David Lazarus - latimes.com

If this health plan is 'socialism,' we need more of it

David Lazarus — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:00 -0700

As Obamacare's exchanges take shape in California, true, transparent, capitalistic competition will be seen among insurance firms, going toe to toe to win consumers.

So this is what socialism looks like: Private companies competing for people's business in an open marketplace.

Is Yahoo's billion-dollar bet on synergy worth it?

David Lazarus — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

The firm is buying blogging service Tumblr, which has a loyal and young following but little, if any, profit. And Yahoo vows no big changes.

Travel nightmare: Dakar, Dhaka — what's the difference?

David Lazarus — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

A wrong airport code sends travelers to the wrong continent. Months of calls back home bring no satisfaction.

Sandy Valdivieso and her husband intended to fly from Los Angeles to Dakar, Senegal. They ended up almost 7,000 miles off-course in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BofA cuts 2 million customers loose

David Lazarus — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

BofA mortgage borrowers who had account service fees waived will lose that benefit in a year because the bank sold its mortgage servicing rights to Nationstar Mortgage.

It's long been a basic tenet of the business world: You give us more business, we'll reward your loyalty with better deals.

Is $1,721.75 the bill you'd expect for treating a cut?

David Lazarus — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Medical costs are almost always hidden from patients until the bill arrives. Price transparency would help end hospital bill shock.

It was your basic, run-of-the-mill accident. Kim Haselhoff's 9-year-old son got nipped in the finger by one of the family dogs. It didn't seem too serious, but there was a bit of blood.

Give cable TV subscribers more freedom of choice

David Lazarus — Tue, 7 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Obama's nominee for FCC chief should work to dismantle the business model that requires viewers to pay for dozens of channels they will never watch.

President Obama has nominated venture capitalist Tom Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable and the wireless industries, to serve as head of the Federal Communications Commission. "Tom knows this stuff inside and out," Obama said.

BBB looks to regain trust with relaunch of Southland branch

David Lazarus — Thu, 2 May 2013 16:15:00 -0700

The Better Business Bureau branch, expelled after reports that it had been awarding inflated grades in exchange for cash, has returned as a 'virtual BBB.'

The Better Business Bureau wants you to know that it's cleaned up its act in Los Angeles.

Tribes' payday loans under scrutiny

David Lazarus — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:10:00 -0700

Some Indian tribes are being paid to offer their sovereign immunity to payday lenders that are trying to dodge state regulations, U.S. officials say. Federal consumer protection agency may crack down.

A growing number of Indian tribes are getting into the payday loan business, saying they just want to raise revenue for their reservations while helping cash-strapped consumers nationwide.

When the private sector needs a nudge from the public

David Lazarus — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:56:00 -0700

The case of Rita Corwin, wrongly denied a long-term care claim, illustrates how regulations protect consumers.

It's a common mantra among free-market-loving conservatives that government regulations hinder business growth and cost workers jobs.

Lazarus: A roadblock to collecting travel insurance benefits

David Lazarus — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Allianz insurance bends over backward to get the medical answer it wants to deny payment.

Barbara Butkus bought an airline ticket in November to fly from Palm Springs to Washington, D.C., a month later for a family reunion.