on the consumer watch julie watts found charging for an ambulance you never called or needed can be perfectly legal. >> i just heard sirens. >> reporter: she remembers it clearly the day a red light runner hit her car. >> the police came. ambulance came. >> reporter: two other drivers suffered minor injuries but she was fine and so was her son. yet a few days later -- >> i get a bill in the mail. >> reporter: two bills actually for her and her son. $1500 each from the ambulance company king american. >> it was $3000 for the both of us. my first reaction was that there must be some sort of a mistake because on that day i wasn't hurt. i wasn't transported. i did not call the ambulance company. >> reporter: but the company insisted -- >> it wasn't a billing error. >> reporter: after weeks of complaints king american said as a courtesy it would drop her son's charges but she still owed $1500. >> they were not going to back out. >> reporter: they tried to convince her to simply bill her insurance company and when she refused out of principle they sent her to collections. >> please don't try the hi

julie watts shows us they could be serving up trouble. >> reporter: they arer is ramming painted dishes sold on the streets of chinatown at a bargain. but this kind of dishes could be serving up poison, this ceramic table wear. >> often times it has lead. >> reporter: she warns whether it's chinese ornamental or mexican pottery there could be lead in ceramic paint or glaze. >> people shouldn't be using them to eat. >> reporter: but people do so we decided to find out how much lead is really in these dishes. first up, chinatown where we bought all sorts of decorative tableware and then on domestic and grocery stores where we picked up is your rammics including a large pot that says lead-free. we found lead in just one ornamental bowl. but then we took all 10 pieces to the forensic analytical lab where a scientist performed more invasive tests. >> we are trying to extract whatever lead is in the ceramic. >> reporter: his result, eight out of ten came back positive for lead including the pot that said lead-free. and two of the dishes had extremely high levels of lead. this red spoon at 240

julie watts will show us why there is only one reported victim so far, they think this is the tip of the iceberg. >> they are calling it a one stop shop for identity theft. >> usually in the past you see operations that make credit cards or california id cards. >> oakland pd said what they uncovered is an identity theft lapse in addition to what they are calling a sophisticated data base of several thousand potential victims opd confiscated machines, credit card, california ids and social security cards. >> social security cards for example, that will sell again and gain and again. >>> neil oh farrell says the ability to duplicate this type of information is a gold mine for thieves. >> that is something even organized crime would buy they can maximize that. >> so far it is not clear if this is a case of organized crime a sole suspect has been arrested. charged with 20 different counts ranging from forgery to grand theft. they say she ran the operation out of her 1 bedroom apartment in this hayward neighbourhood they are looking for other suspects. they are also looking for connection

on the consumerwatch, julie watts explains why these products could actually make things worse for you. >>> reporter: >> we have it in and out let that is controlled by a switch. >> reporter: jean chin is the first to admit he is not crazy about the deodorizer his wife puts in their living room. >> it's perfumy. >> reporter: this doctor wouldn't like it either. >> there is no need for them. >> reporter: the visiting stanford professor believes scented air fresh eng and deodorizing products do more harm than good. >> they didn't clean or disinfect the air but only add hazardous chemicals to air problems. >> reporter: she recently tested eight kinds of scented air freshners including sprays, oils, gels and this. she says every one contained at least two and one 8 hazardous products. >> they can damage brain, lungs, central nervous system and cause cancer. some of these chemicals have no safe exposure levels. >> scented household products are indeed safe. >> reporter: the fragrance industry is fighting back with its own test of scented air freshners. >> individuals with asthma didn't show

julie watts, cbs 5. >> how many bonds are still tucked away? there are 25 million uncashed bonds worth $9 billion. >>> it's usually the highest price you're ever going to pay for gas but even this is unusual. the hertz rental car company charged $9.29 a gallon at 13 locations near major airports including sfo. that's the finding in a "usa today" survey. of course, this is what customers paid when they didn't return the rental car with the tank full. but sometimes we run out of time and can't make the stop at the nearest gas station. >>> multitaskings, we all do it. why it may not be good for your waistline. is it the salt. but now it turns hey marcel, watch this! hey marcel, watch this! [ buzzer sounds ] [ cheers and applause ] ♪ hey marcel, watch this! yeah, marcel! -marcel! -hey marcel! are you listening to me? marcel! [ male announcer ] only at&t u-verse lets you follow your favorite channels on one screen. just $29 a month for the first six months -- dvr included. in the network there are no hard choices. a new study from emory university

julie watts, cbs 5. >>> another gorgeous bright sunny day. roberta, how long is this weather going to last? >> until at least friday and then temperatures will drop like a brick, not a rock, a brick! because they are going to drop rapidly and very hard. but right now, this is the scene in san jose where we have wall-to-wall sunshine, visibility is unlimited. in fact, let's go ahead and take a look at some of the current numbers in and around the bay area in san jose in the berryessa area. it's in the low 70s when the average high this time of the year 74 degrees. sausalito, 68 degrees for this tuesday evening. san bruno around the peninsula, we do have a wind now out of the northwest kicking up to about 12 miles per hour in livermore at 77 degrees. from you out and about we have sunny skies. we are the recipient of an offshore flow so it's a little bit breezy. but those winds will begin to die down. tonight overnight a very mild night overnight into the 50s. mid-50s around the central bay. i want you to take a good look at this right here. th

