your National Grid bill and see that you're paying more to get gas and electric to you, than you are for the actual commodity itself. 

In the past few months, we've talked with several homeowners, upset that their delivery fee was more than double their supply costs. 

National Grid says normally, that doesn't happen.  But because supply costs have been so low and usage has been down because of the mild weather, delivery fees have seemed higher.

“If customers look at their bill this year compared to last year, they'll see the total bill is down about 17-18 percent in central New York,” said National Grid spokesman Alberto Bianchetti.

Your delivery and supply fees should have leveled off by now, since most of us have had to turn on our furnaces; but even if you don't use any electric or gas, you're still charged monthly to have access to it.

The basic service for natural gas is $17.45 a month; for electric it's $16.21, so you pay $33.66 just to get energy to your home.

“It's taken for granted when you wake up in the morning and turn your light on, it's on when you go downstairs to start your coffee or tea that the gas and electricity is flowing, that's everyday, 24/7,” Bianchetti said.

And then, of course, the costs go up, depending on your usage and other taxes and fees. 

Keep in mind, rates and fees are set by National Grid, but they have to be approved by the Public Service Commission, which earlier this year allowed a $6 per month increase for natural gas customers.

So, if you want to complain, contact the PSC.

They come knocking at your door, trying to get you to switch from National Grid.  Energy salespeople can be pretty pushy, but can they actually help you save money?

These energy salespeople get paid to put the pressure on, but here's what you need to know. They are the suppliers, so even if you switch, National Grid or NYSEG will still deliver your gas and electric. 

If an ESCO, as they're called, shows up at your front door, first make sure they have proper identification. They should all be wearing a photo ID with the name of their company on it.  

Then, ask for information about the company, their rates and get their cancellation policy in writing, so you can review it and contact them by phone if you're interested in switching.

If you do decide on the spot to switch, New York State law gives you three days to cancel the contract if you change your mind.

Typically, these ESCOs promise a seven-percent savings from National Grid for your first few months.  So, if you're going to switch, do it in the dead of winter, where you'll see the most savings. 

After that, our research shows you're only going to save a few pennies at best by switching. 

Be sure to read all the fine print carefully; do not lock into a fixed rate, or fixed contract.

Bottom line, if you want to switch, make sure the company will let you switch back to National Grid if you're not satisfied. 

The Public Service Commission has a website that compares ESCO prices to the utilities.

The ads promise their "miracle" heater can slash your energy bills in half, but is it The Real Deal? 

It doesn't really matter what they call it -- The "Tropic Air Heater," the "Miracle Amish Heater" or "Edenpure” -- these “miracle” heaters are all glorified space heaters; you plug them into the wall and they shoot hot air out in one direction. 

Almost all electric space heaters, no matter the size or cost, give off 5,200 BTUs, meaning you can heat one room at a time with them. 

Unless you shut off your heat and drag one of these around with you wherever you go, they will not cut your heating bills in half, as some ads promise.

You also don't need to spend hundreds of dollars. You can get a space heater at a local hardware store that'll do the exact same thing one of those “miracle” heaters do for under $100.

Just because they look fancier and are more expensive, doesn't mean they'll work any better.

Bottom line, don't expect "miracle" heaters to perform any magic on your heating bills.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Gas prices are on the rise again.  Crude oil prices have been going up and because of that, refiners have been cutting back on production.

The average price of a gallon of gas here in central New York is $2.82.  Just a week ago, we were paying $2.74 a gallon, and one month ago, $2.64. 

Dealing with the increase is one thing, but driving through different towns and seeing a dramatic difference in price is another. 

Gas stations along Route 31 near the Route 81 exit in Cicero typically have the lowest gas prices in central New York.  Drivers can pay 20 to 40 cents lower there than other parts of central New York, so why can't we all pay these prices?

The first reason is obvious: Competition.  With four gas stations in a 500-yard radius, they have to keep undercutting each other to get your business.

Another factor that helps set prices? How far away a station is from its supplier.

The main gas distributor for stations in this area are in Warners, Brewerton, Utica, Rochester, Albany and Binghamton; the further away a station is, the higher the transportation costs, which are passed on to customers. 

Cortland, for example, is just far enough away from all of them, so their costs are higher. 

How often a station gets a fuel delivery also plays a part in how much we pay.  A big station that sells a lot of gas has to buy it every day, and can fluctuate their prices accordingly.  A smaller station may only buy gas once a week, so they're charging the same price for it until it's gone. 

Different stations pay different amounts for the same gas, so there are a lot of variables, but those are the big ones. 

