Press Release Archive

2009

August

21

• Warning: 'Clunker' double-dipping could occur (Taxpayers, car buyers should not have to pay twice). Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), Consumer Action and Public Citizen today called upon the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure, as the…

18

• California coalition sets August legislative priorities. Nine consumer rights organizations, including Consumer Action, have sent a letter the California Legislature outlining pro-consumer legislative priorities during the final month of the 2009…

13

• Groups seek crackdown on Cash for Clunkers scams (Car buyers subject to bait and switch and higher-than-usual prices). Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety and Consumer Action today urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to act to protect car buyers from Cash for…

• Consumer Action releases 2009 Credit Card Survey. Consumer Action today releases its 2009 Credit Card Survey, which details information on credit card rates, fees, terms and industry practices for 39 cards from 22 issuers.

July

02

• Protections for victims of auto bankruptcies.

  Consumer groups petitioned the Federal Trade Commission today, seeking warnings on approximately 30 million Chrysler vehicles produced prior to May 30, when the "New Chrysler"…

May

19

• Consumer groups challenge Chrysler bankruptcy (Seek to preserve rights for lemon owners and victims of defective autos). Leading national consumer groups today filed objections in the federal bankruptcy court in New York that is overseeing the Chrysler bankruptcy proceeding, asking the court…

April

23

• Consumer groups support President's push for credit card reform. Statement by National Consumer Groups Regarding Action on Credit Cards Washington, DC—In the wake of the President’s meeting today with credit card executives, a…

21

• Wireless industry: Waive ETFs for laid-off subscribers (Pricey early termination fees apply when you cancel cell phone service contracts). Washington, DC — Leaders of the nation’s consumer and public interest organizations today called on the heads of the wireless industry to immediately suspend charging…

01

• Senate committee passes landmark credit card bill (Consumer groups praise Senator Dodd for progress to curb unfair practices).

  WASHINGTON – Leaders of national and Connecticut-based consumer organizations today lauded comprehensive legislation passed by the Senate Banking Committee to curb predatory credit card lending…

March

31

• Stipends help make communities MoneyWi$e (Consumer Action and Capital One provide small grants to local groups for consumer education). San Francisco — (March 31, 2009) – National consumer advocacy group Consumer Action and Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) announced today that their joint…

February

12

• Senate credit card hearing: Now what? ( We need action, not just talk). Feb, 12, 2009 - Consumer Action applauds the Senate Banking Committee for holding a hearing today on the need for credit card legislation. We call…

January

30

• Consumer victory: National wreck registry is a reality. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) will allow consumers to learn if a used car has been seriously damaged or stolen, based on information tied to the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN).

2008

December

22

• New credit card rules will help rebalance lopsided system (Consumer protections take effect in July 2010). For the first time, credit cardholders will have new protections against some of the most unfair and costly industry practices. New federal rules will reduce…

18

• Consumer Action Reacts to Federal Reserve Credit Card Rules. Statement of Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities, Consumer Action Today, the Federal Reserve will issue groundbreaking rules to address unfair and deceptive practices by…

November

• ‘Gift Card Holder’s Bill of Rights’ for holiday season. Nov. 20, 2008—The National Consumers League (NCL), joined by Consumer Action and the Montgomery County (Maryland) Office of Consumer Protection, today called on issuers of…

05

• New website provides consumer education on insurance (Consumer Action debuts Insurance-Education.org 'sub site'). Consumer Action’s new Insurance Education website (www.insurance-education.org) is a free online clearinghouse for educational materials about the multitude of consumer insurance products and the need…

03

• Consumer Action insurance poll highlights downsides to filing a claim (Widespread misunderstanding of rental car insurance also found). More than two-thirds of respondents had their homeowner’s insurance premiums increased after they filed a claim, according to an online insurance poll released today. One…

October

29

• Poll finds consumers concerned about credit in current economy (Most Americans want to avoid taking on new debt in next 12 months, study says). A new poll released today by Consumer Action finds that consumers are beginning to feel strain in the current economy, and that many are changing how they use and plan to use credit.

September

24

• CA to Congress: Protect homeowners and taxpayers (Consumer Action calls for accountability in the bailout plan). As Congress decides how and if they should toss a trillion dollar life preserver to the sinking financial services industry today, Consumer Action (CA) urges…

August

26

• Consumer Action poll: Cardholders see credit limits drop (Almost 18% have had credit limit lowered). Aug. 27, 2008—If you are planning to use your credit card to make a big purchase, you may want to check your card’s line of…

14

• New online MoneyWi$e financial education resource (Interactive eLearning modules on personal finance topics include printable tip sheets). Consumer Action, a leading national advocacy and education organization and Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) have launched new, interactive financial education eLearning modules for consumers.…

July

23

• Consumer Action releases 2008 Credit Card Survey (Credit card traps can catch even good customers). Consumer Action today releases its 2008 Credit Card Survey, which details key industry practices, including many new traps that result in sharply higher interest rates for consumers.

18

• Consumer Action comments on Fed credit card proposals. Consumer Action today submitted comments on the Federal Reserve's proposed rule changes under Regulation AA - Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices [R-1314] and Regulation…

May

07

• MoneyWi$e goes to Louisiana (Capital One and Consumer Action sponsor free financial literacy trainings). New Orleans — National consumer advocacy group Consumer Action and Capital One Financial Corporation announced that their joint MoneyWi$e financial literacy partnership will provide two…

05

• Banking regulators target credit card abuses (Rules take first step to rein in unfair interest rate hikes). Representatives of national consumer organizations today applauded federal banking regulators for proposing initial rules to curb some abusive credit card lending practices. The groups also…