News

2010

July

13

• Wall Street reform and the price of milk. Congress is expected to finally pass the massive Wall Street reform bill later this week. And the lobbyists have already moved on to their next line of attack: The regulators who will issue the hundreds…

• Financial regulation bill nears finish line. Two key Republicans said Monday that they plan to support a far-reaching bill to overhaul financial regulations, all but ensuring that the landmark legislation will sail through the Senate in coming days. GOP Sens. Olympia…

12

• More Americans' credit scores sink to new lows. The credit scores of millions more Americans are sinking to new lows. Figures provided by FICO Inc. show that 25.5 percent of consumers — nearly 43.4 million people — now have a credit score of…

10

• When choosing healthcare, you'll know what you owe. QUICK quiz: What’s the difference between co-pay and co-insurance? If you’re like most people, you may think they are the same. But while it is true both terms refer to the portion of medical bills…

05

• Declare your financial independence. While Independence Day comes just once a year, millions of consumers are mired in financial dependence day after day. Too many count on credit cards and their next paycheck just to get by. The Fourth…

04

• The hard work falls to the regulators. Robert Temple doesn't look obscenely rich. He's got big glasses and a thick walrus mustache. He does not wear bling. And the fact of the matter is that Robert Temple is not obscenely rich. But…

01

• Financial reform bill passes U.S. House. The House on Wednesday approved the most sweeping rewrite of financial rules since the Great Depression, and last-minute changes this week appeared to solidify support in the Senate and pave the way for the legislation…

• Healthcare site highlights options. Maybe you are a 21-year-old woman who has just graduated from college in Ohio and haven't found a job yet. Or you are a 49-year-old unemployed man with high blood pressure who lives in West…

June

27

• Caring for seniors' financial health. When we talk about the aging population in the United States, the conversation is often focused on who will take care of the physical needs of millions of seniors. But there's a growing threat we…

26

• Wave of new rules to protect consumers. The financial overhaul bill that has taken final shape would give the government a larger role in guarding the wallets of consumers — many of whom, it became clear in the financial crisis, did not…

• Overhaul adds consumer help. The massive financial overhaul approved by key lawmakers early Friday was hailed by many reform advocates as offering landmark protections for consumers, even as others expressed disappointment at key omissions and wondered whether big business…

25

• Financial Reform spells a win for consumers. The U.S. House and Senate conference committee passed a final bill today that includes a bureau devoted exclusively to consumer financial protection. “Consumer Action has long supported a consumer financial watchdog that has both the…

24

• Healthcare overhaul to keep more young adults on policies. One of the first provisions of the federal healthcare overhaul — allowing young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until they turn 26 — is expected to make a big dent in the…

• Big job looms for new consumer protection agency. When he took charge of the new Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970, William Ruckelshaus wasted no time flexing his muscle and clobbering polluters. Nine days after the EPA opened its doors, the Republican official…

23

• Federal website coming to help people shop for health insurance. Wish finding health insurance were as easy as shopping for an airline ticket? A federal government website that starts July 1 takes a step in that direction. The site, for the first time, will give…

22

• Obama gives health insurers a warning. President Obama, whose vilification of insurers helped push a landmark health care overhaul through Congress, plans to sternly warn industry executives at a White House meeting on Tuesday against imposing hefty rate increases in anticipation…

• Quick steps to cut your car insurance bill. If you've ever watched someone park a car in Boston, you may have a hard time believing this, but Massachusetts has the most affordable auto insurance in the country. Louisiana has the least affordable car…

19

• Reverse mortgage holders could lose homes if taxes aren't paid. Here's a sobering message for anyone who has a federally insured reverse mortgage or plans to apply for one: If you don't pay your local property taxes or hazard-insurance premiums, the risk of losing your…

17

• Consumer Action Anniversary and Awards. To mark its 39th year of education and advocacy, Consumer Action celebrates today with a party and awards ceremony in San Francisco.

15

• Employers to see 9% jump in 2011 medical costs. Companies that offer employee health insurance expect another steep jump in medical costs next year, and more will ask workers to share a bigger chunk of the expense, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report. For…