Warning on flammability of computer equipment caused by external ignition sources
The Consumer Council has cautioned that certain computer equipment such as inkjet printers and monitors pose potential fire hazards.
This followed combustion tests commissioned by the U.S.National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) which found that theplastic enclosure of some inkjet printers and monitors may be ignited by a smallexternal flame (e.g. a match) and will burn rapidly, reaching excessivetemperatures and emitting large volumes of toxic smoke.
The hazards are notwith fires originating within the applicances as the internal components ofcomputer equipment are constructed (which should be in compliance with theInternational IEC 60950) to prevent such fires from spreading beyond theirimmediate vicinity.
The main concern iswith fires caused by external ignition sources.
The combustiontests found that although the flammability of their plastic enclosure complieswith the requirements of the relevant standard (in relation to electricalsafety), some computer equipment can catch fire easily, once ignited by anexternal flame, and the fire will spread quickly.
At places such asoffices, school computer rooms, student dormitories, etc., where lots ofcomputers are placed close together, fire prevention is particularly important.So are cramped homes where computer equipment is often placed close to otherhousehold flammable items.
Consumers should bewary of candles, essential oil vaporizers, cigarettes, small cooking devices andoverloaded circuits which are all potential sources of ignition and should neverbe placed near computer equipment.
Parents should beon the alert when children are playing near computer equipment especially if thechild is drawn to playing with matches. And if possible, children's bedroomsshould be avoided in placing computer equipment.
Since November1999, according to the statistics of the Fire Services Department, there havebeen a total of 10 fires involving computer equipment.
In case of firecaused by computer equipment, cut off the electricity supply immediately. If andonly if it is safe to do so, try to tackle the fire using available firefighting equipment. Otherwise leave and close the door. Raise an alarm to informothers to leave and call the Fire Services Department.
Sequence of photosshowing the rapid spread of fires from an inkjetprinter and a monitor,ignited by a match flame, is available for inspection from http://www.firemarshals.org/issues/home/computer_fires.html .
Domain name registration scams
The Consumer Council has issued an alert to consumers eager to register a website.
In this December issue of CHOICE was highlighted a new Internet scam emerging in the United States. The scam is targeting would-be website owners by offering the opportunity to pre-register new generic top level domain names.
Domain names, suchas consumer.org.hk, are the unique terms that enable Internet users to locate aspecific website. The top level domain is the final extension, such as .com,.org and .net.
Scam artists aretaking advantage of the news that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Namesand Numbers (ICANN) may make new top level domains available to the public: .aero,.biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name,, .pro .
According to theFederal Trade Commission, consumers in the US are getting fax and emailsolicitations that offer a chance at a new top level domain name, for a fee, assoon as it becomes available. Some even guarantee new top level domain names orpromise preferential treatment in the registration process.
But these offersare premature because ICANN has yet to announce details of the registrationservice and it is misleading for anyone to guarantee pre-registration or acceptfees for domain names that may never come into existence.
Meanwhile, manyInternet service providers are offering to register domain names in Chinese.
Consumers, however,should be cautious as many of them are "testbed" commercial solutionsat a fee to the registrants.
As a global or universal technical standard on Chinese domain name, or any non-English domain name on a broader sense, has not been finalised, consumers should bear in mind the limitation of the services.
There's no easy way out once you're enrolled into a fitness centre
Look before you jump. Or you may regret it if you enroll into a fitness centre on the spur of animpulse.
This was clearly borne out in a Consumer Council survey based on 2,269 respondents who have visited fitness centres in the last 12 months.
Top on the list ofconsumer dissatisfaction (23.5% of respondents) were the terms and conditionsbinding them irrevocably to membership even though they wish to suspend ittemporarily or terminate it completely.
In the first 10months of this year, the Council received 76 consumer complaints related tofitness centres and among them, many arose precisely because of membershipdisputes.
According to thesurvey, by and large, fitness centres have adopted these policies on temporarysuspension or termination of membership:
- Almost without exception, there is no provision for refund in cases of termination.
- Normally, 1 month prior notice is required for termination.
- Further, in some cases, stringent procedures are imposed for termination to take effect. Customers are required to send in termination notice by registered mail, or to complete a special form in person. Otherwise they run the risk of owing their fitness centre large sum of money. Consumers using autopay to settle payments are reminded to cancel the direct debit authorization when terminating membership.
- Various practices are adopted in respect of dormant period or period of inactivity. For examples, one fitness centre allows extending the membership on medical grounds while one allows retaining the unused portion of prepaid membership for future use but requires payment of a dormant fee of $950.
- Other practices require payment of a reduced monthly fee of $100 for up to $600 which can be redeemed for fees after resumption; payment of all monthly dues during the dormant period or a new joining fee to resume membership.
- Some fitness centres simply have no existing policy and consumers are left with no alternative but to let the unfinished portion of membership expire.
