Apple, Walmart, McDonald’s: Who’s the biggest wage stiffer?
by Paul Buchheit, Nation of Change
Apple, Walmart and McDonald’s are among the largest corporate employers and profit-makers in the U.S., with a total of 2.6 million employees worldwide and combined 2012 pre-tax profits of more than $88 billion. All three companies pay the majority of their employees low wages, poverty-level wages. Read More ›
Hounded by debt collectors? Knowing one’s rights key to dealing with collection agency tactics
by Associated Press, Washington Post
Debt collection can be an unpleasant business, but it’s a big one. The industry generates $12.2 billion in revenue for the roughly 4,500 firms chasing down borrowers who owe money on credit cards, auto loans and other accounts, according to figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read More ›
California officials call JPMorgan settlement ‘vindication’ for electricity charges
by Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
Calling it a “vindication for California ratepayers,” the managers of the state’s electricity grid today hailed a $410 million settlement between federal regulators and investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co., and a return of $124 million in profits to California. Read More ›
How the post office sells your address update to anyone who pays (and the little-known loophole to opt out)
by Adam Tanner, Forbes
It’s all there in the fine print when you sign up for a change of address: “We do not disclose your personal information to anyone, except in accordance with the Privacy Act.” Then it lists a number of exceptions including “to mailers, if already in possession of your name and old mailing address, as an address correction service.” Read More ›
FDA’s proposed rules to improve safety of imported foods
by Chris Morran, The Consumerist
“We must work toward global solutions to food safety so that whether you serve your family food grown locally or imported you can be confident that it is safe,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. Read More ›
California political watchdog rebuffs request by Carlos Slim’s firm
by Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
California’s political watchdog agency is not pursuing an enforcement action against an immigrants rights group that was requested by a company owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. Co-founder of the group said he was pleased that “the FPPC did not allow itself to be used by TracFone and Carlos Slim to do their dirty work.” Read More ›
Ballot measure filed to raise California’s medical damages cap
by Jeremy B. White, Sacramento Bee
A coalition has been lobbying this year to change a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. They argue the current limit, put in place in 1975, is outdated and insufficient to cover the prolonged affects of doctor negligence or botched medical procedure. Read More ›
How to go completely invisible on Facebook
by Steven Tweedie, Business Insider
When you’re finished, no one but you will be able to see your Facebook activity, view your photos, or see where you’ve checked in. Your current friends will still be able to view your basic profile — there’s no way around this — but all your activity will be blank. Read More ›
Auditor gives high marks to PUC consumer support program disliked by utilities and corporations
by Ken Broder, AllGov.com
When consumers square off with big corporations and utilities before California’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC), it helps to have help. And they get some from the state, which funds the Intervenor Compensation Program to pay certain individuals and groups to participate in proceedings. Big corporations and utilities … Read More ›
Snuffing fire fee might not mean refunds
by Michael Gardner, San Diego Union Tribune
Nearly 800,000 rural homeowners may not receive refunds if the state’s disputed $150 annual fire prevention fee is eventually declared illegal. That’s because those homeowners failed to immediately file an important form along with sending their checks to the state last year. Read More ›
California seeks documents from Bridgepoint Education in false advertising probe
by Robert Jablon, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle
California asked a court to order Bridgepoint Education to turn over hundreds of thousands of records as the state investigates complaints of false advertising at for-profit colleges. Read More ›
California’s “Made in USA” label stays strong
Businesses providing 100% American-made products rely on accurate labeling when they undertake campaigns to encourage consumers to buy their products. Without such standards, companies could mislead consumers without fear of liability. AB 890 was rejected by the Senate and SB 661 was held by the author, but the battle isn’t over yet. Read More ›
Progress on toxic flame retardant protections
For nearly four decades, an outdated California furniture flammability standard has led to the widespread use of toxic flame retardant chemicals, without the promised benefits of reducing fire deaths. Read More ›