Consumer Connection Magazine

Article authored by Matt Woodcheke, Consumer Connection staff Question: My car needs expensive repairs to pass Smog Check and I don’t know if I should put money into it or cut my losses. What do you recommend? Answer: The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) offers a…

Article authored by Matt Woodcheke, Consumer Connection staff Question: I’m having my kitchen redone at home, but I’m not sure what kind of contractor I should hire. Answer: If your job is valued at $500 or more in both materials and labor, you’ll want to make sure the person you hire…

DCA’s spring 2020 issue of the Consumer Connection magazine is here! Hot off the press, this issue is filled with consumer news, ideas, and information, including: Answers to common consumer-protection questions. Ways to improve your home, heart health, and physical well-being. How to get ready for warm weather with pool-safety…

The latest issue of Consumer Connection, the Department of Consumer Affairs’ quarterly magazine, is available now. In this issue, we examine the rapid job growth forecast in health care fields; we look at gender stereotypes that factor into why more girls do not grow up to work in STEM or…

Governor Gavin Newsom Declares May 5-11 ‘Wildfire Preparedness Week’ Thousands of wildfires strike California every year, many outside of what was traditionally considered “fire season.” Years of drought have resulted in tinder-dry landscapes and 18 million dead trees across the state, which prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a…

The latest issue of Consumer Connection, the Department of Consumer Affairs’ quarterly magazine, is now available! In the cover story of the spring issue, we look at the state’s battle against wildfires and how homeowners can be a part of the solution. Also, we cover the growing problem of preschoolers…

The winter 2018 issue of Consumer Connection magazine is out now! In our last issue of the year, we cover the modifications that can help seniors stay in their homes longer, the best time of year to have solar installed on your home, treating children with concussions, how to reduce…

Backpacks are a bright spot of the back-to-school season, signaling school has resumed. They come in an array of colors, designs, shapes, and sizes for the smallest children in preschool to the teens and young adults in high school. Many of today’s backpacks have multiple compartments to help students stay…

Written By: Laura Kujubu, Consumer Connection Staff All new construction and remodels now must have at least two ways to prevent drownings The state’s 20-year-old Swimming Pool Safety Act has doubled its safety requirements. Since 1998, California has required new or remodeled residential pools and spas to have at least…

How to catch a Smog Check cheater. Explaining the differences between assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Rebuilding your home after a natural disaster. Video conferencing with your physician. Considering food quality instead of counting calories. All of these topics and more are included in the latest edition of Consumer…