CA News & Special Reports Archive

2022

May

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - May 2022.
  This month's INSIDER features stories about our recent activities, including a webinar exploring the impact of COVID on small businesses and a project using FinTech to improve financial wellness. Hotline Chronicles relates a woman's difficulty in receiving her income tax refund after attempting to have it sent to a prepaid card. And, we announce new settlements in our Class Action Database.

February

• Consumer Action INSIDER - February 2022.
  The February INSIDER has information about a new Consumer Action and Consumer Federation of America project to educate California consumers about their privacy rights; links to English and Spanish videos about how you can help spread the word about the importance to your community of coronavirus vaccines; and a Hotline Chronicles story about one man's dissatisfaction with a competitive energy supplier's rates. Also, our regular features, Did you know?, CFPB Watch, and new settlements just added to our Class Action Database.

January

03

• Consumer Action INSIDER - January 2022.
  Start 2022 right with Consumer Action's INSIDER newsletter. Learn about what we are up to with the goal of improving consumer protections and consumer rights.

2021

October

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - October 2021.
  In this month's edition, we report on our upcoming 50th anniversary events, warn rental car customers about the often unexpected cost of tolls, highlight recent coalition efforts and CFPB activities, and alert readers to a class action suit against Wells Fargo for unrefunded GAP fees.

August

02

• Consumer Action INSIDER - August 2021.
  The August 2021 issue of Consumer Action's INSIDER newsletter includes our regular features highlighting our recent work with advocacy allies, the latest activities of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and another class action settlement you may be eligible to join. This month, we also announce publication of three new fact sheets, on the Emergency Broadband Benefit and on vaccine hesitancy; offer advice for anyone who ends up with a "lemon" RV; and link to numerous articles and videos we've contributed to Spanish-language media outlets.

June

30

• Consumer Action INSIDER - July 2021.
  The July issue of Consumer Action INSIDER features news of new publications to help you avoid pandemic-related fraud; a new webinar offering advice for getting back on track with your retirement savings if COVID-19 affected your finances; a Hotline Chronicles about rental security deposits and whether you can use them to pay your last month's rent; CFPB Watch; and a class action against TikTok for violating children's privacy rights.

May

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - May 2021.
  The May 2021 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER helps readers make sense of pandemic-related financial aid and other assistance, including efforts to keep renters and homeowners housed; gives readers tips on avoiding scam real estate investment seminars; presents the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's latest work to protect homeowners and those who are in debt; details our recent coalition efforts; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

March

31

• Consumer Action INSIDER - April 2021.
  The April 2021 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER describes our new Share Financial Data with Care FinTech educational campaign to help consumers stay security savvy while using financial technology apps and online platforms; outlines how our FinTech work has helped consumers save money, even during the pandemic; tells readers how to get out of an unwanted auto-renewal service; details our latest webinar on food insecurity during the pandemic (part of our COVID-19 Educational Project); presents the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's latest work to protect students, homeowners and retirees; details our recent coalition efforts; shares the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - March 2021.
  The March 2021 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER tells readers what they can do to avoid becoming a victim of tax fraud this year; outlines how AFCPE®, the Wells Fargo Foundation and Yellow Ribbon Network have launched a free, virtual financial counseling and coaching initiative available to everyone, regardless of financial situation; reveals what we're facing when it comes to mass evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the problem can be mitigated; tells readers how to file their taxes even without a W-2 form; outlines the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new leadership and mission-driven goals; details our recent coalition efforts; shares the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

February

26

• Debt collection (Winter 2020-2021).
  In this issue, Consumer Action helps consumers learn how to exercise their debt collection rights: to demand information about a debt, stop a debt collector from contacting them, and avoid resurrecting debts that are too old to be sued over. The issue also discusses other key aspects of the laws and regulations designed to protect people being targeted by debt collectors, and includes a sample validation request and a communications preference letter you can customize and send to debt collectors.

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - February 2021.
  The February 2021 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER introduces the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new debt collection rule and what it will mean for debtors; highlights our latest COVID-19 Educational Project webinar, on disaster preparedness and recovery; guides internet users on what they can do to delete their personal information from the web; details our recent coalition efforts; shares the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

January

04

• Consumer Action INSIDER - January 2021.
  The January 2021 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER highlights our new guide to the Earned Income Tax Credit, titled Get Credit for Your Hard Work; outlines our work with funding partners (including Wells Fargo) to teach people how to best handle coronavirus-related challenges, including children's and teens' mental health and privacy in the age of remote learning; addresses the issue of free versus paid COVID-19 testing (and how you can find out if your insurance should cover tests); details our recent coalition efforts; shares the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

2020

December

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - December 2020.
  The December 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER highlights our Consumer Action News report on the long-term impact of racism on the finances of people of color; outlines our work with funding partners (including Wells Fargo and FHLBank San Francisco) to teach low-income and underserved people how to use FinTech to save money and improve their financial situation; teaches readers how to access their "tenant history" reports to see what landlords are saying about them; details our recent coalition efforts; shares the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and announces new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

