It’s just like reality TV, but not at all — America, here are your top five big greedy banks, and here is the $25 billion mortgage settlement they’re all going home with, now that a federal judge has approved it. That’s their load to carry, after allegations of foreclosure abuses and misconduct in servicing home loans. [More]
Government Policy
Aetna Hikes Health Insurance Rates For California Small Businesses
By 4.6.12
Health insurer Aetna has raised its rates for California small business clients considerably, making for an average increase of 8 percent, with some businesses seeing increases of as much as 21 percent. The California State Insurance Commissioner called the hikes “excessive.” [More]
Government Might Let Big Chicken Inspect Its Own Poo-Covered Poultry
By 4.5.12
Federal food safety inspectors already have so much to do, why not just hand over the job of watching birds go down an assembly line to factory employees? What could possibly go wrong? A whole lot, say opponents of a current proposal by the Agriculture Department to allow private companies take over inspections at poultry plants. [More]
American Airlines Staffer Refuses To Let Me Fly Twice In One Day
By 4.5.12
We’ve posted numerous stories in recent years about airline staffers booting passengers from flights or having them detained after the plane lands for reasons that seem pretty petty. And here’s the story of a Consumerist reader who says he wasn’t even allowed on his plane because an American Airlines employee had issues with both of his passports, even though the TSA had no problems. [More]
You Probably Shouldn't Trust Document Forgers With Your Personal Information
By 4.5.12
Sophisticated new ID-authentication systems mean that determined teens need sophisticated new fake IDs in order to get into clubs and buy booze. Enter ID Chief, a now-defunct site based in China. Provided with your photo, name, and Social Security number, ID Chief could provide you with a license from any state you choose, good enough to fool the scanners at even the finest liquor stores. The price? A money order for $75. Oh, and they sell your personal information to the highest bidder. [More]
Illinois Attorney General Twists AMC's Arm, Makes It Accommodate Disabled Moviegoers
By 4.5.12
It took pressure from the Illinois Attorney General, but AMC Theatres agreed to make adjustments that allow blind and deaf people to enjoy movies in more of the chain’s theaters in the state. The chain agreed to add captioning and audio-description features to 460 screens. Before the deal, only a couple dozen AMC theaters in Illinois offered the technology. [More]
White House 'Tax Receipt' Shows Where Your Tax Dollars Are Being Spent
By 4.4.12
With only a few days to go before we’re all supposed to have filed out tax returns, the White House has launched an updated version of its interactive Tax Receipt to show people where their tax dollars are going. [More]
Ohio Lawmakers Choose Expediency Over Consumers' Rights
By 4.4.12
Earlier this week, the Governor of Ohio signed into law new legislation that gives businesses accused of cheating customers a new option for resolving lawsuits while taking away rights from consumers who sue. [More]
Auto Loan Modification Services Accused Of Bilking Consumers
By 4.4.12
While a lot of focus has been put on scammers who trick homeowners into costly schemes by promising to reduce their mortgage payments, people are also being taken in by bogus businesses that claim to help with auto loans. [More]
Putting A Knife In A Jar Of Mayo Probably Won't Fool The TSA
By 4.4.12
We’ve done our fair share of criticizing the Transportation Security Administration for confiscating silly things like cupcakes, subjecting fliers to ridiculous ordeals and workers who steal from passengers, but when it comes to trying to sneak weapons past security at John F. Kennedy Airport in a jar full of another banned item? Yeah, they’ll probably get ya. [More]
FDA Memo: Sushi Salmonella Suspected Of Sickening 90
By 4.4.12
According to an internal memo that was sent around the Food and Drug Administration offices, a salmonella outbreak that’s spread throughout sushi restaurants in 19 states and the District of Columbia could be responsible for making at least 90 people sick. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the outbreak, which has sent seven people to the hospital. [More]
FTC: Payday Lender Can't Avoid Prosecution By Claiming Tribal Affiliation
By 4.3.12
A Colorado payday loan operation that allegedly piled on undisclosed and inflated fees — and which attempted to avoid prosecution by claiming affiliation with Native American tribes — has been sued by the Federal Trade Commission, which says the sovereign immunity laws don’t prevent investigations by the feds. [More]
Teacher's Aide Claims She Was Fired For Refusing To Give Up Facebook Password
By 4.2.12
It’s not just students that are getting in trouble for having Facebook accounts — one teacher’s aide says she was fired from her elementary school for refusing to hand over the password to her social networking account. The teacher is now embroiled in a legal battle with her former employers. [More]
"Cash Grant" Robocallers Hit With Record $30 Million In Penalties
By 4.2.12
Less than a week after shutting down a robocalling nuisance responsible for billions of auto-dialed scam calls, the Federal Trade Commission has taken down another prerecorded perp. These deceptive dialers have been hit with $30 million in penalties, the largest amount ever imposed for violating the guidelines of the Do Not Call Registry. [More]
Court Rules That Pay TV's Nasty Habit Of Bundling Channels Is Legal
By 4.2.12
Pay TV companies make bundles by bundling channels together in subscription packages, forcing customers to pay inflated fees for packages that are stuffed with channels they don’t care about. The U.S. Court of Appeals could have done subscribers a solid by forcing cable and satellite companies to change their modus operandi, but it ruled that there’s nothing illegal about the exploitative practice, upholding a judgment in a lower court. [More]
NHTSA Investigates Engine Fire Reports In Pair Of Vehicles
By 4.2.12
Having a car that looks hot is one thing, but one that feels hot because its engine is on fire is another. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is looking into reports that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2010 Jeep Wrangler are suffering engine fires. The investigations could possibly lead to recalls, but there’s no action on that front as of yet. Both Chevy and Jeep say there have been no reports of injuries or deaths due to possible defects. [More]
FDA Decides Against Banning BPA In Food & Beverage Containers
By 3.30.12
Bisphenol A — better known as “BPA” — is a chemical used in the epoxy resin linings of a lot of food and beverage containers. Studies have linked BPA to everything from increased risks of certain cancers to diabetes, reproductive abnormalities, and heart disease. But the Food and Drug Administration says there is not enough evidence yet to ban its use in food packaging. [More]
Tobacco Companies Required To Report Levels Of Dozens Of Chemicals
By 3.30.12
The Food & Drug Administration says there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke. And now the FDA says consumers have a right to know about the levels of 93 harmful or potentially harmful chemicals that are in the products they smoke and/or chew. [More]
