Welcome to the February 2007 edition of the Federal Citizen Information Center 's FEDINFO E-letter! These subscription e-letters from Pueblo are sent 6-8 times a year with helpful updates, practical information, and special offers to make your life a little easier. You can always find the latest information on our family of websites:Pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov, ConsumerAction.gov, and Kids.gov.
This issue includes:
- Daylight Saving Time Starts March 11
- News, Notes, Recalls…Oh My!
- Dealing with Travel Delays
- FREE Publications
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DAYLIGHT SAVING
TIME STARTS MARCH 11
Beginning in 2007, you’ll have an extra month to enjoy Daylight Saving Time (DST). For most of the United States, DST will begin at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and end at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November (this year it’s November 4th). The new start and end dates were set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Moving your clocks ahead on March 11th isn’t the only thing you have to remember. The change in DST impacts many products, not just your PC. Anything with a date setting has the potential to be affected, like cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, clocks, telephones, DVD players, TiVO, and more. Check the manufacturer’s website for device-specific advice. We have a list of many corporations and their websites at ConsumerAction.gov.
If you’re a PC user, software patches and information are available on Microsoft’s website.
Be sure to check your bank deposits and online payments, since businesses may be affected by the DST change.
Computer software calendar and scheduling applications, such as Outlook, will be affected by the DST change so double-check to make sure your meetings and appointments are correct. Keeping a printed copy of your calendar is a good idea — in case any of your information gets overwritten during synchronization.
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In recent weeks, you’ve probably heard about the salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter and the recall of chicken breast strips because of possible Listeria contamination. How do you keep up with all the latest consumer news and information? Check out FCIC’s News and Notes column. We draw on a variety of sources to bring you up-to-date consumer news, tips and advice. And stay informed about the latest recalls with our Recalls page. You’ll find out about the latest Federal and industry recalls for products related to cars, children, food, health, and more.
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Airline delays caused by bad weather, traffic control problems, and mechanical repairs are hard to predict. If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on the earliest flight possible to your destination, at no additional charge. If you're able to find a flight on another airline, ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to the new carrier. This could save you a fare increase, but there is no Federal rule requiring them to do so.
Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers; there are no federal requirements. If your flight is delayed or canceled, ask the airline if it will pay for meals or a phone call. Contrary to what many people believe, airlines are not required to do so. However, there are Federal regulations that protect consumers when flights are overbooked. To learn more about these policies, click here.
Find more tips about dealing with delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights at ConsumerAction.gov.
To check and see if there are currently delays at your arrival or departure airport, check out the FAA’s Flight Delay Information website.
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FCIC frequently has special offers of free publications mentioned in magazines and newspapers around the country. We want to give you an opportunity to order these publications online--even if you didn't see the original article. You can find these promotions on our Free Publication Offers page. You can also sign up for e-mail notices to find out when new offers have been added.
Note: Some of the older offers mentioned on the page have ended but they provide links to the publications online or you can order a free sample package of currently-available publications.
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Previous issues of the FEDINFO E-letter can be found at: www.pueblo.gsa.gov/fedinfonews/fedinfoarchives.htm.
You can change your subscriptions, password, or e-mail address or remove yourself from this service at any time on your User Profile page. All you need are your e-mail address and password (if you selected one).
This service is provided free of charge by the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) at Pueblo, CO, your one-stop source for information about consumer problems and government services. Visit us at www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
For questions or problems with this subscription service, e-mail updates@pueblo.gsa.gov. For inquiries related to FCIC, email us.
Issue 2007-1
