Negative option billing is an especially insidious way to make people keep buying things from you, and it’s an especially big problem online. Most products promising a “free trial” use it, and the method sells products like credit monitoring, college financial aid help, skin care products, weight loss supplements and shoes. Canceling these subscriptions can be a huge hassle, and wouldn’t it be easier if opt-out subscriptions just weren’t a thing? [More]
Government Policy
Legislation Would Give FDA Mandatory Authority To Recall Drugs
By 2.17.17
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed that it had found varying and elevated levels of a potentially deadly toxin in teething tablets sold under the Hyland’s brand. Despite the dangers posed by the tablets, the FDA couldn’t order a recall of the products — and the manufacturer refused to. But that could change in the future, as recently introduced legislation would give the agency the authority to order mandatory recalls of drugs and homeopathic products. [More]
Pro-Marijuana Lawmakers Form First Ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus
By 2.17.17
Now that marijuana is legal in some form or another — whether for recreational or medicinal use — in 28 states, a bipartisan group of four lawmakers have joined forces to create the first Congressional Cannabis Caucus, aimed at reconciling federal regulations banning marijuana with states’ laws. [More]
Big Retail Chains Keep Playing Chicken With Their Tax Bills
By 2.16.17
If a strategy used by a national chain retailer works in one city or state, they’re certain to try it on others. The dark store strategy that has helped retailers in some areas slash their property tax bills by sort-of-but-not-really threatening to close is spreading, and has now reached Wisconsin. [More]
Appeals Court Will Rehear Case Involving Constitutionality Of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
By 2.16.17
Four months after a three-judge panel issued a 2-1 ruling that the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is unconstitutional, the full Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has agreed to rehear the issue. [More]
FTC Investigation Finds 23% Of Funeral Homes Don’t Provide Price Lists
By 2.15.17
The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule is a bit of consumer protection that one doesn’t think about much unless until shopping for funeral services. Fortunately, the FTC sends undercover investigators out across the country to check whether individual funeral homes are treating customers in a way that complies with the rule. [More]
Lawmakers Introduce Legislation That Would Abolish The CFPB
By 2.15.17 — Updated: 2.16.17
The future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to remain in question with yet another attack being lobbed at the Bureau this week as lawmakers introduced new legislation both in the House and Senate that would abolish the agency. [More]
Aetna And Humana Give Up On Merger Dreams, Agree To Part Ways
By 2.14.17
Alas, it seems that for two companies this Valentine’s Day brings them a breakup they never wanted: After more than a year of trying, Aetna and Humana have officially called it quits, and given up on their plans to merge into corporate unity. [More]
Sodium Warnings Will Stay On The Menu In NYC After Court Ruling
By 2.10.17
Nine months after a New York court denied a request from a restaurant trade group to stop New York City’s rule requiring warning labels on foods high in sodium from going into effect. The eateries took their gripe to an appeals court, which today ruled that these warnings aren’t going anywhere. [More]
FBI Attorney: Tech Companies Are Helping Dumb Criminals By Providing Quality Encryption
By 2.9.17
Much of the debate about encrypted devices and messaging services has been centered on more sophisticated criminal or terrorist activities, where the people involved are actively searching out ways to avoid detection by law enforcement. However, the FBI’s top attorney contends that tech companies may be inadvertently giving dimwitted crooks a leg up by making quality encryption so widely available. [More]
Bank-Backed Congressman Introducing Law To Gut Consumer Financial Protections
By 2.9.17
Less than a week after President Trump signed a mostly symbolic executive order directing federal regulators to revise the rules established by the 2010 financial reforms, one lawmaker (whose campaign just happens to have been heavily financed by big banks) is planning to introduce legislation to scale back consumer protections and allow banks to take more risks. [More]
Office Of Government Ethics Website Overwhelmed After White House Push For “Ivanka’s Stuff”
By 2.9.17 — Updated: 2.10.17
Following this morning’s comment by White House special adviser Kellyanne Conway that people “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” the U.S. Office of Government Ethics says its website was pushed offline by the apparent rush of people looking to voice their opinion on the matter. [More]
Have Your Devices Or Accounts Been Searched At The Border?
By 2.9.17
When entering the United States, have agents taken away your computer or other devices, or have they demanded social media passwords? The Electronic Frontier Foundation is gathering stories from people who have had to surrender their devices or their social media account information at the border when it’s not clear what the feds are doing with this information. [More]
White House Staffer Kellyanne Conway Encourages People To “Go Buy Ivanka’s Stuff”
By 2.9.17
In the wake of multiple stores dropping or de-emphasizing Ivanka Trump’s women’s clothing line, a senior White House official went on TV this morning to tell people to “Go out and buy Ivanka’s stuff.” [More]
China Now Taking Fingerprints Of All Foreign Visitors
By 2.9.17
Heading to China soon? Be prepared to have your fingerprints taken when you arrive, as part of the country’s efforts to boost security at its borders. [More]
Taxpayers Have A Bill Of Rights Too
By 2.8.17
It’s tax season, which means you should be preparing your return or getting ready to do so, if only so an identity thief doesn’t get there first and file a fake return to swipe your refund. What you should remember as you file and if you encounter any problems with the IRS is that taxpayers have specific rights that apply to everyone. [More]
A Supplement Company Sued Over Research It Didn’t Like… And Lost
By 2.8.17
Unlike FDA-approved medications, makers of dietary supplements are not required to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. That shouldn’t stop independent researchers from doing their own tests to find out if a product works or is dangerous, but when one Harvard professor tried to do just that, supplement makers tried to shut him up.. [More]
Why You Should Care That All FCC Settlements Must Now Go Through Full Commission Vote
By 2.8.17 — Updated: 2.9.17
New FCC chair Ajit Pai is a very busy man. After only a few weeks sitting behind the big desk, he’s killed off cable set-top box reform, abandoned rate caps on prison calls, scuttled Lifeline expansion, and decided violating net neutrality (which he hates) through zero-rating is officially not the FCC’s problem. Having accomplished all those goals, Pai is now targeting the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau, potentially making it more difficult to hold wrongdoing telecom companies accountable. [More]
