74% of consumers support approving CFPB director
by Mary Beth Quirk, Consumerist
This week the Senate will vote to confirm a director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Richard Cordray, who has been overseeing the bureau for the entirety of its existence since Jan 2012. Read More ›
New round of fire fee bills coming
by Michael Gardner, San Diego Union Tribune
A controversial fire prevention fee charged to Californians who live in rural regions defended by Cal Fire enters its second year with a new round of bills going out July 12. When California lawmakers adopted the annual fire fee of $150 per home, they reasoned that those who live in those regions — called “state responsibility areas” — should help cover some of Cal Fire’s costs. Read More ›
Fraud fear raised in California’s health exchange
by Judy Lin, Associated Press Writer, Daily Democrat
As California prepares to launch its health care exchange, consumer groups are worried the uninsured could fall victim to fraud, identity theft or other crimes at the hands of some of the very people who are supposed to help them enroll. Read More ›
Urban Outfitters slapped with lawsuit over consumer data collection
by Sapna Maheshwari, Buzz Feed
It has become standard practice in the retail business for cashiers to request the ZIP code of customers paying with a credit card. But while most consumers readily supply this information, it isn’t required to check out. In fact, giving the impression it is required may be illegal. Read More ›
Sacramento, statewide foreclosures plunge in first half of year
by Mark Glover, Sacramento Bee
Year-over-year foreclosure activity default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions in California plunged dramatically through the first half of this year. Read More ›
Student loan solution still stymies Senate
by Renee Schoof, Sacramento Bee
Under current law, Congress sets student loan rates. The 3.4 percent for federally subsidized loans expired July 1 and rose to 6.8 percent because lawmakers could not agree on a new plan. Read More ›
PUC drops PG&E penalty proposal
by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle
The CPUC’s safety division has dropped a proposal that would have limited PG&E’s penalty to the money it was already spending to upgrade its gas system. Read More ›
Apple conspired to fix e-book prices, judge rules
by Editor, BBC News
The judge said the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy. Read More ›
State Senate panel backs AT&T in clash on LifeLine phone service
by Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
The Senate panel supports a bill backed by AT&T that turns LifeLine into a voucher system and gets rid of most oversight by state regulators. Read More ›
Medic-alert robocalls a scam, BBB warns
by Editor, The Record
A new wave of scam robocalls is spreading throughout the region. The BBB is warning residents, especially seniors, about automated calls offering free medical alert systems that prompt consumers to disclose credit card information. Read More ›
Student loan rates double without Congress’ action
by Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer, San Jose Mercury News
The interest rates on subsidized loans doubled and now stands at 6.8 percent, higher than most loans available from private lenders. Read More ›
CFC supports nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Cordray currently serves as director at the CFPB, but his appointment will expire if the Senate does not confirm him by the end of this year. Read More ›
Data breaches accessed information of 2.5 million Californians
by Annalise Mantz, Sacramento Bee
Electronic data breaches put the personal information of 2.5 million Californians at risk in 2012. Read More ›