Category Archives: Press Releases and Editorials
Gender Pricing Discrimination – Democrats Team With Republicans To Stop SB 899 (Hueso)
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California-sponsored SB 899 (Hueso), a bill that would have ended gender pricing discrimination, was stopped by Democrats and Republicans in today’s meeting of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Read More ›
AB 2688: Bad Health ‘Privacy’ Bill Would Unleash Information Sharing
SACRAMENTO – Consumer advocates called for the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject AB 2688 (Gordon), which would establish rules for health data information sharing. The Committee will hear AB 2688 at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28. The bill would place into law broad industry controls over … Read More ›
Wells Fargo Identity Theft Racket Inspired SB 33 (Dodd): Justice for Victims
October 4 Update: Jerry Brown signed SB 33 into law. The Consumer Federation of California is co-sponsoring legislation by State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) inspired by Wells Fargo’s fraudulent creation of two million customer accounts. Senate Bill 33 will make sure that in the future, victims of … Read More ›
Consumer Federation of California Sponsors SB 899 (Hueso) To End Gender Bias In Prices
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California is sponsoring SB 899 (Hueso) to prohibit businesses from charging customers different prices for substantially similar products on the basis of gender. The state Senate Judiciary Committee will consider SB 899 at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12. This chronic problem has … Read More ›
Consumer Federation Of California Applauds FCC Move To Protect Broadband Privacy
SACRAMENTO – Consumer Federation of California (CFC) welcomed today’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop regulations protecting the privacy of personal information of broadband Internet consumers. “Today’s vote is a significant advance for privacy protection. Consumers should decide whether their online activities and other … Read More ›
CFC Applauds FCC Move To Protect Broadband Privacy
“Today’s vote is a significant advance for privacy protection. Consumers should decide whether their online activities and other personal data are shared with third-party strangers,” CFC Executive Director Richard Holober said. “It is essential that any final FCC rule prohibits broadband carriers from charging extra for privacy. Privacy is a right that should not be available only to the wealthy.” Read More ›
Consumer Federation Of California Releases 2015 Scorecard For State Lawmakers
SACRAMENTO – The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) has released its 2015 Scorecard for State Legislators, which rates lawmakers on the votes they cast on key issues, including privacy, automobile safety, household toxics, truth in advertising, living wages, reform of the California Public Utilities Commission, and other … Read More ›
GEICO Pays $6 Million To Settle Civil Rights, Deceptive Rate Quote Complaint
SACRAMENTO – GEICO agreed to pay $6 million dollars to settle the Consumer Federation of California (CFC) complaint alleging the insurance giant violated civil rights and insurance law by targeting low- and moderate-income women and unmarried motorists with deceptive and inflated automobile insurance rate quotes. The settlement … Read More ›
Secret Business Recording Of Customer Cell Phone Calls Remains A Crime
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill 925 (Low), a bill to allow businesses to secretly record cell phone calls with customers, was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee May 28. Secret phone recording remains a crime under California law. Read More ›
Assembly Committee Approves Secret Recordings Of Cell Phone Calls
SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Committee on Public Safety voted 5-2 today to allow businesses to secretly record cell phone calls with customers under Assembly Bill 925 (Evan Low, D-Campbell), undermining a longstanding legal prohibition on such recordings in California. The committee’s two Republicans voted No on AB 925, taking a stand against weakening a key consumer protection. Low and his fellow Democrats approved the bill – a vote for secret recordings. Read More ›
Opponents Target Bill Lifting Ban On Secret Recordings Of Cell Phone Calls
SACRAMENTO – Two dozen consumer, privacy, senior, student, labor and immigrant advocacy groups urge the defeat of Assembly Bill 925 (Evan Low, D-Campbell), which would eliminate a longstanding prohibition against businesses secretly recording cell phone calls with customers. The Assembly Committee on Public Safety hears the bill at 9 a.m. today (May 5). Read More ›
AB 925 Lets Debt Collectors, Subprime Lenders, Others Secretly Record Phone Calls
SACRAMENTO – A coalition of California consumer, privacy, senior, student, labor and immigrant advocates urge the defeat of Assembly Bill 925 (Evan Low, D-Campbell), which would eliminate a longstanding prohibition against secret recordings of consumer cell phone calls by subprime lenders, debt collectors, student loan companies, hotels, health care providers, retailers and other businesses. Key backers of AB 925 include AT&T, Verizon and high-tech corporate lobbyists. Read More ›
AB 886 (Chau) Protects Uber Passenger Privacy
SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill 886 (Chau, D-Monterey Park) will protect the sensitive personal information and credit card records of passengers using transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber. Read More ›