on the consumerwatch, julie watts with the state's plan to track your purchases and collect a sales tax. julie. >> reporter: that's right. some people are calling them internet police. third party vendors paid by the state to monitor your internet spending. it may sound like big brother but the state needs money and the proposed move could raise $1 billion. >> if you wear it, we'll it. >> reporter: monique bell started her online clothing company three years ago but today she is concerned about a new california plan to monitor internet shoppers who use sites like hers to buy things from out of state vendors. >> i think it's like big brother. it's definitely very chilling. i think our customers are just going to stop buying from us. >> reporter: under state law if you buy something online from an out-of-state company and don't have to pay the sales tax, you're supposed to pay the state of california a use tax but many never do. so the board of equalization is considering a plan to hire private vendors to track your online purchases. >> one of the ideas is well we think there might be som

julie watts, cbs5. >>> being too heavy can increase your risk of a deadly blood clot. now some new findings are showing being too tall can also boost that risk. dr. kim mulvihill here to explain the connection. >> obesity is a well known risk factor for clots in your leg or in your lung. well, now researchers in norway say your height matters too. and that being obese and tall can really spell trouble. >> at 6'8", 280 pounds john kearns has a striking presence. six years ago he developed a life threatening blood clot. >> i had about eight knee surgeries and they said that might be the reason. and they said that you're heavy. you are 280. that might be the reason. >> reporter: a new study finds that tall, obese men have an increased risk of blood clots and the clot can break free and can travel to the lungs which can be deadly compared to men average high and weight. obese men have a five times higher risk of blood clots. 6 feet or taller. >> takes a long time to travel from the feet to the heart so the blood is sitting without circulating. >> reporter: the study also f

on the consumer watch julie watts explains how a utility can cut the juice without notice. >> it is unbelievable to me they can just come and turn your power off and leave. >> reporter: but that's exactly what pg&e did after a technician found illegal jumper cables when you he came to install a smart meter at their home. >> i noticed this was under my door mat. i found a jumper bypassing meter. pg&e will be in contact with you. >> reporter: unstead of removing the jumper cables that they say they knew nothing about pg&e removed their whole meter. when they called to try to clear up the confusion they were told nothing could be done until monday. >> they all went home and enjoyed their weekend while we sat in the dark and i don't believe they have a right to do that. >> it may be legal but it certainly isn't right. >> reporter: the utility reform network says pg&e does have the right to cut your power if they believe there is a safety issue. >> but in this case why should the customer be penalized for something that they were not at fault for. >> reporter: pg&e tells consumer watch the illegally

julie watts on the consumerwatch with what may be the best solution so far to the problem. . >> most of the e-mail messages are spam. julie watts on the consumer watch with what may be the best solution so far to the problem. >> reporter: whether it is a pitch for viagra, an offer from an african prince or a chance to by a fake rolex nick weaver actually likes to get spam. >> it tells me what tricks they are using of. >> reporter: for the past two years the uc berkeley professor and his team is on a mission to stop messages. messages they say are all about making money. >> people that are spending the spam are financially motivated and financially motivated to do other bad things. >> reporter: they spent two years analyzing 1,000 spam messages and making 120 online purchases. that led them to a surprising discovery. even though thousands of people all over the world are sending spam, 95% of their spam transactions were processed by just three overseas banks. one in azerby ajan and the west indies. >> these tend to be high risk transactions and fewer banks want to deal with these high

on the consumer watch, julie watts, cbs 5. >> oh, come on, look at the bright side. clouds were there but it didn't rain. >> but it's going to. >> oh, great. >> today's high temperature is 60 degrees in san francisco a good 6 degrees below average. warm spot was 71 in gillroy but still 6 degrees below normal. in fact, we had 66 in san jose. and in livermore it was 11 degrees below average. if you are out and about we are in the 50s, 60s, winds out of the west up to 20 miles per hour. the clouds are on the increase. i will put it all out there for you. showers begin tonight. thunderstorms are a possibility with the second round of rain on wednesday. and the cold air mass will produce a chance of a few snowflakes down to 4,000 feet. that does include the mount hamilton area. okay. here we go. the next area of low pressure is still upstream. watch it as it drops from the north to the south. that is a frontal boundary. that is what is going to be bringing us some rain showers beginning with tonight after midnight. and on again, off again rain showers throughout the morni

julie watt shows us what you should look out for. >> they are the kind of patient reviews that make doctors sick. kept me waiting, worst experience of my life. well now some doctors are fighting back with a form. it's called a mutual agreement to maintain privacy. the deal, the doctors won't share your information with marketing companies, but you agray to give the doctor the copy write to what you write about them. critics like jason shultz called them gag orders. >> shultz says patients often feel pressured to sign. >> they are usually handed out in a stack of forms that you get when you walk into the doctor's office. you are in a very vulnerable position. >> positions do have the right to protect their career. >> shane is with medical justice, a company that sells the contracts to physicians. he says they are needed to help combat false online reviews. > doctors cannot respond to. >> shultz contends doctors can respond in a variety of ways and without compromising patient's privacy. >> most people don't know the details of a particular interaction. >> responding to the issue with a wall

