Claiming it had better things to do, the Department of Transportation issued only $1.2 million in airline fines last year, even as consumer complaints over fees and delays continued to rise. Five years ago, the agency issued over $8 million in fines, but now, they say they’re too busy working on “consumer rulemaking” and “consumer forums” to ensure that airlines honor consumer protection laws.
regulations
![FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dietcokeforthewin1.jpg?w=158&h=105&crop=1)
FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus
Last month, the FDA sent Coca-Cola a letter warning that their Diet Coke Plus (“it’s what plants crave”) violates FDA standards for products fortified with vitamins.
![New Toy Safety Rule Has Collateral Damage: Handmade Toy Manufacturers](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/122308-002-woodtoy158.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
New Toy Safety Rule Has Collateral Damage: Handmade Toy Manufacturers
Thanks to big companies like Mattel, this may be the last Christmas season for a lot of handmade or custom toys from small businesses.
![Pro-Consumer Regulation Needs Real Teeth So You Can Sue The Jerks](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/toothydog.jpg?w=158&h=187&crop=1)
Pro-Consumer Regulation Needs Real Teeth So You Can Sue The Jerks
If the recent economic meltdown has a bright spot, it is the possibility that smart regulation may return. There will always be those who will cheat if they can, putting both consumers and the market at risk. It cannot function properly without regulation to prevent cheating and ensure consumers are getting a fair deal. But without a private right of action and attorney fees, consumer protection regulations are nearly worthless. A “private right of action” means…
![Use Your Bank Accounts Every Three Years Or They Will Go To The State](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/captaincashymcmoneycatthefirst.jpg?w=225&h=225&crop=1)
Use Your Bank Accounts Every Three Years Or They Will Go To The State
Each year banks give states $4.7 billion belonging to people who failed to “initiate a transaction or communicate with the financial institution” in the past three years. The money isn’t lost forever, but getting it back can be a bureaucratic hassle full of forms and headaches.
![Airlines Have Bumped 343,000 Passengers This Year](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/mrbear1.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Airlines Have Bumped 343,000 Passengers This Year
Over a quarter-million passengers were bumped from flights in the past eight months, a number that is set to grow as airlines try to boost anemic profits by slashing fleets. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to compensate bumped passengers with cash or vouchers, but savvy passengers can leverage their situation to negotiate heftier payments…
![FDA Declares Bisphenol A Safe](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/081508-003-waterbottlebottom158.jpg?w=158&h=149&crop=1)
FDA Declares Bisphenol A Safe
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is the chemical used in various plastic bottles and can linings that Canada recently banned, consumers in Arkansas, California, and Ohio have filed lawsuits over, and Playtex and Nalgene have stopped using. The fear is that it’s toxic—studies on animals in Canada have shown that it’s damaging, and some tests in the U.S. suggest it’s harmful to humans as well. Critics of the anti-BPA movement point out that the human studies rely on super high dosages that never occur in real life, and that making safety decisions based on the general public’s fears isn’t exactly scientific.
![FCC Commissioner: Regulating Poor Comcast Compels Us To Regulate All Speech On The Internet. Huh?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/clownmcdowel_02.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
FCC Commissioner: Regulating Poor Comcast Compels Us To Regulate All Speech On The Internet. Huh?
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell (R-Obviously) recently warned conservative bloggers that the Commission’s decision to repudiate Comcast for crippling Bit Torrent could lead the government to start “dictating content policy” by requiring blogs to give equal time to opposing views. Ha! Of course, this can be avoided if we vote for the *ahem* “right” candidate in November.
![Senate Committee Votes To Rollback FCC's Media Consolidation Plan](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hay-guys-wth-my-media-proposal-was-like-totes-awesome.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Senate Committee Votes To Rollback FCC's Media Consolidation Plan
Poor Kevin Martin. The Senate is well on its way towards killing his proposal to let newspapers get all freaky and consolidate with television and radio stations. Martin shouldn’t be too surprised: this is exactly what happened the last time a FCC Chairman tried to ram media consolidation down our throats.
![Pilots Complain That Cash-Strapped Airlines Are Skimping On Fuel](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/con_landingcostsextra.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Pilots Complain That Cash-Strapped Airlines Are Skimping On Fuel
What’s the surest way to save money on rising fuel prices? Don’t use it! MSNBC has gathered pilot complaints from a database NASA maintains for the FAA, and they show that airlines are challenging pilots’ refueling decisions, urging them to carry only the minimum fuel required by FAA regulations in…
![FDIC Call Center: Former Employee Says It's A Great Place For Bank & Credit Union Info](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/con_fdiccallcenternumber.jpg?w=300&h=214&crop=1)
FDIC Call Center: Former Employee Says It's A Great Place For Bank & Credit Union Info
A former FDIC employee writes that the FDIC’s call center (877-275-3342) is “a tremendously helpful place to get basic referral information if you’re having trouble with your bank, lender, or finance company.” They can’t help you with complaints, but they can route you to the correct agency, provide credit union contact info, and give you the names and numbers of state agencies where your bank is located.
![](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/moneysmall12.png?w=36&h=36&crop=1)
../../../..//2008/01/13/please-tell-the-ftc-that/
Please tell the FTC that credit freezes help prevent identity theft. [Comment Form via All Consuming]