Blog

FTC Releases Top Complaints for 2011, Identity Theft Tops the List

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Consumer Advocate

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2011. Unsurprisingly, identity theft complaints topped the list.

Consumer Protection

WH urges privacy rights, industry promises "Do Not Track Sometimes" while states investigate Google

Thursday, February 23, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

Consumer Program Director

As web giants amass more and more information about consumers for behavioral targeting and even "social discrimination" -- which can include differential pricing for the same product or the use of web tracking data and falsely-flagged websites to promote certain brandname drug use -- the White House has called for a privacy bill of rights. Companies and powerful industry lobbies seeking to keep those rights weak simultaneously rolled out their own "Do Not Track Us Sometimes" button.

Consumer Protection

Today, CFPB to announce overdraft fee investigation, unveil "penalty box" disclosure, possibly end $39 lattes.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

By | Ed Mierzwinski

Consumer Program Director

At a news conference in NYC today, Director Richard Cordray of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will announce a major investigation of bank overdraft fee practices and propose a model "penalty box" disclosure to appear on bank statements. The investigation could end the $39 latte-- $4 bucks for the coffee, $35 for the debit card overdraft fee.

Consumer Protection

Audit Uncovers Extensive Flaws in Foreclosures

Thursday, February 16, 2012

By | Jon Fox

Consumer Advocate

An audit by San Francisco county officials of about 400 recent foreclosures there determined that almost all involved either legal violations or suspicious documentation.