as julie watts shows us, while there is only one reported victim this could be just the tip of the iceberg. >>> reporter: they are calling it a one-stop shop for identity theft. >> usually in the past, you see operations that can make credit cards or california id cards. >> reporter: but the oakland police department uncovered with the help of a secret service task force an identity theft lab. in addition to what they are calling a sophisticated database of thousands of potential victims throughout the bay area and beyond, they confiscated machines built to print fake checks, credit cards, california ids and maybe most worrisome social security cards. >> social security cards, for example, that will sell again and again and again. >> reporter: neil o'farrell of the identity theft council says the ability to duplicate this type of information is a gold mine for thieves. >> i mean, that's something that even organized crime would buy because they can naturalize that. >> reporter: but so far it's not clear if this is a case of organized crime. police have arrested one suspect 40-year-old mich

julie watts, cbs 5. >>> leave it out in the sun long enough and it will dry up and blow away. >> just eat with your hands. >>> we are going to have an abundance of sunshine. high today topped off at 61 degrees. 65 san francisco to 81 degrees in gilroy. we are seeing high pressure. clear skies this evening. people were out and about, dining outdoors. we're still on the mild side. tomorrow we will have a wind shift out of the northeast, which tells us we are the recipient of an offshore flow. high pressure continues to build. we are talking 90s in southern california from los angeles to san diego and for us, we are talking about temperatures 12 to 14 degrees warmer than what we experienced today. example, san jose was 75. tomorrow 89 degrees. 84 in oakland. san francisco at 79 degrees. that is up from today in the mid 60s. so unseasonally warm. we will be near or will see some record temperatures. palm report, doesn't look quite as bad. still on the medium to high side. speaking of highs, north bay numbers up to 88 degrees in santa rosa. east of the bay, a dry nor east wind to 91 degree

on the consumerwatch, julie watts shows us how a problem was uncovered. >> i can't be judge and jury but all i can do is alert the ftc. >> reporter: that's what barbara boxer is doing following this hidden camera investigation into wal-mart's gift receipts. >> you should get exactly to the penny what you paid. >> reporter: that's not always what happens with a wal-mart gift vote. our sister stations went undercover at wal-mart in northern california and new jersey, buying items and then returning them with gift receipts after they went on sale. >> i thought it was more than that but that's not -- >> it probably was but when you don't have a receipt with the actual price, i have to give you whatever comes up. >> reporter: after spending more than $100, wal-mart gift receipts returned less than 63. the total loss, $44 .53. >> i think it's really reprehensible. >> reporter: sally greenburg is executive director of the national consumers league. >> consumers are cynical enough about company policy. this just adds to their sense of mistrust. >> reporter: wal-mart says their employees seen

. >> on the consumerwatch, julie watts tells us why millions of amateur and pro athletes are buying this fitness fad. julie. >> reporter: believers think these power bracelets improving everything from strength to coordination and even balance but are these bands more about the hype than the help? >> i don't do a lot of testimonials but this works. >> reporter: they go by various names. >> a revolution any bracelet that use natural frequency to promote strength and wellness. >> reporter: performance bracelets make up part of the $20 billion wellness industry and are found on professional athletes, presidents, royalty. skeptics say they are hype. >> there is no way putting plastic next to your body could have any effect on any energy. >> reporter: power balance one of the market leaders is made in china of plastic and comes with a hologram that the company says is programmed to mimic eastern philosophy. >> helps with endurance, balance flexibility and strength. >> we have a group of 10 people with varying degrees of physical fitness to put the power band to the test. looking at balance, s

. >>> deodorizers promise to keep your house smelling fresh and clean but julie watts says some products that smell good may really be trouble. >> reporter: wander the household product aisle and take a whiff. plenty of citrus and a mountain of fresh scents in the cleans supplies. >> actually, i don't like fragrance. i got allergies. >> and dr. ann steinman doesn't like added fragrance either. the visiting scientist at stanford recently completed a study on scented products. >> i had phone calls and e-mails from hundreds of people telling me they were getting sick from common fragrance household products. >> the complaints range from headaches to breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness. so the lab analyzed 25 popular scented products. she won't reveal which ones. but says they are commonly used air fresheners, personal care, laundry and cleaning supplies. and what she found surprised her. >> all of them emitted chemicals and classified as toxic or hazardous under federal laws and they can damage the brain and the lungs and the central nervous system and cause cancer. >> not just

julie watts on how consumerwatch came to the rescue. >>> reporter: eli mcintyre knows having a little car can be a big advantage. >> great to park in the city. >> reporter: but not everything about mcintyre's mini is so great. last month, the clutch starter failed. he took the 2-year-old car to the dealer for what he was sure would be a covered repair. >> they immediately put the blame on me, they called me an abusive driver. >> reporter: not only that, bmw mini of san francisco wanted mcintyre to foot the bill. >> they said it was going to be $3,000 to fix. >> reporter: pretty steep considering the car only had 13,000 miles on it. >> that's way too early. >> reporter: the independent repair shop emerald auto repair has replaced clutches on nearly a dozen minis. he says even in a hilly place like san francisco, the part should last several years. >> even if you're a bad driver you should get 60 to 70,000 miles. it looks like a high performance clutch not made for the city hills. >> reporter: but apparently it's just fine for racing all over europe like mark wahlberg and charleze thero

