Consumer Protection

What college students -- and parents -- need to know about banking

Now that the fall semester's well under way, college students should take a moment to reconsider their banking options. According to a May 2012 report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, more than 900 colleges have made deals with banks to market prepaid debit cards to students. Some colleges offer students financial aid money preloaded on one of these cards, or even combine the campus ID with a stored-value card to make using these cards a more attractive option.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection, Higher Ed

College students’ debit card fees under scrutiny

The neediest college students who qualify for federal financial aid and receive that money on a debit card are being charged fees some call predatory: 50 cents per debit card purchase using a personal identification number, $10 a month for an inactive account, $20 for a replacement card.

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It's the 30th anniversary of Connecticut's New Car Lemon Law

Monday, October 1, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

National Consumer Program Director

Thirty years ago today, the nation's first new car lemon law took effect in Connecticut, providing consumers with a real remedy, or a refund, when their new car was a lemon. California's law, championed by Rosemary Shahan of CARS, followed very closely, but Connecticut was first. Every state (list at Center for Auto Safety) now has a new car lemon law and consumers are better off for it. Estimates are that the Connecticut law has saved consumers $60 million.

HR 4078 A BILL THAT WILL SHUTDOWN ALL PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONSUMER SAFEGUARDS

Friday, July 27, 2012

By | Student PIRGs

HR 4078 yesterday passed a floor vote in the House, this bill if passed by Congress will shutdown the U.S. regulatory system as we know it. Two other equally hazardous bills are rolled into it, H.R. 4607 and H.R. 3862. Combined, these bills will halt or delay virtually ALL rule making and public health protections and do absolutely nothing to stimulate the economy or new job opportunities. They would shut down safeguards that Americans take for granted. This bill will now pass to the Senate and if Congress makes this bill law we will see the following consequences.

POLL SHOWS VOTERS FAVOR STRONG OVERSIGHT OF WALL STREET AND BACK NEW CFPB

Madison, WI – July 18, 2012 -- Financial reforms enacted in response to the financial meltdown remain popular with those likely to vote in 2012, a new opinion poll by Lake Research Partners shows. The poll was commissioned by AARP, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and Americans for Financial Reform (AFR). Saturday July 21 will mark the two year anniversary of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a new agency with a strong record of successes for consumers despite facing constant unfounded political attacks in its first year of work.

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FOR ITS OWN FIRST BIRTHDAY, CFPB SENDS GIFTS TO CONSUMERS

Friday, July 20, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

National Consumer Program Director

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 21, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau turns one year old. The CFPB already has achieved a record of significant accomplishments in its first year to protect veterans, students, seniors, military families and all consumers.

New Account Fraud

The California Public Interest Research Group has released a new report on identity theft that should raise some eyebrows. Pulling together statistics from the High Technology Theft Apprehension and Prosecution program, the Federal Trade Commission, Javelin Strategy and Research, and other credible sources, CALPIRG paints an increasingly bleak picture concerning financial identity theft. Of greatest interest to your Guide was the information on new account fraud.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

Financial loss from identity theft increasing, report says

Fewer people were victims of identity theft last year than in 2010, but each person lost substantially more money, according to a new report by the California Public Interest Research Group.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

Californians Facing New Identity Theft Threats Study Says

California has the highest number of identity theft complaints in the nation, and the average cost to victims is skyrocketing.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

State Senate OK’s price scanner bill

With just two senators present, the state Senate approved a bill Monday morning that food stores in Massachusetts have been pushing unsuccessfully for a decade.