Consumer Confidential: Cars, Kindles and credit

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• The president of Toyota Motor Corp., Akio Toyoda, said it was ‘extremely regrettable’ that an American family died in a crash believed to have been caused by a faulty floor mat. That’s commendable, as far as it goes. But such language is standard among Japanese execs and politicians whenever something goes wrong. More important is what Toyota will do about the problem. So far, no word of a recall or any other measure.
• Amazon.com says it will no longer remove any books from people’s Kindle e-book readers without their permission. The decision follows an outcry over the online bookseller deleting copies of George Orwell’s ‘1984’ from Kindles due to a copyright issue. Amazon’s new policy is intended to help settle a lawsuit brought by Kindle users. Orwell would be pleased.
• California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown has filed suit against two businessmen who run a ‘credit repair’ company. Brown says the two -- Todd Swick and Michael Sardo -- have ignored repeated warnings that they must register their business with the state and post a $100,000 bond. He says the lawsuit is intended to make sure that all credit repair firms follow the law. Here’s a tip: The only one who can repair your credit is you. Don’t pay fees up front to any company saying it can help.

-- David Lazarus