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Recalls this week: laptop power cords, helmets

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Nearly 6 million laptop power cords that can overheat and start a fire are among this week’s recalled consumer products. Others include potentially faulty helmets and bunk beds.

Here’s a more detailed view:

LAPTOP POWER CORDS

DETAILS: Power cords that came with HP and Compaq laptops and mini laptops. They were sold between September 2010 and June 2012 for about $500 to $1500. The cords are black and have an “LS-15” mark at the end.

WHY: The power cord can overheat and may start a fire or cause a burn hazard.

INCIDENTS: Twenty-nine reports of power cords overheating and melting or charring. Two customers said they the cord caused minor burns, and 13 said it caused minor property damage.

HOW MANY: About 5.6 million.

FOR MORE: Call Hewlett-Packard, which also makes the Compaq laptops, at 877-219-6676. Customers can also visit www.hp.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page.

HELMETS

DETAILS: NRS Chaos Side Cut helmets used for water sports, such as rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddling and canoeing. They were sold, for about $60, at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Store, NRS, Outdoorplay, REI and other sport equipment stores around the country and online at nrs.com and aire.com from April 2014 through July 2014. The helmets are available in yellow, red, blue or white.

WHY: The rivets that hold the chin strap to the helmet can fail and cause the helmet to fall off, posing a head injury risk.

INCIDENTS: Four reports that the helmet’s rivets failed. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 3,300.

FOR MORE: Call NRS at 800-635-5202, email service@nrs.com or go online at www.nrs.com and click on “Voluntary Recall” for more information. Customers can also return the helmet to where they bought it for a refund or replacement.

OUTDOOR SHELTERS

DETAILS: A multi-purpose outdoor shelter distributed by Sunjoy Industries. They were sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores in the Northeast from January 2014 through June 2014 for about $300. The recalled tents have code number “L-GZ761PST” printed on a label sewn into the top of side panels of the canopy fabric. The fabric canopies are white and cover an area of about 20 feet by 24 feet. Sunjoy Industries and “Made in China” are printed under the barcode label on packaging.

WHY: The fabric on the canopy of the shelters doesn’t comply with a voluntary flammability standard and can pose a fire hazard.

INCIDENTS: No incidents and no injuries.

HOW MANY: About 2,000.

FOR MORE: Call Sunjoy at 866-576-6569 or go online at www.sunjoydirect.com and click on “Support” and then “Recall Notification” for more.

BUNK BEDS

DETAILS: American Woodcrafters Cottage Retreat II bunk beds with a side ladder. The white bunk beds come in two styles: with space for two twin mattresses or with a twin on top and full on the bottom. The recalled beds have an SKU number “6310-9771” printed on a label in the inside of one of the four rails. They were sold at Havertys stores and online at havertys.com from September 2011 through March 2014 for between $600 and $1,000.

WHY: The bunk bed’s side mattress support rails can break and may be a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of the bed support rails breaking and children falling from the bed. The children suffered bruising.

HOW MANY: About 1,900.

FOR MORE: Call Havertys at 888-428-3789 or go online at www.havertys.com and click on “Cottage Retreat” located under Customer Service.

CHILDREN’S SWIMWEAR JACKETS

DETAILS: Little Marc Jacobs hooded swimwear cover-up jackets for girls in sizes two through 12. They are navy and have red flowers, teal leaves, a teal bunny applique and two buttons on the front. They were sold at Swimwear Anywhere Outlet, children’s boutiques and other specialty retail stores around the country and online at www.swimwearanywhere.com from January to July of this year. They cost about $89. The style number “LM28616, Lot #1” is printed on the sewn-in label at back of the jackets.

WHY: The jackets have a drawstring around the neck area that can cause a strangulation risk to children.

INCIDENTS: No incidents or injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 210.

FOR MORE: Call Swimwear Anywhere at 800-647-6335 or go online at www.swimwearanywhere.com and click on the “Recall” tab located under the links section on the bottom left side of the page.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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