MORE ON: consumer protection

Daily Report: Money and Politics

Insurers push disaster costs to consumers and taxpayers, report finds

February 28, 2012, 12:05 AM
Insurance companies that cover property damage from catastrophes are increasingly pushing costs onto the backs of consumers and taxpayers, according to a new report from the advocacy group Consumer Federation of America. Corporate insurers have “mastered” making ... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Health officials recall lead-tainted candy

November 10, 2011, 12:05 AM
The California Department of Public Health initiated a recall Tuesday of an Indian candy that is tainted with high levels of lead. The candy, sold under the brand name Roopal Swad, was analyzed by the Public Health Department and found to contain up to 0.18 parts per million of lead. In... + read more
Daily Report: General Assignment

Some credit unions also do controversial payday loans, advocates warn

November 4, 2011, 12:05 AM
While many Californians are considering transferring their money from banks to credit unions by tomorrow as part of "Bank Transfer Day," consumer advocates are urging customers to look closely at the business practices of some credit unions. Advocates are concerned about those... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

California man caught with 300,000 identities

October 31, 2011, 12:05 AM
A Southern California man was convicted of identity theft after authorities discovered he had obtained more than 300,000 personal profiles. While not the most authorities have seen, it's a large cache of personal information, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Brown. Robert Delgado Jr.,... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

FTC accuses debt collection agency of abusive practices

October 27, 2011, 12:05 AM
A U.S. district court has temporarily halted the operations and frozen the assets of a debt collection company accused of engaging in abusive and deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission claims that Rincon Management Services LLC of Corona called consumers’ family and... + read more
Daily Report: K–12

Researchers question toys that claim to teach

October 7, 2011, 12:05 AM
Walk down the aisles of any toy store, and chances are you’ll see an assortment of claims on the boxes. Some products say they'll teach babies about phonetics and reading. Some toys claim to help children develop math and problem-solving skills. But researchers say many claims are... + read more
Daily Report: Environment

EPA fines Logitech over anti-germ keyboard

October 3, 2011, 12:05 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency has fined Logitech Inc. $261,000 for advertising that one of its keyboards protects users from bacteria and microbes, the agency announced last week. While the keyboard incorporates the pesticide AgION silver compound, the EPA stated the pesticide protects... + read more
Daily Report: General Assignment

FCC accuses phone card firms of deception

September 8, 2011, 12:05 AM
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking to levy $20 million in fines against four companies that sell prepaid phone cards because of what the agency believes are deceptive marketing practices. If the fines are approved, STi Telecom Inc. (formerly Epana Networks Inc.), Lyca Tel LLC,... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

New federal agency wants your credit card complaint

July 28, 2011, 12:05 AM
Ever had a complaint about your credit card company but felt no one was listening? Now someone is: The new federal agency geared toward protecting consumers’ financial health is ready and waiting to take your complaint. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now accepting credit... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Dozens of personal care products mislabeled as 'organic,' lawsuit says

June 20, 2011, 12:05 AM
Dozens of shampoos, lotions and other personal care products are labeled "organic" even though they contain few or no organic ingredients – a violation of California law, according to an environmental watchdog group.  In a lawsuit filed last week in Alameda County... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Paying rent with credit card lets you rack up perks, but has pitfalls

June 16, 2011, 12:05 AM
If you’re one of those people snatching up airline miles with each dollar you spend, here’s a way to get a bushel of miles every month: Sign up for an online bill-pay service that allows you to pay your rent by credit card. “It’s a fascinating development,” says... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Bill would require 'track changes' on electronic medical records

June 13, 2011, 12:05 AM
A bill working its way through the state Legislature would make it more difficult for health care providers to modify or delete electronic medical records and leave no record of the change.  “Changes to an EHR (electronic health record) can go unnoticed and can be harder to... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

HP recalls batteries after burn injuries

June 2, 2011, 12:05 AM
The possibility of being burned by your laptop probably isn’t something you spend a lot of time thinking about. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission says some consumers – seven, to be precise – were burned by defective batteries in their HP laptop computers. ... + read more
A child's backpack tested for lead
Daily Report: Health and Welfare, Environment

Some back-to-school products contain dangerous levels of lead

September 10, 2010, 12:05 AM
Parents packing their kids' lunch for the first days of school may be unaware of the potential dangers in one type of lunchbox. Or that some pencil pouches and a Spider-Man backpack that were available this summer could pose a threat to their children's neurological development. High... + read more
Daily Report: Money and Politics

Report claims phone deregulation hurt consumer protection

July 20, 2010, 12:05 AM
The California Public Utilities Commission has failed to keep telephone rates fair and reasonable for consumers since the industry was deregulated in 2006, a new state Senate report claims. Two phone companies – AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. – dominate the... + read more
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