Curb unfair overdraft protection practices
Consumer advocates, including Consumer Action, joined in a letter asking Congress to pass a bill curbing unfair bank overdraft fees. On Friday Oct. 30, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on H.R. 3904, the Overdraft Protection Act of 2009 which would, among other provisions, require a warning before a withdrawal would trigger an overdraft fee and allow consumers to choose whether or not to enroll in overdraft programs.

Federal law should be a floor, not a ceiling, for consumer protection
As a part of Americans for Financial Reform coalition, Consumer Action sent a letter to Congress requesting that they not preempt states' authority in Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) legislation.

Keep community investment in consumer agency legislation
In the battle to define the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), Consumer Action signed on to a letter requesting that the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) be reinserted into any legislation about the agency.

Student loans must be regulated by the CFPA
In coalition with many other groups, Consumer Action signed onto a letter asking Congress to ensure that the Consumer Financial Protection Agency be given must full authority to regulate private student loans regardless of the institution offering them.

Protect car buyers under consumer watchdog agency
Consumer Action, along with 29 other organizations, signed on to a letter asking Congressman Barney Frank to ensure that all aspects of car financing are covered under the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).

Wisconsin payday loan cap gains support across state
Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending (WRL)—of which Consumer Action is a founding member—has announced the addition of new member organizations to its grassroots coalition.

Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending
Wisconsinites for Responsible Lending (WRL) is a statewide coalition of groups and concerned residents that has come together to promote responsible lending practices and products and address one of the pressing economic and social issues affecting our state: Predatory Payday Lending.

“Opt-in” fundamental to consumer overdraft protection
The Federal Reserve's move to curb abuses in bank overdraft practices prompted Consumer Action and its coalition partners to write a letter demanding that the Fed ask institutions to first obtain consumer "opt-in" or agreement before imposing any fees for the service.

Advancing financial literacy in Wisconsin

Over the last three years, Consumer Action’s Sol Carbonell has served as the Dane County Marketing and Promotions Committee Chair for Money Smart Week, a weeklong financial literacy awareness and education campaign that takes place in the state of Wisconsin during the month of October. In this article, Carbonell shares some of the accomplishments and behind the scenes coordination efforts of this campaign that reached thousands of consumers with financial literacy information.

“Consumer Action is proud to be part of Money Smart Wisconsin and urges state partners to join the movement and continue promoting financial literacy,” said Carbonell.

State regulators must be allowed to protect borrowers
Consumer Action signed on to a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Attorney General Eric Holder urging them to overturn a Bush Administration ruling that weakened the ability of states to investigate and enforce laws against banks in their region.