Category Archives: Latest In Consumer News
Paint companies could hand taxpayers the bill for hazardous lead paint cleanup under proposed California ballot measure
by Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times
The measure would place a $2-billion bond on the November ballot to fund the remediation of lead paint, mold, asbestos and other environmental dangers in homes, schools and senior citizen facilities. The initiative also would reverse a November state appeals court decision requiring three paint companies to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars for lead paint abatement. It also aims to block future lawsuits against the paint companies for similar claims. Read More ›
The new year ushers in new laws affecting consumers
by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times
Legal weed, salary history, parental leave, minimum wages. Hundreds of new California laws took effect Monday with the beginning of the new year. For consumers, some are real standouts. Read More ›
Some retailers misled shoppers on Black Friday savings
For both Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, retailers know that shoppers love a bargain, so the bigger the savings they can claim, the more sales they will likely ring up. Telling shoppers they can save hundreds of dollars by buying now is potent advertising. Read More ›
Strangers can talk to your child through “connected” toys, investigation finds
by Rebecca Smithers, The Guardian
A consumer group is urging major retailers to withdraw a number of “connected” toys likely to be popular at Christmas, after finding security failures that it warns could put children’s safety at risk. With each of these toys, the Bluetooth connection had not been secured, meaning the researcher did not need a password, pin or any other authentication to gain access. Little technical know-how was needed to hack into the toys to start sharing messages with a child. Read More ›
FCC Unveils Plan to Repeal Net Neutrality Rules
by Alina Selyukh, KQED
The Federal Communications Commission will vote Dec. 14 on a plan to undo the landmark 2015 rules that had placed Internet service providers under the strictest-ever regulatory oversight. The vote is expected to repeal so-called net neutrality rules, which prevent broadband companies from slowing down or blocking any sites or apps, or otherwise deciding what content gets to users faster. Read More ›
Republicans could fund tax cuts by raiding workers’ 401K savings
by Kate Cox, The Consumerist
Republicans in Congress want to pass a tax cut. That’s kind of their thing. But taxes fund things; the government uses the money. But slashing the maximum limit for 401(k) contributions is unlikely to be warmly greeted by pretty much anyone. Read More ›
Student loan defaults increase for first time in five years
by Ashlee Kieler, Consumerist
For the first time in half a decade, the rate of education loan defaults among recent college students has risen, highlighting the struggle many recent graduates face when it comes to paying their educational debts. The default rate remained steady for students who had enrolled in public schools, while it increased for students at private and for-profit colleges. Read More ›
The nursing home industry’s war to deny patients their day in court
by F. Paul Bland, Jr., The Legal Examiner
Arbitration is nothing like going to court. Arbitration takes place outside of a courtroom, without a judge, without a jury, and with limited opportunity to seek or present evidence. What’s more, the proceedings are entirely confidential and are often presided over by arbitrators paid for by the defendant. Read More ›
States consider limited internet service providers’ access to user data
by Todd Shields, Chicago Tribune
Soon after President Donald Trump took office with a pledge to cut regulations, Republicans in Congress killed an Obama-era rule restricting how broadband companies may use customer data such as web browsing histories. Read More ›
Fake celebrity skin care ads dupe consumers with ‘Free Trial’ offers
by David Emory, Snopes
The perpetrators use networks of bogus web sites, social media, and e-commerce technology to trick users into ordering “free trials” of supposedly celebrity-endorsed products, only to find they’ve unknowingly signed up to receive regular shipments for which they’re automatically charged on a monthly basis. Read More ›
Legislation introduced to address Wells Fargo scandal
“Wells Fargo’s customers were ripped off twice,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of Consumer Federation of California. “First, the bank created two million fraudulent accounts. Then when consumers tried to sue, the bank forced them into company-dominated arbitration hearings. SB 33 will guarantee that the victims of a bank’s identity theft will get their day in court.” Read More ›
Talks begin over bill inspired by Wells Fargo scandal
by Dominic Fracassa, San Francisco Chronicle
Legislative deliberations continued Tuesday over a bill that seeks to prevent financial institutions accused of defrauding their customers from pulling legal disputes out of the state court system and into private arbitration. Read More ›
California bill seeks to help fraud victims of banks
[Senate Bill 33] would help victims of fraud committed by their financial institution after thousands of Americans fell victim to a Wells Fargo scandal. Read More ›