June 2020 • Issue 12, Volume 10 • www.consumer-action.org
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What people are saying
I really want you to know how much I appreciate [Consumer Action's] support of the Fair Housing conference series. [It] was really powerful, and I'm glad we chose to go virtual, rather than canceling the event. I think people were hungry for it; each session had between 150 and 200 people attending!"
-Caroline Peattie, Executive Director, Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Did you know?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has received a 16-fold increase in formal complaints since the COVID-19 pandemic began restricting most leisure and business travel. Many of these complaints concern refunds for airline tickets that can no longer be used. In a typical month pre-pandemic, the DOT received approximately 1,500 air-travel service inquiries; this last March and April, however, brought more than 25,000. According to the DOT, airlines must provide a refund to a ticketed passenger when the carrier cancels or significantly changes the passenger's flight and the passenger chooses not to accept an alternative offered by the carrier (such as a voucher for a future flight). In order to clarify its rules and help consumers understand their rights, the DOT has issued answers to "frequently asked questions" pertaining to refunds here.
Out & About: Virtual assembly discusses real-world consumer issues
Last month, the Consumer Federation of America held its 54th Consumer Assembly. This year's event, like so many conferences in the time of COVID, took place online. Nonetheless, there was much to learn from the expert speakers and VIPs participating on a series of informative panels. Read more...
The walls have ears: New publication helps limit "smart home" intrusions
A new Consumer Action publication helps "smart home" residents manage the privacy risks inherent in their internet-connected devices so that they can safely enjoy the conveniences of a home that can think on its own. Read more...
Hotline Chronicles: Prepaid cards that don't let cardholders spend their funds
A non-U.S. citizen living in Arizona purchased a prepaid card and deposited money onto it before learning that she could not use the card because its activation system would not accept her foreign passport or visa as required "valid" identification. She was further stymied when she was unable to reach anyone at the Georgia-based prepaid card company in order to obtain help in activating the card. Read more...
Coalition Efforts: Student protections, price gouging and privacy in the age of COVID
Consumer Action often joins its allies in letters, comments and complaints calling for change, standing up for consumer rights, supporting or opposing proposed laws and objecting to corporate misbehavior, among other activities. We collect these in the Coalition Efforts section of our website. Each month in the INSIDER, we highlight some recent activities. Read more...
CFPB Watch: Coronavirus complaints, housing help and relaxed rules
In this regular feature, we detail recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This month, we highlight the CFPB's committee report on COVID-19's effect on consumers, its housing help resources, and its latest efforts to relax consumer rules and protections envisioned under its Obama-era leadership. Read more...
Class Action Database: Target is way off the mark with "so-called" debit cards
Consumer Action maintains a database of class actions so that interested consumers can learn more, join a pending action or make a claim. Class action lawsuits are an important element of consumer protection and can force changes to anti-consumer business practices and make bad actors return ill-gotten gains to consumers. Read more...
About Consumer Action
Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. It also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change.
By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website (www.consumer-action.org) and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. More than 6,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.
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