If we had a penny for every vehicle recalled so far this week, we’d buy all of our loyal readers an ice cream cone. Okay, maybe not, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been an overabundance of recalls lately. And we can add one more company to that list: BMW. [More]
Government Policy
GM Puts Engineers Tied To Ignition Recall On Leave
By 4.10.14
In the middle of an investigation into why General Motors allowed vehicles with defective ignition switches to not only hit the market, but continue to be sold and driven for years while at least 13 people died, the carmaker has placed to engineers directly involved with this issue on paid leave. [More]
Banks Improve Disclosures, Falling Behind On Overdraft Fees, Binding Arbitration Clauses
By 4.9.14
Checking accounts come in all shapes and sizes to fit every consumer’s needs – fine, not every consumer. While options can be good when you’re shopping around for a new bank, they also lead to a plethora of fees and risks for consumers. While some practices have improved, a new Pew Charitable Trusts report shows banks have a long way to go and it’s time the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action. [More]
No, You Cannot Fly Around With WWI Artillery Shells In Your Checked Baggage
By 4.9.14
Much like the time Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips was told he couldn’t bring grenades, inactive or not, in his luggage while flying, some teens on the way home from visiting European battlefields had to part with their souvenir World War I artillery shells. Bummer. [More]
Bank Of America Ordered To Repay Consumers $727M For Sketchy Marketing Practices
By 4.9.14
Bank of America just received a hefty bill from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to repay $727 million to consumers wronged by the bank’s deceptive marketing practices regarding credit card add-on products. [More]
Comcast Officially Files for TWC Merger, Claims Broadband Competition Is Fine Because You Have A Smartphone
By 4.8.14
It’s a big day for Comcast: not only did they win a big old golden poo this morning, but also they formally took the first step in the regulatory dance that stands between them and their purchase of Time Warner Cable by filing a mountain of paperwork with the FCC. The massive document contains all of Comcast’s explanations for why the merger is the best idea ever… and it’s a doozy. Let’s take a closer look at their arguments, shall we? [More]
FDA’s New Rules: Honey With Added Sweeteners Might Be Sweet, But It Ain’t Honey
By 4.8.14
Just because something looks like honey, is sticky like honey and is sweet like honey, doesn’t mean it’s the real thing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today in new draft guidelines. That means food companies that add sweeteners to pure honey will have to tell consumers it’s not the totally real deal and label the products as a “blend.” [More]
Ford Recalls 435,000 Vehicles For Possible Steering Issues, Possibly Unsafe Seats
By 4.7.14
For much of the United States winter is in the rearview mirror. But for consumers in 20 states and the District of Columbia, winter’s effects could continue to linger if they drive a Ford. The company recently announced two new recalls affecting more than 435,000 vehicles. [More]
Jerk.com Accused Of Using Facebook Profiles To Con People Into Paying To Remove “Jerk” Label
By 4.7.14
The Internet has its share of websites that let people post negative comments and statements about individuals and businesses, and then turn around and allow the insulted parties to remove that content (for a fee, of course). The Federal Trade Commission has accused one such site of creating millions of fake profiles in order to scam Facebook users out of $30 each. [More]
Potentially Harmful Chemicals Find Their Way Into Our Food Thanks To 56-Year-Old FDA Rule
By 4.7.14
There are a number of federal protections to keep unsafe chemicals out of our favorite foods. But more often than not, those protections fail consumers. A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council explores one of those failures: Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) designation. [More]
April Food And Supplement Recall Roundup: So Long, Organic Peppercorns
By 4.7.14
In our April Recall Roundup for food, supplements, and even a few over-the-counter drugs, the lemon cookies have peanut butter, the vegan hot chocolate mix has dairy, and a lot of organic peppercorns might be contaminated with salmonella. [More]
Believe It Or Not, Outlawing Payday Loans Will Not Lead To Looting & Pillaging
By 4.6.14
Critics of payday lending say the practice traps many borrowers in a debt spiral, forcing them to take out additional loans to pay back the first. Yet these short-term loans do have proponents (many of them profiting from the industry) who claim that without this pricey option for quick cash, desperate consumers will turn to more unsavory means, leading to increased crime rates and other doom and gloom predictions. But does that really happen? [More]
Stories You Might Have Missed Because You Were Too Busy Being Awesome
April 5, 2014
We post a lot of stories during the week, and we know that most of you have jobs, families, lives, hobbies, nagging itches and other more important things to do than read every single thing we write. So for those who might be playing catch-up on the weekend, here are some of the things you might have missed… [More]
Yelp’s Controversial Business Tactics Contribute To 2,000 Complaints Received by FTC
By 4.4.14
Consumers head to Yelp to provide and/or peruse the praise and criticism left by other users about local businesses. But the tables have turned a bit with thousands of people taking their complaints about Yelp and its business practices to federal regulators. [More]
Bank Of America May Pay $800 Million For Questionable Credit Card Add-Ons
By 4.4.14
There’s another big legal bill on the horizon for Bank of America, as reports indicate the bank may soon agree to pay $800 million to settle allegations tied to sketchy add-on services for credit card customers. [More]
Proposal To Regulate E-Cigarettes Expected Soon, FDA Says
By 4.3.14
While critics of e-cigarettes raise concerns about everything from exploding devices to poisoning risks to marketing and advertising to minors, there are currently no specific federal regulations on these products. That is likely to change soon, says the head of the FDA. [More]
FTC: Deceptive Debt Collectors Must Pay $3.3 Million In Consumer Refunds
By 4.3.14
We here at Consumerist are always a little happy when deceptive debt collection businesses get what’s coming to ’em from the Federal Trade Commission. But those feelings grow exponentially when we find out said company will be forking over millions of dollars to refund abused consumers. [More]
Yahoo Announces New Security Measures To Keep Snoopers From Snooping
By 4.3.14
If security is a blanket, Yahoo is trying to roll itself up in more layers of that blanket to make a nice little cocoon for its users, designed to keep the government and others from snooping. Following Google’s recent new security measures, Yahoo says it’s also completed a new system that encrypts all info going from one Yahoo data center to another. [More]
