Consumer Action

Alerts

Consumer Action's Alerts highlights trends in consumer complaints, scams, outrageous fees and other notable consumer information.

'Cash' gift cards give and taketh away (Oct 30, 2009)
When the Friday before Halloween is considered "Black Friday," you know the holiday season has descended, not matter how early…
National Protect Your Identity Week (Oct 20, 2009)
Last year, nearly 10 million people were victims of identity theft, making this the fastest growing crime in America. Identity…
Breach notice for personal health records (Aug 21, 2009)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes provisions to strengthen privacy and security protections for companies that offer…

Watch for 'mystery charges' after shopping online (Nov 18, 2009)
John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released a new investigative…
Seniors: Don't be deceived during Medicare open enrollment (Oct 23, 2009)
Steve Poizner, California Insurance Commissioner, today urged seniors to protect themselves from agents and brokers who routinely seek to take…
Debit cards: easy to use, easy to rip off (Jul 29, 2009)
With almost 90 percent of U.S. households using a bank account with a linked debit card, they have become the…

Arbitration no shield for debt collectors (Jul 08, 2009)
The Public Justice Access to Justice Campaign and Mandatory Arbitration Abuse Prevention Project has helped win a…
New California Consumer Laws - 2009 (Mar 30, 2009)
The County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs Staff Training Academy has issued a comprehensive guide to new consumer…
'New low' in mortgage modification scams (Mar 13, 2009)
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today warned that scam artists have "sunk to a new low" and have…

Airline baggage fees (Apr 17, 2008)
Checked baggage fees started with Ryanair. Then they crossed the Atlantic and the Spirit caught on with Allegiant and Virgin…
Airlines' second-bag fee (Mar 04, 2008)
Two major airlines, United Airlines and US Airways, have recently announced a new baggage policy that will require consumers traveling…
Insurance Premium Installment Fees (Jan 17, 2008)
We often hear the phrase, “The poor pay more,” and here’s a couple concrete examples of how people who can’t…

Consumer Action Insurance Survey (Sep 25, 2008)
Update: The survey closed on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. Please watch for the results in our Fall 2008 issue of…
Credit Limit Survey (Jun 24, 2008)
This survey closed on July 15, 2008. Click here to see the results…