Spotlight Archive

• Friday, December 18, 2015
  Correcting and protecting your credit record »
  

  The credit reporting issue of Consumer Action News covers some welcome changes in reporting rules and the dispute resolution process, explains how consumers can access free credit scores and deal with delinquent debt on their reports, and throws light on the rights and challenges for job seekers and data breach victims.

• Thursday, November 19, 2015
  Protect your legal rights: Support the Arbitration Fairness Act »
  

  Did you know that credit card and telephone companies, banks and other major corporations are actively fighting to take away your right to sue them in a court of law if they misbehave? They want to force you into arbitration – a private system without a judge, jury or right to an appeal – so that they can avoid the costs associated with awarding you damages or improving their products and services. Proposals in Congress and the Senate—the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2015 (HR 2087 and S 1133)—would counter this attempt on behalf of big business by eliminating forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer and civil rights cases.

• Wednesday, July 15, 2015
  Get Consumer Action's new e-newsletter, SCAM GRAM! »
  

  SCAM GRAM is Consumer Action’s new monthly email alerting you to the dirtiest players in the world of tech fraud, credit card scams, ID theft and general con-artistry. Don’t be fooled by liars, cheaters and deceivers—wise up with SCAM GRAM!

• Thursday, March 12, 2015
  2015 survey offers California drivers insurance pricing insight »
  

  The California Department of Insurance has released its annual survey of insurance rates. The survey shows annual premiums for several hypothetical customers from 50 insurance companies doing business in the state. Answering a few questions on the website will reveal survey results for the hypothetical scenario that most closely represents your own situation.

  The survey won’t tell you exactly what you’ll pay—that will depend on your own unique circumstances and needs—but it can serve as a guide in choosing the insurers you want to request quotes from.
   

• Tuesday, September 30, 2014
  MoneyWi$e Building and Keeping Good Credit Webinar »
  

  This is a recording of a Consumer Action training webinar.

• Wednesday, July 30, 2014
  Medical credit cards require careful scrutiny »
  

  Unexpected medical and dental bills can wreak havoc with your budget. A number of companies offer credit cards to help consumers finance these bills, but Consumer Action found that several feature a trap called “deferred interest.”

• Wednesday, March 12, 2014
  Consumer Action guide to insurance for entrepreneurs and micro businesses »
  

  In this issue of Consumer Action News, our quarterly newsletter, we outline the business insurance needs of home-based businesses and microbusinesses.

• Wednesday, November 20, 2013
  New: Affordable Care Act issue of Consumer Action News »
  

  In the Affordable Care Act Issue of Consumer Action News we cover the basics of Obamacare—including the new health insurance exchanges, required minimum services, enrollment, subsidies for low income individuals and families and more. Our Web Bonus articles (not included in the downloadable PDF), explore medical debt installment plans, scams around Obamacare and appealing your health insurer's decisions.

• Tuesday, October 01, 2013
  Affordable Care Act exchanges are open for business »
  

  Today (Oct. 1) the new Health Insurance Marketplace is open and can help uninsured people find healthcare coverage.

• Friday, August 16, 2013
  California's Low Cost Auto Insurance Module »
  

  This module provides an useful information for the Californian low-income good drivers with access to affordable liability insurance in 11 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Armenian, Japanese, Hmong, Tagalog and Cambodian.

• Friday, September 09, 2011
  WellPoint/Anthem Blue Cross class action »
  Victims of the ID Theft Breach at WellPoint/Anthem Blue Cross have less than three weeks to sign up for certain court-ordered benefits under the class action settlement.
• Tuesday, May 31, 2011
  Proposed rules for reviewing health insurance hikes »
  Today, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final regulation to ensure that large health insurance premium increases will be thoroughly reviewed, and consumers will have access to clear information about those increases. Combined with other important protections from the Affordable Care Act, these new rules will help lower insurance costs by moderating premium hikes and provide consumers with greater value for their premium dollar. In 2011, this will mean rate increases of 10-percent or more must be reviewed by state or federal officials.
• Tuesday, January 18, 2011
  ACT NOW: Preserve our right to decent health insurance! »
  

  A House vote to repeal the new health care law is imminent. Repealing the law would risk access to health care and affordable insurance coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Without these important and achievable rules to protect the rights of health care consumers, enrollees in health care insurance and the currently uninsured, the health insurance industry holds all the cards.

  Take a moment to write to your elected representatives and tell them, "Don't repeal health insurance protections." CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION: http://capwiz.com/consumeraction/issues/alert/?alertid=22678501

• Wednesday, April 28, 2010
  NEW: Insurance articles from our partner Insure.com »
  Consumer Action has partnered with Insure.com so that we can share its comprehensive consumer educational articles with our readers.
• Wednesday, March 31, 2010
  Health care provisions taking effect soon »
  The new health insurance law will eventually ensure that 32 million uninsured people have access to insurance. These are some of the benefits that take effect within six months.
• Wednesday, March 17, 2010
  Pass health insurance reforms now »
  Consumer Action joins hundreds of national organizations, representing health care consumers, seniors, unions, faith groups, communities of color, and many other constituencies to urge Congress to Vote “Yes” on health reform—because the cost of doing nothing is much too high.
• Tuesday, July 07, 2009
  CALL NOW: Affordable health coverage for all »
  This summer, health care reform is being hotly debated in Congress. Now is the right time to weigh in and ask that your lawmakers keep consumers in mind, and do not give into industry's self-serving demands.
• Thursday, April 16, 2009
  Patient’s Guide to HIPAA »
  HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), a 1996 federal statute, is the most important federal health privacy law. Most of this guide explains what you should know about HIPAA. This guide also highlights some other federal laws that may be relevant to health privacy.
• Monday, February 02, 2009
  Kiplinger's Insurance Quiz »
  Insurance: It's complex, and it can be quite expensive, too. But you're putting your finances at a big risk if you don't have enough coverage, or if you don't know exactly what your policies cover. Test your knowledge with this ten-question quiz ...
• Thursday, January 29, 2009
  Congressional Oversight Committee report released »
  A new report by the Congressional Oversight Committee points to three areas of regulation that could have prevented the current economic crisis.
• Tuesday, June 10, 2008
  Less driving may mean insurance savings »
  As the price of gasoline tops $4 a gallon nationwide, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has released a consumer alert based on its analysis showing that consumers who are driving less could save an average of 5%- 15% on their automobile insurance rates—about $47 to $142.