The Center for Environmental Health filed a complaint against 16 retailers saying the lead in purses, handbags, and wallets sold in their stores contain dangerous levels of lead.  How harmful are they?

Getting approved for Medicaid didn’t help one Upstate woman enough. She says every doctor’s office she called turned her away. Dianne Derby pushed her problem into the hands of the decision makers and found a way for you to get the health care you need.

News Channel 7 found out the owner of an Upstate apartment complex may have even bigger problems than a $10,000 past due water bill. Dianne Derby uncovers new information in a 7 On Your Side Investigation

The economy is bad, but for some, its effects have gotten so bad they’ve been forced to give up their children.

The Sanford affair is the just the latest in a long line of South Carolina political scandals.

7 On Your Side Consumer Watch is showing you how to make sure you are making smart decisions and spending every dollar wisely when it comes to planning your funeral.

We ask why inappropriate emails are being sent from computers that taxpayers are paying for.

A recent study done at the University of Buffalo links risky behavior and addiction in young people to energy drinks.

An Upstate man asked for our help when the Social Security Administration mixed up his sister-in-law’s death records and listed his brother as deceased instead.

Looking to save money on groceries?  Who isn’t, right?  The average family spends $600 a month on groceries.  You could cut that nearly in half by changing the way you shop. 

Amy Wood takes a look at how churches are using social media to spread the word.

In this bad economy, there’s no better price than “free.“  We’re all looking to save money.  Did you know there are several ways of getting the things you need for free?

Carrie Davis takes a look how the economy is affecting mental health.

If you’re a gadget guru who loves to tinker with the latest technology, this story is for you.

You have to pay a fee to have criminal charges taken off your record, even when you are not guilty of the crime. Why?

Consumer advocate Heather Sullivan shows you how to save money on your phone service.

A recent study shows an overwhelming majority of people, including doctors, believe in medical miracles and many think religion plays a big part in these miracles.

Admit it!  There have been times you wished you could hear what someone was saying from across the room!  The Silver Sonic XL says it can give you sonic hearing and help you hear other people’s conversations.  You’ve probably seen the ads on TV.  But does it really work?  We put it to the test.

Paying a medical bill on your own can seem near impossible. One Upstate man we spoke with dished out more than $4000 when Medicare wouldn’t cover his bill.  Dianne Derby put his concern in the right hands and found out how you can take back control in this 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.

In this bad economy, the cost of exterminating roaches, ants, or rodents in your home can be a bigger pest than the pests themselves.  Riddex Plus says it can help for just $15.  All you have to do is plug it into an electrical outlet.  Can controlling pests really be that simple and cheap?  We asked Clemson University Entomologists to test it.

Is your electric bill breaking your bank? One woman says hers was so high she was using almost her entire check from social security to pay her monthly bill.

If you can make your groceries last longer, you’ll throw away less food and spend less money.  Last summer we tested some green bags and found they make fruits and vegetables last longer.  Now we’re testing Debbie Meyer Bread Bags.  Can they really save you dough on bread?

Are you still putting off filing your tax return?  Don’t stress about it.  We’re going to show you how to make sure you get the biggest tax return you can.  You can also get your taxes filed for free this Saturday. 

With so many offers to bundle your telecom services it’s tough to pick the best deal. One Upstate woman thought she had a great offer until her bill came and it was nearly two times what she expected. Dianne Derby helped her through her hassle and finds out what you need to remember before you strike a deal. It’s a 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.
   

It’s a super absorbant towel. A box of eight sells for 20 bucks, but in this economy we wanted to make sure you’ll get your monies worth.

Stuck in the cold with no way to get heat an Upstate couple says Sears gave them the cold shoulder when they tried to get what they wanted out of their extended warranty. Our Dianne Derby turned up the heat and had their problem solved in a matter of days. Plus she finds out your rights are when you dish out the cash for that extra warranty coverage in this 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.

There are millions of unclaimed dollars out there. Find out if any of it is yours!

