January 2022 • Issue 7, Volume 12 • www.consumer-action.org

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  What people are saying  
 
The friendliest and most critical watchdog in town. --DMS, Carson City, NV, via Consumer Action feedback survey
 
  Did you know?  
 
Keeping your COVID vaccine record handy is important, especially when you travel. Some states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Washington and Virginia, offer SMART Health Cards that can be added to your mobile device. Residents of those states can visit a verifier website to add their credentials directly to wallet apps on iPhones and Android phones. Another option is the CLEAR app, which enables you to upload your vaccine information and create a QR code that links to your vaccination status. However, some people may not like that the CLEAR app requires you to upload your ID and snap a selfie to authenticate your record. Some electronic health records apps (such as MyChart or Cerner HealtheLife) and pharmacies where you got vaccinated also will generate a vaccine record. The most basic method of keeping a vaccine record available electronically is to take a photo of your vaccine card (do not discard the card!) and keep it on your phone in an easily accessible note-taking app or folder. (This New York Times article goes into detail about how to add a vaccine credential to your phone.)
 
  In-person event marks Consumer Action's 50th anniversary  
 
By Linda Sherry

For five decades, Consumer Action has advocated for and empowered consumers, especially low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers, helping them understand how vital it is to improve one's consumer literacy and to take part in grassroots advocacy to improve and protect consumer rights. That legacy was celebrated at the 2021 Consumer Action Consumer Excellence Awards reception last month. Read more.
 
  Hotline Chronicles: Reverse mortgage runaround  
 
By Linda Sherry

Inheriting a home subject to a reverse mortgage often means heirs face months of red tape and frustration in asserting their right to the property and avoiding foreclosure. Read more.
 
  Consumer Action works to close the racial wealth gap  
 
By Audrey Perrott

Financial support from two major banks for Consumer Action's FinTech innovation and education initiatives will, among other things, fund a savings match to encourage economically vulnerable project participants to build or rebuild an emergency fund. Read more.
 
  Crucial standards-setting organizations rely on volunteers; you can help!  
 
By Cleo Stamatos

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates the U.S. standardization system and accredits the procedures of standards-setting organizations. But few know that ANSI and its community's crucial standards-setting work relies on volunteers, including consumers who buy and use products. Read more.
 
  Webinar guest speakers discuss credit reporting industry findings, flaws  
 
By Nelson Santiago

A trio of credit reporting experts were guest speakers at Consumer Action's December webinar on credit reports and scores. One message came through loud and clear: The credit reporting industry is seriously flawed. So, even during a pandemic, when there are so many other things to worry about, it's still necessary for consumers to monitor their reports and dispute errors. Read more.
 
  Coalition Efforts: Federal agencies, lawmakers called upon to effect change  
 
By Alegra Howard

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: The Bureau's report card on lenders, and an assault on overdraft fees  
 
By Ruth Susswein

In this regular feature, we detail recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This month, the Bureau exposes the poor practices of some lenders, and Director Chopra calls out overdraft fees as "exploitative," yet they remain a massive revenue source for banks and a huge drain on vulnerable consumers. Read more.
 
  Class Action Database: Too many retries by Bank of America  
 
By Rose Chan

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 nonprofit 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 and special reports about financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. More than 6,500 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support. Read more.
 
   
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