We have all seen the OnStar commercials where a poor soul has had a traffic accident and a reassuring voice comes over the loudspeaker asking the driver if everything is okay or if they need help. That’s the kinder, gentler OnStar.

The more invasive OnStar is the one that is changing its privacy policy and terms and conditions statement, effective December 2011, to do a little extra snooping on its customers, and even on people who discontinue the OnStar service! [Current privacy policy, revised privacy policy.]

*MOUSE PRINT:

In addition to the other reasons they collect data such as diagnostic trouble codes, oil life remaining, tire pressure, fuel economy and odometer readings; information about crashes involving your vehicle, including the direction from which your vehicle was hit, which air bags have deployed, and safety belt usage about your vehicle, they have allowed themselves the ability to collect:

“the location and the approximate speed of your Vehicle based on the Global Positioning System (“GPS”) satellite network” “for any purpose, at any time, provided that following collection of such location and speed information identifiable to your Vehicle, it is shared only on an anonymized basis.”

Some critics suggest that GPS information is never anonymous, because GPS coordinates can pinpoint places such as your home address.

*MOUSE PRINT:

They also disclose for the first time that they keep tracking your car even if you cancel your OnStar service.

“Unless the Data Connection to your Vehicle is deactivated, data about your Vehicle will continue to be collected even if you do not have a Plan. It is important that you convey this to other drivers, occupants, or subsequent owners of your Vehicle. You may deactivate the Data Connection to your Vehicle at any time by contacting an OnStar Advisor.”

On September 27, after much public criticism and a call for an investigation by a New York congressman, OnStar decided to retract this part of their planned changes to their policy.

All the other changes will be implemented including that they now say they can share your data with their own affiliates for “marketing purposes,” and have removed the section about requiring your consent first:

“ONSTAR WILL NOT OTHERWISE DISCLOSE, SELL, OR RENT INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOU OR YOUR CAR TO THIRD PARTIES FOR THEIR INDEPENDENT USE WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.”

OnStar certainly provides great lifesaving services, and while their privacy policy gives you the ability to opt-out, their data collection practices and plans to give or sell your data to law enforcement agencies and marketing companies may nonetheless be disturbing to some. One such person is Jonathan Zdziarski, who discovered these changes and writes persuasively about it.

X-10, a seller of electronic gizmos, offers customers a 15% discount if you “like” them on Facebook.

Once you click the “like” button, a pop-up is revealed indicating what X-10 wants in return for giving you a 15% discount:

*MOUSE PRINT:

So, if you click “allow”, you are agreeing to give them your name, username, picture, list of friends, access to all your profile information, along with permission to write on your Facebook wall, send you junk mail, and review your data even when you are not online.

Seems like a pretty serious invasion of privacy for a lousy 15% off. I say, no deal.

Philips manufacturers compact fluorescent lightbulbs some of which come with a very generous warranty and a promise of a long life. Mouse Print* reader Chet M. sent us the packaging on one such bulb with a seven year life expectancy that he thought was misleading.

That little dagger symbol leads to a tiny disclosure on the back of the package.

*MOUSE PRINT:

The problem with basing this bulb’s life on only three hours of use daily is that this is a special purpose bulb, with a built-in light sensor.  It is meant to go on automatically when it gets dark, and then turn off at daybreak. In most parts in the world, the night is always longer than three hours.   Typically, it might be nine hours or longer, meaning the actual life of the bulb might be just over two years — not the seven promised.

Mouse Print* brought this issue to the attention of Philips.  A senior manager of the lighting division replied:

“The company was by no means trying to be misleading, just following accepted industry practices, and as soon as we were made aware the issue, we quickly updated the packaging.  Philips stands by its products and services and we take all consumer inquiries/feedback seriously, using it as an opportunity to improve our offerings.”

True to their word, the company sent us a picture of their new package which removed the seven year claim on the front, and incorporated into their warranty that under normal usage, the bulb was guaranteed to last for two years.

In this instance, Philips is a shining example of a company fixing a legitimate consumer issue in record time.  We salute them.

Judge Judy certainly has a way with words, and these retailers certainly try to use them to make a lousy deal or non-deal seem beneficial to consumers.

Example #1:

Best Buy recently unveiled a buyback program whereby purchasers of certain electronic equipment can buy a policy that guarantees a certain trade-in value for their new purchase.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Their ad only promotes the best case scenario — up to 50% back. When could you get 50% back?  Only  if you want to get rid of your purchase within six months of purchase. More likely, you may wish to trade your item after a couple of years of ownership. In that case, you will get zero back for your phone or computer, and only “up to 10%” for your TV. In our opinion, most consumers would be crazy to PAY a company to offer you a lousy buyback price or no buy back at all during such a short period of time. Selling the item yourself on eBay or through Craigslist would more likely yield a greater return on your purchase.

Example #2:

Earlier this year, Office Depot promoted TurboTax Deluxe with a free state tax download.

*MOUSE PRINT:

What Office Depot didn’t tell you right there was that they added $10 to the price of TurboTax Federal in order to offer the “free” state download:

Bottomline: they are giving you NOTHING extra for free, they are charging you $10 extra for that supposed free benefit.

January is the time when many people resolve to lose some of the holiday pounds, and get back in shape. Mouse Print* reader Ronald O. saw a commercial offering a cheap solution –  a set of workout DVDs for “just $19.99″.

The announcer said this is a set of 10 DVDs for “just $19.99″ … “but don’t the price fool you.”

When our consumer checked the order form online, he got a big surprise.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Sure, it is $19.99 … times two!

In some spots of the website it says the price is $19.99, and in other spots it says the price is “two easy payments of $19.99.”

When the company was asked the question… so what’s the real price… they said $19.99 plus $6.99 shipping. And several days after this call was made, the website appeared to drop the “two easy payments” language.

You can decide whether to exercise your right to deal with these people or not.