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.
Read More ›
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 ›
Carrier IQ Revelations and Smart Phone Privacy
by Zack Kaldveer, CFC Communications Director, Privacy Revolt/Consumer Federation of California
Since this Carrier IQ story broke last week, we’ve learned that the company’s spying technology is present on 141 million phones, including Androids and iPhones and possibly models made by BlackBerry, Nokia and other manufacturers. Read More ›
CFC Supports AB 1197 – Public Utilities Whistleblower Protection
In light of the 2010 gas transmission pipeline explosion in San Bruno, the need for additional safety regulations is clear. Part of this effort to increase safety must include providing sufficient protections to whistleblowers who report safety concerns to the CPUC. Read More ›
Patient Data Breaches Surge as Hospitals Scrimp on Security
by Chris Strohm, Business Week
Data breaches at U.S. health-care providers are increasing as hospitals adopt electronic medical records and mobile technology without spending enough on security to ensure patient privacy, a research group said. Read More ›
PUC pipeline secrecy battle heading to Sacramento
by Eric Nalder, Jaxon Van Derbeken, San Francisco Chronicle
State Sen. Leland Yee…said…that his first action when the Legislature reconvenes…will be to introduce a bill to repeal a law barring the public release of most records at the commission without a vote of its five appointed members.
Read More ›
In debit card wars, consumers are usually losers
by Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle
The latest salvo came last week from the retailers, who have alleged that bankers are continuing to gouge them – despite the new limits – by exploiting a provision that allows them to add the costs of updating equipment to the fees they charge merchants. Read More ›