Consumer Alert Archives

‘Extremely troubling’: Expert warns against using ‘buy now, pay later’ plans for basic necessities

May 11, 2026 11:32 AM Haley Swaino

Buy now, pay later. It can seem like a great deal for more than a quarter of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Make a purchase today, and split the cost over about four interest-free payments. The “Buy Now, Pay Later” payment plan is growing rapidly in popularity as consumers face higher prices and tighter budgets. Recent data shows nearly half of Americans have turned to BNPL services. And some statistics are startling experts like Jared Reynolds, CEO and Founder of Freedom Wealth Planning in Columbia.

Gas myth or money saver: Debunking common savings suggestions with an analyst

April 8, 2026 4:41 PM Haley Swaino

Haley Swaino, weekend morning anchor and reporter at KMIZ, is finding ways to help you cut back on monthly bills and giving other money-saving suggestions. This time, she looks at ways to save on gas. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Drive slower. Don’t brake hard. Turn off the A/C and roll your windows down. As drivers are

Area customers air grievances after Club Car Wash earns ‘F’ rating with BBB

August 6, 2025 5:48 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Club Car Wash, a Columbia-based company was given a “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau after the company received more than 240 complaints over that past 36 months, the BBB said in a press release Tuesday. The BBB says the complaints stem from alleged vehicle damage, billing issues, and poor customer

Subscription-based health visits offer patients alternative to stay in Anthem’s network

April 1, 2025 7:43 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield could not agree on a contract, leaving thousands of patients to look for other health care options to stay in Anthem’s network. Direct primary care — a subscription-based form of health care — began in the 2000’s and doctors say it is growing

Gerber recalls teething sticks over choking concern

February 3, 2025 2:23 PM CNN Newsource

By Matthew Kaufman, CNN (CNN) — Baby food maker Gerber has recalled and discontinued its “Soothe N Chew” teething sticks because the product could pose a potential choking hazard for babies and toddlers. Nestle USA, the parent company of Gerber, issued the recall Friday after receiving reports of “choking incidents,” according to a news release.

RECALL ROUNDUP: Face moisturizer, bacon popcorn seasoning and Honda vehicles

January 30, 2025 11:42 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) First Aid Beauty face moisturizer First Aid Beauty has recalled nearly 2,800 jars of its Ultra Repair Cream in coconut vanilla. The company says the jars were supposed to be quarantined but instead were sold on its website Firstaidbeauty.com. The jars were not meant for market sale, the company said in a

Local Chiefs fans heading to Super Bowl LIX could save big on travel thanks to location

January 27, 2025 5:32 PM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to head to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX against the Philadephia Eagles on Feb. 9, many fans are also preparing their wallets, as ticket and travel prices soar. “Don’t expect to go to the Super Bowl for cheap if you’re going to cheer on the

RECALL ROUNDUP: Chocolate chip cookies, space heaters and Jeep Cherokees

January 23, 2025 10:09 AM Erika McGuire

A look at some recent, major product recalls.

RECALL ROUNDUP: Taquitos, chicken broth and smoke alarms recalled

January 16, 2025 11:46 AM Erika McGuire

A look at some recent major product recalls.

Fear Fest faces backlash over unreturned refunds after fire code shutdown

January 15, 2025 8:01 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Despite never opening its doors due to a failed fire inspection, multiple people say they have yet to receive a refund from Fear Fest Haunted House in Columbia. Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House made an official announcement on Oct. 31 stating that it was not possible to open this season and that

RECALL ROUNDUP: Oven gloves and vehicles recalled; cucumber callback expands

December 5, 2024 10:21 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Temp-tations Oven Gloves The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 1.1 million Temp-tations Oven Gloves. Regulators issued the recall because the gloves can fail to protect users from heat which increases the risk of getting burned. The recalled gloves were sold in single pairs or sets of two from August 2018 through

Cybersecurity expert offers tips on how to not fall victim to online shopping scams

December 2, 2024 7:35 PM Haley Swaino

The FBI received reports from almost 12,000 victims of online shopping scams during the 2022 holiday shopping season, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

RECALL ROUNDUP: Dog food and Hyundai vehicles recalled

November 28, 2024 11:14 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips The Food and Drug Administration has recalled Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips. Regulators issued the recall because the dog food has a potential salmonella threat. This recall affects 5-ounce bags that were sold online and in stores in about 20 states, including Missouri according to

Mid-Missourians will likely pay more to heat their home this winter

November 18, 2024 2:49 PM Erika McGuire

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect Boone Electric rates. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Cranking up the heat this winter will likely drive up the cost of monthly utility bills more than last year. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates heating expenses will jump 10.5% this winter and reports for Northeast and Midwest

RECALL ROUNDUP: Carrots, breakfast foods and wall beds recalled

November 21, 2024 11:11 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Grimmway Farms carrot recall The Food and Drug Administration has recalled organic whole and baby carrots made by Grimmway Farms because of an E-Coli outbreak. The carrots were sold at retail stores nationwide and include three dozen brands like Bunny Lu, Good and Gather, Marketside and Nature’s Promise. According to the FDA,

RECALL ROUNDUP: GMC vehicles, Ready-to-Eat products and carbon monoxide alarms recalled

November 14, 2024 12:00 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) GMC vehicles General Motors has recalled 460,000 diesel vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall was issued because of a transmission problem. A transmission valve can wear down over time and cause the rear wheels to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash. The automaker recalled 24 truck

RECALL ROUNDUP: Brie cheese, Mazda SUVs and electric space heaters recalled

November 7, 2024 11:21 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Savencia Cheese The Food and Drug Administration has recalled seven types of Brie made by Savencia Cheese. Regulators say the cheese may be contaminated with listeria. The affected cheese includes: Aldi Emporium Selection Brie, 12 oz./8 oz. Brie Supreme Oval 7 oz., 6oz./7 oz. La Bonne Vie Brie, 6 oz./8 oz. La

RECALL ROUNDUP: Baby powder, Dodge Ram pickup trucks and Harbor Freight backpack sprayers recalled

October 31, 2024 11:38 AM Erika McGuire

A look at some of the major product recalls in the past week.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: How many streaming services do you pay for?

October 29, 2024 4:30 AM ABC 17 News Team

The way people watch TV has changed a lot. Now millions of us watch via the internet, using streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime to get our entertainment. And in some cases, we’re paying too much for too many of them. How many streaming services are you subscribed to? Let

Monitoring streaming services monthly could save subscribers money

October 28, 2024 2:11 PM Morgan Buresh

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Streaming services seem to be appearing everywhere, including most people’s bank statements. The average American spends $46 a month on streaming services, according to an August study published by Forbes. The study found each household subscribes to an average of 2.9 streaming services per month, with the top choices being Netflix, Amazon