Updated: January 2013

Advocacy & Media

Advocacy—promoting pro-consumer policy, regulations and legislation and helping consumers be heard by those in power—is an important part of Consumer Action’s work. In 2004, the organization established an office in Washington, D.C., a strategic decision to create a constant presence in front of lawmakers and the national media. D.C. staff focus on credit card business practices, privacy rights, predatory lending, and telecommunications rights and access.

Read an April 2008 interview with Consumer Action's Linda Sherry titled "Who's Watching Out for the Consumer in Washington?"

In an effort to mobilize widespread support for the passage of pro-consumer legislation, regulation and policy, Consumer Action is tapping its 9,000-member network of community-based organizations. Working as members of diverse coalitions, Consumer Action and participating groups amplify the voice of the consumer. Community groups and individuals can learn more about proposed state and federal legislation and how to make a critical difference at the Take@ction section of www.consumer-action.org.

Consumer Action’s Take@ction provides a wealth of free online services to help consumers stand up and be heard by local, state and federal lawmakers. Consumers can find and write to their elected representatives and many regulatory agencies, act on Consumer Action alerts by writing e-mails, letters and making calls, check out what is coming up at the polls, do research on candidates, learn the names of lawmakers’ key aides and staff persons, and more.

The media has been a vital component in the organization’s advocacy work: Consumer Action’s multilingual staff responds daily to requests from local, national and ethnic media seeking expert commentary on key consumer issues, often providing reporters with original supporting data and victim testimony. In turn, media coverage in English, Chinese and Spanish exposes anti-consumer practices and bolsters the organization’s efforts to provide timely information to the widest population possible.

Reporters can reach Consumer Action in San Francisco at (415) 777-9648; in Washington, D.C. at (202) 544-3088; and in Los Angeles at (213) 624-4631.