julie watts, cbs 5. >>> ladies, you're looking for a secret to shedding a few pounds before summer? you can start by losing your leggings. the form fitting pant help support the lower body. but physiotherapist say they allow those muscles to relax and shut off. the frequently wearing leggings can cause the body to lose firmness, plus the enhanced shape the pants give can decrease motivation for women to work out. >> i don't know. >> i know what leggings are. >> but do you know what spanx are? >> highs today across the bay area, 81 degrees in gilroy. we are looking in the direction, oh the bay, san francisco. we peel around, we could see oakland to the east where today's high was 72. tomorrow we are forecasting 84 degrees. that's a 12-degree jump in that temperature. tomorrow 14 degrees warmer. santa rosa will top off at 83 degrees. up from today, 65 degrees, but let's back up a little bit. have you noticed it's very mild outside into the 50s and we do have winds already rotating to the northeast. that is indicative of an offshore flow. it's high pressure diverting storm track to the

on the consumerwatch, julie watts with the way to face the future so to speak. julie. >> reporter: you know the saying seeing is believing? we need a visual image to get an idea what something is really like and in some cases that image can change the way you think. >>> reporter: like most college students christopher rogers doesn't think about retirement. >> i don't know where i'm going to be in two years, you know? >> reporter: but he recently got a preview. fast forward 45 years, this is what stanford researchers say rogers will look like as a senior citizen. >> it looks pretty plausible to me especially the sunken cheeks. >> this is one of the best virtual reality labs in the world. >> reporter: he says virtual aging is a useful tool to get young people to think and plan ahead. >> it's a very powerful visceral emotional experience of having to be a different version of you. >> it's a walk into the future. >> reporter: this psychology professor believes seeing our future selves will encourage to us think about retirement. >> we believe that people will begin

on the consumerwatch, julie watts explains the fix has to be in or the pools will be shut down this holiday weekend. julie. >> reporter: it could put a damper on holiday plans, liz, but safety first according to the consumer product safety commission. it recalled over 1 million spa and pool drain covers because they could trap and drown swimmers. some experts worry the recall is not enough. hundreds of children drown every year. one of the culprits? the drain cover at the bottom of the pool. >> the parents should help us, screaming, yelling, trying to pull the child off and can't. >> reporter: that's because once your body creates a seal over the drain cover -- >> interests a force before 500 pounds. >> reporter: due to accidents like this, flat covers were recalled for public pools in 2008 but now just days before the memorial day start of pool season, the cpsc is recalling one million new drain covers because they pose the same threat. >> we have a bunch of people at the kiddie pool. >> reporter: the last-minute recall has people like this person at the elk's lodge pool making last-minute

julie watts on the consumerwatch with what you should know before you try to cash in your stash. >>> reporter: whether it's candlesticks or a silver chain, a lot of people are suddenly wondering if that silver sitting around the house is worth something. >> a lot more people are coming in. >> reporter: a dealer says just because something looks silver doesn't mean it is. >> something like this is never silver. >> reporter: a good place to start is to look for a hallmark or stamp on the item. >> almost every, single piece of julie that's made of silver will say the word sterling or it will have the symbols 925 on it ring the purity of the silver. >> reporter: and silver coins minted in the u.s. prior to 1964 are always in demand. so what can we get for our silver stash? well, it turns out this 1883 silver dollar is the most valuable piece bringing in $3 2. and this handful of jewelry contains about 1 ounce of silver, his offer, $28. but he says these tarnished silver serving piece aren't worth anything. >> they are jus silver layered. >> reporter: we took the same pieces to west coast

on our consumer watch julie watts explains. >> reporter: they are the kind of patient review that make doctors sick. egotistical, kept me waiting, worst experience of my life. well, now, some doctors are fighting back with a form. it's called the mutual agreement to maintain privacy. >> i've signed them. people have to feel that things are private. >> the deal? >> reporter: the doctors won't share your information with marketing companies but you agree to give the doctors the copy wright to what you write about them. critics like jason schultz called them galling orders. >> what this supposedly does is any time you write a review online if you're a patient the doctor owns it, that gives them the right to then take it down because they own it. >> and schultz says patients often feel pressured to sign. >> they are usually in the stack of forms you get when you walk into a doctor's office. you're in a vulnerable and costly position. >> physicians do have the right to protect their career. >> reporter: shane is with medical justice, they sell the contracts to physicians, they are needed to

on the consumerwatch, julie watts with kids paying to earn the experience needed. >> reporter: without any work experience, this 13-year-old knows getting her first job won't be easy. >> i want to grow more leadership skills and more patience. >> reporter: so the soon-to-be freshman signed up to be a camp counselor with the city of concord. >> i really like working with kids so i thought it was a good opportunity. >> reporter: but unlike most summer jobs, where kids make money, key hani is paying for the privilege to work $360. >> as a teenager when you're looking for a job when you want to have something to put down on your application, this is experience that will look great on a resume'. >> reporter: recreational managers say the fee is used to operate the six-week program where counselors in train like key annie work side by side by more paid camp counselors like this high school senior who completed the program three years ago. >> it was extremely worth it. it's such a great opportunity to be able to come out and learn and be in the field and get the critique and hope you learn ho

