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Product recalls protect the public from vehicles, foods, medications, toys and other consumer goods that can cause illness or injuries to people using them. Some recalls ban the sale of an item and, especially with food, advise throwing it away, while others let owners return items to the retailer or manufacturer for replacement or repair. In most cases of auto or device malfunction, the manufacturer or seller will replace the defective product or part for free so that the danger to owners is avoided or reduced. Fortunately, there is a one-stop site to learn about recalled products. Check Recalls.gov frequently or sign up for email alerts. While you might hear about recalls of popular or widely owned products in the news or through the mail if you're a registered owner, we still recommend a "belt and suspenders" approach to make extra sure you'll hear about recalled products you've purchased before they can cause harm or illness. Play it safe and sign up with Recalls.gov.

By Nelson Santiago
 
Attendees at Consumer Action's recent "Kitchen Table Economics" webinar were provided with useful knowledge about new debt collection regulations, as well as insights into the American debt crisis and tips for consumers dealing with debt in collections. You can watch the recorded webinar. Read more.

By Linda Sherry

A job applicant gave permission to a potential employer to run a background check, and checked a box to request a copy. He was turned down for the job, but the employer won't send a copy of his background report. Read more.

By Audrey Perrott

Consumer Action nominated the executive director of one of our long-time Maryland CBO partners for an award recognizing excellence in financial education. Read more.

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.

By Ruth Susswein

In this regular feature, we detail recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This month, we report on the Bureau's hunt for evidence of lending discrimination, and how its recent attention to medical debt has prompted plans to eliminate some of it from our credit records. Read more.

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.

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.