Corporations wield immense power in the marketplace and over consumers, but too often this power remains hidden, allowing them to get away with bad behavior. Last week consumers got a glimpse of this hidden power. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that two insurance companies tried to stop his investigation of potential race discrimination … Continued
Have you ever shopped for a concert ticket and discovered that the $50 ticket turned into $75 at check out? Have you ever faced unexpected, hefty fees when booking a hotel room, renting a car, or buying a plane ticket? These surprise fees appear in almost every consumer-facing industry, from credit reporting and banking services … Continued
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was born out of a lesson learned the hard way. A lack of regulatory safeguards led to the 2008 financial crisis, which left 21 million Americans without work and more than nine million families without homes due to foreclosure or short sales. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, … Continued
Overview: CFA’s 45th National Food Policy Conference The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) held its 45th National Food Policy Conference on October 12, exploring timely issues impacting consumers, the food industry, and government. For 45 years, the National Food Policy Conference has been a key national gathering for those interested in food, agriculture, and nutrition … Continued
Three weeks after Hurricane Ian made landfall, and consumers are still recovering from the damage and working on their insurance claims. One firm estimated that privately insured losses from the storm are expected to reach $67 billion, making it one of the most expensive disasters in American history. Below we share essential consumer tips for … Continued
Auto insurance companies like to present themselves as consumers’ friends. The mascots used in commercials, ranging from GEICO’s gecko and Aflac’s duck to Progressive’s Flo, are intended to put you at ease and get you to lower your guard. But Progressive’s recent second quarter earnings report offers a rare look at how it really views … Continued
Today, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is giving a big shout-out for Energy Efficiency Day calling on Americans to be proactive by taking positive steps to be more energy efficient. Consider joining CFA and the hundreds of other organizations, cities, businesses, and individuals in the nationwide effort to become more energy independent, improve the … Continued
CFA’s Financial Services Manager Testifies to Senate Banking Committee On September 13, Rachel Gittleman, CFA’s Financial Services Outreach Manager presented testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on New Consumer Financial Products and The Impact to Workers. In her testimony, Gittleman urged the Committee to meaningfully address the potential risks … Continued
Over the past few years America’s largest insurance companies have stressed their commitment to racial justice, diversity, and inclusion. The industry has over $5.8 trillion in assets and often makes long-term investments in important sectors of the economy. However, numerous consumer advocates have pointed out that insurance has a long history of unfair discrimination, bias, … Continued
No serious observer of today’s economy doubts that it is harder and harder for everyday folks to buy a home. This is especially true for first-time homebuyers across the country, in exurbs, Sunbelt suburbs, and neighborhoods in cities large and small. This escalating unaffordability affects the long-term opportunities of virtually everyone who doesn’t own a … Continued
Pandemic Related Issues Continue to Impact 2021’s Top Ten Consumer Complaints, Auto Sales and Repairs Rank No. 1 for Sixth Year in a Row Earlier this month CFA released its annual Top Ten Consumer Complaints Survey Report, with auto sales and repairs ranking number one in the category of complaints made to local and state … Continued
For the first time in over a decade, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule directly addressing deceptive financing practices by auto dealers. The proposal contains a host of prohibited misrepresentations, required disclosures, and specific requirements pertaining to the sale of add-ons. The FTC explains at length the problems that consumers face when … Continued
For the first time in over a decade, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule directly addressing deceptive financing practices by auto dealers. The proposal contains a host of prohibited misrepresentations, required disclosures, and specific requirements pertaining to the sale of add-ons. The FTC explains at length the problems that consumers face when … Continued
For the first time in over a decade, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule directly addressing deceptive financing practices by auto dealers. The proposal contains a host of prohibited misrepresentations, required disclosures, and specific requirements pertaining to the sale of add-ons. The FTC explains at length the problems that consumers face when … Continued
In recent months, insurance companies have been increasing rates for consumers across the country, claiming that current circumstances give them no choice. But in Washington State, insurance regulators are trying to shed some light on these price hikes by issuing a rule requiring insurance companies to give people transparent information about their premiums and the … Continued
Congress Must Act to Strengthen Airline Consumer Protection Regulations The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) joined a coalition of consumer and passengers’ rights groups urging Congress to expand and strengthen airline consumer protection regulations in the upcoming 2023 Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization process. The airline industry received over $50 billion of relief during the COVID-19 … Continued
For the first time in over a decade, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule directly addressing unfair and deceptive financing practices by auto dealers. The proposal contains a host of prohibited misrepresentations, required disclosures, and specific requirements pertaining to the sale of add-on products. The FTC explains at length the problems that … Continued
SEC Should Finalize its Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule Without Undue Delay CFA submitted comments to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in support of its proposal to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures for investors, urging speedy finalization of the proposed amendments to the SEC’s disclosure rules. The proposed rule is urgently needed because current voluntary … Continued
Mobile payment apps and peer-to-peer payment systems have become prolific among American consumers, with 4 in 5 Americans using these apps, which include Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, and Paypal. What started as a way for consumers to send money instantaneously has grown into a method to make online purchases, pay bills, and more. As mobile and … Continued
Over the last few years, policymakers and advocates have become increasingly aware of the role that housing discrimination plays in systemic racism and unfair discrimination, denying people stable homes and economic opportunity. But one area of housing discrimination has remained extremely understudied: homeowners insurance. While it may not be as flashy as other aspects of … Continued
The Baby Formula Crisis is a Food Safety Crisis: An In-Depth Look As U.S. military airlifts come in with baby formula from Europe, Thomas Gremillion, CFA’s Director of Food Policy, offered an in-depth look into the causes of the nationwide baby formula shortage and what steps must be taken to avoid the issue in the … Continued
As the U.S. military airlifts baby formula into the country from Europe, and harried parents continue to encounter bare shelves, policymakers are understandably asking how we got into this mess. Corporate consolidation, regulatory barriers to entry, even import tariffs, all may deserve some reconsideration, but let’s not forget that a food safety failure lies at … Continued
Yesterday consumer advocates held a press conference on the steps of the New Jersey statehouse to draw attention to a major problem: auto insurers’ use of unfair factors to discriminate against drivers and charge them higher premiums. As a result, people have wound up paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars more for auto insurance, … Continued
Groups Urge State Insurance Departments to Investigate Racial Bias in Insurance Claims Handling After a recent New York Times investigation detailed extensive allegations of discrimination against Black policyholders in both its insurance claims handling and its anti-fraud efforts, CFA and the Center for Economic Justice (CEJ) wrote to all state Insurance Commissioners, urging them to investigate racial bias in … Continued
Over the past several decades, income inequality has greatly increased as consumers struggle and corporate executives make massive profits. During the COVID-19 pandemic this trend continued and one industry saw especially large gains-auto insurance companies. A review of auto insurer executive compensation found that in 2020 and 2021 CEOs took home hundreds of millions of … Continued