. >> and it's got some folks wondering so on the consumerwatch, julie watts with what you need to know before you cash in your stash. >>> reporter: whether it's candlesticks or a silver chain, a lot of people are suddenly wondering if that silver sitting around the house is worth something. >> a lot more people are coming in. >> reporter: a dealer says just because something looks silver doesn't mean it is. >> something like this is never silver. >> reporter: a good place to start is to look for a hallmark or stamp on the item. >> almost every, single piece of julie that's made of silver will say the words sterling or it will have the symbols .925 on it, representing the purity of the silver. >> reporter: and silver coins minted in the u.s. prior to 1964 are always in demand. so what can we get for our silver stash? well, it turns out this 1883 silver dollar is the most valuable piece, bringing in $32. and this handful of jewelry contains about 1 ounce of silver, his offer, $28. but he says these tarnished silver serving pieces aren't worth anything. >> they are jus silver layered. the

on the consumerwatch, julie watts with a surprising finding on hundreds of the products. >>> reporter: look at this can of sunscreen tell me what you think? >> it says high uva. >> protective. >> reporter: but according to a new study from the environmental working group it may not be as protective as a labeling leads you to believe. >> unfortunately when we took a look at the sunscreens available in the u.s., we found that 3 out of 5 do not contain enough uva protection. >> reporter: she is a senior sign test at the environmental working group which analyzed more than 1700 sunscreen products. she says while the high spf you see on the can does block burning uvb rays, it doesn't protect from the more dangerous cancer-causing uvas. >> that's one of the reasons that we often recommend zinc or titanium as an active ingredient. >> reporter: most sunscreens don't contain them. most contain retinal palmy today. >> it's a photo carcinogen. if you apply it to your skin and then go out and expose that skin to the sun, an ma'am studies show increased risk of -- animal studies show increased ris

julie watts on how consumerwatch came to the rescue. >>> reporter: eli mcintyre knows having a little car can be a big advantage. but not everything about mcintyre's mini is so great. last month, the clutch started to fail. when he took the two-year-old car to the dealer for what he was sure would be a covered repair -- >> they immediately put the blame on me. they called me an abusive driver. >> reporter: not only that, bmw mini of san francisco wanted him to foot the bill. >> they said it was going to be $3,000 to fix. >> reporter: pretty steep considering the car only had 13,000 miles on it. >> that's way too early. >> reporter: jim of the independent repair shop emerald auto repair has replaced clutches on nearly a dozen minis. he says even in a hilly place like san francisco the part should last several years. >> even if you're a bad driver, you should get 60 to 70,000 miles. this is a high performance clutch but not made for the city's hills. >> reporter: but apparently it's just fine for racing all over europe like mark wahlberg and the italian job. back here in the u.s., mcint

on the consumerwatch, julie watts explains how to set the record straight. >>> reporter: rodney is positive he has never had an appendectomy. >> i still have my appendix. >> reporter: so the software developer was surprised when his mortgage broker ran a credit check and found a collection agency was claiming he owed $2,800 to a doctor in texas for an operation never had. >> i was like what's going on? >> reporter: when he called the collection agency to ask them to remove the notice -- >> they were unwilling to do it. >> reporter: a problem because he was trying to buy a house. and the erroneous notice caused his credit score to plummet from a near perfect 813 to a not bad 708. so he contacted the federal trade commission and found out even though it isn't clear how he got into the crosshairs of a debt collector, cases like this are considered identity theft. >> the reason we treat it as id theft is because until we know for sure it's not, that's the best way and the safest way for us to handle it. >> reporter: jay foley of the id theft resource center says victims should immediately file

. >> on the consumerwatch, julie watts shows us how an investigation uncovered the problem. >> reporter: a gift receipt should entitle you to a full refound but some wal-mart shoppers are only getting a fraction of the purchase price and that has senator barbara boxer calling for a federal investigation. [ pause ] >> look, i can't be judge and jury. but all i can do is alert the ftc. >> reporter: and that's exactly what barbara boxer is doing today, following this hidden camera investigation into wal- mart's gift receipts. >> you should get exactly to the penny what they paid. that is their gift to you. >> reporter: but cbs found that's not always what happens. our sister station went undercover in wal-mart stores in northern california and new jersey buying items and returning them with gift receipts after they went on sale. >> i thought it was more than that. >> but don't have a receipt with the actual price. i have to give you whatever comes up. >> reporter: after spending more than $100, wal-mart gift receipts returned less than 63. the total loss, 44.53. >> i think it's really repr

