When caller ID gets spoofed
by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times
The goal of spoofing is to trick people into picking up the phone when their caller ID shows an innocuous name or number. Apparently, it’s legal. Read More ›
Auto insurance in California costs less than it did 25 years ago
by Harvey Rosenfield and Carmen Balber, Consumer Watchdog
Californians spent less on auto insurance in 2010 than they did in 1989, a rate reduction that no other state in the nation achieved according to a new analysis of insurance industry data. Read More ›
Assembly, in a reversal, votes to preserve public records law
by Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
The Assembly voted to maintain a mandate that local governments provide public documents upon request, but some lawmakers criticized the move as embarrassing and political theater. Read More ›
Salary Surfer, California community college website, approximates earning potential
by Sarah Rohrs, Huffington Post
New “Salary Surfer” website allows students to search earnings by area of study. Read More ›
AB 844: Trojan Horse that would have destroyed credit card privacy protections
The bill was hijacked by retail industry lobbyists and amendments turned AB 844 into a vehicle to eliminate privacy protections for credit card transactions at brick-and-mortar businesses. The author held the bill until 2014, and has reaffirmed his commitment to work with us to restore it as a pro-privacy bill.
Cyber attacks on the rise as credit, debit card numbers become commodities
by Claudia Buck, Sacramento Bee
For consumers, the best precaution is simple: Routinely check your monthly credit card and bank statements for suspicious charges. Read More ›
Aetna will exit California’s individual health insurance market
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Aetna said it would stop selling individual health insurance policies in California next month, and nearly 50,000 existing policyholders will have to find new coverage by January. Read More ›
What’s in the budget?
by David Siders, Sacramento Bee
Highlights of the proposed state budget that begins July 1. Lawmakers approved the measures and Governor Brown has 12 days to act after receiving the bills. Read More ›
Debit card overdrafts can cost you big bucks
by Chris Fichera , Consumer Reports
U.S. banks bring in nearly $30 billion in fees every year from overdraft programs and non-sufficient fund charges, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read More ›
Schools eye smaller classes, teacher raises after California budget deal
by Diana Lambert and Jim Sanders, Sacramento Bee
After Gov. Brown and legislative leaders agreed to increase education funding, local districts are eager to expand programs for the first time since budget cuts hit schools in 2009. Read More ›
Hands-free systems in cars are more distracting than handheld phones, study says
by Gary Richards, San Jose Mercury News
The research shows that distracted drivers don’t move their eyes from the road as often; drivers check their mirrors less frequently and are less likely to notice hazards not directly in front of them. Read More ›
House panel to probe alleged seizure of California medical records by IRS
by Elise Viebeck, The Hill
A House committee launched another probe of the IRS after a lawsuit alleged that the agency improperly seized millions of personal medical records in California. Read More ›
Comcast is turning homes into public Wi-Fi hotspots
by Kevin Fitchard, Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Comcast has revealed that they already have the largest Wi-Fi hotspot in the U.S., and have plans to make that Wi-Fi network far bigger. Read More ›