Managing Money :: Alerts

Alerts

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

Jan. 31 is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day (Jan 30, 2020)
Today, Jan. 31, is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. Created in 1975, the EITC is a tax credit designed to
When private companies collect taxes for the IRS (Nov 20, 2019)
Does the collection company calling really work for the IRS? If you know you are current on your taxes and
New CFPB tool helps consumers compare prepaid card fees (Oct 21, 2019)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new prepaid product agreements database allows consumers to find and download the

Credit (Mar 01, 2012)
NEW: Consumer Action is monitoring SB 515 Reforming Payday Loans SB 515 (D-Jackson) would limit payday loans to four times a

Class action lawsuits (Jan 29, 2014)
PLEASE NOTE: Consumer Action has moved its listing of current class actions. Click here to view the listing. We invite

Scammers demand money for their dirty deeds (Jan 21, 2020)
Consumer Action is warning homeowners that scammers are sending mailings “offering” to sell them copies of their own
Beware of offers of 'free money' from the government (Sep 20, 2018)
The federal government grant scam has been around for years. But now, scammers are finding targets through social media. This
Protect yourself from door-to-door home repair scams (Sep 20, 2018)
From our friends at the AARP Fraud Watch Network. The summer months are prime time for home repair scams. This

Changes to California law protect consumers who owe time-barred debts (Oct 31, 2018)
A recent change to California law significantly limits the ability of debt collectors to collect a time-barred debt from a
July 2012 brings new protections for California car buyers (Sep 27, 2011)
AB 1215 (Blumenfield) has been signed by Governor Brown. Once it takes effect, it will offer important new protections to car
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 major victory for

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
Gift Card Fees (Nov 29, 2006)
Gift cards are the chicken entrée of Christmas presents: an uninspired but inoffensive middle ground that often is the
The Opt-Out Fee (Oct 02, 2006)
For years the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), an organization of businesses that send out bulk unsolicited marketing communications, has let

How to find credit-builder loan programs (May 30, 2012)
Because a strong credit history is so important to financial prosperity, some non-profit organizations offer special loan programs that enable
Survey compares rates, fees and more for major P2P lending sites (May 30, 2012)
Despite the worst of the financial crisis supposedly having passed, even consumers with a decent credit history are having a

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 Consumer Action News.
Credit Limit Survey (Jun 24, 2008)
This survey closed on July 15, 2008. Click here to see the results in our Summer 2008 issue of Consumer Action News.