Assembly again favors lenders over consumers
by editorial, Sacramento Bee
Auto title loans are a last resort. Borrowers, some of them illegal immigrants, give the titles to their cars in exchange for loans for the value of their cars, less the potential cost of repossession and profit for a lender. Read More ›
Her case shows why healthcare privacy laws exist
by Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times
Of all the personal information that you might want to keep private, your medical records are the most important. That’s why federal and state laws carry stiff penalties, up to and including jail time, for healthcare providers who let such data loose into the wild. Read More ›
Consumer Protection Bills Going into Effect on January 1, 2012
“Governor Brown’s signature on these measures is a demonstration of his appreciation for common sense consumer legislation. It’s a welcome change,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. Read More ›
Electronic Health Record Data Breaches Surge
by Zack Kaldveer, CFC Communications Director, Privacy Revolt
When it comes to the issue of e-health records certainly one question the consumers should ponder is “Where is my data and who has access to it and for what purposes?” Or perhaps even more importantly, “can my private data be traced back to me personally and sold to others?” Read More ›
Dedication to disability access earns Corbett advocacy award
by Staff, San Jose Mercury News
Corbett has been honored by the Consumer Federation of California, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, Consumer Attorneys of California, California Public Interest Research Group, Community Resources for Independence, Alameda Justice Center, Consumer Action and California Congress of Seniors.
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Consumer group says insurance company rolled campaign spending into rate request
by Torey Van Oot, Sacramento Bee
In a sign the 2012 insurance wars have begun, a consumer group that routinely seeks to block rate increases has accused auto insurance giant Mercury General of illegally passing onto consumers the cost of its 2010 ballot measure campaign. Read More ›
Federal Probe Of Carrier IQ Launched
by Zack Kaldveer, CFC Communications Director, Privacy Revolt
…a lot of this comes down to data ownership and control – as in its OUR data and it should be in OUR control. Clearly, in the case of Carrier IQ and increasing numbers of telecom companies, third party marketers, and many more, we are seeing the invasion of individual privacy on a mass scale… Read More ›
Does Carrier IQ Record Text Messages and Emails?
by Zack Kaldveer, CFC Communications Director, Privacy Revolt
…this entire episode, with its many questions still unanswered, points to the need for GREATER consumer control over data, which could be achieved, at least partially, through a Do Not Track mechanism.
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Health insurance premiums rising faster than incomes for California families, study reveals
by Sandy Kleffman, Contra Costa Times
From 2003 to 2010, the combined average amount that California families and their employers paid for health coverage shot up 52 percent, reaching $13,819 annually, according to a recently released study by the Commonwealth Fund. Read More ›
Landowners left out of the loop on ‘fracking’ risks
by Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times
Natural gas companies that use hydraulic fracturing disclose the risks, such as leaks, spills and explosions, to shareholders, but property owners aren’t privy, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group. Read More ›
CFC Supports SB 708 – Extending Protection Against Foreclosure Law
The onslaught of foreclosures has pushed Californians out of their homes often without the ability to pursue alternative payment arrangements, little recourse and few options to remedy the negative impact on their credit standing. Read More ›
Attorneys General in California, Nevada Join Forces to Investigate Mortgage Fraud
by Laura Mahoney, Reproduced with Permission from Banking Daily
Consumer Federation of California spokesman Zack Kaldveer told BNA in an e-mail the alliance is a positive step, and a direct contrast to the national talks that the two states rightfully left. Read More ›
California, Nevada team up to investigate mortgage abuses
by Rick Daysog, Sacramento Bee
California and Nevada, which suffer the highest foreclosure rates in the country, will team up to investigate mortgage abuses by the nation’s largest banks. Read More ›