By guest blogger Jessica Ranucci Faulty ignition switches in certain General Motors vehicles are linked to over one hundred deaths. This defect has spurred a recall of more than nine million GM vehicles since February 2014. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knew of the faulty airbag deployment as early as 2003 and received reports […]
Author Archives: Allison Zieve
The National Journal reports: The FDA last week told manufacturers to get rid of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from processed foods, the primary source of artificial trans fats linked to heart disease. But as a replacement, manufacturers are likely to turn in part to palm oil. It's cheap, it's plentiful, and it can more or […]
Since June 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has posted individual-level complaint data on its website. Yesterday, the CFPB began posting the consumer narratives that underlie that data. The database and the narratives are available here. The CFPB's press announcement is here.
As the AP reports (via Huffington Post): A federal court has ruled in favor of tough new regulations aimed at career training programs, dealing a major blow to the for-profit college industry. In an opinion released Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled the Education Department has the right to demand […]
The Department of Justice this week charged a payday lender with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and mail fraud, and aiding and abetting mail fraud. Although there is even more, here is the gist of the government's case: According to the […]
The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a privacy rights group, complained to the Federal Trade Commission on Monday about a new Uber new policy that gives it the right to track users when they are not currently using the Uber app.The privacy policy is scheduled to go into effect on July 15. USA Today explains: Under […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released its latest supervision report outlining the illegal practices uncovered by the CFPB in the first four months of 2015. It found problems with • dual-tracking at mortgage servicers that could mislead consumers to believe their trial modifications were canceled, • lack of quality control measures at consumer reporting […]
David Savage at the LA Times has this article quickly summarizing the big Supreme Court cases still pending this Term, as well as those recently decided.
Interpreting the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday issued a ruling addressing robocalls made to cell phones. The FCC's ruling provide: • Service providers can offer robocall-blocking technologies to consumers and implement market-based solutions that consumers can use to stop unwanted robocalls. • Consumers have the right to revoke their consent […]
The Washington Post reports today: Major upgrades are coming to a federal aid program that helps low-income Americans connect to basic communications services. The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to consider how to allow eligible Americans to purchase Internet access using government funds, in a move that recognizes high-speed Internet as a key to pulling the poor out […]