Consumer Law

Obama Losing Voters Over FISA Support

Posted on July 10, 2008
Obama Losing Voters Over FISA Support (I may be one of them. I want a president who will protect citizens, not lawbreaking corporations.) | /.

California Foreclosure Law Passed

Posted on July 10, 2008
“The thrust of the law is to require mortgage servicers to exhaust all avenues in order to contact borrowers and negotiate modified terms before foreclosing. It also provides limited protections for tenants affected by landlords’ foreclosures and imposes duties on foreclosing servicers to maintain properties...

Are you more likely to discuss your sex life than your credit card debt?

Posted on July 10, 2008
Probably, according to a poll by CreditCards.com. Religious views, politics, age, weight and even health problems are more palatable topics of conversation than credit card debt . . . . Not surprising, really, but the poll results do illustrate one of many reasons why so many Americans never deal with their debt problems: most refuse to even [...

Can Prayer Lower Gas Prices? These People Think So

Posted on July 09, 2008
Can Prayer Lower Gas Prices? These People Think So | Consumerist

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Fed to Issue New Mortgage Lending Regulations Next Week

Posted on July 09, 2008
Fed to Issue New Mortgage Lending Regulations Next Week | Consumer Law & Policy

Obama would ease bankruptcy for military, seniors, disaster victims; says McCain backs bankers

Posted on July 09, 2008
Obama would ease bankruptcy for military, seniors, disaster victims; says McCain backs bankers | StarTribune

Your landlord could be worse

Posted on July 09, 2008
The Macys, a San Francisco couple, bought a million-dollar, six-unit apartment building in San Francisco, and decided to move out all the tenants and raise the rents (this is, of course, illegal in SF, but the Macys are not the sort of people who worry about legalities)...

Managing Debt in Times of Unemployment

Posted on July 08, 2008
“Rather than dealing with debt collectors, foreclosure procedures and repossessions, it is best to honestly assess your finances to determine the impact of unemployment. . . . [D]ealing with the issue early on will save lots of money and prevent you from staying up all night worrying about debt...

Financial advisor scams $400k from elderly couple

Posted on July 08, 2008
Joseph W. Hughes was a financial services rep for AXA Advisors, and represented an elderly couple. The husband suffered a stroke in 2005, which Hughes took as his cue to start pillaging their account. Instead of investing their money, he spent it on jewels, country club fees, and a 1969 Chevy Nova...

Report: cable more expensive in wake of FCC franchise reform

Posted on July 08, 2008
Recognize this pattern? Industry promises that freedom from regulation will lead to lower prices. Government goes along with the plan. Then industry jacks up prices now that nobody can tell it not to. Typical. Report: cable more expensive in wake of FCC franchise reform | Ars Technica

?Zero? chance lottery tickets stun some players

Posted on July 07, 2008
If you have no chance of winning the lottery, has the state breached its contract with consumers if it keeps selling tickets? ‘Zero’ chance lottery tickets stun some players | CNN

Debt collectors on the rampage

Posted on July 07, 2008
“More consumers are finding themselves the target of aggressive agents who don’t always play by the rules. Here’s what you need to know.” Debt collectors on the rampage | CNN

Gas prices scale record $4.10 a gallon

Posted on July 04, 2008
Gas prices scale record $4.10 a gallon | CNN Money

National speed limit pushed as gas saver

Posted on July 04, 2008
Virginia Republican Senator John Warner wants to return to the 55 mph national speed limit, which reportedly saved 167,000 barrels a day and 4,000 lives a year while it was in effect. National speed limit pushed as gas saver | CNN

Caveat Emptor playlist: Pete Barry on Fox Morning Show

Posted on July 03, 2008

Host a Maxed Out House Party

Posted on July 02, 2008
Have you been hoping to catch the documentary Maxed Out but haven’t had the chance? Well here it is! AFFIL and our Partner Consumers Union are sponsoring House Parties around the country this month. Sign up now for a party packet including a free DVD...

Dragged Down by Debt

Posted on July 02, 2008
People with shaky credit are getting suckered by risky loans against their paychecks, homes?and even cars. Dragged Down by Debt | Newsweek

Special interests vs. you

Posted on July 02, 2008
At Public Citizen’s Watchdog Blog, Graham Steele & David Arkush point out the problematic tendency of the press to treat issues of civil justice as clashes of special interests. Insurance companies vs. trial lawyers. Doctors vs. trial lawyers...

As Foreclosures Escalate

Posted on July 02, 2008
“By the time the Senate returns next Monday from its July 4 recess, some 55,000 more homes will have entered foreclosure. And that?s hardly the full picture of the growing calamity. More than three million homeowners are currently at risk of default and millions more are expected to join them in the coming year as [...

Wal-Mart broke Minnesota labor law, judge rules

Posted on July 01, 2008
“Wal-Mart broke Minnesota labor law more than 2 million times over six years by forcing some employees to work without breaks and without full pay . . . . The violations carry a penalty of up to $1,000 each, adding up to a potential $2 billion fine ...

Consumer debt an issue for some of state?s congressional delegation, too

Posted on July 01, 2008
It’s not just Barack: Consumer debt an issue for some of state’s congressional delegation, too | MinnPost

When good wood goes bad

Posted on July 01, 2008
“A Minnesota lumber company accuses industry titan Sherwin-Williams of peddling defective wood coating. And of being a big jerk about it.” When good wood goes bad | City Pages - The Blotter

Angry Consumers Flood Federal Reserve Board with Complaints

Posted on July 01, 2008
Press release from Americans for Fairness in Lending. Full release after the jump (it is not yet up on AFFIL’s website, so I cannot link to it). For Immediate Release July 1, 2008 Media Contact: Geoffrey Knox: 212-229-0540 Angry Consumers Flood Federal Reserve Board with Complaints on Credit Card Practices; Over 8,200 Consumers Tell of Abuses (Boston, MA?July 1, [...

The ?other? digital TV conversion might cost you

Posted on July 01, 2008
So glad I don’t have cable. Why bother, when local high-def channels come in over the air just fine? The ‘other’ digital TV conversion might cost you | Red Tape Chronicles

Ex Countrywide Manager Exposes Its Lies

Posted on June 30, 2008
Today Show: “So, Countrywide employees were coaching them to lie?” Insider: “Yes.” Ex Countrywide Manager Exposes Its Lies | Consumerist

Is it worth trading in your gas guzzler?

Posted on June 30, 2008
Itching to get a more fuel-efficient car? Do the math, first. Is it worth trading in your gas guzzler? | Edmunds (via KaBlog!)

Montgomery Ward?s Hacked 6 Months Ago, But Victims Weren?t Told

Posted on June 30, 2008
If you shopped at Montgomery Ward’s last year, check your accounts and credit reports. Montgomery Ward’s Hacked 6 Months Ago, But Victims Weren’t Told | Consumerist

Sign up for your TransUnion class action settlement benefits

Posted on June 30, 2008
While we are on the subject of keeping track of your credit score, as a result of a bunch of class action lawsuits against TransUnion, virtually anyone who has had a credit card since 1987 can select from several settlement options, including up to nine months of enhanced credit monitoring...

Staycation: staying home is the new vacation

Posted on June 30, 2008
Staycation: staying home is the new vacation | Queercents

Free monthly credit score estimates

Posted on June 30, 2008
LendingClub and Prosper.com will “grade” borrowers based on Experian data. WaMu credit cards include TransUnion-based monthly FICO scores (although it probably is not worth getting a new card just for that perk). E-Loan Mortgage offers a one-time score based on Experian data But the best one seems to be Credit Karma, which offers a free daily [...

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