Women head of households in worse financial condition
The 26 percent of all households headed only by a woman earn, save, and have accumulated far less wealth than have other American households, according to a Consumer Federation of America (CFA) analysis of the most recent data collected by the Federal Reserve Board's authoritative Survey of Consumer Finances.

Call to Action: Health Care Reform 2009
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the key U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, has issued a detailed "white paper" on insurance-based health care reform. It includes public and private plan options and directives to limit "out of pocket" costs for patients.

Merchants get Congressional help on fair interchange fees
The Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 (HR 5546) would allow merchants to negotiate directly with the card associations in an effort to lower interchange rates.

Study reveals impact of overdraft fees on older Americans
The Center for Responsible Lending has published a report that reveals how unauthorized overdrafts fees strip $4.5 billion per year from Americans 55 and older. The study found that nearly $1 billion of that money comes from people who are heavily dependent on Social Security income.

Overdraft loans target low-income and fail to offer informed choice
A survey by the Center for Responsible Lending has found that most consumers want a choice about being enrolled in overdraft programs and that most would prefer their banks issue a "denial of funds" rather than an expensive overdraft loan. It also found that low-income consumers are often the target of these loans.

Final report still warns consumers about tax refund loans
The National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America have released their final report for 2008 on RALS or Refund Anticipation Loans.

Privacy and identity theft statutes
The 2008 edition of a California government report, "Consumer Privacy and Identity Theft - A Summary of Key Statutes and Guide for Lawmakers," is available.

The Arbitration Trap: Credit Cards Companies Ensnare Consumers
Consumers who seek justice in disputes with their credit card companies shouldn’t expect to find it in binding mandatory arbitration (BMA); in cases decided in California by a major arbitration firm over a four-year period, consumers lost 94 percent of the time, according to a new Public Citizen report .

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