on the consumerwatch, julie watts explains a new way for motorists to avoid getting a ticket. >>> reporter: from red light cameras to speed traps, there are more high-tech ways than ever to get a ticket. but now there are plenty of high-tech ways to avoid them, as well. >> alert! red light camera ahead... >> reporter: apps like trapster and phantom alert promise to warn you of these things including check points. dominic relies on it. >> i think it reminds you to slow down. >> reporter: the apps use information from government agencies and drivers who can pass along warnings in realtime and phantom alert's ceo joe scott says apps like his keep the roads safe. >> in today's driving conditions where people are texting while driving or phoning and are distracted, here's an app that tells people to pay attention. >> red light camera ahead. >> reporter: a test of the app proved it was accurate time after time, but many argue accurate or not it's a bad idea. >> if it's being used for a drunk driver to avoid a sobriety checkpoint, then that's a problem. >> reporter: in some states, lawmakers aske

julie watts reports a lot of knives, forks and spoons are coming out of composting facilities pretty much the way they came in. >> reporter: diners of this outdoor cafe like more than a food, they also like the cutlery. >> it's great. >> it's a nicer texture. doesn't taste as plasticy. >> reporter: it's compostable. >> this is after a 60 to 90 day composting process. >> reporter: jack macy says these pieces of ware were finished out of compost. >> basically intact. >> they're not the only green utensils not living up to consumer expectations. >> it's very frustrating, consumers are being duped, they're nationally confused. there's so much mislabelling. >> those words are really meaningless. >> that's because environmentalists say everything is biodegradable. some call that kind of labelling green washing. >> you're making a product look green when it really isn't green. the consumer believes that there's environmental benefit associated with that product. that's why they label it that way. >> scott smith line says even many utensils certified as compostable aren't breaking down under

on the consumerwatch, julie watts shows that the dishes could be toxic. >>> reporter: they are ceramic painted dishes sold in chinatown at a bargain. but this could be serving up a does of poison. >> often times it has lead in it. >> reporter: and joanne with contra costa health services warns whether it's chinese ornamental or mexican pottery there could be lead in the ceramic paint or glaze. >> people should not eat on them. >> reporter: but people do. we decided to find out how much lead is in these dishes. first stop chinatown where we bought all sorts of decorative table wear and then mexican grocery stores where we picked up these ceramics including a large pot that says lead-free. our testing began with a do-it- yourself lead kit something you can find at your local hardware store. the results? we found lead in just one ornamental bowl. but then we took all 10 pieces to the forensic analytical lab where a scientist performed more invasive tests. >> we are trying to extract whatever lead is in the ceramic or sample. >> reporter: his result? eight out of ten came back positive for

some are known to cause cancer and as julie watts shows us some salons are making changes. >> reporter: the were scillian blowout is probably the most in demand hair treatment at beauty salons everywhere and last month the federal government issued a hazard alert to salons nationwide. links between the chemicals used and health problems may put a kink in how stylists give their clients that beautiful shiny straight hair. >> reporter: in spite of the bad press and even a congressional briefing on the dangers of the product, a san francisco stylist says clients still want the silky straight hair that only one can provide. >> some use it every day but we didn't use the brand brazilian blowout. >> reporter: that's the product members of congress are asking the fda to voluntarily recall after osha tests found high levels of the carcinogen formaldehyde. the stylists who use the product complained about symptoms like watery eyes, sore throats and breathing problems. >> they are also increasing your cancer risk. >> reporter: but according to owe who is the brazilian blowout brand name isn't th

on the consumerwatch julie watts tells us you could be pumping cheaper alternative fuel. . >> reporter: he loves his alcohol but not for drinking for driving. >> we used alcohol with a little conversion kit and ever since we have done that we have not had to run gasoline it is just running on alcohol. >> reporter: the forefront of the alcohol fuel movement teaching people how to convert their cars to run entirely on alcohol. like he did to this transam from the movie kill bill. >> we are running out of oil. that's a fact. and what we go to next is really important. one of the great things about alcohol fuel is you can't get a cleaner fuel. >> reporter: and while 100% alcohol is cleanest the e.85 blend you find at pumps like these is the next best thing. not only better for the environment than traditionals gas by biofuel is better for your bottom line. >> right now alcohol is 80 cents cheaper than gasoline at the pump. >> and that has drivers all over lining up to pump up. >> i love this gas. >> only 3.49 compared to 4.25. >> every day we are driving 100 miles so we are going to save a

on the consumerwatch julie watts shows you what you should look out for. >> reporter: they are the kind of patient reviews that make doctors sick, kept me waiting, worst experience of my life. now some doctors are fighting back with a form called a mutual agreement to maintain privacy. >> i have signed them. >> people have to feel that things are private. >> reporter: the deal. the doctors won't share your information with marketing companies but you agree to give the doctors the copyright to what you write about them. they call them gag orders. >> if you write a review online if you're a patient the doctor owns it and that gives them a right to take down because they own it. >> reporter: and schultz says patients often feel pressured to sign. >> they are usually in a stack of forms that you get when you walk into a doctor's office. you are in a very vulnerable and costly position. >> physicians do have the right to protect their career. >> reporter: shane sadler is with medical justice, a company that sells the contracts to physicians. >> what we are talking about is material that doct

