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Consumer Protection

CFPB to possibly end $39 lattes

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
By | Ed Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director

Today, CFPB to announce overdraft fee investigation, unveil "penalty box" disclosure, possibly end $39 lattes.

Consumer Watch - Free Tax Prep at Walmart?

Friday, January 13, 2012
By | Brian Rae
Consumer and Taxpayer Advocate

HR Block has teamed up with Wal Mart to offer in store free tax prep, however it is “free” for clients that filed a 1040 EZ, just 16% of their clients. This does not include taxpayers with kids, any requesting the earned income tax credit or any non standard deductions. 

President’s Recess Appointment Gives Watchdog Teeth It Needs To Protect Consumers

Wednesday, January 4, 2012
By Brian RaeEd Mierzwinski

Kudos to President Obama for standing up for consumers this week by making a recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  The President’s action means that the CFPB now has all its powers to protect the public from unfair financial practices, whether by banks or other financial firms, such as payday lenders and credit bureaus.

Media Hit | Consumer Protection

Data breaches in 2011 carry unknown personal costs

In 2011, news about the loss of personal data became background noise. Unless it happened to you.

Media Hit | Consumer Protection

New laws for 2012

Consumers will be able to put some cash back into their wallets with a new law on gift cards.

News Release | OSPIRG | Consumer Protection

Consumer Bureau on Track for Launch

Six months after Wall Street reform legislation creating the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was signed, a leading coalition released Halfway to the CFPB: An AFR Progress Report on “Standing Up” the New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

News Release | OSPIRG | Consumer Protection

Oregon Regulators Data Breach

The Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) has opened a file on the Health Net data breach impacting 120,000 Oregonians, and is gathering information from the insurer on the matter.

News Release | OSPIRG | Consumer Protection

Banks Failing at Disclosing Account Fees

 A survey of more than 350 bank branches released today by the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group revealed that fewer than half of branches obeyed their legal duty to fully disclose fees to prospective customers, while one in four provided no fee information at all. The report, Big Banks, Bigger Fees: A National Survey of Bank Fees (http://www.ospirgstudents.org/report/big-banks-bigger-fees), includes consumer tips and a local comparison shopping guide.

 

 

 

 

Report | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland

The 2011 Trouble in Toyland report is our 26th annual survey of toy safety. In this report, we provide safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for young children and provide examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

Report | Consumer Protection

Big Banks, Bigger Fees

Since Congress largely deregulated consumer deposit (checking and savings) accounts beginning in the early 1980s, the PIRGs have tracked bank deposit account fee changes and documented the banks’ long-term strategy to raise fees, invent new fees and make it harder to avoid fees. 

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