Other aspects highon the list of consumer dissatisfaction includes: sales practices (23.4%); ratioof instructor to users (19.8%); fees and charges (17%); and personal attentionprovided by instructors (15.2%).
In the survey report, the fitness centres were ranked according to consumer satisfaction.Significant variance was found among these centres on various attributes. Of significant importance are: terms and conditions of membership, quality of and attention from instructors, environment, sales practices and quality of service.
Consumers and the beauty conscious in particular are urged to consult the findings in this December issue of CHOICE.
Validity of health claims on pillows indoubt
A Consumer Council test report has cast serious doubts on the validity of health claims promoted by pillow manufacturers.
Among the 28 pillow samples tested, 19 of them carried health claims of one sort or another.
Generally speaking,these claims relate to 4 main areas: (a) neck curve support, (b) magnetism andits health effects, (c) hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-dustmites(insects), and (d) symptom relief.
The test set out togather evidence from manufacturers to substantiate their own health claims. Notall manufacturers responded.
The results raiseddoubts on the credibility of the health claims as the evidence presented wasbased purportedly on studies carried out only internally by the manufacturers,and none was published in any scientific journals.
As there is greatindividual difference in body stature, no particular pillow can generally claimto provide the suitable support to all users. For instance, to validate the neckcurve support claims, appropriate matching of the pillow and the body stature ofthe individual is required.
In the test, 4samples were found to have static magnetic field with strengths ranging from 2.5to 184 gauss. Nonetheless due to a lack of scientific evidence in supporting itstherapeutic effects, static magnetic field is seldom used as a treatmentprocedure in clinical setting.
In addition, theConsumer Council has referred some of the claims relating to hypertensionprevention and the like which may have contravened the Undesirable MedicalAdvertisements Ordinance, to the Department of Health for investigation.
Of the 3 groups ofpillows tested, the foam samples were shown to provide a choice of stifferpillow with the least percentage of deformation in the sustained loading test -39% after 60 minutes. The deformation of the other 2 groups, the fiber and thedown/feather samples, were 63% and 70% respectively.
In choosingpillows, consumers are advised to heed some basic principles :
- The pillow should assist in maintaining normal alignment of neck and avoid straining the neck away from the normal alignment; they should provide comfort.
- The thickness, stiffness and curvature of pillow and the body stature should be considered in choosing pillow.
- The appropriate length and width of the pillow should give support and comfort to the head and neck while turning.
- Consumers should be aware that pillows become thinner with sustained loading and the amount of decrease in thickness depends on the materials of the pillows. For thickness of pillow, consumers should consider the thickness with loading.
- Trying on the pillow is essential for assessing the fitness of the pillow.
Watch out for surcharges in wedding photopackages
What's in a wedding photo package? What does it cover and how much it charge?
There is no simple answer but help is at hand from the Consumer Council. A recent Council survey has compared as many as 61 such packages from 23 wedding photo salons.
According to the survey, a package can cost anything from $980 to $9,980 in some salons, a difference of more than ten folds. Incidentally, one salon charges an additionalfew hundred dollars more for services during weekends and public holidays.
But what does theprice cover? A whole lot of surcharges could be levied if the package you choosedoes not include them. Examples are plentiful:
- A pair of false eyelash for the bride could cost from $30 to $120 and make-up for the groom $60 to $100. And for renting wedding suits the cost rises to $380 to $1,080.
- The addition of UV or similar protection layer to prolong the preservation of photos does not necessarily come free. It might cost as little as just tens of dollars per photo or more depending on the photo size.
- In addition, the need for special techniques and technologies involved in producing different types of photos or albums could cost differently directly affecting the package charges.
- The majority (20 out of 23) of salons would return a limited number of photo negatives but 2 would only give back the negatives of customers agree to choose other specific photo service not covered in the package.
- The effective period of photo shooting for most is 12 months; others are 1, 3 and 6 months. But consumers should be aware that some (2 salons) would confiscate payment or charge a penalty payment of $300 (1 salon) if the photos were not taken within the effective period.
Between January1999 and October 2000, the Consumer Council received 267 complaints relating towedding photo services. Most concerned late delivery or undelivery of weddingphotos; others involved service quality, sales practices and price disputes.
Consumers areadvised to consult friends and relatives for a reputable wedding photo salon andtake note of the following:
- Price should not be the sole factor; services in the packages such as types/numbers of photos, numbers of wedding gowns/suits, sizes of canvas photos and with/without frame, are also important.
- Ask for details, such as charges of making extra photos, adding UV protection layers, photo frames, photo mountings and change of photo sizes, before paying deposit. Record every detail and the agreements on the invoices.
- Set a maximum expenditure. Be determined and do not easily be influenced by the sales tactics.
On the other hand,the Consumer Council urges the industry to be more open by providing a detail price list to consumers, including both regular and additional service charges.As most consumers are not familiar with the production of photos, companies should take an active role, to explain the contents as well as types of photos included in the packages.