on the consumerwatch julie watts reports this time hackers are threatening to go public with the data. >> i think that it has been a really big hit for their public relations and for sony's image in general. >> reporter: c ch ris myer is [ no audio ] >>> this weekend's pending attack would be the third in just over a month. the first came from a group called anonymous. in retaliation for the way sony prosecuted a san francisco hacker for hacking his playstation console and posting the work around online. both deny any connection to last week's playstation breech or this weekend's pending attack on sony's official website. >> they said they still have access to some of sony's servers. >> reporter: s so ny shut down some of their servers as well as their play station network after the attack last month and cnet expects they will shut down their remaining servers in preparation for this weekend. but just in case -- >> if you know you have a credit card registered with them on one of their websites you can go in and change it. you can change your pass word. >> reporter: and to be extra sa

on the consumer watch, julie watts, cbs 5. >> that is scary. >> that is a real serious issue. >> not really pool weather around here. >> more like hot tub weather. cool, slightly warmer today, well below normal for this time of year. degreeses cooler than you normally expect skies clearing out as we saw some light drizzle shower activity yesterday, move across northern california, it is gone. sunshine prevails as we look back from the mount vacca cam into the bay a bit of haze otherwise blue skies out there. that trend will continue through the day as strong winds develop through the afternoon mostly sunny slightly warmer conditions, across the interior, back at the beach as well. mid-to low 70s. warmer locations, mid- to upper 60s approaching the low 60s at the coach, a few more clouds hanging in. here is the weather maker that crossed yesterday. most energy stayed north, we did manage to hang on to a puzzle here you will see it there, 4 to 6 last night we saw a couple hairs of drizzle activity -- hours of drizzle activity. left a quarter inch of rain. continuing today and tomorrow

julie watts has the story. >> i just heard sirens. >> reporter: she remembered it clearly the day a red light runner hit her car. >> the police came. ambulance came. >> reporter: two other drivers suffered minor injuries but she was fine and so was her son yet a few days later. >> i got a bill in the mail. >> reporter: two bills actually for her and her son. $1500 each from the ambulance company king american. >> it was $3000 for the both of us. my first reaction was that there must be some sort of a mistake because on that day i wasn't hurt. i wasn't transported. i did not call the ambulance company. >> reporter: but the company insisted. >> it wasn't a billing error. >> reporter: after weeks of complaints king american said as a courtesy it would drop her son's charges but she still owed $1500. >> they were not going to back out. >> reporter: they tried to convince her to simply bill her insurance company. and when she refused out of principle they sent her to collections. >> please don't try play the hiding game. it won't work. >> did everybody understand. >> reporter: that's when th

julie watts explains the electric cars are not coming as quickly as buyers and car makers were hoping. >> reporter: mark's new car is easy to spot but hard to get. >> i certainly get a lot of thumb's up. >> reporter: he got his coveted all electric elite six weeks ago and he hasn't been to a gas station since. >> i get to pay about 50 cents a gallon equivalent instead of $4. >> reporter: something daniel is still waiting for. the engineer signed up to buy the same car 13 months ago. >> you have to do a bit of work here to get behind the wheel. >> reporter: hybridcars.com says the first generation of mass produced electric cars are just starting to trickle off the assembly line. >> that car is a complex machine and they have to get it right. they have to get safety right. >> reporter: he says last month's earthquake in japan also setback production. >> the communication has not been perfect. meaning that you want to know exactly when the car is going to come and i don't think they know. >> reporter: nissan and general motors, the two biggest players in the electric car market, are expe

on the consumer watch julie watts explains what it means to buyers and sellers. >> we really want to make sure that we are locked into the best interest rate that we can get. >> reporter: buying a home before september. >> realtors have a reputation of saying you better buy now or else but in this case it kind of applies. >> reporter: that's because the government is redefining what qualifies as a jumbo loan essentially slashing the amount of the loan that the government will guarantee by $100,000. >> it is the difference between a bedroom, 1000 square feet. >> reporter: home buyers that want that extra bedroom could have to pay as much as $1000 more a month. >> they are trying to take a very calculated approach. >> reporter: the new lower limits on federal loan guarantees are a backlash against the rising number of defaults on so-called jumbo loans. >> the government is saying, we will give you a little bit more money to keep you propped up but we won't continue to guarantee these high limit loans. >> reporter: the new limits vary from county to county. the limit dropping from $729,

on the consumerwatch julie watts has the story. >> reporter: household product aisle. take a whiff. citrus. sweet. a mountain of fresh scents in those cleaning supplies. >> actually, i don't like fragrance because i've got allergies. >> reporter: and this doctor doesn't like added fragrance either. the visiting scientist at stanford recently completed a study on scented products. >> i had phone calls and e- mails from hundreds of people telling me they were getting sick from common fragrance household products. >> reporter: the complaints range from headaches to breathing difficulties, even loss of consciousness. so a lab analyzed 25 popular scented products. she won't reveal which ones but says they are commonly used. air fresheners. what she found surprised her. >> they emitted toxic or hazardous chemicals. they can damage the brain, lungs, central nervous system and cause cancer. >> reporter: and they are not just in traditional scented products. simon says those labeled, green, organic and natural contain them too. >> i have not found a product yet. >> reporter: there is no law

