You get what you pay for, or so the saying goes. But consumer advocates have long bemoaned that the opposite is true in the world of mortgages.

Consumers choose between getting their loans through a mortgage broker, who can shop around with lots of lenders, or directly from the lenders themselves. The two options have historically had a long list of trade-offs in terms of customer service, speed and the number of programs each has to offer.

The U.S. pet care industry was valued at $46 billion in 2009, which includes everything from food to toys to medication. Navigating the scores of websites trying to tap into this huge market can be bewildering, but SiteJabber users have identified a few to avoid.

Consumer Ally partner SiteJabber's mission is to help consumers avoid bad websites and steer them toward good ones, through positive or negative user reviews. And the SiteJabber community isn't shy about saying why they love or hate a particular site.

With promises of riches through investments in Turkish real estate, a Delaware man conned investors out of $419,000, according to the Delaware Attorney General's office.

Instead of an investment, Thomas Dolby, 40, of Smyrna, Del., used the money to support a gambling habit and lifestyle, the state said. Dolby -- not to be confused with the British musician popular in the 1980s -- was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a single count of racketeering.

Credit-reporting bureau Experian has begun adding rental payment histories to Americans' credit reports, following the company's acquisition of RentBureau last June.

For people with what are referred to as "thin" credit files, such as students, new college grads or recent immigrants, this is an important tool to help them build a credit history without the expense of an installment loan or the temptation of a credit card.

Flushable cat litter is sometimes marketed as green, but here's the rest of the story: It's not if you flush it down the toilet.

That's right. Don't flush "flushable" cat litter, scientists say. Double bag it and send it to a sanitary landfill.

By flushing cat poop, pet owners unwittingly may contribute to the deaths of Hawaiian monk seals and California sea otters and otherwise spread a hardy parasite linked to cats. As a result, a California law actually requires kitty litter to bear warnings such as this excerpt: "Please do not flush cat litter in toilets or dispose of it outdoors in gutters or storm drains."

Costco says it has stopped selling about a dozen imperiled fish in a move toward selling consumers more sustainable seafood. Greenpeace, which pressured the retailer, declares this a victory for oceans, but says Costco could go further.

The warehouse giant based in Issaquah, Wash., has agreed to not sell the following seafood unless the company can find options that are certified by Marine Stewardship Council or some similar program:

Galeos Dressing, much hyped as a low-calorie and low-fat dressing promoted by trainer Jillian Michaels and eaten by contestants on the reality show "The Biggest Loser," has failed another set of laboratory tests.

The law firm Paris Ackerman & Schmierer, which sued the makers of Galeos after Consumer Ally commissioned tests that showed the dressing had nearly 10 times the calories its labels claim, hired a laboratory that also found the dressing was calorie-packed and full-fat. The lawsuit alleges that Galeos deceived consumers in buying the products by claiming they were something they weren't.

Human breast milk for grown-up consumption has been taking baby steps into mainstream dairy products since New York chef Daniel Angerer's well-publicized mother's milk cheese in 2008. But this week marks a new development: The Icecreamist restaurant in London introduced Baby Gaga breast milk ice cream.

According to London's Daily Mail, "A costumed Baby Gaga waitress serves the ice cream in a martini glass filled with the breast milk ice cream mix. Liquid nitrogen is then poured into the glass through a syringe." Made with breast milk, Madagascar vanilla pods and lemon zest, the "radical new flavor" is pricey, around $23 dollars per scoop.

In spite of the cost, the new flavor sold out almost immediately.

The Daily Mail reports 15 women responded to an ad on London's Mumsnet website requesting the breast milk, and were offered $24 per 10 ounces of milk.

Credexx, a nation-wide company accused of blitzing consumers with deceptive junk mail, illegal robocalls and misleading TV ads, signed a settlement that bans it and former owner David J. Tabb from doing business in Washington state.

"Credexx was one of several companies that tricked consumers nationwide into buying expensive auto service contracts by claiming to extend manufacturer-provided warranties," Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said in a statement.

Technology is giving scam artists new ways to target consumers. This time, it's fake rebate cards offered through text messages.

A Texas resident received a text message saying "You have been chosen to receive a $100 cash rebate card" and given a phone number to call.