SB 448 proposes office to investigate fuel price volatility, gas price fixing (vetoed)
CFC supports SB 448, which is aimed at protecting California consumers who have, for too long, been at the mercy of a few major oil companies that control nearly all of the transportation fuel market. Read More ›
Toxic flame retardants under fire in California
by Deborah Sullivan Brennan, San Diego Union Tribune
“This starts with making sure we are protecting people against risks of fire,” said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California. “There’s increasing evidence that this can be accomplished through different methods that do not require use of these flame retardants.” Read More ›
Scammers target utility customers with threats of power shut-off
by Herb Weisbaum, Today.com
Fraudsters have developed a clever and all-too-successful ruse to steal money from homeowners and small businesses across the country. All it takes is a phone call and a bunch of convincing lies. Read More ›
Google to sell user profiles, photos in ads
by Brian Fitzgerald, Wall Street Journal
Google updated its terms of service to say that beginning November 11, it has the right to sell adult users’ profile names, photos and comments in reviews and advertising. Read More ›
California lawsuit claims for-profit colleges misled students, investors
by Jeremy White, Sacramento Bee
A for-profit college chain intentionally deceived prospective students and investors about the value of its degrees and sought out socially isolated and disadvantaged students, according to a lawsuit California Attorney General Kamala Harris filed. Read More ›
Governor Brown vetoes two telecom bills
by Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
One would have created a new system for collecting fees on prepaid cellphone minutes; the other would have curbed the PUC’s LifeLine powers. Read More ›
AB 1409 would make harmful changes to Lifeline telephone program (vetoed)
Steps to modernize the program by allowing wireless customers to participate are already underway by the CPUC. The changes made by AB 1409 would only generate confusion and potentially create delays in the program. CFC opposes this bill. Read More ›
Telecom industry’s AB 300, surcharge on pre-paid cell phones (vetoed)
CFC opposes AB 300, which would impose a surcharge on pre-paid cell phones. This overly complicated and unnecessary surcharge collection structure will mandate a shift of the burden of surcharge payment onto the bills of the California consumer. Read More ›
Monitoring your every move
by Editorial Board, New York Times
New technology allows advertisers access to mobile phones without the “cookies” they need to access personal computers. This makes it harder than ever for users to escape the gaze of private companies. Read More ›
USDA may shut down California Foster Farms plants after salmonella outbreak
by Christina Cocca and Beverly White, NBC Los Angeles
Foster Farms may be forced to close three California processing plants if the sites turn out to be linked to a Salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds of people. Federal officials believe plants in Fresno and Livingston may not have properly processed the poultry. Read More ›
California driving Internet privacy policy
by Michelle Quinn, Politico
With the federal government and technology policy shut down in Washington, California is steaming ahead with a series of online privacy laws that will have broad implications for Internet companies and consumers. Read More ›
Toxic chemical flame retardants in building insulation: Historic bill may reduce harmful exposures
by Stephanie Hendricks, Californians for Toxic Free Fire Safety
“This is an important victory for consumers,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director, CFC. “For nearly four decades, chemical manufacturers have reaped billions in profits at consumers’ expense. We are pleased that Gov. Brown has taken the important step forward so that toxic flame retardant chemicals are not required in building insulation, especially when they add no fire safety benefits.” Read More ›
New research reveals medical identity theft is up, affects 1.84 million U.S. victims
by Robin Slade, Medical Identity Fraud Alliance
According to the 2013 Survey on Medical Identity Theft, medical identity theft and “family fraud” are on the rise, with the number of victims affected by medical identity theft up nearly 20 percent within the last year. Read More ›