It's hard to not think you're being price gouged when you see a dramatic difference, but according to state law, gouging is inflating prices only during or directly following a natural disaster.  Outside of that, stations can charge whatever they'd like.

Fuel pump inspections happen at every gas station within the county, once a year.  Inspectors typically pump five gallons of each octane into their testing cans to make sure you're getting what you pay for.  

“We can't expect every pump to pump zero at all times -- it's a mechanical device, it's a coercive product, it's going to affect how meters measure,” says gas pump inspector Lon Lowenstein.

On a $3 gallon of gas, the pump can be off by about 4 cents per gallon in either direction and still be in compliance.

If it's off by more than that, in the gas station's favor, it's taken out of service until repairs can be made. 

Last year, of the 3,052 pumps in Onondaga County, only six of them were shut down for that reason. 

Believe it or not, in most cases, when the pumps are off, it's in the favor of the customer. Stations are not notified in advance about inspections.  The county handles that part of it; the state is in charge of taking samples of the fuel itself to make sure the quality is what's promised. They, too, do that annually.

Are credit card users at gas stations being unfairly treated?  Many of you have emailed and called in, wondering just that.

This one of those things that annoys people who don't carry cash: Some gas stations, like the FasTrac in Cicero, advertise two different prices -- one if you pay by credit card, and a cheaper price if you pay cash.

That is legal -- stations get away with it by calling it a "cash discount" rather than a "credit card surcharge," which would be prohibited.

They claim they have to fork over two to three percent of their profit on every credit card sale back to the credit card companies, so they're hoping the discount will encourage cash. 

Another popular question we get from folks about paying with plastic at the pump: In some instances, if you use a debit card, you get hit with a $50 to $100 'hold' on your account. 

This is because you swipe your card before you pump, which means the bank doesn't know exactly how much gas you'll be buying. 

The hold is there to protect the station from getting ripped off, and normally it goes away just a day or so later after the transaction has been processed.  

Not all banks do this, but you'll want to check with yours to make sure you don't overdraw your account without knowing it.

With the average price of gas hovering at $2.82 a gallon in central New York, it's hard to grin and bear it at the pumps -- but don't just be frustrated at the gas station.  A good chunk of what you're paying is taxes. 

No matter where you fill up, the federal government takes a little more than 18 cents a gallon in taxes. 

On top of that, here in New York, the state government has five separate taxes they charge us. Between excise tax, sales tax, a petroleum business tax, a petroleum testing fee and a spill fee, nearly 33 cents of every gallon you buy goes to Albany.

Then, the county takes their four-percent share, so on a gallon of $3 gas, that's another 12 cents, which means you're paying a total of 63 cents in taxes on one gallon of gas.

So, just what is that money being used for? Most is dumped into the general fund, some goes toward maintaining roads and bridges and a small percentage of the money is used for testing, inspections and gasoline clean-up. 

The federal and state taxes are fixed. Most counties take a percentage, which means as gas prices rise, they get more money too.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - It's really not an option anymore – virtually every local gas station is selling E-10, a blend of 90 percent regular gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. 

Most of us probably don't notice a dramatic difference, but we've taken a lot of questions from people who want to know how this affects their car and their mileage. 

If a gas station is selling you E-10, they have to have a sticker on their pump letting you know, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a station that doesn't have one on every pump.

Here's The Real Deal on some of your questions about it: 

Q: Does E-10 decrease your gas mileage?  
A: Yes. Researchers say a tank of E-10 usually results in a three-percent drop in your mileage compared to regular gas. Ethanol has less energy in it, so it takes more of it to get where you're going. 

Q: Will E-10 hurt the engine of my car?
A: No.  Before E-10 was approved for mass distribution, the EPA found it did not damage engine components. The Rochester Institute of Technology also found older cars can handle the blend too. 

Q: Is it okay to use E-10 in my boat, lawn mower, and ATV?
A: Maybe.  E-10 does not damage four-cycle motors, but does have an effect on two-cycle ones. Things like leaf blowers, weed whackers and some outboard boat engines that have to mix the fuel with oil in order to run, may work differently with E-10. 

What happens if you want just plain old regular gas?  You're likely going to be out of luck. Most stations have moved to this blend because it's cheaper to produce, and they likely won't be switching back anytime soon.

The EPA is expected to decide on an E-15 proposal in the next few weeks, but the science shows only flex fuel vehicles can handle anything over E-10, so if approved, E-15 would just be an option at the pumps, not the norm.