Consumer Law

Package snatchers spoil the holidays

Posted on December 23, 2010
Sharing this timely warning from Consumer Reports? Money Blog: ?Brazen package snatchers have been known to shadow FedEx, UPS, and U.S. Post Office trucks, swooping in to steal items if homeowners are away or too slow to retrieve them.? Read these tips to ensure a happy holiday ...

Cheap fake goods carry a high cost

Posted on December 20, 2010
As you rush to finish up your Christmas shopping, be sure to slow down and make sure you aren?t clicking on either a fake Web site or a Web site that sells fakes. If you?re looking for a bargain, you may end up on a dodgy site. And if you think it?s no big deal if you buy a knockoff as long as the price is low, you probably haven?t heard about perfume that contains urine and antifreeze, exploding Sony Playstation controllers and child-labor horrors...

Online shoppers safer as bill heads to President?s desk

Posted on December 16, 2010
A federal bill imposing new restrictions on online retailers will help protect consumers from sneaky marketing methods used to deceive shoppers into paying for additional services they didn?t want.

Activia yogurt ads mostly health hype, say attorneys general

Posted on December 15, 2010
Dannon will pay $21 million to settle allegations of illegal advertising brought by 39 attorneys general who poo-pooed the company?s claims about the degree to which its Activia yogurt can improve regularity and DanActive can boost immunity.

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DIRECTV to change business practices

Posted on December 15, 2010
Washington residents have filed 2,000 complaints about DIRECTV with our office.  Now those consumers can find some relief under a settlement to be filed Thursday in King County Superior Court.

FTC pushing the ?Do Not Track? button

Posted on December 08, 2010
If the Federal Trade Commission has its way, Web browsers will include a ?Do Not Track? setting that lets you decide if data on your Web surfing activities can be collected. Think of it as the techno-savvy sibling to the ?Do Not Call? registry that allows you to avoid telemarketers.

E-commerce businessmen caught in Web of deceit

Posted on December 07, 2010
When I first learned about Wizy-Wiz eCommerce and its many past lives, I drew comparisons to the Wizard of Oz who hid behind lies until Dorothy lifted the curtain.

Charity report: Santa vs the Grinch

Posted on December 03, 2010
When it comes to fundraisers, some are Santas and others are Grinches. Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna today unveiled the 2010 Commercial Fundraiser Activity Report that helps people avoid greedy fundraising organizations when making charitable donations.

State Record Retrieval Board warning is junk mail

Posted on December 01, 2010
If you get a letter from the ?State Record Retrieval Board? ordering you to pay $87 to obtain a  copy of your property deed, don?t panic. And don?t pay.

The Kardashian Kard has been killed

Posted on November 30, 2010

Attorney General dishes up $570,000 to food banks

Posted on November 24, 2010
Attorney General Rob McKenna handed out an early holiday gift for Washington food bank programs today: nearly $570,000 in assistance.

Letter to the Editor of the News Tribune

Posted on November 22, 2010
Consumer Protection Division Chief Doug Walsh submitted this letter to the editor of the News Tribune in reaction to a Nov. 18 editorial about a hard money letter.

Letter to the Editor of the Seattle Times

Posted on November 22, 2010
Consumer Protection Division Chief Doug Walsh submitted this letter to the editor of The Seattle Times in reaction to a Nov. 15 article about a hard money lender.

Attorney General's top 10 shopping tips for Black Friday

Posted on November 16, 2010
Black Friday is the time when retailers hope to move from being in the red to being in the black. Attorney General Rob McKenna's top 10 list of shopping tips will help you spend less and avoid scams during the holiday shopping season.

Seattle Times praises our work on foreclosure prevention

Posted on November 12, 2010
The Seattle Times gives a shout-out today to Attorney General Rob McKenna and Assistant Attorney General David Huey for their efforts to hold the mortgage foreclosure industry accountable for state consumer protection laws.

Identity thieves love social networking

Posted on November 10, 2010
Despite all the warnings, many folks who use social networks leave themselves vulnerable to identity theft and threats to their physical safety.

Peddlers of auto service plans barred from telemarketing in Washington

Posted on November 08, 2010
The former owners of U.S. Fidelis, a company that once the nation?s top marketer of auto service contracts, won?t be bugging you anymore. The Washington Attorney General?s Office spearheaded a multistate settlement with the company?s former owners, Missouri brothers Darain and Cory Atkinson, that bars them from telemarketing or selling service contracts in 11 states...

What happens on Facebook, stays on Facebook?

Posted on November 05, 2010
Today, the lines have blurred and Facebook has become the great equalizer. People of all ages join the site to track friends, send photos, and keep in touch with family. But along with popularity comes safety concerns over privacy settings.

Tricky Credit Scams

Posted on October 27, 2010
Credit scores are not things you can ?wish? better, but a myriad of credit-fix scams advertised online and on television promise a quick fix.

Oh, Baby!

Posted on October 25, 2010
Recalled baby products always seem to be in the news. Now there's a simple way to stay informed.

Assistant Attorney General remodels bad business practices

Posted on October 22, 2010
Assistant Attorney General Jack Zurlini does windows. And roofs. And vinyl siding. Zurlini is hammering home the importance of honest advertising to home remodelers.An industry magazine, Replacement Contractor, published an interview with Zurlini this week about how and why the Washington Attorney General?s Office brought the cases.

Blue Plate Special, Hold the Fraud

Posted on October 15, 2010
With identity theft and credit fraud becoming commonplace, any step you can take to avoid a scam is a necessary one.

WFaudio

Posted on October 06, 2010

Mortgage help for Wachovia and World Savings borrowesr

Posted on October 06, 2010
Help is available for Washington residents who obtained problematic mortgages from Wachovia Bank and Golden West Corp., which did business as World Savings Bank. At least 400 Washington borrowers who received "Pick-A-Pay" payment option adjustable-rate mortgages will be eligible for loan modifications ...

Fisher-Price recalls 10 million toys

Posted on September 30, 2010
After cooperating with a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigation, toymaker Fisher-Price announced today the recall of more than 10 million potentially harmful products.

Some penny auctions use cheap tricks to cheat consumers

Posted on September 28, 2010
Penny auction sites lure thousands of consumers daily with cheap prices on brand-name electronics, designer handbags and discounted store gift cards. Wired.com describes penny auctions as ?a combination of bingo night, the Home Shopping Network and a slot machine addiction...

Used to buying new?

Posted on September 24, 2010
While you can get away with buying many everyday items used, there are quite a few others that are worth paying the extra few dollars to be the initial owner.

Over 1,000 ?Boss? fans to get refunds

Posted on September 20, 2010
As my good deed for the day, I wanted to call attention to a settlement reached last week between the Federal Trade Commission and Ticketmaster in regards to what the FTC alleges were ?deceptive bait-and-switch tactics to sell event tickets? for Bruce Springsteen shows late last year.

?My password? It?s P-A-S-S-W-O-R-D.?

Posted on September 09, 2010
After a hiatus while Blog Moderator Kristin Alexander was on 'staycation', All Consuming is back with an amusing post by Public Affairs Intern Darius Schwarz about his college days and a crafty password-hacking roomie. Read it. Laugh. Learn.

Steer clear of these 3 car-buying scams

Posted on August 26, 2010
Shopping for a car? Assistant Attorney General Mary Lobdell was on New Day Northwest Monday to talk about three scams you need to watch out for.

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