Consumer Protection

PROTECTING CONSUMER SAFETY—Toys should not be toxic or dangerous for children to play with. Our food should not make us sick. The terms for banking and credit accounts should be clear and easy to understand.

LOOKING OUT FOR CONSUMERS

CALPIRG’s consumer program works to alert the public to hidden dangers and scams and to ban anti-consumer practices and unsafe products.

TROUBLE IN TOYLAND

For 27 years, CALPIRG’s "Trouble In Toyland" report has surveyed store shelves and identified choking hazards, noise hazards and other dangers. Our report has led to at least 150 recalls and other regulatory actions over the years.

Get our tips for buying safer toys.

BIGGER BANKS, BIGGER FEES

In April, CALPIRG released a report in which we surveyed more than 350 bank branches and revealed that fewer than half of branches obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers, while one in four provided no fee information at all. We also found that despite widespread stories about the “death” of free checking, free and low-cost checking choices are still widely available, if consumers shop around.

Find out how to beat high bank fees.

SEE ALL CONSUMER RESOURCES

Issue updates

Blog Post | Consumer Protection

California AG Launches New Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit | Jon Fox

CALPIRG applauds the creation of the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit in the Department of Justice.

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Reuters: How you can benefit from the Capital One settlement

Ed Mierzwinski, U.S. PIRG consumer program director, comments on the first enforcement action by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, which is about to hit its first anniversary.

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG | Consumer Protection

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

Financial reforms enacted in response to the financial meltdown remain popular voters, on eve of 1st year anniversary of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection, Health Care

Hospitals in the Bay Area are Most Expensive in the State for Surgeries

A new report by CALPIRG Education Fund found large discrepancies between what California hospitals charge for common surgeries, which appear unrelated to quality of care.

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News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

AG Announces New Rules to Improve Online Privacy Protections for Consumers

“Having a written privacy policy will force developers to think about the privacy impacts of their products,” said Jon Fox. “Hopefully this will give mobile users  more control over who accesses their personal information and how it’s used, creating a safer online environment.”

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News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Apps for Kids Leave Parents Guessing about Privacy

Parents are often left in the dark in regards to whether a mobile app poses risks related to the collection, use, and sharing of their children’s personal information.

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KPCC: A defense of internet piracy laws SOPA and PIPA

Jon Fox responds to President of the Directors Guild of America, Taylor Hackford's support of SOPA, highlighting risks to consumers.

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KGO: Injuries still occur after Bumbo baby seat recall

"It's insufficient to keep kids safe," said Jon Fox of the California Public Interest Research Group. "parents still need to know there is serious risks [with the Bumbo chair]."

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K-CBS: Group Offers Tips For Cutting Cell Phone Costs

CALPIRG releases a guide called “Making the Right Call” to help consumers get those cell phone costs in line.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

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

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.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Audit Uncovers Extensive Flaws in Foreclosures | Jon Fox

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

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Consumer groups call on CPSC to take action on Bumbo Baby Seat | Jon Fox

CALPIRG urges CPSC to remove Bumbo International’s Baby Seat from the market and to allow the manufacturer to address the serious safety concerns in the future.  

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

CFPB Director Cordray speaks on payday loans | Jon Fox

CFPB Director Cordray speaks on payday loans during field hearing in Birmingham, AL, 20 Jan. 2012.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Testimony On Bank Interchange Fee Ripoff | Pedro Morillas

Read my testimony to the California State Legislature on the bank Interchange Fee ripoff below.

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TOY SAFETY TIPS ON-THE-GO

From toxic chemicals to choking hazards to dangerous magnets, see what dangerous toys to watch out for while you shop.

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