Latest Consumer protection and advocacy News
Crypto rules to make Europe a global leader as prices plunge
LONDON (AP) — Europe has moved to lead the world in regulating the freewheeling cryptocurrency industry at a time when prices have plunged, wiping out fortunes, fueling skepticism and sparking calls for tighter scrutiny. European Union negotiators hammered out the final details...
Kentucky governor declares emergency over high gas prices
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear took action Thursday to combat any signs of price gouging at the pump, touting it as a consumer protection measure amid sky-high gas prices straining Kentuckians' budgets. The Democratic governor signed an executive order declaring a state of...
Fix the Hog: Harley, Westinghouse ordered to fix warranties
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have accused Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse of imposing illegal warranty terms on customers and ordered them to fix their warranties and ensure that their dealers compete fairly with independent repair-makers. The companies have imposed...
Is 'learn now, pay later' just another student debt trap
The “ buy now, pay later ” transaction is simple: Shoppers are offered an installment loan at the point of purchase, spreading the cost of the product across several payments. They’re often available without a credit check. Buy now, pay later financing has become a go-to...
New Hampshire state surplus eyed as electric rates increase
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire residents facing drastic increases in their electric bills could get some relief via several proposals outlined Wednesday by Gov. Chris Sununu. The Office of the Consumer Advocate has said utility bills are likely to rise by about 50% based on...
Liz Weston: Is medical debt vanishing from credit reports?
Health care bills are about to become far less threatening to the financial well-being of millions of Americans. The three major credit bureaus are erasing most medical debts from people’s credit reports, and the Biden administration is reducing or eliminating medical debt as a...
Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers' behalf
The day after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with airline leaders to quiz them about widespread flight disruptions, his own flight was canceled and he wound up driving from Washington to New York. “That is happening to a lot of people, and that is exactly why we are...
FTC Chair Khan plans key work on kids' data privacy online
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Federal Trade Commission says the agency is pushing a robust agenda of actions and policies to help safeguard children's privacy online. The ongoing work will include toughened enforcement of a long-standing law governing kids’ online privacy and...
Raúl Torrez wins Democratic primary for attorney general
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Raúl Torrez has won the Democratic primary for attorney general in New Mexico to challenge Republican attorney and U.S. Marine veteran Jeremy Michael Gay of Gallup. The Albuquerque-based district attorney defeated State Auditor Brian Colón to vie for the...
FTC plans inquiry into pharmacy benefit manager practices
The Federal Trade Commission is starting an inquiry into the operations of pharmacy benefit managers who control access to prescription drugs for millions of Americans. The consumer protection agency said Tuesday that that it will order the nation’s largest PBMs to provide a range...
