Site Archive

Survey Archive

The Survey Archive provides rapid access to all the surveys produced by Consumer Action. This includes credit card, telephone, and banking surveys.

2008 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action's 2008 Credit Card Survey examines 41 cards from 22 financial institutions, including the top 10 U.S. credit card issuers, six low-rate issuers and six large credit unions.
Published: Jul 22, 2008 • Viewed: 12515 times

2007 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action's 2007 Credit Card Survey was conducted between Oct. 9, 2006 and March 2, 2007. Consumer Action examined 83 cards from 20 banks, including the top 10 U.S. credit card issuers. In our new report we detail our findings on change of terms provisions, penalty rate policies, balance transfer costs and offers, fees to pay by phone and to make last-minute payments online, cash advance costs, residual interest and two-cycle billing, minimum ages for authorized users, rewards cards, arbitration clauses and minimum payment formulas.
Published: May 23, 2007 • Viewed: 30417 times

Prepaid Wireless Survey (Fall 2005) Prepaid Wireless Survey: Consumer Action looks at prepaid wireless plans offered by 12 companies and finds that prepaid wireless is a viable option to postpaid plans in terms of price and services. This issue also contains a report on Consumer Action's annual fundraiser.
Published: Dec 12, 2005 • Viewed: 12356 times

2005 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action examined 146 cards from 47 issuers for its 2005 Credit Card Survey and documented top reasons that lead banks to impose high universal default and penalty rates, as well as details on fees, cash advance and default APRs, introductory rates on purchases and cash advances, arbitration policies, balance calculation methods and more.
Published: Jul 28, 2005 • Viewed: 16547 times

2005 Interstate Telephone Rates Survey Consumer Action's new survey of residential phone rates compares 46 long distance domestic calling plans from 22 companies and international calling plans from eight carriers. The study finds new miscellaneous charges, including many non-government-mandated regulatory assessment fees, and steep hikes in the cost of directory assistance, collect calls and calling card calls. The survey includes detailed charts on calling plans, basic rates, directory assistance charges and nationwide cell phone plans with anytime minutes.
Published: Feb 01, 2005 • Viewed: 7532 times

2004 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action examined 140 cards from 45 issuers for its 2004 Credit Card Survey and documented increased penalty fees and rates, "zero interest" introductory offers, cash advance rates, currency conversion fees and rewards cards, among other details of interest to cardholders.
Published: Mar 21, 2004 • Viewed: 11648 times

2004 Residential Telephone Rate Survey Consumer Actions's annual phone survey looks at 47 state-to-state long distance calling plans and 17 local-long distance bundle plans from 22 carriers. This information can help you shop around to cut your residential phone rates.
Published: Feb 02, 2004 • Viewed: 7899 times

2003 Overdraft Protection Survey A new Consumer Action (CA) survey of overdraft protection plans found 25 plans at 26 banks nationwide. This widely available banking option can be a cost-effective way to avoid bounced checks.
Published: Jul 01, 2003 • Viewed: 12907 times

2003 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action surveyed 143 credit cards issued by 47 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.
Published: Mar 01, 2003 • Viewed: 7235 times

2002 Long Distance Telephone Rates Survey Consumer Action's annual survey of long distance rates reviewed 21 carriers and 47 discount calling plans, and found a 17% increase in basic per-minute rates along with a significant jump in the cost of calling card calls and collect calls.
Published: Dec 01, 2002 • Viewed: 7770 times

2002 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action surveyed 126 credit cards issued by 42 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.
Published: Mar 01, 2002 • Viewed: 5846 times

2001 Long Distance Telephone Rates Survey Consumer Action's annual survey of long distance rates reviewed 19 carriers and 44 discount calling plans, and found a 13% increase in basic per-minute rates along with new and sometimes significantly higher charges, surcharges, and fees.
Published: Sep 01, 2001 • Viewed: 3854 times

2001 Credit Card Survey Consumer Action surveyed 109 credit cards issued by 45 companies and found growing costs and an increase in anti-consumer practices.
Published: Apr 01, 2001 • Viewed: 6410 times

2000 Long Distance Rates Survey Consumer Action's 2000 Long Distance Rates Survey spotlights enormous long distance price increases in the past 10 years for Big Three (AT&T, MCI-WorldCom, and Sprint) customers who don't use a calling plan.
Published: Sep 01, 2000 • Viewed: 2981 times

2000 Online Banking Survey In its new Online Banking Survey, Consumer Action discovered that many virtual banks can save you money in fees and give you much better interest rates, not only on savings accounts, but on checking and money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs).
Published: May 18, 2000 • Viewed: 3875 times

1999 - 2000 Credit Card Survey In this issue, you'll find CA's annual pricing survey of 105 credit cards from 63 banks, as well as the 10 lowest rate cards CA found. Also, there are stories on getting information from help lines and card issuers' web sites.
Published: Mar 01, 2000 • Viewed: 3984 times

1999 Long Distance Telephone Rate Survey Consumer Action's 1999 edition gives lowest per-minute rates on interstate calls from 15 carriers during the Daytime and Evening/Night/Weekend rate periods. Includes details on domestic calling plans and advice on choosing the best plan. Also, 22 calling card plans are compared in three categories; plans with no fees, plans with monthly fees, and plans with per-call surcharge fees.
Published: Jun 01, 1999 • Viewed: 2287 times

10-10 Long Distance Phone Survey Consumer Action's survey of 'dial-around' long distance services finds that savings are possible, but 10-10 traps can be costly and easy to fall into.
Published: Mar 02, 1999 • Viewed: 7720 times

1998-1999 Credit Card Survey In this issue, you'll find CA's annual pricing survey of 117 credit cards from 74 banks, as well as the 10 lowest rate cards CA found. Also, there are stories on how to avoid tricky credit card company tactics and proposed national credit card consumer protection legislation.
Published: Mar 01, 1999 • Viewed: 2818 times

1999 California Home Electric Survey Consumer Action surveyed the rates and terms of 11 home electric service providers and three utility distribution companies in California. There is general information on utility deregulation, how to choose an electric service provider, your rights as a utility consumer, how to avoid fraud and rip-offs, medical and low income ratepayer assistance programs, how to read an electric bill, green power options, and an interview with the California Public Utilities Commission.
Published: Jan 31, 1999 • Viewed: 2464 times

1998 Secured Credit Card Survey In this issue, you'll find CA's annual pricing survey of 21 secured credit cards. Also, there are stories on getting your credit reports, identity theft protection, and California electric power deregulation.
Published: Dec 01, 1998 • Viewed: 3895 times

1998 Long Distance Phone Rates Pricing Survey This survey charts the lowest per-minute rates on interstate calls from 14 phone companies, during the Daytime, Evening/Night, and Weekend rate periods.
Published: Mar 01, 1998 • Viewed: 1977 times

1997 Credit Card Survey In this issue, you'll find CA's survey of 100 standard credit cards from 68 banks. Fifty-seven of the cards do not have annual fees, and most have variable interest rates tied to the prime lending rate.
Published: Aug 30, 1997 • Viewed: 2680 times

1997 Long Distance Phone Rates Pricing Survey This 1997 phone survey charts the lowest per-minute rates on interstate calls from 14 phone companies, during the Daytime, Evening, and Night/Weekend rate periods.
Published: Feb 01, 1997 • Viewed: 2168 times

1996 Free Checking Account Survey CA's free survey of 57 free checking accounts.
Published: Aug 01, 1996 • Viewed: 1910 times