julie watts explains trashing the old meters is costing them money. >> it will end up coming out of your pocket. crit bicks are saying that pg&e is profiting off its garbage but today the state public utilities commission approved pg&e's plan to charge customers more so they can make up what they lost by installing those smart meters. what they have not yet decided is how pg&e will be allowed to charge customers which is also controversial. right now people that use less electricity pay less. incentive to save energy. but pg&e says that unfairly burdens people that use a lot of power so it wants to lower the rates for those that use the most energy. rates for high consumption would drop anywhere from 2 to 9 cents per kilowatt hour. everybody would have to pay a new $3 customer fee. critics say this steals from the poor to reward the rich and the energy guzzlers. >>> mid-year iphone fans will get their hands on the iphone 5 but they may have to wait longer. an at&t insider says the iphone 5 may be pushed back from june to september. and verizon iphone users planning to trade up may have t

julie watts is here with that and the rest of the day's consumer news. julie? >> thanks, dana. straight hair is still in high demand but now the government is advising them to stop using carrotine like brazilian blow- out because they have high levels of formaldehyde. they are calling for a recall of the product. while product manufacturers say they are safe. local stylists are coming up with ways to reduce the risk of potentially toxic fumes. >>> in other consumer news, housing prices may be going down but the cost of home insurance is going up. several of the nation's largest insurers are raising their rates from 7 to 33% on yearly premiums. the companies say they need the extra money to offset the rising energy and rebuilding costs. they also point to the new studies will that show that more areas are at risk from natural disasters. >>> for more on our brazilian blow-out story go to our website where you can watch our 5:00 piece in depth. >> julie, thank you very much. >> check with roberta, a quick check of the forecast for you. >> rain has pushed out of the bay area. as it

and now on the consumer watch julie watts tells us about another investigation into another 2.7 million trucks. >> yes, even larger. this time the concern is over fuel tank straps that could rust and break causing the tank to dragon the ground, spark and -- dragon the ground and then spark and cause a fire. there have been thousands of complaints on the ford f-150 model year 1997 threw 2001. now, a recall has not yet been issued but we will keep you posted. >>> meanwhile, would you like to get a text message that says something like that from bank of america. it plans to test a new overdraft text message service which would actually give consumers a choice. cancel the transaction right there via text or incur a fee. >> and finally tonight, 7.5 million facebook users are under the age of 13, violating the site's terms of service. these numbers are courtesy of consumer reports latest survey. among the minors, more than five million are 10-year-old or younger. and consumer reports found the kids' facebook accounts were largely unsupervised by parents, exposing them to predators, bullies, y

julie watts shows us while there is only one reported victim so far, this could just be the tip of the iceberg. >> reporter: they are calling it a one-stop shop for identity theft. >> usually in the past you see operations that can either make credit cards or california id cards. >> reporter: but the oakland pd announced today what they have uncovered with the help of a secret service task force is essentially an identity theft lab. in addition to what they are calling a sophisticated database of thousands of potential victims throughout the bay area and beyond, opd confiscated machines, built to make checks, credit cards, california ids and maybe most worrisome, social security cards. >> social security card, for example, that will sell again and again and again. >> reporter: the identity theft council says the ability to duplicate this type of information is a gold mine for thieves. >> i mean that's something that even organized crime would buy because they can maximize that. >> reporter: but so far this is not clear if this is a case of organized crime. they have organized michelle

on the consumer watch, julie watts explains it for us. [ music ] >> reporter: married with a toddler and a baby on the way jacob and amelia blackwater are underwater. >> i don't know what we are going to do at all. >> reporter: they owe 40,000 more than the home is worth and struggling with the moral decision keep making payments or walk away. >> that's our main conversation, what are we going to do? >> reporter: if you are thinking about walking away from your house or doing a foreclosure or a short sale now is the time to do it. but everyone should be looking at the value of their home. if you have a home that is 50% underwater or 70% underwater it will never, ever, ever come back. >> reporter: because if you like your house and only 20 to 10% underwater keep making your payments and ride it out. >> do the calculations, everyone. how much is it costing you to actually stay in that house? how many years will it take you to pay more than what that house is currently worth? if it's three years, four years, five years, are you kidding me? that's a house where you really, then, to say b

julie watts in the consumer watch with a new kind of mortgage fraud and a new effort to try to crackdown on these scammers. >> yes, they are everywhere. today the alameda county district attorney announced that at least a dozen local homeowners have fallen prey to this new fraud. it's a principal reduction scam. and there are a few variations to watch out for. the scammers get in touch with the homeowner by mail, e-mail or in person. and they sometimes take them out for a meal. they tell the homeowner they have found obscure or limb known u.s. laws that will dramatically cut the amount they owe on their home. the cost just a few hundred or thousand up front of course. but the bottom line there is no u.s. law and there are no federal reserve funds that will reduce your principal. meanwhile, california's attorney general is vowing more protection for troubled homeowners and more punishment for those who take advantage of them. today in la, kamala harris announced a mortgage fraud strike force that will be set up in four cities, including san francisco, to exclusively investigate and prosec