Author Archives: Allison Zieve

FTC sues Intuit, alleges TurboTax “free” filing ads are deceptive

According to a Federal Trade Commission press release, the FTC "is taking action against Intuit Inc., the maker of the popular TurboTax tax filing software, by issuing an administrative complaint against the company for deceiving consumers with bogus advertisements pitching “free” tax filing that millions of consumers could not use. In addition, to prevent ongoing […]

Consumer Reports: “I Agreed to What? The Surprising Rights Companies Claim in Terms of Service”

Consumer Reports writes that consumers may "be surprised by some of the clauses in terms of service and end-user license agreements …. A number of them are odd but relatively harmless. [A zombies clause?] In other cases, these agreements try to take away important consumer rights." The article is here.

CFPB issues policy on contractual ‘gag’ clauses and fake review fraud

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had issued policy guidance regarding potentially illegal practices related to consumer reviews. "The CFPB seeks to ensure that customers can write reviews, particularly ones posted online, about financial products and services that accurately reflect their opinions and experiences. The guidance also highlights that practices such as posting fake reviews or […]

FTC report on e-cigarette sales and advertising, including effect on young people

A Federal Trade Commission report on e-cigarette products “paints a disturbing picture of surging e-cigarette sales and advertising that are likely to damage the health of America’s youth.” The FTC found that “flavored cartridges, nicotine concentration, and deep discounting surged between 2015 and 2018, likely fueling increased underage consumption.” The report, which is based on […]

Upcoming symposium: Consumer Protection in the Online Ecosystem

Loyola Consumer Law Review is holding a symposium titled: Consumer Protection in the Online Ecosystem *Friday, April 1, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (CT), Via Zoom Here is announcement: Please join Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Consumer Law Review for its annual symposium on April 1, 2022. This year’s symposium will focus on […]

CFPB report estimates $88 billion in medical bills on credit reports

A new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report highlights "the complicated and burdensome nature of the medical billing system in the United States." The report reveals that the U.S. healthcare system is supported by a billing, payments, collections, and credit reporting infrastructure where mistakes are common, and where patients often have difficulty getting these errors corrected […]

Webinar: What to Know About College Students, Cryptocurrencies, and Scams

On March 9, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Federal Trade Commission and National Student Employment Association are presenting a free webinar called "What to Know About College Students, Cryptocurrencies, and Scams." Here is the description: You’ve probably heard of cryptocurrency, but do you know how it works? This webinar will go over […]