Shoppers want deals on holiday shopping so badly, many will wait in line Thursday night for Black Friday bargains, or they’ll spend Thanksgiving Day clipping newspaper coupons.  But you don’t have to.

If you’ve watched the news, you know many companies are laying off employees in this unstable economy.  That has many people nervous that their job could be cut next.  Would you believe something as simple as your body language or enthusiasm at work could determine whether you stay or go?  We talked with career counselors and found the top seven things you can do to keep your job.

Want a little extra cash? The IRS may be holding on to your money. Find out more here.

Morgan is Bridgette Repenning’s first child. At only 8 months old Bridgette says she is very concerned about her daughter’s development.  That’s why she says she was shocked to find out the plastics she was using at home could be hurting her child. Repenning says,  “I called my pediatrician right away and they alarmed me to go and get the BPA free bottles.“ She’s talking about Bisphenol-A or as most people call it, BPA.  A compound used to make rigid plastics.  You can find it in everything from baby bottles to cars to canned foods.

It’s a monstrous problem, one we hear about dozens of times each day here at News Channel 7. Viewers in our area filing for Social Security Disability insurance benefits and waiting years for answers. Sadly, some die before they even get a final answer from the government. So what’s being done to help and how is the backlog here, one of the worst in the country, getting reduced? Dianne Derby gets to the bottom of it in this 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.

When your heart stops beating, it’s a race against time to get you the help you need to survive. But a 7 on Your Side investigation found your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest greatly depends where you live. Investigative reporter Andy Pierrotti explains.

If not taken properly many prescription drugs can cause problems.

When you pay for a lightly used car you expect a reliable vehicle, right? A 7 on Your Side Investigation found hundreds of South Carolinians who unknowingly purchased vehicles that were valued as total losses. It’s information we fought to get that the state didn’t want you to see.

Have you been driving around the Upstate, trying to find a digital converter box for your TV before your coupons expire?  Some stores have struggled to keep them on shelves.  Or maybe you’ve had trouble getting your two free coupons for converters from the government.  Well look no more.  We’ll show you how to get your hands on converters and coupons in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.

What can you do when a contractor won’t make good on a promise? One Upstate viewer learned how difficult it can be if you don’t do your homework. Find out what you must remember to do before you start your next home improvement project.

Greenville County could soon change the way its EMS system handles non-emergency calls.  The possible changes are in response to a News Channel 7 investigation that revealed ambulances often act more like glorified taxi cabs, than emergency responders.

We did some research for you. We’ll show you what your options are and how much they’ll cost you in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.

We know many of you still have questions about what you need to do to make sure you still have a tv picture when the big change happens, so we’re answering the top 7 questions about DTV.

    Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor or lawyer or to earn a four year college degree, but there are jobs in the Upstate that are in high demand and can earn you a six figure salary in half the time. 

Let’s face it, times are getting tougher for many of us.  That sense of uncertainty has many deciding to save money.  But There are mistakes you can make that threaten your financial health.  So we’re showing you the Seven Biggest Money Mistakes you can make. 

As the cost of gas and food rises more and more people are looking to save money, especially with vacation season rapidly approaching.
News Channel 7’s Heather Sullivan took a look at seven ways people could save money as they enjoyed their vacations.

How much money in food are you throwing away each week? A University of Arizona study shows we throw away 14% of our groceries and 25% of our produce. We found some ways to make your food last longer, so you get the most for your money, in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.

With the cost of food rising, everyone is looking for ways to save on groceries. What you may not know is that you can save 10% to 40% by changing where you shop. Discount grocery stores are not as well known, but they offer many of the same foods you buy for a less money. We’ll show you the savings and where to find discount grocery stores in this Seven On Your Side Consumer Watch.

A move that has shocked the medical world, federal health officials have rules childhood vaccines contributed to the symptoms of a young Georgia girls autism.
    The idea that vaccines contribute to the effects of autism is a hotly debated issue among health professionals and parents alike.

We’ll countdown from 7… and that’s got to do with the money you put away for retirement.

Autism is a developmental disability that causes impairment of social behavior and communication and can include unusual behaviors and interests.