November

03

• Consumer Action INSIDER - November 2020.
  The November 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER highlights our anniversary awards ceremony and "virtual convening" centering on the theme of Health is Wealth; our COVID Educational Project fact sheets and webinars; advice on what to do if you are having trouble contacting customer service during the pandemic; our recent coalition efforts; the latest happenings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

October

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - October 2020.
  The October 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER highlights our webinar on job loss in the pandemic (part of our COVID-19 Educational Project, sponsored by Wells Fargo, with additional support from AT&T, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, and Square); our use of the Financial Health Network’s FinHealth Score® Toolkit to gauge consumers' financial health using apps and other digital services to save money, etc.; advice on what to do if you bought a "lemon" (with or without a factory warranty); our recent coalition efforts; the latest CFPB happenings; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

August

31

• Consumer Action INSIDER - September 2020.
  The September 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER highlights our upcoming Health and Wealth virtual convening and annual awards ceremony (registration open now), and includes articles on “best practices” in issues-based online activism, Consumer Action's webinar on estate planning during the pandemic (part of our COVID-19 Educational Project, sponsored by Wells Fargo, with additional support from AT&T, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, and Square), the importance of registering your car with your state motor vehicle agency (rather than a third party), our recent coalition efforts, the latest CFPB happenings, and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

03

• Consumer Action INSIDER - August 2020.
  The August 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER features articles on an annual Federal Trade Commission (FTC) PrivacyCon event, which brought together academics, policymakers and advocates to consider the lack privacy rules around consumer health data (particularly relating to health and wellness apps); the many problems that come with purchasing and maintaining a timeshare--especially now during the coronavirus pandemic; Consumer Action's recent (and well-attended) webinar on COVID-19 scams and healthcare fraud; coverage of our coalition efforts; the latest CFPB happenings; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

July

13

• Health and wealth: The connection (Summer 2020).
  From learning that you owe thousands of dollars in surprise medical bills, to being hit with a lawsuit for unpaid hospital bills, life can be hard for healthcare consumers who are burdened by medical debt. And debt tends to cause stress and despair that spills into all corners of individual and family life. In this issue, Consumer Action looks at some innovative ways to help relieve the heavy debt burden, and examines the prospect of efficient, effective virtual medical care.

June

30

• Consumer Action INSIDER - July 2020.
  The July 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER features articles on how to "inoculate" yourself against COVID-19 disinformation and scams through our free monthly e-newsletter, SCAM GRAM; determining if you're being sold a fraudulent product or sold on a bogus payment method on websites like Craiglist; protecting your social media privacy by reading our two new fact sheets on how to change your privacy settings (one dedicated to Facebook); coverage of our coalition efforts; the latest CFPB happenings; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - June 2020.
  The June 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER features articles about the Consumer Federation of America's 54th Consumer Assembly (held virtually this year); our new publication on managing the privacy risks that come with smart homes (i.e., "Internet of Things" devices); what to do about prepaid cards that keep you from accessing the funds you deposited onto them; coverage of our Coalition Efforts; the latest CFPB happenings; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

May

• Consumer Action INSIDER - May 2020.
  The May 2020 issue of Consumer Action INSIDER features articles about our COVID-19 consumer financial resources guide; a health and technology webinar our staff participated in; how to stop recurring payments; coverage of our Coalition Efforts; and new settlements posted in our Class Action Database.

March

• Consumer Action INSIDER - March 2020.
  The March 2020 issue of the Consumer Action INSIDER explains how taxpayers can avoid falling victim to tax-related identity theft; details how market-rigging by Big Pharma is making medications (including generics) less accessible and affordable for consumers; describes how users can avoid getting hit with cancellation fees when they schedule services through apps; updates readers on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's partnership with the U.S. Department of Education (to help student borrowers by resolving lending complaints); and more.

February

03

• Consumer Action INSIDER - February 2020.
  The February 2020 issue of the Consumer Action INSIDER outlines our new "Get Covered" health insurance education and training module; invites readers to participate in our upcoming webinars on how FinTech can help consumers save money, budget, and more; explains how "spreading the word" can stop the spread of common scams; updates readers on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's work and asks the question: "Why isn't it providing financial relief to wronged consumers?"; and more.

January

01

• Consumer Action INSIDER - January 2020.
  The January 2020 issue of the Consumer Action INSIDER describes our updated Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) guide, Get Credit for Your Hard Work, which details how low-income workers are eligible for up to $6,557 with the EITC; advises readers of what to do if they're receiving loads of spam emails; describes the various coalition efforts we've recently joined (including one calling on Amtrak to end forced arbitration for passengers); updates readers on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and more.

2019

December

19

• The benefits of class actions (Winter 2019-2020).
  Class action cases are an important consumer protection tool. While they don’t often provide full compensation to harmed consumers, they play a vital role in promoting fair corporate behavior. In this issue of Consumer Action News we explore how class actions benefit consumers.